3/12-3/16 Weekly Update

Staffing Survey

Please go to the following link and complete the staffing survey for next year.  Can’t believe we are looking at 2018-2019!!!!

https://goo.gl/forms/n7GbM5FzN9D500r72

Walk Out Guidance

FYI – this went in the news letter.

In the wake of the most recent tragedy in Florida, messages noted on social media and shared via news accounts have encouraged students nationwide to walk out.  While days, times and organizers vary, the one we will focus on right now is a 17-minute walkout on Wednesday, March 14th. Participation at the elementary level is not expected to match the high school level, but we feel it’s important to share a few details with you whether your child plans to participate or not.  

  • This is not a school-sponsored or district-sponsored event and students are not encouraged by school staff to participate.  
  • We recognize the message behind these walkouts as a message calling for safety in our schools.  
  • That is a message we take seriously and we recognize student voice as a productive way to ensure our schools remain safe and welcoming.
  • Our staff will maintain regular instruction during the walk out time frame.  
  • Supervision will be adjusted when and where necessary to ensure safety, should students walk out of classrooms.

Some further information for you;

  • We are to maintain regular instruction.
  • If some students leave your classroom you are to continue your instruction.
  • If all your students leave your classroom then please help with supervision of the halls and outside depending upon where students go.
  • We will already have some supervision on the playground for recess.  Scott will be in the tent. There are close to 20 adults in the building so we have our school areas covered for supervision.
  • I will have some additional staff in the office to either help with ensuring students are signed out with a parent if they choose to leave or they will be added to supervision on campus if necessary.

Friday 3/16

FYI – I will be off campus and unavailable on Friday.  Lorin will be covering for me. Thank you, Lorin!

Culture of Safety Document

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By9sJRluBirgOGpjQ1MwRUoyeWc/view?usp=sharing

Please take a moment to review the linked document.  These requirements are guiding our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment.

Yearbook Reminder

This is a reminder to be thinking about your class yearbook photos.  

Please put them in the google folder before April 2nd.

Here is a link to the google folders for yearbook pictures.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14JMuQ68jWPUQ9d6bxlOexhQVSTfyFPPN?usp=sharing

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar so you are informed of our upcoming meetings. – Calendar Link

 

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3/5-3/9 Weekly Update

Thank you from USS Theodore Roosevelt

(sorry I cannot get this to post vertically for some reason)

Off campus for Pine Ridge visit on Monday

On Monday I will be off campus in the morning for a visit to Pine Ridge as part of my commitment to our Design Team Trio (Ensworth, Pine Ridge and us).  I should be back by lunch time and I a not that far away.

Go Team Sawyer!

Alicia’s class connecting with Sawyer and Finn.  COMMUNITY & Kindness you can cut with a knife!

Snow Recess – Revisited from 12/4/17

Here is what was shared earlier in December:

We are going to approach our Snow Play differently this year.  We would like to embrace the snow when it comes and enjoy the experience whenever possible.  This means there will be times when we allow students to play on the snow berms.  This will create some ambiguity as we will need to adjust where and how students can play in and on the snow as conditions change, but it just doesn’t feel right to constantly tell them to get off the snow.  Snowball fights will still not be permitted.   

Some further clarification;

We would like to find ways to say “yes” rather than “no”.

When students ask to climb on the snow berms – respond with something like this, “as long as you can do it safely”  OR “How can you do it safely?”

When students ask to throw snow – respond with “where can you throw it safely without hitting somebody”  (I will sometimes give them a target and say you have 2 minutes to hit that target.)

When students ask to do the sliding game – send them to Lorin.  (=

One last point; the rule of not allowing students not the field without boots does not really make sense and I think it really does not honor our student’s right to make their own choices.  The blacktop can be just as snowy, muddy and icy as the field we need to be a little less controlling of that behavior.  We can probably hold the line with the kinders and 1st graders but I think we need to let the older students make their own choices and consequences when it comes to their clothing.

Culture of Safety Document

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By9sJRluBirgOGpjQ1MwRUoyeWc/view?usp=sharing

Please take a moment to review the linked document.  These requirements are guiding our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment.

