Happy Break!

Info to Know...

Behavior Assemblies: On Tuesday, January 9th, we will do a quick review of behavior expectations in the gym with the students.

3rd Grade: 10:35-10:55
4th Grade:  1:00-1:20
5th Grade: 9:10-9:30

Instructional Technology Survey: Please take this survey by Friday, January 12th. It will not take more than 5 minutes.

5 Essentials Survey: As you know, each year we take the 5Essential survery: Here is the link:  https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/teacher/login/ .We appreciate real input in this process.  You should have received an email in recent days inviting you to complete the survey.  In addition, all 4th and 5th grade students will be asked to complete the survey as well.  In planning ahead, 4th and 5th grade homeroom teachers should plan for their students to complete this survey in class prior to January 31st.  It should take approximately 20 minutes.  All certified staff should complete the survey by January 17th, which is our first staff meeting of the new year.  We will end the staff meeting early that day for your time.  Once you complete the survey, please send me an email with the words DONE!   Your thoughtful input and time are greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Winter MAP Testing: Winter MAP testing schedule is here.  Testing will begin after break. Resource teachers: Please list your small groups and when you will be testing here.  Nancy has already made the sessions, so please check your sessions and the students in them. The sessions are listed by "HPT & your room number" and created by Nancy Watt. If you need any changes, please let Nancy know. 

 When We Come Back...

• Monday, January 8th
• Institute Day: Agenda Here
• Tuesday, January 9th
• Reading & Math Club
• Behavior Expectations Review
• 3rd Grade: 10:35-10:55
  4th Grade:  1:00-1:20
  5th Grade: 9:10-9:30
• Wednesday, January 10th
• Team Meetings
• MAP Testing Begins
• Thursday, January 11th
• MAP Testing
• WATCH DOGS~Dad & Kids Pizza Night at 7pm 
• Friday, January 12th
• PL Day: More information to come
• Schedule Here

Week Sweet Sixteen

We can do it! 5 more wake-ups! We look forward to a fun evening tonight to socialize together at our Holiday Party! Thank you to our party planners!!

Info to Know...
Holiday Brunch: On Friday, we will have a special Holiday brunch catering from the Country House. Thank you to Cheryl Burns for organizing! 

Classroom teachers will eat during the Holiday assembly & non-classroom teachers & paraprofessionals will eat after the assembly. Non-classroom teachers & paraprofessionals, thank you for supervising the students during the assembly. There will be NO specials on Friday. 

5 Essentials Survey: As you know, each year we take the 5Essential survery: Here is the link:  https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/teacher/login/ .We appreciate real input in this process.  You should have received an email in recent days inviting you to complete the survey.  In addition, all 4th and 5th grade students will be asked to complete the survey as well.  In planning ahead, 4th and 5th grade homeroom teachers should plan for their students to complete this survey in class prior to January 31st.  It should take approximately 20 minutes.  All certified staff should complete the survey by January 17th, which is our first staff meeting of the new year.  We will end the staff meeting early that day for your time.  Once you complete the survey, please send me an email with the words DONE!   Your thoughtful input and time are greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Apple Distinguished School Book: Our Book is Published in the iBook store here~you can download your copy here. Your students can find the book in Self Service under "books" to download and check out!

Winter F & P: Please benchmark any of your red and yellow students before Winter break. Fill in data here. 

Winter MAP Testing: Please sign up for Winter MAP testing here by today. Resource teachers: Please list your small groups and when you will be testing here.  Nancy has already made the sessions, so please check your sessions and the students in them. The sessions are listed by "HPT & your room number" and created by Nancy Watt. If you need any changes, please let Nancy know. 

Next Week...

• Monday, December 18th
• ELL Club
• Tuesday, December 19th
• Reading & Math Club
• Holiday Stories: Schedule Here
• Choir Concert at 7pm
• Wednesday, December 20th
• Band to perform at 7:40
• Thursday, December 21st
• Choir & Orchestra Concert at 8:30 in the gym
• Winter Parties at 10:00-11:00am
• Reading, Math & ELL Club
• Friday, December 22nd
• Jingle Bell Assembly at 8:30 in the gym
• Holiday Staff Breakfast during assembly
• Dismissal at 12pm

Check out Week 15 & 16's Story Here...

https://storify.com/kristinabeeler/hptpride-weeks-15-16

Holiday Sweet Smiles

Pawesome Staff

Thanks to all of the December birthdays for all of the awesome treats today!

Thank you to Kristy for putting together the Hachiko Challenge. And thank you to all of the classroom teachers for assisting with the challenge so all of the students could be successful and understand the importance of STEM concepts and come up with solutions to make their boats even better. Amazing!

Thanks to Noel, Ellen, and Donna for their perseverance and diligence to advocate for a student.

Thanks to Hazen for just being HAZEN. :)

Thank you all so much for the birthday cards, messages and gifts. I am so blessed to work with such amazing staff members and students. I love being a part of the High Point Team! Noel

Thanks to the delicious treats from the December birthdays! We needed that!

Noel and Ellen, so proud to work with you.

Thank you Sue for your patience and willingness to go above and beyond for our students.

Thank you Vicki for all you do! Your patience and kindness is appreciated.

Fun-Filled Week Fifteen

Info to Know...
PARCC Testing Password:  Teachers should be receiving a message about resetting your password for Pearson Next (PARCC testing).  You need to do this and remember your password for PARCC testing in March. Thank you!

Winter F & P: Please benchmark any of your red and yellow students before Winter break. Fill in date here. 

Winter MAP Testing: Please sign up for Winter MAP testing here. Resource teachers: Please list your small groups and when you will be testing here.  Nancy has already made the sessions, so please check your sessions and the students in them. The sessions are listed by "HPT & your room number" and created by Nancy Watt. If you need any changes, please let Nancy know. 

Lunch Room Contest: If your students who order lunch bring their lunch card every day in the month of December, your class can win a pizza party. Please let Karen in the kitchen know if one of your student's card is lost and she will get you a replacement. Thank you. 

iPad Update: Last weekend, Apple released iOS 11.2. Please update your iPad and advise your students to update their iPad at home. This update will take about 30 minutes. 

Attention all Macbook Firefox users:  A new updated version of Firefox is now available for your Macbook.  Please contact Nancy Watt as this update does require assistance in order to be installed on your computer. 

12 Days of Twitter: Please join the #135edchat Twitter chat starting this Monday December 11th, for our 12 Days of Twitter Chat.  We will be posing a new Twitter prompt each day, including weekends, counting down the days until winter break.  Click on 12 Days of Twitter and then click on each ornament to see the prompt for the day. I would love to see many of the High Point team to spread the holiday cheer throughout this 12 days. I promise it will be fun!

School Improvement Meeting Notes: If you are wondering what was discussed at our SIP meeting and what is next to come, check out our meeting notes here. 

Next Week...

• Monday, December 11th
• ELL Club
• BIT Meeting at 1:25
• Tuesday, December 12th
• Reading & Math Club
• Wednesday, December 13th
• Team Meetings All Day in Conference 
• Thursday, December 14th
• Paw Collection
• Reading, Math & ELL Club
• Friday, December 15th
• Staff Christmas Party at Square Celt

A Look Ahead...

• Monday, December 18th
• ELL Club
• Tuesday, December 19th
• Reading & Math Club
• Holiday Stories: Sign Up Here
• Choir Concert at 7pm
• Wednesday, December 20th
• Band to perform at 7:40
• Thursday, December 21st
• Choir & Orchestra Concert at 8:30 in the gym
• Winter Parties at 10:00-11:00am
• Reading, Math & ELL Club
• Friday, December 22nd
• Jingle Bell Assembly at 8:30 in the gym
• Holiday Staff Breakfast during assembly

How Can These Smiles Not Make You Feel the Magic?

Pawesome Staff 

This is a little late, but thank you all for the warm 60th birthday celebration. The decorations, card and all-school song touched my heart. I will always remember how grateful I felt on that day.

