Halloween Parade

October PTA Mtg.

Our newly elected treasurer is hard at work collecting PTA fees from parents. Have you given your $5 yet? Don't forget, next meeting is on November 20.

The PTA awarded our hard working Teachers of the Year, Teacher Aide of theYear and Support Staff of the Year with a donation. Thank you for recognizing the sacrifice teachers and staff make and for giving back to them.

Ms. Nikki and Ms. Brianna's classes share the MegaSkill of Caring with examples of how their students show they care. Great job kids!

They also sang a beautiful song "I can be your friend"

President Macaranas held a meeting in just one hour! That meant more time to share at home with our families, yay!

Celebrating what makes us unique and what brings us together!

We celebrated Cultural Day today by showcasing the many cultures that make up our school community. You can read the article in the Marianas Variety! Thank you to the committee, especially the Chamorro Carolinian Heritage Language Program and the teachers who spent many hours getting their kids ready. Thank you to the Philippine Consulate and Historic Preservation Office, Mrs. Diaz who helped decorate and laminate, Mr. Loken's class who picked up trash, the CPI II Dance Group for their beautiful performance, Mr. Walter Mendez and Maverik Itibus for emceeing, Mr. Johnson for coordinating the program, Senators Reyes and Crisostimo, Congressmen Yumul, Palacios, and Tebuteb for the tables and tents and our parents for sharing the day with us!

Scary Stuff at School

Ms. Terre!
Why is your door so scary?

In School Staff Development: Student IEPs

Teachers worked together in multi-level teams to share ideas about how accommodations for students with disabilities could be worked into the regular curriculum. They began with a specific standard and benchmark taken from their curriculum map for the 2nd quarter. Then they created a lesson together and looked at a sample IEP. They then tailored the lesson to the specific needs of their student with disability, using the list of accommodations.

As required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004), the CNMI ensures that all students have the opportunity to participate and progress in the general curriculum, including students with significant disabilities. - Assessment Participation & Accommodations Manual, revised August 2008

Mallard Bulletin October 27 - November 1, 2008

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Fabulous photos from this week

Mr. Buniag's 2nd grade class enjoys healthy birthday celebrations: yogurt, granola, oatmeal raisin cookies and 100% juice! Yum

Silent Sustained Reading in Mr. Johnson's 3rd Grade Class

Mrs. Demapan supervises technology use in her 2nd grade class.

Ms. Martin reads a story to her 1st graders under the shade of a tree. Cute.

Ms. Martin's 1st graders sing Happy Birthday (cha, cha, cha) to our awesome Vice Principal, Mr. Dale Roberts! Cha, cha, cha!!

Say Cheese!

It's picture week at GES and all the kids look mighty cute. Willy's Photo Lab did an awesome job of following our school schedule, providing individual combs and using the limited space we had to shoot pictures. If you did not get a chance to order photos, don't worry. Willy took pictures of all our students. You can always drop by his studio in Susupe to order class, individual or friendship shots that he took this week. Thank you Willy and staff!

Mallard Bulletin #4 October 20 to 24, 2008

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Curriculum Mapping Professional Development #2

It was another day of curriculum mapping for the Mallards, this time on a holiday. Kudos to everyone who spent 6.5 hours reviewing and revising their original subject area maps by quarters. The task of grouping standards and benchmarks was made a tad more complex when each grade level/program was given instructions to layout a view of the quarter containing key subject areas and their corresponding S&Bs. Everyone dug their heels in and created a "big picture" map so that they could look for alignment of benchmarks/indicators. What we found? It was easier to create connections between subjects when you could see the quarter at a glance!

The second grade curriculum map complete with saluting Mallard.

The fourth grade team looks at their curriculum map and Standards Based Assessment results. Yes folks, GES is wireless!

Mr. Ogumoro from the 6th grade explains their Excel drop down menu and color coded benchmark alignment strategy for 2nd quarter.

Mrs. Springer from the 2nd grade explains that along with a little frustration, when they completed their quarter map it was easier to see which subject areas could be integrated.

Mr. Garon from the 4th grade walks the line while he enthusiastically shares the good news about his student's Standards Based Assessment results.