Print Shop Rebate

I don’t usually share the monthly printing costs reports with you because I feel you as a whole team do a really good job of keeping our printing costs manageable and I would rather you not be concerned about whether or not to make copies of something you need.  I do want to share with you the rebate of $4,692 which we received for our budget next year.  This rebate is based on the savings you earned by using the print shop versus the copier and the copier versus individual printers (library, etc.)  It’s our reward for every time we plan ahead and send things to the print shop rather than print here in-house.  Thank you!

Health Curriculum

If you would be interested in joining a district team to review and select a district health curriculum please let me know.  Skip Offernhauser will be leading a team on this task starting this spring.

Visiting Teachers

I know this is a little early but I would like to put this on your radar now.  We will have some more teachers visiting us from Sherwood on Monday, May 21st.  They plan to drive out on the 20th stay the night and then spend the day here.  I am hoping we can provide another restructured day to allow them to see several grade levels and classrooms throughout the visit.

Yearbook Reminder

This is a reminder to be thinking about your class yearbook photos.  

Please put them in the google folder before April 2nd.

Here is a link to the google folders for yearbook pictures.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14JMuQ68jWPUQ9d6bxlOexhQVSTfyFPPN?usp=sharing

Recorder Fun

I watched Rob lead one of our 4/5 classes in the recorder practice with computer game on Thursday and it was really impressive.  The kids were 110% engaged in trying to improve their skill with some friendly intra-class competition.  I have heard thousands of recorders in my career and I have never heard this many in sync in such a short time.   I highly recommend you drop in and check it out sometime.

Just for fun:

I love how the 2/3 team provides some support to each other in remembering recess duty!  (sorry I cannot get this to post vertically for some reason)

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar so you are informed of our upcoming meetings. – Calendar Link

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2/26-3/2 Weekly Update

EBISS meetings next week

We made some changes to our upcoming EBISS meetings, so please be sure to check the calendar.

We tend to cover a lot of material in these meetings, but I would like to encourage you to narrow down the scope just a bit and stay focussed on the following;

  1. Are we providing the right instruction/intervention for the students in question?
  2. Are those students making adequate or better progress?
  3. If the answer is “no” to either question, then what will we change?

Campus Safety

Understandably, there is a microscope on campus safety right now.  I asked Scott Bojanowski (our district safety coordinator) to come observe our school at a few different times to provide some feedback for us.  Scott was very complimentary of our school culture and it seemed clear to him that everyone in very much in tune with keeping our campus secure and safe without making it feel like a locked-down prison.  Based on the layout of our school, number of doors and gates, he feels like we have a good system for our start and end of the day and it seems apparent our parents respect that system well.

I also want to point out the district provided a one-page “IN AN EMERGENCY, WHEN YOU HEAR IT.  DO IT.” document which should be posted by your desk or door.  It is a great simple document describing the variety of responses for emergency situations.  If you no longer have this document, please let me know so we can get more.

Off campus for Ensworth visit on Monday

On Monday I will be off campus in the morning for a visit to Ensworth as part of my commitment to our Design Team Trio (Ensworth, Pine Ridge and us).  I should be back by lunch time and I a not that far away.

Mini-Observations

As my calendar continues to fill up I am finding it really challenging to keep my classroom time focused on math time.  In order to give myself a fair shot at completing my minis on schedule I will be using other content areas as mini opportunities.  I will continue to take notes on most all my class visits and if you can help me with finding a good time to have a follow up conversation about the learning, I’d appreciate it.

If you are due for your evaluation this year, then you will need to complete the self-reflection in the TalentEd program.  I would appreciate it if you could put this on your radar to complete soon after spring break.  If you have questions about this please see me or send me a quick note.

Latino Family Night

Wednesday night I attended the district Latino Family Night Information Night.  These events are intended to provide more information about choice options, course options, and other resources in the district available to all families.  This is the second time we, as a district have attempted these outreach efforts however it still did not feel like it was effective at providing solid information on magnet schools.  The good news is this; I shared an idea (Marieka’s idea) with a few other folks about creating a different fair-type of format and they were on-board with the idea.  I’m looking forward to our next opportunity to share our school in a way that might prove more effective in generating connection

Health Curriculum

If you would be interested in joining a district team to review and select a district health curriculum please let me know.  Skip Offernhauser will be leading a team on this task starting this spring.

