Cougar Courier
From the Desk of Dr. Rodney L. Berry, Superintendent
Volume I, No. 21 January 16, 2017
MLK DAY
January
Character Trait is
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness involves being a
person who is worthy of
people’s trust because of
consistent and honorable choices
that are made. Refusing to lie,
cheat, steal, deceive, or take
advantage of others.
Building trust in relationships
includes demonstrating an
ongoing commitment to being
loyal, honest, and reliable.
Living by clear and consistent
principles engenders trust in
others and is an important part of
becoming a person of character.
Reflections…
Last week while I was visiting Blackstone Primary School I passed by a life
sized picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As I paused to take a good look at it
I was reminded of the spirit of service and the meaning of sacrifice. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., who sacrificed his life for the good of all mankind fifty years
ago, once said, “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great,
because greatness is determined by service.” Dr. King said this during one of
his most famous sermons titled the, "Drum Major Instinct" that was preached
on February 4, 1968. Dr. King spoke on the importance of living a committed
life by loving and serving all humanity. He spoke about walking down the right
path in life and helping humanity along your journey. He said that when you do
these things to help mankind you are living a committed life full of meaning,
and that your living will not be in vain.
As educators, you have already sacrificed much to mankind by giving your
extra time and resources, and you have shown your commitment to serve the
community of Nottoway. For that, we are grateful. Therefore, as we continue to
move past the midyear point, we ask that you continue to remember our
division’s mission statement that includes the sentence that we will, “…provide
opportunities for students to enjoy life, contribute to others’ well being, and
become responsible, productive citizens in a global community.” From my
classroom observations thus far this school year, I have seen many of you
incorporating this part of our mission statement into your class lessons. I have
seen how you show our students the purpose of each lesson and how classroom
instruction will relate to them in the “real world”. For the rest of this school
year I challenge you to continue to set great SMART goals for yourself, your
students, your department, and our schools, and be a shining example of service
and leadership. Thank you for your sacrifice! Go Cougar Nation!
“Sharing the Spirit of Service”
Commendations
 I would to like our team of professionals at the school board office for
assisting me with various duties last week. You guys are the best!
 I would also like to thank all of those who assisted with the snow
removal, especially our maintenance and transportation team for
clearing our property and for transporting our students safely to and from
school last week.
Announcements
Instructional Focus for
the Month of January
Lesson Planning Tips
Lesson Plans should include:
1. SOL Objectives
2. Leveling of your students.
They should be
“personalized” for high
(enhanced), medium
(targeted), and low
(prerequisite) students.
3. Differentiating from bell to
bell.
4. Independent assignments
5. Student directed
assignments
6. Teacher directed
assignments
7. Leveling of homework for
high, medium, and low
students.
What’s Happening in the Classroom?
NIS
Submitted by Mrs. Martin: Congratulations to the following students for
being selected as Caring Character Winners of the Month. Chasity Robertson,
Madison Raiford, Jocelyn Garcia, JoseLynn Long, Gavin McDaniel, and
Yasmine Carter
Teaching Tip of the Week:
“The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People” by Stephen
Covey over the next few weeks.
These habits were taken from his
book titled, “The Leader In Me”.
Habit 2:
Begin with the End in Mind
I plan ahead and set goals. I do
things that have meaning and
make a difference. I am an
important part of my classroom
and contribute to my school’s
mission and vision, and look for
ways to be a good citizen.
This habit means that we need to
look at the big picture when we
are experiencing challenges. I
know that as an adult, and
especially as an educator, this is
sometimes difficult to do. This is
also difficult to do when we
speak to our students because
they often live in the “moment”.
As educators, if there are
situations that we need to
address with our students, focus
on what you want your
relationship with the student to
“feel” like once a disagreement
is resolved. We should only
speak words to a child that will
maintain their feelings of selfworth. If we perfect these habits
we can begin to transform our
students to becoming productive
and contributing members in our
society.
NMS
Submitted by Ms. Harris: I am attaching a picture of one of my students and
his letter for earning third place in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriot's Pen
essay district competition! Jacob Stallard, a 7th grader at NMS, placed 3rd in
the VFW Patriot's Pen essay competition for the district. He will be awarded
on February 4 in Amelia. Congratulations to a wonderful student and excellent
writer!