Thank you to the Kinder to 6th grade teachers, SpEd and CCHLS programs for spending their precious time to collaborate on student learning goals.

There is more work to be done in school level Teacher Learning Communities. This Wednesday we'll take a detailed tour of our SAT10, Standards Based, Reading First and BRI data before breaking out into TLCs. Like everything else this is a learning and growing process. One teacher says it's hard work, I say it's heart work. Keep flying high Mallards!!

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Congratulations to our "Of the Year" staff:

Congratulations to Mrs. Rose Hosono, 4-6th grade Carolinian Bilingual Teacher and our 2008 Teacher Aide of the Year!!

And, to Mrs. Matilde Diaz, our school librarian for being selected 2008 Support Staff of the Year!!

Mallard Bulletin October 13 - 18 , 2008

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Mallard Bulletin #4 October 6 to 11, 2008

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Learning Community at GES: Curriculum Mapping PD

Teachers worked on a Saturday, giving up some valuable free time to map out their strategy for teaching the CNMI Standards and Benchmarks. The maps they create will chart the course for the year ensuring that they meet each standard and benchmark for their particular grade levels. Standards and Benchmarks were created by district teachers. They indicate the key concepts in each subject area that are important for students to know and be able to do. Saturday's task included organizing the S&Bs into quarters. After the teachers complete the initial quarter maps, they will move to detailed planning which includes the essential elements to teaching each benchmark. Thank you to everyone who sacrificed their personal time to collaborate and plan lessons that will serve our students.

GES 2008 Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Lorraine Arriola, 2nd Grade

Congratulations to Mrs. Lorraine Arriola, Mr. Lawrence Buniag and Mrs. Nikki Gabaldon for making it to the top three staff/teacher choice for TOY!! You have demonstrated that it takes more than just being an HQT (Highly Qualified Teacher) to win the hearts and votes of your colleagues; it takes real heart and passion for teaching that exudes from your smile and your spirit.

Thank you for giving your all to our system, our school and most especially, our wonderful students who love and adore you!

Lawrence Buniag, 2nd Grade
Mrs. Nikki Gabaldon, 1st Grade

TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Mrs. Lorraine Arriola, 2nd Grade

A Slow Day by Ms. Boni

It was a slow day today. The article in the Tribune quoted me as saying that it's pretty easy to run things operationally. That's only half true. While it's true that GES has an awesome support staff, most of my days are filled with too much paperwork. I've been feeling a little operationally invisible lately. I think it is every principal's dream to be freed of the mountains of paperwork, memos and facsimiles and to be able to spend more time with students and teachers in the business of learning. Miraculously there was only one meeting today and I wasn't there for most of it. I missed the Wednesday morning meeting with counselor and Vice Principal because I was on the phone with central office trying to find a 5th grade teacher. Here's my day today, I think I remembered most of it. As I said, it was a pretty slow day today.
1.Helped the counselor reassure a parent and comfort a student with school phobia.
2. Had a parental conference for possession of betelnut.
3. Spoke with a concerned parent about homework.
4. Called Finance & Personnel to request funding for a substitute teacher.
5. Called Human Resources to scout out any new applicants for a 5th grade teaching slot.
6. Called Special Education to discuss student privacy rights in regards to FERPA and IDEA.
7. Participated in an email thread regarding FLSA and it's role in coaching, paid differentials for teacher aides and the Saturday Speech and OT program.
8. Called 8 applicants on the eligibility list.
9. Spoke with NMC representative regarding the Americorps Program and opportunities at GES.
10. Worked on completing the Annual Report.
11. Supervised part of lunch recess while it rained.
12. Discussed the Badminton Federation free clinic with coordinators through text messaging.
13. Begged for more time with the PD Specialist on submission of Teacher of the Year packet.
14. Spoke with Rediker coordinator about the integration of EZ-Grade Pro.
15. Helped Teacher of the Year complete her application for district award.
16. Opened the staff development meeting and discussed upcoming curriculum mapping PD.
17. Discussed parent's concern about homework with teacher.
18. Followed up on certification application and status of teachers with central office.
19. Review submissions of Reading First and BRI data for accuracy.
20. Read two teacher's lesson plans for the week.
21. Called (three times) procurement to follow up on security RFB.