Week of September 26th - 30th

PBIS - On Tuesday there will be people on both campuses from SCOE and the district office asking students/teachers what the schoolwide rules are.  They will mainly be asking students during passing period and possibly speak with teachers who are on prep.  They stated that they would try not to be a disruption.  

Keep up the good work passing out PBIS tickets for positive student behaviors. Last week we collected 200 tickets between the two sites. REMIND students to get their tickets in if they have been saving them for the end of the month drawing.  We will be pulling 6 names and rewarding the students with a string backpack (perfect size to hold Chromebook :)) and a $10 gift of their choice.


CALENDAR  SY@FHS

Monday 9/26 - 
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
8:00- 10:00- IPR planning meeting (Sherry, James, Chris M & Gary) SY@FHS office
12:14- Treats for students who earned 8+ credits on PR
2:30 - 4:30 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/27 - 
7:30 - 11:00 - PBIS SET observation 
9:00-11:00-  Sherry Walks MGLC w/ District Personnel and Principals
1:50- Clubs/Activities/Interventions
2:20- 504 if you received email ..attendance is mandatory AFTER club
3:00- Department HEAD meeting- SY@FHS office 

Wednesday 9/28-
9:15- Sherry has teacher meeting  SY@AHS
12:50- Sherry has teacher meeting SY@AHS
2:45 - Google hangout @ all admin  SY@AHS
3:00- Site Council meeting SY@AHS

ADVISORY - Lessons Laura is sending..Which lesson are you on?


Thursday 9/29 - 1st, 2nd, 4th period- Sherry - post observation conferences SY@AHS
9:00 - PBIS Meeting W/J.P. - Gary 
1:50 - Clubs/Activities/Interventions
2:00- 3:30 - WIB meeting @ county office
2:00 - IEP - Gary 
6:00 - College and Career Fair @ AHS

Friday 9/30-
3rd, 4th period- Sherry-  post observation conferences  SY@FHS


_______________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR   SY@AHS 
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
Monday 9/26 - 
8:00- 10:00- IPR planning meeting (Sherry, James, Chris M & Gary) SY@FHS office
12:12- Treats for students who earned 8+ credits on PR
2:30 - 4:30 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/27 - 
7:30 - 11:00 - PBIS SET observation
9:00-11:00-  Sherry Walks MGLC w/ District Personnel and Principals
9:00-12:00pm-504 Training@SCOE-James
1:50- Clubs/Activities/Interventions
2:00 - IEP - Gary 
2:00-SST-James (Teachers notified...@2:20 if involved in after school program)
3:00- Department HEAD meeting- SY@FHS office 
5:30- ELAC parent meeting-James and Astrid

Wednesday 9/28-
9:15- Sherry @ teacher meeting  SY@AHS
9:15-James @teacher meeting SY @AHS
12:50- Sherry at teacher meeting SY@AHS
2:45 - Google hangout @ all admin  SY@AHS
3:00- Site Council meeting SY@AHS

ADVISORY - Lessons Laura is sending..Which lesson are you on?

Thursday 9/29 - 1st, 2nd, 4th period- Sherry - post observation conferences SY@AHS
9:00 - PBIS Meeting W/J.P. - Gary
1:50 - Clubs/Activities/Interventions
2:00- 3:30 - WIB meeting @ county office

Friday 9/30-
3rd, 4th period- Teacher observations  SY@FHS


_______________________________________________________________________________

We had 40 % of our students earn at least 80% of their credits at progress report time.  This is the HIGHEST  I have seen since I started at Sem Yeto....I WANT to THANK those teachers that are taking the extra time to develop lesson plans that are truly meeting the needs of our students, taking the time to meet with students individually before school, at lunch, and after school and making our students feel welcomed, accepted and VALUED:) 


In the Tool Box
A large part of the success of our school and our students depends on the types of relationships that we as educators establish with our students in and out of the classroom. A lot of the ways we go about the business of establishing relationships with students is based on our own individual social/environmental experiences. Below is an article on 5 ways to build relationships with students of poverty. Some of these strategies may be familiar to us, and we may already utilize them. However, as we continue to build something special at Sem Yeto, it is imperative that we as professionals continue to build on the early successes we are experiencing. Enjoy and have a great week!!

Note: First Person to respond by sending this quote to everyone will win $10 gift card
Quote: You can view your students as Destined to fail or Designed to SUCCEED

Relationships are KEY(Click here and start building ;o)!!

