Courage does not always roar.  Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.  Unknown

 Sept 23 to Sept 27

Mon 9/23 4:00 – 8:00 Benefits Depot ESC

Tues 9/24

Wed 9/25  8:15 Viking Support Team (1^st Grade)

Thurs 9/26       BERC Group Visits

Fri 9/27           Student of the Month names and reasons due          

Sept 30 to Oct 4

Mon 9/30       3:00 – 7:00 Benefits Depot ESC

Tues 10/1      Individual Picture Day

                     3:45 AVID Meeting

6:30 PTA General Membership Meeting

Wed 10/2       8:15 Viking Support Team 3^rd/4^th GR Rm. 4

Thurs 10/3     2:50 PTA Fundraiser Kick-off Assembly

Fri 10/4

Oct 7 to Oct 11

Mon 10/7 8:15 Principal Directed Library

Tues 10/8 Student of the Month Luncheon

                4:30 Volunteer Orientation

Wed 10/9  8:15 Viking Support Team 5^th/6^th GR Rm. 4

Thurs 10/10     Waiver Day CSIP, Evaluation Process, Setting Goals Instructional Framework and Learning-Focused Conversations.

Fri 10/11         No School State In-Service

A message from ITC regarding TAC:

We have placed the TAC-Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Guide under the NEWS section of your school’s website (you will need to Sign In to view this document). You can download the guide from this location. Please take a look at this guide as these questions represent the most common questions our HelpDesk is receiving, and we have put general comments or solutions to each of these questions within the guide.

WANTED!!!

Spinning is in need of an Elementary Arts Network (EAN) representative. What does an EAN rep do?  They will keep staff informed about arts events and contests as well as valuable teacher training opportunities such as the Culture and The Arts workshop series. They also ensure that our students are represented in the Vesey/Munson art show and act as a liaison between your school and the Elementary Arts Coordinator.  Someone with a strong interest in integrating the arts into the classroom.

Responsibilities include:

attend one EAN meeting in the fall (October 3) – timesheet for 3 hours

·       share regularly at staff meetings

·       gather and prepare artwork for the Vesey/Munson art show

·       distribute and explain the WA State Fair 2nd grade poster project

·       communicate with the Elementary Arts Coordinator

Your EAN representative will earn free tuition to the 2014 Arts and Literacy Institute.

Please let Collette/Barb know if you are interested.

QUIZDOM

Qwizdom will be providing four professional development opportunities for staff to learn how to use Qwizdom in their classrooms. You may sign up on the professional development website for one of the following classes.

Monday, September 30, 4-5:30 pm Beginners Qwizdom Training

Tuesday, October 8, 4-5:30 pm Advanced Qwizdom Training
Thursday, October 17, 4-5:30 pm Beginners Qwizdom Training
Monday, October 28, 4-5:30 pm Advanced Qwizdom Training

All trainings will take place at Firgrove Elementary in Portable 32. Class sizes will be limited to 25 participants. We will provide light refreshments but there will be no timesheet or clock hours available for these classes.

EDLINE REMINDER!!!

Our goal is to build effective communication systems between home, community and school that are interactive and regularly used by students, school staff and families and other stakeholders.

·       Teachers must have completed their profiles and must begin using their websites each week

·       Their profile must include their email address. This should be done by now.

·       They must “get trained” in use of the Edline tool by October 31st

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Please remember to review open enrollment information closely this year. Because of legislative requirements, there are substantial changes that all employees should consider, despite the inclination to not change plans from one year to the next. The benefits open enrollment period is now open! Please visit the District’s website at http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/employment/hr/benefits.cfm for plan information, rates and enrollment forms.

Employee benefit election changes must be made online at http://employeeonline.puyallup.k12.wa.us.
 

If employees have questions or need assistance navigating the online enrollment, they can attend one of our benefit depots at ESC (drop-in and phone in access to Benefits staff is limited during open enrollment because of the volume of work, but one-on-one assistance is available at the depots):

TIME IS RUNNING OUT...ACTION REQUIRED BY SEPT. 30!!! 

