Our EME Focus
- Tier 1 Instruction
- Belonging
- Define what it means to be an Art Focused School
Important Links
| FYI Form 2023-2024 | EME Start-Up Information |
| Master Schedule 2023-2024 | EME Newsletter |
| Referral for Counseling Services | SEL Support Request |
Thought of the Week
A book I have been reading recently, brought me back to the question of “WHY?”, and the parable of the three bricklayers.
Three bricklayers were asked what they were doing and the first said, I am a brick layer and I am working hard laying bricks to feed my family. The second brick layer replied, I am a builder and I am building a wall. Finally the third brick layer said, I am a cathedral builder and I am building a cathedral to my almighty God. Same work, three completely different perspectives! The first had a job, the second had a career, and the third had a calling. A purpose turns a job into a calling!
Why do we do this thing they call teaching? Is it the easiest thing? No. Does it pay the most? No. So, why?
It got me thinking that their are 3 reasons to do what we do.
- First, a paycheck or job. Plain and simple, I need to put food on the table and pay my bills.
- Second, a career or it’s what I do. I see the beginning and I see the end, or am I seeking a career that has decent benefits, good time off perks, and is a respected profession.
- Third, a calling or my purpose in this world. A purpose can turn a job into a calling! I see my daily “work” as completely fulfilling and what I was meant to do!
I believe we all experience all three of these throughout our teaching experiences and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. As you go through your day, please remember that you are doing some of the noblest work with the most profound impacts on the world! By continuing to ask ourselves “why” a goal is important, we can begin to unearth the deeper intentions we have that drive our daily actions and behaviors. By reconnecting to the impact we as teachers want to have on students, it can remind us why we got into the profession in the first place. I will repeat what I said earlier. We, as educators, create the equity in society! We truly are the reason that all students are able to receive an education! We give hope, and help to hold the equitable balances between different socio-economic populations. I know the work isn’t easy and sometimes the gratitudes are few and far between. Please, let me, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what you do, creating the equity in our world!
Upcoming Details
Monday
- Staff Meeting – 2:30
- iPad Checkout – See Media Center email for details
Tuesday:
- ICCL Meeting – 2:20
- Fall DIBELS
Wednesday:
- Fire Drill – 8:00
- Hearing Screenings – All Day
- First Early Release Wednesday
- Please remind parents and students
- SIW 1:30-3:00
- Camille – Proactive Strategies to PREVENT Escalation
- Reading Techniques
Thursday:
- Lockdown Drill – 8:00
- Grade Level PLC’s 2:30-3:10
Friday:
- Nothing on the Calendar
Upcoming Dates
- September 18 -19 – Dental Screening
- September 28 – School Bus Evacuation Drill
- September 28 – “Pop on In” Event/EME 30th Anniversary Celebration
- September 30 – Peter Hoover Birthday!
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!
Keeping Classrooms Critter-Free: As you all know Central Oregon is home to many critters who like to set up camp in and around our school buildings. Each year the Custodial and Maintenance Dept fields many phone calls and receives multiple work orders regarding various pests. Here is the newsletter created by Oregon State University Extension Service regarding Intergrated Pest Management and what you can do to avoid these critters in your schools. (cliff notes: ALL food should be stored in plastic tubs with tight fitting lids!) Wes and Walt appreciate the seriousness in which you take these guidelines, as it truly does help keep the pests at bay.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Systems Updates from Julie: Curriculum- If you have staff members who still need additional curriculum please have them fill out this form.
Access to Digital Tools Updates: Teaching and Learning and Instructional Technology are working hard to make sure each and every teacher and student has access to the digital tools they need for a successful start to the school year. The team has hit a few barriers along the way and is working hard to resolve those issues as quickly as possible.
Instructional Tech and Information Technology partnered to build an application where teachers can see what tools have been deployed to each of their classes. At the top of this page there is a feature where they can request a new tool. This can be requests to add, change, or remove tools
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Timelines to know:
- Wonders- a few rostering issues are happening currently. These should be resolved by next week . K-1 will only have access to the Teacher’s Edition. 2-5 will have access to both the Teacher’s Edition and the Student Edition
- Really Great Reading-Classroom teachers should have access to their online teaching tool and reading playgrounds by the end of this week. Blend classrooms are loaded and should be visible for teachers and students. Interventionists, Learning Specialists and Educational Assistants should have access by the middle of next week
- Lexia and Dreambox-a few rostering issues were happening earlier in the week and should now be resolved. Both programs should be visible for teachers and students
- Acadience– will be available early next week. If you don’t have what you need. Please let us know by following the link below:
- DIBELS testing starts next week. Here are a few reminders of building responsibilities for setting up for a successful testing day.
- The DIBELS team tests all students K-5. The only exception to this is students who need to be tested by a familiar tester.
- Set up the testing space with at least 12 testing spaces
- Have school staff (interventionists, educational assistants) available to support testing
- Arrange to have a runner available to pick up classes at testing time and to help manage classes when waiting to be tested
- Send a schedule of when classes will be tested out to staff
- Optional but very appreciated: a few snacks for the team
Instructional Coaches– Next week a few of our instructional coaches are completing a two-year LETRS (Language Essentials for Teaching Reading and Spelling) training and will officially become LETRS facilitators. This will allow us as a district to train district staff in LETRS. This is a note to let you know that Sara Swedlund, Dyan Sultzer and Kaelynn Adams will not be in buildings next week.
Cafe Opportunity- As one of our key tools for translation/interpretation access, our school district offers an optional opportunity for bilingual staff: the CAFE Program. This is a program in which trained, qualified bilingual staff can receive an annual stipend for their language skills and for the occasional support they provide with multilingual family communication.
If you are interested in learning more, please click here. The sign-up/interest form linked on page 2 must be completed by Tuesday, September 19th. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will contact you after that point for next steps to get you going with testing, training, and the stipend. Note: Current CAFE Program members do not need to re-apply, but are welcome to participate in the training as a refresher if desired.
Information about the CAFE Program (including a list of colleagues who are already CAFE members, whom you’re welcome to contact to learn more about their experiences last year) is always available on the Portal’s Equity page, under ‘Employee Resources and Programs.