      

Week of September 19th - 23rd

WEST ED SWEEPS- 9/19- 9/28- West Ed Personnel will have a VISITORS PASS on them when they come into your room.  An Administrator may OR may NOT be with them. 

PBIS - Keep passing out the tickets for positive behavior.  Since the beginning of the year there has been 1,000 tickets given out to students that have been turned in.  Keep up the good work and rewarding positive student behavior. :)  Let us know if you need more tickets.

CALENDAR  SY@FHS

Monday 9/19- 
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
7:45- Meeting with student/parent/ administration
8:00- Sherry observation at SY@FHS
9:00- Sherry in observation at SY@AHS
10:00- Sherry in observation at SY@AHS
2:30 - 4:30 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/20 - 
9:00- Sherry Walks SY@AHS with Kristen Witt
1:00- Sherry in Observation
1:50- Clubs/Activities/Interventions
1:50- Sherry /teacher meeting
3:00- Department HEAD meeting- SY@FHS office 

Wednesday 9/21 - PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY...Community member will be walking both Campuses with Sherry (9:00- 11:30)
2:00 - PBIS monthly meeting room I-1 please come if you're free

ADVISORY Celebration for students who KNOW PBIS rules


Thursday 9/22-
9:00- Sherry walks SY @ FHS with Kristen Witt
8:00-11:00- SART Meetings- Gary
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - IEP - Allison's room come and give input after 2:20

Friday 9/23-
Mediation - Sherry/Gary with students returning
3:30 - 504 meeting - Gary 

_______________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR   SY@AHS 
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
Monday 9/19
8:00- Sherry observation at SY@FHS
9:00- Sherry in observation at SY@AHS
10:00- Sherry in observation at SY@AHS
12:50 pm- Hightower in observation meeting at SY@AHS
2:30 - 4:30 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/20 - 
8:00- Hightower in Observation
9:00- Sherry Walks SY@AHS with Kristen Witt
9:05- Hightower in Observation
1:00- Sherry in Observation
1:50- Clubs/Activities/Interventions
2:00 - IEP - Gary 
3:00- Department HEAD meeting- SY@FHS office 

Wednesday 9/21 - PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY...Community member will be walking both Campuses with Sherry (9:00- 11:30)
2:00 - PBIS monthly meeting room I-1 please come if you're free
ADVISORY Celebration for students who KNOW PBIS rules


Thursday 9/22-
9:00- Sherry walks SY @ FHS with Kristen Witt
1:50 - Clubs/Activities

Friday 9/23-
11:45 - IEP - Staffing w/ Laura - Gary/Admin

SUCCESSFUL PODS:) HIGHLIGHTS!!
I want to THANK all the new teachers for  participating  in POD.  It was a delight to work with the NEW teachers and see ALL the GREAT things they are doing... .PLEASE GO VISIT ONE ANOTHER'S CLASSROOMS!!! THERE IS SOOO MUCH TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER:) 

****Tina had great COLLABORATION going on in her classroom. Students DISCUSSED   Imperialism  and matched quotes to one of the 4 factors of Imperialism. Tina's  time keeping method portrayed on the ITV while playing calming background music was AWESOME:) Email her for more info:)

*****Tenty... IF you do NOT think our kids will TALK ...go visit Tenty's room.  She got ALL students to talk multiple times throughout her lesson.  They actively and willingly participated:)  Tenty had AWESOME community building throughout her  entire lesson..Students said good morning to partner, high-fived partner AND  participated in ACADEMIC conversations with Partner...

***** Zachery had a wonderful GRAPHIC organizer he used for his lesson.  He used a model Similar to 5-2-1 where he had students LISTEN (and take notes), do a QUICK write and then TALK to partner.  In addition,  Zachary PASSED out PBIS tickets throughout his entire lesson to reward positive behaviors

**** Jeff  opened his lesson with students writing the objective and stating what they think it means in their own words.  He emphasized to them (and wrote) on the board that their opinion CAN'T be wrong...so Everyone WROTE:) Jeff then had some students (A) read one article an McCarthyism and other students (B) read a different article on Macarthyism and then they had to compare.. by TALKING. Jeff also did an excellent job handing out PBIS tickets. 

