Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Blog

The Pine Tree professional development schedule for June-July-August  has been posted.   Browse the workshop catalog, register as a workshop participant, and if you already know the session number for which you want to enroll, you can sign up for a workshop session. 

Staff members are required to attend 12 hours (the equivalent of 2 days) of staff development during the summer break in order to receive the two comp days built into next year’s school calendar.

These hours can be obtained from the in-district workshops or elsewhere but should be in accordance with your personal professional development plan coordinated with your campus principal.  They must be completed by Aug. 10th. 

Returning customers, bookmark or click the Professional Development web page to get started.  Visit the PD Page today – click here.

If you have any difficulty, just contact-Debbie Terry:  dterry@ptisd.org,
Susan Johnston: sjohnston@ptisd.org, 903-295-5000 x 109

IMPORTANT: if you are NEW - You will need to follow the steps below carefully.  If you have not used this system, you must create a NEW USER account that applies just to PINE TREE ISD staff development registration.

1. Go to this address and bookmark it: https://misweb.esc7.net/pt – also find the link at the STAFF PAGE LINK, and the Professional Dev. page.

2. Click on “Participant Registration” in the left frame.

3. Click on the link, “New User Name”

4. Complete the User Data Sheet

5. Create the security question – this is very important!

6. Enter BOTH work and home emails. This is very important especially to receive registration email confirmations during the summer.

7. Select district and campus location.

8. Select your position at Pine Tree under the “assignment” selection.

9. Click “Continue” button. If an error comes up, identify the field that needs additional information and complete.

10. Access workshops by clicking “Browse Calendar”

11. If you forget your password or user name, do not create a new account. Use the links on the “New username” page that says -”Forgot User name”, “Forgot Password” or email Debbie Terry if you continue to have difficulty.  dterry@ptisd.org

Thanks for your patience. We are excited to offer this registration process which should prove to be a user-friendly way to get everyone signed up and confirmed in the classes offered this summer. Remember we are here to help!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011,  a Public Information Meeting to give input on specially designed questions from the Texas Education Agency on Special Education regional and state needs will be held from 9:00am-12:30pm at the Region 7 Education Service Center, 1909 North Longview Street, Kilgore, Texas.

Interested attendees please RSVP, or send questions to Liz Adams- ladams@esc7.net.

All teachers and instructional aides must complete the Test Administrator Training Module 1 by Friday, February 25, 2011. Upon completion of the Module, print your certificate, and give a copy to your campus administrator or designee. You will also need to keep a copy for your own records. Modules 2 and 3 are optional, and are encouraged for those who are first-time Test Administrators or Monitors. If you choose to complete Module 2 and 3, you should print a copy for both the office and yourself.

STEPS FOR ALL TEST ADMINISTRATORS/MONITORS:

1. Go to the http://www.TexasAssessment.com/TAonlinetraining website and complete Module 1 by Friday, February 25th.

2. Print your Certificate of completion

3. Keep a copy for your own records, and turn in a copy of your Certificate.

The following page – Click Here - provides information about upcoming GT workshops for educators offered during the summer of 2011.  (pdf)

FOR MORE INFO, contact: Debbie Reese, Gifted and Talented Specialist, Advanced Academic Services, Region 7 Education Service Center, 1909 North Longview Street, Kilgore, Texas 75662
Phone: (903) 988-6714

The Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/) is conducting the spring 2011 statewide “Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest” for K-8^th grade.

There are prizes provided by the Zach Jones Memorial Fund (http://www.zachjonesmemorial.org/). There will be one prize (a Nintendo DSi) for the top-ranking kindergarten poster; there will be a first, second, and third place prize for each age group (grades 1-2, 3-5 and 6-8). First prize for groups 3-5 & 6-8 will be an Xbox 360 with Kinect; 2^nd prize will be an IPod Touch; 3^rd prize will be a $50 Visa Gift Card. First Prize for the grades 1-2 group will be a Wii; 2^nd prize will be a Nintendo DSi; 3^rd prize will be a $50 Visa Gift Card.   

