February 9th-13th

Let's join elementary schools from California and across the country and share the awesome this week! It's easy: just tweet out pictures and add #teamkid and @staracademyncs to your tweet. I'll retweet so they show up on our webpage :)

Dates & Details
February 9th : No Office Day & Prospective Family Tours (two scheduled)
Tours: 8:45-10:00 and 1:00-2:15

5th grade field trip 9-11:30 to Blackrock - 6th grade orientation
2nd grade field trip to capitol
February 10th- Fraser, Luhrsen, Steinlein to UC Davis
February 11th Grade level meetings - report card feedback here
February 11th- choir 8:25-9:10 / Kindergarten to News 10
February 11th - Eval/Portfolio workshop with Ting 3:30-4:30 in library - more info and Q/A
February 12th- Tech Time! Click here to view or add to the agenda :)

February 12- Common Core Math Night- Parent Ed 6:00-7:00

February 13th and 15th No school- President's Weekend

March 2nd- Read Across America Day 
March 4th Staff Meeting (click here for agenda)  We will hear from the other groups with their building community/management presentations :)
March 4th Dr. Seuss Night & World Read Aloud Day
March 4th    World Read Aloud Day & all school Skype with Erin Dealey at 2:00
March 6th  Fit Friday walks
3rd-5th walk from 8:40-9:05
AM TK/K-2nd walk from 9:10-9:35
PM K and PM 12:30-12:55
March 9th  GLAD coaching: Evans, Torres, Kloczko, McAvoy  schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 10th GLAD coaching:  Kahler, Mandujano, Fraser, Luhrsen schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 13th Digital  Learning Day -- Just share out the awesome to the hashtag #DLDay and #NWP via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Twitter Treasure
https://spellup.withgoogle.com/

February 2nd-6th

Did this make you smile?

Take the smile challenge!
Kristen Beck, a Curriculum Coordinator from Auburn recently blogged about how she could make the world a better place in a post called It Begins With A Smile and she shares the SMILE CHALLENGE! You can read the entire post here.

Here is her smile challenge:

• For one week smile at any/all people you pass during the day. If it is people you see everyday and multiple times a day, do it EVERY TIME. 
• Make sure it is authentic and if you can get your eyes to light up or twinkle that is even better
• Smile at everyone in the office, school, classroom each time you cross paths
• When approaching a student or someone with a question (sometimes an annoying question) if you start with a smile, it changes how you start the conversation to a positive and provides an opportunity to build a relationship and trust rather than getting off on the wrong foot
• If you are somewhere like the grocery store, smile as you pass others in the aisle and see what happens.

It might take a while for you to start smiling automatically when encountering others. You will need to make a conscious effort at first. Soon it will become something you just do and you get to reap the benefits. 
Bonus challenge:
Take the smile challenge and share via Twitter, a blog post, pictures on Instagram, Facebook what you discover! 


Dates and Details

February 2nd ALA Awards Announced! http://live.webcastinc.com/ala/2015/live/ 8:00 AM CT

Follow the hashtag  #ALAyma for real time results!



February 2nd : No Office Day & Prospective Family Tours (two scheduled)
Tours: 8:45-10:00 and 1:00-2:15

February 4th Star Staff meeting 7:30 (click here for agenda) Ting will be here and we will also hear from groups with their building community/management presentations :)
February 4th Global School Play Day and related blog post
February 5th- Tech Time! Click here to view or add to the agenda :)

February 6 Fit Friday walks
3rd-5th walk from 8:40-9:05
AM TK/K-2nd walk from 9:10-9:35
PM K and PM 12:30-12:55

February 12- Common Core Math Night- Parent Ed 6:00

March 2nd- Read Across America Day 
March 4th Dr. Seuss Night & World Read Aloud Day
March 4th    World Read Aloud Day & all school Skype with Erin Dealey at 2:00
March 9th  GLAD coaching: Evans, Torres, Kloczko, McAvoy  schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 10th GLAD coaching:  Kahler, Mandujano, Fraser, Luhrsen schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 13th Digital  Learning Day -- Just share out the awesome to the hashtag #DLDay and #NWP via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Tech Tip
Via @alicekeeler 
I'd like to try this!
Super easy- Use Snagit Chrome Extension to Make Animated Gifs
http://www.alicekeeler.com/teachertech/2015/02/01/super-easy-use-snagit-to-create-animated-gifs/ 

January 26-30

Everything you need to know about the Great Kindness Challenge!
Thanks, Caroline!

