The Cougar Connection

Kemp Elementary Staff and Public Calendar

Last Day of School is TOMORROW!!!!!

Cougar Cartwheels

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Kale and Mrs. Jouanet for being selected to be Common Core ELA Lab Classrooms next year!

Cougar Cartwheels for our new COUGARS, Lisa Jacobi and Michelle Stevens!  We are excited that they will be joining our team next year!

Cougar Cartwheels for this entire staff!  As I complete my last Cougar Connection, I just want to let you know how much I have learned from each and every one of you.  You have taught me how to be a better educator,  a better listener, a better leader and most importantly, you have taught me how to be a better person.  I will be eternally grateful for the love and support that this community has provided me these last three years.  Kemp Elementary is a special place because of the AMAZING hard work and dedication of the entire staff.  I hope that our paths will cross again in the future and of course, if you are ever in the Smyrna area, I hope you stop in and say hi!

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Mason for being such an amazing and outstanding principal to work for! I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn and grow from her these last three years.  Mrs. Mason is an amazing advocate for all of the students at Kemp Elementary!  Her relentless pursuit of consistently doing what is right for each individual student is second to nobody.  Kemp Elementary is VERY FORTUNATE to have such a dynamic leader!  I will miss working with her on a daily basis because she has made Kemp such a wonderful place to work!

What's Happening

Updated Moving Plan....

Please see, it is attached!

Summer Workshop June 2012

The math department is pleased to offer a two-day workshop entitled Hands-On Math in a Common Core Classroom Grades K/1. There are two opportunities to attend this workshop in June. Interested
teachers can sign up for a workshop through the Professional Learning site.

June 5 & 6 Hands-On Math in a Common Core Classroom Grades K/1 Mt. View Elementary 8:00-3:00
June 19 & 20 Hands-On Math in a Common CoreClassroom Grades K/1Mt. View Elementary 8:00-3:00

Math Endorsement

Cobb has completed the first Math Endorsement in Cobb’s history. The math department is pleased to offer the Math Endorsement in the next school year, starting in August. Any teacher interested in
applying for this endorsement is invited to attend an informational meeting in Room 230 at the Central Office on May 17 at 4:00 p.m. A repeat informational meeting will be held in Room 230 on May 23 at 4:00 p.m.

Summer Workshops

There are some spaces left for Non-Title 1 teachers to attend the Title 1 Workshops offered this June. If there are any teachers interested in attending a workshop, please email alice.smith@cobbk12.org to
sign up. The list of workshops is attached. Please note there is no stipend offered to attend these workshops.

TEACHERS LEADING COBB Summer Conference!

Cobb County teachers, paraprofessionals, instructional staff and administrators are invited to participate in Cobb County’s second annual Teachers Leading Cobb Summer Conference, held on
June 13 and 14 at McEachern High School! Over 100 concurrent sessions will offer a variety of content-related topics developed to enhance our practice around Informational Literacy, Performance Based Assessment, Critical Thinking Skills, Literacy within the Disciplines, Educational Technology, and Leadership! Participants who complete the full, two-day conference are eligible to earn one PLU and a $150 stipend. Online registration will open May 21st!

Summer Packets

Please make electronic version of the summer packets are sent to me or Kristy, so that we can post on our website for our students.  This will be coming from the Assessment team.

End of the Year Checklists

Please make sure you have your End of the Year Checklist signed, by me or Kristy before you leave for the summer!

Maintenance Requests

Please complete the attached document for any maintenance requests this summer.  Turn in those requests to Mrs. Ana

Report Card Hold Form

Please complete the Report Card Hold form for any students that have missing textbooks or did not provide a stamp.  Please put this with the report card and turn into the front office.

Also, do NOT seal the envelopes until we give you the final word.  We have a couple of documents that we will need to include; however, we have not received them.

Furniture

Do NOT move any furniture.  If you are moving rooms, please do not move anything at this point.  We will sort it out this summer and make sure everybody has all of the furniture they need.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012....1 More Week!!!!

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Vaccaro and Mrs. Cobb for working so hard with our Maymester students this week!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Suri for working so diligently to get all of our records updated.  Can you believe she is already almost done??? 

Cougar Claps for Mr. Brazile for his expertise in preparing for Bridal Showers.

Cougar Claps for Mr. Brazile's students for helping Mrs. Kale's and Mrs. Harrison's students with helping them make a movie for their wax museum projects on Tuesday.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Hartley for her upcoming marriage!!!!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. McCurley for doing an outstanding job of facilitating an IEP this week.  The BIP and FBA she completed for a student was outstanding.  In fact, our behavior specialist in the county was really impressed!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Willey for being accepted into the Gifted Endorsement program.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Gaiters, Mrs. Hammond and Mrs. Strubberg for working so hard with your students.  We received a parent compliment on how outstanding you all are and how hard you work to ensure the needs of their child is met!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Hartley for doing an outstanding job of presenting to hear teammates what she learned at the Spring Math Common Core training!

