While we are still waiting on those elusive Aquarena Shade structures (just some minor glitches, they are now at the contractor's site, so give Therese Baer a big hug when you see her as she so deserves it!), Wednesday saw staff back on campus, engaging in staff development for most of the day. In the morning, Laine Leibick provided teachers with 3 of the required 6 hours training related to their GT certification; additionally, Melissa O’Donnell and Beth Finkle gave all K-5 teachers a refresher on math invented strategies and model drawing (lots of good questions and clarifications). In the afternoon, grades 3-5 reviewed STAAR updates, 2nd grade teachers met with Nat Miller on the upcoming Zach Scott workshops in their classes, and K-1/Special Area planned together and worked getting ready for the next day. A truly busy and productive day, not to mention how nice it was to see staff together once again. Also, thanks to Jodi Leach and PTA for providing those yummy, welcome back tacos for staff as well. Appreciated!
Of course, the first day back for students is also very special. Lots of smiles and hugs up and down the hallways Thursday morning. Students missed their teachers, missed their friends, and missed their routines. And you know what? We missed them. As you can see from our office staff below, everyone hit the ground running, registering new students, ordering supplies, and checking in parents. A good first student day.
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| CC enrolling new students |
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| Sara adding up the totals! |
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| Megan helping an HP Dad check-in at the office |
I met Wednesday afternoon with some delightful representatives of UT's Texas Performing Arts organization. Thanks to HP parent Shannon Ratcliff for arranging this get-together, and special appreciation to TPA Development Officer and Manager Ann Stafford and Donor and Member Relations coordinator Mindy Graves for coming out to meet with me, plan with me, and brainstorm next steps for our school. Working with these folks, I can officially say we are honing in on our second HP community arts event (another component to our Any Given Child year one action plan) and it promises to be worthwhile for the whole family. More details to come next week on this newest partnership, but start thinking some awesome night performances, field experiences for our kids, and more. This will be our opportunity to show our continued support for the arts, so look for the info and let's enjoy this great community together. I want as many Scotties to participate as possible in the upcoming family events -get your calendars ready. Really cool stuff y'all!
Finally, Kathy Sederholm has shared our recent middle of the year Dibels scores and I have to say Scotties are showing great strides in all things fluency. For example, did you know that at 2nd grade 91 students are already at end of the year (EOY) benchmark in reading fluency and that 9 have met middle of the year (MOY) benchmark? That's awesome and leaves only a small number in need. Or that at first grade 49 students are at EOY benchmark, 37 have met their MOY benchmark, with only 5 now needing extra fluency support? I can list the numbers for every grade level (still working on Kinder assessments), but fluency is looking good at grades 1-5. It can't be stressed enough the value in those parent and volunteer staffed fluency centers, nor the value in the early intervention model; fluency is only one piece of the puzzle in literacy skills - think phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension - and teachers are working diligently on interventions in those areas as well, but fluency is a crucial piece. We are beginning to see the fruits of our labor, the foundation is there, and kids are developing skills they will take with them beyond HP. Not test taking skills, but foundational reading skills they need for more rigorous content reading as they enter those intermediate and middle years. Thanks to Kathy, Maria, Jeannine for all you have done to keep fluency alive and well at our school. We all have much work to do, we're not there yet as we know the district benchmarks and state STAAR assessments are just around the corner, but fluency at HP is lookin' good.
So really, it's been a good first week back at HP. I must confess, by the end of last week, I was missing my routine and all of you. Though we all need rest and relaxation, it was a nice personal reminder that if you miss your work and the people you work with, then you must really like what you do. And I did and I do. Welcome back Scotties.
So really, it's been a good first week back at HP. I must confess, by the end of last week, I was missing my routine and all of you. Though we all need rest and relaxation, it was a nice personal reminder that if you miss your work and the people you work with, then you must really like what you do. And I did and I do. Welcome back Scotties.
