VAPA Weekly Announcements 12.2.2019

● We have a Growth Mindset ● We Keep all Staff & Every Student in Mind ● We Commit & Follow Through

WINGS ● We Include everyone ● Never Give Up, have a ● Growth Mindset to ● Soar off to college

Shout Outs

• Shout out to Coach Johnson for committing and following through as he coordinated our annual Turkey Bowl and ensured all students who participated received a turkey to take home for thanksgiving 🙂
• Shout out to Mrs. Guerrero, Mrs. Rhoads, Ms. Arizmendi, Mrs. Gallegos, Ms. Cody and Mr. Wylie for committing and following through by accompanying our 6th graders up to Camp Marston for the week!
• Shout out to Mrs. Gentile, Mr. Phan, Mrs. Silva, Ms. Palacio, Ms. Aguirre, and Ms. Conroy for committing and following through and organizing the 3rd grade Animal Wax Museum!

📸Pictures:(1) 6th Graders at Camp (2) Feastergiving painted rocks for our garden 🙂 (3) 3rd Grade student with her turkey from participating in the Turkey Bowl

Additional Information

• Modernization (See 2 PDF Attachments): We have created a modernization FAQ document with important dates to keep in mind and a parent-friendly modernization calendar. These were sent home before we went on break. You will also get a class set of copies to be sent home with report cards! Please remember to share these documents with your families.
  • Modernization Plan FAQ and Important Dates
  • Modernization Parent Friendly Calendar
  • Modernization Plan Dates
• iPad Restrictions: Did you know that we can place restrictions on your student’s devices? We can block websites, remove apps (even the camera app), and pretty much anything else you can think of! If you are interested or need any restrictions to be placed on your student’s devices, please email Heather and Roel.
• Yellow School Pass: Please remember to use the yellow hall passes when you are sending your students out of the classroom! If you need more passes, they are kept in room 201.
• How to Freeze an Image on Your Classroom TV: Did you know that you can freeze the screen on your TV so that it keeps the same image up? Just use the remote for your TV and press the “freeze” button to stop the screen from changing. If you do not have a freeze button on your remote, you can choose to get a universal remote that is compatible with your TV.
• On the Blog this Week: This week’s blog post is all about the Thankful poem that shared at our last PD: https://feastercharter.wordpress.com/2019/11/29/feastergiving-2019/

Week at a Glance

After-School Duty: 5th Grade ** Q2 Character Strengths: Curiosity & Self Control (School Work)**

Looking Ahead & Other Information:

• 12.9.19 – Search and Rescue Training with Dr. Stone
• 12.10.19 – Lead Training
• 12.11.19 – PBIS Meeting
• 12.12.19 – FCMS High School Informational Sessions

STEM Weekly Announcements 12.2.2019

● We have a Growth Mindset ● We Keep all Staff & Every Student in Mind ● We Commit & Follow Through

WINGS ● We Include everyone ● Never Give Up, have a ● Growth Mindset to ● Soar off to college

Shout Outs

• Shout out to Coach Johnson for committing and following through as he coordinated our annual Turkey Bowl and ensured all students who participated received a turkey to take home for thanksgiving 🙂
• Shout out to Mrs. Guerrero, Mrs. Rhoads, Ms. Arizmendi, Mrs. Gallegos, Ms. Cody and Mr. Wylie for committing and following through by accompanying our 6th graders up to Camp Marston for the week!
• Shout out to Mrs. Gentile, Mr. Phan, Mrs. Silva, Ms. Palacio, Ms. Aguirre, and Ms. Conroy for committing and following through and organizing the 3rd grade Animal Wax Museum!