**** Gregory's lesson was so interesting, I stopped observing and started reading the article on sloths he passed out.  Gregory captured everyone's attention in his warm-up/introduction to the lesson.  This engaging introduction made students WANT to learn more:) They eventually were DISCUSSING  and writing answers to DOK 3 questions:) revolving around Sloth  POOP:) 

****Rachel's rapport with students in undeniable.  Her lesson was extremely entertaining as she modeled appropriate and inappropriate interviewing behaviors.  Rachel wore a hat backwards, earbuds hanging over her ears, wearing a hoodie and talking slang.  Students were entertained and engaged filling out their graphic organizers as they watched her. Students then DISCUSSED the behaviors.  Rachel then used a check for understanding method that included 3 different colored cups.. Email her for more info.

PICTURES OF PODS
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B7q6eLlg_-kCRDZIdnBaYXJYRTQ

Bobbing for Doughnuts was a success at SY@FHS..kids had fun:)) 
Gary took this video in slow motion
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B7q6eLlg_-kCRm5uZTdWbE1ablU


In The Tool Box
As we focus on getting our students to participate in academic conversations in our classrooms, we need to provide them with prompts and sentence starters to build their capacity to effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas in the classroom environment. There can be no assumption on our parts that our students already possess academic conversation skills. If we utilize the same prompts and sentence starters in All of our classrooms, our students will become more comfortable and confident, in this area. This will in turn foster critical thinking from our students in our classrooms.

Below, I have attached some prompts for both parties involved in academic conversation. The list is divided into three parts: the skill the students will acquire, and the prompts for the speaker and the listener.

Academic Conversations ~ Starter Prompts After One Person Has Spoken

SKILL	Listening Partner	Speaking Partner
Elaborate and Clarify	“Tell me more about…?” “Can you elaborate on…?” “I wonder how/why…?” “That’s true, but how…?” “What do you think about…?” “Why do you think that is?” “What do you mean by (vague word)? “Can you be more specific?	“In other words…” “An analogy for this might be…” “It is important because…” “It’s similar to when… “What I’m trying to say is…”
Support Ideas with Examples	“Can you give an example from the text/other texts/your life?” “What is a real-world example?” “Can you show me where it says that?” “What is the evidence for that?” “Such as…?” “Why is that a good example?”	“For example…” “In the text it said that…” “An example from my life/the world/another text is…” “To demonstrate…” “In this situation…” “For instance…” “According to…”
Build On and/or Challenge a Partner’s Idea	Build On: “I would add that…” “I want to expand upon your point about…” “I want to follow up on your idea…” Challenge: “Then again, I think that…” “Another way to look at this could be…” “I see your point, however…” “But if _______, then ________”	“Do you agree?” “Can you add to this idea?” “Can you offer another point of view?” “How does that connect to the idea…?” “I’m not sure if this is relevant, but…” “How can we bring this back to the question of…?” “That’s a good point, too, but you also need to consider…” “Maybe so, but what if…?”
Paraphrase	“So, you’re saying that…” “Let me see if I understand you…” “Am I right in hearing you say that…?” “In a nutshell, you are arguing that…” “In other words…” “Essentially, you think that…”	“I’m not sure I was clear…” “I can’t remember everything I said…” “How can we relate what I said to the topic/idea/question?” “OK -- what do we know so far?” “Did that make sense to you?”
Synthesize Conversation Points (Both partners at the end of the academic conversation)	“Let’s sum up – what have we discussed so far…?” “How can we bring this all together?” “What can we agree upon?” “What main points can we share?” “What was our original question?” “What key idea can we take away?”	“We can say that…” “The main theme/point seems to be…” “As a result of this conversation, I think that we should…” “How does this sound…?” “What if we…?” “The evidence seems to suggest that…”

Sample of starters and transition terms:

·         For example…

·         According to...

·         To illustrate...

·         Another example...

·         Such as...

·         As stated in...

·         The author stated...

·         For instance...

·         Consider...

·         In fact...

·         The text shows...

·         As evidence of...

·         Specifically...

·         Let’s take the case of...                      

