Venetia Valley PTA
Venetia Valley PTA
VV Parent & Teacher Association
May 7, 2014
General Meeting
AGENDA
Topic
Presenter
Time
Allocated
Call to Order
Renee O’Hare
5 min
2nd Grade!
2nd Grade Teachers
25 min
CTO for SRCS
Shawn Rozell
20 min
PTA Business
Renee O’Hare
15 min
Principal’s Update
Juan Rodriguez
15 min
Close of Meeting
Renee O’Hare
5 min
2nd Grade Team
2013-14
Kim Press, Diana Mendoza,
Megan Sulsberger, Alexa Sakellariou
& Michelle Rosecrans
Introductions and Agenda
O 2nd Grade Developmental Milestones –
O
O
O
O
Alexa Sakellariou
Thematic Units & Field Trips – Diana
Mendoza
English Language Arts & the Common Core
Shifts – Megan Sulsberger
Math & The Common Core Shifts – Kim
Press
Questions
nd
2
Grader Attributes
Intellectual Developments
In second grade, your child:
O Has a longer attention span.
O Is serious and reflective in his or her thinking.
O Can use logic to solve more complex problems.
O Lives more in reality and less in a fantasy world.
O Enjoys being challenged, working hard, and
completing a task well.
O Listens for longer periods of time, absorbing new
information.
O Expands his or her vocabulary by listening to others.
O Learns by listening and taking part in class
discussions.
nd
2
Grader Attributes
Intellectual Developments (continued)
O Still uses decoding skills to sound out new words.
O Is becoming a more fluent, efficient reader.
O Still enjoys (and learns from) someone else reading
O
O
O
O
aloud.
Becomes more comfortable with writing.
By writing about what he or she reads, the child
connects concepts to his or her own experiences.
Understands that writing involves many steps.
Can tell and understand jokes, puns, and sarcasm.
nd
2
Grader Attributes
Social and Emotional Development
By ages 7 and 8, your child is ready for more
responsibility and independence. You may also find
that he or she:
O Enjoys unstructured group play.
O Is more sensitive to how kids and adults treat
him or her.
O Is concerned with how other people react.
O May try to solve problems by being aggressive.
O Prefers to play with peers of the same sex (girls
with girls, boys with boys).
Parent Support
Parents can support their developing 2nd
grader by encouraging their child to:
O Develop a concept of him or herself.
O Begin to understand others.
O Gain respect for others.
O Build relationships with others.
O Develop a sense of responsibility.
2nd Grade Thematic Units
O 2nd grade teachers create and refine
thematic units collaboratively
O Units connect to the world around us
O Engagement and motivation happen when
units of study are thematic
O Aligned with the Common Core State
Standards
Themes in 2nd Grade:
#1 - Government
O How countries make laws.
O Similarities between rules and laws
O How a bill becomes a Law
O Professional Students
O Behavior expectations
O Character Development
#2 - Economics / Health
O Understanding economic concepts that
consumers and producers buy and sell
goods.
O Producers and Consumers
Food Production
O Food Pyramid / Food Groups
O Farmers Market Field Trip
O
Field Trip to Farmer’s Market
#3 - Heroes / Biographies
O American Heroes accomplished something
that has made life better for others.
O Biographies on:
O Civil Rights Heroes
O Heroes helping others gain their freedom
O Inventors
O Explorers
#4 - Rock Cycle / Earth
Earth is made of materials that have distinct
properties and provide resources for human activity
• Earth’s Layers
• Rock Cycle
• Metamorphic, Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks
• Breakage and Weathering
• Fossils
Field Trip to Exploratorium
#5 - Life Cycles
O Plants and animals have predictable life
cycles.
