September 19, 2014

Teachers receive training via collaborative methods

 

Successful Beginning to Late Start Thursday


Heat had nothing to do with the modified school schedule yesterday as all students began school a little later than usual. Students began school at 10 AM to allow for teachers from preschool to grade 12 to work as collaborative teams. This is especially important for our unified school district with students from ages 3 to 22.  New Common Core Standards are articulated across the grades in a staircase of skills and concepts that grow steadily from grade to grade, leading to high school graduation. Teachers need time outside of their instructional duties on a regular basis to ensure a strong continuum of instruction.

High Heat & Humidity Force Minimum Days

 

San Diego County was rocked this week with record-setting temperatures and high relative humidity causing schools without air conditioning to close early.  Since most Coronado classrooms do not have air conditioning, all schools closed for three days at 12:30.

 

Board policy authorizes the Superintendent to close a school site, change the regular school day schedule, or take any necessary action when hazardous environmental or weather conditions or other emergencies warrant for the safety of students and staff. 


"The 'Heat Release Guidelines' policy allows me to make this call since classrooms are not air-conditioned," stated Dr. Felix.  "My decision hinges on information provided by several reputable forecasts when they predict a temperature or heat index of 90 degrees or higher for more than one day."  


The early morning two-hour work session was organized into fourteen different groups, each focused on alignment of curriculum and assessments. At the preschool and elementary level, teachers met by grade, and in grades 6-12, teachers met by content area. Most special education and intervention teachers collaborated with their general education colleagues.


Last year, the school calendar provided teachers with six full days for professional development, but this year the district can only afford one day. The addition of four "Late Start Thursdays" spread over the course of the school year provides the equivalent of one additional day for faculty and staff. 


Classified employees participated in required annual training on topics such as blood borne pathogens and sexual harassment. Future topics for classified employees will focus for some on Common Core instruction.  District administrators facilitated teacher meetings and classified training, and provided feedback to all district administrators on topics discussed, next steps, and needs.


"We need more time like this with our colleagues from other sites to work on our curriculum, new assessment, and particular student needs," said a high school teacher.  "We don't have enough time like this, and we made good use of this morning."


The district has invested the last several years on ensuring all employees are well trained and highly qualified.  As a small, community-minded school district, CUSD values providing a well-connected instructional program across our five school sites, so that students transitioning through the elementary grades, into middle school, and later high school are more than ready for the rigors of college and career. 

First graders from Mrs. Robert's class joined their 5th grade reading buddies in Miss MacDonald's class for the first time. To get to know their buddy, students talked about 3 things they had in common. The students loved this experience and are excited to meet again with their buddy next month!


 

What's Happening at Crown Preschool?

 

This week we talked all about our families. We made family houses and worked on gluing and cutting out our families. We also sang a fun song about our families called Where is Mother? (to the tune of Where is Thumbkin?) We used our hands to sing the song. We also shared our All About Me posters and will have a class book in the library soon.

 

During small group instruction we began our handwriting program called Handwriting without Tears, Get Set For School. We are working on our pencil grip right now and colored many stars! We will be working weekly on handwriting in the classroom. They are off to a wonderful start!

 

Ms. Gina reinforced the family theme of the week with more family activities. She also played a memory game with them where she had a tray of objects and then took one away. The class had to rely on their memory to guess which item was missing.

 

Ms. Gina also does "Free Flow Friday" with the kids and they chose to work with water paints and eye droppers, working on their fine motor skills, and painting while listing to classical music. They really enjoyed it!

 

We have a fun and easy activity you can make at home to work on number recognition, counting one to one and fine motor skills! Here is a link explaining how to make the counting activity...

http://www.messforless.net/2011/09/you-can-count-on-me.html

 

Written by Ms. Brenna and Ms. Lindsay 


Donate Now to Bridge the Ever-Widening Financial Gap
In light of the significant funding challenges our school district is now facing, Coronado Schools Foundation (CSF) is stepping up to accept the challenge. Many concerned parents have flooded us with calls asking how they can help. 

  Although CSF has already provided our schools with their fiscal-year end program amounts, additional funds will definitely provide much needed financial support.  Principals have planned for the next school year and have made heart-wrenching decisions due to the current budget shortfall and the rejection by voters of Proposition E.  There is now no doubt the current funding crisis will have a more devastating impact on school programs our children have come to depend on.

 

As the details of these cuts emerge, one thing is certain- we will ALL need to rise up collectively to financially support our schools.  Your donations today will help fund the experiences and opportunities CUSD students and families desperately need and have come to expect.  CSF will continue to request your participation in support of our schools as planning for the uncertain future continues in our district. 

 

Please help us Bridge the Gap and donate generously today at www.csfkids.org.  You can also mail your check (made payable to CSF) to 201 Sixth Street, Coronado, CA 92118 or call 619-437-8059, extension 1 or 3.  Donations of stocks and bonds are also welcome and can be accepted through our Vanguard Account.  All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law (Tax ID #94-2745484).

A weekly publication produced for the staff of Coronado Unified School District and the Community of Coronado by Jeffrey P. Felix, Ed. D., Superintendent of Schools
201 Sixth Street, Coronado, CA 92118 | 619.522.8900 | www.coronadousd.net
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Dates to Remember

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Special Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 8

4:30 PM

District Office

Board Room 

 . . . . . . . . . . .

Regular Board Meeting

Thursday, October 16

4:30 PM

District Office

Board Room

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Homecoming Parade

3:30 on Orange Ave.

October 25th

 

cartoon-football.jpg

 

Homecoming Football Game

6:30 PM

October 25th  

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Special Board Meeting

November 13

4:30 PM

District Office 

Board Room

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Regular Board Meeting

Thursday, November 20

4:30 PM

District Office

Board Room

 


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