Cougar Claps for Mr. McCracken on teaching a model lesson for the third grade team!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Scurry for always being proactive and taking care of our students and staff!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Groeneveld and Mrs. Dorsey for providing their target students with the unique opportunity of disecting a shark!

What's Happening

ASP Coverage During Early Release Next Week

All paras will need to report to ASP until 130 on those days.

GO Math

We found a math book and practice pages that are written in correlation with the Common Core Standards.  It's called GO Math.  This has links for all grade levels.

http://ww2.bullittschools.org/ShepherdsvilleEL/?page_id=1592j

Summer Workshop June 2012

The math department is pleased to offer a two-day workshop entitled Hands-On Math in a Common Core Classroom Grades K/1. There are two opportunities to attend this workshop in June. Interested
teachers can sign up for a workshop through the Professional Learning site.

June 5 & 6 Hands-On Math in a Common Core Classroom Grades K/1 Mt. View Elementary 8:00-3:00
June 19 & 20 Hands-On Math in a Common CoreClassroom Grades K/1Mt. View Elementary 8:00-3:00

Math Endorsement

Cobb has completed the first Math Endorsement in Cobb’s history. The math department is pleased to offer the Math Endorsement in the next school year, starting in August. Any teacher interested in
applying for this endorsement is invited to attend an informational meeting in Room 230 at the Central Office on May 17 at 4:00 p.m. A repeat informational meeting will be held in Room 230 on May 23 at 4:00 p.m.

Summer Workshops

There are some spaces left for Non-Title 1 teachers to attend the Title 1 Workshops offered this June. If there are any teachers interested in attending a workshop, please email alice.smith@cobbk12.org to
sign up. The list of workshops is attached. Please note there is no stipend offered to attend these workshops.

Coaching Endorsement Program

Professional Learning is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Cobb County Coaching Endorsement Program, which is open to teachers, existing instructional coaches, and school/district
administrators! Candidates will acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors of performance-based coaching that will prepare them to coach individual colleagues and to facilitate the
work of professional learning communities, using high-impact collaborative protocols! Learn more about this advanced professional learning program by visiting the Coaching Endorsement
website at: http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/ProfessionalLearning/CoachingEndorsement.aspx
Application deadline is Monday, May 21st!

TEACHERS LEADING COBB Summer Conference!

Cobb County teachers, paraprofessionals, instructional staff and administrators are invited to participate in Cobb County’s second annual Teachers Leading Cobb Summer Conference, held on
June 13 and 14 at McEachern High School! Over 100 concurrent sessions will offer a variety of content-related topics developed to enhance our practice around Informational Literacy, Performance Based Assessment, Critical Thinking Skills, Literacy within the Disciplines, Educational Technology, and Leadership! Participants who complete the full, two-day conference are eligible to earn one PLU and a $150 stipend. Online registration will open May 21st!

Textbook Inventories

Textbook inventories from the team leaders are due to me by Friday, May 18, 2012, so please make sure you get them to your team leader before then.

Profile Sheets...

Profile sheets are NOT due May 6...They are DUE May 25, 2012.  Please post them on Blackboard again.  Just reply to your original post, and type in Final Profile Sheet in your message and attach the completed profile sheet.

Instructional Portfolios

Teachers, please make sure you have an instructional portfolio for every student.  We will be using them this year and passing them to the next grade level.

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

Please see the attached lunch schedule.

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

DRA Data Input

3rd Grade Teachers, please make sure DRA scores are entered on CSIS by May 22, 2012.  Please let me know if  you have any questions.

Gaylord Boxes are Here...

Please purge old adoption materials.  Please identify those items that are old adoption and that we are not using, so that we can put them in the Gaylord boxes that are here.  If you have any questions on what we can put in there, please let me know and I will come take a look for you.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012: Really Wacky Wednesday

Cougar Cartwheels

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Jouanet for getting our Safety Patrol organized for next year.

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Brewer for her awesome idea during CTP this afternoon!

Cougar Cartweels for Mrs. McDevitt, Mrs. Hollis, Mrs. Mascheri, Mrs. Ramirez and Mrs. Camacho for organizing such a wonderful Field Day so far...I am sure Thursday and Friday will be just as great as Monday!

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Kirkland, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Ingram for working hard to get the Volunteer Lunch setup for tomorrow.  It is going to be great!