Animal classification
O Animal Life cycles
O Rain Forest Habitat
O
Field Trip to Academy of
Sciences
2nd Grade English / Language
Arts
O Whole Class Instruction
O Direct Phonics Instruction and Spelling – Houghton Mifflin
O Daily 5 and Reading Groups
O Thematic Reading - GLAD
Writing Instruction
O Journal Writing / Daily 5
O Project Based Writing
Linked to Thematic Units
O Writer’s Workshop
O ELD
Common Core State Standards
6 Shifts in ELA
O Increase Reading of Informational Text
O Text Complexity
O Academic Vocabulary
O Text-based Answers
O Writing from Sources
O Literacy Instruction in All Content Areas
ELA Common Core Shift #1
Increase Reading of
Informational Text
Students can…
O Learn more Science
and Social Studies
through reading
O Use “primary source”
documents
O Learn more by using
texts
Parents can…
O Provide series of texts
on topics of interest
O Find books that explain
O Discuss informational
and non-fiction texts
and the ideas within
the text
ELA Common Core Shift #2
Text Complexity
Students can…
O Re-read
O Read material at
comfort level and work
with more challenging
text
O Break down text to
understand
O Handle frustration with
text and keep reading
Parents can…
O Provide more challenging
texts, and text they want
to read and can read
comfortably
O Read challenging text
with them
O Model: Show that
challenging text is worth
reading and discussing
ELA Common Core Shift #3
Academic Vocabulary
Students can…
O Learn the words they
need to understand to
access and engage
with content
O Learn the words that
they can use in college
and career
O Read more to develop
a larger vocabulary
O
O
O
O
Parents can…
Read often and
constantly
Read multiple books
about the same topic
Let your children see you
reading
Talk to your children;
Read to your children;
Listen to your children;
Sing with your children
ELA Common Core Shift #4
Text-Based Answers
Students can…
O Find evidence to
support their
arguments
O Form judgments
O Become experts
through reading
O Discuss what the
author is trying to do
with the text
Parents can…
O Talk about the text
O Ask for evidence in every
day
discussions/disagreemen
ts
O Read aloud or read the
same book and discuss
with evidence to support
conversation
ELA Common Core Shift #5
Writing from Sources
Students can…
O Make arguments in
writing using
evidence
O Compare multiple
texts in writing
O Practice writing well
Parents can…
O Encourage writing at
home
O Write “books”
together and use
evidence/details
ELA Common Core Shift #6
Literacy Instruction in All
Content Areas
Students can…
O Learn more Science
and Social Studies
through reading
O Use “primary source”
documents
O Learn more by using
texts
Parents can…
O Provide series of texts
on topics of interest
O Find books that explain
O Discuss informational
and non-fiction texts
and the ideas within
the text
How can I help my child in Language Arts?
*Read to and with my child for 20-30 minutes nightly.
*Practice high frequency word lists together; make flashcards for
words they do not know how to say, spell, or use in a sentence.
*Provide a variety of reading materials, including fiction and nonfiction
books. Support their use of online reading programs such as Starfall,
Raz-Kids or Storyline Online.
*Engage your child with what they are reading. Ask them
comprehension questions to ensure that they are understanding what
they are reading.
*Help you child edit their work for correct grammar and punctuation.
*Do practice spelling tests together each week.
2nd Grade Mathematics
O Whole Class Instruction – Everyday Mathematics, U of Chicago
O Fact fluency practice
O Math games / Intervention cycles
O Math literature
Math Games and Exploration
Common Core State Standards
6 Shifts in Mathematics
6 Key Shifts:
O Focus
O Coherence
O Fluency
O Deep Understanding
O Application
O Dual Intensity
Mathematics Common Core Shift #1
Focus
O Fewer topics covered in each grade (narrow focus)
O Increased time spent on each priority topic (deeper
focus)
O Priority topics create core of knowledge that is
foundation of more advanced math
O 4 priority areas for 2nd grade
(1) extending understanding of base-ten notation
(2) building fluency with addition and subtraction
(3) using standard units of measure
(4) describing and analyzing shapes (2D and 3D)
Mathematics Common Core Shift #2
Coherence
O Topics connect and build from one grade to
the next
O Basics learned in younger grade
O Build on that foundation in later grades
O Example:
O K – add / subtract “within 5”
O 1st – add / subtract “within 10”
O 2nd – add / subtract “within 20”
Mathematics Common Core Shift #3
Fluency
O Students develop speed and accuracy
with simple calculations
O Basic math facts and relationships
O Teachers structure class time and/or
homework time for students to
memorize, through repetition, core
functions
Mathematics Common Core Shift #4
Deep Understanding
O Goal is deep understanding and
confidence operating within a math
concept before moving on
O learn more than the “trick” to get the
answer right – be able to explain how
O Deeper understanding enables students
to apply concepts to new situations
Mathematics Common Core Shift #5
Application
O Students are expected to use math
O Choose the appropriate concept for
application
O Recognize common elements in
different types of problems
O Understand that there are multiple
ways to solve a problem
O Show/explain how to solve
Mathematics Common Core Shift #6
Dual Intensity
O Combines both “technical” and
“practical”, both with intensity
O Students are practicing and
understanding
O Simple drills and calculations with
fluency but
ALSO
O Apply concepts at a deeper level
How can I help my child with math?
