Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Week of July 27

Thank you to those of you that we able to help on Saturday to Sack out Hunger.  It was a wonderful way to give back to our community and help Crossroads Church that partners with our school.  If you are interested in signing up to help on August 8, here is the signup.  There are still 5 openings. 





UPDATED CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK
Here is a copy of the newest version of the CISD Learning Framework.  Remember, this dynamic document is one that frames all of the work that we do in Coppell ISD.  New teachers will become familiar with this document at New Hire Training and we will reference this document throughout the year.


PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR 2015-2016
Please complete the following survey to inform campus administration of your professional learning wants/needs for the upcoming year.  The survey will close this Friday, July 31.

    iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK
    Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Ongoing Professional Learning and teaching portion for our iBook.  

    This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  



    Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Visionary Leadership in this location by Monday, August 3. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  THANK YOU for your help with this!!


    CAMPUS HANDBOOK
    Here is our updated campus handbook.  Please sign and turn in the handbook receipt form to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 


    NEW TO CISD TRAINING
    Here is information that the district has shared regarding new teacher training.  If you have already checked out your MacBook or iPad, please bring these, charged, to all trainings.  





    DATES TO REMEMBER
    July 31- Wendy's Birthday
    August 2- Katie's Birthday
    August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training 
    August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation
    August 13- Shelley S's Birthday
    August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training
    August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)
    August 25- Roxann's Birthday
    August 27- Sam's Birthday

    Monday, July 20, 2015

    Week of July 21

    Thank you to those of you that made it out to Main Event on Monday.  It was nice to have family members there, too!  Todd did a great job organizing the event and it was fun to see that we have some skilled (and not so skilled) bowlers on staff.  Stay tuned for another get together!




    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR 2015-2016

    Please complete the following survey to inform campus administration of your professional learning wants/needs for the upcoming year.

    iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK
    Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Innovative Learning and teaching portion for our iBook.  We have over 90 images and some narratives submitted.  Thank you to those who have taken the time to contribute.  

    This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to  ONGOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  




    Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Innovative Learning and Teaching folder in this location by Monday, July 27. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  THANK YOU for your help with this!!


    CAMPUS HANDBOOK
    Here is our updated campus handbook.  Please sign and turn in the handbook receipt form to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 


    NEW TO CISD TRAINING
    Here is information that the district has shared regarding new teacher training.  If you have already checked out your MacBook or iPad, please bring these, charged, to all trainings.  




    DATES TO REMEMBER
    July 26- Nicole's Birthday
    July 31- Wendy's Birthday
    August 2- Katie's Birthday
    August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training 
    August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation
    August 13- Shelley S's Birthday
    August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training
    August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)
    August 25- Roxann's Birthday
    August 27- Sam's Birthday

    Tuesday, July 14, 2015

    Week of July 14

    Happy Tuesday, Friends!  I hope you are enjoying the time off.  I have been making the most of my friends and family time before returning to work next week.  Mike has enjoyed quite a few home cooked meals (applause) and Hannah and Sophie have had daily walks.  LIFE IS GOOD!  

    We found out yesterday that we are LEED Gold Certified (WAHOO!) and there is a new article in Texas Architect about our school.   Let me remind each of you, YOU were hand picked to be part of our famiLEE!  It is because of YOU and YOUR EFFORTS that we are transforming education and blazing new trails.  


    HOW TO SYNC GMAIL TO CISD EMAIL
    If you have been approved by the board, then you have a Coppell ISD Outlook account.  You will also have a Coppell ISD Gmail account.  To access your Outlook account from home, go here.  Your Outlook user name is your first initial, last name.  For example: ckastrounis.  

    To access your Outlook account from home, go here. Your Gmail username is first initial, last name, @g.coppellisd.com.  For example: ckastrounis@g.coppellisd.com.  Both of these accounts have the same password.  

    Since your Google invites will go to your gmail account AND so that you don't have to check BOTH, here are digital and listed directions to sync the two of them together (thank you Coppell ISD iTeam):
    1. Log into your Google Apps Account (Google Apps 2011-12, if it is your first time, use the password CISD)
    2. Click Email on your Google Apps Dashboard
    3. Click on the gear in the top right corner.
    4. Click on Mail Settings.
    5. Click on "Forwarding POP/IMAP" in the settings tabs.
    6. Click "Add a Forwarding Address"
    7. Type in your regular @coppellisd.com email address.
    8. Open Outlook or Webmail
    9. Find the email from "CISD Administrators Team"
    10. Find the confirmation code in the email.
    11. Highlight and copy the code.
    12. Go back to Google Apps.
    13. Paste the code in the confirmation code box.
    14. Click the verify button.
    15. Click the dot next to "forward a copy…"
    16. Choose what you want to do with the gmail (I prefer to have it marked as read).
    17. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
    18. Click "Save Changes"

    iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK
    Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Flexible Learning Environment portion for our iBook.  We have over 90 images and some narratives submitted.  Thank you Stacey, Alli, Roxann, Elizabeth, and Amanda for your work on this.  Thank you Britt for learning some funky new widgets for us to use.

    Again, we cannot start our work without your help!  This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to  INNOVATIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  






    Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Innovative Learning and Teaching folder in this location by Monday, July 20. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  


    CAMPUS HANDBOOK
    If you want to get a jump start on some of the Back to School tasks that need completed, you can read our campus handbook NOW.  It has been updated from last year.  It is compelling reading and tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about RJL (and then some).  There is a form for you to sign and turn in to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 


    DATES TO REMEMBER
    June 27- Viana's Birthday
    July 13- Cassie's Birthday
    July 14- Shelley L's Birthday
    July 15- Lunch at Mattitos (email Lauren)
    July 26- Nicole's Birthday
    July 31- Wendy's Birthday
    August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training
    August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation
    August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training
    August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)


    Tuesday, July 7, 2015

    Week of July 7

    Hi friends!  We will continue to update you though the summer and email you when the blog is updated.  Please take time to read and comment. 

    2015-2016 STAFFING
    Jess (3rd grade Purple House) and Jacque (1st grade Green House) were approved by the school board last night.  This means they are now on our school-wide email distribution list.  YAY!  Please take time to welcome them, if you have not done so already.

    Courntey will be going to teach 3rd grade in her sons' school, so if you have connections to anyone interested in our  media specialist position, the job posting will go up this week.  Spread the word!! 


    iBOOKS UPDATE:
    We are busy starting to compile information to tell "our story," but we need your help.  Each week we will have a focus and reach out to you to send us documentation (narratives, pictures, and video).  This will ensure our whole building is part of the storytelling and represented AND we will do this virtually so that you can participate from your swimming pool, couch, or beach chair.

    This week we are requesting any evidence in relation to FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  

      

    Please drop your written contributions, photos and videos in relation to Flexible Learning Enviornments in this location by Monday, July 13.  On Monday, you will receive an updated blog with our new focus.  

    If you are curious what we are compiling, you can look at Belton New Tech High School's iBook or any other school iBook on iTunes.  Download it to your iBooks and the sky is the limit.

    If you are interested in going through our Twitter Feed and adding photos to the five categories, please email Chantel and Todd and we will grant you access to the folders.

    If you are interested in heading up one of the 5 areas of this project they are:
    • Visionary Leadership
    • Innovative Learning and Teaching
    • Ongoing Professional Learning
    • Compelling Evidence of Success
    • Flexible Learning Environment
    Thank you, Britt, for meeting with Todd and Chantel today to start the legwork on this.