Teacher of the Month: Judy Deichman
Student of Month-Alex Yeatts/ Citizenship of the Month-Tariq Richardson
NHS
Submitted by Nurse Davis: Happy new year! The INTERACT students held
the first meeting of the new year today and it ran very smoothly. The club is
happy to announce a new change in opportunity for our board members.
Changes are as follows: Lauren Hill- President, Matthew Hinton- Vice
President, Secretary- Nathaniel Dickens, and Treasurer- Alauna Ailstock. The
total number of club members remains at an astounding seventy-six! Today
we started the club's International project- Purple Pinkies for Polio. This
fundraiser for Polio is going to go through the basketball and wrestling seasons.
Our most recent project, the Christmas food drive, has come to an end and was
very successful! A number of INTERACT students are looking forward to
Instructional Focus
for the Month of
January
Writing Objectives
Objectives should include what the
student will accomplish during the
given lesson, including the:
• Conditions under which
the students will exhibit
those behaviors
• Behaviors students will
exhibit to show learning
• Criteria the teacher will
use to determine whether
students meet the objective.
For example:
“Given dry cells, wires, switches,
bulbs, and bulb holders and
general theory about electrical
circuit and pathways, students
will work in cooperative groups
to create a functioning series
circuit in which the bulb lights
up, and will independently
diagram the circuit by correctly
drawing and labeling all parts.”
participating in the Woodland Town Clean-up at Golubic Park in Crewe on
Monday- January 16th. The club's primary goal this semester is to make an
even bigger impact on those in need through different fundraisers and
community service projects. Thank you to everyone for your support! We truly
appreciate it. This is a picture of the Interact Club at their first meeting of 2017.
The following pictures are of our first set up for our International projectPurple Pinkies for Polio.
All Subjects

For Non-English classes try adding a writing component to your
formative assessment to assist English teachers with cross curricular
writing.
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Please make sure your Objectives are posted on the board! This will
assist you in following the Scope and Sequence and the Curriculum
Framework.

Use the Table of Specifications to assist you when creating
assessments. This ensures reliability and validity.

Use your respective Curriculum Framework to assist you with
planning your lessons. They can be found on the Standards of Learning
webpage which is located at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/common_core/index.shtml
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You can use these websites as tools to assist you during instruction:
http://www.readtheory.org/ :(assists with reading and writing)
http://www.khanacademy.org/;
http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/;
http://www.edudemic.com/

SOL Practice items can be found at the following link:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/index.shtml

Teacher Direct resources:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/teacher_direct/index.shtml
The Standards & SOL-Based Instructional Resources
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/
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Questioning Strategies links:
http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/energy-and-the-polarenvironment/questioning-techniques-research-based-strategies-forteachers.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_88.htm
Math
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/index.shtml
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/professional_developm
ent/index.shtml?utm_source=TD+January+21%2C+2015&utm_campaign=T
D+January+21%2C+2015&utm_medium=email
English
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/index.shtml
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/professional_development/in
stitutes/2014/index.shtml?utm_source=TD+January+28%2C+2015&utm_ca
mpaign=TD+January+28%2C+2015&utm_medium=email
Science
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/science/index.shtml
History
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/history/index.shtml
Special Education
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/index.shtml
Classroom Management Strategies
http://www.schoolimprovement.com/resources/strategy-of-theweek/?hp=strategy-of-the-week
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How to Write Good
Lesson Plans
In order to meet Functional
Implementation, your lesson
plans must:
1. Align with the Standards of
Learning and Curriculum
Framework Essential
Knowledge and Skills in both
content and cognitive level
(evidence of standard
unpacked)
2. Link to the unit or curriculum
Big Ideas (Questions,
Enduring Understandings,
Themes, etc.)
3. Outline objective (includes the
behaviors students
will exhibit to show learning
and the conditions under which
the students will exhibit those
behaviors.)
4. Outline the criteria used to
determine whether learners
have met the objective.
5. In order to reach Full
Implementation: Include
multiple cognitive levels up to
or greater than the standard
itself.
Jan Richardson’s Research-based Vocabulary Protocol:
Step 1: Provide students with a kid-friendly definition. Do not ask them if they
know the word. This wastes time and students remember the first thing they
hear. So... if someone says the wrong definition, you've set the students up for
misunderstanding. Ex: If the new word is maneuver, say, “Maneuver means to
move around.”
Step 2: Connect the new word to students’ background knowledge and
experiences. For example, “A soccer player maneuvers or moves the ball
around the opponents to get to the goal.” Be sure to use the new word
with a kid-friendly definition during your example.
