Principal’s Blog

102 Review, November 13th, 2017: Lots of Stuff

Posted on May 28, 2018May 18, 2019 by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

The nine-deep 2nd grade team captured judge grandma’s heart with their routine, and they were able to edge out a few other contenders to win the prestigious Halloween Team Costume contest. Laminator (Yes, Ms. Cohen, it’s the industrial one) or printing station? Gift cards to Starbucks or Dunkin? Let me know and congrats!

Weinstein: Learning how to apply operations using rational numbers, Ms. McCabe’s students were working on a problem that included the application of operations as well as the need to recognize what to do with remainders in a division problem. Ms. McCabe effectively created a question and discussion session where students enthusiastically built on one another’s ideas until the class came to an end product together.

Sheerin: This week, Class 4-336 worked through a lesson on multiplying 2-digit numbers using area models and partial products. Ms. Tasca showed students how to break down a 2-digit number into 2 smaller numbers before multiplying. This strategy visibly eased student anxiety by giving them the freedom to choose numbers that are easier to multiply, thereby making the task accessible to all.

Borelli: Ms. Devito brought a bit of Cross-Fit to 1st grade this week. How many 6 year olds can do a burpee? The students were tasked with “Mission Possible!” which is a team exercise to accomplish 5 activities together.Thank you Ms. Devito for keeping the kids revved up and ready to learn.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Please work with your inquiry team tomorrow afternoon. Specify where you will be meeting for the next few sessions in your inquiry template. Admins will be visiting to discuss needs, purchases, and to answer any questions you may have,

Parent Teacher Conference this Thursday. Memos to families have already gone out, and you should prepare for a busy day. Session 1 12:30PM to 2:30PM, session II 4:30PM to 7:30PM.

Google Translatecan translate for you verbally via your smartphone, in real time. You should download the languages in advance so you can use it even if the network is down. Google Translate also translate documents that you take a photo of. Thank you Thiri for your write-up!

A Word of Caution on Using Behavior Tracking/ “Gold Star” Training Programs Such As Class Dojo. It’s unquestionable that these programs work like magic with certain kids. However, you should also be very mindful how these systems affect students who simply aren’t built for linear and controlled learning environments. Students with ordered intelligence will win every gold star in school; whereas their chaos intelligence peers will not be fully appreciated until they can let loose their problem-solving/creative skills later on as adults. Both types of minds are necessary; let’s try not to extinguish the fire of one before it’s even lit.

ENL Compliance Visit on 11/16. Visitors will be dropping by to assess our compliance to ENL regulations. Let me know now should you have any questions or concerns.

Trash. I will work something out with our custodial team to set up a schedule for replacing trash bags. Should you find your bin having dirty bags, let your AP know immediately so it can be replaced right then and there.

Nurse. The last two weeks have not been good for us health-wise. You are not to allow a student back into class after vomiting. Again, call an AP or the main office should they be brought back to class.

Bathrooms. If the staff restrooms are lacking in cleanliness, do not wait for a meeting to request assistance. Call for custodial services immediately.

New shirts. There’s a reason why there’s a picture of a headless model up top. I saw someone wearing that shirt while on my first 102 DC trip, and I thought it was a terrific design that I’d appropriate eventually. The 2017 102 shirt: now with less circles, more rectangles, same amount of black, and is a touch more declarative to meet today’s needs.

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102 Review, Authentic Inquiry

Posted on May 28, 2018May 28, 2018 by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT

Borelli: Mrs. Chin began working on Tech Flex period that showcases the best features of a Blended Learning environment so that her 1st grade students can each work on reading and math at just the right level. Using math chapter tests to hone in on specific students for Mathletics instruction, F & P levels for Lexia instruction, and pulling small groups to touch-up learning, Mrs. Chin is personalizing learning for all of her students and not leaving anything to chance.

Sheerin: This week, Mr. Horodyski opened a lesson on virtual reality (VR) technology with a short video on how VR is being used to treat people with chronic pain. Although students initially wanted to get right into designing their own 3D environments, they were enraptured with this video and how VR extends beyond gaming. Mr. H gave purpose to students’ learning through real-world application.

