Bittersweet News

It is with a heavy heart I share this news.  This evening I was approved to assume the role as assistant principal of Rockwood South Middle School.

Leaving Webster isn't easy.  You all have meant so much to me and my time here.  One of the things I am most proud of in our time together was the complete overhaul of the science and social studies curriculum.  I know neither of them are complete, but they are progressive, creative, democratic and honoring of our kids and your talents.  This community is so lucky to have each of you in the position you are in.

It wasn't an easy decision but one that I feel will help me grow as a leader.  Please know I won't be far away and will always reach out for your guidance, wisdom, support and to collaborate on projects.

Thanks for all you do and for caring for me during my time here.

3/29 ERS

Started the day with a Character Education CSIP meeting

I welcomed Teachers in to the building and made it into every classroom.

I attended a panel discussion put on by 5th graders about chocolate Milk.  See my question crafted for me to ask the panel!

I observed a 2nd grade teacher and a 5th grade teacher.

I worked with a kindergartener

I worked with a 3rd graders

I finished some emails

I created a rubric for teacher candidates

Watched this video:




and this!



Met with building principal

Facilitated dismissal

Headed over to Hudson to pick up cameras.

3/22 ERS, Service Center, WGHS, Hixson

Started the day meeting with a student and parent to welcome them to Edgar Road School.

I then headed over to the Service center.  There I took apart 15 kits for creation of the next science resources.

Afterwords I went over to WGHS to:

• Go through emails
• Create resources for new science Kits
• Finalize plans for 6th grade SS PD
• Sign contract for discovery Ed and email to everyone
• emailed Science Facilitators 
• Chat with CNI office about ordering
• Nudged Schools about 3rd grade local government preparations
• Clarified dates and times for buses

Watched this:

Headed over to Hixson to facilitate the "Grading for Learning" open Discussion.  Notes found here.

3/7 ERS

Started the day walking around to every classroom welcoming teachers.

Printed 6-8 MS assessments

Met with EdPlus about SBG conference

Inventoried SS K-5 Hub

Worked with a Kindergartener who was struggling.

Made a graphic for MS Science Engineering: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1qzpKoVahEJpJxMwpjX6fzShX4h9DzCx5k18IhrZ9jWU/edit

Went outside for 3rd grade recess

Worked on a SIS question

Worked with building principal on observations

Sat in on 5th grade math

worked with PE teacher on Fun Run map

Facilitated dismissal

Attended Parent Teacher Conferences

3/4 WGHS, Bristol

Started the day at Breakfast celebrating Principals Appreciation week.

I then met with the team at Discovery Ed to finalize details for Techbook.

Rescheduled PD dates for K-5 Science/Social Studies facilitators.

Finalized summer plans for a number of groups

Sent out meeting reminders

Cleaned up a number of email communications

Finalized resources for testing a 4th grader.

Tested the 4h grader in Science.

3/3 MS Science Teachers

Hosted the Middle School Science Teachers at the Cambridge Innovation Center.

Some of the Highlights from Twitter:

Thank you @cmcgee200 for organizing a great day learning & connecting at @CIC_StLouis school should be more like CIC pic.twitter.com/7hOrjhKtfF

— Patrick Dempsey (@midschoolsci) March 3, 2016

@CortexSTL for science 6-7 day. So pumped. Thanks @cmcgee200 pic.twitter.com/Lb06qagbpG

— rrambach (@rrambach) March 3, 2016

Other Highlights:

"Thanks for today, it was really great.  You know sometimes we don't know what we really need."

and

"the pd yesterday was so refreshing!  It is really important for us to think outside of our normal 'boxes' in order to keep learning.  Yesterday was a great day of learning.  Thank you for listening to us and planning such an exciting day."


The agenda:

8:30 - 9:00 - Check in, Why are we at the CIC?

• Sup
• Tour of Facility
• Why are we here

8:50 Phyllis Ellison: Director of Entrepreneur Services and Institutional & Corporate Partnerships CORTEX Innovation Community

Between 9 and 11 Brian Cudney, MBA Director, Chemistry, Mfg, and Cntrl Regulatory Sciences Specialty Solutions Cardinal health

Notes?

9:00 - 10:00 Engineering Design progression

1. Look at this: http://www.nextgenscience.org/msets-ed-engineering-design,
2. read this: http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/MS%20ETS%20Storyline%20-%20DCI%20and%20Topic-6.13.13.pdf
3. Author/develop/design a progression of experiences/products and processes

PD Design Squad

Design thinking

WG K-5 Learning Cycle

10:00 - 11:00 Changes/Edits to curriculum documents

Lunch - Walk to Ikea

12:00 Jen Marcus Director USG Strategic Partnerships Planet Labs AND Dan Marcus President, Radiologics and WASHU Labs manager

1:15pm Chris Ruzika Director of Business Development, St. Louis TechShop, Inc.

Department time

6th Grade	Finish Natural Selection SLO Earth Science Check in MAJORITY OF TIME: Steger School-wide Project
7th Grade	Add engineering experiences tied to existing units (develop scales, goals, assessments?) Energy goals?(water cycle, predicting weather, etc.) Add new ‘forces and motions’ goals to weather common assessment for weather
8th Grade	Formatives and summatives creation and revision Develop CORE Experiences, Field Trips, Activities, Inquiries reflection on chemistry and forces units.   Core experiences for wave energy.  (discuss and adjust)

2:30 WRAP UP

• After Implementation Timeline Draft 3
• Future Meetings and Summer Schedule
• Transition to Venture Cafe

Grade	Summer hours needed	Dates
6	12	June 9th and 10th
7	18	June 13 14 15
8	3 hours each day = 9 hours total	June 20, 21, 22

Resources:

• How to write an assessment video OR Slides

• Learning opportunities options: draft version of this (Social Studies Sample) (3rd grade Sample)
• Evidence Statements Again http://www.nextgenscience.org/k-5-evidence-statements
• The Hub
• CNI server:
• in district: type \\wgco-fileserver\CNI into the "run" box by the windows logo.

from home: portal.webster.k12.mo.us

3/2 Edgar Road

Started the day welcoming students into school

Met wit building principal to plan March 21st PD day.

Welcomed the "Cat in the Hat" into our K-1 Classrooms for Dr. Suess' birthday!

Sent email about rescheduled facilitator days

Sent email about Kit Learning and Summer work

Worked with a Kindergartener

emailed Tech CSIP team

helped get classes to the photographer for picture day

submitted foundation grant

Started planning March 21st PD afternoon

Spoke to a parent of a kindergartener

wrote letter for grant support

facilitated dismissal