ExploreEDU at HTMS

Trussville City Schools hosted an ExploreEDU event at HTMS yesterday and today.  Representatives from Google for Education  and Howard Computers presented the conference for dozens of teachers, administrators, and technology specialists from all over the state.

As the host, TCS administrators, teachers and students  shared how Google has changed the way we work.  Using Google Drive, Classroom, Sheets, Forms, Docs, Slides, etc. has improved collaboration, professional learning, and communication.  

ExploreEDU participants visited four classrooms to see how teachers and students are using Chromebooks to increase collaboration, communication, engagement, and learning.   After the observations, a panel of teachers and students discussed technology use and answered questions.

Check out a compilation of Tweets from the event.  https://storify.com/aprilpc/exploreedu 

 

HTHS Biomedical Academy Students Prepare for Clinical Rotations

HTHS Biomedical Science Academy students are performing peer review skills check offs in preparation for both their clinical rotations and the psychomotor portion of the National Registry exam for Emergency Medical Technicians(NREMT). The students have been practicing spinal immobilization, hemorrhage control, shock management, oxygen administration, and positive pressure ventilation. These skills will be applied to the treatment of real patients when the students function as members of a healthcare team during their clinical rotations this spring. Aaron Nafziger leads this outstanding program. 

Elementary EdCamp

TCS elementary teachers assembled Monday, March 21, at Cahaba Elementary to share ideas and to learn from one another in approximately 40 separate sessions that included information about:

• Lucy Calkins Reading Workshop
• Art Lessons 
• Integrating Writing into Science Lessons
• Recap
• Coding
• Special Education Open Conversations
• Breakout EDU
• Google Classroom
• Stemscopes
• What Your Library Can Do for You
• SmartBoards
• Math Congress
• DreamBox
• Common Lit
• Nearpod
• Movie Making Using Kizoa
• Writing CERS
• Grant Writing
• Motivation
• Growing Your Personal Network
• Formative Assessment
• IEP Planning
• Sphero   

The wealth of knowledge that was shared in that short amount of time was awe inspiring.  Many thanks to all of the teachers who facilitated sessions, sharing their knowledge with colleagues.  Also, thank you to the Cahaba PTO for providing delicious refreshements for everyone.

Cahaba's Jaime Giangrosso Nationally Recognized

Cahaba Elementary physical education teacher Jaime Giangrosso was recently recognized at the Professional Excellence Awards ceremony in Boston

Coach Giangrosso applied for a grant about why and how she runs a Jump Rope for Heart event. She was required to submit an essay on the reasons why she believes in Jump Rope for Heart and what it means to both her and her students students. She was also required to submit lesson plans and details on how parents are involved. She included pictures and videos of the students' heart health awareness posters, students learning about the path the blood takes through the heart, and students learning about heart rate. She also included pictures of Cahaba's family days celebrating JRFH.

In January, Jaime was notified that she had won $1,300 in travel expenses to attend the National Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Convention in Boston, where she was presented an award from JRFH and $1,200 in grant money to buy physical education equipment. There were 75 applicants nationwide, and 10 winners were chosen. Jaime and other selected recipients were asked to write a proposal to present at next year's SHAPE conference in Nashville.

A Send Off for Our Soldier

Friday afternoon, TCS gave a send off party for Tony White, whose Air National Guard unit is being deployed this spring.  Tony is a vital member of the TCS technology team.  We appreciate Tony and his service to our country.  We look forward to his safe return in November!

PAEMST Finalist Jana Walls Honored

Jana Walls, Trussville City Schools Math Coach and finalist for the 2016 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, was honored March 9 at a luncheon at the RSA Plaza Terrace in Montgomery.  The luncheon, sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education, honored the five elementary finalists and the three elementary science finalists.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.  Established by Congress in 1983, the PAEMST program authorizes the President of the United States to bestow up to 108 awards each year.

Awards are given to mathematics and science teachers from each state, the District of Columbia, the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and the U.S. territories as a group.

Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.  Awards alternate each year between elementary and secondary teachers.

Presidential Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

State Superintendent Visits TCS

State Superintendent Michael Sentance, Assistant State Superintendent Jeff Langham, Representative Danny Garrett and Representative Pebblin Williams visited Trussville City Schools Friday morning. Mayor Buddy Choat, Councilman Jef Freeman, and Councilman Perry Cook joined Dr. Neill, principals, and central office staff in welcoming the group to Trussville. Their visit included classrooms at Cahaba Elementary and Hewitt-Trussville High School.

Elementary Reading Update

Date	3/7/17	3/15/17
AR Points	98,325	103,390
Millionaires	138	147

(Millionaires are students who have read a million or more words since the start of school.)

TCS Teachers Present at ASTA

Ryan Hook, fifth grade science teacher at Magnolia, and Blaire Perry, fifth grade science teacher at Paine, presented at the Alabama Science Teachers Association Annual Professional Development Conference at the McWane Center this week.  The teachers' session was entitled, "Bringing Science to the Forefront in the Elementary Grades."  During the session, participants discussed the value of science instruction in the elementary grades and shared the strategies they have tested to raise awareness about science in the elementary grades.

Angie Simonetti, Kurt Kristensen, Katie Riggins, and Cynthia Thomas, science teachers at HTHS, all had great presentations at the ASTA (Alabama Science Teachers Association) Conference.  Their sessions were packed out, with standing room only both times. Cynthia had a great turnout for an end of the day session and lunch time session (she also had two individual sessions).

TCS Staff Members (L to R) Cynthia Thomas, Stephanie Hawthorne, Kimberly Hendrick, Blaire Perry, Ryan Hook, Phyllis Faust, Autumm Jeter

HTHS science teachers (from left to right) Katie Riggins, Kurt Kristensen, Angie Simonetti, and Cynthia Thomas

Elementary Reading Update

Date	2/13/17	3/7/17
AR Points	82,399	98,325
Millionaires	92	138

(Millionaires are students who have read a million or more words since the start of school.)

ELA EdCamp at HTMS

HTMS English teachers designed and presented a literacy focused EdCamp for the staff of HTMS Monday afternoon.  Topics included online learning, writing a solid essay in science and social studies, analyzing text, close reading strategies, using paired texts, plus much more.  An outstanding resource, commonlit.org, was shared by Kathy Troncale.  This is a site that provides free literacy resources and progress tracking tools.  It includes hundreds of fiction and nonfiction reading passages for grades 5-12.  

HTMS Bands Performing this Week

Parents were invited for an early preview today of the HTMS Symphonic Band and Honors Band. The HTMS Bands will be performing in the Alabama Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment this week. TCS will host this event for metro area middle schools in the HTHS Performing Arts Center.  The bands will be scored on tone, intonation, technique, rhythm, balance, musicianship, and general factors (stage deportment/appearance, posture, choice of appropriate literature, discipline).