Cougar Cartwheels for Mrs. Cobb for going above and beyond to help a teacher in need!

Cougar Cartweels for Mrs. Johnson for getting all of the summer packets together for our At-Promie students in first grade.

Cougar Cartwheels  for Mrs. McMillan, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Beames for doing an outstanding job of completing our LFS Spring Session!  It was AWESOME!

Cougar Cartwheels for really everyone for coming together for the movie shoot yeaterday!  Everyone from our cafeteria workers to our Target teachers....Everyone came together and was flexible to get the movie done!!!  We really appreciate the support.

Cougar Cartwheels again for everyone for coming together for our emergency this morning!  Given the situation, we could not of asked for it to run any smoother...again, this is thanks to you and your willingness to do whatever we need during these moments emergency moments!

Cougar Cartweels for Mrs. Groeneveld and Mrs. Willey for sponsoring the Junior Master Gardeners all year this year!  Our garden looks wonderful because of the dedication of these ladies!!!  Thank you so much for all of your support and thank you Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Miller for possibly stepping up for next year!

Cougar Claps for Mr. McCracken for helping the fourth grade team this week.

What's Happening

Textbook Inventories

Textbook inventories from the team leaders are due to me by Friday, May 18, 2012, so please make sure you get them to your team leader before then.

 Profile Sheets...

Profile sheets are NOT due May 6...They are DUE May 25, 2012.  We will post them on Blackboard again.  Just reply to your original post, and type in Final Profile Sheet in your message and attach the completed profile sheet.

Instructional Portfolios

Teachers, please make sure you have an instructional portfolio for every student.  We will be using them this year and passing them to the next grade level.

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

DRA Data Input

3rd grade teachers are required to document their students’ Spring DRA2 data results in CSIS this year. Local AA’s and AP’s have received training and training materials are provided on the Academic Portal. All teachers are encouraged to participate in adding this data. The window will open April 30th and end May 22nd. Please review the updated DRA2 chart on page 97 of the ELA Handbook on Picasso. 3rd grade changed to a CAP of 40 to follow the guidelines recommended by the author of the DRA2.

Gaylord Boxes are Coming...

Please get ready to purge old adoption materials.  Please identify those items that are old adoption and that we are not using, so that we can put them in the Gaylord boxes that are coming.  If you have any questions on what we can put in there, please let me know and I will come take a look for you.

May 2, 2012: Wednesday

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Larocque for doing an outstanding job of organizing our Boosterthon Fun Run!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Jennifer Pritchett for being elected our Teacher of the Year.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Evans for doing a great job of organizing our Kindergarten Orientation.

Cougar Claps for the fourth grade team for helping a friend!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Miller for stepping up to help with the Junior Master Gardner program here at Kemp Elementary next year!!!  Anyone else interested, we need to send one more teacher this summer!  Please let me know ASAP!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Clifford for going above and beyond to resolve a student incident.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Ingram for going out of her way to make copies for Mrs. Hollis!

Cougar Claps for Mr. McCracken for helping out a first grade teacher this week!  They really appreciate the support!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Larocque, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Bussell and Mrs. Vaccaro for ensuring that our Maymester is running smoothly!

Cougar Claps for the entire 2nd grade team for throwing such a wonderful wedding shower for Miss Stacy.  (Soon to be Mrs. Something???)

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Helton for always working so hard to make sure we have subs in the building!

What's Happening

Upcoming LFS Training

Just a reminder that we will have an LFS training the week of May 7th.  Please see the schedule below.

May 7th 1/2 day LFS Training: 4th grade teachers in the AM, 5th grade teachers in the PM 

May 9th  1/2 day LFS Training: K teachers in the AM, 1st grade teachers in the PM.   

May 11th  1/2 day LFS Training:  2nd grade teachers in the AM, 3rd grade teachers in the PM.

During this time, you will create an extension lesson for the 1st nine weeks.  You will have the option to focus on whichever subject you like.  Therefore, if your team is ready to start tackling the Common Core, then you can focus on a Math or ELA extension lesson.  If not, then you can focus on creating a SS or Sci LFS extension lesson.

 

Please do NOT get subs for this as Mrs. Helton is already working on this.  She will have it all set for you.

Instructional Portfolios

Teachers, please make sure you have an instructional portfolio for every student.  We will be using them this year and passing them to the next grade level.

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

End of the Year Checklist

It was sent out last week and is also attached to this email!  Let us know if you have any questions!

Coaching Endorsement

COACHING ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM Applications Now Being Accepted!
Professional Learning is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Cobb County Coaching Endorsement Program. Visit the Coaching Endorsement website at: http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/ProfessionalLearning/CoachingEndorsement.aspx to learn more about this year-long, advanced professional learning program and to access the online application. Deadline to apply is Monday, May 21st!