Step 3: Show the students how the word is used in text and direct them to an
illustration, if one is provided. Ex: “In this text, you will read how ancient
workers maneuvered, or moved large stones without machinery.”
Step 4: Turn and Talk. Ask students to explain the new word to a student sitting
next to them. Ex: Talk to your partner about something you can maneuver.”
➢ Take time to use student friendly definitions. Stay away from formal
dictionary .com or Google definitions. They are not helpful.
➢ Don’t just read the context of the word out loud to students, take students
into the book/passage and show them the word in context.
➢ Pictures and real items (i.e. lid) would be helpful, especially for our ESL
students.
Upcoming Meetings
Burkeville Elementary School
1. Faculty Meetings - 2nd Monday of the month
LOOK AHEAD:
A
Jan 1620
Jan 16
Jan 16
Jan 17
Jan 18
Jan 18
Jan 19
Jan 19
Jan 20
Jan 2228
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 24
Jan 25
Jan 26
Jan 26
Feb 2
Feb 14
Classroom
Observations and
Walkthorughs
Humanitarian
Day
Lee Jackson
King Holiday/
Schools Closed
Region 8
Superintendents
Meeting @ 9 am
Regional
Technology
Meeting @ 10 am
@ NHS
Health Insurance
Meeting @ 3:30
@ NHS
Staff Meeting @
9 am
School Board
Meeting @ 7 pm
Report Cards
sent to Parents
Principals
Appreciation
Week!
National
Handwriting Day
National
Compliment Day
ANTC Meeting
@ 7pm
Budget
Committee
Meeting @ 3:30
pm
Spelling Bee @
NHS @ 9 am
Budget Meeting
w/ BOS and SBO
Student Advisory
Meeting @ 2 pm
@ NHS
Valentine’s Day
2. Team Meetings - weekly during common planning
3. Data Meetings - Beginning, Mid-Year and End of year with
administrators
4. Leadership Meeting - 3rd Thursday of the month
Blackstone Primary School
1. Leadership Meeting – 4th Friday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings – 2nd Mondays of the month
3. Team meetings- weekly during planning
4. Data meetings - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Crewe Primary School
1. Leadership Meetings-1st Monday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings-2nd Monday of the month (Sometimes 3rd)
3. Team Meetings- Every Wednesday during grade level planning
4. Data Meetings- Quarterly or as needed
Nottoway Intermediate School
1. Leadership Meeting- 4th Monday of the month
2. Faculty Meetings- 2nd Monday of the month
3. Team meetings- weekly during assigned time (lunch, planning, afterschool)
4. Data meetings- after benchmark assessments (within 2-3 days of
completion)
Nottoway Middle School
1. Faculty Meetings – 3rd Monday of each month (except for 4th
Monday in January and February)
2. DREAM Department Meetings- 3rd Monday of each month
Nottoway High School
1. Faculty Meetings –2nd Monday of the month
2. Department Meetings- 1st Wednesday of the month w/ principal
Amelia/Nottoway Technical Center
1. Faculty Meetings - 1st Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
2. Team/PLC Meetings - 2nd Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
3. Leadership Meetings - 3rd Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm
4. Joint Board Meetings - 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm
School Board Office
1. SBO Senior Level Team Meeting- Every Monday
2. Tech Team- First and third Wednesday each month.
Announcements and Reminders
 Try sharing your lesson plans and curriculum documents with your
students. This gives them a roadmap of where you are headed.
 Try a “No Worksheet Day” once a week. This will give you an opportunity
to give authentic and creative assignments.
 Please remind your students to study each night. Research shows that
elementary students should study- 30 mins., middle school students- 1 hour,
and high school students should study-1 ½ hours per night.
 Please make sure that you are teaching from bell to bell. We cannot afford
to waste instructional time.
 This is a reminder to post your 3 Essential Questions of the Day daily
using the appropriate level of Bloom’s. We will be checking on this during
our observations this week.
 Submit your lesson plans weekly to your school administrator
 Use instructional strategies daily (see CRISS ex. to the left of newsletter)
 Core teachers please submit your lesson plans to your inclusion teachers in
Feb 14
Feb 20
Mar 16
Community
Advisory Council
Meeting
President’s Day/
Schools Closed
End of 3rd 9
Weeks
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enough time that they can complete their plans on time. They will need
samples of the worksheets and tests/quizzes to make accommodations.
