New Recycling Bins!

Let's give a big thanks to Debie Torres for bringing in recycling bins for our bottles and soda cans!! One is located in the lunch room and one is located in the staff lounge.

Take Note

Remember Him?

Please join me in welcoming Jordan Mendola back to QUEST. Jordan will serve as our new immersion sub starting on Monday, January 29th. Jordan was formerly Carol Jones' student teacher.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness. Our UPK teacher noticed the focusing and attending issues our youngest learners were coming to school with each day.  As part of the solution, she has infused mindfulness strategies into her class.

She also has a love, and talent, for writing. Her new blog captures her adventures with mindfulness and is worth the look. Awesome work, Mrs. Neu! CHECK OUT THE BLOG!

Finalizing our Values

Based on the survey, and all the work that was done leading up to it, our values would look like this:




Core Values(values that are here already, very clear--we can still improve upon and should continue to make a focus): 

Community, Collaboration, Uniqueness (it is unique that it is the only value that starts with a U), Caring, Commitment




Aspirational Values (Values that we may have small pockets of, but should allow to be a future push): 

Progressiveness, Mindfulness



As a team, please provide me with a final stamp of approval before we begin to advertise, recognize where they exist, and infuse into current systems.I'd like to hear from specialists and special areas as well--please include SRP staff you work with in the discussion.  Please have your admin. team person provide me with a thumbs up or thumbs down by next Friday. Once I have all thumbs up, I will: 

• Share with families in the February Q + A
• Challenge poles to take pictures of these values in action
• Be printing these pictures, with the values written over them to hang around the school

Jose Joe's fundraiser

Looking Ahead

The Journey Begins

I left Tuesday's CIA feeling optimistic, knowing that we have the right people on this bus. You all displayed open-mindedness and the smarts to make this RtI shift a potential reality for us in the future. I was impressed. 

Take a moment to look at the last slide. We get it! 

RtI represents a shift--one that this school will do well with. After the meeting I had a handful of people come up to me hungry for more, and some had ideas of how they would like to support an intervention time at their level. I love and appreciate the energy that I am seeing, but more than that I am glad that people are already seeing the merit in RtI. 

Take a look at what the Hattie research says about RtI. As a reminder, Hattie does a meta-analysis, which means he looks at all studies on a topic to draw his conclusions. To break this down for you further, anything over .4 falls in the zone of desired effect, meaning it has the largest impact on student learning. Below, in the green, are some of those higher leverage approaches. As you can see, RtI is off the charts.  

This year, all we have to do is learn about RtI. That's it. Any potential change should be navigated together, be measured, and be implemented with our kids in mind. We will get there, but for right now,  I am committed to us being learners --we can worry about the next logical step at the end of this year. Read on your own, spend some time researching, begin looking for videos online...check out some of the posts that will be coming on the blog. Be an inquirer and open-minded to new learning, but most importantly, always remember that a big reason we will do well with this kind of shift is because we know how to serve kids TOGETHER. That is what makes me the most hopeful. 

Awesome week, QUEST. Keep pluggin'. 

Library News

http://questrockstar.pbworks.com/w/page/92223612/2018%20%20Library%20February%20News

World Read Aloud Day 2018. February 1st is DRESS LIKE YOUR FAVORITE BOOK CHARACTER DAY! 

The morning meeting on Jan 29th is being moved to Thursday, Feb 1st so we can gather  together for World Read Aloud Day.  It will be a normal morning meeting length with Mr. Warren sharing a readaloud in honor of this day.  Intermediate specials will begin on Thursday at the same time that they usually begin on Wednesday. If you want to register so your classroom is on the map, it takes 30 seconds.  I added us as a whole school as well.  http://www.litworld.org/wrad   

We are asking that all kids dress up as their favorite BOOK CHARACTER on February 1st!  Posters will be put up around the building and we will advertise on social media.   FYI February 1st is also Harry Potter ReadAloudDay to honor JK Rowling and her cast of characters that have changed the world and brought reading alive for many children and adults alike.  