Teachers Leading Cobb
Save the date! The Second Annual Teachers Leading Cobb Conference will be held June 13 and 14 at McEachern High School. Information on sessions and speakers is forthcoming. Registration for the event will begin May 21!  Please see the attached Briefings with the Flyer for more information.  A stipened will be provided!

Common Core Updates
• ELA will be following the curriculum maps created by the state during the 2012-2013 school year. This is the link: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/ELA-K-5.aspx
• GKIDS will be revised and provided by the DOE for the 2012-13 school year.
• May 29th and 30th- To support teachers as they begin next year with Common Core Standards, there will be four ½ day training sessions per grade level. These are post planning days and no substitutes will be required. Teachers only need to attend one session.

DRA Data Input
3rd grade teachers are required to document their students’ Spring DRA2 data results in CSIS this year. Local AA’s and AP’s have received training and training materials are provided on the Academic Portal. All teachers are encouraged to participate in adding this data. The window will open April 30th and end May 22nd. Please review the updated DRA2 chart on page 97 of the ELA Handbook on Picasso. 3rd grade changed to a CAP of 40 to follow the guidelines recommended by the author of the DRA2.

Social Stuides Update

June 4-6 PICASSO ENHANCEMENTS: Highly talented teacher “chefs” will be developing luscious appetizers to add to our PICASSO resources, especially emphasizing ideas for integrating social studies with the new ELA common core standards. We have already tapped teachers for this flavorful work!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012: The CRCT IS OVER!!!!

Cougar Snaps

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Cobb for earning her Reading Specialists.

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Pritchett, Mrs. Gaiters, Ms. O'Connell, Miss Bastuba, Ms. Brewer, Mr. Brazile and Mrs. Paxson for being nominated Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013!

Cougar Snaps for Miss Washington for completing her student teaching here at Kemp and completing the year in Mrs. Gardner's classroom!

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Spiva, Mrs. Samuels and Miss Roberts for completing there student teaching here at Kemp!  We truly appreciate their service to Kemp this semester!

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Helton, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Suri, Mrs. Scurry and Mrs. Kirkland for being the best front office in Cobb County!

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Kirkland for getting all of our Yogli Mogli treats ordered and setup yesterday!  It was delicious.

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Johnson for giving us a heads up about our very special visitor today!

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. Maggart for holding down the fort while our front office went to lunch!

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Huffstetler, Mrs. Briggs, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Larocque for handling our make ups with the CRCT.

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Miller for getting the Kindergarten Summer Pack together!  This is going to be a great thing for our At-Promise kids to complete this summer.

Cougar Snaps for Mr. McCracken for going above and beyond to clean up a big spill in the cafeteria.

Cougar Snaps for Mrs. Camacho for helping us out with translation services this afternoon.

Cougar Snaps for Mr. Brazile for posing for our "Cougar Snap" picture!

What's Happening

End of Year Checklist is COMING!

Upcoming LFS Training

Just a reminder that we will have an LFS training the week of May 7th.  Please see the schedule below.

May 7th 1/2 day LFS Training: 4th grade teachers in the AM, 5th grade teachers in the PM 

May 9th  1/2 day LFS Training: K teachers in the AM, 1st grade teachers in the PM.   

May 11th  1/2 day LFS Training:  2nd grade teachers in the AM, 3rd grade teachers in the PM.

During this time, you will create an extension lesson for the 1st nine weeks.  You will have the option to focus on whichever subject you like.  Therefore, if your team is ready to start tackling the Common Core, then you can focus on a Math or ELA extension lesson.  If not, then you can focus on creating a SS or Sci LFS extension lesson.

 

Please do NOT get subs for this as Mrs. Helton is already working on this.  She will have it all set for you.

TOTY Election is tomorrow!  Please stop by Mrs. Wright's desk to submit your vote!  Only certified staff members can vote.

 

Instructional Portfolios

Teachers, please make sure you have an instructional portfolio for every student.  We will be using them this year and passing them to the next grade level.

Clean Air Campaign Education Week

Teachers please "talk up" our Clean Air Campaign Education Week.  It will be the week of April 23rd.  We will have announcements everyday from our student council on the importance of car pooling and not idling in the school parking lot.

We will have Car Pool or Ride the Bus To School Week April 30 - May 4th where we will be encouraging students to car pool or ride the bus.  Again, please "talk up" with your students.

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

Guess what, with our new OUTLOOK, your mailbox will be 10 times bigger!!!  You will now have 100 Mb of space!!!  Get ready for some AWESOME pictures on the CC once we make the switch!!!!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012: The Week of the CRCT!!!!!

