- Notable Noble Student Quote
4th Grader: “Ms. Schneider, there’s a possum’s tail by the Jungle Gym!”
Ms. Schneider: “How do you know it’s a possum’s tail?”
4th Grader: “Well, I think it’s a stick… but it has hair!”
You’ve taught the comprehension strategies. How do you know if individual students are actually using them while they read?
Progress Reports and Parent Conferences (Tracks B & D) – Reminders
1) All K-5 teachers on Tracks B and D are to submit their printed Achievement and Work & Study Habits reports to administrators (K/2/4 to Mr. K; 1/3/5 to Ms. Schneider) by this Friday afternoon. You will not have to enter attendance; attendance should be automatically included when you print out the reports.
2) When you are conducting parent conferences next week, please remember to utilize the School Assessment Interpretation Guide (“green/yellow/red chart”), which is downloadable here. Talk to parents about upcoming assessments and the need to attend Saturday School, if applicable. Also, please download this flyer regarding Margie Mulder’s “Parent in Control” workshop on Thursday mornings.
3) For more difficult parent conferences, please ask your grade-level administrator to attend.
5th Grade Heritage Fair
CONGRATULATIONS to the 5th grade teachers and students for another wonderful Heritage Fair, which served as their culminating activity for Unit 3, “Heritage.” In what has become a Noble tradition, the students presented what they learned about their own and others’ cultures and enjoyed a feast of delicious food from around the world.
Message from Supt. Cortines:
Early Declaration Incentive for Retirees
On February 9, 2010, the Board of Education will consider adopting an Early Declaration Incentive that provides $1,000 to full-time certificated employees who share their resignation or retirement plans with the District. Eligible employees can receive the $1,000 incentive if they submit their resignation form to Human Resources (HR) by February 26, 2010 for a retirement or resignation that is effective between April 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010.
The incentive is intended to provide the district valuable information that can help reduce the number of employees that will be sent lay-off notices and to better plan staffing changes required due to budget reductions.
If the Board of Education approves offering this incentive on Tuesday February 9, 2010, employees can begin to submit their resignation and/or retirement intentions by submitting the “Certificated Resignation Form” available under “News and Information” on the HR website (http://www.teachinla.com/). Most importantly, employees planning to retire at the close of the 2009-10 school year must also review and follow all the regular State Teacher’s Retirement System (STRS) retirement information and procedures available on our HR website at: http://www.teachinla.com/retirement/prep_ret.html or on the STRS website at: http://www.calstrs.com/help/forms_publications/pubs.aspx
Please visit our HR website (http://www.teachinla.com/) or contact the Human Resources Office at (213) 241-6131 for more information regarding this incentive. Your assistance in sharing the attached flyer with others is appreciated.
Furlough Days
THANK YOU to our amazing classified staff for quickly selecting their furlough days (one per month, February-May, 2010). It is unfortunate that the state of the district’s budget has made furloughs necessary. It looks like a year of financial sacrifices is ahead for all district employees…
Scholastic Reading Counts!
Teachers Grades 2- 5 You are receiving student log-in sheets for your students to begin the new Scholastic Reading Counts Program. The Technology Department has loaded the icon on the available computers in your room. Students will simply click the SRC! Icon to begin. Please establish your guidelines with students for use of the program in IWT or library time. Please be sure to sign up for library time for your students to really utilize the program. In addition, the SRC! program is available in the computer lab so your students are free to log-in there as well. If you encounter technology issues, please send a message to the Tech Dept. Happy Reading!
Equipment Inventory
We are in the process reviewing our categorical purchases of equipment. The inventory includes items we use everyday such as projectors, document readers, laptops. You will see red labels which we must attach to document placement of these items. On Wednesday, February 10th, we will have visitors from Local District 1 here to walk a few classrooms for the Inventory Inspection. If we do pop into your classroom, we beg your pardon and you may continue your lessons as we are there just to look for equipment. Thank you for your assistance!
Title I and Parental Involvement
On February 20, 2010 we will host a Saturday Workshop for parents with information on literacy, math, and testing information. Invitations will be sent out next week.
CLAD Emergency Credential Opportunity
The District will be providing an opportunity to renew or apply for an EMERGENCY CLAD CREDENTAL on February 18th and 19th at the Local District 2 office. Registrations must be submitted by February 11th in order to reserve an appointment slot. Please come to room 22 for additional information and reservations.
Track B and D Teachers
Students that are ready to move up an ELD level must have met all the standards in the present ELD Portfolio. Please review your students’ folders and submit those that are ready in order to reflect the new level in the next reporting period.
Thank you to all of the teachers who turned in the TIP interest survey, have shown interest, and are taking advantage of the myriad of programs we have to offer our students. Here are some procedures and points we need to take care of before we can start working with our students. First, in order to continue offering this program next year, we need to keep assessment grades of our students (pre- TIP assessments and post-TIP assessments). Next, we need to specify if our targeted students are working on Spelling, Fluency, Reading Comprehension or Vocabulary Development, etc. Third, we need to document the intervention plan we will provide our students. In this plan we need to include weekly lesson plans and standards. Finally, take attendance every session.
Once you identify and select your TIP students (4 to 7) fill out the TIP Intervention Planning Sheet and turn it in to me. We are planning to start the TIP intervention next week, February 16th; therefore let me know when you have your plan ready. As soon as we have everything in place, Nury will create a timecard and rosters.
Welcome back Track A! On February 11th-12th, RSP and the Learning Center will be closed. The Programs will re-open on Tuesday February 16th. Happy Valentine’s and Presidents’ Day!
Hello Arts Cadre! We will have a brief meeting after school on Thursday, February 11th, in the library. Evening for the Arts is coming up on April 23rd and we will have an initial planning meeting. See you there!