My weakness may be your strength, and vice versa.  When we work as a team, the strengths cancel the weaknesses.  The result is mutual respect throughout the entire team.  Mike Power

Sept 16 to Sept 20

Mon 9/16 DIBELS Testing thru 9/19 (refer to schedule)

Tues 9/17 DIBELS

Wed 9/18  DIBELS

Thurs 9/19       3:30 Staff Meeting - Library

                     6:30 PTA Meeting - Stage

Fri 9/20               Classroom schedule due to Ms. Stewart

Sept 23 to Sept 27

Mon 9/23 4:00 – 8:00 Benefits Depot ESC

Tues 9/24

Wed 9/25  8:15 Viking Support Team (1^st Grade)

Thurs 9/26       BERC Group Visits

Fri 9/27    

Sept 30 to Oct 4

Mon 9/30 3:00 – 7:00 Benefits Depot ESC

Tues 10/1 Individual Picture Day

                     3:45 AVID Meeting

6:30 PTA General Membership Meeting

Wed 10/2 

Thurs 10/3      

Fri 10/4

BERC GROUP VISIT

Interviews and Focus Groups

Throughout the day of their visit at our school, they will conduct formal and informal interviews and focus groups with building administrators, the school leadership team, counselors, teachers, students, parents and community members, and classified staff.

Classroom observations

A BERC researcher will visit each classroom in your school for 25 to 30 minutes. They want to observe “typical” lessons, so teachers should not do any special preparation for the observations. Because they schedule the observations after they arrive at the school, teachers will not necessarily know what time of the day the observations will occur in any given classroom.

BERC group follow-up

A report out will happen mid-October.  Date to be announced.

Individual picture day

Sign-up sheet will be available Monday September 23^rd

Classroom Schedule

Please make sure to submit your classroom schedule to the office in the format that was sent to you via email from Collette.

Y Drive

Just a reminder to use the Y drive as it was intended.  Please use your folder and try not to randomly add folders that will begin to clutter up this drive.

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. Newt Gingrich

Sept 9 to Sept 13

Thurs 9/12       12:30 Patrol Meeting Rm. 18

Fri 9/13           1:10-1:40 Assembly PHS Orchestra (Reversed Seating)

Sept 16 to Sept 20

 Mon 9/16 DIBELS Testing thru 9/19 (refer to schedule)

Tues 9/17 DIBELS

Wed 9/18  DIBELS

Thurs 9/19       DIBELS

Grade Level Meetings

                     6:00 PTA Meeting - Stage

Fri 9/20              

Sept 23 to Sept 27

Mon 9/23

Tues 9/24

Wed 9/25 

Thurs 9/26      

Fri 9/27    

EDLINE

Since all teachers have now had training in the use of Edline as a communications tool, it’s a basic expectation that all staff will have an updated profile. It is not unreasonable for parents and community members to expect that all staff members will have their email addresses included in their profile. In addition, teachers should identify the grade-level and/or content they teach as part of their profile.

Here are the dates for additional Edline Teacher Website training and support. Trainings and Drop-in Labs will be held in the ITC Commons during the times listed. Space is limited for these trainings and staff must register through the ProDev website.  This can also be found at the following location on our website once you Sign In:

 https://www.edline.net/pages/Puyallup_School_District/News/Teacher_Edline_Training_-_Comi

 

Date	Session
Thu Sep 12	Edline Teacher Training, 3:30-5 pm
Tue Sep 17	Drop In Support, 3-5 pm
Thu Sep 19	Edline Teacher Training, 3:30-5 pm
Mon Sep 23	Edline Teacher Training, 3:30-5 pm
Tue Sep 24	Drop In Support, 3-5 pm
Thu Sep 26	Edline Teacher Training, 3:30-5 pm

Guest speakers available

South Hill Historical Society is offering guest speakers for our schools. The speakers would be especially appropriate with the 4th grade and 7th grade social studies. Teachers may contact Terry Maves at TerryMaves@comcast.net or Ben Peters at poppaben2002@Yahoo.com for more information.

You may also visit their website at www.southhillhistory.com

STAR and AR News for elementary teachers

You may have heard that STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading) and AR(Accelerated Reader) will be available for elementary students grades 1-6. This is indeed great news!!

