Week 22: January 27, 2017

Happy Friday!!! 

Housekeeping: 

- Thank you for staff who gave during 'Principals Week'. Your kind gestures and gifts are much appreciated. 

- DRA PM data is to be inputted today. Please refer to Erin's 1.11.17 email. 

- Our SOL Remediation Program will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning February 14th. The Program Coordinator is Jacqueline Erney and we are working closely together to ensure a a quality program. Students have been identified using MAP data and we are in the process of discussing particulars with classroom teachers to support our "bubble kids". Any questions, be sure to contact Ms. Erney and include me on the email. There will be an instructors meeting  on Tuesday the 31st. Be on the look out for Ms. Erney's email.

- Grades closed on Friday, January 27th. Be mindful of the timeline for completion of report cards and review by administrators. 

Highlights of the Week: 
- It was great reading all the emails during Kindness Week! 


- Grade levels knocked out their Reading and Math Core Extension Plans that will begin on Monday, February 6th! Way to Go!!! 

- 100% Participation on the Division-wide survey!!! AMAZINGNESS!!! Go Bel Air!!!

2016-17 School	Type	2016-17 Response Rate	2015-16 Response Rate
Bel Air Elementary School	ES	100%	91%

- Our Bel Air Smashers beat Westridge E.S. WHOA!!! Another sweep!!

 

Important Dates: 

- January 30th: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
- January 31st: MAP Meeting @ KLC @ 12:30 p.m.
                       SOL Remediation Kick Off Meeting @ 4:00 p.m. (Instructors)
- February 1st: 3rd Grade Planning Day
                          Advisory Council Meeting @ 5:00 p.m.
                          PTA Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
- February 2nd:
- February 3rd: Administration begins to review report cards

My Current Re-Reading:

- Antoinette 

Week 21: January 20, 2017

Happy Friday!!! 

Housekeeping: 

- There are a few initiatives I am excitedly implementing for the 2017-18 school year and if you are interested in "piloting" one of them, in your classroom, please let me know ASAP:

Speaker System/FM Units (one upstairs class and one downstairs class) in the classroom for amplification: https://youtu.be/Uf310KaAYS0

OR
Flexible Seating & Student-Centered Classrooms (We can observe a couple schools that have implemented this model); https://www.edutopia.org/blog/flexible-seating-student-centered-classroom-kayla-delzer and https://www.edutopia.org/practice/flexible-classrooms-providing-learning-environment-kids-need

- Teacher Leaders! It is important for all administrators to develop teacher leaders and build that capacity amongst the staff. Teacher leaders assume a wide range of roles to support school and student success. Whether these roles are assigned formally or shared informally, they build the entire school's capacity to improve. Because teachers can lead in a variety of ways, many teachers can serve as leaders among their peers. So over the upcoming weeks, I will share a role in which teachers can contribute to Bel Air’s success.

1. Resource Provider: Teachers help their colleagues by sharing instructional resources. These might include Web sites, instructional materials, readings, or other resources to use with students. They might also share such professional resources as articles, books, lesson or unit plans, and assessment tools. Tinisha becomes a resource provider when she offers to help Carissa, a new staff member in her second career, set up her classroom. Tinisha gives Carissa extra copies of a number line for her students to use, signs to post on the wall that explain to students how to get help when the teacher is busy, and the grade-level language arts pacing guide.

- Certificates of Achievement are an Easy Way to Support and Honor Those Who Go “The Extra Mile”

There are employees all around you who do great work above and beyond what their job titles require to benefit our students in ways large and small. Too often, their important contributions go unnoticed. The four category options of the PWCS Certificate of Achievement program are meant to provide a way that colleagues can pay tribute to a coworker whose contributions or achievements deserve special mention or appreciation.
• Courage
• One-time Achievement
• Outstanding Performance
• Unsung Hero

While everyone is familiar with programs such as the principal and teacher of the year, Certificates of Achievement recognize different kinds of meaningful accomplishments by teachers and support staff alike. If interested in nominating, let me know and I will forward the information to you.