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Pose “real-life” math problems
Touch and count real money
Play games involving money, such as Monopoly
Have analog clocks in your home
Practice using math vocabulary – more than/less
than, units of measurement
Compare scores, prices – ask which is more and how
much more
Fact fluency – computer games, flash cards, etc.
Cook – follow recipes, measure ingredients
Sean Rozell
Chief Technology Officer
San Rafael City Schools
What Is It, What Are We Doing, and Where Do We
Stand?
SIS Explained
 Anything related to student data ties back to the SIS
 Attendance
 Grades
 Discipline
 Address and Emergency Contacts
 Schedules
 Health Info
 Demographics
 State Reporting
 And anything else we decide to track or report
Why Are We Changing Systems?
 Getting and Using Data at All Levels of the District
 Aeries Limitations
 Data System Overload
 Multiple Data Platforms Employed to Fill Gaps
 Communication
 Everyone Pointing to Different Data
 Professional Development
 Who has the time to become an expert in all those data
systems?!
How Did We Decide To Go With
Infinite Campus?
 Technology Advisory Committee 2011/2012
 Priorities Process Similar to LCAP Process
 SIS Selection Committee 2012/2013
 Key Stakeholders from throughout both Districts
 Teachers, administrators, counselors, Parents,
Attendance/Business Office, Curriculum, IT
 RFP 2013
 Looked At Many Different Systems With Vastly Different
Capabilities
 SIS vs. LMS
 Infinite Campus Selected By Committee 2013
SIS & LMS Explanation
Student Info System (SIS)
Learning Mgmt System (LMS)
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Basic Student Info
Attendance
Grade Book **
Health Info
Discipline
Parent Portal **
Student Schedules
Master Schedules
State & Federal Reporting
Data Analytics **
“At Risk” Student Identification
Library Services (sometimes)
Student Nutrition (sometimes)
Auto-Dialer (sometimes)
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Parent Portals **
Student Portals
Grade Book **
Learning Content Delivery
Assessments
Data Analytics **
Lesson Plan Building
Teacher Collaboration Tools
Student Collaboration Tools
Professional Development Management Tools
SIS Implementation Basics
 Data Conversion
 “Cleaning” Data in Aeries
 Data Health Checks After Conversion
 Communication to All Stakeholders
 Support
 Help Desk Support
 On-Site Coaching
 Professional Development
Professional Development Basics
 Professional Development Support Provided by
Infinite Campus, IT, Curriculum Office and School
Site Content Experts/Coaches
 Phased Approach to Program Roll-Out
 Phase 1—Opening the School Year
 Attendance, Gradebooks, Portals, Behavior, etc.
 Phase 2—Additional Tools and Features
 Report Cards & Transcripts, Data Analytics, Dynamic
Reporting, etc.
 Phase 3—Master Scheduling
 Phase 4—Closing Out the School Year
Professional Development
Schedule April – May 2014
 Establish Roles and Responsibilities for School Site
Coaches
 Introduce Coaches to Infinite Campus Through Training
Websites
Professional Development
Schedule June 2014
 On-Site Training From Infinite Campus During the
Week of June 16th
 Teacher Coach Training ½ Day Per District
 Site Coach Training 1.5 Days Per District
 One Day of Training Dedicated to District Content
Specialists
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Enrollment Office, Nurses, Special Ed Management,
Afterschool Coordinators, Librarians, School Messenger
Users, others?
 Ongoing Training Websites for School Site Coaches
Professional Development
Schedule July 2014
 IT Sys Admin and DBA Training
 WebEx Training Provided by Infinite Campus on July
2nd.
