P ATRIOT P RESS Patriot Oaks Academy Newsletter February 28, 2017

The

VISIBLE LEARNING EDITION

Yearbook Ordering Information

Early K Registration

Important Information for Renters

Spring Break

5th and 8th Grade Important Documentation Needed by March 3rd Deadline

Students with SWAG

Gamble Rogers Music Festival Youth performance Competition

District History Fair Winners

Book Fair

Needs Assessment Survey

Pennies for Pasta

Marine Science Program

Spring Musical

Codecademy

Blue Lot Reminders

Café News

Clinic News

Counselor Corner

8th Grade Ramp Up Night at CHS

Vilano 5K

Running of the Knights

Visible Learning at POA

For the past three years, our school has been on a Visible Learning journey. On this

journey, we incorporate student voice and best practices in teaching to promote academic

achievement. We have had multiple school-wide training sessions that have caused us to

think deeply about the connections between teaching and learning. Last year, we studied

methods we use to teach our students and question ourselves as to which method is the

BEST way. Through Impact Studies, our teachers have worked with their teams to dig

beneath surface learning to develop deeper understandings of content with our students.

Students provide feedback through a variety of methods and reflection of this feedback has

been a driving theme for our practice this year. Professional development continues to

provide the tools to facilitate each student’s leadership and accountability.

Visible Learning Plus is the result of an analysis of research compiled by Professor John

Hattie on what works best in education. Professor Hattie is the Director of the Melbourne

Education Research Institute (University of Melbourne, Australia) and is best known for his

book entitled, Visible Learning, which outlines this research. According to Education Week,

"Hattie's work is based on his meta-analysis of more than 1,000 research reviews comprising

more than 50,000 individual studies--the largest meta-analysis ever conducted in the field of

education. Hattie identified the major factors and practices that influenced student

achievement, from family background to teacher training to specific instructional practices. He

then went a step further and calculated how much of an effect each factor had on students."

Professor Hattie also emphasizes “Student Voice” and “Collective Teacher Efficacy” in the

teaching and learning process.

Our first year’s focus centered on developing a common language of learning. Our second

year centered on feedback practices. This year, we focused on reflection practices. These

promote achievement by incorporating goal setting, fostering a growth mind set and by

deliberately associating student behaviors with improved performance. Professor Hattie

states that, “Visible Learning is when teachers see learning through the eyes of the students

and students see themselves as their own teachers.” When students are able to seek out

feedback from their peers and their teachers and are able to reflect on their progress and grow

from their learning experiences then they truly begin to take charge and become experts of

their own learning.

We are excited about the personal and academic growth we have seen in our students this

year. We are impressed not only by their academic achievements and growth mindsets, but in

their ardent abilities to speak about, reflect on, modify and lead their own learning

experiences.

A brief summary of each grade level’s progress is showcased in this newsletter. Please take

a look at how we have continued our Visible Learning journey. Hear the words of our students

and how they describe their learning and see for yourself the powerful direction we are

heading!

Thank you!

Your Lead Learner,

Mrs. Harrison Building a Tradition of Excellence, Together! GO CHARGERS!

Principal’s Post

VISIBLE LEARNING IN KINDERGARTEN

VISIBLE LEARNING IN FIRST GRADE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN SECOND GRADE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN THIRD GRADE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN FOURTH GRADE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN FIFTH GRADE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH

VISIBLE LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES

VISIBLE LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE

VISIBLE LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA

YEARBOOK ORDERING INFORMATION

Yearbooks are available to purchase for $30 from now until February 1st. Between Feb 2nd – April 1st

yearbooks will be available for $35. Online yearbook ordering will close on April 2nd! You may not

order a yearbook up until the last day of school. Instead, there will be a waiting list to purchase year-

books after April 2nd. Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code: 14848

DISTRICT WIDE EARLY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION DATES!

Fri. Mar. 24 from 9am to 1 pm

Tues. Apr. 4 from 1 pm to 5 pm

Mon. May 15 from 9 am to 1 pm

Registration packets and information about required documents can be found on our website,

or on the St. Johns County School District website. Please note that incomplete packets

will NOT be accepted. You must provide ALL required documents, including a Florida

DH680 Shot Record showing that all required immunizations are complete, and a School

Entry Physical dated 8/11/2016 or later. Lease or rental agreements must not be expiring

before 8/10/17.

ATTENTION RENTERS!

If you have a lease that will expire at the end of this school year or during the

Summer, you will need to provide us with your new lease information before the

first day of school in August. You can read about residency requirements at

the SJCSD website: http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/student/residency/

SPRING BREAK DATES

Students release at normal dismissal time on Friday March 10 and return to class on

Tuesday, March 14. Have a safe and fun-filled time with your families!

5TH AND 8TH GRADE PARENTS REMINDER PROOF OF RESIDENCY DOCUMENTATION DUE BY MARCH 3

All current fifth and eighth grade parents should have received a Registration

and Emergency Form along with a list of required documents that must be

submitted by March 3rd

, 2017. Please be sure to turn in this important

documentation to your child’s homeroom teacher by the March 3rd

deadline. If

you have any questions, feel free to call the school at 547-4050

STUDENTS WITH SWAG

In sixth grade: In seventh grade: In eighth grade: Bobby Goodrich Alyssa Buckingham Kara Blausey Cami Jackson David Chand Cheyann Courtney Madison Mills Hailey Gauger Emma Fadar Anshu Pokuru Colin Guerra Jake Glebus Kendall Reckamp Bethany Orochena Chris Hiler

Students with SWAG at Patriot Oaks Academy develop their abilities through dedication and hard work, and acknowledge that brains and talent are just a starting point. This view creates a love of learning and resilience that is essential for great accomplishments. Students realize that no one has ever accomplished great things without years of passionate practice and learning. Students are empowered to lead by finding their voice!! Our first middle school SWAG students have been selected by their teachers as students who know that hard work is going to take them to great heights!

GAMBLE ROGERS MUSIC FESTIVAL YOUTH PERFORMANCE COMPETITION

The Gamble Rogers Music Festival is celebrating 22 years of

providing music at area venues. A Youth Performance segment

will be part of the May festival. Youth in middle school and high

school are invited to audition for performance positions. The audi-

tions are through video directly to the Gamble Rogers Music Festi-

val volunteers and will be judged by performing professional musi-

cians.

Auditions will be accepted from January 30 to March 15. For more

details go to: www.gamblerogersfest.org

Several students from Patriot Oaks Academy competed at the District level of History Fair. The following students will be moving on to the State level of com-petition. Congratulations and best wishes to 7

th grade students: Mia Moore

(documentary), Brandon Dahlman (documentary), and Gracie Bell (Exhibit).

DISTRICT HISTORY FAIR WINNERS

BOOK FAIR

PATRIOT OAKS NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY

If you have not yet, please take the below Needs Assessment Survey at your convenience:

We want to hear from you!

Our online needs assessment survey is now open, until March 3rd. Please take a moment

to complete this 5-10 minute survey about our school.

The survey may be accessed via this link:

https://surveys.stjohns.k12.fl.us/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=n4LH4n44

Survey results are anonymous

Each family only needs to complete one survey

Once complete, please send a print out of the last page (or a screen shot can be emailed to your

child’s teacher) showing that the survey has been completed. Those students whose parents com-

plete the survey and send in the printout (paper or electronic) will receive a “Free Cookie Ticket” to

redeem in the school cafeteria for one of Ms. Ade’s delicious cookies! Send in a copy of the

printout with each child and every student in your family gets a cookie ticket.

Thank you so much for your participation!

PENNIES FOR PASTA

POA will start our Pennies for Pasta campaign to support the Leukemia/

Lymphoma Society on February 13th and run through February 28

th. We raised

over $6200 last year and our school was in the top 10 in the State of Florida for

donations! Our goal this year is $7000. Please consider supporting this

wonderful cause.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood

cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality

of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides

free information and support services.