Visiting Teachers

I know this is a little early but I would like to put this on your radar now.  We will have some more teachers visiting us from Sherwood on Monday, May 21st.  They plan to drive out on the 20th stay the night and then spend the day here.  I am hoping we can provide another restructured day to allow them to see several grade levels and classrooms throughout the visit.

Yearbook Reminder

This is a reminder to be thinking about your class yearbook photos.  

Please put them in the google folder before April 2nd.

Here is a link to the google folders for yearbook pictures.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14JMuQ68jWPUQ9d6bxlOexhQVSTfyFPPN?usp=sharing

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

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2/19-2/23 Weekly Update

I understand the fire drill probably caused some sketchy feelings yesterday so I want to apologize for causing any anxiety.  I had quite an extensive thought-process as I considered keeping the drill on the calendar or canceling yesterday, so please know that it was not for lack of caring or being insensitive.  The short of it, is I did not want to let a troubled individual from across the continent intimidate me or scare me from deviating from our day-to-day operation.

Change to Morning Meeting

The Tuesday 2/20 PLC meeting is changed to an all-staff incident planning session.

Episode 7, incidents/dust storm

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11bWDQB-ra2TlAmHFa3MQjD1s8CMnQAx1vweFRXQMQm8/edit?usp=sharing

Multiage Rotation Day Science

You Scienced the snot out of that day!  Enjoy this slideshow.

https://youtu.be/bGaurLf6Jgc

District SIW Series

Spring District SIW options are now available on PD Place and ready for registration.  Our dates for the Spring are 2/21, 3/21, and 4/18.  

Visiting Teachers

I know this is a little early but I would like to put this on your radar now.  We will have some more teachers visiting us from Sherwood on Monday, May 21st.  They plan to drive out on the 20th stay the night and then spend the day here.  I am hoping we can provide another restructured day to allow them to see several grade levels and classrooms throughout the visit.

Yearbook Reminder

This is a reminder to be thinking about your class yearbook photos.  Please put them in the google folder before April 2nd.  Here is a link to the google folders for yearbook pictures.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14JMuQ68jWPUQ9d6bxlOexhQVSTfyFPPN?usp=sharing

I will be reading this article again very thoroughly this evening.  I am still undecided if this is a comforting article or not.  Please let me know what you think. 

http://healthylivingcentre.net/why-difficult-kids-make-great-leaders-according-to-health-ades-ceo/

 

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2/12-2/16 Weekly Update

Campus Visitors

Monday (2/12) afternoon Carrie Douglass (newest board member) will be on campus from about noon until the end of the day.  I will meet with her during lunch recess and give her a quick tour of the school and then I will encourage her to pop in and out of different classrooms at her own pace.

Also, we have two more teachers from Powell Butte visiting on Monday afternoon during storyline time.  Heidi Wilson and Tracy Chancellor (visited once already) are 4th and 5th grade teachers and I will turn them lose to check out what we are doing for storyline time.

Caption Contest (See photo from last week):

“Did you see this one of the rooster greeting the girl at the bus stop?”  With a bubble from the side, “Hey guys, the bell rang 5 minutes ago!” – Jenn

The Outlander series is doing a casting call for extras.  Please send in a selfie. – JJ

District SIW Series

Spring District SIW options are now available on PD Place and ready for registration.  Our dates for the Spring are 2/21, 3/21, and 4/18.  

