Getting Ready...

Reminders:

Grades 3-5 Teachers: Please indicate your storage choice

All Staff: Please add a photo from your summer!

Hello, Houlton Staff!
For those of you that want to plan out the next few weeks, take a look at the Back to School schedule. For those of you who just want to savor these lovely summer days, don't look any further...

Back to School Schedule

Sunday, August 28th
5:30-7:30	Staff Potluck at the Hellmers!  Please bring your family and a side or dessert; pulled pork and beverages will be provided.
Monday, August 29th
8:00-11:00	Staff Meeting at Houlton: Building Certified Staff  Breakfast treats provided
11:00-4:00	Lunch/Work in Rooms/Collaboration
Tuesday, August 30th
7:30-8:00	All Staff Breakfast - HHS
8:15-10:45	District Welcome Back - HHS  United Way and Keynote Todd Whitaker
11:00-12:00	Staff Meetings K-5 Teachers/Reading Teachers/Instructional Teachers - Auditorium Music - Room 251 Art - Room 302 PE - Room 410 K-5 Media/Tech Coaches - HHS Media Center
11:30-12:30	District Student Services - HS Auditorium
12:30-3:30	District Special Education - HS Auditorium
12:00-3:30	K-5 Teachers: Lunch/Work in Rooms/Collaboration
5:00-6:30	Meet the Teacher - Houlton
Wednesday, August 31st
8:00-11:30	Kindergarten Handwriting Training - ASC
8:00-11:30	All Staff: PLC work in buildings (except K) Media - NH PE - EP Rock Music - RC Art - WR
11:30-4:00	Lunch/Work in Rooms/Collaboration
Thursday, September 1st
	1st Day of School!!

Final Words...

Dear Houlton Staff;

One of my favorite parts about our cabin is our neighbors, because even though we don't see them for 9 months, Memorial Day weekend always feels like we were just together.  And the question of the weekend was, "How was your first year?"

My response was, "Amazing."  And I went on to talk about the quality people I work with.  I want to thank you for a year of growth, patience, laughter, hard work, learning, and a little bit of fun.  I was continuously impressed with the commitment and diligence that you all brought each day.  And I was always in awe of the quality of your work.  Even when I wasn't looking.

Enjoy the last week - have fun with your kids.  Give it your best this week - you can sleep in next week =)

Thank you for a quality year.  I look forward to many more to come-
Sue

Celebrate!

There is so much to celebrate as we wind down the year!

Student Progress
Our students have made great growth and progress this year.  95% of our students are at grade level or above with the F&P (BAS) assessment!  And as shown by SLO results, our efforts in challenging ALL students are showing up in student discussions, written responses, assessments, and in the overall growth we're seeing in kids.  We have high expectations for our Houlton students, and they continue to reach the bar.

Collaborative Teams
I can't share enough about how my heart has soared listening to grade level partners talk about their work with each other, or how they've collaborated with the media specialist or instructional coach, or how they've asked someone else in the school, like the counselor or special education staff,  to help problem solve for their students.  A quote from my nephew's graduation a few weeks ago reminded me so much of our work at Houlton:  If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.  I have seen and heard so many great stories about collaboration this year - go team!

School Culture
And to go right along with our highly functioning teams is the collaborative spirit throughout the school.  Houlton is a place where people just pitch in and do what's needed to get done.  It's Dan coming in on his vacation day for a dance-off (and risking pulling a leg muscle).  It's teachers covering someone else's class or helping with sub plans.  It's switching things around so the schedule can work for someone.  It's working (and playing!) together in a supportive environment where there's no other choice than to do the right thing.

Take a minute during these crazy and hectic last 9 days and celebrate the accomplishments 

in your classroom, and throughout the entire school!

End of Year Checklist

End of Year conferences: (link to schedule)
This is an opportunity to review this year's SLO, and to reflect on this year's work. I am planning about 15 minutes for the SLO (this can be done individually or as a team), and 15 minutes for the year reflection (individual).  

Suzie will be giving each staff member a packet with the following items early next week:

• Technology Checklist
• End of Year Checklist 
• Cumulative Folder checklist

Please schedule a time to check out with me on Monday, June 6th: Check Out Schedule

We will be going over the details at the May 17th staff meeting.  Don't forget to check the bottom of the Weekly Schedule on the Blog for upcoming dates!

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Sue

With Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation 

While it is nice to have a week that is dedicated to teacher appreciation, I want you to know how much I appreciate your work each and every day.

I recognize the time that you put into your work, often at the expense of yourself, your friends, or your family.

I am grateful for your dedication to your students, and your willingness to do the extra things that meet the needs of your students.  I am proud to say that every single person on the Houlton staff makes a strong effort to contribute to the well-being of all of our students.  I recognize it, the parents appreciate it, and the students know it.

I am reminded each day of your positive spirit, and your commitment to doing the right thing.  The days can be long, the expectations high, and the work exhausting, but I am constantly amazed at your quick responses of "I can do that", or "I'll take care of that".  

Our Houlton students are blessed to have all of you in their lives.  You truly make a difference - not just this week, but every single day.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Sue

Calibration

This week's Day 6 focus:  Calibrating the F&P Assessment

I have had the opportunity to calibrate an assessment several times throughout my teaching career - and it always surprises me!  In our meeting last week, the SMART Team agreed that this would be a worthwhile activity to do as teams.  While we all "know how to administer the F&P", you might be surprised at how we may have morphed a little bit from the assessment tool's guidelines.  It is particularly important to be aligned with our F&P scoring practices, as the information we share with next year's teacher guides the next steps in instructional decisions.

The purpose of calibration is to ensure that a group of educators evaluates student work consistently and in alignment with the scoring criteria, which increases the reliability of the assessment data. When scoring is calibrated, student work receives the same score regardless of who scores it because all scorers interpret and apply the criteria in the same way.

Calibration is necessary because scoring guidelines alone do not ensure consistent scoring. Even if educators agree upon a set of expectations, they may apply them differently over time. Through the calibration process, educators confirm their understanding of how the scoring criteria is used to measure student work. Not only will our F&P calibration bring about greater accuracy and reliability in scoring, but it also will help to deepen our understanding of expectations for a student's reading as measured by the F&P.

Lori will be meeting with each team and they will score an F&P together (teachers will pull a student from specialists for a short time).  Following the assessment, the team will discuss and calibrate the results of the running record and the comprehension conversation.

Please let me know if you have any questions! And have a great week!
Sue

Thankful

My weekend was incredibly busy, but I feel blessed to have had every moment of it.   These next few days will be filled with the craziness of Google training and new emails, safety drills, Earth Week, and all the other things that are overflowing off your plate. My goal for you over these next few days is to remember to recognize the things around you that make you thankful.  Maybe it's student growth, a child's smile, laughter on the playground -  pause and notice it. Then be thankful, and be happy!

My weekend highlights, for which I am grateful!            


   

Prom!

Confirmation Retreat