Read Across
America Day!
March Character
Trait is
Courage
Courage is the quality of being
brave, facing danger, difficulty,
uncertainty, or pain without
being overcome by fear or being
deflected from the chosen course
of action. It is the strength to
practice character traits and to
resist negative influences in
upholding ethical traits. Courage
is also known as bravery, will,
and fortitude.
Reflections…
Some would say that, “a person is as a person reads”. We will recognize the
impact of Dr. Seuss books in schools this week and I was reminded that
students begin their education by “learning to read”. This is characterized
through a sequential process where new skills build on the mastery of
previously learned skills. However, students soon transition into a “reading
to learn” mode where the process turns more towards fluency and
comprehension. As we celebrate Read Across America Day on March 2nd
at each one of our schools, we continue to be impressed by your level of
commitment in requiring that our students “read to learn”. It is refreshing to
know that as educators we understand how important it is to “read to learn”
since reading educates each one of our students and opens up a world of
possibilities that they never knew could be unlocked.
As educators and adults, we know that it is nearly impossible to do anything
worthwhile without reading. When you think about it, there is nothing
better than soaking up information like a sponge by reading a good book.
When I reflect on reading, I am reminded of a statement that says,
“Educators read, and readers educate”. I believe that this statement is true,
because reading provides a roadmap to our responsibilities, gives us
direction as professionals, provides background knowledge of current
trends, and sets the stage for what we do on a daily basis. Therefore, please
continue to encourage your students to “read to learn”, because it will teach
them how to think, anticipate, infer, and most importantly prepare them for
the “real world”. That is our responsibility, isn’t it? Charles Jones, a noted
philosopher, stated that, “The only difference that we will have in our lives
five years from now will be determined by the people we associate
ourselves with and by the books that we read”. Go Cougar Nation!
“Our Community of Readers”
Volume I, No. 27 February 26, 2017
Cougar Courier From the Desk of Dr. Rodney L. Berry, Superintendent
Focus for the Month of
March
Daily Posting of
Three Higher Order
Questions
Congratulations!
The past two weeks have been very exciting for Nottoway Interact
students! The Nottoway INTERACT club is sponsored by Blackstone
Rotary and was internationally charted today! The club received a banner, a
bell, and a gavel. The rotary also provided pizza and drinks for our
celebration. At the meeting, we presented Blackstone Rotary president, Jeff
Lavelle, with a check of $250.00. These proceeds go toward "Polio Plus"
which supports the eradication of polio. We started a joint fundraiser with
the 21st Century of Nottoway High, "pennies for patients", which proceeds
go to the leukemia and lymphoma society. The club is working hard to raise
money for this organization. Two of our club members, Lucas Gil and Luz
Cruz, returned on Monday from RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership
Academy).
From Coach Jones: Congratulations to the following players for making the
Quad Rivers 34 all-conference team: Girls: Micaila
Coleman - Player of the Year; Deona Dowtin; Layla
Paige (Boys) Jay Anderson; And to Coach Glen Pettis,
Coach of the Year!
Commendations
I would like to thank the JROTC unit and especially Brianna
Thompson (11th grade) and A’Naya Jennings (11th grade) for the
beautiful bowtie that gave me. They obtained the bowtie from the
Black History Museum in Richmond during their tour last week!
Their goals after high school are to become a psychologist a nurse,
and they are well on their way to reaching their career goals!
I would also like to thank Mrs. Craig, Mr. Hinton, and other staff
members at NIS for their help at NIS this past week. You all have
been awesome!
Submitted by Ms. L. Thompson: Dr. Gravely and I would like to
thank Mrs. Allman, Mrs. Banks, Mrs. Dalton, Mrs. Freitag, Mrs.
Harris, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Schumaker, for their help today with
Duty Free lunch for the homeroom teachers. We appreciate your
Instructional Focus for
the Month of March
Lesson Planning Tips
Lesson Plans should include:
1. SOL Objectives
2. Leveling of your students.
They should be
“personalized” for high
(enhanced), medium
(targeted), and low
(prerequisite) students.
3. Differentiating from bell to
bell.