Multi-age Science Day Info

Links Below are have the schedule for Tuesday 2/13

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_408yX5MpjQzneBIUR4nISEf-YHykylIlEysLeGbdKI/edit

If you need to know where kids will be… This link has files to the Multi-age Rotation Groups.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BybZwcwdtOokbmtTeVJDa05TYms

This is a really good article and I believe you will find it both validating and useful for your practices.http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2018/01/response_instructional_strategies_that_teachers_might_be_missing.html?utm_source=Youcubed+Updates&utm_campaign=dffbcc2fb8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_230e567c40-dffbcc2fb8-133967337

Please watch for some math giggles;

 

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

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2/5-2/9 Weekly Update

Tuesday Assembly

As you saw in the email, we have a great opportunity to meet an experienced astronaut, so on Tuesday please plan on bringing your students to the tent first thing in the morning.  We will use our typical assembly seating and Jim will be in front with a microphone and slides.  JJ is working on a “official” letter from WOOSE to announce his presentation and purpose for the visit.  You should be receiving it soon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Wetherbee

Walking Meetings

I had originally planned to share this in the spring time, but since winter has shown us a different side this year I think it might be a good idea to take advantage of the outside.  I would like you to consider a walking “meeting” for you and your team, or even you and another colleague every now and then.  We live near a beautiful park and river trail.  I would love for us to intentionally connect that beauty into our work day.  So please plan ahead and pick a day when you can arrive at the building, drop your stuff in the classroom and then head out on a walk along the river or around the park.  No computers, no phones, just your thoughts, voice and colleagues.  Oh and yes, you do have to return to your classrooms in time to start the day with your kids.  (=

Staff Meeting and TELL Survey

Speaking of meetings…I am canceling the scheduled staff meeting on Tuesday 2/6.  As you saw from Shay’s email the TELL survey opens this month, so I am giving this staff meeting time back to you as a compensation for your time to complete the survey.  I will come around and provide the cover letter with your access to the survey on Monday and you can complete it during that morning time or at another time when it is more convenient for you.

District SIW Series

Spring District SIW options are now available on PD Place and ready for registration.  Our dates for the Spring are 2/21, 3/21, and 4/18.  Our final District SIW on 5/16 will be dedicated to Elementary science.  The details of this day are still being planned.  Be sure to sign up soon!

Math Studios

Thank you for putting the thought and effort into these math studios (and thank you to Kerry for guiding them).  It’s never easy to step away from your classroom to dig into professional development, so I appreciate the prep and professionalism you demonstrate during these workshops.

Construction Update

I cannot believe I get to report this again, but our progress is going incredibly well.  I shared the concern about the diesel fumes this week, so they will take some steps to mitigate that issue.  KNCC also apologized for more rumbling with the giant jack-hammers – they hit some hard more hard rock where they needed to lay some large pipes running under the building.  

They will also need to do some more trench work between the main building and the gym, but they will do their best to limit the loud machine work during our school hours as much as possible since they will be closer to the main building.

Report Cards

Message to Teachers

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15BJgisT7Ywh81XOAlLLpu5WYPozhQKdx/view?usp=sharing

Additional Resources

https://portal.bend.k12.or.us/instruction/content/report-card-guidelines

 

Kid’s Mini PPP Art Contest

Message:

Hi there.  Just wanted to let you know that MBSEF is hosting the SELCO Kid’s Mini PPP art contest.  Kids K-5 are encouraged to submit artwork by Feb. 23rd.  We would love it if you could pass this info on to teachers.  The top 5 entries will win cool prizes.  The 1st place entry’s art will be on 1,200 shirts.  They will also get a free team of 6 to the Mini PPP.  A cool prize from Saxon’s and a pizza party for their class from Round Table.

Here are the specs:

Entries must be submitted on white paper with colored designs.   The design may represent the activities of the race: Team Work, Obstacle Course and Running. Kids from K-5th grade can submit artwork.  The only requirements of the design are to include the following information:

  1.     SELCO Kid’s Mini Pole Pedal Paddle
  2.     Bend, Oregon
  3.     2018
  4. The letters MBSEF somewhere on the artwork.

Please include on the back of the design: name, age, grade level, teacher, school, home phone number and email (optional).  

Entries MUST be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 23, 2018, delivered or mailed to:

    Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation

    563 SW 13th Street, Suite 201(corner of Century Dr. and Donovan)

    Bend, OR  97702

[email protected]

 

Easy-CBM window

Last day for the window is next week on 2/7/18.

2018 Enrollment Key Dates

That time of year is coming up on us quickly.  This year the district is rolling out an online application for magnet schools.  Paper copies will still be available, but the online application should help streamline the process for each of the school offices tremendously.