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Kale, Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Jouanet for applying to be an ELA Common Core Lab Classroom!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Hodges, Mrs. King, Mrs. Gaiters, Mrs. Resch and Mrs. Brewer for doing such an outstanding job of supporting one another to complete an IEP meeting this week.

Cougar Claps for everyone for doing such a wonderful job on the first day of the CRCT!  We had very few interruptions and no serious incidents!!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Ingram for getting all of our 2nd grade CRCT tests copied and sorted!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Resch, Mrs. Harper, and Mrs. Brown for organizing our Autism Awareness bake sale and awareness campaign this month.  It has been wonderful.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Young for helping bring Autism awareness to our first grade students.

Cougar Claps for Mr. McCracken for helping out during testing.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Dorsey, Mrs. Groeneveld and Mrs. Cobb for delivering all of our CRCT tests!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Evans for going above and beyond to help out with a kindergarten screening!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Howell for always being so positive in the morning and making sure our students come in from the bus port with a smile on their face.

What's Happening

Upcoming LFS Training

Just a reminder that we will have an LFS training the week of May 7th.  Please see the schedule below.

May 7th 1/2 day LFS Training: 4th grade teachers in the AM, 5th grade teachers in the PM 

May 9th  1/2 day LFS Training: K teachers in the AM, 1st grade teachers in the PM.   

May 11th  1/2 day LFS Training:  2nd grade teachers in the AM, 3rd grade teachers in the PM.

 

During this time, you will create an extension lesson for the 1st nine weeks.  You will have the option to focus on whichever subject you like.  Therefore, if your team is ready to start tackling the Common Core, then you can focus on a Math or ELA extension lesson.  If not, then you can focus on creating a SS or Sci LFS extension lesson.

Please do NOT get subs for this as Mrs. Helton is already working on this.  She will have it all set for you.

Important ELA Common Core Information

If your school is interested in beginning to write common core units, I have attached the unit
template that the DOE is using for their units on the ELA blog at www.diannadenton.com.

Additional guidance will be provided from the district at the Common Core Summit.

We will be using the curriculum maps created by the state. This is the link...
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/ELA-K-5.aspx
Curriculum maps can be located under each grade level drop down menu.

Social Studies and the Common Core

Will there be new Social Studies Common Core standards?The Social Studies common state standards are still in development and are still several years away from implementation. There is a coalition working on developing standards but our GPS will continue to be taught for the foreseeable future.

So, nothing will change in Social Studies? I wouldn’t say that. The ELA common core includes:
• a new emphasis on reading and writing informational text,
• deeper historical and other content literacy (including extensive vocabulary development),
• research skills,
• rich and authentic performance tasks,
• enhancement of students’ ability to read and analyze primary source documents,
• sophisticated use and citation of multiple resources,
• interpreting various perspectives in text and arguing a position on critical issues.

All of these mesh beautifully with how social studies should be taught. We believe that ALL teachers will have to consciously teach social studies and much more rigorously than in the past.

De-stress for the CRCT with IntelleBoost

To help students focus, be organized, and de-stress a free program (cross-lateral and quick energy movements 2-3 min.) can be shown on your interactive boards. IntelleBoost is offering free accounts through the end of the school year for Cobb Schools (nothing to purchase) Teachers can visit this link to register or extend their membership.
http://www.intelleboost.com/cobb.html

Teaching Literacy

Please take a few minutes to view this compelling video on the need to make instructional shifts in teaching literacy. These shifts become a moral imperative of getting better outcomes for students as
measured by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This video will place perspective on our responsibility to implement Common Core Standards with fidelity.
http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/resources/bringing-the-common-core-to-life-download.html

After viewing this video, take some time to go back and look at the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards and the 6-12 Litearcy through Science, Social Studies and Technical Standards whether you teach at this level or not. It may initially look like this document is not for K-5 educators, but review them anyway. You will see that this is not true. These standards can be found at the
following link:
http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_ELA%20Standards.pdf

Nominations for TOTY are DUE FRIDAY!!!

 Clean Air Campaign Education Week

Teachers please "talk up" our Clean Air Campaign Education Week.  It will be the week of April 23rd.  We will have announcements everyday from our student council on the importance of car pooling and not idling in the school parking lot.

We will have Car Pool or Ride the Bus To School Week April 30 - May 4th where we will be encouraging students to car pool or ride the bus.  Again, please "talk up" with your students.

Student Teachers for Fall 2012

Are you interested in hosting a Student Teacher in Fall 2012?  If so, please let me know.