4. Independent assignments
5. Student directed
assignments
6. Teacher directed
assignments
7. Leveling of homework for
high, medium, and low
students.
willingness to work as a team.
Submitted by Mrs. Hinton: Thank you to NHS 21st Century,
Marilyn Wilson, Pat Rome, and of course the ever talented,
Alyson Napier, for sponsoring such fun and relaxing Paint Nights.
These events are such a treat, and I know that all of us, no matter
how talented, have enjoyed the fellowship, food, and fun!!!!
I would like to thank all of the staff and teachers from BES that
came to the public hearing in regards to the possible closure of that
building. It was evident that the love, commitment, and passion that
you all have for your students reflect back into their homes and their
families. Thank you for ALL you do!
Announcements
Paint Night at NHS Take a break away from the typical night out and join us for an evening of
fun, creativity, and social connection. Spend two hours painting your
masterpiece. You don’t have to be VanGogh, you just have to be inspired.
So, put down your phone and pick up a paintbrush
March 17, 2017 4:30-6:30 p.m. Nottoway High School Room 511 Title: Make a Wish -See attached flyer
Cost: Free (Sponsored through 21st Century)
3 SPOTS AVAILABLE! To reserve your spot:
Email [email protected]
Teaching Tip of the Week:
CRISS Strategy
Triangle Comparison Diagram
What’s Happening in the Classroom?
CPS
Submitted by Dr. Saunders: Mrs. Redford's Second Grade Class at Crewe
Primary School presented their projects on famous black Americans who
made a difference in our country, and Rev. Curtis Hurte came to read for
Share a Bear Day.
Submitted by Ms. A. Brown: Today we practiced finding the volume of a
rectangular prism and a cylinder. Students solved and then tested their
findings by pouring water into the container over a volunteers head. I told
them they could do feet but all wanted to do their head of course. It was a lot
of fun and a great way to enjoy this beautiful day!
NHS
Submitted by Ms. Patterson: The 30 members of the KTS Club visited
Virginia Commonwealth University where we toured campus, ate at the
dining hall and watched the Rams Women's B-ball team beat Davidson!
Students got a glimpse of what university life might be like in Richmond!
Instructional Focus
for the Month of
March
Writing Objectives
Objectives should include what the
student will accomplish during the
given lesson, including the:
• Conditions under which
the students will exhibit
those behaviors
• Behaviors students will
exhibit to show learning
• Criteria the teacher will
use to determine whether
students meet the objective.
For example:
“Given dry cells, wires, switches,
bulbs, and bulb holders and
general theory about electrical
circuit and pathways, students
will work in cooperative groups
to create a functioning series
circuit in which the bulb lights
up, and will independently
diagram the circuit by correctly
drawing and labeling all parts.”
All Subjects
For Non-English classes try adding a writing component to your
formative assessment to assist English teachers with cross curricular
writing.
Please make sure your Objectives are posted on the board! This will
assist you in following the Scope and Sequence and the Curriculum
Framework.
Use the Table of Specifications to assist you when creating
assessments. This ensures reliability and validity.
Use your respective Curriculum Framework to assist you with
planning your lessons. They can be found on the Standards of
Learning webpage which is located at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/common_core/index.shtml
You can use these websites as tools to assist you during instruction:
http://www.readtheory.org/ :(assists with reading and writing)
http://www.khanacademy.org/;
http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/;
http://www.edudemic.com/
SOL Practice items can be found at the following link:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/index.shtml
Teacher Direct resources:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/teacher_direct/index.shtml
The Standards & SOL-Based Instructional Resources
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/
Questioning Strategies links:
http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/energy-and-the-polar-
environment/questioning-techniques-research-based-strategies-for-
teachers.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_88.htm
How to Write Good
Lesson Plans In order to meet Functional
Implementation, your lesson
plans must:
1. Align with the Standards of
Learning and Curriculum
Framework Essential
Knowledge and Skills in both
content and cognitive level
(evidence of standard
unpacked)
2. Link to the unit or curriculum
Big Ideas (Questions,
Enduring Understandings,
Themes, etc.)
3. Outline objective (includes the
behaviors students
will exhibit to show learning
and the conditions under which
the students will exhibit those
behaviors.)
