VOLUME 2016 ISSUE 5

FEBRUARY 22, 2016

Northern Vance High School

293 Warrenton Road, Henderson, North Carolina 27836 ~ 252-492-6041
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

Dear Faculty & Staff,

People will forget what you
While watching the NCSU versus UNC womens basketball game, it was easy to focus
said, people will forget what you
on the few things that were not going quite how we desired. The team looked defeated during did, but people will never forget
how you made them feel.
the timeout, but then the first quarter came to an end. The commentator made an interesting
~ Maya Angelou
observation stating that two of the girls that werent playing were talking to the girls,
encouraging them to make one play at a time. First a defensive stop. Then a basket. Then another stop. Then another
basket! The point . . . . How often do WE overlook our small victories? Everyday you work with students that want to be
here. You work with students that only smile when you talk to them. Small victories are happening in your classroom
each day and who knows, those small victories may add up to a huge win at the end of the game! (Go Pack!) We are
approximately 8 days away from Benchmark #1. Continue to instill and insist that Failure is Not an Option in your
classroom, but help our students understand that they have to DO SOMETHING to make sure that they dont faillike
come before school, stay after school, work during lunch, come on Saturday, simply do their homework, ask questions in
classdo something!
Please be certain to review the announcements for the week and plan accordingly. There are several deadlines
quickly approaching. Again, thank you for all that youre doing for NVHS students! We REALLY appreciate all that you do
to help students be successful. And as always, thank you for making Northern Vance HS a great place for both students
& staff! Heres to an awesome Wolfpack, I mean Viking week!
Lunch Duty: Please report to your duty station within 10 minutes of the start of lunch. Thx! Week B:
L1: Paez, Dobradi, Broadnax, C.Johnson, Blalock, Kingsberry
L2: Schatz, J.Johnson,Crews, Slaughter, Nemours, Campbell
L3: Baskett, Sandlin, Miller, Nelson, Clayton, Closs

INSTRUCTIONAL NUGGET OF THE WEEK

Understanding By Design ~ Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins

Stage 3: Teaching for Understanding
All activities in this stage
should have one of the
following purposes in mind:
1. To acquire important
knowledge and skills,
Example: Direct Teaching,
which is used to inform
2. To make meaning of big
ideas (key principles,
concepts or strategies),
Example: Facilitative
Teaching, which is to
guide inquiry and
3. To transfer learning to
new situations, Example:
Coaching, which is to
supervise and offer
feedback.

ACQUISITION

MEANING

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Several DPI Instructional Coaches will be in our building
this week. Learning opportunities can occur for all, only if
the pupil will receive it. Lets be open to receiving their
feedback.
February 24 and 25 is our annual ACT Boot Camp for all
th
11 graders. Please refer to email from Mrs. Sandlin for
more information.
Super Observations officially begin this week. Please check
the spreadsheet in Google Docs to review your time and
submit your Pre-Observation questions along with your
lesson plans at least 24 hours in advance.
Please complete all PDP items through Midyear.
Beginning February 29, the media center will be used for
ACT testing, EC accommodations and benchmarks. Please
plan accordingly.

TRANSFER

Please be aware of times that students are leaving your

classes. Learning should occur from bell to bell. Students
cannot learn if they are not in class. The first 20 minutes
and the last 20 minutes of each class is a Stay Put time
period NVHS 20/20.

Sunday
21

Monday
22

Tuesday
23 EOC PLC Mtgs.

Wednesday
24 ACT Boot Camp

Thursday
25 ACT Boot Camp

March 1
ACT Testing (11th)

March 2
ACT Testing (EC)

March 3
ACT Testing (EC)

EOC Benchmarks
Begin
Cap & Gown Pictures

EOC Benchmarks
Begin

26

Friday

Saturday
27

March 4

March 5

Lunch Duty
Week B

28

29

Lunch Duty
Week C

EOC Benchmarks
Begin

WHAT EFFECTIVE TEACHERS DO:

BEST PRACTICES FOR INCREASING
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
We will continue to explore the research around establishing high
expectations. As we look at what effective teachers do, take a
moment to reflect upon your own instructional practices. Do you
implement these strategies already? Discuss in your weekly PLT
meetings. Read the following taken from Expectations:
Effective teachers maintain an orderly environment that is
safe, structured, and comfortable. Effective teachers should
create a sense that this is a place to concentrate on the learning
at hand, rather than on immediate anxieties and distracting
events in the school, home, or neighborhood environment.
Effective teachers maintain an orderly environment that
facilitates learning without being rigid or dictatorial. By being
inclusive, effective teachers give their students a sense that they
have a stake in the community. As part of the community, they
accept responsibility for taking care of classroom resources and
participating in school activities. The norm of positive student
behavior develops when discipline procedures are perceived to be

Previous Teacher
Workday, Now a
Regular School
Day

fair and that they apply equally to all. Effective teachers

must model the kind of behavior they wish students to
display. Positive rewards and praise are the major
techniques used to create desired behavior. When
undesired behavior by students occurs, humiliation and
violence are never used. Punitive and authoritarian
attitudes are not demonstrated. Discipline is handled in
the classroom itself wherever possible and not referred
outside. Preferably, it is handled, at least in part, by
students themselves. Firm but fair behavior is
expected, and a clear definition of standards is
conveyed at the start of the term and communicated to
all students (page 40).
Are you implementing this effective practice (EP#2) of
maintaining an orderly environment that is safe,
structured and comfortable? What do you do?
Excerpt taken from Expectations: How Teacher Expectations Can
Increase Student Achievement & Assist in Closing the
Achievement Gap by Robert Green, Ph.D.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REMINDERS
Every classroom should 1) identify and post the SCS standard/ goal/objective for the lesson being taught each day; 2) write that
standard in kid friendly terms and review it with students; and 3) provide a plan of learning for the 95-minutes instructional block
to include time for remediation/enrichment. If you need assistance with this, please see Dr. Webb, Mrs. Whyte Scott, or Ms.
OMeara.
Vikings, please be certain to make a positive contact with each student for this 2nd semester. Please use email, postcards, or phone
and be certain to document.
Department Leaders, please make sure to send a copy of your weekly PLC meeting notes to Mrs. Whyte Scott.
Any student without a C average (or higher) is required to attend tutoring; preferably with the teacher of the failing class, but
tutoring with a certified teacher nonetheless. Its not an option. Its mandatory. Communicate this with students and parents.
Reminder: Please Check ATTENDANCE (First 10-15 minutes) EVERYDAY & EVERY PERIOD!! Teachers are expected to document the
tardy in Powerschool. Tardy referrals should be submitted to Ms. OMeara.