Parent Information Dates*

  • February 6, 6:00-7:00pm
  • February 14, 3:00-4:00pm

Tours

  • February 15 2:30-3:30pm
  • February 20 2:30-3:30pm

Application Deadline

  • March 23, 3:00pm  (!!! please note change, originally the time was 4:00)

 

Heavily Decorated Classrooms vs. Attention

Before you read the article linked below, please know that I am not advocating for bare walls.  Art, students work, friezes, etc. are crucial to a rich learning environment, however I feel this is important information for us to keep in mind.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527100646.htm

Caption Contest: Think of a clever caption (or speech bubbles) for the photo below and email it to me.  I will post the top three captions.

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1/22-1/26 Weekly Update

MAC Survey – Thursday 2/1

Report Cards

These two weeks will have minimal morning meetings so you can have some additional time with the end of the semester approaching.

Please take some time to review the document linked below when working on report cards.  There is a chance there might be some slight revisions to this document in the future in an effort to clarify, however the basic message will remain the same.

REVISED as of 1/26/18

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19k_hPj4cV9MmTfnhiivgZqnFg3hZMqkF/view?usp=sharing

There are also some additional documents on the portal intended to help with the process.  Hopefully this link will take you to them, but if you need some help finding them, please don’t hesitate to ask me.

https://portal.bend.k12.or.us/instruction/content/report-card-guidelines

 

PLCs

I want to take a moment to revisit the rational and purpose for PLC meetings.  PLCs are designed differently than a typical team meeting.  PLCs are designed in the spirit of “we can always improve”.  We use these times to further develop our own skill.  As we mentioned in the beginning of the year our SIW time would be limited so the scheduled PLC times are good times to focus on math instruction.  We set one of these meetings for each month on a Tuesday, however you and your team have the flexibility to move this time to another morning that works better for the team so long as it does not conflict with another meeting.

Opportunity- Here is an opportunity and local resource that you might consider becoming involved with: My name is Spring Olson, I own the Central Oregon Seed Exchange and also function as an science and agricultural educator here in Deschutes County.  We are expanding our Seed to Schools program this year (we provide a vegetable or flower seed packet to each child per school) from Elk Meadow Elementary School into more schools here locally. If you have any classes that might need seed for growing or educational purposes, let me know…here to help!

Spring Alaska Olson, Owner/Principal Ecologist

www.seedexchange.weebly.com

[email protected]

541-647-9604

Kid’s Mini PPP Art Contest

Message:

Hi there.  Just wanted to let you know that MBSEF is hosting the SELCO Kid’s Mini PPP art contest.  Kids K-5 are encouraged to submit artwork by Feb. 23rd.  We would love it if you could pass this info on to teachers.  The top 5 entries will win cool prizes.  The 1st place entry’s art will be on 1,200 shirts.  They will also get a free team of 6 to the Mini PPP.  A cool prize from Saxon’s and a pizza party for their class from Round Table.

Here are the specs:

Entries must be submitted on white paper with colored designs.   The design may represent the activities of the race: Team Work, Obstacle Course and Running. Kids from K-5th grade can submit artwork.  The only requirements of the design are to include the following information:

  1.     SELCO Kid’s Mini Pole Pedal Paddle
  2.     Bend, Oregon
  3.     2018
  4. The letters MBSEF somewhere on the artwork.

Please include on the back of the design: name, age, grade level, teacher, school, home phone number and email (optional).  

Entries MUST be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 23, 2018, delivered or mailed to:

    Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation

    563 SW 13th Street, Suite 201(corner of Century Dr. and Donovan)

    Bend, OR  97702

[email protected]

 

Easy-CBM window

The Winter easy-CBM window is now open and it closes on 2/7/18.

 

2018 Enrollment Key Dates

That time of year is coming up on us quickly.  This year the district is rolling out an online application for magnet schools.  Paper copies will still be available, but the online application should help streamline the process for each of the school offices tremendously.