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

April 11, 2012: The Week We Came Back from Spring Break!

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. McCurley and Mrs. Clifford for always being so flexible!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. McMillian for organizing all of our CFA spirit nights!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Vanderslice, Mrs. Briggs, Dr. Brenneman, Mrs. Paxson, Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Hammond for being an awesome RTI team!!! I am just always so impressed with our school with how everyone comes together to support each individual student!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Knauf for volunteering to proctor here at Kemp Elementary.

Cougar Claps to Mrs. Cobb for doing an amazing job as Director of our After School Program! 

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Daniels for being flexible with her schedule and helping us out during testing.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Dorsey and Mrs. Groeneveld for organizing such a wonderful field trip for their Target students.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Kirkland for getting all of our Maymester materials ordered!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Scott for always looking out for her students!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Harper for her quick action and catching one of her students!

Cougar Claps for Mr. McCracken for always going above and beyond for his students!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Clifford for all of her efforts in organizing our Autism Awareness activities this month!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Huffstetler, Mrs. Priest, Mrs. Hollis, Mrs. McDevitt, Mrs. Szeibart, Mrs. Kirkland and our first grade teachers for all of their support in planning the memorial for Joshua Johnson!

What's Happening

Nominations for TOTY Now Being ACCEPTED!!!

Please nominate your colleague to be Teacher of the Year!  Please see the qualifications for being nominated Teacher of the Year.  Please remember that only certified staff members can nominate teachers for Teacher of the Year.  Please turn in nominations to me by next Wednesday!

Specials Schedule for CRCT

Attached to the CC email is our specials schedule during the week of CRCT.

 Clean Air Campaign Education Week

Teachers please "talk up" our Clean Air Campaign Education Week.  It will be the week of April 23rd.  We will have announcements everyday from our student council on the importance of car pooling and not idling in the school parking lot.

We will have Car Pool or Ride the Bus To School Week April 30 - May 4th where we will be encouraging students to car pool or ride the bus.  Again, please "talk up" with your students.

Student Teachers for Fall 2012

Are you interested in hosting a Student Teacher in Fall 2012?  If so, please let me know.

Common Core Pacing Guide for ELA

We will be using the pacing guides created by the state for English Language Arts.  This is the link... https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/ELA-K-5.aspx

 

You can find the curriculum maps under each grade level drop down menu.

 

Wear Jeans Monday and Tuesday of Next Week!

 

Profile sheets with 3rd Quarter data is due April 13, 2012. We are going to try to post to Blackboard, so that other support personnel like counselors, EIP teachers and Special Education teachers will have easy access to the data. To post your profile sheet on blackboard, simply logon to Blackboard, click on Kemp's Drop Box.

Next, click on your grade level and then Create Thread. Simply type in your name, scroll down and find the attachment button. Add your profile sheet as an attachment and hit submit. That is it!

If you get it on Blackboard by Friday, April 13, 2012, please feel free to wear Jeans on that Monday and Tuesday...April 16 and 17. Also, since you are posting the data on Blackboard, there is no need for you to send it to me.

Please let me know if you need help and I will be more than happy to help.

(Mrs. Barton's is already done since she sent her sheet early!)

Sack Lunches on Last Two Days of School....

Please plan for sack lunches on those last two days of school. We will need to have sack lunches and eat in the classroom because of planned 5th grade activities.  We will send out specific times for you to come by and pick up your lunch on that day.  Our modified Specials schedule will be the following for those last two days:

1^st – 8:00 – 8:30, K – 8:30 – 9:00, 4th  – 9:05 – 9:35, 5th – 9:35 – 10:05, 3^rd – 10:10 – 10:40, 2^nd – 10:40 – 11:10

One more thing, on the last day of school, 5th grade will be on the back field from 11 till 12.

Jeans for CRCT!!!!

Wear Jeans every day of the CRCT!!!! That is right, you have the opportunity to wear jeans for seven straight days with jeans for CRCT and the Blackboard activity!  (This applies to all staff members EXCEPT Administration.)

GO REDWINGS!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012: 2 More Days!!

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Roxanne Kirkland, Melissa Helton and Mrs. Scurry for holding down the fort while K registration was going on!

Cougar claps for Vaccaro, Cobb, Mascheri, Hollis, Thomas, Barton, Imielinski, and Shirley for helping to make the Talent Show a success!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Sossaman for working so hard to organize the Third Grade field trip.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Rucker, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Priest, Mrs. Suri, Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Larocque for an outstanding Kindergarten registration.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Szeibert for building our bench for the memorial this Friday.