Thank you for working together!!
If you have an opportunity, video record yourself teaching. It is a great
way to improve your instructional pedagogy.
Let your administrator know if you have a special lesson that you would
like for the instructional department to observe and highlight in the Cougar
Courier.
Remember to use your Bloom's verbs to guide what is written in your
lesson plans, taught in class, and assessed on tests.
Focus on both the Cognitive Level and Content to create your objectives &
assessments. Use the Table of Specifications to help.
Grades are expected to be updated weekly. You should record at least 2
grades weekly (18 per 9 weeks). This will assist our parents and students
with knowing their academic performance thus far.
Please limit field trips during the SOL Testing. This time should be
focused on upcoming assessments.
Annual Field trips requests need to be turned in to the SBO by December
5, 2016 so there is time to get the bus approval from central office.
All planned field trips for the school year should be submitted to the School
Board office by December 5, 2016. These field trips represent those trips
that you take annually; such as Jamestown and Washington, D.C. Field trips
other than those that are planned for the year need applications submitted at
least thirty days prior to the date of the trip.
For Safety and Security, please wear your ID badges at work.
To save energy, please turn off all lights, shut down all monitors, and
computers especially when you leave in the afternoons
To enhance school spirit, Friday’s will be considered Maroon and Gold day
throughout the division. At the discretion of your school administrator,
please feel free to wear jeans along with our school colors on Fridays!
Healthy Lifestyles Tip of the Week
Keep your food tasty and healthy by grilling, broiling, roasting, or baking,
instead of frying. They don’t add extra fat. Some lean meats need slow, moist
cooking to be tender—try a slow cooker for them. Avoid breading meat or
poultry, which also adds calories.
Did You Know?
About Martin Luther King Jr.
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Led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Spoke out about the Vietnam War.
Spoke out against poverty.
MLK Jr. was a Baptist pastor.
MLK Jr. had a Ph.D. in systematic theology.
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He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.
First black American to be honored as Man of the Year in Time
magazine.
Dr. King’s birth name was Michael
About the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
The road to creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a long and controversial
road. Many thought that Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was too close to
Christmas and New Years so they compromised with the third Monday in
January. Many also thought that the Civil Rights Movement should be
commemorated instead of one man. Here are some quick facts about the MLK
holiday.
 Rep. John Conyers from Michigan introduced legislation for a federal
holiday to celebrate MLK four days after his death in 1968. The bill
became stalled.
 States later started to adopt MLK Day as state holidays. Illinois was the
first in 1973.
 In 1983 congress passes legislation creating MLK Jr. Day and President
Reagan signed it. In 1986 the federal holiday went into effect.
 In 1999 New Hampshire was the last state to adopt the MLK holiday.
Recipe of the Week
Southern Biscuits
Ingredients
 12 ounces all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup for dusting
 4 teaspoons baking powder
 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
 3/4 teaspoon koshe r salt
 1 ounce unsalted butter, chilled
 2 ounces shortening, chilled
 8 fluid ounces low-fat buttermilk, chilled
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk together the 12 ounces flour, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt
in a large mixing bowl. Using your fingertips, rub the butter and shortening into
the dry goods until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the
middle of this mixture and pour in the buttermilk. Stir with a large spoon until
the dough just comes together. Then knead in the bowl until all the flour has
been taken up.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, then start folding the dough over on
itself, gently kneading for 30 seconds, or until the dough is soft and smooth.
Press the dough into a 1-inch thick round. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out
biscuits, being sure to push the cutter straight down through the dough to the
work surface before twisting to "punch" out the biscuit. Make your cuts as close
together as possible to limit waste.
Place the biscuits on a half sheet pan so they just barely touch. Reroll any
scraps and punch out as many biscuits as possible. Use your thumb to create a
shallow dimple in the top center of each biscuit and bake until the biscuits are
tall and light gold on top, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn the biscuits out into a kitchen
towel-lined basket and cool slightly before serving.
Sometimes We Just Need To Laugh!
Congratulations
To All Faculty &
Staff Members
with January
Birthdays and
Anniversaries!
Poem of the Week
DREAMS
By Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Quote of the Week
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines
of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." —
Martin Luther King Jr.
"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then
crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a
college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to
serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." —
Martin Luther King Jr.
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?"
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Do what is right and just; that is more pleasing to God than sacrifice. Proverbs
21:3
Nottoway County Public Schools…Home of the Cougars!