Sunday, December 13, 2015

That's right people. . .our final week before the break!!

We are gonna make it everyone. . .final few days and then we will have the chance to breathe and relax during the holidays! I'm certainly ready!!!
 Week of: December 14th-18th, 2015
 
Monday -  Jeans Day
PST Meetings - C106

Tuesday - Jeans Day

Texan Town Schedule
5th Grade Music Program - 8:30am and 6:00pm - Cafeteria
Angie Out (AM) Principal Meeting

Wednesday -   Jeans or Sweats Day

Holiday From the Heart - Station Activities during the day
TLC Meeting - 3:15 - Library

Thursday - Jeans Day

Winter Parties 
Kelly Out (AM)  Counselor Meeting

Friday - Jeans or Sweats Day

TCE Annual Sing Along - 8:30am - Gym
Early Release - 12:50pm

Important Reminders and Updates
Switch in Specials/Lunch Times Monday!!
We are going to need to do a little switch out (Monday only) for 4th and 5th grade specials and lunch times on Monday due to the 5th grade music program practice.  We need the cafeteria for the final practice and so we are making this adjustment for the day.  

Please note that 5th grade will go to specials at 8:30 and then have lunch at 11:15.  4th grade will have specials at 10:30 and have lunch at 12:30  for this day.  I realize it will affect other pull out programs, but we need some flexibility for this day due to the final practice for 5th graders.  

5th grade and 4th grade teachers, please let your parents know as well in case they were planning to bring/come eat lunch with their child tomorrow!
 
Tutoring Support for 3rd-5th
Thank you so much for everyone signing up to help our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders!  I appreciate your efforts as a campus team so we can help our learners be successful as we make sure we fill any gaps they may have in their learning! 

Please make sure and touch base with the grade level you signed up to help this week, so this extra tutoring support can start up the first week of January when we come back!   

 
Shout Outs!
Kristan Hruby for opening up your house once again for the TCE Christmas party!  We truly appreciate you and your generosity!!

5th grade and the great job they did with our 5th grade spelling bee!  

Kinder, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teams for your focused, intentional planning during your STEM planning days!  I was very impressed with your lesson design and appreciate all of your collaboration on these days! 

Marly Natherson, Kristan Hruby, Kasey Kemp, Kate Seifert and Lisa Hansen for all of their work getting our vertical meeting info together and for helping us to continue being aligned as a campus and district!

Everyone for taking the time to go over to the admin building for the CISD Open House!  

Laci Garza and Coach Yaeger for all of their efforts with our Jingle Bell Run!  
    
Casey Wagner for always helping us out with our Texan Town catalog and club organization! 
 
Engineer of the Week 
This week's engineer: Courtney Rice
December Birthdays


 Marly Natherson - 26th


Candace Coffee - 28th


Final Quotes 


Sunday, December 6, 2015

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. . .

Hope all of you have been enjoying some of the fun of the holiday season with decorating, putting up lights, etc.  I came home to this last night after getting back from Nacogdoches, so was very excited! 

Week of: December 7th-11th, 2015
 
Monday -  Jeans Day
Fire Drill - when it warms up during day
5th Grade Spelling Bee - 1:00pm
System Safeguard Data Team Meeting - 3:15 A202

Tuesday - Jeans Day

Kinder and 1st STEM Planning Day - A202

Wednesday -   Jeans Day

2nd and 3rd STEM Planning Day - A202
Vertical Meeting - 3:15

Thursday - Jeans Day

4th and 5th STEM Planning Day - A202

Friday - Jeans Day

Jingle Bell Run - All Day (Cafeteria loop parking lot)
Therapy Dogs
CISD Holiday Open House - CISD Admin. Bldg.
TCE Christmas Party - Kristan Hruby's House


Important Reminders and Updates
Attire for this week
As we start to celebrate you this week with holiday treats, your 1st treat is that you may wear jeans each day!
 If you are on a STEM planning day, you may wear sweats on that day! 

