Monday, April 18

Today's Content:

• Shifting Culture: Defining the Falcon Way 

• Tier 1 Priorities:  Using Data to Drive Instruction

• Digital Learning:  #CelebrateMonday

Falcon Focus: Defining 
The Falcon Way

As we near the end of the school year, we have only about 42 more weeks in this school.  With the new building right around the corner (ha, ha), we have a unique and significant opportunity to define and establish a united, positive campus culture rooted in learning for students, teachers, staff, admin -- and the community at large. This new culture is called The Falcon Way.

All faculty and staff are invited to help develop this new way that we are building for our students and our community.  If you missed last week's meeting, the presentation is listed below.  Basically, it covers the following topics:

• Mindset - How are we approaching this culture shift?  How can participants contribute to the process most successfully?
• The foundation of the project - culture change via bringing the CORE values to life = The Falcon Way
• Vehicles of change that have been identified, including weekly advisory period and BOY orientation for all students
• Opening the discussion to move forward 

To view the full presentation, simply click on the slides below.  Meeting discussion was recorded on Padlet (also, see below).

Click on the slides to see the PPT

Click on the image to see the Padlet

If you did not make it to the April 14th meeting, you are still welcome to attend any and all future meetings. We recognize that attending five Thursdays in a row is very difficult; just come when you can to be part of the conversation.  This Thursday, we will be discussing teacher support during our culture growth.  All upcoming meetings are listed below.

 Falcon Focus: Using Data to Drive Instruction

8th grade science is gearing up for the STAAR test, and they are using data to do it.  Last week, students took the 2015 released test.   Using "Par for the STAAR", students then analyzed their own results and identified areas of strength and weakness.

Robin Asaff and Lee Wagstaff are able to target specific TEKS in class that affect the majority of students, and kids are able to decide which reporting category-focused STAAR tutorials they should attend.  Furthermore,  Karen Sanchez is also pitching in, creating Reporting Category-specific workstations and assisting in 8th grade classes.  Thanks to this collaborative effort, students are able to guide their own STAAR instruction, and own their learning.  Our 8th graders will be well prepared this spring!

'Par for the STAAR'

Robin works with students in data analysis

Students work collaboratively to identify strengths and weaknesses

 Falcon Focus: #CelebrateMonday

Finally, each week is another opportunity to identify the greatness in our students, our classes, and our school.

Let's find those fabulous school moments and celebrate them.  Post pics and comments of the great things going on here at NRMS using #CelebrateMonday and #nrms2015 to share our awesomeness with the world!

If have any questions or would like some help implementing these or other strategies, please let me know.  And remember...

It's a great day to be a Falcon!