“Be an encourager, the world has enough critics already.”
- Unknown
Laugh Lots!!
Our world is full of things that can easily drag us down and make us feel grouchy, surly and upset. I am not going to tell you to try to pretend they don’t exist, however, I would like to take an opportunity to remind you to find laughter and find it often. Laughter won’t make those situations disappear, but it will improve your ability to cope with them. This week I was reminded of the importance of laughter on a few occasions at home and work, so I thought I would share this article with you in hopes of sharing the benefits.
Screen Time
On Thursday, May 16th Dr. Hicks will be providing a presentation in the evening as one of our PTO parent speaker series. On that day, Dr. Hicks has offered to come to talk to our students (2/3s and the 4/5s). She did this at Lava Ridge, High Lakes and Miller and the student-presentation was really well-received. I am hoping you will also be interested so I will circle back with each group to work on logistics.
Culture of Care Project
Earlier this year Bend-La Pine School District, in partnership with Better Together, received a $1.5 million grant from the Central Oregon Health Council to develop and strengthen trauma-informed cultures across education systems in Central Oregon. This effort aims to create a Culture of Care in schools that recognizes and responds to how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, and adversity impact our students, classrooms, and schools. During the three-year grant period, we will implement trauma-informed professional learning with staff, work with a team of coaches on practices to address trauma and build resilience, and focus on policies that help students feel connected and supported in schools. More information about this project was reported by KTVZ.
More information about what this means for us in the future will come soon, but one of the more immediate needs will be conducting a baseline measure of resilience with our students. I will share more on Tuesday morning. There will be a parent-letter going out in our newsletter this week to inform parents so please take a quick look at that when you get a moment.
Our survey day will be Wednesday, May 22nd.
2019-2020 Staffing Survey
If you have not already responded to this survey, please do so.
EBISS Day
Thank you so much for your thought and effort into these meetings. I will use this EBISS date as a mini for everyone. I will gather my thoughts and provide some feedback to each grade level group with a follow-up email and I encourage you to send me any thoughts or questions in response.
Tech Tips
Christie Boen will be here (in the library) this coming Monday morning at 8:15 to share how to easily separate your personal google platform from your work google platform.
Tuesday Morning Meetings
- This week; Staff Meeting –
- MAC Training – this is change, but we need to complete our quick training with Eilean. Please bring laptops.
- Culture of Care Project Brief Intro
- Next week; Design Teams
SIWs
- This week – Conference Prep
- Next week – District Series – Day 3
Upcoming Field Trips – none for at least a couple weeks.
2019-2020 Master Schedule
FYI – Leadership spent some time discussing this for next year and we will be moving forward with the existing schedule (this years schedule shifted forward by 1 hour) with a few minor changes. Thank you for giving it some thought.
Conferences
If you would like me to join you for any conferences, please do not hesitate to ask.
ICCLs 2019-2021
I want to take a moment to thank JJ, Becky and Misha for taking on the leadership responsibility for the past two years as ICCLs. The two-year term for all three of them is coming to an end this school year and the application period for the next two years will be open soon. If you are seeking to grow professionally, work on leadership skills and play a leading role in our school’s progression, please consider applying as an ICCL for the 2019-2021 term. Application process and forms are available on the employee portal. A keep date to keep in mind for this obligation is Wednesday, August 14th which is our district leadership academy.
Optional Poetry Assembly
Paige from the DPLS is planning on coming to Highland on Monday, April 29th at 3:00 for Poetry month. Please RSVP to Debbie.
BrainPOP
The snow days took away the day we originally planned to explore BrainPOP. I am looking at the calendar to determine another time for us to explore this as a staff and I have the following two options that pop out;
- Tuesday 4/23 at 8:05 – Staff Meeting
- Wednesday 5/8 – SIW – This is one of our few unassigned SIWs
I’d love your input here; Survey
SBAC 2019
- Training Modules
- 2019 Draft Schedule
- Security Affidavits are in your boxes – please complete and return to my box.
Lottery Application Numbers
This is just FYI, if you are interested.
Kindergarten – 164 Total (18 are siblings, 9 are magnet zone)
1st Grade – 51 Total
2nd Grade – 29 Total
3rd Grade – 18 Total
4th Grade – 20 Total
5th Grade – 11 Total
The notices went out today, so there will be lots of cheers and lots of tears.
McDonald’s Grants- McDonald’s of Bend local mission is to help as many students as possible in our communities reach their fullest potential. This program is part of our commitment to our community. We want to give even more back to our community and that for us begins with education.
We have attached information about our Grant Program, including our Mission Statement, Guidelines and Application. We encourage you to apply for this Grant. Awards between $250.00 and $1000.00 will be given to the selected school(s) who meet our criteria and are selected. We request grant applications support Academics, Athletics, Arts or General (something the entire school will benefit from).
Last year our recipients were:
- Sisters High School: AVID
- LaPine Elementary: Track
- Rosland Elementary: Purposeful Play
- Silver Rail Elementary: Spheros
- West Village Magnet Elementary School: Community Garden Fence
- Elk Meadow Elementary: Effective Behavior and Instructional Support System
Application need to be returned by April 15, 2019