Cougar Claps for 4th grade for just being awesome.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. McMillian, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Beames for getting our Spring LFS session planned and organized.  It is going to be awesome!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Shirley for doing an outstanding job in her classroom.  We received such a nice email from a parent complimenting her.

What's Happening

Additional Year

Start thinking about those students that you think would be good candidates for Additional Year!  Please send names to me that you are considering and I will get an information packet to you soon.

Outlook Training

We have Outlook training scheduled for May 29th in the morning.  More information to come!  Mrs. Kennedy will facilitate the training!

Autism Awareness

Autism Awareness Month is April!  Be on the lookout for ways you can support Autism Awareness

Storage Rooms!!

Please make sure those STORAGE ROOM FLOORS are clear before SPRING BREAK!!  We will be cleaning those floors!

SLDS is Here!!!

It is on the Academic Portal and it will be a way to access all of our data from the state!  Should be on the Academic Portal within the next two weeks.  (It is right above LOGOUT.)  SLDS stands for State Longitudinal Data System.....Mmmmm more data analysis!! :)  If you need help navigating the system or want to know more about it, let me know and I will be happy to help!

Read more about it here: http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/pl/slds

Pink and Blue Cards

Pink and Blue cards need to be completed in time for placement meetings on May 14 and 15th during each teams planning.  Please make sure all assessments are completed and recorded on the Pink and Blues.  (4th Nine Week Problem Solver may not be completed and this is ok.)

CRCT Training

CRCT training will be Tuesday, April 10, 2012 during planning for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. All other CERTIFIED STAFF that can not attend during a planning on that day will need to attend training on that day at 230. No staff meeting on April 10, 2012.

TOTY Is Coming!

Yep, that is coming also....Please see the attachment to this email in regards to election of our TOTY for the 2012-2013 school year.  We will begin nominations when we return from Spring Break.

Writing Test

4th Grade will be completing the Writing Test on March 29, 2012. Please limit transitions in the hall on that morning from 8-12. Also, on that day first and fourth grades will be switching Specials times.

Spring DRA

Please make sure you complete a DRA on all of your students.  Also, when possible, administer the Non-Fiction DRA to students.  Please only administer one DRA on your students, unless there is conflicting results.

DRA Entry for 3rd Grade

3rd grade teachers are required to document their students’ Spring DRA2 data results in CSIS this
year.  The window will open April 30th
and end May 22nd.

Science & the Common Core
By now I'm sure you've heard a lot of buzz about the roll out of the new Common Core. You know that Common Core (CCGPS) is focused on ELA & Math. So as a teacher who also teaches science, you may be wondering where the Common Core standards for science are. There aren’t Common Core standards for science. Content standards for science were not included in the scope of work during the development of the Common Core standards for ELA & Math. This does not mean that science is not impacted by the roll-out of the CCGPS. The new CCGPS for ELA require a shift in focus from mostly narrative to more informational text. This increased focus on informational text will provide
teachers with greater opportunities to integrate science instruction meaningfully into their literacy blocks. This integration will not replace the need for instructional time devoted to hands-on inquiry science, but will enable teachers to deepen student understanding of the concepts about which they
are learning through reading and writing. The science content standards are NOT changing with the implementation of CCGPS. In the 2012-2013 school year we will still be responsible for teaching the same science GPS we have taught since 2006. New national science standards are on the horizon, but will not be
implemented until 2015. If you’re interested in learning more about the new Next Generation Science Standards, please visit www.nextgenscience.org.

Common Core and ELs
The Cobb ESOL Blog has a category dedicated to the Common Core. Local schools should refer to this section for guidance, support and information on the implications of the Common Core for English Learners.

Please consider being a Cobb County Lab Classroom!  See an email from me or come talk to me for more information!!

IF YOU READ ALL OF THIS, PLEASE WEAR JEANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK! (EXCEPT 4TH GRADE....PLEASE SCROLL DOWN.)

 

 

 

 

 

JUST KIDDING! :) EVERYONE MAY WEAR JEANS, EXCEPT ADMINISTRATION!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012: One more WEEK!!!!

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mr. Brazile and Mrs. Huffstetler for helping to add an extra flare to the morning news! 

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Vaccaro for stepping up and helping a staff member in need!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Wright for sharpening all of those 4th grade pencils!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Thomas for doing such an outstanding job of collecting data!  She is our new data queen!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Meloy for doing an outstanding job of WOWING her students at her open house this week!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Jouanet for stepping up and heading up Safety Patrol!

Cougar Claps for our First Grade team for going GREEN with their copies!!!!!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Groeneveld and Mrs. Jouanet for helping to implement the Captain Planet Grant!!!!

Cougar Claps for Kindergarden and Mrs. Suri for getting Kindergarten Orientation and Registration organized.