Thanks to Nancy Watt for helping to make sure our SKYPE session with the author would work well!

Thank you Jenai, Hazen, and Sue Feinberg for all you do for our students! I truly appreciate the support...wouldn't be able to do it without all of you.

Thank you Joe for all the little things you do on a daily basis. They don't go unnoticed!

Thank you Denise M. and Eve for doing my bus duties when I had Art Club!

Thanks Denise Hazen for talking me through difficult moments....I appreciate you each day!

Fab Week 14

Can you believe it?? December 1st! It sure doesn't feel like it with this weather! Enjoy this last warm weekend before the December like conditions come back next week! Thanks for a great week~lots of great learning for our students as always. We love seeing all the students writing pieces filling the halls and sharing of writing with their peers in the classrooms. Lots to be proud of....thank you. 

Excited about our Skype with Leslea Newman on Tuesday at 1pm followed by our digital breakout. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks for Kristy for organizing the questions and for Cheryl F for planning the event with Leslea Newman. 

Info to Know..

December IPI: The IPI team will be collecting data on Monday, December 4th. 

PARCC Testing Password:  Teachers should be receiving a message about resetting your password for Pearson Next (PARCC testing).  You need to do this and remember your password for PARCC testing in March. Thank you!

Winter F & P: Please benchmark any of your red and yellow students before Winter break. Fill in date here. 

Winter MAP Testing: Please sign up for Winter MAP testing here. Resource teachers: Please list your small groups and when you will be testing here. Thank you!

Lunch Room Contest: If your students who order lunch bring their lunch card every day in the month of December, your class can win a pizza party. Please let Karen in the kitchen know if one of your student's card is lost and she will get you a replacement. Thank you. 

Save the Date for Upcoming Holiday Dates:

• Dec. 15     Staff Christmas Party at Square Celt
• Dec. 19     Choir concert  7pm @ High Point
• Dec. 20     Band to perform at 7:50 am @ High Point as the students are walking into school.
• Dec. 21    Choir & Orchestra concert @ 8:30 in the gym.
•                  Classroom Parties 10 - 11
• Dec. 22   Jingle Bell Express Assembly 8:30 am.  (full school)

Next Week..

• Monday, December 4th
• IPI Collection Day
• Art Club
• ELL Club
• Tuesday, December 5th
• Skype at 1:00 on Gym with Digital Breakout Following
• Reading & Math Club
• Pop-Up Art Show at Sandburg 5-7pm
• Wednesday, December 6th
• SIP Meetings at 7:00 in Art Room: Notes here
• Grade Level Meeting with Department of Teaching & Learning at 2:40
• Special Ed Team Meeting at 1:30
• Thursday, December 7th
• Paw Collection
• Reading, Math & ELL Club
• Friday, December 8th
• 4th Grade Ag in the Classroom

A Look Ahead..

• Monday, December 11th
• ELL Club
• BIT Meeting at 1:25
• Tuesday, December 12th
• Reading & Math Club
• Wednesday, December 13th
• Team Meetings All Day in Conference 
• Thursday, December 14th
• Paw Collection
• Reading, Math & ELL Club
• Friday, December 15th
• Staff Christmas Party at Square Celt

Tidbits to Check Out:

Check out this article about "How to Help Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry.  Read here. 

#HPTPRIDE
Check out week 13 & 14 story here. 

Pawesome Staff

Thank you lunch ladies for taking down all the Vets day artwork and sorting it!

Cheryl and Kristin, Thanks for sharing some wonderful ideas at our staff meetings that we can take back to the classroom. I'm loving it!

Thank you 5th grade team for our great collaboration on Wednesday in planning the digital breakout!

Thanks Christina for all of the strategies to try with my student!

Thank you Vicki for being an amazing partner.

Noel, thank you for all your help. You are so committed to our kids.

Thank you Elise for always stepping up and going above and beyond. You are amazing and I so much appreciate all you do!!