The STAR computerized test has taken reading assessment to a whole new level. It is connected to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) , can provide you with student growth percentiles, strand data, and more! Talk about a tool for helping with instructional and intervention decisions. Use the STAR assessment as a progress monitoring tool along with Journeys Unit/Benchmark/Fluency assessments and DIBELS, and WOW! What a great student achievement reading profile!

As a district, we would like this testing completed by all students in grades 2-6 in September, December and March . This will help us determine test viability and identify indicators of success in correlation with the passage of the MSP/SBAC. Your test coordinator has the details of the testing window information! (First grade teachers, use your judgment as to when your students are ready, but all first grade students should participate no later than March).

The STAR Reading Enterprise assessment is still easy to use!

It is…
·       Fast: You can screen your entire class in minutes to reveal which students need to reach benchmark, and to help group students by proficiency levels.
·       Easy to Administer: With a simple interface, it’s easy for teachers to administer and very intuitive for students.
·       Accurate: STAR Reading delivers a wealth of valid, reliable, and actionable RTI data.
·       Once STAR testing is complete, your students will have the same great access to AR as they have in the past.

For more detailed information, visit our district website under the instruction and learning, literacy news section and click on the STAR and AR links

Health and Wellness

WIN Yoga is offered every Monday and Wednesday, at two locations for the entire school year. "HATHA YOGA" is a complete full body work-out, including strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance, and deep relaxation, with stress reduction techniques. No experience necessary. All ages and abilities welcome. Bring a yoga mat and water. Offered Mondays, 5:15pm-6:15pm, beginning September 9, 2013 in the Maplewood Elementary School Gym, and Wednesdays, 4:15pm-5:15pm, beginning September 18, 2013 in the Sunrise Elementary School Gym. Drop-in Fee (cash only): Adult $7, Student $5. Discounted Full session fee (12 classes): $60. For more information, please contact the instructor, JoEtte Rossi-Luich at (253) 537-7604.

Zumba Fitness starts Monday, September 9, 2013. Class meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30pm-5:30pm at Karshner Elementary. Cost is $4 per class or $30 for a 10-class punch card. Athena Hoenhous is the instructor.

Step and Weights starts Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at Fruitland Elementary. Class meets Mondays, 4:15pm-5:00pm (step only), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00pm-5:00pm (step and toning with hand weights). This class will incorporate cardio and circuit training with weights. Cost is $4 drop-in, or $3 per class punch card. Michele Roan is the instructor.

Please contact Michele Roan at Fruitland Elementary with any questions regarding the WIN class offerings.

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~John Dewey

 

Sept 9 to Sept 13

Mon 9/9      

Tues 9/10    3:30 Clarendon Baby Shower

Wed 9/11     Early Release – 12:01 No lunch service

                   9:30 Safety and HIB (Harassment/Intimidating/Bullying) Assembly and Drill Day

Thurs 9/12  

Fri 9/13       1:10-1:40 Assembly PHS Orchestra (Reversed Seating)

Sept 16 -+to Sept 20

Mon 9/16     DIBELS Testing thru 9/19

Tues 9/17   

Wed 9/18    

Thurs 9/19  

Fri 9/20      

Forms, Forms, Forms

Please remember to do the following with your forms:

 

·         Lunch applications send to office immediately

·         Enrollment Verification forms – keep them until Friday, alpha order when they are turned in to office

·         Volunteer forms send to office when they come in

·         Rights and Responsibilities Handbook signature form – Collect all and send to office alpha order.

·         Emergency Dismissal Procedures – keep your copy and send all white copies in alpha order

·         Field Trip blue form – teacher keeps in notebook

·         Permission slip pink form – teacher keeps in notebook

·         Compact Title I – Collection Envelope will be in teacher box. Alpha order and give to Sheryl Piskel when all are collected.

Tac Quick Start Guide

There is a Teacher Access Center Quick Start Guide available on the district website that will help out all teachers with questions.

To access this documentation they must logon to the district website and go to this location:

Department > Technology Services > Easy Guides & How to > Teacher Access Center > Teacher Access Center Quick Start Guide

Please take a look at the new website and make sure your info is update.  EDLINE goes live for classroom end of this month.

Steel Drums perform at the fair.

Come out to see our SPINNING Viks perfrom at the Washington State Fair at 3:15 on Wednesday, Sept. 11.