SUMMER MARINE SCIENCE PROGRAM

Parents,

Applications for the summer Marine Science Program will be passed out by science teachers at all schools during

the week of February 13th. Applications will be due back to science teachers by February 28th. Applications can

also be downloaded at any time from the website prior to April 15th at http://www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us/ and

click on the Marine Science link. The link also will have a complete day by day curriculum for each grade level,

parent information, and a video from last year’s program.

This summer program is available to all students currently in grades five through seven and has been sponsored by

the school district since 1982. Three eight day sessions are held at Gamble Rogers Middle School with bus

transportation provided. The dates for the three sessions this summer will be May 30th through June 8th, June 12th

through June 22nd, and June 26th through July 7th. Small classes of 12-14 students are separated by grade level.

All instructors in the program are St. Johns County School District teachers.

The Marine Science Program is a carefully designed experience for responsible students who are interested in

learning about our local marine environments. Learning is “hands on” in the field with students kayaking, canoe-

ing, boating, hiking, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, SUP, (stand up paddleboarding), etc. Specific grade

level activities and curriculum are attached to the applications and are also available from the website.

More information about the program can be had by emailing

Kristina Bransford or John Gordon at

marinescienceprogram@stjohns.k12.fl.us .

SPRING MUSICAL—”AT THE BANDSTAND”

“At The Bandstand”-Middle School Chorus musical

Thursday, March 2, 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.

$5 for adults, $2 for students

CODECADEMY

Will meet on Tuesdays (2/28, 3/7, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4) from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in villa 820

Will meet on Thursdays (3/2, 3/9, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6)

from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in villa 820

Please remember that if you student is not going to extended day, they must be picked up by an approved adult. No student will be permitted to leave campus

without an approved adult.

BLUE LOT REMINDERS

If you use the Blue Parent Pick Up lot please remember:

Only left hand turns into the parking lot between 8:00 and 8:30 am.

This is to prevent any traffic back up onto Longleaf Pine Parkway and to assist

our buses in their timeliness.

If one of our buses is pulling into the lot, please give it the right of way.

Do not dart out in front of a bus as it’s making the turn into the parking lot.

Allow enough space so that both your vehicle, the bus and all passengers can

enter and exit the lot safely.

Be mindful of your speed as your circle the drop off loop.

Wait until you reach the covered awning area to allow your child to exit the

vehicle. Exiting in the curve between the bike racks and awning could

create an unsafe situation.

Did You Know???

That after Spring Break we will NOT allow your child to buy anything other than lunch to owe

money!

Also at this time we will begin to implement the county policy for Middle School students!

Middle School students who owe more than $8.20 will be offered an alternative lunch!!!

Please be aware that if your child owes money in the cafeteria we will NOT allow

them to buy a-la cart items!!!

Remember ALL students are allowed to purchase items in the Charger Café unless otherwise

directed by parents/guardians. Please contact Katie Ade to place limits/restrictions on your

child’s accounts.

ALL students are allow ed to ow e up to $5 in the Charger Café. NO a-la cart items

will be able to be charged, only lunches.

We accept cash or check here at the school. If you have several children you can write one

check and we can split into separate accounts. I suggest everyone sign up for a PayPams ac-

count to utilize the balance reminder and the tracking tools they offer. You can also use a

credit card through PayPams.com.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact Charger Café Manager Katie

Ade at 904.547.4061 or Katie.ade@stjohns.k12.fl.us I am on campus from 6:30am to 2:30pm

daily.

CHARGER CAFÉ CORNER

CLINIC CORNER—YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

We have had an increase in students calling or texting home during the school day asking to be picked up due to illness. They are not coming to the clinic and being evaluated so that the nurse is aware of who is sick, from what classes, and with what symptoms. It is important that these students come to the nurse BEFORE calling home. Parents, if your child texts or calls you from their personal cell, please advise them to go to the clinic and that the nurse will call if there is a need for them to be picked up. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Counselor Corner

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 8TH GRADE

VILANO 5K & 1 MILE FUN RUN

RUNNING OF THE KNIGHTS 5K