Alicia and Brad's Smore 
Make sure and check out the latest on the Smore for great resources for technology and the library!  Remember that this week is hour of code and so many of our kiddos will benefit from having this time to problem solve and challenge themselves with the power of coding! 
Holiday from the Heart 
Don't forget to give me and Laura Fairchild a final list of your needs for your Holiday from the Heart stations!  I know there were items being listed in Google Docs, but if we could get a final list to purchase.  We need to buy these items as soon as we can, so please get this turned in by 
Tuesday, December 8th at 8:00am!

TCE Sing Along
Don't forget that if you need to access your song, you can find it in the T share under the folder, TCE Sing Along 2015.  Looking forward to this annual traditional time to laugh and have fun together!  
  
CISD Holiday Open House 
Don't forget to make sure and swing by the admin bldg during your conference time or during lunch in order to say hello to everyone at the administration building and celebrate with our CISD family!

Shout Outs! 
Ashley Martin for her beautiful addition to her family with another baby boy!

Everyone for the fabulous job you did showing the learning of TCE to the Garland ISD visitors!

Morgan Peccarelli for attending our district literacy academy to learn more about balanced literacy and writing strategies!

Katie Tonemah, Kate Seifert, Meredith Schaaf, Heather Judd and Courtney Rice for getting CGA scholarships and attending the TAGT conference!  Can't wait to hear about the learning to help support our GTi learners at TCE!     


Alicia Montgomery and Brett Shelby for the great idea of the gifts of one another tree in the library!

Kelly Spears for the being thankful board created with her student council!

Cafeteria Staff and Miss Sarah for treating us to a wonderful luncheon surprise on Friday!

Lauren Torti, Kelly McShan, Heather Judd, Marly Natherson, Jennifer Martin, Kasey Kemp, and Candace Coffee for working with us as we went through our data dig and planning last week!  As well as we go through more planning this week!

Kelly Spears and Kasey Kemp for agreeing to be a part of the district Systems Safeguards committee and helping us in developing a plan for the district!

Laci Garza and Ashley Martin for a great STEM planning day!

Marly Natherson for always helping to bring our TCE family together with her ideas for holiday cheer!

Engineer of the Week 
This week's engineer: Candace Coffee
December Birthdays

 Marly Natherson - 26th

Candace Coffee - 28th

Final Quotes
 To get you thinking about our TCE holiday treats theme this year. . .here are the final quotes for this week!



Sunday, November 29, 2015

Gearing Up For The Next Few Weeks!

Don't know about all of you, but I had a wonderful break and took some time to truly enjoy spending time with my family and friends!  I even got my Christmas tree up at my house, so that is always a success!  I am looking forward to the next few weeks of school as we head into our next round of Christmas holidays!

Week of: Nov. 30th-Dec. 4th, 2015
Monday -  Data Planning Day (Systems Safeguard Data Team) - A202
1st day back. . .Jeans or Sweats! 

Tuesday -   STEM Planning Day (Specials Team) - A202


Wednesday -  Faculty Meeting - 3:15


Thursday - District Tour Group Coming to TCE!

Friday - 
Texan Town (last Texan Town for Fall Session)

PST/RTI Meetings - C106 (All Day)

Important Reminders and Updates
Super Teachers
Please try to nominate a teacher during the next few weeks for a Super Teacher award!  We have so many amazing lessons happening each day, so it would be a great way to celebrate each of you!
 
District Tour 
Please remember that we have our first district tour group coming this Thursday, December 3rd!  Team leaders if you would make sure that you email me and Brett what your teams will be working on when the group is here!  They should be coming during the morning around 9:30-11:00.  Also, do a spot check to make sure all rooms are looking organized and hallways are showcasing the amazing learning! 
 
Holiday from the Heart Daytime
We will be doing Holiday from the Heart a bit different this year. . .team leaders are filling you in, but we will be having a daytime event on December 16th and grade levels will be partnering up to do various stations!  We will talk more about this at faculty meeting this week!  
 
TCE Sing Along
It's that time again. . .what you all love to hear is coming. . .that's right, our TCE Sing Along!  We will have it again on the last day of school and I will be sharing your team's song at our faculty meeting!  Thank you ahead of time for this TCE tradition as we all laugh and sing together!  
 
Shout Outs! 
Shout out to the Office Staff and Cafeteria Staff for helping to make our Southern Thanksgiving feast a success!
 