📸Pictures:(1) 6th Graders at Camp (2) Feastergiving painted rocks for our garden 🙂 (3) 3rd Grade student with her turkey from participating in the Turkey Bowl

Additional Information

• Modernization (See 2 PDF Attachments): We have created a modernization FAQ document with important dates to keep in mind and a parent-friendly modernization calendar. These were sent home before we went on break. You will also get a class set of copies to be sent home with report cards! Please remember to share these documents with your families.
  • Modernization Plan FAQ and Important Dates
  • Modernization Parent Friendly Calendar
  • Modernization Plan Dates
• iPad Restrictions: Did you know that we can place restrictions on your student’s devices? We can block websites, remove apps (even the camera app), and pretty much anything else you can think of! If you are interested or need any restrictions to be placed on your student’s devices, please email Heather and Roel.
• Yellow School Pass: Please remember to use the yellow hall passes when you are sending your students out of the classroom! If you need more passes, they are kept in room 201.
• How to Freeze an Image on Your Classroom TV: Did you know that you can freeze the screen on your TV so that it keeps the same image up? Just use the remote for your TV and press the “freeze” button to stop the screen from changing. If you do not have a freeze button on your remote, you can choose to get a universal remote that is compatible with your TV.
• On the Blog this Week: This week’s blog post is all about the Thankful poem that shared at our last PD: https://feastercharter.wordpress.com/2019/11/29/feastergiving-2019/

Week at a Glance

After-School Duty: 5th Grade ** Q2 Character Strengths: Curiosity & Self Control (School Work)**

Looking Ahead & Other Information:

• 12.9.19 – Search and Rescue Training with Dr. Stone
• 12.10.19 – Lead Training
• 12.11.19 – PBIS Meeting
• 12.12.19 – FCMS High School Informational Sessions

Feastergiving 2019

This past PD, we had the opportunity to deepen our relationships by spending a PD day sharing a catered meal, doing a shared craft, donating to our Feaster foodbank, lifting each other up, and just connecting with others who we may not have the regular opportunity to connect with. This was our third #Feastergiving and it was hopefully another one to remember!

As I sat and enjoyed the meal and the time to just connect, one teacher next to me was so moved by the following poem that she was brought to tears briefly:

The poem serves as a reminder to be thankful even when things seem to be too hard or too challenging or even too burdensome because they truly can be things that end up enriching our lives. The quote below embodies the whole purpose of the poem:

“It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.”

Feastergiving 2019 Poem

It is with this reminder that I reflect on the year so far, the setbacks and the things that I have not yet achieved as well as the progress that I have made. In education, there is so much to reflect on, especially when we consider each child as an individual and how we have supported and will continue to support them over the course of their education – how is it that we are setting each learner (student, staff member, and acquaintance) up for success today and helping them to develop their personal leadership skills based on their own strengths, interests, and values? So, like the poem says, “Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.”

VAPA Weekly Announcements 11.18.19

● We have a Growth Mindset ● We Keep all Staff & Every Student in Mind ● We Commit & Follow Through

WINGS ● We Include everyone ● Never Give Up, have a ● Growth Mindset to ● Soar off to college

Shout Outs:

• Shout out to Mrs. Trujillo, Mr. Hill, Mr. Fraser and Ms. Galyen for committing and following through as they continued to promote our college-going culture by taking our 8th-grade students to visit colleges in Los Angeles County on an extended day field trip.
• Shout out to Mr. Roel & Ms. Galyen for committing and following through by presenting to our charter board on Wednesday night to highlight all the technology our students use!
• Shout out to Ms. Denisse Garcia for committing and following through to ensure that all our 3rd graders get tested for GATE! Even though there were a few unexpected interruptions, all students will be tested before we go on Thanksgiving break!

📸Pictures:(1) Board is presented with the Apple Distinguished School Award (2) 8th Graders visit UC Irvine. (3) Dr. Mendes presents to teachers at PD

Additional Information

• On the Blog: This week’s blog post is a reflection of our Ernie Mendes PD. Read the entire post here: https://feastercharter.wordpress.com/2019/11/17/ernie-mendes-pd-reflection/
• New and Dropped Students: If you have a new student or if you have a student who has dropped, please let Heather and Roel know so that they can either collect the student iPad or they can get you an additional iPad for your new student.
• Counseling Grief Group: Don’t forget to send home the Grief Group flyer shared by Ms. Haro earlier this week, this is a great program that can be very powerful for students who need support with a loss.
• Yearbook Cover Contest: This Friday is the last day to turn in submissions for the yearbook cover contest! Don’t forget to remind your students to get their artwork turned in by this Friday!
• 6th Grade Camp: Our sixth graders will be at Camp Marston in Julian. They will leave Monday morning and return on Friday afternoon.
• Feaster iBook: Feaster Charter’s iBook has been published in the iBook store! Check it out here: https://books.apple.com/us/book/feaster-charter-school-ibook/id1487167315

