Cooperative Education a Success at HTHS!

Under the direction of Mark Snider, the Cooperative Education Program is back at HTHS in full force this year.  Forty-two students participated in work based learning throughout the 15-16 school year.

·       Coop Students (students who were paid) worked a total of 9,792 hours and earned $73,440.

·       Coop/Internship students worked a total of 1,440 hours to gain valuable experience in their chosen career field.

·       Total hours of work experience:  11,232 hours

Kudos to Mark for doing an excellent job with this program last year!  It is such a valuable experience for our students.  Mark has approximately 55 students enrolled in the program for next year.

Where Our Students Worked:
TJ Maxx
Sparetime Entertainment & Oasis Day Spa
Paine Intermediate After School Care
Faith Community Fellowship
Deerfoot Animal Clinic
Arby's
24e Fitness
1st Baptist Church Trussville ASC
American Eagle
Pump it up
North Jefferson Pharmacy
Credex Systems
Piggly Wiggly
Full Circle Horse Park
Publix
NorthPark Baptist
Trussville Fire & Rescue
Complete Air Services
Linda Dobbins Dance
Nickelcbgmagic
Total Foot Care
Yogurt Mountain
Pine Tree Country Club
Lighting Concepts
Trussville Playstation
Complete Cleaners
Target
Chick-Fil-A (Leeds)

Reflecting on the School Year

Paine math and reading teachers reviewed their students' end of the year data with academic coaches, Lisa Lothspeich and Kelly McGough, on Tuesday, May 24.  Students made significant gains in math from fall to spring according to Global Scholar data and in reading according to STAR data. Teachers were asked to reflect on reasons for the increases in math and reading.  They offered the following:

K-5 Math Curriculum Guides that include enrichment activities and pre- and post- assessments

Eureka Math that includes practice materials

Challenging all students, including those who have mastered content by providing enrichment

Focused, intentional intervention based on data

Global Scholar data

ACT Aspire Interim Assessments

RACES format for citing evidence from text

Expecting students to read more rigorous texts

Expecting students to read more nonnarrative nonfiction

Reading memoirs, biographies, and historical fiction with social studies

Sharing data with students and having students keep data notebooks

Conferencing with students about their data

40 Book Challenge that inspired students to read many varied genres

Emphasis on poetry

Thank You

Reflecting on this past school year, I am so grateful for another successful year and for all the people who worked very hard to make it successful.

I am thankful for the staffs of Paine Intermediate and Paine Primary for teaching students, cleaning out years of materials, packing up to move, hosting Meet and Greet meetings, and on and on and on.  

I am thankful for Tim Salem, Sarah Moran, and the staff of HTHS for hosting a beautiful and flawless graduation ceremony.

I am thankful for Edra Perry, Kelly McGough, Donna Brumlow, Lisa Lothspeich, Lisa Berry, Phyllis Faust, and Jennifer Cardwell for leading our schools in really examining and using our data to inform instruction this year.  

I am thankful for Mandi Logan for saying 100% of the time, "I will do that," or "I don't know how to do that, but I will learn."  She is the model for a continuous learner.  

I am thankful for our resource officers for their bravery, diligence, desire to keep students and staff members safe, and for working after hours whenever they are needed.  

I am thankful for Paine staff members for their patience, flexibility, and positive attitudes even when everything is changing.  

I am thankful for our school leaders for staying the course, remaining positive, and working so hard to lead teachers, students, and families.  

I am thankful for the custodial staffs at our schools because . . . you know why if you have ever worked in a school at the close of the year.  

I am thankful for summer because EVERYBODY needs a break!

Headed Home

Another great year in the TCS history books . . .

Students Enjoy Spring Fling at HTMS

May 13, 2016

Awards Day at HTMS

May 12, 2016

HTMS National Junior Honor Society

Members of the Hewitt-Trussville Middle School National Junior Honor Society visited Paine Elementary to read to primary students.  

Second Grade Teacher Kay Shumate Recipient of Grant

Congratulations to Kay Shumate, recipient of One Classroom at a Time Grant of $1000 for her classroom.  The grant is sponsored by WIAT, Pepsi, Little Caesar, and America's First.

Applying New Learning in the Classroom

Yesterday HTMS science teacher Rebecca Brown participated in science professional learning at HTHS with middle and high school colleagues.  She returned to the classroom today and tried out an activity that the teachers learned about yesterday, the hot seat activity. Mrs. Brown's students had read magazines about space exploration in preparation for researching the International Space Station. Mrs. Brown said she was a little nervous that her students would be would be shy and not ask questions and talk. She was WRONG! Before beginning their research, Mrs. Brown let six student in the circle ask questions (the 6 in the middle) they had about the International Space Station. The students asked questions and did a GREAT job discussing. The kids enjoyed being in the hot seat and sharing. According to Mrs. Brown, the hot seat is a very engaging, effective activity.

This activity supports the understanding of new content information, as well as ELA Speaking and Listening Standards that call for students to effectively engage in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners of Grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.  

Thank You!

I am thankful for Phyllis Faust and Stephanie Hawthorne for developing and presenting amazing, effective professional learning for science teachers.

I am thankful for Joy Tyner for joining our TCS staff this July as principal of Cahaba Elementary.  

I am thankful for our PTOs for providing an abundance of gifts for staff members for Teacher Appreciation Week.  

I am thankful for the parents who trust our teachers and administrators to do their jobs and who work with them to support students, teachers, and LEARNING!  

I am thankful for the amazing staff at HTMS for being so gracious and opening their doors to welcome our fifth graders and making them feel comfortable about moving to HTMS this fall.  

I am thankful for Jeff Murphree for leading his custodial staff to make HTMS such a beautiful, clean building.

I am thankful for Sandra Vernon, the "voice" of TCS, for always remaining calm and being kind to everyone.  

I am thankful for Jennifer Cardwell for her relentless endeavor to have the best policy manual for our district.  

I am thankful for the staff of Magnolia Elementary for coming out to graciously meet and greet their students and parents.

I am thankful for Lauren Blake and the entire Paine Staff for the smart planning and hard work that resulted in flawless ACT Aspire testing.  

HTMS and HTHS Science Teachers Participate in Professional Learning

Led by Dr. Phyllis Faust and Mrs. Stephanie Hawthorne, science teachers from HTHS and HTMS collaborated May 5 to gain an understanding of the new Alabama State Standards: Science.

Learning Targets:
I can explain the background of the new Alabama Science Standards.
I can develop lessons using the 5E instructional model.
I can analyze each science standard and its components.
I can implement new instructional strategies in the student-centered classroom.

Learning about the 5E + IA Model

Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate, Intervention, Acceleration

Discussing an Article Using the Fishbowl and Hot Seat Strategy 

Differences in Scientific and Engineering Thinking

Paine Fifth Graders Visit HTMS May 4

Band Performance by Beginning Band Students

Guided Tours by Staff Members

Anxious and Excited Fifth Graders

Tour of Lunchroom

Mrs. Berry Welcomes and Orients Students

HTHS Artwork on Display

Student artwork is currently on display at HTHS.  Stop by and view the work of these talented students.  It will be worth your time.