A big thank you to Nancy for helping me with my QR issue on Monday! Thank you Kristin for teaching us new ways to use technology to engage our students during the staff meetings. I cannot wait to see how much fun the students have with the scavenger hunt you created!

WOW! What a Week 13

Info to Know...

Building Inspection: Inspections will be taking place Nov. 28,29.  Things must be in compliance before you leave for Thanksgiving.  Nothing above 24 inches.  No lamps.  No extension cords.  Nothing covering more than 50% of walls.  No decorative lights like Christmas lights.  No flammable items such as pillows or blankets.  etc. Let us know if you have any questions. 

Reading, Math & ELL Clubs: These will begin after break. Please send any data communication sheets to Kristin. 

December IPI: The IPI team will be collecting data on Monday, December 4th. 

PARCC Testing Password:  Teachers should be receiving a message about resetting your password for Pearson Next (PARCC testing).  You need to do this and remember your password for PARCC testing in March. Thank you!

Next Week...

• Monday, November 20th
• Parent Conferences from 12:30-8:30
• PFE dinner will provide a Gatto's dinner
• Tuesday, November 14th
• Parent Conferences from 10:00-5:00
• Thankful Tuesday

Woohoo! We made it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Look Ahead...

• Monday, November 27th
• Art Club
• ELL Club
• Tuesday, November 28th
• Building Inspection
• Possible Apple Distinguished Schools Assembly at 8:30~more info to come
• Reading/Math Club
• Wednesday, November, November 29th
• Staff Meeting
• Building Inspection
• Thursday, November 30th
• Paw Collection
• Spanish Club
• ELL Club
• Reading/Math Club
• Intermediate Resource Peer Coaching (See Cheryl B for Sub)
• Friday, December 1st

Ideas to Check Out...

Check out these great lessons for Social & Emotional Skills with ELA for grades 3-5.

Pawesome Staff

Thanks to Nancy for always helping me with my techno problems!

Thanks Denise...Debbie

Thank you Lesley, Sandy, Melissa, and Denise Hazen for being proactive to welcome a new student.

Thank you Sue for your patience and commitment to our students. I wouldn’t be able to get through my day without you.

Thanks Cheryl for being flexible and understanding! I was able to be with both my daughter and my students for AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK!

Thanks for all of your help and support Katharine!! I am so lucky to have you as my team member and friend!!

Thank you Debbie for all your patience & hard work! -Heidi

Thank you Cheryl and Kristin for the Thankful Tuesday goodies!

Thank you Cheryl and Kristen for the "Thankful Tuesday's"!

Thank you Vicki and Sue for your 'unconditional' patience delivered with a smile!

Jehans' team members, I love that we can work together to problem solve with success and with a sense of humor. :-)

Shoutout to Sharon, her intern Kayla, and Dean for helping make School Psychology Awareness WEEK (SPAW) such a success with our students! Thanks for everything #PowerUP :D -Alyssa Beukema

Thanks for making the Paras feel so special! Everything was so delicious!

So thankful for my High Point family! You all are the best!

Thanks to Kristin for leading another productive and helpful grade level meeting. We are so lucky to have your leadership here at High Point.

Thanks to Katie Knopf for supporting our instrumental music students by helping out the evening concerts.

Pawesome Moments

November News: Week 12

Thank you to everyone who made the Veteran's Day assembly so special for our Veterans. The kids sounded beautifully & the gym looked amazing. Everyone's hard work and helping setting up the program is so appreciated. It really made it truly so special. 

Info to Know...

School Improvement Meeting Notes: This week the SIP team met and discussed many items. You can see the notes here.

Whole School "One Book One School" Celebration

• Finish Book by Tuesday, December 5th
• Author Skype with the Whole School: Tuesday, December 5th at 1pm
• 20-30 minute assembly
• Questions for Author: Kristy will make a Google Form so the students can submit questions that they would like to ask and Kristy will choose 6 students (2 per grade level)
• Wear Hachiko shirts

Reading/Math Club:

• Please turn in an Reading/Math Club communication sheets to Kristin. Thank you.