 Highlights of the Week: 

-  If you have a moment, please stop past to view our new carpets in Grades K and 1st. These will be the carpets that will be delivered to all. I was extremely proud and excited that we were able to purchase these carpets for the staff and student enjoyment!

Students as Learners: 

- 1st Grade: How to Make 10

- Roop - Molecule Matter: hypothesis and trials

- Haefele - Writing - New Year's Resolution

- 1st Grade: Questioning and Answering

Important Dates: 

- January 23rd - 27th: School Principals Week

                             Kindness Week

- January 23rd: Core Extension Planning: 1^st Grade

                    Principals’ MAP Training @ Fitzgerald (McDonald out in p.m.)

- January 24th: RtI Meetings: Grades K, 3, 4 in the a.m.

                    Central Principals’ Meeting @ Fitzgerald (McDonald out in a.m.)

- January 25th: Budget Planning Meeting (McDonald out in a.m.)

                    RtI Meetings: Grades 1,2,5 in the p.m.

- January 26th: Core Extension Planning: 5^th Grade

- January 27th: Half Day; End of 2nd Quarter 

                    Core Extension Planning: 2^nd Grade

Continued Study:

Be sure to reward yourself for such an amazing week!
~ Antoinette 

Week 20: January 13, 2017

Happy Friday!!! 

Housekeeping: 

Accreditation:
Prince William County School's process for accreditation occurs every 5 years. We have entered the new cycle and I wanted to thank you for going through the assessment with as teams. Your work and focus to this task is most appreciated! 
It is very important to get specific feedback from you all to assess the practices and instruction at BAES!  Being a new administrative team, it is important to get specific feedback from you to assess the practices and instruction at BAES! Please be sure to include any notes or discussion points that you had regarding particular standards and indicators. Leads,  please prepare to bring all your materials and ratings with you to the Leadership Meeting on the 24th. 

 Mid-Year PGP:
- Progress. Progress. Progress. Documented and evident in these Mid Year conferences. Thank you all for being prepared and for facilitating these rich conversations. We have begun some brutally intentional conversations about student success and I am encouraged with the direction in which we are going (Individual Accountability). Each meeting has been truly reflective for both the teacher and myself! Looking at our student progress (PPP Standard 7: Professionalism) we've identified strategies to strengthen Tier I Instruction, will continue to reflect on the Units of Study for instructional guidance and tap into our expertise to increase student achievement! We are in this together!

Core Extension:
- We are at Mid Year and now we have to restructure and hone in on our First Instruction/ Tier I instruction. Looking at the MAP Data, the regressions made by some of our Panthers are inexcusable! We have to recognize/identify the issue, come up with a plan of action in response of the issue and then execute the plan!
We must be systematic, purposeful and intentional! Working smarter and not harder is not a cliche, it's an action that produces intentional results!
As we work together, using our data to drive instruction, we WILL show evidence of Standard 7. We will MEET or EXCEED in Standard 7! Our children depend on us to do so!




Staff Professional Development:
- I am in the process of finalizing our Staff Professional Development. If you would like to Lead the Learning of our colleagues, please send me an email with a topic that you would like for me to consider. The hope is that we can strengthen our PLC to tap into the expertise that is within our building. I've asked a couple of staff to consider leading/facilitating the following: 
- 'Make and Take' workshop for highly engaging and rigorous centers during Daily 5 or Reading Workshop;
- Guided Math Model, where the teachers go through the stations/centers;
- Understanding the EL Learning...in real time!

Highlights of the Week: 
- The Bel Air Smashers claimed another victory over Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School! Congrats to our victorious Volleyball Team!


- Scheduling of the Planning Meetings:
January 19th - 4th Grade
January 23rd - 1st Grade
January 26th - 5th Grade
January 27th - 2nd Grade (half day AM)
February 1st - 3rd Grade
With the Core Extension instruction beginning February 6th. Specific targeted instruction!