Week at a Glance

After-School Duty: 4th Grade

** Q2 Character Strengths: Curiosity & Self Control (School Work)**

Looking Ahead & Other Information:

• 11.25.19 – 11.29.19 Thanksgiving Break!
• 12.5.19 Winter Kermes

STEM Weekly Announcements 11.18.19

● We have a Growth Mindset ● We Keep all Staff & Every Student in Mind ● We Commit & Follow Through

WINGS ● We Include everyone ● Never Give Up, have a ● Growth Mindset to ● Soar off to college

Shout Outs:

• Shout out to Mrs. Trujillo, Mr. Hill, Mr. Fraser and Ms. Galyen for committing and following through as they continued to promote our college-going culture by taking our 8th-grade students to visit colleges in Los Angeles County on an extended day field trip.
• Shout out to Mr. Roel & Ms. Galyen for committing and following through by presenting to our charter board on Wednesday night to highlight all the technology our students use!
• Shout out to Ms. Denisse Garcia for committing and following through to ensure that all our 3rd graders get tested for GATE! Even though there were a few unexpected interruptions, all students will be tested before we go on Thanksgiving break!

📸Pictures:(1) Board is presented with the Apple Distinguished School Award (2) 8th Graders visit UC Irvine. (3) Dr. Mendes presents to teachers at PD

Additional Information

• On the Blog: This week’s blog post is a reflection of our Ernie Mendes PD. Read the entire post here: https://feastercharter.wordpress.com/2019/11/17/ernie-mendes-pd-reflection/
• New and Dropped Students: If you have a new student or if you have a student who has dropped, please let Heather and Roel know so that they can either collect the student iPad or they can get you an additional iPad for your new student.
• Counseling Grief Group: Don’t forget to send home the Grief Group flyer shared by Ms. Haro earlier this week, this is a great program that can be very powerful for students who need support with a loss.
• Yearbook Cover Contest: This Friday is the last day to turn in submissions for the yearbook cover contest! Don’t forget to remind your students to get their artwork turned in by this Friday!
• 6th Grade Camp: Our sixth graders will be at Camp Marston in Julian. They will leave Monday morning and return on Friday afternoon.
• Feaster iBook: Feaster Charter’s iBook has been published in the iBook store! Check it out here: https://books.apple.com/us/book/feaster-charter-school-ibook/id1487167315

Week at a Glance

After-School Duty: 4th Grade

** Q2 Character Strengths: Curiosity & Self Control (School Work)**

Looking Ahead & Other Information:

• 11.25.19 – 11.29.19 Thanksgiving Break!
• 12.5.19 Winter Kermes

Ernie Mendes PD Reflection

This past week, we had the chance to hear Ernie Mendes, “an organizational psychologist and specializes in the art and science of Emotional Intelligence” (http://erniemendes.com/index.html). During the professional development session, we heard about various strategies that help us work with challenging students. Here are some of my main takeaways from the day:

• Emotions drive our behavior and our motivation
• I never have all the information
  • learner vs knower – there are both in every interaction
  • curiosity matters especially when we use it to become the learner and help us connect with the knower
• When teaching self-regulation, be the person who has a relationship with the learners and help model what self-regulation look likes
  • Mendes modeled the example of having one place in the classroom where he would go to redirect himself which helped model calming strategies and routines that students can use when they too are feeling uneasy
• Connect before you redirect by saying, “I can see that you are really ______. What would you like to do now?” Asking this validates how the learner is feeling and creates an opportunity for them to have a choice in resolving the conflict or discuss what it is that has been happening with the learner.
• “If you can name it, tame it.” When we can name our emotions, that is the start of being able to also manage them and work to find that calm again.
• The Total Truth Process is a way of writing down, recording using Voice Memos, or drawing out all of the emotions we feel while putting a cause to them and working to find a solution to moving forward. During this time, Mendes shared letters from students who had completed this activity and they explained each of the following emotions in those letters:
  1. Anger & Resentment
  2. Hurt
  3. Fear
  4. Remorse & Accountability
  5. Wants
  6. Compassion, Forgiveness, & Appreciation
• STOP acronym for finding calm:
  • Stop
  • Take a slow, deep breath
  • Observe what is happening in you and around you
  • Proceed to do what is needed