Week of September 12th-16th

CALENDAR  SY@FHS

Monday 9/12 - PODs - Plan, Observe & Debrief (All Week) - Sherry in PODS
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
5th period- COACHING (Gary and Patricia)
3:30 - 5:00 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/13 - Sherry in PODS
7:30 - 8:00 - SST Teachers notified by Robin
8:00 - 11:00 - SART Meetings (Gary)
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - 504 at SY@FHS - Sherry
3:00 - DEPARTMENT MEETING - Everyone will meet in I-6 to start

Wednesday 9/14 - Sherry in PODS SY@AHS ALL DAY
4:00 - Calendar Committee - Sherry
5:30 - Parent Education Night - Topics: reading transcripts, using parent portal, and understanding variable credits
Advisory - all juniors fill out paper survey (will be in your box Wednesday morning)
ADVISORY Celebration for students who KNOW PBIS rules changed to / 9/21


Thursday 9/15- SHERRY in PODS 
8:00 - IEP SY@FHS - Allison/Gary
8:00 - 3:00 - Counselor meeting - Bonnie
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
5th period- Coaching (Gary and Patricia)
2:00 - 504 at SY@FHS - Sherry...office.. teachers MUST attend

Friday 9/16 - Progress Report
_______________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR   SY@AHS

Monday 9/12 - PODs - Plan, Observe & Debrief (All Week) - Sherry in PODS
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)
3:30 - 5:00 - Admin Council - Sherry, James & Gary

Tuesday 9/13 - Sherry in PODS
11:20 - IEP - James
5th period - Coaching (James and Patricia)
2:00 - 504 - James
2:00 - IEP - Gary
3:00 - DEPARTMENT MEETING - Everyone will meet in I-6 to start

Wednesday 9/14 - Sherry in PODS @ SY@AHS ALL DAY
10:15 am Admin/Teacher /Student Mtg.
4:00 - Calendar Committee - Sherry
5:30 - Parent Education Night - Topics: reading transcripts, using parent portal, and understanding variable credits

Advisory - all juniors fill out paper survey (will be in your box Wednesday morning)
ADVISORY Celebration.. I-5 PBIS Window decorations winner :)
ADVISORY Celebration for students who KNOW PBIS rules changed to / 9/21

Thursday 9/15
8:00 - 3:00 - Counselor meeting - Bonnie
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - IEP - Gary - teachers received email
2:00 - 504 - James- teachers received email

Friday 9/16 - Progress Reports due

LOOKING AHEAD
9/19-9/28- WEST ed SWEEPS (All classrooms will be visited for a 10 minute time period by a representative from West Ed.   (admin will NOT accompany the person) 
9/21- Advisory competition /celebration ...Who knows PBIS BEST



Moving Forward
At our last staff meeting, we modeled looking at data and utilizing the data dialog protocol as a way to engage in academic conversation. As with any strategies used in our classrooms to enable our students to critically think and perform at the highest level, the successful implementation of these strategies depends in LARGE part on the planning (what we do before the students enter our classrooms for the intended lessons).

As we embark on really honing in on becoming effective as a entire school staff in this area, it is essential that we have a clear vision/clear thoughts on our first steps in planning effective lessons--embedded with opportunities for our students to engage in academic discourse. We as a staff would really be served well by taking the time to get the planning phase correct. Below, I have attached  a newsletter for curriculum, instruction, and assessment called In-Sight (only a 5 minute read) that speaks to: the reasons why, getting started with, activities to foster, and next steps after initial academic discourse has occurred.

We have some key ingredients that make us a great candidate for success in this area (200 students, smaller teacher to student ratios, shorter school days, college and career tech, mental health clinician, community partners , and a wonderful teaching staff)! Moving forward, lets make the next move a Power Move!

Have a Great 5th Week!

POWER MOVE (click here)!!

GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT SY@FHS AND SY@ AHS

Tenty's window for PBIS.  She shared all students contributed and the students who were absent and left out of the class picture were SAD... which means they care they MISSED school

Greg's class participating in KAHOOT as a review for the upcoming test:)  

Observing Dean participate in an activity where students were engaged in verbal conversations around a poem.  Dean pointed out the two posters hanging in his room that HIGHLIGHT the stages of ACADEMIC conversations...LAST ONE says my idea BUILDS on.....AWESOME:)))

****Tenty's genuine passion towards a student and his grandparents during an IEP where she translated for the team and built an instant connection with grandparents and student.  After the meeting the student, who at first was not interested in ANY WORK AT ANYTIME, asked Tenty if he could go to her room with her to get make-up work:))

***** Sarah Schneider for taking on ASD for SY@FHS and is BUILDING lessons for students to work on around the behavior they engaged in to earn them detention... Students reflect and learn ALTERNATIVES to behavior.

*****Kelly for ALL her hard work getting MAPP testing make-ups organized:)  

Week of September 6th - 9th

 WHATS THE PURPOSE OF TAKING A SURVEY IF YOU DO NOTHING WITH THE RESULTS??