Sarah Weeks is coming on Wed March 7th.    ORDER FORM here 

There are three sessions:

 

9:15-10:00  Elementary 

10:15-11:00 Intermediate

2:15-3:00 Primary and Kindergarten 

Here is Destiny Collection of all Sarah Week's books and a few videos.  I will be doing a mini author study with all Kindergarten and Primary.  If you would like to come down for a booktalk as an Elem. or Inter. class lmk! https://collections.follettsoftware.com/collection/5a663eab0e44a600117f9472?h=199ab9ad2130e01e04dbb8c7684a2c1cda339e4b6e789f34d262236bf3eb8f49

PETER BROWN ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK IS A GO!  

Family Literacy Night  Thursday, April 12 at 6 pm

Please sign up for a booth on this google doc if you are able to join us!

  

Please let me know if you would like to read and record a chapter of Wild Robot Escapes for our audio blog so I can assign your chapters.  You can  record on an or any device you prefer and upload it to this location:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O49ifVPCgKPcPYR_EyCg_Ri9jxhbEGDq?usp=sharing

Intermediate Sarah Weeks Book Club will start Wed. February 28th.  Students who have signed up will have a short dessert Q and A session with the author!

READ ACROSS AMERICA/DR SEUSS DAY is March 2nd! http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorReadAcrossAmerica.ph

LEARN 360 is NO LONGER!  Please login to your account using your office 360 login!  http://libguides.monroe2boces.org/slshome/media

 

Enjoy an Awesome Weekend

You've earned it!

Get Excited for Sunday!

FYI/Reminders

• I'm extending value voting until next Wednesday. If you have not voted yet, please do so using the link below: VOTE HERE
• QUEST Applications for incoming students are due on 2/2. Know anyone on the fence? Now is a good time to chat with them. 

Looking Ahead

Learning Invitation

QUEST! SIT cordially invites you....

to read this fascinating article to gain some more RtI background before our CIA meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd. Enjoy!

Read The Why Behind RtI

Looking Ahead

WHY QUEST? By ANNIE

Why Quest?

As a QUEST educator and parent, I can honestly say that there are so many things that I love about QUEST.  As each year passes, QUEST feels more and more like home to me.  It’s a place I look forward to being every day.  Here are just a few reasons why…

At QUEST, we…

Question.  We are not stuck simply going through the motions day to day.  We question what really matters.  We question our practices and consider what we can do differently to give kids the best education and experience possible.  We question our attitudes and consider how an attitude adjustment can change everything.  J  We never stop questioning, reflecting, learning, and growing. 

Unite.  I think that collaboration is key at QUEST.  In so many different ways, we come together.  We come together to share and learn.  We meet as levels and teams to discuss the amazing things we are doing in our classrooms and support one another.  We meet as a staff to talk about the things that we are passionate about and learn new strategies and technologies to better ourselves as professionals.  And, my personal favorite, we come together for fun with events like Feast Day, Culture Day, Science Fun Day, Field Day, the sled race, and so many more.  We are One QUEST, after all. 

Explore.  We examine new ideas, strategies, and technology.  We learn alongside our students as they engage in Inquiry throughout our school day.  We are open-minded risk takers who try new things and take on new challenges.  And we are engaged in and committed to everything we do. 

Support.  Each one of us is there for every student, every day.  We are physically, emotionally, and mentally present for all of our kids and I truly believe that our students know that they can always count on us.  We get to know our students’ families and support them, as well.  Whether it’s helping a family to cope with cancer or helping parents to make the connection between home and school, we are there.  In many cases, the relationships we build with students and their families go well beyond the years they spend here at QUEST. 
Not only do we support our students and families at QUEST, but we support each other, as well.  Our staff is like one big family.  We may spend more time with some members than others, but we all look out for one another and have each other’s backs no matter what.  We band together to make a difference, no matter how big or small, whenever one of our colleagues is in need.   

Teach.  We teach to all students and we teach the whole child.  We make sure that each of our students leaves the classroom feeling successful every day and we do this through differentiation.  We are not a school with a “one size fits all” approach.  Instead, we tailor our instruction to meet the needs of each individual.  We create a positive environment where kids are comfortable taking risks and we plan for unique learning experiences that keep our kids engaged.  Best of all, we teach students to teach and learn from one another, as well, just as we do as professionals. 