Staff Meeting Change:

• There will be no meeting on December 13th it will be on December 6th instead. 
• Here is the plan for the next 3 meetings:
• Wednesday, November 15th: Active Shooter Drill~All Staff Should Attend
• Wednesday, November 29th: Co-Teaching Focus 
• Wednesday, December 6th: Dave Snyder~PL day updates

Parent Conferences: Please let Cheryl or Kristin know if you would like us to attend any of your parent conferences. Thank you!

Hachiko Golden Statues for PAWESOME Classes: Check out the classrooms here that have already received a Hachiko statues. Keep your eyes open for some pawesome classes!

Next Week...American Education Week: Schedule Here

• Monday, November 13th
  
• Art Club
• BIT Meeting at 1:30 
• Tuesday, November 14th
• Wednesday, November, November 15th
• Team Meetings
• Grade Level Meeting
• IPI-T: Meg W & Cheryl F (Check with Cheryl B for sub)
• Thursday, November 16th
• Paw Collection
• Spanish Club
• Kristin out presenting at a conference
• IPI-T: Mary Joy, Melissa, Jen, Maureen, Joanne (Check with Cheryl B for sub)
• Friday, November 17th
• Kristin out presenting at a conference
• Cheryl out for a personal day

A Look Ahead...

• Monday, November 20th
• Parent Conferences from 12:30-8:30
• PFE dinner will provide dinner
• Tuesday, November 14th
• Parent Conferences from 10:00-5:00

Pawesome Staff

A huge THANK YOU to Cheryl F, Cheryl B, Kristin, and Sharon for assisting with my last minute sub Monday morning! It is so great to work at such a great school with such kind and caring co-workers.

Thank you Cheryl and Kristin for the popcorn! Always fun and motivating to be appreciated.

Lynn, thank you for always working so hard! You're the best! Happy Birthday!

Thank you, Noel for being so helpful and compassionate! You are AMAZING! We're so lucky to have you!

Donna, thank you for always helping our students!

A great shout out to my fellow colleagues who completed our ELL endorsement this week. Great job ladies- Melissa, Bridget, Jenai, and Lesley! You guys are the best! Maureen

Thank you to all for your thoughts and kindness which have given me strength to push through these last few weeks.

Thanks to Kristin for her leadership in putting together this year's Veteran's Day Assembly.

Thanks to Cooper Wojcik and his Mom for collecting rocks that we had our students paint for gifts for our veterans this year.

Thanks to the students in Katlin and Katharine's room for creating the thank you cards for our veterans.

Thanks to Cheryl Burns for her help in getting the breakfast set up for our special veteran guests.

Thanks to Ellen, Noel and Donna for going above and beyond to help one of our homebound students receive what she needs to get back to school. You're all amazing and have the biggest hearts!

Thanks to everyone who donated a gift card for the family who lost their home to a fire. High Point Kind strikes again!!!

I want to thank this year's "PAWESOME" EL team. I am so blessed to work with such amazing, understanding, loving, supportive and compassionate teachers. I just love you Jill, Karyl, Julie, Ellen and Heidi. Thanks for making my job so easy everyday! NOEL

I want to thank Donna, Ellen, Cheryl and Kristin for helping one of our students and her family during a very difficult time. You all go above and beyond for your students. NOEL

Thank you Seida for your kindness and support. Also thank you for bring delicious food to share with me. NOEL

Thank you Cheryl and Elise for always being there to answer a question and lend a helping hand!!! You girls are amazing-NOEL

thank you to the lunch ladies and all the staff that came and helped hang the Vets Day Artwork! The hallways and gym looked amazing!

Thank you to Miss Stanko for creating some beautiful new Veteran's Day Artwork with our students!

Amazing Vets Program! Great job Miss Knopf teaching the students all of those songs!

Wonderful Veteran's Day program Mrs. Beeler!

Thanks to Nancy Watt for taking so many of our photos for our events this year. We have a fabulous collection of all of our wonderful events!

Throwback Veterans Day

Check out sweet Ms. Broad!

Click here for our story.