Today is May Day (also: International Workers Day). Can you believe it? May. The last month of the school year.
Someone observed at a meeting I was at yesterday that there were 17 days of school remaining. Which, if accurate (and I cannot say for certain if it is), means that by the time you read this there will be 16. I find that to be a rather sobering statistic.
There's always so much to be done during the month of May.
Teacher Appreciation Week
The PTO will be hosting a breakfast for you on Tuesday morning as a part of Teacher Appreciation Week. I hope you will plan to attend. Typically they're ready to go around 7:30 and have lots of excellent food and give away a number of door prizes throughout.
In keeping with the spirit of the celebration, I'd like to take another opportunity to express to all of you, as Marshall teachers, parapros, and support staff members alike, how grateful I am to have each of you working here and how deep my admiration for you goes.
The list of challenges we've faced this year is long and begins with tragedy and ends with crisis. Yet despite these things, you have, at all times, demonstrated your grit, faithfulness, and passion, both as individuals and collectively as a faculty, throughout these terribly complicated times. At each and every turn of events this year you have risen to the challenge, gone the extra mile, and shown compassion when you were called upon to.
I cannot thank you enough for being who you are. I am so proud to count myself among your ranks.
MTSS Specialist
If you looked carefully at the tentative 2015-2016 staffing sheet that was published in the Blue Note last week you may have noticed the inclusion of a position listed as "MTSS Spec" among our other support staff members.
MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and during the 2015-2016 school year it will be our great benefit at Marshall to add a specialist in this role to our staff. The addition of an MTSS Specialist is in direct response to findings brought to light in the Futures Education report that "at the local (i.e., school level), principals continue to build their capacities to support [students with disabilities]. This is an important and crucial element, as the optimal organizational structure is one whereby principals are fully capable to support students as the “first line” but also have the availability of special educational personnel to support them and their students as needed," FUSD has determined, in striving for this "optimal organizational structure," that elementary sites will each add to their support staff next year an individual who will:
- assist with the implementation and direction of special education programs at Marshall, including resource (inclusion), TAG, and specialized programs
- act as a liaison between the district and Marshall
- serve as district representative at MET and IEP meetings
- ensure our all our special education programs remain in compliance with federal (IDEA), state and district law, procedure, and policy
- work toward improving the quality of all special education services (resource, TAG, special programs) at Marshall
- provide training as-needed to staff to promote student success
- facilitate the development of instructional programs and activities that enrich student learning, promote higher level and critical thinking skills
Calendar
Week B
- Monday 04 May
- Coe at Admin Council 11:30-4:00
- Tuesday 05 May
- PTO Teacher Appreciation Breakfast, 7:30
- Fourth grade placement meeting, 9:10
- Kinder placement meeting 1:15
- Wednesday 06 May
- Coe, White, Fugett, Paez, Edwards at PBIS meeting at FRC, all day
- First grade placement meeting, 1:15
- Fourth grade bike rodeo, 12:45
- PTO meeting in the Library, 6:30
- Thursday 07 May
- Third grade placement meeting, 9:10
- Second grade placement meeting, 1:15
- Friday 08 May
- REGULAR SCHOOL DAY
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