 Data Health Check and Live Data Sandbox Creation
 Ongoing Training Websites for School Site Coaches
 Training Websites Now Using Live SRCS Data in
Sandbox Environment
Professional Development
Schedule August 2014
 Training For Classified Staff Provided By Infinite
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Campus and IT During 1st Week In August
Training for Certificated Staff Provided by School Site
Coaches on a Site-By-Site Basis
Infinite Campus On-Site for Training and Support
During 1st Week of School
Student Training
Goal is Mastering Classroom Housekeeping Functions
for Day 1
 Attendance, Gradebooks, Portals, Seating Charts,
Behavior
Professional Development
Schedule Sept - Dec 2014
 Ongoing Transition Support
 Regular “Tips and Tricks” Training by School Site
Coaches
 Parent Evangelizing and Training
 Additional Features and Services Training
 Report Cards, Transcripts, Data Analytics, Dynamic
Reporting
Professional Development
Schedule Jan – June 2015
 Ongoing Transition Support
 Regular “Tips and Tricks” Training by School Site
Coaches
 Parent Evangelizing and Training
 Infinite Campus Providing On-Site Master Scheduling
Training in January and February
 End-Of-Year Function Support Provided By IT
Infinite Campus that shows the
basics of the parent portal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZQxHAXvrvM&list
=PL-YJak69799QiURG5M_0EJfAVfhdfTyva
PTA UPDATE
• Renee O’Hare, President
• Monica Stafford, Vice President
• Amy Cosby-Frost, Treasurer
PTA SHOUT OUT!
Venetia Valley Teachers
Thank you for:
• Working with PTA to increase participation in
Falcon Fund
• 100% participation in Falcon Fund
• Tirelessly supporting our children
• Helping after hours, attending our events and
always being there when we need you
FALCON FUND!
FONDO HALCON!
GOAL: 100% participation from
FAMILIES & TEACHERS/STAFF
Donations accepted YEAR ROUND!
Falcon Fund Status Through 5/6/2014
• 267 Families have contributed which= 47%
participation
– 9 additional families making ANY donation
would bring us to 50% participation!!!!
• 100% of teachers have contributed
• Amount raised:
2013-2014 Approved Budget
Revenue Generated this year
Description of Revenue
Revenue Amount
Falcon Fund Donations up to 5/5/2014
$40,705
Spirit Wear Revenue
$6,035
Carnival
$15,801
Library + Book Fair
$9,064
Middle School Music
$1,945
Misc Events: Daddy/Daughter Dance, Movie Night, Taco
Night
$1,722
Misc donations (Gaspares, Target, United, Escrip, HeadsUp,
Dine for $$, Amazon, Rotary Clubs)
$13,084
TOTAL REVENUE
$88,356
2013-2014 Approved Budget
Expenses Paid Through 5/6/2014
Description of Expense
Expense Amount
School Beautification - mural
$613
Teachers Supply Accounts
$11,896
Academic competitions – Spelling Bee, Mathletes
$450
Library: Refunds of lost book fees, supplies, book purchases
$2,567
Book Fair
$5,792
Teacher Lunch: Staff mtg 1st week of school
$138
Middle School Music
$1,854
Kindy Welcome & 1st Day coffee
$90
Bank Supplies, service fee’s
$185
Spirit Wear
$4,647
Carnival
$2,835
Total Expenses Paid
$60,067
2013-2014 Approved Budget
Total Approved Budgeted Amount
WE STILL NEED TO RAISE
$104,265
-$85,506
$15,909
Upcoming Fund Raising
Opportunities
• Yard Sale
• Dine-4-Dollars
• Raffle
RAFFLE!
Check your folders on Thursday
Winner announced at Open House: 5/21
How many: 10 Tickets per child
How much: $5 ea or 5 for $20
Due Date for Return : May 20, 2014
1st prize
2nd prize
3rd prize
$500.00 Cash
Northbridge Pool Membership ($500 value)
Jambox (bluetooth speaker) + $25 itunes card
4th prize
In-n-out burger gift pack
Neighborhood Yard Sale – 5/24
How Can You Help?
Host a Yard Sale at your home:
Collect & sell goods from families at VV,
Friends, neighbors and sell them with
proceeds going directly to Venetia Valley
HELP at a Yard Sale:
Can’t host? You can help! 1-2 hour shifts
available at multiple locations
Donate to Yard Sale:
Donate sellable goods to one of the posted
homes that is hosting
Dine-4-Dollars – 5/28
Tomatina San Rafael
DATE: Wednesday, May 28, 2014
• Tomatina will generously donate 15% of food
and beverage sales from lunch, dinner and
takeout
• Must have flyer to get the donation!
How Can You Help with PTA?
• Get Involved!
– 1 hour makes a HUGE difference, consider
volunteering
– Sign up to help for at least 1 event per year
– Talk to your friends, help them get involved
– Join a committee (carnival, book fair, fund raising, etc)
• EASY Money:
– Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1
789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=vvpta2-20
– Escrip: http://escrip.com/
– Target Red Card, Box Tops, Gespares, United Market,
matching donations(work)
Nominating Committee
Nominations committee NEEDED to elect the new PTA
Board for 2015-2016
• The purpose of the nominating committee is to recognize and seek qualified
nominees for the elected leadership of the PTA.
