Archive for June 8, 2025

June 9th, 2025

June 8, 2025

Our EME Focus

  • Tier 1 Instruction
  • Belonging
  • Define what it means to be an Integrated Arts School

Thought of the Week

Giga-waabamin minawaa…

Alright, so a little explanation might be needed. Giga-waabamin minawaa is Ojibwe or Anishinaabe for “I’ll see you again.” There is actually not a word in the Ojibwe language for goodbye. Rather, the standard phrase is Giga-waabamin minawaa or I’ll see you again. So it does seem fitting to end my last blog post with this.

As the time comes for me to say giga-waabamin minawaa, I want to share how deeply grateful I am to have worked with each of you. This team isn’t just a group of colleagues, you’ve become a true family to me, and leaving is bittersweet.

Thank you for your hard work, your creativity, and the kindness you’ve shown me and each other every day. Together, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated wins, and grown in ways I’ll always remember. Your dedication has inspired me more than words can say.

I leave with a heart full of appreciation for the friendships I’ve found and the times we’ve shared. I believe in every one of you and the meaningful work you do! Keep supporting each other and remember; don’t ask anybody to do something you are not willing to do yourself, everybody does everything, culture is what you allow and always put your family first…

Though I’m moving on, I’ll carry these memories and the spirit of this Elk Meadow with me. I wish you all the very best, and I hope our paths cross again someday.

With warmest thanks and all my best,

So… I this is a quote I have always loved

Don’t be sad it is ending… be happy we lived it.

THE COMING WEEK:

  • Monday
    • Meet with Peter 2:30
  • Tuesday
    • ICCL Meeting 2:30-3:15
    • 5th Grade Move Up/Music Performance
  • Wednesday
    • Office Admin Meeting 7:00-7:30
    • SIW Teacher Prep 1:00-2:30
  • Thursday
    • The Last Day of School!
  • Friday
    • Finish Up

UPCOMING DATES:

  • June 15 – Father’s Day!
  • June 17 – Nicole Garroutte Birthday!

Updates from Downtown

From Tammy and Karen

Thank You! Thank you does not seem enough for all the hard decisions, conversations, and support you are providing your staffs right now. Know that we appreciate you all so much. These are not fun times, but working with an amazing elementary leadership group like you makes it a little more tolerable. You’re the best and we wish you all a fun and smooth last week of the school year!

Save the Date! Last week we indicated that there would be a training later this month in lieu of the All Admin SIW that was canceled this week. The day for that official training is Monday, June 23. It will be a 4 hour training, but which half of the day you attend depends on who has and has not read the book, ” Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity”, so block out the whole day to be safe! Look for more to come on this from Lisa. If there is a problem with you attending this day, please reach out to your level leader to let them know.

Important Links

Notes from our Team:

From HR Classified Team:

We are excited to share that the start dates for the 2025-26 school year are now available and posted on the Portal here. Complete work calendars for all classified employees are nearly finalized and will be uploaded to the Portal as soon as they are ready; we appreciate your patience as we put the finishing touches on them.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support and dedication – wishing you an enjoyable wrap-up to the end of the school year!

Check out the above trainings with the Culture of Care this August. You can register here. (Just remember that our Elementary Admin Welcome Back will be August 11).

Action Items

  • Save the Date–June 23! For an All Admin PD
  • Check out the classified calendar for the 25-26 year. Stay tuned for the rest
  • Check out and sign up for any of the Culture of Care trainings in August you (or your team) may be interested in attending.
  • and…All the many things you do to make the end of the year joyful and memorable for your staff and students!

Important Dates

  • June 12: Last Day students—half day
  • June 13: Last Day staff
  • June 23: Belonging Training—half day, but stay tuned to which half you need!

And finally…Caption this…text Tammy with your caption to be entered into a drawing for something fun!

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June 3rd, 2025

June 1, 2025

Our EME Focus

  • Tier 1 Instruction
  • Belonging
  • Define what it means to be an Integrated Arts School

Thought of the Week

Just the Memories…

If there is one thought I really want to leave you with, it is this truth…

One day your job as a teacher is going to come to an end and the only thing that you and your students are going to have left are the memories. But here’s the facts, and here’s what nobody’s going to tell you. Your students, they’re going to forget the content that you taught them.They might forget how to add two fractions together. They might forget how to do long division. They might even forget how to write in cursive. But here’s what they’re not going to forget. They’re never going to forget the way they felt every day walking into your classrooms. They’re never going to forget what you said to them when they made a poor choice or weren’t at their best. They won’t forget the advice you gave. They won’t forget the laughs you made and they won’t forget the way you made them feel when they experienced loss or sadness. One day they might even come back and say thank you, and  I promise they’re not going to thank you for the lessons. They’re not going to thank you for the worksheets and they are not going to thank you for the tests. They’re going to thank you because you touched their heart and changed their lives forever.