Last year at the end of the year teachers took a survey about what went well during the 2015-2016 school year and what challenges they faced: 

MOST COMMON RESPONSES TO WHAT WENT WELL:

1. Teachers supporting teachers:)
2. PBIS
3. Addition of Mental Health Clinician
4. More outside resources for students
5. Teacher/student rapport

CHALLENGES AND WHAT ADMIN IS PUTTING IN PLACE 

1. No Staff room at SY@FHS///// C-19 is now a staff room..Yes it NEEDS TLC..give me time:)
2. Lack of Communication/not knowing what is going on at school///Weekly blogger WITH calendar of events for both sites, communication through announcements and emails, Quick Meets as whole staff, meeting with teachers in person...
3. Some students roaming campus a lot///repeat offenders will be given 2 passes a day and MUST use those passes to leave the room.  Teachers HAVE to enforce to be successful
4. Tardy students/// 7 minute passing periods.. seems students are in class before last bell.
5. More support for teachers when discipline occurs///James, Sherry and Gary are collaborating about appropriate consequences and reaching out to teachers who have encountered an issue with a student and asking how we can support them..
6. SUBS/SUBS/SUBS//// We are fully staffed:)

CALENDAR  SY@FHS

Monday 9/5 - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday 9/6 - Sherry @ both Sites
8:00-10:00 - ID picture make-ups ..Admin and monitors will call kids out of class
10:00 - Sherry Meets Chris Morris about CTE
1:00 - IEP
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
3:00 - STAFF MEETING- SY@FHS C-19

Wednesday 9/7 - GARY /Laura @ PBIS Training /Sherry at SY@FHS ALL DAY
(ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office)

Advisory - 11th graders take survey in box..pencils needed.. Present Lesson prepared by Laura
ADVISORY Celebration..C-19 PBIS  Window decorations
11:00 - Sherry ..Meeting with Deanna Hurn-(Math Tutor)
1:45 - COLLABORATION..With Department? with Colleagues from FHS? This is NOT an extra Prep

Thursday 9/8
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - IEP
2:20 - 504 Meeting.. (ZP) I emailed teachers who need to be there

Friday 9/9
_______________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR   SY@AHS

Monday 9/5 - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday 9/6 - Sherry @ both Sites
11:00 - 1:00 ID picture make-ups ..Admin and monitors will call kids out of class
10:00 - Sherry Meets Chris Morris about CTE
11:00 - IEP
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - IEP
3:00 - STAFF MEETING- SY@FHS C-19

Wednesday 9/7 - GARY /Laura @ PBIS Training /Sherry at SY@FHS ALL DAY
ALL students expected to wear ID's...First period teacher make a list of who does NOT have ID and send to office
Advisory - 11th graders take survey in box..pencils needed.. Present Lesson prepared by Laura
11:00 - Sherry ..Meeting with Deanna Hurn-(Math Tutor)
1:45 - COLLABORATION..With Department? with Colleagues from AHS? This is NOT an extra Prep

Thursday 9/8
11:00 - IEP
1:50 - Clubs/Activities
2:00 - IEP

Friday 9/9

LOOKING AHEAD
9/13 - 3:00 DEPARTMENT MEETING- Everyone will meet in I-6 to start
9/14 - 5:30  Parent Education Night - How to read transcripts, variable credits, parent portal
9/16 - Progress Reports



Moving Forward
This week marks the beginning of the third week of school. Students should have received indications from all of their teachers on how they fared on receiving their first credit. MAP testing is completed, big THANK YOU to Kelly for ushering us through the initial process and all of the logistics it entailed. A big THANK YOU needs to also be given out to Sara Schneider, Chris Hill, and Sherry for completing and submitting the packet for Sem Yeto as a Model Continuation School.

So, what is next for us as a School now that so many of the getting school up and running at the beginning of the school year "Stuff" is out of the way? Now the focus needs to truly shift to ensuring that the instruction that our students receive in the classroom is filled with opportunities for student engagement, opportunities for our students to express themselves through writing, opportunities for our students to engage in each of our classrooms in critical thinking, and use technology in ways to foster the previously stated opportunities.

In order for this to happen successfully, collaboration within and across departments is vital. Also, please take advantage of professional development opportunities as they arise. The district website is a good place to start. Administration will also be sharing any PD opportunities relevant to your content areas.

Have a Great 4th Week!