Happy First Week of School!
Our EME Focus
- Tier 1 Instruction
- Belonging
- Define what it means to be an Art Focused School
Thoughts of the Week
Below is a blog post I came across from a former administrator here in the district. Gary was the first person I talked to about Education in Oregon before I moved out here from Minnesota!
If I was in your shoes…by Gary Timms
Posted on March 29, 2020 by Gary Timms
Well, we are about to embark into uncharted waters. No one knows for sure what this will look like and how long it will last. What I do know is that when our students look back on this years from now, the first thing they think about probably won’t be a lesson you planned or a worksheet they completed or an activity aimed at helping them master an ELA or Math standard. I believe they’ll remember the communication, contact and care that came from their teacher in a time of fear and uncertainty. Our students need us now more than ever. Not so much to give them work and help them keep up on their math facts, but they need us to love them, care for them and bring some normalcy into their lives. The connections you make with your students during this time will be the most important thing you do.
What the daily routine, workload or method of connecting looks like this week will in all likelihood look very different at the end of April. We’re going to learn and grow and evolve and get better every day at this new way of educating our students. We’re in this together. Reach out to ask for help and give help every time there’s a need. And when trying to figure out this new way of doing business begins to get a little bit overwhelming, take a deep breath and remember what your students will remember- you helping them in a time of need. Best of luck this week and moving forward! Thanks for all you do.
I am taken aback by how much of this is still true. We are still charting those waters and we still do not know what it will look like in the end… but one thing we do know is that years from now kids will not remember the lessons, worksheets, videos, or math and ELA lessons they did. What they will remember is how they felt and the special memories you gave them! They absolutely need us to show them love and caring. They do still need us to be a safe place with consistency and “normalcy”. I have never heard a student or adult talk about that lesson they did years ago, they talk about that awesome teacher that made it happen! Gary is right! We still are in this together. Be vulnerable, ask for help. I certainly am not perfect in practice and definitely do not know everything. None of us are or do. Let’s be that FAMILY that is willing to grow together. Forget About Me, I Love You!
Important Links
Opening Week Presentations
- Ben BOY Presentation
- Celebrating Our 2023 Summer
- Amanda Behavior Presentation
- Referral For Counseling Services
Survey Results
- When you Co-Create your classroom expectations – please make sure to define these four areas as your foundations. Thank you for all your help with this!
- We are Safe
- We are Kind
- We are Responsible
- We are Brave
Upcoming Details
Monday:
- Labor Day – NO SCHOOL
Tuesday:
- New hires – Work Day
- Returning Certified Staff – Optional Work Day (required if you didn’t work Monday, August 28)
Wednesday:
- Kids are Back!!
- We will run the Tuesday Schedule
Upcoming Dates
- September 11 – All Staff Meeting – 2:30
- September 12 – ICCL Meeting – 2:20
- September 12 – Fall DIBELS
- September 12 – Fire Drill – 8:00AM
- September 13 – First Early Release Wednesday
- September 13 – PD for SIW
- Camille –
- Reading Techniques
- September 14 – Lockdown Drill – 8:00AM
- September 14 – Grade Level PLC’s 2:30-3:10
- September 18 -19 – Dental Screening
- September 14 – Lockdown Drill – 8:00AM
- September 28 – School Bus Evacuation Drill
- September 28 – “Pop on In” Event/EME 30th Anniversary Celebration
- September 30 – Peter Hoover Birthday!
Safety Reminders
- Outside doors and gates need to be locked at all times. Playground doors will be unlocked by a duty at the beginning of recess and then locked by a duty at the end of recess.
- DO NOT prop open your exterior door if you have one, even if it is facing the playground.
- Everyone MUST wear their ID badge or visitor sticker. If you see anyone without one, please send them back to the office.
Updates from Downtown
- Education Foundation Classroom Grant Application: Here is a flyer from the Education Foundation with the information. Stay tuned for a video and more information to come! Who can say no to free money! Get those creative juices flowing!
- Tower Theatre Opportunities: We are excited to announce The Tower Theatre’s LessonPLAN Education Series for the 2023-24 school year. Since 2011, our award-winning education and outreach program has connected over 40,000 students to performing arts in Central Oregon. We believe that the key to creating a vibrant future for the arts is passing the love of it onto the next generation.
- HERE is the season, locations, and costs. We have 5 performances held at the Theatre, an amazing, diverse, and sensory friendly mix, and 6 in school performances that would love a host school. To make reservations, please email Becca Swain, Education Coordinator, at [email protected].
- Please include your school’s name, grade, how many students, and chaperones/teachers you estimate bringing. Reservations are taken on a first come first serve basis, and often get reserved quickly, so please let us know as soon as you can if you want to sign up.
General Information
iPad Roll-out – Lindsey and Lauren are planning to roll iPads back out to students as quickly as they can. Look for more information coming from them about how that process will go this year.