Grandma: 這些老師真棒！你確定他們是天天的學校嗎？怎麼可能？(These teachers are amazing! Are you sure they are from Tin Tin’s (aka Wil Ko) school? How is that possible?!)

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Monday PL: Tomorrow we’ll kick off Inquiry, our platform for school-wide learning and improving. The next few Mondays–see calendar below–isn’t about paperwork, compliance, or fulfilling someone else’s needs. It’s purely for you to learn so you can do what you want to do better, quicker, and easier. Talk, plan, try, make mistakes, and do whatever else you need to learn and get better.

Each grade band will meet with their APs for a Kick-Off meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss and finalize inquiry groups. We will present some of the teams we feel are necesssary (Intervention, ICT, Writing, TC Workshops, etc.), and we also want to hear your input as any inquiry work should have explicit connection to a current problem or challenge and can help you NOW.

Monday, 11/6 at 2:45PM

PK-2: 305

3-5 : 307

6-8: 309

Marking period 2 Grades are due this week. On Election Day, Ms. Weinstein will be hosting an optional workshop for any teachers who wish to get a refresher on how to use STARS classroom. She will also give you immediate support should you have questions.

Election Day: Starts 8:10; Ends 3PM

Welcome, Ms. Claudia Rendon! Our new Parent Coordinator starts this week–say hi when you get a chance.

School of Rock: Ms. Sheerin should have already provided you with directions, logistics, etc. If you need clarification, ask now.

Halloween Contest: After a weekend of reviewing these Photos, grandma has made her decision. To be revealed tomorrow morning!

102 Review, October 29th, 2017: The Unyielding Non-Negotiable

Posted on May 28, 2018May 18, 2019 by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

Since my first 102 Faculty meeting, I have not deviated in my words or actions in communicating what I consider as 102’s chief objective: to be a factory that mass produces kind, compassionate human beings that by 8th grade have already internalized the power and joy of caring for others, and can’t be anything but. The recognizance that they may be outliers among peers should we succeed is unfortunate, but even today in world where self-indulgence is the name of the game, we already need to have a bit of a rebellious streak just to be kind.

And I always thought it was Think for Yourself so you can care for others.

An incident Friday left me seething over the weekend. A female student alleged that a male peer inappropriately touched her as they were walking as a class, and she said it wasn’t the first time. But that’s not the most infuriating: it’s thinking about the inadequate reactions from bystanders that keep me up at night. In this case, the alleged victim said a group of by-standing boys joked and laughed as the event unfolded, and no one interceded.

Whether intentional or not, this is emotional/mental abuse at its purest form: force a victim into a position they never wanted, shame them for it to chip away their self-worth, and repeat the cycle so much that the victim no longer see themselves as worthy of better circumstances.

The rapidity in which the hopelessness and the poor self-image/self-worth bind to the individual is terrifying. It is paramount that should we witness the deliberate demeaning of any individual we must respond fast and respond decisively. Our students look to us as moral authorities and both our actions and in-action have lasting consequences. Love and kindness is not something you can teach via an online course or by using a textbook; love spreads only through experiences, not flash cards and Khan Academy and multiple choice tests.

Our students depend on us to provide them these experiences because the world they inhabit afterschool–the online one–is hardly a bastion of compassion and moral righteousness.

We can’t control what happens in the greater world, on and offline. In 102, however, we will do whatever it takes to nurture kindness by eliminating anything opposite. And that’s an unchanging and unyielding expectation.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sheerin: This week, as class 3-227 deliberated the day’s TG, Ms. Wright reminded students to use language appropriate for class discussions. They used statements such as “This statement is true/false because…;” “I agree/disagree with…because…;” and “I see it differently. The way I approached it was…” While the TG elicited students’ content knowledge, Ms. Wright’s expectations for discussion pushed them to explain their ideas clearly and succinctly, as well as ensuring they listened to one another and built on each other’s ideas.