Things I loved seeing around school last week-- (just a few, there is so much awesome going on! Thank you for all you do!)

One word 5th grade

Math in 5th grade: kids coaching kids

Helping a kinder kid to BREATHE, keep calm & tie his shoe

Kinder weather hypotheses

Knitting and chrocheting 4th & 5th graders!

Sweet geology in 2nd grade

Helping out

My drop off helper!

Dates and Details

January 26 : No Office Day & Prospective Family Tours
Tours: 8:45-10:00 and 1:00-2:15

January 26  Report Cards go home
January 26 Kindness station at recess: cards
January 28th PIP Wednesday & Choir starts 8:30-9:10
January 29th  Yearbook software training at tech time with Excel Photographers
January 29th 1:30: Pennies for Patients assembly
January 29th Kindness station at recess : you rock!
January 30 Jennifer off campus all day

January 30th Fit Friday walks
3rd-5th walk from 8:40-9:05
AM TK/K-2nd walk from 9:10-9:35
PM K and PM 12:30-12:55

February 4th Star Staff meeting 7:30 (click here for agenda) Ting will be here and we will also hear from groups with their building community/management presentations :)
February 4th Global School Play Day and related blog post
March 4th    World Read Aloud Day & all school Skype with Erin Dealey
March 9th  GLAD coaching: Evans, Torres, Kloczko, McAvoy  schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 10th GLAD coaching:  Kahler, Mandujano, Fraser, Luhrsen schedule TBA (sub needed all day)
March 13th Digital  Learning Day

Tech Tips

Do you Flubaroo?

I just learned about this tool and it's so easy it's scary. Create a quiz in Google forms AND grade it? Awesome!

January 12-16

Our blogging challenge continues! Caroline, Karen, and Petra have already earned their blogging challenge badge with their posts on Star's blog!
Check out Caroline's post The Power of Kindness, Karen's TK word cloud, and Petra's post about Amy Poehler's book Yes, Please. Who's next? You can share anything!

Some topics / ideas include: 
Looking back to August, what are you most excited about? 
What are you looking forward to in 2015? 
Is there a tech tool you love or are excited to try? 
Have you read a great book lately? 
What #oneword might you choose to inspire you in 2015?
Something you'd like to celebrate? 

To be a guest blogger on our school blog-- it's easy! Here's how:

1. Compose an email to jkloczko.staracademy@blogger.com

2. The subject line will become your blog title

3. The body of your email will be your post

4. Any attached images will be embedded in the post

Dates and Details
January 12th- No Office Day 
January 13th- Tech visitors 1:30-2:30
January 14  Cadre Meetings 8:00 am

January 15th - Tech Time! Click here to view or add to the agenda :)

January 16th Fit Friday walks
3rd-5th walk from 8:40-9:05
AM TK/K-2nd walk from 9:10-9:35
PM K and PM 12:30-12:55

January 19th No School- Martin Luther King Jr. birthday
January 20th No School- NCS PD day (teacher work day)
January 21  Grade level meeting
January 22  Yearbook software training at tech time with Excel Photographers
January 26  Report Cards go home
January 28th PIP Wednesday
January 29th 1:30: Pennies for Patients assembly
February 4th Star Staff meeting 7:30 (click here for agenda) Ting will be here and we will also hear from groups with their building community/management presentations :)

