June 5-9 #grateful

I saw this quote in a post today of quotes about life found in children's books and it really captures what I have been struggling to put into words. It is an honor to write my final Sparkly Star Staff post as we enter the final week of school together. This post will include dates and details, of course, but also I wanted to thank you all for being so much more than colleagues. I feel so lucky to count you each as a friend, and I have always felt we are in many ways a family. I have loved getting to know each of you as individuals and learning about your lives and passions. Being your leader has certainly included responsibilities and scheduling and budgeting and decisions, but I always have felt that the most important thing I could do would be spending time with you, supporting you, and hoping you felt valued and appreciated for all that you do. Whether it's been just one year or all four, being alongside you for this journey has been the greatest gift of my life and I am forever changed by my experience with each of you.

I'm also excited for the future! To Amy, I can't imagine a better person to lead Star in what will be the first year without a new campus, bell schedule, or big changes! Hopefully that will be a difference you can all feel! Julie, you are ready to soar as Star's co-leader, and next year you will have a class of 600 students to love and learn with! To the 2017-18 team, you will continue the tradition of creating an educational experience filled with joy and magic and your amazing new colleagues are joining some of the most passionate, dedicated, and creative educators on the PLANET! To Karen, Farrah, Carly, Samantha, Hope, Jose, and Anisa -- I am so thankful for your time at Star and cannot wait to hear about your journeys to your new destinations! Where ever you go, you are gifts to be treasured and I love that the spirit of our school will be going with you! And in my move to Stoneridge, I want to thank you for how much you all have taught me about being a leader. I have learned through each day, every mistake, and our many shared successes. And so, rather than goodbye, until next time!

With love and gratitude,
Jennifer

Dates and Details
To celebrate the last 5 days with kids, Amy and I hope you enjoy these fun spirit days for staff! Kids have free dress this week.

June 7 5th and K Promotions (5th 8-9:30 in gym, K 1:45-2:30 in gym)

June 8  Report cards go home 
June 9 Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)
June 12 Teacher work day and celebration lunch
June 13 SUMMER!
End of year checkout form

May 9- May 19th #Memories

As the end of the year is quickly approaching, take a moment to reflect on all the memories you have created with your class. For many of you this has been a year of learning and overcoming challenges unanticipated, but remember this is a year you will never forget. Through highs and lows you have left an impression on your students. Take the last few weeks you have of the year and enjoy your time with your students. This time will fly by faster than you know, so make the most of it!

Dates & Details
May 15-18 Amy out ELPAC scoring- Julie Torres filling in
May 16-17 GLAD training in library (library closed)
May 17 PIP preview with Star teachers at staff meeting 8:00 in Maria's room
May 24 No staff meeting
May 25 Minimum Day  Open House 5:00-6:30pm- Star only
May 26 Minimum Day & PIP Presentations- all NCS (1-1:30 ice cream, 1:30-2 awards, 2-3:10 presentations)
May 29 No School
May 31 Julie & Amy off campus
May 31 Talent show in the evening
June 2 Talent show school performance (all kinders come in AM/kinder assessment in PM)
June 8  Report cards go home
June 9 Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)
June 12 Teacher work day
June 13 SUMMER!

Link to Star Academy 2016-17 calendar
Link to NCS 2017-18 calendar (minimum days for 2017-18 not yet added)

Have a great week!

Happy Spring! April 25-May8 #randombunny

Because bunny.

Dates & Details
April 24-28 CAASP Testing grades 3-5 (library may be used for makeup testing- check with office)
April 26 8:00 staff meeting  in the library
April 28 no minimum day
April 28 Samantha's last day- we will miss you!
May 2-5 GLAD demo in Jaqui's room, library closed
May 3 Staff meeting- library 8:00 (pink & blue cards/end of year planning)
May 10 Makeup PIP Wednesday 
May 8 Minimum Day (changed from 4/28) Star only (planning for 2017-18)
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island- Rohrbacker
May 17 PIP preview with Star teachers at staff meeting 8:00 in library
May 24 No staff meeting
Minimum Day 5/25 Open House- Star only
Minimum Day 5/26 PIP Presentations- all NCS
May 29 No School
May 31 Julie & Amy off campus
May 31 Talent show in the evening
June 2 Talent show school performance (all kinders come in AM/kinder assessment in PM)
June 8  Report cards go home
June 9th- Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)
June 12 Teacher work day

Link to Star Academy 2016-17 calendar
Link to NCS 2017-18 calendar (minimum days for 2017-18 not yet added)

Have a great week!