• Open and frank discussion must be held among members of the committee.
Discussions are strictly confidential and no information should leave the
committee meeting, even after the officers have been elected.
• Members of the committee are not excluded from becoming nominees for
elected office. During nominating committee meetings, if a committee
member is being considered, the member should be excused from the
meeting during the discussion regarding that office, but may return for the
vote which shall be by ballot.
• The nominating committee continues to serve until the annual election
meeting.
Recruiting for Next year!
PTA Board & Committee positions…more to come
• Vice President of Communications
– Find & schedule helpers for: Mail Blasts, Connect Ed, bulletin boards, road
sign
• Vice President of Fund Raising
– Find & schedule helpers for: Falcon Fund, Special Events
• Hospitality chair:
– Find & schedule helpers for: Teacher appreciations, Kindy/Middle School
welcome
• Carnival Co-Chair:
– Project manage and gather a committee to work on school carnival
• On Call Support:
– Help out when needed here and there – copies, stuffing envelopes,
writing thank you notes, etc…..could be as little as 1 hour per month if
enough sign up to help.
• Nomination Committee:
– Need individuals to be on the look out for our next set of
leaders…2015/2016 school year will need a new PTA executive board
Reflecting on 2013-2014
Events Sponsored by PTA:
Ice Cream Social, Carnival, Book Fair, Daddy/Daughter
Dance, Movie Night, Family Game Nights
Teacher Support:
Nearly 12k given to teachers based on Falcon Fund
Incentive & Supply grants
Committees:
Parent Advisory Task Force, Heads Up, LCAP Advisory
Garden & Music:
Sponsored 360 hours of K-3 Music
Sponsored 480 hours of K-5 Garden
Falcon Fund:
HIGHEST Parent Participation level in the past 6 years
100% Teacher Participation
THANK YOU!
Thanks to all of the parents, teachers &
administration for all of the support this year!
VV FALCONS SOAR!
Upcoming Dates to Know!
May 13: International Story Night & Dinner
May 19: Civil War Day (grades 7 & 8)
May 21: Open House/Grades 4&5, Cadet & Concert Bands
May 24: Community Yard Sales
May 28: Dine-4-Dollars – Tomatina (15% of food and beverage sales
from lunch, dinner and takeout)
May 30: Middle School Science Fair
June 11: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 12: K-8 Talent Show
Last Day of School
Principal’s Update
• Juan Rodriguez, Principal
• Mari Kernan, Assistant Principal
2013-14 Achievements/Deliverables
• The school mission was newly clarified/defined to include
specific community priorities
• 2.5 murals
• Front landscape
• Successful year one implementation of biliteracy program
– district approval for continuation
• Successful completion of terms of PESSA grant including
PreK partnership/alignment
• Initial implementation of 4th and 5th grade balanced
literacy program that incorporates Common Core
instruction and assessment to enable the school to track
student progress within and across grade levels
SCIENCE!
• Science emerged as a priority through
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the newly defined school mission
science in the garden
life science in first grade
ecology - green team
year 2 of San Jose Discovery Museum Science Night
year one of Biolblitz
science career speakers at Career Day
middle school STEM professional development and
expansion of year 2 course offering
College & the Arts
• College emerged as a goal through
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in the school mission
schoolwide teachers shared their pathway to college with each classroom
college tours
staff schoolwide raising the topic
• Art emerged as a priority through
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the ballet (Nutcracker tickets - Marin Ballet)
opera (Hansel and Gretel, the Magic Flute and Das Rheingold - SF Opera)
play (James and the Giant Peach - The Masque Unit)
dance (Happiness is NOW, Playworks Run for Recess, new Marin Ballet
partnership)
– improved music instruction under Mr. Dillaway
– afterschool enrichment
• fiesta dance class
• theater
Community
• Community Building emerged as a priority
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Playworks
GirlSmart
iCan club
7th grade mitzvah kitchen
family nights
international potluck night
movie nights
father/daughter dance
science night
family literacy night
Stay in Touch!
• Venetia Valley Home Page: up to date info!
– http://vv-srcs-ca.schoolloop.com/
• Venetia Valley PTA Home Page:
– VVPTA.ORG