Cougar Claps for First Grade and the Specialists for being flexible and switching specials times on March 29 for the Writing test.

Cougar Claps for all of our student teachers for stepping up and helping us out with so many different things that just come up!

Cougar Claps to Mrs. Hollis and Mrs. Huffstetler for being a mystery reader last night.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. Vanderslice for getting all of our report cards printed and distributed!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Pritchett for putting up with Mrs. Helton's difficulties with copying on a transperancy.

What's Happening

Autism Awareness

Autism Awareness Month is April!  Be on the lookout for ways you can support Autism Awareness

Storage Rooms!!

Please make sure those STORAGE ROOM FLOORS are clear before SPRING BREAK!!  We will be cleaning those floors!

SLDS is Here!!!

It is on the Academic Portal and it will be a way to access all of our data from the state!  Should be on the Academic Portal within the next two weeks.  (It is right above LOGOUT.)  SLDS stands for State Longitudinal Data System.....Mmmmm more data analysis!! :)  If you need help navigating the system or want to know more about it, let me know and I will be happy to help!

Read more about it here: http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/pl/slds

Dazzling Diamonds for Moms

Yep, that time of the year again.  Look for information about it in your mailbox along with a copy of the form that students will complete if you want them to participate.  Please return all entires to me by Friday, March 23, 2012.  I will mail at that time.

Pink and Blue Cards

Pink and Blue cards need to be completed in time for placement meetings on May 14 and 15th during each teams planning.  Please make sure all assessments are completed and recorded on the Pink and Blues.  (4th Nine Week Problem Solver may not be completed and this is ok.)

CRCT Training

CRCT training will be Tuesday, April 10, 2012 during planning for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. All other CERTIFIED STAFF that can not attend during a planning on that day will need to attend training on that day at 230. No staff meeting on April 10, 2012.

TOTY Is Coming!

Yep, that is coming also....Please see the attachment to this email in regards to election of our TOTY for the 2012-2013 school year.  We will begin nominations when we return from Spring Break.

Writing Test

4th Grade will be completing the Writing Test on March 29, 2012. Please limit transitions in the hall on that morning from 8-12. Also, on that day first and fourth grades will be switching Specials times.

Spring DRA

Please make sure you complete a DRA on all of your students.  Also, when possible, administer the Non-Fiction DRA to students.  Please only administer one DRA on your students, unless there is conflicting results.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012: Spring Break is Almost Here...

Cougar Claps

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Larocque for organizing our Kindergarten Orientation!

Cougar Claps for the 3rd grade teachers that took their students to see "The Lorax" for a special ending for Dr. Seuss Week.

Cougar Clap for Mrs. Huffstetler, Mrs. Douglas and our wonderful PTA for organizing the wonderful bookfair and yummy treat day tomorrow!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Washington for helping Mrs. Solely and Mrs. Vaccaro out by watching their class this morning.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Solely for helping our students make the Hillgrove Cheerleading squad.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Roberts for taking care of car duty for Mrs. Vanderslice.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Johnson for always being there for her students.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Briggs for helping admin through a difficult situation!

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Kale, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Black, and Mrs. Sossaman for being available to help our colleagues at other schools.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Pritchett for serving on the second grade report card committee.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Ramirez for taking care of our student council and providing posters for them.

Cougar Claps for Mrs. Groeneveld and her Target students for helping the Instruction Team with the problem solving videos!

Cougar Claps for Mr. Brazile for always keeping us laughing here at Kemp Elementary!

What's Happening 

Dazzling Diamonds for Moms

Yep, that time of the year again.  Look for information about it in your mailbox along with a copy of the form that students will complete if you want them to participate.  Please return all entires to me by Friday, March 23, 2012.  I will mail at that time.

TOTY

Yep, that is coming also....Please see the attachment to this email in regards to election of our TOTY for the 2012-2013 school year.  We will begin nominations when we return from Spring Break.

Now that the weather is nicer, the playground is busier.  Please remember to follow the schedule that was set up at the beginning of the year.  Safety is the most important!  Too many classes out at one time can cause dangerous accidents.  I have attached the schedule for you.  Thanks for your cooperation.

SLDS is Here!!!

It is on the Academic Portal and it will be a way to access all of our data from the state!  Should be on the Academic Portal within the next two weeks.  (It is right above LOGOUT.)  SLDS stands for State Longitudinal Data System.....Mmmmm more data analysis!! :)  If you need help navigating the system or want to know more about it, let me know and I will be happy to help!

Read more about it here: http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/pl/slds

Outbreak...

Due to the recent outbreak, we are encouraging all staff members to have the following hairstyle....