April 1-April 21 #springbreakiscoming

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED having lunch with kids to celebrate reading! Check out my blog post to read all about it :) The next one will be at the end of April. So fun. I loved sharing the reasons you chose them with them. They simply beamed!

Spring break is just around the corner! We hope you have time to recharge and relax! Here's a list of fun things to try:

Dates & Details
April 3rd- Star hiring pool interviews  9:30-3:00 in conference room (student led tours will be coming around all day)
April 5th CAASP training for 3rd-5th grade teachers in library (TK-2nd has grade level time)
Progress reports to go home April 7 (only for students at risk of not meeting end of year standard)
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
April 19th ELA cadre at main campus
April 24-28 CAASP Testing grades 3-5
April 28 no minimum day
May 2-5 GLAD demo in Jaqui's room, library closed
May 8 Minimum Day (changed from 4/28) Star only
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island- Rohrbacker
Minimum Day 5/25 Open House- Star only
Minimum Day 5/26 PIP- all NCS
May 29 No School
June 8  Report cards go home
June 9th- Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)

Link to Star Academy 2016-17 calendar
Link to NCS 2017-18 calendar (minimum days for 2017-18 not yet added)

Have a great week!

March 16th-31st #makeawish #happyspring

As we are entering spring in the coming weeks, we would like to grant you a wish of more time! One gift of time we can offer you is the ability to have only two teachers from your grade level out at Walking Wednesdays every week, allowing you and your grade level partners to switch on and off each week. We would also like to give you more time at the end of the day by having you walk your class out then taking turns with your grade level partners for who will watch your grade level students each day at pickup. Please complete the google doc here with your schedule for who will be supervising during walking Wednesdays and after school duty. Please make sure that if you are absent during your scheduled supervision that you find someone to fill your spot. We hope you enjoy your extra time! As soon as it's complete the change can start :) Thank you for all you do!


Dates & Details

March 21 Star Academy Lottery
March 22 PIP meetings
March 22/23/24 Angel Island Lucky/Assante (Jennifer gone with Lucky's class)
March 24-31 Book Fair (library closed)
March 29 no meeting 
March 30 Lunch with Mrs. Kloczko- celebrate reading!
Progress reports to go home April 7 (only for students at risk of not meeting end of year standard)
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
April 24-28 CAASP Testing grades 3-5
April 28 no minimum day
May 8 Minimum Day (changed from 4/28) Star only
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island- Rohrbacker
Minimum Day 5/25 Open House- Star only
Minimum Day 5/26 PIP- all NCS
May 29 No School
June 8  Report cards go home
June 9th- Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)

Link to Star Academy 2016-17 calendar
Link to NCS 2017-18 calendar (minimum days for 2017-18 not yet added)

March 6-13 #bettertogether

How can it be March already? Time is flying by. Over the last few weeks we have enjoyed meeting with almost all of the grade level teams as you created your year-long plans and finalized common assessments. We hope that you have appreciated that time together! The level of collaboration has been inspiring to watch, and the work that teachers have done in those teams is incredible. This quote reminds me of the collaboration that happens every day, with every single staff member. Office staff learning about diabetes together. Taking responsibility for leading different aspects of the lottery and registration work and the myriad of tasks and challenges that walk through the door each day. Our custodial team taking the lead at drop off. From the playground to IT to BASE-- everyone works together and supports each other! Every person here is a leader and teacher and what makes our school amazing is all of us working together. The level of collaboration here is special. Thank you for all you do!

Enter Lunch with Mrs. Kloczko names here: https://goo.gl/dRXVLe

Dates & Details
March 6-10 No WIN groups
March 8 Grade level meeting  agenda
March 6-9 GLAD training in Teresa's class (library closed)
March 9-10 Coloma Trip 4th grade (Amy to Coloma on the 9th, Jennifer on the 10th in the morning)
Mar 13th Staff Development Day-- all NCS conference style in the morning, Breakout EDU in the afternoon!