Parent Information Dates*

  • February 6, 6:00-7:00pm
  • February 14, 3:00-4:00pm

Tours

  • February 15 2:30-3:30pm
  • February 20 2:30-3:30pm

Application Deadline

  • March 23, 3:00pm  (!!! please note change, originally the time was 4:00)

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

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1/22-1/26 Weekly Update

Design Team Meetings

  • Academic Excellence Team Update
    • please see separate email from Wednesday.
  • Thriving Citizen Team Update
    • the growth mindset training planned is postponed.  More info later.
  • Future Ready Team Update
    • Next parents night out is 2/9 – sign up and planning sheet went out on Thursday.
    • Brainstormed some other ideas for fundraising.
    • Team organized our topics for upcoming SIWs
    • Slovenia-bound teachers should plan on meeting soon regarding travel plans
  • Bottom Line– we are doing our best to streamline and stay focussed on this Storyline to get the most of our professional development time and instruction.  Thank you, everyone for your hard work and we hope these decisions will help you to feel really good about your work and enjoy the process.

Easy-CBM window

The Winter easy-CBM window is now open and it closes on 2/7/18.

2018 Enrollment Key Dates

Parent Information Dates*

  • February 6, 6:00-7:00pm
  • February 14, 3:00-4:00pm

Tours

  • February 15 2:30-3:30pm
  • February 20 2:30-3:30pm

Application Deadline

  • March 23, 3:00pm  (!!! please note change, originally the time was 4:00)

The following info regarding school start times was shared with me so I just copied and pasted it below FYI;

School Start Time Committee- The January 23 board meeting will be a community linkage meeting focused on school start times. This media release explains what the January 23 board meeting will look like. In addition, I’m linking the report the committee gave to Shay.

Fun Math Stuff

I shared this website with you before but I am sharing it with parents in the newsletter this week so I wanted to provide another link.  Reading Jo Boaler’s work or watching her videos can be extremely inspirational.

YouCubed

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

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1/15-1/19 Weekly Update

2018 ready or not, we are off!!

Thank you, everyone for your work on this Storyline.  I know it can be stressful, but please know there is a huge amount of excitement and appreciation among our students and parents right now, so I sincerely hope you can take a few moments to step back and enjoy the process for your own benefit.  You deserve to have fun, so make it happen.

January Assembly Canceled

Based on what I was hearing this past Wednesday it sounds like canceling the January assembly would be in our best interest.  We will double-up on the February assembly and this should free up another morning for this busy month.

Design Team Meetings

Next week we have our next round of design team meetings with Academic Excellence on Tuesday, Thriving Citizen on Wednesday and Future Ready on Thursday.  We are coming up on the halfway point of the school days and we need to plan out the remaining “unclaimed” SIWs for the year.

SBAC

The OAKS portal went live this past week, so I will be creating accounts for everyone involved in testing.  I plan to wait until later in February or early March to do this since the auto-email tends to expire after a short time period, however if you would like access earlier, just let me know.  Our testing window is set for May 7th – May 25th.

SafeTOUCH

OK 2/3 team, you are next!  I’d like to get these lessons calendared soon so let’s get together and determine some good dates.  We are looking to make 4 30-minute lessons per class.  Thank you!

Easy-CBM window

The Winter easy-CBM window is now open and it closes on 2/7/18.

Site Council Meeting

We met Thursday and JJ presented on behalf of the Future-Ready (Storyline) team.  The majority of our time was spent discussing topics on which to conduct our parent-survey.  Last year the focus on the communication provided some really positive actionable data, so we would love to identify a good topic of survey for this spring.  If you have any ideas, please fire them my way.

Next meeting: Thursday, 2/8 4:00-5:00

SLGGs

Almost there….only a few stragglers left.  Please make sure these are returned to me immediately….and now we are ready for the mid-year review step.  (=

2018 Enrollment Key Dates

That time of year is coming up on us quickly.  This year the district is rolling out an online application for magnet schools.  Paper copies will still be available, but the online application should help streamline the process for each of the school offices tremendously.

Parent Information Dates*

  • February 6, 6:00-7:00pm
  • February 14, 3:00-4:00pm

Tours

  • February 15 2:30-3:30pm
  • February 20 2:30-3:30pm

Application Deadline

  • March 23, 3:00pm  (!!! please note change, originally the time was 4:00)

*The Keynote Silde show is updated for this year; if you are planning on talking to the parents regarding let me know so I can share the draft with you for any input or changes.