4. Outline the criteria used to
determine whether learners
have met the objective.
5. In order to reach Full
Implementation: Include
multiple cognitive levels up to
or greater than the standard
itself.
Math
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/index.shtml
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/professional_develo
pment/index.shtml?utm_source=TD+January+21%2C+2015&utm_campa
ign=TD+January+21%2C+2015&utm_medium=email
English
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/index.shtml
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/professional_developmen
t/institutes/2014/index.shtml?utm_source=TD+January+28%2C+2015&u
tm_campaign=TD+January+28%2C+2015&utm_medium=email
Science
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/science/index.shtml
History
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/history/index.shtml
Special Education
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/index.shtml
Classroom Management Strategies
http://www.schoolimprovement.com/resources/strategy-of-the-
week/?hp=strategy-of-the-week
Jan Richardson’s Research-based Vocabulary Protocol:
Step 1: Provide students with a kid-friendly definition. Do not ask them if
they know the word. This wastes time and students remember the first thing
they hear. So... if someone says the wrong definition, you've set the students
up for misunderstanding. Ex: If the new word is maneuver, say, “Maneuver
means to move around.”
Step 2: Connect the new word to students’ background knowledge and
experiences. For example, “A soccer player maneuvers or moves the ball
around the opponents to get to the goal.” Be sure to use the new word
with a kid-friendly definition during your example.
Step 3: Show the students how the word is used in text and direct them to an
illustration, if one is provided. Ex: “In this text, you will read how ancient
workers maneuvered, or moved large stones without machinery.”
Step 4: Turn and Talk. Ask students to explain the new word to a student
sitting next to them. Ex: Talk to your partner about something you can
maneuver.”
➢ Take time to use student friendly definitions. Stay away from formal
dictionary .com or Google definitions. They are not helpful.
➢ Don’t just read the context of the word out loud to students, take students
into the book/passage and show them the word in context.
➢ Pictures and real items (i.e. lid) would be helpful, especially for our ESL
students.
Upcoming Meetings
Burkeville Elementary School
1. Faculty Meetings - 2nd Monday of the month
2. Team Meetings - weekly during common planning
3. Data Meetings - Beginning, Mid-Year and End of year with
administrators
4. Leadership Meeting - 3rd Thursday of the month
Feb 27-
March 3
Classroom
Observations and
Walkthroughs
Mar 8-9 Writing Boot
Camp
Mar 13 PTA Meeting @
NMS
Mar 14 Spring Literacy
Night w/ PTA
Meeting NIS
Mar 14-
20
Grade 8 Writing
SOL Multiple
Choice Test
Mar 16 End of 3rd
9 Weeks
Apr 4 NIS McDonald’s
Night
Apr 5 5th Grade Ag
Day- VA Tech
Research Center
Apr 26 NIS SOL Kick Off
Party
Blackstone Primary School
1. Leadership Meeting – 4th Friday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings – 2nd Mondays of the month
3. Team meetings- weekly during planning
4. Data meetings - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Crewe Primary School
1. Leadership Meetings-1st Monday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings-2nd Monday of the month (Sometimes 3rd)
3. Team Meetings- Every Wednesday during grade level planning
4. Data Meetings- Quarterly or as needed
Nottoway Intermediate School
1. Leadership Meeting- 4th Monday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings- 2nd Monday of the month
3. Team meetings- weekly during assigned time (lunch, planning,
after-school)
4. Data meetings- after benchmark assessments (within 2-3 days of
completion)
Nottoway Middle School
1. Faculty Meetings – 3rd Monday of each month (except for 4th
Monday in January and February)
2. DREAM Department Meetings- 3rd Monday of each month
Nottoway High School
1. Faculty Meetings –2nd Monday of the month
2. Department Meetings- 1st Wednesday of the month w/ principal
Amelia/Nottoway Technical Center
1. Faculty Meetings - 1st Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
2. Team/PLC Meetings - 2nd Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
3. Leadership Meetings - 3rd Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
4. Joint Board Meetings - 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm
School Board Office 1. SBO Senior Level Team Meeting- Every Monday
2. Tech Team- First and third Wednesday each month.
Announcements and Reminders
Try sharing your lesson plans and curriculum documents with your
students. This gives them a roadmap of where you are headed.
