Where do we go from here?

Last week I sent out an email about our results from last year according to NC Department of Public Instruction.  As you know, we are viewed as a low performing school and are in need of intense intervention to improve.

Now, I have spoken to some of you and you feel that the ranking is: unfair, wrong, not a true reflection of what we do at ENCORE, etc.  And you are all right!  But part of being successful is learning how to continue doing what's right while working with the parameters in place.  It can be done and we will do it.  But I will promise you one thing...it will not be easy and it will not make us feel "good" all the time.  I can speak from personal experience that when dealing with things that rub you the wrong way, especially from a moral standpoint, it can be downright painfully to stay professional and not yell out  THIS IS SO STUPID.  ALL THIS MESS THE STATE IS CONCERNED ABOUT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER!!!! But there's a way to stay true to our mission and continue to improve in GROWTH and PROFICIENCY.


In August I asked you to help me come up with a theme for this year.  After viewing our test data and watching our amazing staff interactive with our just as amazing students I have decided to focus on our purpose.  ENCORE! Engaging No Opt Out Classroom Instruction while Orchestrating Rigorous Eccentricity.  Basically we do our thing for each student while not forgetting that each of the students we serve are different and need different instruction to access success.  And we know that our students' families believe that by integrating arts into the instructional day their students will be more successfully.  We just need to be INTENTIONAL in all we do...we only have 7.5 hours to do so each day.

In August, I also asked Mrs. Lett to create an incentive reading program to implement throughout the year to encourage students to read more.  You will be receiving an email of the plan for TCEA soon.  Please know that there is a lot of space to orchestrate the program in a way that works for you and your students.  You'll be able to be eccentric and create a plan that reflects your management style.  Students can opt out but we'd like to encourage participation from all!!  The program is also engaging because the products students can elect to do are performance/arts based. YEAH! For a real life example of the effects of a reading incentive program, my previous school went from 38.1% to 51% over three years and one part of creating these results was, I believe, implementing a reading incentive program.

Below is one of my most favorite videos about perseverance (for kids and adults).  We will be a high performing school...I work too hard to be at a low performing school and more importantly...YOU WORK TOO HARD FOR US TO STAY AT A LOW PERFORMING LEVEL!  But improvement is a process and we must stay focused and preserve.

Hope you enjoy your day off and I look forward to seeing y'all tomorrow.

Angela

Week of October 12-16, 2015*

Monday, October 12

No School!

Tuesday, October 13

• Hill Mtg. with DPI Staff (Technology and Beginning Teacher)

• Arts PLC

• 5th/6th PLC
• Encore Family Dinner at La Fogata on McPherson Church Rd at 6pm

Wednesday, October 14

• 3rd Grade PLC

Thursday, October 15

• 4th PLC

• 2nd PLC

Friday, October 16

• K PLC

• 5th and 6th Grade Field Trip to local gallery

• Summer CCC Class with Brownlee 10-11

* Observations and Pre and Post Observation Conferences Continue;
* Continuous School Improvement/Workday; Non-Student Day (11/2 & 11/3): 11/2 will be PLC and Data Meetings and 11/3 will be PD Focused on Differentiation in ELA and Math (more information to follow)