Formative Assessment Links for this Week:
5 "Key Strategies" for Effective Formative Assessment (by Dylan Wiliam)
10 Principals of Formative Assessment
Thinking of Formative Assessment Visual
Dylan Wiliam's Website of resources on Formative Assessment
Information for this Week
As discussed on Friday after school, David Starr from Burnaby School District will be our next Principal at Bear Creek. You can learn about him more
here.
We are starting the process of improving our library collection by weeding some of the books out of the library. As discussed, we will be having a "work bee" on Wednesday after school - from 2:45-4:30, at which time we will have a light dinner. If you are interested in being a part of this process, please complete the google form (indicating your preference for dinner). If you are unable to come, you need not fill out the form. Here's the
form (
please respond by Monday morning):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CUNWhV2Ax_onNzDoIJKnLIRgxOtYYErPk4OUF3mqsn8/viewform
Track and Field Stations Gr. 3-7 Teachers
Please review the track and field station information sent last week. Each teacher is asked to sign up for a station event. The sign up sheet is in the staff room white board. There will be a track stations meeting on Tuesday, April 22 at 12:00 pm in Ida's room.
Soccer Workshops - Gr. 4/5 and Gr. 6/7
Jake Linskey (community partner) has offered to provide a one day after school soccer session to our intermediate students FREE. Interested students may pick up a permission slip from the office this week. All slips are to be returned to the office by the end of the week. Carrie will announce this opportunity over the PA.
Gr. 4/5 Tuesday, April 22 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Gr. 6/7 Wednesday, April 23 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm
---------------------------------
MakerMay!
Information from the district:
In this year of the Makerspace Movement, SD36 is pleased to announce the official launch of “MakerMay” Month.
The Makerspace movement aims to recapture the concept of “experimental play.” The central thesis is that children should engage in making and tinkering because they offer powerful ways to learn. Makerspaces are not necessarily physical locations; they are mindsets of making, tinkering and invention. In honour of this movement, and in recognition of its appropriateness to the new curriculum, we are announcing two key initiatives.
Mini Maker Kits
We are offering all schools expressing interest up to two “starter kits” to promote the concept of “making.”
Our Mini Maker Kits will be provided to your school’s IML rep and/or Teacher-Librarian for priority use in the rep’s classroom and/or the library, allowing these lead-teachers to learn about Makerspaces themselves, to share the concept and materials with colleagues, and to explore “making” with students. If staff members change, the kits remain with the school and will be passed on to the new staff members. There are three options of kits designed for various grade levels and staff interests. Education Services staff will be sending ordering information directly to Teacher-Librarians and IML reps.
ILD Maker Space Project Kits (Grant)
Designed for those schools that have a desire to explore the ‘making’ concept in a deeper way, these kits furnish additional and different resources intended for classroom use by the collaborative team of teachers applying for the grant. The project is focused on implementation in the month of May (“MakerMay”) with the idea that teachers will be able to share their learning and then pass on the kit to their colleagues. The Maker Space Project Kit will also remain at your school. The grant application will be forwarded to you on Monday, April 14, 2014.
We will apply for two of the Mini-Maker Kits.
Please let Tia know if you are interested in being part of the team to put together a collaborative grant application for the ILD Maker Space Project Kits. We will then look at the application (which we should receive on Monday). We could even, possibly, use the old computer lab as a "Maker Space" for teachers to sign up for time in with their classes.
--------------------------------------
FreshGrade
As you may be aware, for the past two years, our District has been working in partnership with freshgrade, a Web 2.0 tool used by teachers as a way to capture evidence of student learning and provide meaningful formative assessment. Ongoing feedback from teachers working with Surrey students is informing how the tool is being enhanced and redesigned. Thank you for your many inquiries about this initiative.
Do you have teachers on your staff who are interested in learning more? Please welcome them to Education Services’ upcoming afterschool session featuring Surrey teachers demonstrating the tool and telling their own stories about using freshgrade as a way to take snapshots of student learning.
Details
Date: April 30, 2014
Time: 3:45 pm to 6 pm
Location: Eaglequest Golf Centre, 7778 152nd Street, Surrey.
Refreshments: A light dinner will be provided.
RSVP by signing up here by April 23, 2014
-----------------------------
Surrey Schools is hosting An Afternoon with Wab Kinew
Wab Kinew is a one-of-a-kind talent, named by Postmedia News as one of “9 Aboriginal movers and shakers you should know”. He is the Director of Indigenous Inclusion at the University of Winnipeg. In 2012, he hosted the acclaimed CBC Television series “8th Fire”.
Tuesday, April 15th, 2014
1:00 – 2:15 pm
or
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Enver Creek Secondary School
14505 84th Avenue, Surrey, BC
Registration is now opened to all staff for either session. The registration links are below.
1:00-2:30pm
3:30-5:00pm
(district employees need to sign in to Surrey Schools for this link to work)
If you would like more information on Wab Kinew, please see the email Carrie sent to staff on April 8.
----------------------------------
This Week:
Monday
Visiting Artist - Divisions - 15, 16, 17
Spirals of Inquiry Meeting - 12:00-12:30 in the Library
4pm - 7pm - Playing with Formative Assessment - Hillcrest (Gurpreet and Tam)
Tuesday
Tomatoes
11:45-12:25 - Kindergarten Teachers - meeting about K-Orientation - in the Library
1:00 - Carrie away at Enver Creek - "Wab Kinew - Aboriginal Speaker"
Wednesday
Easter Egg Hunt (see info. sent out last week)
9:30 - 10:00 K's only
11:00 - 11:30 Gr. 4-7
1:00 - 1:30 Gr. 1-3
12:00-12:25 - Pro. D. Committee Meeting - Jessica's room
3:00-5:00 - Learning Commons Weeding Work Bee in the Library - dinner at 4:30
3:30-5:00 - SurreySchools workshop - new features @ Chimney Hill
Visiting Artist - Divisions - 15, 16, 17
Thursday
PJ Day / Pancake Breakfast - 9am - Info. will be sent out Monday
Strong Start Closed
11:15-12:30 - SBT
3:30-5:00 - Admin Study Group in the Library (Tia's Study Group)
Friday
Good Friday - School closed
Upcoming Month:
Monday, April 21 - Easter Monday - School closed
Wednesday, April 23 - P/VP Area Meeting - 3:30pm
Thursday, April 24 - Recognition Assembly
Friday, April 25 - Jump Rope for Heart
Monday, April 28 - Staff Meeting
Wednesday, April 30 - Grade 7's visit Frank Hurt / Clothing Give-Away
Friday, May 2 - Pro. D Day - STA Day
Resources of the Week:
Nature Deficit Disorder
FORCE: Society for Kids' Mental Health
Notes From a Special Needs Teacher Blog (Teacher in Langley)
MediaSmarts.ca (Canadian)
Videos of the Week:
Making Sense of Anxiety in Children:
Healthy Mind Platter:
