Farewell and Thanks
Dear Ellis Family, It has been my privledge and honor to serve as the Principal of Ellis for the last three years. I have truly enjoyed getting to work with you and supporting the educational needs of the children entrusted to my care. I wish to thank you for being part of my time at Ellis. Whether we spent time together at a formal meeting or simply greeted each other in the drop off area; it has been a pleasure being part of our school. I wish to acknowledge the District Office staff for all the assistance and support they have provided me. I have never experienced this level of authentic dedication in any of the districts I have previously served. Our children are fortunate to attend school in Sunnyvale. I also wish to thank the PTO for their tireless support and continued creativity in providing our teachers and students with tools for effective instruction and programs that allow our children to experience life beyond the classroom walls. I would encourgae every family to make a commitment to participating and supporting the PTO next year. This group makes such a difference and they deserve everyone's assistance. Thank you to Mrs. Nola Eckley and Mrs. Lydia Lacy our administrative assistants. They never fail to amaze me. They assist and serve every teacher, family, student and the Principal with grace and efficiency. I shall be ever grateful for their support and assistance. Thank you to the teachers and staff of Ellis for sharing their brilliance every day. Thank you to every Ellis Eagle. I shall miss the children of Ellis School most of all. It has been a wonderful experience observing the growth in student achievement. But I have also witnessed students learing about being safe, respectful, responsible and compassionate during my time at Ellis. I have seen students who required a good deal of my attention become successful students both in and out of the classrooms. I wish everyone a future filled with success. I have often shared that no matter we go we represent Ellis. It is now my turn to depart from our school community. I shall share all that I have learned here at my next assignment. Make it a great summer... the choice is yours. Best wishes, Ms. Pepper Butler |
 |
|
| [ << prev ] | [ next >> ] |
Celebrations
Yesterday was a very special day at Ellis School. The school and community participated in an assembly to honor first grade teacher, Mrs. Georgie White, on her retirement. This assembly included the recitation of an original poem by the first graders, a song by Allison Moya, testimonials from students and Ellis families who wanted to share their favorite memories of Mrs. White. All of Ellis wishes you a happy retirement! The Sunnyvale School District held a reception yesterday to honor the employees selected to represented their sites for the school year. Miss Katie Moorehead, kindergarten teacher, was recognized as Ellis School's Teacher of the year. Mrs. Magda Ramos, Ellis Outreach, was honored as the Ellis Classified Staff Employee of the Year as well one of the Sunnyvale School District Classified Employees of the year. Their was a wonderful turnout from all the sites and the District Office. Everyone enjoyed the refreshments and time to share some of the great news in our District. Congratulations to both Katie and Magda. Last evening's PTO meeting was very well attended. Elections were held and the budget for next school year was passed. The PTO presented me with a beautiful frame that included an Eagle, a picture of me, and the California Distinguished School seal. This memento will be displayed with pride in my new school office. Thank you to the officers of this year's PTO for their unwavering dedication and support to our students and teachers. Special thanks to Lesley Taylor who is stepping down from the presidency for all of her leadership this year. Congratulations to Julie Wester for taking on the presidency, along with her husband Louis. Thank you Julie for all of your careful planning and attention to so many activities. |
You Are Invited to join the Ellis Eagles as they raise the California Distinguished School Flag. Monday, June 4 is our school-wide celebration of being named a California Distinguished School. We will have TWO flag raising ceremonies.
The first shall be held at 8:30 for grades k-2 and a second ceremony at 10:45 for grades 3-5. Congratulations to second grader, Lando Easson, who won the PTO auction to serve as Principal for the Day on Tuesday, June 5th. Remember that our Library will be closed on Tuesday to serve as a polling station for the June primary. Wednesday, June 6th will be the final PTO meeting for this school year. I look forward to seeing everyone at 7:00. |
May 28- June 1
Thank you to our PTO for the fatastic Walkathon. It was great to see so many families joining in the walk this year. This event gets better each year thanks to our wonderful Board. Few of get to see the "behind the scenes" reality of the Walkathon. I did get several glimpses when meeting with Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Wester. So much thought and preparation goes into everything concerning this event from the raffle gifts to the pledge prizes to the design of the teeshirt. I know the students truly enjoyed this special day. Thanks to all: PTO, volunteers, sponsors, teachers, and EAGLES for making it a great event. Ms. Butler's Schedule Monday, May 28 Memorial Day- School is Closed Tuesday, May 29 8:00 meeting classroom visits 6:15 ELAC meeting Wednesday, May 30 Ms. Butler, Ms. Mak, Miss Stephanie Chin, Mrs. Conroy, and Ms. Edwards will be attending a special ceremony to recognize all the schools that were named A California Distinguished School this year. We will be away from campus for the day. Thursday, May 31 9:00- 12:00 meeting at the District Office 1:30 Student of the Month assembly for grade one Friday, June 1 all day ; Kindergarten Roundup Grade five will visit Sunnyvale Middle School |
May 21- May 25
There is so much good news to share this week! I am happy to report our student who required surgery for a brain tumor is on the road to recovery. The tumor was benign. Our little Eagle has begun physical therapy. The Ellis Compassion Project raised over $8,000 to assist the family during this difficult time. Thank you to the students, families, and community members who gave generously.The family is grateful for all the donations, gifts, prayers, and support. Our wonderful Out Reach Liaison, Mrs. Magda Ramos, has been named the Sunnyvale School District Classified Employee of the Year! Mrs. Ramos was paid a surprise visit by Superintendents, Dr. Picard, Mrs. Castagna, and Dr. Gallagher, during our Kindergarten Orientation last Friday. I know the entire Ellis community congratulates Mrs. Ramos on this well-deserved honor. In addition to her Out Reach duties Mrs. Ramos assists the primary teachers in presenting reading interventions, she assists our English Language Learners to improve their English skills, she serves on the Language Review Team, co-presents our ELAC meetings, facilitates our Parent Education programs and translates for PTO meetings, SST meetings, parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, and so much more! Congratulations Mrs. Ramos! Fifth grader Carissa Mendoza is being honored by the SERTOMA Organization at a breakfast Wednesday, May 23 at McHenry's. Carissa entered an essay in the Annual Sertoma Essay contest and was selected as the first place winner. The School District honors all the Sunnyvale students whose essays were awarded prizes. Carissa wrote an esquisitive essay about an important family event that has been passsed down to her generation. Congratulations Carissa! Wednesday evening from 7:00- 8:00 is Open House. I hope to see everyone. Teachers and students have prepared the classrooms to display student work and learning from throughout the year. Please plan on attending. Thjis Friday is our Annual Ellis PTO Walkathon. This is the event students and staff members look forward to all year. The PTO board and volunteers have prepared a great event. The students have been turning in their pledges. Thank you to Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Wester for organizing this year's Walkathon. Come out and join in the fun. |
ELLIS FUNDRAISER
Dear Ellis Families, This week we learned that one of our students required emergency surgery. The student underwent surgery on Friday. The Ellis community has an opportunity to demonstrate our support for the child and the family at this difficult time. We sent home a flyer on Friday announcing a fundraiser to assist the family. Donations may be brought into the classrooms or directly to the office. This is a time to show our children that "Compassion is a verb at Ellis School". I shall post updates as I receive them on this blog. I am pleased to share that Mr. Eric Panosian has been named Ellis Principal for the 2012-13 school year. Mr. Panosian has served the Sunnyvale School for over a decade. He is currently the Principal of Bishop Elementary School. I know that the Ellis community shall welcome him warmly. PRINCIPAL'S SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 14- 18 THE LANGUAGE REVIEW TEAM WILL BE REVIEWING EVERY ENGLISH LEARNER'S ACHIEVEMENT DURING THIS WEEK (Thank you to Miss Stephanie Chin, Ms. Melissa Mak, Mrs. Magda Ramos, and the classroom teachers who will participate in this process) Monday, May 14 8:30- 9:30 STAR testing 10:00-12:00 Meeting at the District Office 12:00-1:00 STAR testing 2:30-3:30 SELPA meeting Tuesday, May 15 7:30 PBIS meeting 9:00- 12:00 ILT meeting at the District Office 3:00- 4:00 Leadership Team meeting Wednesday, May 16 Junior Achievement Day LRT meetings and classroom visits throughout the day Thursday, May 17 STAR testing and LRT meeting 11:00 SARB meeting at the District Office 6:30 ELAC meeting Friday, May 18 STAR test and LRT meetings 9:00 meeting with Fun on the Run 1:00 meeting |
Dear Ellis Families,
I wanted to inform all the Ellis families that I shall not be returning to Ellis for the 2012-13 school year. I would like to thank all the students and their families that have made my years as the Principal of Ellis a joyful experience. Memories of.carnivals , walkathons, and assemblies will be treasured for years to come. I wish everyone continued success. STAR Testing begins this week. Please make certain that students arrive on time, well rested, and having had a healthy breakfast. Schedule for the Week Monday, May 7 7:30 meeting 8:30-10:30 STAR testing 11:30 IEP meeting 2:30 SELPA meeting 3:30 wellness forum Tusday, May 8 8:30-10:30 STAR testing 2:45 staff activity Wednesday, May 9 8:30-10:30 STAR testing 1:45= 3:00 meeting at District Office 2:45 collaboration meetings Thursday, May 10 8:30-10:30 STAR testing 2:00-4:00 Training at the District Office Friday, May 11 8:30-10:30 STAR testing |
Mrs. Maxfield and her Eagles Patrol held a school-wide fundraiser to help support research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The PENNIES FOR PATIENTS campaign brought in $4,509.05! My how those pennies add up.
Often our Words of Wisdom encourage our students to do something that will change the world. This campaign is an excellent example of children making the world a better place. Thank you to all who donated. Thank you to Mrs. Maxfield and the members of the Eagles Patrol for making this act of kindness possible. |
April 30- May 6
I had the pleasure of being in the audience for Friday evening's performance of Stone Soup the musical. I want to recognize the students, families, and PTO who encouraged school musicals to be part of our Ellis program. I wish to recognize Miss Katie Moorehead who brought this musical to the stage with a wonderful cast, lovely stage sets, and adorable costumes. The students and Miss Moorehead rehearsed the songs, script, and choreography with Mrs. Van der Staay for weeks to deliver this great performance. Mr. Lenny Fortunato assisted with getting the most from the sound system. I hope that we will continue to present musicals in the future because they serve many purposes. The students directly involved learn to work together as a cast. The cast members experience the steps required to create and present a performance for an audience. The entire school has the opportunity to attend the performance and practice their skills for being a member of the audience. Thanks to all the adults who assisted with the Stone Soup experience: transporting students to rehearsals, helping with costumes and stage decorations, and creating the set. Just as the town people in the play we experienced that we can do so much more when we share our talents! I wish to welcome Mrs. Stephanie Tran to our KLAS (Kids Learn After School) program. Mrs. Tran hails from Texas and has taken the role of KLAS Leader. She has experience with a similar program in Texas and has hit the ground running at Ellis. Registration for next year's KLAS will be beginning soon. The program will a little different for next year. The current students will be given the option to preregister and then there will be openings for any second through fifth graders who wish to participate! KLAS begins at dismissal every day that school is open. Students experience academic support, recreation, and enrichment. Flyers will be sent out soon. Just a reminder that STAR testing will begin next week for all 2nd-5th grade classes. Please help your child be the prepared by getting a good night's sleep, having a healthy breakfast, and getting to school on time. Once testing has begun no one will be admitted to the classrooms. Let's try to get to school a little bit earlier to lessen the stress on everyone. Principal's Schedule for the Week Monday, April 30 10:00- 12:00 Ms. Butler will be hosting visitors 2:00 Meeting 2:30 Meeting with SELPA Tuesday, May 1 TEACHER LEARNING DAY 12:45 7:30 PBIS meeting 1:00 IEP 2:30 IEP Wednesday, May 2 11:00 SSC meeting 2:45 Staff meeting 7:00 PTO meeting Thursday, May 3 9:00- 12:00 Principals Planning meeting at the District Office 1:30 Grade 2 STAR rally Friday, May 4 Classroom visits |
Monday, April 9
7:45 meeting with teacher 2:30 SELPA meeting Tuesday, April 10 9:00-12:00 ILT meeting at the District Office Wednesday, April 11 8:35 SARB meetings at Ellis 11:00 teacher observation 11:20 School Site Council meeting in the conference room 2:45 Grade level meetings April 12 9:00-10:00 SARB meetings at the District Office 11:00 Observation April 13 9:00- 11:00 STAR training at the District Office 11:00 Observation 12:45 meeting with teacher 1:00 meeting |
Congratulations to our Ellis families who are graduating this evening from the Parent Institute for Quality Education. This program's goal is to create a community ion which parents and teachers collaborate to transform each child's educational environment, both at home and at school, st that all children can achieve their greatest academic potential. We have had as many as 50 parents attend this nine week program. This evening our Para Outreach , Mrs. Magda Ramos, will be presenting the parents who successfully completed the PIQE program for recognition and a certificate. The graduation will take place in the multipurpose room this evening at 6:30. |
Congratulations to Ellis fifth grade teacher Claudia Olaciregui who was invited by the Department of Human Development and Culture of the Organization of American States to participate in the Virtual Educa Caribbean, a multilateral initiative on education. Ms. O. attended this initiative during the month of March in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Congratulations to Ralph Sapida for being named a winner in the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety's Fire Safety Poster Contest. Ralph was honored at a luncheon and received his prize during the April 3rd City Council meeting. Thank you Officer Brian Gantt who assisted in presenting the contest to our Ellis Eagles. |
ELLIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED A CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL!
State Superintendent of Public Instruction announced 387 exemplary schools were named 2012 California Distinguished School for their innovative education programs that encourage students to learn. This program identifies and honors schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students. This honor recognizes the hard work of our entire school community: Ellis teachers and staff who create effective programs and interventions to support all students, our parents who demonstrate their support for education by working in partnership with our school and teachers to support their child's education, our PTO for their dedication in providing classroom resources and enrichment activities for all Ellis students, our community partners KLAS, CHAC, YMCA, the City of Sunnyvale, our School District for their resources and guidance, and of course OUR STUDENTS for their dedication to becoming the best they can be every day! There will be a formal ceremony in May to honor the 2012 California Distinguished Schools in Santa Clara County. Ellis will receive a flag and a plaque to commemorate this achievement. Congratulations to all. |
BIKE RODEO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
ELLIS SCHOOL IS HAVING BIKE RODEOS ON THURSDAY, APRIL 5TH. WE ARE IN NEED OF ADULT VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUR 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS LEARN ABOUT BIKE SAFETY AND HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR RIDING SKILLS. NO EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED. WE NEED JUST A FEW HOURS OF YOUR TIME TO TRAIN YOU AT THE EVENT. WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PARENT COORDINATOR, SusannahMedley@Ellis.SRTS@gmail.com |
The Week of March 26- March 30
Students in grades kinder, second, and fifth will participate in hearing screenings this week. This Saturday our PTO will be presenting the Second Annual Ellis Emporium. This is an opportunity to clear the clutter and donate clothes, household items, exercise equipment... I have set aside several bags to donate and I invite everyone to do the same. The PTO is looking for volunteers to assist with setting up the Emporium. We will begin the set up on Thursday afternoon at one o'clock in the cafeteria. We will continue all day Friday. Now is the time to donate one hour of your time for a great cause. I know that I shall be there lending a hand and I hope staff and families will join me. The Emporium will be open on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Let the savings begin! Principal's Schedule Monday,March 26 7:45 IEP meeting 11:00 IEP meeting 1:00- 4:00 Interview panel at Vargas School Tuesday, March 27 8:30- 11:00 classroom observations 12:45 Meeting with Yard duty supervisors 2:00 IEP meeting 3:00 Grade 3 data meeting Wednesday, March 28 7:30 Grade 1 data meeting classroom observations 12:30 (tentative) grade 5 data meeting 2:45 grade 2 data meeting Thursday, March 29 Classroom observations 1:30 Ellis Emporium set up Friday, March 30 classroom observations 1:00 meeting with teacher 2:00 Ellis Emporium preparation |
March 19- March 23
Last Wednesday our school was visited by the review team for the California Distinguished Schools program. The team spent the entire day visiting our classrooms and interviewing students, teachers, staff, district personnel, representatives of our school committees, and parents. The day began with the team interviewing our Leadership Team. There were four panels in all: students, stakeholders, teachers and specialists. The visitors heard from many members of school community. Our students were actively involved in this validation process. Students served on a panel and as student ambassadors to guide our guests around the campus. Members of the panels represented our support staff as well as KLAS, CHAC, and the Sunnyvale School District administration. This visit was made possible by the many members of our school community who volunteered to assist in the planning of the big day. Many thanks to everyone who served on a panel and shared their unique opinions and observations. The Team heard time and again that Ellis is focused on the achievement of each student. Our use of data to inform instruction was also mentioned by many panelists. The visitors met with the entire staff at the end of the day. They were very complimentary regarding the instructional practices and the ongoing implementation of the Professional Learning Community practices we are implementing. They shared that they would be recommending that Ellis be named a California Distinguished School. The official decision will be announced at the end of this month. I shall keep everyone informed.Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special recognition! This Wednesday is the Annual Ellis Visit. Members of the District Office will be visiting every classroom. The visits is focused on observing Effective Instructional Practices. The District staff will spend time observing teaching and learning throughout the day. In place of our traditional staff meeting on Wednesday we will be presenting to our visitors. I have prepared a PowerPoint presentation and each grade level team will share a SMART goal. We are looking forward to sharing our day. Our fifth graders recently returned from a week at the Walden West Science Camp. They were accompanied by Mrs. Bower, Mrs. Faiaipa'u, Mrs. Maxfield, Ms. Olaciregui, and Mr. Hernandez. Ms.Mak and I paid a visit on Thursday, March 8th and saw students enjoying the garden, the hiking trails, and nature activities. The staff at Walden West shared that the Eagles are always among the best students in terms of preparation, behavior, and engagement. It is my hope that fourth grade families start planning now for their children to attend Science Camp next year. It is never too soon to start a savings plan or plan a class fundraiser. Last Wednesday evening families attended our ELAC meeting. Miss Stephanie Chin (grade one teacher) and Ms. Melissa Mak (Instructional Coach) presented an informative meeting for our English Learner families. Ms. Denise Terramorse (third grade teacher and Literacy Leader) presented reading comprehension strategies that families can use at home to support their young readers. Thank you to all the families and students who attended. Report cards were sent home on Friday. Please take the time to discuss these reports with your child/ren. Recognize the progress that has been made and encourage your child to continue "being the best that s/he can be." Please feel free to contact classroom teachers if you have questions or concerns regarding the reports. Monday, March 19 7:45 meeting with teacher classroom visits 2:45- 4:00 SELPA meeting Tuesday, March 20 7:30 PBIS meeting classroom visits 2:45 meeting with kinder team Wednesday, March 21 ELLIS ANNUAL VISIT Thursday, March 22 9:00- 12:00 Principals Planning meeting at District Office Friday, March 23 11:30 meeting 1:00 meeting on campus |
ELLIS ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
I wanted to recognize the parents and students involved in our Grade One OOTM team who recently competed in their first competition and received medals! OOTM teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process! It taps into creativity and encourages students to think outside of the box. It also requires teamwork. Our PTO sponsored two teams for Ellis this year. It is the first time our students have had the opportunity to experience this valuable program. I wish to thank the parents who supported the grade one team: Nikhila Modi (coach) Sharmila Gopinath (volunteer) Tina Garg (judge volunteer) Valerie Casano (OOTM volunteer) The students: Tarika Modi (Ms. Chin, grade 1) Nitin Chandranath (Ms. Chin, grade 1) Ishir Garg (Ms. Chin, grade 1) Sofia Casano (Ms. Berlier, grade 1) Jonathan Amat (Ms. Berlier, grade 1) Sanjana Nair (Ms. Berlier, grade 1) Kevin Yang (Loretz, grade 2) Congratulations to all! |
Week of March 12- 16
Principal's Schedule for the Week Monday, March 12 8:30- 12:00 classroom visits 2:45-4:00 SELPA meeting Tuesday, March 13 Fundraiser ends today 9-12 Instructional Leadership Team meeting at District Office Classroom visits Wednesday, March 14 Distinguished Schools visit all day 6:30 ELAT meeting Thursday, March 15 Classroom visits and observations 2:45 Meeting 6:00 PIQE meeting Friday, March 16 Trimester Two ends classroom visits 10:00-12:30 Induction Summit off campus 1:00 IEP meeting 3:00 meeting with teacher/s |
Welcome back from the break! I hope everyone spent the last week enjoying time with their families. The next few weeks will be an exciting time for our school. The review team for the California Distinguished Schools committee will be visiting our campus to learn more about our signature practices of small group instruction and meeting the needs of our students through interventions. Our District Office will also be spending a day at Ellis for their annual visit during the month of March. This is truly the time for Ellis to shine.
Many of you may be aware of our Eagles Excellence program. This is the foundation of our positive behavior program at Ellis. Team Leader, Mrs. Van der Staay and third grade leader,Mr. Watts recently shared their impressions of a positive behavior system they observed at a local school. The PBIS Team considered their recommendations and made some exciting changes to our Eagles Excellence program. The core of a PBIS program is too recognize students when they are meeting the expectations of our school. Students are awarded Eagles Excellence tickets. These tickets are turned in each week to earn class recognition or a prize for an individual student or staff member or earn a campus-wide activity. I am concerned with the recent increase of students being referred to the office for discipline. In addition, the number of student suspensions is not showing a decrease. I shall be addressing all classes this week to review our school behavior expectations and our positive behavior program. It is my hope that families will support our goals in providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all of our Eagles. It is appreciated when students have consequences at home to address school behavior concerns. Students should recognize that home and school are partners in their education. Our Ellis Family Handbook is available on our school website to assist families in supporting our expectations. Principal's Schedule for The Wee of Feb. 27- Mar. 2 Monday, Feb. 27 Classroom visits 1:30-2:30 Discipline assemblies 2:45- SELPA meeting 4:00 KLAS lab Tuesday, Feb. 28 classroom visits 12:45 Training 2:45 Leadership Team meeting Wed. Feb. 29 classroom visits 10:00 meeting with Dr. Gallagher 1:30 Student of the month assembly for grade one Thurs. Mar. 1 9-12:00 Principals Planning meeting at the District Office 2:45-4:00 SST meetings Fri. Mar.2 7:45 IEP meeting 11:30- 3:30 Network reception off campus |
Principal's Schedule for the Week
Monday, February 13 7:30 IEP meeting 9:00-10:00 Classroom visits 11:00 Meet with PBIS director 1:15- 2:00 PBIS assembly 2:00 IEP 2:30- 3:30 SELPA meeting Tuesday, February 14 8:00 IEP meeting 9:00- 11:00 Classroom visits 1:15- 2:15 Bike safety assembly Wednesday, February 15 8:00 meeting with parents 8:30 IEP meeting 11:30 IEP meeting 1:15 Bike safety assembly 2:00 IEP meeting 2:45 Grade level collaboration 3:30 Meeting with teacher Thursday, February 16 Classroom observations 2:30- 4:00 SST meetings Friday, February 17 classroom visits |
Principal's Schedule for the Week of January 30- February 3
Monday, January 30 Professional Development Day for all staff- No school for students Tuesday, January 31 8:45- 9:30- SARB meeting at the District Office Classroom observations Wednesday, February 1 10:30- 11:30 meeting 2:45 Staff meeting 7:00 PTO meeting in multipurpose room Thursday, February 2 7:30-9:30 Attendance meetings 11:40 IEP meeting 2:00- 4:00 Effective Schools meeting at District Office 6:00 Parent Institute for Quality Education series begins multipurpose room Friday, February 3 11:40 IEP meeting4-7:30 Eat for Ellis |
This week the Ellis Language Review Team will begin monitoring the progress of every English Learner at our school. The team members include our ELAC representatives:
Miss Stephanie Chin (teacher grade one), Ms. Melissa Mak (Instructional Coach), Mrs. Magda Ramos (Parent Outreach), myself (Principal), and the classroom teacher. The schedule has been set and teachers have been provided reports to complete and bring to the table. This process occurs twice a year. Our goal is to ensure if a student requires an available support it can be arranged at this time. We will also be recommending students to be considered for redesignation as Fluent English Proficient. The Language Review also continues to monitor students who have been redesignated to make certain these students are achieving. I wish to recognize the members of the team for the preparation and time they dedicate to this important component of our program. Recently I had the opportunity to share in an exciting third grade project. Our teachers recognize the importance of working together. Third grade teachers Ms. Terramorse and Mr. Watts created a meaningful project that required their students work together! The focus was a study of the Native Americans of California. Each group was made of students from both classes. All members were responsible to so research on the customs and living conditions of a particular tribe and create a poster display. The students also created replicas of artifacts using Play Dough. I was very impressed to attend the presentation which required each member of the team to share what they learned. This project provided students with an opportunity to be a productive member of a team, be a researcher, and present in front of a large audience. Congratulations to the teachers and students for this exciting learning experience. Principal's Schedule for the Week I shall be attending the Language Review Team meetings with the exception of the following appointments Monday, January 23 2:45 SELPA meeting Tuesday, January 24 7:45 pre-observation meeting 9:00 Formal observation 11:00 meeting with recreational program director 12:45 meeting with yard duty supervisors 1:30-4:00 meeting off campus Wednesday, January 25 7:45 post observation meeting 11:40 meeting 1:20 formal classroom observation 2:45 grade level collaboration Thursday, January 26 7:30 meeting 9:00-12:00 principals planning meeting at DO 1"30 first grade student of the month assembly Friday, January 27 Language Review Team Informal classroom observations" |
January 16- January 20
I have always enjoyed the learning activities that our teachers select to recognize the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year I have found several classes writing about the vision Dr. King shared. I invite everyone to enjoy the "I Have a Dream..." statements displayed in Mrs. Poulson and Mrs. Ross' window. Our youngest Eagles declare their dreams in pictures and words! This year the Sunnyvale School District has employed the Seven Correlates of Effective Schools as a compass for the past two and a half years. All of the schools have been focusing on the correlate that addresses Safe and Orderly Environments. The Ellis staff has been working collaboratively in creating a School Safety Plan that reflects our dedication to this correlate. This week both the Leadership Team and the School Site Council will be updated on the Safety Plan. We have a draft that includes a mission statement, data, and two goals. The approved plan will be presented to the School Board for their approval. I shall keep everyone updated as this process nears completion. I have been reviewing classroom data and I remain concerned that our students are not mastering the memorization of their basic math facts. Knowing math facts to automaticity is a necessary life skill. Research has proven students who know their facts can explore math situations that require higher level thought processes. Teachers have provided flash cards and review pages to encourage families to assist in this important skill. Students are assessed several times throughout the year to monitor their progress. Please consider helping your child master his/her facts by reviewing them each night. The New Year is a great time to update the office if you have changed your address, phone numbers, or emergency contacts. Please contact Mrs. Lacy if you need assistance. I have been approached by a San Jose University student who is working on her Capstone project. She is looking for Hindi speaking families to interview regarding their views on education. If you are willing to assist please contact me (pepper.butler@sesd.org) and I shall forward your contact information to this young scholar. PRINCIPAL'S SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK Tuesday, January 17 7:30 PBIS Team meeting 10:20- formal observation 11:40 literacy assessment 12:45 KLAS meeting at district office 2:45 Leadership meeting Wednesday, January 18 8:15 accompany Mrs. Combe 9:30 Safe Routes to School off campus 11:00 School Site Council Meeting 2:00 IEP meeting 2:45 district grade alikes 6:30 ELAC meeting- parents of English Learners in the multi purpose room Thursday, January 19 8:00 -9:00 SARB meetings 9:00- 11:00 interview panel 2:00 SST meetings Friday, January 20 11:30 IEP meeting 12:20 formal observation 1:30 meeting with district safety coordinator |
Happy New Year to all of our Ellis families. I hope everyone enjoyed the break and is ready to get back to the learning!
I spent time over the break reviewing some recent data and was concerned to see that many of our Eagles have not mastered their math facts. There has been improvement but truly every student should know his/her facts with automaticity. Our kindergarteners should be reviewing counting, recognizing, and writing their numbers. Please help your child learn this important skill. Start with numbers from 0 to 10 and from there on the adventure begins. First graders should know their fact families for addition up to twelve. There are so many easy ways to practice- from flash cards to a regular deck of playing cards. Second graders are to focus on their subtraction facts. The goal is to recognize that the fact families for addition are directly related to subtraction! Third graders are to memorize the multiplication facts. It is expected that they will know their facts, up to the twelves, by the end of the year. Fourth and fifth graders are expected to have mastered all the operations with a focus on division. Research has demonstrated that when students know their math facts with automaticity ( within three seconds) their brains are able to focus on the problem strategies a math task requires. Memorizing facts allows students to use higher level thinking skills to become better problem solvers. When I taught high school math I used to share with my students that "life is a word problem". Adults need to know how to sewt up and solve math challenges in life, not simply perform a calculation. Please take the time to test your child on his/her mastery of math facts. I shall update everyone after the next Automaticity assessments at the end of February. Good luck! Right before the break teachers met to review data and determine students who would benefit from participating in our KLAS program (Kids Learn After School). Invitations were mailed to families before the holidays. I hope that you will take this opportunity to assit your child in their academic pursuits. The KLAS program has added some computer programs to challenge students in their reading and math proficiency. Several grade levels are also offering extended day tutorials to specific students. These programs are held before or after school for several weeks. The focus is on reteaching specific skills so that students can be successful in their studies. Please do not turn down an invitation to participate. Teachers spent a great deal of time reviewing the skills and the students who require additional support. This truly is an opportunity that will make a difference to your child. Our Ellis Compassion Project is expanding. I invite you to check out the link on our school web page. I wish to recognize all the Eagles students, families, and staff who participated in the choir. I have heard that the choir will continue during the year so feel free to join at any time. The Ellis yearbook will have Compassion as this year's theme. Students will be invited to design the cover with the theme in mind. Mrs. Moya will be sending home contest information in the near future. Schedule for the Week of January 3- January 6 Monday, January 2- NO SCHOOL Tuesday, January 3: School resumes 7:30 PBIS meeting Wednesday, January 4 2:45 Staff meeting Thursday, January 5 8:45 meeting Friday, January 6 I hope everyone has helped their child/ren set some goals for the new year! Keeping track with a calendar or a home-made chart on the refridgerator helps keep the goal meaningful. Parents may add incentives such as stickers, or allowing the winner to choose a family dessert, game, or video to share. On behalf of the Ellis School staff I wish all of our families a very happy, healthy, and successful New Year! |
Dear Ellis Families,
The year is coming to a close. It is a time to reflect upon our accomplishments and set new goals for 2012. I wish to recognize: The dedication of the entire Ellis staff. Our teachers continue to set the bar higher for all students and support all in reaching the next level. We are blessed with a staff who put the needs of the students first. There are so many individuals who come to work every day with the goal of assisting a child in the school setting. This could be in the classroom, on the playground, in the cafeteria, in the health office or the school office. There are many unsung heroes at Ellis and I wish to take this opportunity to thank them for all that they do. This past week was filled with lots of activities: the dairy cow, vision screening, puppet shoes and socials. Congratulations to Miss Katie Moorehead for her musical "Welcome to the Jungle". Miss Moorehead made her directorial debut to rave reviews and a packed house on Friday night. Miss Moorehead was assisted by Mrs. Anne Van der Staay who was the choreographer for the production. Thank you to our marvelous PTO who provided the necessary support for the production. How wonderful that Ellis students have such an enriching activity. Congratulations to the entire cast and thanks to all the adults who made this musical possible. I also wish to recognize second grade teacher, Mrs. Lori Maier, who created a poetry publication that spotlights the talented second grade classes. This was a labor of love that is appreciated by students, staff, and families. I must recognize our yard duty supervisors who continue to find ways to support our Positive Behavior program. These dedicated individuals truly keep our students safe. I wish to thank the entire Ellis office staff. Our health aide, Mrs. Marcos, and Nurse Fran Combe who share their skills and TLC every day. And of course I wish to thank Mrs. Nola Eckley and Mrs. Lydia Lacy who manage to support our teachers, students, families, and me. I wish every Ellis Eagle a happy holiday season. Please stay healthy and safe during the winter holiday break. We shall see you on Tuesday, January 3rd filled with the promise of the new year! |
| [ << prev ] | [ next >> ] |
