|
Important Dates
Early Release Day- Dismissal Starts at 1:00 p.m.
October 30, 2015
Thanksgiving Celebration
November 19, 2015 at 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Performance
December 16, 2015 at 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
| | |
|
|
 |
|
Family,
On Thursday, October 22nd, I had the pleasure, along with Mrs. Yashika Abakah (Emory Parent - 2nd grade) and Ms. LuJuanna Tipton (CAU parent - 2nd grade), of addressing the Governor's Education Reform Commission for the state of Georgia. KIPP Vision Primary School was one of only two charter schools (the only one from Atlanta) selected by the Georgia Charter School Association to address the committee. Why? Because we are a model for excellence.
The committee was put together by Governor Nathan Deal to research best practices and to come up with a plan to improve the quality of education for all of Georgia's children. As we listened to the presentations, it became obvious why KIPP Vision Primary school was asked to present.
A few of the committee recommendations:
- Recommendation #1: Increase opportunity for advancement or remediation for students through flexible/on-going testing throughout the calendar school year.
WE ALREADY DO THAT AT KVP! We do not just wait until the end of the year assessment to find out how our scholars are doing. We do weekly assessments to determine how to move instruction for the following week. We use our MAP and STEP trimester data to create intervention groups designed to provide additional support for scholars that are not moving as quickly and challenge for those that need to be pushed further.
- Recommendation #2: Respect teachers' instructional time by minimizing the number of additional requirements beyond instruction.
WE ALREADY DO THAT AT KVP! At KVP, instructional time is sacred. We understand that every minute counts and our scholars and our teachers have no time to waste. We have put several supports in place to give teachers the space and time needed to plan and teach at high levels. Our student support team works diligently with our teachers to provide ALL scholars the support that they will need to stay focused in class and we work closely with our parents to ensure that if need be, all distractions are removed from the classroom.
- Recommendation #3: Develop strong induction programs and encourage teacher mentorship programs.
WE DO THAT TOO! All KVP teachers report to school three weeks before the scholars arrive and are immersed in professional development. Teachers meet to receive lesson plan feedback weekly. We meet on Tuesdays to review the lesson plans; on Wednesday to review the materials needed to teach the lesson; on Thursdays to practice teaching the lesson as a group and on Friday to review the data from the week. Teachers at KVP meet weekly with their managers to review their performance and to get hands-on coaching. Teachers at KVP are also observed daily and receive feedback needed to improve their practice. We want our teachers to be prepared to teach in EXCELLENCE. It starts with how they are brought into KIPP and continues day to day. If that wasn't enough, we also have two teachers in every room. We want our new to KVP teachers to benefit from the coaching, guidance and mentorship of a "veteran" teacher before we release them to have a class of their own. Nothing but the best for our scholars.
- Recommendation #4: Transition to a competency-based education system by prioritizing the most essential academic content and 21st Century Skills needed to be globally competitive for college, career and life.
CHECK! WE DO THAT AT KVP! In fact, no one does it better.
I was so proud as I sat in the back and listened to our founding parents speaking passionately about what KIPP Vision Primary School has meant to them and their scholars and humbled by the knowledge that the plan that the state of Georgia is hoping to adopt to improve education for all, is already the reality at KIPP Vision Primary School. Nothing but the best for our scholars...
With my whole heart,
Dr. Wheda A. Carletos, Ph.D.
Principal
KIPP Vision Primary School
|
|
Visionary of the Week
| 
Kindergarten
Tatiana Mason - UGA
Laila Foster - Spelhouse
Khloe McNeal - UWG
Dayanna Hernandez- GSU
1st Grade
Kordell Felton -UNC
Janiah Ligon - Wesley
Davion Smith - UGA
Erynn Gomes - Spelhouse
2nd Grade
Atayzia Owens - Maryville
Jasiyah Young - Clark Atlanta
Deonte Martin - Morris Brown
Zevin Hooper - Emory
|
| Week At A Glance |  Here's an overview of what scholars will be learning the week of October 26 - October 30, 2015 (click on the blue links below to view the documents).
|
|
| Partners In Action |
Book Character Day, Friday, October 30, Parade at 8:00 AM
Scholars may come dressed like their favorite book character next Friday. Scholars dressed in appropriate costumes will participate in a spirited parade with the middle school! Remember: the costume must be from a book, not a movie; scholars must bring the book to class to share (or choose a character from a classroom book); no props such as swords, guns, skulls, masks; KVP will not be responsible for lost costumes; NO goodie bags, and no classroom parties. See the flyer in your scholar's homework folder for more information.
Save the Dates
November 19 - Thanksgiving Celebration, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (the high school)
December 16- Holiday Performance, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
Help Us Feed Families in Atlanta - Support Our Food Drive
Our food drives continues, so please bring food items whenever you come to the school. The food bank reminds us to bring the following most needed items: peanut butter, canned tuna, canned beans, canned soups, stews, and pasta, 100% fruit juice, boxed macaroni and cheese dinners, whole grain, low sugar cereals. We will continue to accept food until we reach our goal of four full barrels (approximately 600 pounds of food). Thank you to those who have already sent in food items!
Join Us for our Annual Title I Meeting, Wednesday, October 28, 3:15- 4:15 PM
During this meeting, we will discuss our school curriculum and academic goals, our Title I school designation status, our parents' right to know, and distribute our recently revised school/parent compact and parent involvement policy. We look forward to seeing you, as always.
Chili and Community Service
A huge thank you to our PTA for coordinating our family chili social on Saturday, and to Ms. Wilson for facilitating the day's logistics. And of course, another huge thank you to those of you who made all that delicious chili, sent in donations, and/or and came out on Saturday. It was great to share this special time together. Events like these really help to build community. See you at our next event!
|
| Resources | |
Support our KIPP Cousins
Don't miss the Hawks take on the Lakers and Kobe's last game at Philips Arena, highlighted by the KIPP Atlanta Sounds of Royalty band performing before the game.
Harvest Fest
One of our community supporters, Impact Church, is sponsoring a free Harvest Fest on October 30, 2015 from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Join them for free candy, games, pumpkins, and trunk-n-treating!
|
| Counselor's & Social Worker's Corner |
10 Scientifically Proven Tips for Happy Kids
Wouldn't it be great if there was a way we could guarantee this? Of course, like anything in life, there are no guarantees. But as the mom of five boys, I have over the years found (through trial and error, heh) that some tactics do work better than others in the quest for happy kids. Now I have the scientific evidence to back some of them up!
1. Make Sure They Have Plenty of Time for Play
Sure, my boys have their sports, homework, and other extracurricular activities. But they are kids, and I try to remember that their work is really to play. So they have time every day, with few exceptions, to get down to the business of PLAY. (Bonus? On nice days ... a quiet house!)
2. Praise Hard Work
All play and now work makes Jack a ... wait. That's not how it goes!
When my boys put in effort in a project, I try to remember to praise the work they put into the task. I want them to learn that their efforts are appreciated, even when the outcomes aren't perfect.
3. Instill Traditions
Family dinners (or breakfast!), monthly movies, ornaments every Christmas or special birthday rituals ... constancy means safety to kids, and safety means happiness. It's as simple as that! 4. Let Them Do Their Own Homework
I have a friend who always looked over her oldest daughter's homework and corrected any mistakes, helped her with projects, made sure everything was perfect. She did this out of love ... but what she learned is that she was inadvertently telling her daughter that she wasn't capable of completing these tasks on her own when her daughter hit a level she had to handle herself. 5. Teach Them That Their "Negative" Emotions Are Healthy
Nobody likes to be angry, or sad, or scared. These feelings ... well, they FEEL bad. But they are part of being a human, and learning that they are normal and going to happen is important for kids to understand. One great way to explain this to kids is when you are experiencing some of those emotions yourself, "See? Mom can be nervous about things, too! It's just part of life!" Failure means you are taking chances, and we want our kids to go out there and LIVE life! If they aren't failing, they aren't trying new things and figuring out all of the fun things life has to offer. When they are sad that they've failed, see #5. 7. Don't Compare Them to Each Other ... or to Their Friends
It can be tempting to offer up others as "examples." But I've found it's almost always best to resist that temptation. It's really hard to get that point across without making them feel like they are pigeonholed ... kids just tend to hear, "Oh, Sam is the one who is good at dunking basketballs, not me." Or whatever the well-intentioned comparison was. 8. Make Happy Memories
Seriously, this is a very real goal of mine. I want to MAKE happy memories for my boys. Maybe that means being goofy, doing something unexpected, planning special one-on-one time with them, etc. In the end, a day is a series of memories. Make them happy ones ... turns out, it can literally made them better adults. 9. Be a Happy Parent
Ah, yes. This one. Often easier said than done. But modeling happiness for your kids is one of the best ways to encourage them to be happy themselves. And it's hard for kids to be happy when their parents aren't. So take care of yourself ... you know how when you're on a plane and the flight attendants tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first so that you're capable to taking care of your children? Same thing applies to happiness.
10. Don't Argue or Discuss Big Issues in Front of Them Considering a big move? Having financial issues? Worried about Grandma? Little ears hear more than we realize, and times of concern and uncertainty can make kids feel unstable and worried. So keep those grown-up discussions under wraps, so kids can be kids. So they can spend their childhood being kids. This parenting gig? It's hard. Nobody expects you to be perfect (and if they DO, they need to take a look in the mirror) ... we all make mistakes. But interjecting some nice cold, hard science into the mix is a nice way to feel good about the job you're doing.
|
|
|