School Start Time Committee

The following info regarding school start times was shared with me so I just copied and pasted it below FYI;  The January 23 board meeting will be a community linkage meeting focused on school start times. This media release explains what the January 23 board meeting will look like. In addition, I’m linking the report the committee gave to Shay.

 

Things to make you go hmmmm….

In the interest of building empathy with our struggling readers I would highly recommend you take a moment to check out this website.

Dseylixa Website

https://geon.github.io/programming/2016/03/03/dsxyliea

Daily Rhythms

I came across this summary of this article by Daniel Pink that really made me stop and think.  Please take a few moments to read this and think about the implications of this material in terms of individual students, your own life, and even our exploration of Mars.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dhct73aMh-WM7TcjZtOaYN8DsQc7D8kNOxy3AFnuTZ4/edit?usp=sharing

Calendar

Please note, I will be off campus and unavailable on Friday.  Lorin will cover for me.

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

 

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1/8-1/12/18 Weekly Update

Gifts Galore and Craft Day!!!

Great work to the 4/5 team for such successful events.  For the Gifts Galore the whole process from set up to clean up is model of exercising control over chaos and it’s done beautifully.  I’ve seen military exercises with less efficiency!  Craft day was incredibly fun today and I know parents appreciated the opportunity to come craft with the kids, so thank you for making it happen.  Nice work on both accounts; please know it is appreciated across all levels!

Office/Raptor System

I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge everyone’s efforts to make our new office check in system work.  We have very little resistance from our parents and now that we have the kiosk working the process for folks who bring their IDs is very quick and efficient.  If you could help by providing reminders to bring their IDs in your messages, it would help us out tremendously.   We are starting to see those few outliers who tend to forget more frequently than others, but they are indeed the outliers.  By no means is it a perfect system and we definitely encounter some challenges every now and then, but Shawna and Deb are handling them with grace and expertise.  Thank you, both!

Mini Update

Thank you everyone for your help with completing the mini-observations.  If you have questions about what constitutes a mini versus a classroom visit please refer back to the weekly update from 10/16.  It has been challenging to be limited to math lessons only and the focus created some limitations for me that are not ideal, as I would love to see more of your classroom action, but I am doing my best to stick to the plan.

Construction Update

I am so sorry for all shaking and rattling you had to deal with these past few couple weeks.  Ideally, the compaction will be done for now.  We have asked for a structural engineer to come provide an inspection just to put some minds at ease.  The inspection will happen over break and they will notify me of any concerns.   No news will be considered good news.  The next couple weeks of construction with us out the building will be pivotal so let’s keep our fingers crossed for ideal conditions.  The power to this building will be shut off on the 27th from 9:45 to approximately 3:30ish.  If you are planning on coming into the school at any time over the break, please avoid this time frame.  We are taking precautions with the appliances to ensure that we are all set in the event that the power shut off last longer than anticipated.  When we come back from break, we should start to see evidence of a foundation for the building, which will be way more exciting than the dirt-moving show we’ve had recently.

SBAC

FYI – The second annual notice to parents regarding state testing and the opt out form will be sent this week in order to comply with the state guidelines for notifying families.  Obviously, this does not mean we will be testing in 30 days, but since the testing window will be open shortly after the new year the district ensures the notice is shared on time.

Site Council Meeting

Just a FYI since this will happen so quickly after we get back from winter break.

Thursday 1/11/18 4:00-5:00

SLGGs

Please make sure these are returned to me immediately.  I printed the form and completed as much as I could for those of you who have yet to return these to me, so please look them over, add anything necessary and return them to my box promptly.

2018 Enrollment Key Dates

That time of year is coming up on us quickly.  This year the district is rolling out an online application for magnet schools.  Paper copies will still be available, but the online application should help streamline the process for each of the school offices tremendously.

Parent Information Dates

  • February 6, 6:00-7:00pm
  • February 14, 3:00-4:00pm

Tours

  • February 15 2:30-3:30pm
  • February 20 2:30-3:30pm

Application Deadline

  • March 23, 4:00pm

Calendar

Please take a moment to glance at the calendar. – Calendar Link

 

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