Shout out to Becky Garrett, Laci Garza, Ashley Martina and the 3rd grade team for a wonderful 3rd Grade Program!
 
Shout out to Ashley Martin, Becky Garrett and Laci Garza for making our annual Turkey Trot a success!
 
Shout out to Kasey Kemp and Renee Rohani for opening up their classroom to visitors from another CISD elementary campus!  
 
Shout out to Jennifer Martin, Lauren Torti, and Lisa Hansen attending a UbD training in order to help support us in more training with lesson design this spring!

Shout out to our 2nd grade team for their great job with our Turkey Drive and Food Drive for TCE!  We appreciate your efforts!
 
Shout out to Kelly Spears who officially graduated with her next counseling certification!  We are so proud of you!

Shout out to our 3rd Grade Team for getting everything ready to celebrate Gloria for her retirement reception!
December Birthdays
 Marly Natherson - 26th
Candace Coffee - 28th 
 
Twitter and Professional Learning Networks
I know many of you are avid Twitter users using it as a tool both for work and for personal use.  Many of you may have certain educational leaders or other individuals you may follow. For those of you who have a Twitter, but haven't started truly experiencing all it can do for you with helping you grow and connect with more educators, you may want to check out the following video!  
 
Also, if you have certain people or organizations that you follow, please add it to the linoit link below!  This way we can share with one another at TCE all of our connections!  

Final Quotes
To get us off to a great start with the upcoming holiday season. . . 

Friday, November 13, 2015

Better Wear Your Stretchy Pants. . .

All righty people. . .hope you are hungry this week!  Get ready to wear some sweats or stretchy pants on Monday, since you will be served up a Southern Cookin' Thanksgiving!  Just so you'll know what we will be having. . .it is not the typical traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year!  We decided to go with something a bit different. . .we will be having some of Angie Lee's chicken spaghetti, more delicious casseroles and sides/salads as well as some tasty desserts! 

Week of: November 16th-20th, 2015
Monday - Wear Sweats or Jeans! 
Southern Thanksgiving Feast for TCE Staff 
Team Leader Meeting - C106 - 3:15pm 

Tuesday -   Texan Town Schedule

3rd Grade Program 8:30am and 6:00pm
Gloria Yates Retirement Party - Library - 3:15pm
 
Wednesday -  Angie Out (All Day Training)

TLC Meeting - Library - 3:15pm 

Thursday - Angie Out (9-11am) Brett Out (1-3pm) and Kelly Out (8:30-12:00pm)

Friday -Texan Town

Turkey Drive - front loop and cafeteria loop
Turkey Trot - all day  

Important Reminders and Updates
Didn't know if ya'll knew it or not. . .but we have Thanksgiving break coming up in 6 more days!  That's all the updates I have for you right now. . .I will debrief with team leaders about any info in our meeting on Monday of this week!
 

Shout Outs!
Shout out to Katy McKinney who will be representing us this year as our Teacher of the Year for TCE!  We are so happy to have you representing us! 

Shout out to everyone who was able to help out with our pansy planting on Friday!  If you could make sure and give a shout out to Beth Reynolds and Tim Tidwell for all of their help when you see them around TCE!

Shout out to all of our Site-Based Commtitee Members for sharing about TCE at our last meeting!  I appreciate you letting others know about our campus and the wonderful learning happening!  

Shout out to Brett Shelby and Kelly Spears for all of their help getting our kiddos ready for Veteran's Day Ceremony!

Shout out to Becky Garrett for the beautiful music by our 3rd grade for Veteran's Day!  

Shout out to our 3rd grade teachers and Laci Garza and Ashley Martin for helping get our 3rd graders ready for their performance at Veteran's Day!

Shout out to our Boy Scouts for the great job they did in the ceremony!  

Shout out to everyone for sharing their thoughts and ideas at our vertical meeting!  I was very impressed with the level of technology integration being discussed and the excitement for learning!  Thank you!

November Birthdays
Katie Tonemah - 3rd

Marie Sork - 7th

Marina Chicas- 8th

Kristan Hruby - 24th

Laura Fairchild - 24th

Renee Rohani - 25th

Kelly McShan - 28th

Engineer of the Week