Principal Update - Feb. 3, 2017

What is the intent of the 'Positive School Climate Project?'

• To sit around and complain about Students / Teachers / Admin
• To be reactive in reducing issues that impact a productive school environment
• To shy away from the real work of creating positive change within the building
• To provide an alternative to supporting schoolwide initiatives and to increase school climate

What are the three categories that were addressed during the Whole School Improvement activity? 

• 1. Instruction and Best Practices
  2. Climate and Culture
  3. Parent Involvment
• 1. Instruction and Professional Development
  2. Culture
  3. Parent and Community 
• 1. Instruction and Professional Development
  2. School Improvement
  3. Community Partnerships

When is your grade level team expected to add to the other two categories of the Whole School Improvement activity?

• Fri., Feb. 10
• Mon., Feb. 6
• Wed., Feb. 8
• Past Due

If a student knowingly walks out of your class, the teacher should...

• Inform a TL and close their door to keep the student out
• Inform an Admin and Team Leader
• Inform an Admin and issue a Teacher consequence as soon as possible.
• Continue teaching.  You have better things to do than to worry about a missing student.

How can a Teacher take advantage of the time allotted for Socratic Seminars?

• Provide students with an overview the morning of the Socratic Seminar
• Prepare your room and students in advance
• Ignore background info and jump right into it
• Bypass the Socratic Seminar 

What is one way to continue the positive momentum you may have in your class?

• Put your top students in small groups together and isolate others
• Give several assignments that are non-graded
• Find ways to personally refresh and stay ahead of anticipated behaviors
• Give multiple brain breaks within one lesson

During hall transitions, teachers should do the following:

• Go into the halls to talk to your Teacher colleague(s) about the gossip of the day
• Stop what you are doing and wait for students to quietly enter your room
• Finish wrapping up in your room and await the next class
• Stop what you are doing and engage students offering direction as needed

When is Mr. Chambers' goal to have staff and students at 100% completion for the BCPS Stakeholder's Survey? 

• Wed., Feb. 8
• Fri., Feb. 10
• End of February
• Fri., March 3

Based on the səˈlo͞oSH(ə)ns offered for the Jan. 17 PD Padlet, which whole school dismissal procedure makes sense?

• Line students up during announcements.
  Ask them to be quiet then let them out as soon as bell rings.
• Establish Order.
  Stagger students.
  Teacher Dismiss. Not the Bell.
  Stand in the doorway.
  Monitor in Halls.
• Collect all work.
  Clean up room.
  Allow students to walk out when bell rings.
• Allow students who are finished their work leave. Send others when they are quiet. 

Since returning from the Holiday Break, there have been two days when Teacher absence was unusually high. What was the likely result? 

• Kids were aware of Teacher absence and conducted themselves appropriately.  
• All Teachers got subs in to cover for them. The day went smoothly. 
• More Teacher coverage. Reduce student issues. 
• More Teacher coverage. More students referred to office and sent home.