PBIS- Thanks to the PBIS team for presenting some important reminders and keeping our PBIS efforts in the forefront. As mentioned, this is an important time for all of us to focus on clear and consistent expectations for our students. We have some great momentum as our students have been doing a terrific job this year. That being said, the next couple months are some of the hardest for students (and staff), so it’s imperative that we continue to apply and reinforce our PBIS strategies. When we let down, they let down. Thanks again to the PBIS team and let’s continue the positive trajectory we have been on all year.
January Character Trait- As we learned on Wednesday, January’s character trait is cooperation. Continue to look for and recognize students exhibiting cooperation. We will have our January character trait assembly on Thursday, January 26. Time TBD. This month’s character trait is also a pretty important one for the adults in the building. January and February can be challenging times for all. Try your best to remember that we all want the same thing- our kids to be successful- and that happens best when we all work together.
“For me, the issue revolves around the nature of adults’ personal and professional relationships within schools. The success of a school, I believe, depends above all on the quality of interactions between teacher and teacher and teacher and administrator.” Roland Barth- Improving Schools from Within.
I’ve seen it time and time again, when the staff works well together, lifts each other up, supports, encourages, and cooperates, a school can do amazing things for its students. On the other hand, gossip, selfishness, complaining and negativity are a recipe for student failure.
Staff Meeting- We have our first staff meeting of 2023 scheduled for Monday, January 9. It will start at 2:30 in the library and be a short, one item agenda. Marci will be sharing information on the reading adoption, specifically the core beliefs, and asking for feedback. Jon will be at a mandatory principal training that afternoon and Gary is taking his son to college and will also be out Monday, so Marci will start and end the meeting with her information.
Youth Truth- Jon will be sending the Youth Truth survey out in the newsletter soon for parents. Jon will have sent out the Youth Truth survey to you prior to the staff meeting, so with the abbreviated meeting, you are welcome to use the extra time to complete the survey.
Staffing Update- Good news for Sadie as her leave has been extended to March 20. In the meantime, Jodi Baxter finished her time with us yesterday and Victoria Allende will be taking over until Sadie’s return in March. Many thanks to Jodi for all of her work with the fifth graders. Welcome to Victoria who will be part of Buckingham until Sadie’s return.
Yearbook- If you haven’t already put pictures in the yearbook google doc, then please do so soon. Becky needs these pictures so she can get the yearbook completed. Thank you!
February 2nd- Classified staff highlighted in yellow will have required and optional professional development opportunities on Thursday, February 2 (no school, but it is a work day for all). Please refer to the link above for directions on registering for PD that day.
For certified staff and classified not highlighted in yellow, our morning will be site directed PD and our afternoon will be work time. The morning PD will include a required 30 minute cyber security training. More info to come.
Vision Screening- We have been scheduled for vision screening on Thursday, January 19. It will run much like the dental screening, with someone coming to get or calling for your class to go to a designated spot. It will be FOR ALL GRADES and we will start with 5th graders at 9:00ish, and move down from there. It shouldn’t take longer than about 10 minutes per class.
Bingo Night- We will be having a PTA Family Bingo Night on Friday, February 24. Be on the lookout for more info soon!
Upcoming Events
January 11- Fire Drill- 9:30
January 11- SIW- Educator Network Day- Lava Ridge
January 12- 3rd Grade MTSS- 2:30
January 17- Winter Dibels
January 17- Lockdown- 1:35 (If we learn that Dibels won’t be done by that time of the day, we will change the lockdown to January 19 at the same time)
January 18- SIW- Teacher Prep
January 19- Vision Screening
January 19- 2nd Grade MTSS- 2:30
February 24- Bingo Night