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At the beginning of the presentation, Mendes encouraged everyone to come up with a mission statement that describes what we do every day. I wonder how our mission statements have changed over the years and what they are now because of the strategies and resources people like Ernie Medes are sharing!

VAPA Weekly Announcements 11.12.2019

● We have a Growth Mindset ● We Keep all Staff & Every Student in Mind ● We Commit & Follow Through

WINGS ● We Include everyone ● Never Give Up, have a ● Growth Mindset to ● Soar off to college

Shout Outs

• Shout out to Ms. Cassandrea Mateos for Keeping all Staff and Every Student in Mind by organizing a field trip where about 25 of our students received brand new glasses!
• Shout out to our Cross-Country Coaches Reggie DePass and Jenna Schnell for Committing and Following through by successfully completing another great cross-country season!
• Shout out to our Lead Teachers Ms. Bernazzani, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Thorburn, Mrs. Gentile, Ms. Miller, Mrs. Cortez, Mrs. Gallegos, Ms. Morris, Mrs. Trujillo, & Mr. Mislan for keeping all staff in mind by differentiating our next PLC and for planning last Thursday’s PD!

 

📸Pictures:(1) Ss at OneSight (2) PTO celebrating Birthdays (3) Girls on the Run sharing their brand-new shoes!

Additional Information

• Students Dropped & iPad Devices: If you have a student who is no longer in your class, please make sure that the iPad gets sent to the Media Center and given to either Heather or Roel so that we can get it wiped and reset for another student.
• Learn About Ag: Very exciting!! Recently, our very own Mr. Fraser was showcased in the Learn About Ag newsletter! You can read the entire article by going to this link!
• Yearbook Pictures: Keep on sending those yearbook pictures! A huge thank you to Ms. Granados who captured AND shared some amazing images from the week of Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos!
• Feaster Social Media: Social Media is a great way to get information out there and to share the fantastic programs we have going here at Feaster Charter School! Give Feaster a follow by clicking the following links:
  • Feaster Instagram @FeasterCharter
  • Feaster Facebook
  • Feaster Twitter @FeasterCharter
  • Twitter Hashtag: #FeasterLearns
• Classroom and Program Hashtags: Just as Feaster has our own hashtags, feel free to create your own school hashtag! For more information on this, check out our very own Feaster Charter Blog!
• Apple Teacher Learning Center: Did you know that you get great resources and ideas from the Apple Teacher Learning Center? Check out their website at this link for more information!
• Virginia Noble Teacher Grant: We recently heard from a former Feaster student who came to this school in the 50’s! She shared a grant that was started by a former Feaster teacher, you can enter this Virgnia Noble Teacher Grant by going to this link.
• Videos Lagging?: If you are trying to show a video in your class and you notice that it is lagging, try plugging your computer into the TV using an HDMI cable…you will need an HDMI adapter of your own but we do have HDMI cables available in the Media Center for you. If you would help with this, email Heather Galyen!
• On the Blog this Week: Have you been thinking about starting a digital portfolio? Are you already using Class Dojo to connect parents? Check out the Class Dojo Portfolios or read our blog post here!

Week at a Glance

After-School Duty: 4th Grade ** Q2 Character Strengths: Curiosity & Self Control (School Work)**

Looking Ahead & Other Information:

• 11.18.19 – Bonnie’s Leadership Academy (Leads out)
• 11.18.19 – 6th Grade Camp (all week)
• 11.19.19 – Coffee with the Principals
• 11.22.19 – Turkey Bowl