Tech Tips:
More from Lisa Highfill: Using Google Forms: Conferring with Writers


A3WP notes from K-2 Super Saturday with Andrea Allen
Maria's notes
Julie's notes
Petra's Digital Reading Log Presentation

January 5th-9th

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful winter break filled with family, fun, and relaxation. Starting the new year is always a fun time to look back and reflect and a time to make plans. I hope you'll take part in our Star Staff Blogging Challenge during the month of January! Don't worry, it doesn't need to be a long literary piece-- the topic can be anything! 
Some topics / ideas include: 
Looking back to August, what are you most excited about? 
What are you looking forward to in 2015? 
Is there a tech tool you love or are excited to try? 
Have you read a great book lately? 
What #oneword might you choose to inspire you in 2015?
Something you'd like to celebrate? 

I'd love to have you be a guest blogger on our school blog. It's easy! Here's how:

1. Compose an email to jkloczko.staracademy@blogger.com

2. The subject line will become your blog title

3. The body of your email will be your post

4. Any attached images will be embedded in the post

Dates and Details
January 5th- No Office Day 

January 7th- Star Staff Meeting 7:30-8:30 (click here for agenda) Please bring your articles from our last meeting. 

January 8th - Tech Time! Click here to view or add to the agenda :)
January 8th 5:00-6:00 pm 5th grade parent information night- Leading Edge/PFAA/PACT Project X

January 9th Fit Friday walks
3rd-5th walk from 8:40-9:05
AM TK/K-2nd walk from 9:10-9:35
PM K and PM 12:30-12:55

January 19th No School- Martin Luther King Jr. birthday
January 20th No School- NCS PD day (teacher work day)
January 14  Cadre Meeting
January 21  Grade level meeting
January 22  Yearbook software training at tech time with Excel Photographers
January 26  Report Cards go home
January 28th PIP Wednesday
February 4th Star Staff meeting 7:30
              

Random Resources

Donalyn Miller: Conferring with readers: Finding focus

Conferring with readers finding focus from Donalynm

Add 450 fonts to your Google Docs??? What?
Change your default font? Yes! 
Check out this Facebook Post by Sally Westfall Hoyt. (Placer County Office of Ed)

Looking for some fun and learning in February? Come to CUE Rockstar in Petaluma! 

December 15th-19th

Just a few of so many things I loved seeing around school this week!

Ms. Fraser's class working on math on the stormy day

Spanish with Mrs. Valdovinos in 5th grade 

Gingerbread Men!

Fun with friends and rainy day recess kits!

Sunny weather for the zoo trip-- lucky first graders!

TK dancing to a holiday tune

TK performance. Must be Santa!

Dates & Details
Looks like a quiet week!
December 15th-18th- GLAD demo in Amy's room
December 17th- NCS Holiday Breakfast at the main campus 8-9 AM
December 18th - No tech time
December 19th- 2nd annual BLING it on DAY and PJ day for students

December 8-12

Yes, this!

Bling it on day is December 19th!

The tackier the better. 

Wear all of your holiday gear- lights, antlers, socks. 

There will be prizes!

Dates and Details
December 8th- No Office Day 

December 9th Architect Meetings- this schedule has changed since last week

Conference room
1:30-2:30 Kindergarten/TK (movie in library for PM K and PM TK)
2:30-3:30 First and Second grade teachers  (movie in library)
3:30-4:30 Third-Fifth Grade teachers

December 10th- Star Staff Meeting 7:30-8:30 (click here for agenda) & breakfast (click here to sign up). 

December 10th- architect meetings
Conference room
1:30-2:30 Administration building staff (Cindy and Caroline, Patty if available)
2:30-3:30 Library and Media (Elsa, Joe, Joe, Kham)
3:30-4:30 MP building, stage, and green room (anyone interested may join)

December 11th - Tech Time! Click here to view or add to the agenda :)

December 12th- First grade to Sac Zoo
December 17th- NCS Holiday Breakfast at the main campus 8-9 AM
December 19th- 2nd annual BLING it on DAY!