THE COMING WEEK:

  • Monday
    • Dibels
    • Staff Meeting 2:30-3:15
  • Tuesday
    • EME Safety Meeting 7:00-7:30
    • Elementary Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
  • Wednesday
    • Office Admin Meeting 7:00-7:30
    • SIW Art in the Meadow Prep 1:00-2:30
    • Admin PD 3:00-4:30
  • Thursday
    • Counselor Celebration at District Office 7:30-9:30
    • Fire Drill 8:15
    • Sped Team Meeting – 2:30-3:15
  • Friday
    • EET Weekly Meeting 8:00-9:00
    • Author Visit for 4th and 5th grade 9:45-10:45
    • Field Day
    • Art in the Meadow 5:30-7:00

UPCOMING DATES:

  • June 9 – Meet with Peter 2:30
  • June 10 – Care Teams 7:00-8:00
  • June 10 – ICCL Meeting 2:30-3:15
  • June 10 – 5th Grade Move Up/Music Performance
  • June 11 – Office Admin Meeting 7:00-7:30
  • June 11 – SIW Teacher Prep 1:00-2:30
  • June 12 – The Last Day of School!
  • June 12 – Sped Team Meeting – 2:30-3:15
  • June 13 – EET Weekly Meeting 8:00-9:00
  • June 15 – Father’s Day!
  • June 17 – Nicole Garroutte Birthday!
  • June 17 – Admin EOY Celebration
  • June 19 – Holiday

Updates from Downtown

From Tammy and Karen

As we turn the corner into June next week, it’s hard to believe there are only a handful of days left with our students and staff. This time of year is often packed with activities, deadlines, and final events—but in the midst of the busyness, don’t forget to pause and soak in the moments that make it all worthwhile. From heartfelt goodbyes to joyful celebrations, these are the memories that stay with us. Let’s finish strong—and take time to truly enjoy the journey.

Important Links

Notes from our Team:

From Julie Richards, Curriculum and Instruction: Please share with your classified staff

Are you interested in helping to check-in, unpack and organize our new Elementary Mathematics Curriculum?  If so, we are hiring internal classified employees to work for 2+ weeks from August 6th-the 19th.  If you would like to apply to be a part of this team follow these steps:

  1. login to UKG
  2. Go to 3 bars at top
  3. click on my info
  4. click on my career
  5. click on search for jobs
  6. search for “Elementary Mathematics Materials Distribution”
  7. click on Apply Now

Please reach out to Julie Richards with any questions you have. 

From Eric Powell – Student Support

Hello School Leaders!

As you all plan for your annual end-of-the-year activities on campus (carnivals, field days, etc.), we wanted to encourage school teams to be thinking about our students who tend to struggle during unstructured activities and events. 

Please work with your various teams on campus to identify students who may need extra scaffolding and/or supports to participate in these fun end-of-the-year events. 

Thank you all for your continued leadership and enjoy these last few weeks of school.

From Ryan Kelling – Human Resources

Secondary Assistant Principal Pool Now Open

We’ve officially opened our recruitment process for the Secondary Assistant Principal Pool, with separate tracks for Middle School and High School roles. While this pool currently reflects just one confirmed vacancy (resulting from Mary Thomas’ exciting move to Realms as Principal), we are still determining where the resulting opening will ultimately land.

If you’re currently in an elementary role and are interested in exploring a move to secondary – or if you’re in a secondary AP role and considering a shift – please connect with Ryan before applying to talk through how this process works and what possibilities might emerge.

Stay tuned for more updates as things evolve.

BLAST Classification and Title Change

We’re excited to share a small but meaningful update to the titles used on our BLAST salary schedule. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, we will be eliminating the Dean of Students title from the schedule and moving to a single title of Assistant Principal for all staff in these leadership roles.

What’s changing?
Only the title. The calendar days and salary schedule remain the same. This update is simply a move toward consistency and clarity across our school leadership structure.

Why the change?
The work our Deans of Students do every day is already aligned with that of Assistant Principals, and in many ways indistinguishable in terms of impact, leadership, and responsibility. This adjustment brings greater alignment to the title and the role, something we believe better reflects the incredible contributions of these team members.

We’re grateful for the leadership of all our school administrators and are excited to continue supporting this important work under a shared title. If you have any questions about the change, feel free to reach out to Ryan.

From Kerry Morton in Teaching and Learning

It’s that time! Bridges & Number Corner Recycling and Disposal! 

  • Your custodial staff received this message from Madalyn Paquette on Wednesday.
    • In the email, it indicates the custodians should check with admin about where the containers should be placed
  • Please share this flyer with your teachers about the process for recycling the materials. Miller, High Lakes, and Pine Ridge will only receive the bin for binders since you are donating materials.

Action Items

  • Share the flyer about Recycling Materials with teachers.
  • Share information about Curriculum unpacking opportunity with classified staff
  • Attend Counseling Celebration on June 5th
  • and…All the many things you do to make the end of the year joyful and memorable for your students!

Important Dates

  • June 5: Counseling Celebration in the board room, 7:30-9:30
  • June 5: TAG Team meeting, 3:45 in the boardroom
  • June 12: Last Day students—half day
  • June 13: Last Day staff

And finally…

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