Students as Learners: 

- Mid Year Data is being reviewed and it is documented that students are making measureable progress.  


- Conferencing is becoming a part of our daily reflective practices. Students need specific and targeted feedback on their progress! Don't we all want feedback about our performance? http://archive.learnhigher.ac.uk/resources/files/Group%20work/feedback.pdf

Important Dates: 

- January 16th: NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
- January 17th:
- January 18th: Mid Year PGPs @ 8:20 - 12:30 p.m.
- January 19th: Mid Year PGPs @ 8:20 - 3:45 p.m.
- January 20th: NO SCHOOL - Presidential Inauguration

My Continued Study:

Enjoy your three day weekend! Rest! Reflect! Relax!
~ Antoinette 

Week 19: January 6, 2017

Happy Friday!!! 

I am excited and honored to welcome each and every one of you to the beginning of a new school year at Bel Air E.S.  We need to reset and reach attainable goals, working harder and smarter and taking our school and student achievement to the next level.  

Now that we are back, I'm looking forward to increasing my time in the classrooms and really dissecting the curricula K-5. Individual Accreditation has been and continues to be my focus. Ask yourself: Am I meeting the benchmark/goal set for my class? Am I meeting the benchmark/goal set for my grade level? Are my students getting the best of me? Am I MEETING all the PPP standards? If not, what are the area(s) that need improvement? What support do I need?

I am here to assist with the reflection! We are in the business of educating students! I am proud to serve alongside you in exceeding this expectation! Thank you all for your tireless efforts!!!

 Housekeeping: 

- We had a PWCS Energy Audit done on December 23rd and we achieved a 90.91%. Individual staff will receive emails, if documented as not following the expected shutdown procedures before holidays and breaks. Awesome job overall!! If you are leaving your classroom, begin the habit of turning off your lights! I appreciate your efforts! 

- Continuing Contract Staff, please review the Mid-Year PGP calendar and contact me if there are conflicts. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss the progress of our students, the supports needed and to review the PPP evaluation rubric.

-The school-wide expectation is that all students are to be actively engaged in Guided Reading and Guided Math. This is not an option…it is an expectation! Grade levels that are implementing guided instruction (with fidelity) are experiencing documented measurable growth.

- After Tuesday's staff meeting you will receive an email about grade level substitutes for remediation planning. Core Extension is what is to be done daily; remediation, maintenance and enrichment on skills taught (not to finish teaching what you began earlier in the day). We will plan for Core Extension for the remainder of the school year based on the MAP & CSA data. Full implementation of Core Extension is the expectation for 2017-18 school year, beginning in September! Instruction with fidelity!

- Review your procedures and routines with our students! Although a week off may not seem long, it is imperative to reinforce the expectations you have set in your class!

- If you need a refresher in making a Request for an Interpreter/Translator, please contact Mrs. Portillo for a review! Our in-house expert is available to ensure all families are kept abreast of Bel Air's Family News!!!

Highlights of the Week: 

- Congratulations to Ms. Amanda Jewell on her engagement over the Winter Break! We are all so happy for you! You'll be a beautiful bride! 

- Mrs. Hammel found a resource that she wanted to share with the staff. It is a free ebook resource for teachers called EPIC! Please check it out and create an Educator Profile Account. https://www.getepic.com/educator-resources

- SOL Remediation had its first meeting to discuss logistics, data and instructional personnel. I'm very excited to see how the program evolves this year and listening to the experts, YOU, to help our students continue to be successful through remediation!

Important Dates: 

- January 9th: Principal Articulation Meeting @ 12:30 p.m. (Otterblad will provide coverage)

- January 10th: Staff Meeting @ 4:00 p.m. 

- January 12th: Education Leader Induction @ 8:00 a.m. (Otterblad will provide coverage)

My Current Reading/Study:

Truly refreshing to be back observing instruction and learning!
~ Antoinette