QUEST is truly a unique and wonderful place and I am proud to be a part of it! 

Values

To those of you who were part of the CIA meeting this past week, excellent work. So far we have one core value that is established: Community. We also have one aspirational value that has been established: Progressiveness. With that, please click on the link and vote to help us find the remaining values that were brought forth.

VOTE HERE

Please read carefully to avoid confusion between whether we are asking about a core or aspirational value.

Aaaaand... one last note from Andrea.

Sled Race Updates:

• Kits are complete! If you would still like a kit and did not request one, just let me know! 
• There is a "Cuts Box" outside the Tech/REACH rooms - throw anything in there you would like cut! Be sure to include name, teacher and a clear outline of what needs to be done.
• Everyone is doing a GREAT job of keeping the tech room clean!
• I will email the announcement flyer that I put in the Q and A. Feel free to also send it home via email or hard copy.

Another note from Andrea:

¡Me encanta el español!

Great news! Our IB Committee is working to support and increase the use of Spanish at QUEST. We will have more updates and resources for you in the coming months, but if you feel passionate about this topic, join IB Committee on January 17th at 8am in the Fiesta Room for rich discussion.

A related note: Lucas Yensan and Noah Sutheby wanted to work in REACH to create a "Spanish Phrase of the Day" Board. This will be posted outside of Erin's office and maintained by the boys! 

A Friendly Note from Andrea! 

ALL TEACHING STAFF:

As a reminder, the IB OCC is obsolete. Everyone needs to GETS TO 👍 be in "My IB" by the end of January.
The following people are all set:

Greg, Loni, Mary, Nate, Anna, Paige, Cathy, Dave, Katie, Penny, Sam, Breanna, Megan, Emily

If you don't see your name:

• You can follow the directions in the link below and complete  this independently. OR
• Ask me for support - stop by my room! OR
• I will also hold 2 "My IB" meetings for those of you who want to do this with me. 
• Tomorrow after school from 3:30-4:00 OR
• Friday 1/19 before school from 8:15-8:45

Link to register for My IB

Thanks in advance for completing this task.

A few FYI Items

• Mr. Massie is planning on coming in to speak with all teachers on February 6 regarding healthcare and a new option. This will be in the BOE room at 7:45-8:30. 
• As a result of his visit, I have moved the CIA meeting that was scheduled for the 2/6 to 2/13. 
• We have our QE Parent Information Night on 1/18 @ 6:30 in the auditorium. I would love a handful of staff to be there to support the night and show our community. This year we were down and we don't have a prevalent waiting list at this moment, but I am hopeful that we will meet our numbers this year. If you tweet, know people joining the Hilton schools, or if you have some other form of school-based communication, I'd encourage you to get this date out. Word of mouth and positive gossip about our awesome school, QUEST, is our greatest promoter. 

A Note about Spending

Team,

Please get your purchases in by the end of the month. This is in anticipation of a possible district freeze of funds, which realistically could happen at any point. If you need to purchase supplies of sorts later in the year, please work with Hannah to have an open PO for wherever you need to spend those funds.

Keep in mind that the district can freeze funds at any time. Last year it was at the start of January--keep that in mind with your spending and try to do it sooner rather than later.

As always, come chat with me if this creates a problem for you or you have a related question.

Thanks so much.
Derek

The month at a glance

Click on the calendar above to enlarge. Keep in mind that you can also view the calendar through the blog:
1) www.ouronequest.blogspot.com
2) Click on Q Share (schedules) which is found at the top
3) The calendar is there...and you can add to it.

January Principal's Challenge

Team,

This challenge is for ALL of us--kids included. I would encourage you to share with your kids. Challenge starts on Wednesday.

The moment you have all been waiting for...

The unannounced walk-throughs are about to begin (next week). This time, I will have the privilege to observe our school--most of you--teach math. Because these are unannounced, I will not be providing a specific time.

Looking forward to it.

Washington

The middle school has their DC trip May 15-18, 2018 and are looking for staff chaperones. If you have an interest in going, please come and chat with me about it. 

Thank you!

Derek