Week of 4/22/24

 Something Personal 

It's important to note that our classrooms are transitioning towards the science of reading. This shift doesn't negate all the practices we once considered tried-and-true. Instead, it emphasizes the need for language-rich learning environments. Even if we don't explicitly teach reading, we all play a role in immersing our learners in rich literacy experiences.

As we evolve in our approach to teaching reading, our district is embracing the work of Jan Burkins and Kari Yates. Explore their article on their blog and reflect on how you, regardless of your role, can implement language development strategies.

The five key practices to focus on are:

·         Turn-and-talk

·         Repeat and expand

·         Elevate YOUR language

·         Ask a follow-up question

·         Provide wait time

Dig in more by clicking here!

Something Professional 

Staff Meeting

When: Tuesday, April 30th at 8 am (done by 8:25 for testing)

Where: QUEST cafe

What: Suicide Prevention (please come see Derek if this content is triggering for you and you need to have the content delivered differently than large group)

Who: Liz T. is coming to present to us

caMp Update

At this time, we are closing the request form for our consultation and are only scheduling follow up meetings in the remaining weeks. If for some reason you need to have an emergency, last minute problem solving meeting on a student, please reach out to Derek to schedule. 

Testing Reminder

Next week we begin our Math state testing on Monday and Tuesday. As a reminder: 

click here for the modified schedule!

Next week is the NYS math test on Monday and Tuesday. Here are some quick need to knows.

 

• Accommodation groups are the same

 

• Grade 6 Session 2, students should have exclusive use of a four-function calculator with a square root key or a *scientific calculator
•         Graphing calculators are NOT permitted.
• Note: For students testing on computers in Grades 6–8, a calculator is provided as part of the computer testing delivery system, but schools should continue to supply students with exclusive use of the type of hand-held calculator mentioned above. 

 

• When you are ALL finished testing

 

• email or remind Kristy and can you also highlight your name on the google doc below. This will allow Derek and I to know who and when to move kids still testing. You cannot send kids still testing to the library on their own, but if you are in a modification group, and the class is finished and your student is finished you can send them back once their class is finished ( highlighted)

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O_1BPsvcNf5_tDcYjeIFHprfbqKUF_svtjaNKdMXa6U/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

SIT Problem Solving

Problem #1:

It seems as though the interior badge swipe (door near Mrs. Carpenter and Miss Smith’s rooms) does not always work. I tested it with five different badges and only one badge gave us an issue, but all others worked fine.

 

Solution: With that being said, I think it is finicky and you have to grab it quickly. Mark Edwards will be working with tech. to see if we are able to adjust the time on it so it stays unlocked longer when you swipe. This will hopefully help.

 

Problem #2:

We have a lot of students who are coming in mid-recess and knocking on that door (south pole interior door with badge swipe) while the students in the intermediate classes are working in order to be let in for the bathroom or the nurse. This happens many times throughout a day. Please be sure to let the students in at the equator door so they are not banging on that door. 

 

Solution: Please encourage students to use the bathroom prior to recess, but more than that, if they do need to be let in, please swipe any student in by the equator door and have them use those bathrooms near that door. If they need to use the nurse, please also have them go through the equator door as well.

 

From District Communications

We would like to begin gathering footage for the year end video centering on our Cadet Cornerstones (Intentional values.) We are planning on visiting each building during the school day on Wednesday (5/1). We wouldn't be in the building too long, maybe a half hour. If this doesn't work for you, please let me know and we can try to find a better time. Also, is there is something that you are aware of that will be taking place in any of your classrooms on that day let us know and we will try to plan our visit accordingly.

Thanks!

Dave

From the Office of Instruction

The Office of Instruction, in collaboration with the members of Leadership Council, is seeking your feedback on Year 1 of MTSS Implementation. Please take a few moments to complete this MTSS Feedback Form to provide your input. We will use the feedback obtained in this survey to reflect on and revise (where necessary) the action steps for 24-25. The feedback form will be open for your input through May 10, 2024.

 

Week of 4/15/24

 Something Personal 

The school has been buzzing with students taking action through Exhibition. No matter how big or small the action is, the idea is all about agency. But agency itself is not limited to the big, grand moments of action tied to a particular planner at the end of intermediate. Rather, agency can, and should, be part of each classroom, each day. 

Agency is about ownership, empowerment...keepin the student in the driver seat. I often tell parents that it is our job to help the student know who they are and what they need as a learner...that level of agency will transcend the walls of QUEST and provide each child with the tools to be successful for years to come. In my day-to-day travels, this has looked like: 

• Students having a choice in how they will show their learning. 
• Students working toward learning or AtL goals.
• A teacher providing clarity around what success will look like but the student determining whether or not they've arrived and can demonstrate the learning goal. 
• Students sharing their ideas in class through routines like accountability talk (math talk). 
• Students using modifications and accomodations that help THEM as a learner...and initiating that. 
• Students taking action as a result of a planner. 
• Students determining what Zone they are in emotionally and what strategies they could use. 
• Students banging down my door to share, yet another, idea for the building.