Weinstein: The 8th Grade team of Ms. Arlequin. Ms. Eliades, Ms. Gaffan, Ms. Green and Ms. Zecca pulled off another fantastic spirit week. Students and teachers came together to celebrate all week with events that culminated in our Friday afternoon Pep Rally. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the 8th grade students and thank you to all of the staff who also participated. It’s what 102 is all about!

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Drills: Mr. Borelli sent out a reminder of drills and the description and purpose of each. Post this adjacent or directly on your classroom door by Friday COB. Students are reporting that teachers are confused what to do in each instance, please help us ensure this never happens again.

Absences: Thank you for requesting personal days in advance, and I’ve respected these requests accordingly as promised. In case of a need for an emergency sick day, I do request that you show our team the same respect in shooting me cc’ing your AP a one-sentence email letting us know. Many have been doing so and we deeply appreciate it.

2:50PM: We are anticipating great things tomorrow, and we want to make sure we get some photo ops at the end of the end as a group. I am asking all staff to release at 2:50PM tomorrow, and the 20 minutes you stay tomorrow can be taken off Wednesday, meaning we dismiss staff at 3:05PM November 1st. Please let me know should you need clarification or accommodations.

Observations: TGs manifest itself in planning 1E, questioning 3B, intellectual engagement 3C, and assessment 3D, and is now an embedded element in all observation feedback. We will start TG workshops in November, and our expectations is that the TG are thoughtfully designed to push students to think about specific, focused thinking points to connect pieces of prior knowledge, leading to the desired learning. Post-ob feedback meetings have led to real and and productive growth opportunity, and you should always check-in with APs and myself should you see something we may have missed in the report

Costumes Contest: Can’t wait. Be amazing.

102 Review, October 23rd, 2017: Making It Count

Posted on May 28, 2018May 18, 2019 by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

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Thank you to everyone who got personalized learning off the ground–it’s an insane mission, and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of a team insane enough to do it.

As crazy as it seems to do this, it’s even more crazy not to do it. Intervention is about stepping up to deter the inevitable harm to a child if we had looked the other way. And to even look the other way once is once too many.

It’s a miracle just for anyone to exist (the probability is similar to 2.5 million people getting together, each to play a game of dice with trillion-sided dice and getting the same number), and the chances of us existing in someone else’s life and to be in a position to help them is even more improbable. But here we are.

We should probably make it count.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

From Mr. Borelli: Ms. Cohen challenged her students to skip count by saying, “I want to start at 9 and count by tens. I don’t think I can do that.” A chorus of students rang out, “You can!” One after another, the students counted, “9, 19, 29, 39…” Mrs. Giampapathrew a curveball at 109 naming it “10-9” and writing it out as “1009.” The students were quick to name the error, correct it, name the pattern, and continue.

From Ms. Weinstein: Ms. Ranzie’s 6th grade science class was learning about potential and kinetic energy. Ms. Ranzie gave the students very basic rules about how to bounce the three balls – tennis, ping pong and golf – and then allowed them to discover the results on their own. This type of independent learning helped drive student conversations in her Science room.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Support Staff Schedule Review: All non-classroom based support staff should submit their schedule to my mailbox to later than Friday. As we ramp up personalized learning, schedules need to be student-centered, sensible, and followed. Lunch and preps may only be taken during the scheduled time.

The admin team will then schedule meetings with individuals to learn more about how to support you in making sure all of your caseloads are serviced.

Khan Academy Pizza Incentive is Live: Ms. Weinstein and Ms. Sheerin have received pizza coupons that are ready to be distributed to students. These coupons can be redeemed at Pronto Pizza for a free slice of pizza. STEM/ Math teachers may set their own criteria for award, and the the most any student can win is 4 for the year (1 per marking period). Please email your AP the recipients and they will bring the coupons to you.

PL Monday: APs will speak reach out to individuals for specialized workshops/ meetings. All other staff will engage in self-directed learning as TG workshops are now a core inquiry project next month. More information to follow.

Writing Task Force will begin meeting in two weeks. Interested teachers should email Ms. Mills before this Friday.

Halloween: Extended day has been moved to November 1st. Should this be in conflict with your personal schedule, email me to discuss.

