Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! We are so thankful for our amazing school, colleagues, and students! Wishing all of you many blessings!
A Week - Nov 27 - Dec 1
South PE will be outside this week
(weather permitting)
Important Upcoming Dates
The next 3 weeks will be extremely busy. The events are listed below for a quick reference.
11/27 (Mon) - Work on MUSH Grants
11/29 (Wed) - 1/2 of 4th Grade (Sloss Furnace)
11/30 (Thur) - Collaboration in Grade Level Chair's Classroom
11/30 (Thu) - MUSH Grant Applications are Due
12/1 (Fri) - AimsWeb Math Testing Begins (Complete by 12/15)
12/1 (Fri) - Matos Field Trip
12/2 (Sat) - PES Spirit Night @ Chicken Salad Chick
12/4 (Mon) - 1/2 of 5th Grade (AL 4H Science Center)
12/5 (Tue) - 1/2 of 5th Grade (AL 4H Science Center)
12/6 (Wed) - Collaboration in North Training Room
12/6 (Wed) - 1/2 of 4th Grade (Sloss Furnace)
12/6 (Wed) - 1/2 of 1st Grade (Canaan Acres)
12/7 (Thu) - 1/2 of 1st Grade (Canaan Acres)
12/7 (Thu) - PES Choir Christmas Program
12/11 (Mon) - Student Grade Level Assemblies (K-2)
12/11 (Mon) - TCS Board Meeting @ 5:00
12/11-12/13 - Grade Levels to work on proficiency scales (see scheduled half day) 12/12 (Tue) - Student Grade Level Assemblies (3-5)
12/12 (Tue) - Christmas Parties (PreK, Kinder & 1st)
12/13 (Wed) - PES Teacher PD during Collaboration
12/13 (Wed) - Christmas Parties (2nd & 3rd)
12/14 (Thu) - Christmas Parties (4th & 5th)
12/14 (Thu) - PES Faculty/Staff Christmas Party @ 2:15
12/15 (Fri) - End of 2nd 9 Weeks
12/15 (Fri) - Student Dismissal at 12:00 Noon
12/18 - 1/1 - Christmas Break
1/2 (Tue) - Faculty & Staff Workday
1/3 (Wed) - Students Return
Paine Elementary Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Hannah Lutz, our 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year!
We are so proud of you!
Revised EnRICh Calendar (3-5)
EnRICh (3-5) - Thursdays from 1:00 to 1:50 - November 16 through January 25
ACAP Review & Prep (2-5) - Thursdays from 1:00-1:50 - February 1 through April 4.
EnRICh Will Resume - Thursdays from 1:00 to 1:50 - April 25 through May 2nd
EnRich will meet on Thursday, May 9th from 1:00-1:50 to prepare for Showcase.
Enrich Community Showcase will be on Friday, May 10th.
Protecting Instructional Time
One of the most important things we can do to ensure our students are learning is to protect instructional time! Did you know there are only 900 instructional hours per year to teach students EVERYTHING they need to learn? That is if EVERY moment is utilized...180 days x 5 hours a day (2 hours per day are spent on specials, pe, lunch, recess, & transitions). Let's make every moment count (because it does). Listed below are a few important reminders to ensure our continued path to greatness at Paine!
- Be Ready....preparation is crucial to ensure every moment is maximized.
- Please do not enter someone's classroom and interrupt instruction unless it is urgent. If it can wait until planning time, please wait.
- Reminder to demonstrate withitness during instructional time. Our phone/email should not be a distraction during this time.
- Adhere to your recess schedule.
Teacher Attendance & Coverage
We all know the most important factor regarding student learning is the TEACHER! We will continue to look for ways to recognize our teachers for great attendance (including the monthly drawing of parking spaces among other things in the future). We will be making a few changes regarding coverage in the event of a teacher absence, but first I want to share some information with you.
We can clearly see the impact teacher & student attendance during the pandemic had on student learning because we are still trying to close the gaps. In November 2022, the Alabama State Department of Education issued a resolution declaring the critical importance of teacher and student attendance. Listed below are key points mentioned in the resolution regarding teacher attendance.
- Teachers remain the most important in-school factor for student learning.
- Teacher chronic absenteeism can translate into students not being ready to read by the third grade, a negative impact on overall student achievement, and students not being on track to graduate on time.
- As part of the ALSDE's commitment to improving student and teacher attendance in Alabama, this data will be analyzed and included in school accountability metrics.
PES Updates
- We will NO LONGER split classes among the grade level if a teacher does not have a sub. We only started doing this during the pandemic when there was a sub shortage. TCS relaxed the guidelines for subs and there is no longer a shortage. Splitting students among classes is not in the best interest of our students and it is disruptive to instruction for the teachers impacted by having additional students.
- Please make sure you put your anticipated absence in both systems (time system & sub system) as soon as you know about it. Remember: If you have an outside appointment that doesn't require an entire day off, we will work with you to prevent losing the entire instructional day. Just let us know ahead of time.
- If you have an unexpected absence and are unable to secure a sub, your recess partner teacher may be required to teach both classes. We will provide a larger space if necessary and try to find some assistance. This will ensure students are continuing to receive the instruction that was planned for the day, keep them with their classmates, and ensure it doesn't disrupt the entire grade level.
- I will be reviewing our teacher attendance data for the first half of the year and meeting with teachers individually if there are any concerns...so we can work together on this. (This does not apply to leaves of absence.) I am here to support you and our students.
- Please be mindful of the timing of outside trainings (such as LETRS) if you already had to be out for another reason close to the date of the training.
Thank you for your commitment to your students! You truly have the MOST IMPORTANT job in the world!
MUSH Grant Applications
MUSH Grant Applications are due by 11/30. If you requested some time to work on this, you should have received the schedule for Monday, 11/27.
AimsWeb Math Testing
The AimsWeb Math testing window will open on Friday, 12/1. All students should be tested by Christmas break. We will pull Kinder and 1st Grade students beginning 12/1 until all are tested. Teachers in grades 2-5, please make plans for your students to complete their online tests in your classrooms. Remember to follow testing accommodations outlined in 504s & IEPs (please get with your case managers).
December Dress-up Days
We will have school dress-up days the week before Christmas break. Please communicate with your parents 1-2 weeks before.
Christmas Party
Our faculty/staff Christmas party will be on Thursday, 12/14 from 2:15 to 3:15. Our personal children may attend. More information to follow.
Paine Precepts (Kindness & Empathy)
EVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY UNLESS YOU’RE HELPING HIM UP.
Jesse Jackson
LEARNING TO STAND IN SOMEBODY ELSE’S SHOES, TO SEE THROUGH THEIR EYES, THAT’S HOW PEACE BEGINS.
Barack Obama
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE, GIVE THEM ONE OF YOURS.
Dolly Parton
THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE IS TO SERVE, AND TO SHOW COMPASSION AND THE WILL TO HELP OTHERS.
Albert Schweitzer
NEVER BELIEVE THAT A FEW CARING PEOPLE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORLD. FOR, INDEED, THAT’S ALL WHO EVER HAVE.
Margaret Mead
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