Check out the two visuals below, and hats off to agency! 

Something Professional

PTSO Surplus

As you've likely heard, almost all surplus projects were approved by the PTSO. We are at the end of their surplus funds, meaning that the PTSO will have to be extra cautious when approving anything extra. This does not include any allocated budget line, but just be aware that any extra funding that moves beyond your allocation is at risk for a potential no vote. If you read this entire paragraph, please pat yourself on the back! Proud of you.

Kudos for all of the thoughtful funding requests--they were great. We are extremely lucky as a small school to have such an incredibly hard working PTSO that supports our goals. 

Vertical Teams Update!

Placement (repost from last week)

We are starting placement next week. The process has been revised this year, specifically what needs to be done by classroom teachers. Our goal is to align it with MTSS systems and make it fact based, while removing subjectivity. See the timeline below and check out the quick video to review how the process is different. Please note that each week you will get instructions as we move through this timeline, however, it is good to be on top of it and aware of the shifts. 

PLACEMENT VIDEO!

Safety Reminder

In the event of a lockdown drill, or real lockdown, please remember:

•  to sign-in to navigate;
• quickly look in the hall for any kid passing by...pull them into your room for safety;
• keep kids and yourself out of the line of sight from the door;
• lock your door; 
• stay in a lockdown until all is cleared. 

Week of 4/9/24

 Something Personal

The culture of QUEST is the sum of all the micro-cultures. Included in this are various teams and how they operate. Consider the team you are on...does your team align wiht the areas above? If not, what is holding you back? What does your team do well that can further be leveraged to grow? 

I'm most impressed with the ability of QUEST to collaborate. Thank you for making the health of the school, and the health of the teams you are on, a priority. Appreciate you! 

Something Professional 

Testing Reminder

We begin NYS Computer Based Testing on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Some reminders: 

• Here is our modified schedule: click here!
• The teacher directions, by level, using this link: click here!  
• A reminder re: proctor training: click here!
• Updated proctor list: click here!

During the state test, please remember to send any questions to Kristy Shafer at Command Central either via email (kshafer@hilton.k12.ny.us) or by replying to the text message you will receive in the morning from the QE 3-8 CBT Remind Class. If you are a Remind user, please do not use the website or app to contact Kristy during the simulation. Only reply to the text sent in the morning. If you haven't yet joined the Remind class and would like to use it to communicate with Kristy during testing, directions on how to do so can be seen here. The code is @bd94fe7. 

 

Placement

We are starting placement next week. The process has been revised this year, specifically what needs to be done by classroom teachers. Our goal is to align it with MTSS systems and make it fact based, while removing subjectivity. See the timeline below and check out the quick video to review how the process is different. Please note that each week you will get instructions as we move through this timeline, however, it is good to be on top of it and aware of the shifts. 

PLACEMENT VIDEO!

CIA Vertical Teams

When: 4/16/24 @ 8 am

Where: Cafe

What: Vertical team work!  (done by 8:25 due to state testing)

Tutoring Interest? 

At times, tutors are needed at the elementary level for district-provided tutoring. The district is looking to build a list of potential tutors that can be called on should a tutoring need arise, which can range from one day or longer. 

Please complete the form below if you wish to be on the list of potential tutors. Know that in completing this form that there is no commitment on your part as you would be able to decline any tutoring requests you may receive in the future as needed. 

If interested, click here to fill out the form.

From the Office of Instruction: 

Shared below is a video from the Office of Instruction with updates from the Superintendent's Conference Day kickoff on Shifting the Balance with Kari Yates. Please watch this video for updates on Professional Learning offerings as well as next steps. For those of you looking for early entry points to this work, you will find two resources below.

 

·                     Video Message: WIN_20240327_09_11_03_Pro.mp4

·                     PD Options : SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPTIONS FOR SHIFITNG THE BALANCE.docx

·                     NYS Literacy Briefs: https://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/literacy-briefs

·                     Dialogic Conversation Protocol: Dialogic Conversations.pdf

Spring Fitness Challenge

The 2024 QUEST Spring Fitness Challenge starts next week! We will start the challenge on April 15th and end on May 3rd. Please remember to put your total number of steps into the spreadsheet at the end of your assigned day! You can find the link with team information and when you will be keeping steps here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ks3ojTNuk4M2E5rdlAWiyxd2mtnnlVDa811vhp-PASk/edit#gid=0