March 14- First day of Round 3 WIN
March 15 Grade level- open agenda
March 21 Star Academy Lottery
March 22 PIP meetings
March 22/23/24 Angel Island Lucky/Assante (Jennifer gone with Lucky's class)
March 24-31 Book Fair (library closed)
March 29 no meeting
March 30 Lunch with Mrs. Kloczko- celebrate reading!
Progress reports to go home April 7 (only for students at risk of not meeting end of year standard)
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
April 24-28 CAASP Testing grades 3-5
April 28 no minimum day
May 8 Minimum Day (changed from 4/28) Star only
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island- Rohrbacker
Minimum Day 5/25 Open House- Star only
Minimum Day 5/26 PIP- all NCS
May 29 No School
June 8  Report cards go home
June 9th- Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)

Link to Star Academy 2016-17 calendar
Link to NCS 2017-18 calendar (minimum days for 2017-18 not yet added)

Follow us on Twitter!

Tweets by @StarAcademyNCS

February 24-March 3 #celebratereading

Enter Lunch with Mrs. Kloczko names here: https://goo.gl/dRXVLe

Dates & Details Feb 28 4th grade planning day
Mar 1  Star Teachers- writing assessment / rubric work  (library 8 am)
March 6-9 GLAD training in Teresa's Class (library closed)
March 9-10 Coloma Trip 4th grade
Mar 13th Staff Development Day-- all NCS conference style in the morning, Breakout EDU in the afternoon!
March 21 Star Academy Lottery
March 22/23/24 Angel Island Lucky/Assante
March 24-31 Book Fair (library closed)
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
April 24-28 CAASP Testing grades 3-5
April 28 no minimum day
May 8 Minimum Day (changed from 4/28) Star only
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island- Rohrbacker
Minimum Day 5/25 Open House- Star only
Minimum Day 5/26 PIP- all NCS
May 29 No School
June 9th- Minimum Day Star Only - Last day of school (Field Day!)

Have a great week!

February 13th-24th

Have a great short week!

Dates & Details

Feb 15 7:30 Safety meeting (Tammy Lee) and ELA/Math Cadre / 2nd grade planning day (Jennifer off campus)

Feb 16 Jennifer at CATE conference
Feb 16 Starlight Family Dance 6-8 PM

Feb 17 No School
Feb 20 No School
Feb 22 PIP Day / Kinder planning Day
Feb 23 5th grade planning day
Feb 24 1st grade planning day
Feb 28 4th grade planning day
Mar 1  Star Teachers- writing assessment / rubric work 
Mar 13th Staff Development Day-- all NCS conference style in the morning, Breakout EDU in the afternoon!
March 22/23/24 Angel Island Lucky/Assante
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island

February 3-10 #positive #PBIS

This month we have been working on rolling out more formally our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Support) along with reviewing our refined BEST expectations for students. At Wednesday's staff meeting, Amy and I shared the positivity challenge for the month of February-- a time to pump up the positive communication for students, especially students who need additional support and practice with doing their best. For February, we invite you to take part in the challenge -- by not communicating home for minor issues, and by celebrating what we want to perpetuate. We hope your students and you have a happy month! If you'd like, we have a Twitter challenge to go along with it! This is for all staff--we hope you have fun!

Do you find inspiring things to share on social media? Here's something I saw this morning on Facebook that made me smile. Sara is an A3WP teacher at Arcade Middle School in San Juan.

Dates & Details

Feb 6 Minimum Day/ Teacher PD 1:00-3:30 in library (campus supervisors & teachers) PBIS PD
Feb 8 Grade Level Meeting Agenda BEST Expectations
Feb 15 7:30 Safety meeting (Tammy Lee) and ELA/Math Cadre / 2nd grade planning day (Jennifer off campus)
Feb 16 Jennifer at CATE conference
Feb 16 Starlight Family Dance 6-8 PM

Feb 17 No School
Feb 20 No School
Feb 22 PIP Day / Kinder planning Day
Feb 23 5th grade planning day
Feb 28 4th grade planning day
Mar 1  Star Teachers- writing assessment / rubric work 
Mar 13th Staff Development Day-- all NCS conference style in the morning, Breakout EDU in the afternoon!
March 22/23/24 Angel Island Lucky/Assante
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break
May 11 Touch of Understanding- 4th grade assembly rotations 8:40-11:35 (lunch schedule will change to 11:35-- a swap with 3rd grade)
May 11 Angel Island

Jan 30th- Feb 3rd Global School Play Day #gspd2017

Report Cards are done... it's time to play!