Try a “No Worksheet Day” once a week. This will give you an
opportunity to give authentic and creative assignments.
Please remind your students to study each night. Research shows that
elementary students should study- 30 mins., middle school students- 1
hour, and high school students should study-1 ½ hours per night.
Please make sure that you are teaching from bell to bell. We cannot
afford to waste instructional time.
This is a reminder to post your 3 Essential Questions of the Day daily
using the appropriate level of Bloom’s. We will be checking on this
during our observations this week.
Submit your lesson plans weekly to your school administrator
Use instructional strategies daily (see CRISS ex. to the left of
newsletter)
Core teachers please submit your lesson plans to your inclusion teachers
in enough time that they can complete their plans on time. They will
A LOOK AHEAD:
need samples of the worksheets and tests/quizzes to make
accommodations. Thank you for working together!!
If you have an opportunity, video record yourself teaching. It is a great
way to improve your instructional pedagogy.
Let your administrator know if you have a special lesson that you would
like for the instructional department to observe and highlight in the
Cougar Courier.
Remember to use your Bloom's verbs to guide what is written in your
lesson plans, taught in class, and assessed on tests.
Focus on both the Cognitive Level and Content to create your
objectives & assessments. Use the Table of Specifications to help.
Grades are expected to be updated weekly. You should record at least
2 grades weekly (18 per 9 weeks). This will assist our parents and
students with knowing their academic performance thus far.
Please limit field trips during the SOL Testing. This time should be
focused on upcoming assessments.
Annual Field trips requests need to be turned in to the SBO by
December 5, 2016 so there is time to get the bus approval from central
office.
All planned field trips for the school year should be submitted to the
School Board office by December 5, 2016. These field trips represent
those trips that you take annually; such as Jamestown and Washington,
D.C. Field trips other than those that are planned for the year need
applications submitted at least thirty days prior to the date of the trip.
For Safety and Security, please wear your ID badges at work.
To save energy, please turn off all lights, shut down all monitors, and
computers especially when you leave in the afternoons
To enhance school spirit, Friday’s will be considered Maroon and Gold
day throughout the division. At the discretion of your school
administrator, please feel free to wear jeans along with our school colors
on Fridays!
Healthy Lifestyles Tip of the Week
Deep breathing. When you’ve got time – at your desk, walking, or studying
– do some deep breathing. Inhale and count up to 5 seconds, hold it for a
few seconds, and release slowly. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is
one of the best things we can do for our blood and cells.
Recipe of the Week
Quick Bake Beefy Pizza
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 (12 inch) pre-baked thin pizza crust
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place beef in a skillet over
medium heat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain grease.
Spread cream of mushroom soup over the pizza crust. Layer cooked beef
over the soup, and top with cheese. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven,
until cheese is melted and pizza is heated through.
Sometimes We Need To Laugh!
Poem of the Week
The Cat in the Hat: In Honor of Dr. Seuss’
Birthday Celebrated on Mar. 2nd
"We looked!
Then we saw
him
step in on the
mat!
We looked!
And we saw
him!
The Cat in the Hat!"
“I know it is
wet
And the sun is
not sunny.
But we can
have
Lots of good
fun
that is funny!”
“Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me
NOW!
It is fun to
have fun
But you have
to know
how.”
“'Have no
fear, little fish,'
Said the Cat
in the Hat.
'These
Things are
good Things.'
And he gave
them a pat."
"Then our mother
came in
And she said to us
two,
'Did you have any
fun?
Tell me. What did you do?"
And Sally and I
did not
know what to say.
Should we tell her
The things that
went on
there that day?"
"Well...what
would YOU do
If your mother asked you?”
Congratulations
To All Faculty &
Staff Members
with February
Birthdays and
Anniversaries!
Quote of the Week
“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”―Dr. Seuss
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
―Dr. Seuss
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is
Youer than You.” ―Dr. Seuss
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't
matter and those who matter don't mind.” ―Dr. Seuss
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can
steer yourself, any direction you choose.” ―Dr. Seuss
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your
way.”―Dr. Seuss
Nottoway County Public Schools…Home of the Cougars!