Halloween Costume Contest: We’re making it bigger this year. Prizes include a $100 gift-card as well as being the first to receive a grade-team shared printing workstation. A memo will go out once we get confirmation from our judges.

102 Review, October 15th: Mid-October Check In

Posted on May 28, 2018 by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

Getting something off the ground is always the hardest and scariest part of any innovation, and rightly so. We’re making something from nothing, and there are always problems we didn’t anticipate. And we’re seeing that with our Personalized Learning as Intervention initiative.

Testing, identifying need, recruiting, planning, advertising, every step took a ton of effort. Thanks to curriculum designers who willed an intervention curriculum to existence by recruiting help, staying late, and even rescuing animals, students now get to enjoy some top-notch targeted remedial instruction they would’ve otherwise missed. Next week 102+ begins for grades 3-8, and I can’t wait to see all the results from the follow-up support we are now giving students who are struggling. Thank you.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

Ms. Brucia has been absolutely stellar this first month and, thanks to her efforts, her students haven’t missed a beat from not having Ms. O’Connor. Not only has she set up powerful structures and norms, she is attending both Humanities and STEM meetings as the ICT teacher, in addition to the rigorous learning we have planned for all ICT teachers to better diagnose learning hurdles. Thank you for being the kind of leader that leads through action.

Weinstein: During Math with Ms. Eliades, 8-409 was adding and subtracting exponents. Ms. Eliades led them from one part of the problem to the next by asking the students to use their prior knowledge. I sat with a group who walked, step by step, through their process before answering the question. Our TGs are designed to include the thinking process as much as the outcome of the student learning and Ms. Eliades effortlessly did this with her class during the lesson.

Sheerin: Class 5-334 engaged in a lesson on dividing 3- and 4-digit dividends by 1-digit divisors, Ms. Luden used a mnemonic phrase to help students recall order of operations when dividing – Dirty Monkeys Smell Bad, Really bad (divide, multiply, subtract, bring down, repeat). By Using this tool to both solve problems as well as to check their work, students were able to productively engage with the task independently while Ms. Luden worked with a small group needing additional support.

Borelli: A new student could not identify a single one, but on Friday he breezed through words such as “like, the, go, its, is” among many others. With each word that he read, you could see his face light up with confidence. Ms. Monteleone, Mrs. Wyckoff, and this student did not do anything complex-it was time, patience, effort, tenacity, and having a clear plan and goal for this student.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Personalized learning is underway and we are working on releasing a report that will inform teachers which students are receiving what interventions by which teacher. Please collaborate with one another as necessary. Stay tuned.

102+ (ENL) Once we conclude 102+ for reading in a few weeks, 102+ ENL will begin to seamlessly deliver support services to ENL students. This will continue for the full year, and teachers who are interested should apply to by emailing Ms. Mills. (smills@ps102q.org)

Announcements: You can request having a morning announcement made on your behalf by submitting this form to Ms. Weinstein’s mailbox.

Field Trips are great. However, field trips can also cause a host of issues should there by any miscommunication between students, families, staff, and administration, so a memo will be in your mailboxes regarding the proper procedures to plan and request field trips. Dates must be on the school’s public calendar and you can do so by speaking with Ms. Belfiore.

Monday PL: We are pushing back our TG workshops to sort out some curricular and operational items; therefore, PL will be structured as follows:
102+ Teams will continue planning and preparing lessons and resources.
K-2 – Room 209
3-4 – Room 329
5-8 – Room 403

All other teams will work on curriculum planning.
K – Room 109
1-2 – Room 213 (Focus: Intervention Planning)
3-5 HUM – Room 327 (Focus: TC Units)
3-5 STEM – Room 323 (Focus: Intervention Planning)
6-8 MATH – Room 405
6-8 ELA/SS – Room 409
6-8 SCIENCE – Room 424
*Staff not listed above will engage in self-directed preparations and planning.

3-8 102+: Here is a brief overview of 102+ Cycle 1 for Grades 3-8:
Wednesday, October 18th Thursday, October 19th
Wednesday, October 25th Thursday, October 26th
Wednesday, November 1st Thursday, November 2nd