February 4, 2015, was the first annual Global School Play Day for students in schools around the world. In year one, over 65,000 students participated! Year two of Global School Play Day took place on February 3rd, 2016. In year two, over 175,000 students participated from around the world! We are so excited to be participating for the second year in a row! We will have play rotations for your grade level at your normal walking time, but feel free to play MORE! This is designed to be a day for unstructured play for students. In the past, teachers have planned tech free play in the classroom. Here are some ideas from the #GSPD2017 website at globalschoolplayday.com

CALL FOR TOYS!
Tell your class to bring anything they wish to play with to school on Wednesday, February 1st. The only restrictions: they must bring toys and these toys may NOT require batteries or electricity. No devices. Give them some ideas, since today's kids rarely play and often own very few toys: board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles, blankets (for forts), social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) The only exception on the electronics rule would be a board game that has an electronic timer, an electronics play kit, or similar. How about taking your students out in the dirt or snow to dig, explore and get messy? You may want to show your students photos of GSPD15 to open their eyes to unfamiliar types of unstructured play.

TWEET! SHARE AND REFLECT :)
After the event, be sure to share your pictures, ideas, and reactions on social media (with parent consent) and hashtag them #GSPD2017. Perhaps you could add a post to your blog sharing about the experience. Ask your students to reflect on GSPD as well! Be sure to talk to your students and if possible, their parents, about the necessity of daily unstructured play. Your students will most surely ask if they can have play days more often. A great answer is, "Of course! Every day can be play day with your friends in your neighborhood after school. Keep playing like you did at school today, but just do it after school."

Dates & Details:
Feb 1 Global School Play Day
Feb 6 Minimum Day/ Teacher PD afternoon (Positive Behavior Support and Intervention)
Feb 17 No School
Feb 20 No School
Mar 13th Staff Development Day-- all NCS conference style in the morning, Breakout EDU in the afternoon!
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break

February planning days:
In the month of February, please find a date for your grade level to take a full day for planning. On this day, you will have time to finish your year long curriculum maps as a team, and also to develop an informational writing rubric and work on developing math assessments. We will provide more info and structure prior to your day, but in  the meantime please select a day as a team and let us know. Only one grade  level should be out on a particular day to maximize subs. Please add your preferred date to the Google Doc linked here.

January 19th- 27th

Dates & Details:

Jan 20 End of First Semester

Jan 23 No Students- All NCS PD- Schedule here. We will be at Star all day

Jan 24-27 Great Kindness Challenge- Info here
Jan 24-27 GLAD demo in Erica's class

Jan 27 Report Cards go home

Feb 1 Global School Play Day
Feb 6 Minimum Day/ Teacher PD afternoon
Feb 17 No School
Feb 20 No School
Mar 13th Staff Development Day
Apr 10th- 17th Spring Break

January 3rd-13th #simplify #calm #cabinets

Welcome back! I hope you are rested and refreshed after your winter break! One of the things that I love about the new year is the sense of a fresh start, the change to get organized and simplify. I was inspired to do this at home over the break and I am surprised at how much a neater space contributes to a sense of calm. With this in mind, I'm excited to share that the C and D hubs have beautiful new rolling cabinets that will hopefully help those spaces feel and look more organized and beautiful for you and your students. (B hub has some awesome storage already) There are 5 cabinets for C and 5 fir D, so not one for every grade level or teacher but 500% more storage than is there already :) Vinni and Francisco will be unpacking them today, and they will be ready for your items in the next day or so. Please work with your hub-mates to decide how to organize the items and share the storage space. If there are items you no longer want or need, please place near the large hub door and they will take the items away. I hope the new space is helpful to you! Have a great week!
Jan 4 Staff Meeting Agenda

Jan 13 Winter Festival 5-8 PM Please add your theme to the Class Basket doc

Jan 16 No School- Martin Luther King Day

Jan 20 End of First Semester

Jan 23 No Students- All NCS PD

Jan 24-27 Great Kindness Challenge
Jan 24-27 GLAD demo in Erica's class

Jan 27 Report Cards go home

Feb 1 Global School Play Day
Feb 6 Minimum Day
Feb 17 No School
Feb 20 No School

Reading Is Our Superpower!

WIN Update -- yay for round one!

1. WIN Groups:
1. Week of January 4- wrap up last group if needed, assess for your measurable goal (some groups may have already done this-- and you may take that week off if you have finished your unit/goal for the first round.) Please coordinate with your grade level and let me and Jan know)
2. January 11 grade level meeting- record results of measurable goals for round one , regroup and establish new groups and measurable goals (record in grade level doc)
3. Next round begins January 15th with new groups- the second week of January (week of January 8) there will be no groups so that you can plan, and Jan and Olga can help assess if you need help (the last week of round two will be the week of March 2)