Rabies is endemic in Texas. Skunks and bats are the most commonly affected species, and school grounds are the number one location in Texas for exposure to rabid bats. Bat bites are not always noticeable and many people are unaware that exposure to bats poses a risk. Most of these rabies exposures are preventable through education. Information about the contest can be downloaded from the DSHS Zoonosis Control website. You can view the winning posters submitted for the previous contests at this same site.

Posters due April 8, 2011. Please contact us if you have any questions!

 Bonny C. Mayes, MA,  Phone:  (512) 458-7111, ext. 2888
Ernest “Skip” Oertli, DVM, PhD, Phone:  (512) 458-7111, ext. 3306
Zoonosis Control Branch
Texas Department of State Health Services
Office Location T-813

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE; http://ncesse.org) announces a truly remarkable opportunity for your school district on the final flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135) – which is the historic final flight of the U.S. Space Shuttle program.   This is an opportunity for your school district to be part of a high visibility, keystone U.S. national STEM education program of the highest caliber, and capable of garnering significant media coverage.

We are now inviting school districts across the U.S. to be part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). SSEP was designed as a keystone national STEM education initiative to engage and inspire America’s next generation of scientists and engineers through immersion in real science. We believe that “student as scientist” represents the very best in science education.  Read more.

Lone Star Leadership Academy

Education in Action offers spring break and summer Lone Star Leadership Academy programs for outstanding Texas 4th-8th graders.  Participants travel to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, or Houston/Galveston to develop leadership skills and experience what they are learning in school through visits to historically, politically, and environmentally significant Texas sites with Texas educators.  These Monday-Friday, residential programs are offered during spring break (March 14-18) and throughout the summer.  Selected students must maintain an 85 or higher average, receive an educator recommendation based on demonstrated leadership ability and be actively involved in school/community activities.  Early spring break application deadline:  January 22, 2011.  Final spring break application deadline:  February 19, 2011.  Early summer application deadline:  April 9, 2011.  Final summer application deadline:  May 7, 2011.  Late applications are accepted through two weeks prior to each program.  For more information, including an informational video and program application, visit www.educationinaction.org or call 817-562-4957.

Quite a few employees have inquired about having another information session on the bachelor degree and master degree programs through Lamar University and University of Texas Arlington.  They are going to hold another session for any employee interested on Tuesday, December 14, 4:00 to 4:30 at the central office staff development room. 
K’Dawn O’Rear, Assistant Superintendent, Pine Tree ISD

Rigby training is offered Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 7-8). It will be hosted by the Primary campus in their Volunteer Room. Please feel free to bring your lunch with you if needed.  For supplies, all you need is a pen or pencil and something to write on…the trainer is providing the rest.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the sessions!  Thanks again!   

Crista Black, Elementary Instructional Specialist

Tuesday, December 7^th AM: 8:00-11:00

­­­­­­­­­­Primary Campus                               Elementary Campus

Friday                                                    J. Ellison                               Poole

Hewitt                                                  Muniz                                   Luna

Mabus                                                  K. Williams                          Bright

K.Davis                                                 K. Klepfer                            Goyzueta

Vasquez                                               S. Mangum                         Goza

Tuesday, December 7^th PM: 12:00-3:00

Primary Campus                     Elementary Campus

Brown                                      Sloan                           Meadows

Williams                                  Watson                        Franklin          

Kraus                                       Grogan                                    Mashburn

Mosley                                                Tipton                          King

Robles                                     Graves                         Craig

Wednesday, December 8^th AM: 8:00-11:00

Primary Campus                     Elementary Campus

Bessinger                                Clay                             Beard

Best                                         McGaughey                 Edwards

Slack                                        Kulak                           McDade

Thompson                               Read                            Haygood

Wednesday, December 8^th PM: 12:00-3:00

Primary Campus                     Elementary Campus

E. Davis                                   Moomau                     Hewitt

Rains                                       A. Navarro                   Roberts

Smith                                       B. Cantey                     Orban

Pearce                                     T. Wilbanks                 Hammer