Week at a Glance

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Tuesday: Elementary Administrator Meeting in the Media Center @ 3:00-4:30
• Wednesday:  Kindness Assembly @ 8:30; SIW: Conference Prep
• Friday:  Fun Friend Friday Grade Level Lunch

The week after a break period is always a prime time to re-teach expectations. We are planning for a re-teach of lunch expectations on Monday.

Thank you for all of your work with Art Night.  What an amazing event!  You really set our students up to shine.  With some families unable to attend and Conferences right around the corner, I hope you will consider leaving the art up until after Conferences.

Welcome back Matthew! It’s great to have you back.

Over Spring Break we are hosting Operation Recreation in the gym (daily from 7:30-5:30) and will also have people from the Maintenance Department here working on projects. In the event you come to Lava during break, please enter through the front doors, be ready to disarm the alarm (shouldn’t be necessary during the times Operation Recreation is here), and write your name on the white board upon entry. As you leave, please erase your name, set the alarm (if you are the last person on site) and exit through the front doors. In the event you set off the alarm, be ready to call the alarm company (the number is by the alarm panel) and let the dispatcher know our password: Kennedy (Kennedy is now strategically on the white board in a not-to-obvious place as a reminder)

This is the time of year, when questions can arise about the dress code policy. Here are the latest regulations that were updated last school year. Please let me know if you have any questions.

From Jenny White: Life and Career Readiness: Support students to develop healthy personal boundaries through activities and discussions that promote self-confidence, character, and the ability to set and maintain boundaries in various contexts. Directions on how to find the collections on Wayfinder. Direct Links: Kindergarten. 1st – 2nd. 3rd – 5th

We are excited to kick-off the character trait of Kindness! Here again are the slides from Robin. Kindness slides

We will have a brief period in which ordering will be put on hold when Haley begins her leave. This should only last a couple of days. Haley is planning to place final orders on April 16 prior to closing out her accounts. Thank you for keeping this in mind for those items you will need before May 5.

On the money front, we are planning for our annual discretionary spending cut-off being May 3rd. This is only for discretionary dollars (the money we receive from the school district)

Next week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Tuesday: Cameron Fischer (School Board) Visiting @ 9:00; Sibling Conference Scheduling @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  EA Monthly Meeting @ 12:10; SIW-Teacher Prep; Art Night @ 5:30-6:30;  MOD Pizza Fundraiser*
• Thursday: Lava Teams @ 2:30
• Friday:  Mismatch and Mustache Dress-Up Day

*The Mod Pizza Yumm Raiser is at 20516 Robal Rd, Suite 190.  The code for the event  is MODGIVES25.  MOD Pizza will donate 25% of proceeds to the Lava Ridge PTO. Feel free to message a reminder about this event to families next week. Thank you

Each year a Classified and Certified Employee is selected for the Excellence in Education Award. We need your help in selecting our recipients for this year and invite you to nominate a colleague using the doc below. Here is a list of past recipients of this award at Lava Ridge.

Excellence in Education Nomination Form

The week of April 8th, PTO is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair in the Media Center. Students will be able to visit during school on Monday and Tuesday and also during Conferences. There will not be BOGO offers at this fair. More details to come soon.

Kina Powell will be serving as our Office Manager after Haley begins a leave in early May. We have posted a temporary EA position that coincides with this change and plan to interview candidates after Spring Break.

Commute Options will be here next week teaching bike safety to 5th graders and pedestrian safety to 1st. The team returns the week of May 6-10, for 4th grade bike safety and additional pedestrian safety lessons.

From Jenny White:

• The Wayfinder highlight this week is Restorative Circles.  In the TLC update there was a highlight on Restorative Practices so below are additional collections that will give you resources for your community connection time.
• Facilitate restorative circles that encourage dialogue, empathy, and understanding. This collection of lessons and activities can be used to provide a platform for conflict resolution, healing, and strengthening relationships within the classroom community.
• Directions on how to find the Restorative Circles in Wayfinder.
• Direct Links to Wayfinder’s Collection
• Kindergarten
• 1st – 2nd
• 3rd – 5th

Next week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Tuesday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  SIW: Naglieri Test Training (2^nd) @ 1:45; State Testing Training (3^rd – 5^th) @ 2:00 in the Media Center; K, 1^st : Wayfinder or RGR Focus
• Thursday:  Cooley Closure Begins; 4^th MTSS @ 2:30;  PLC Meetings* K-3^rd, 5^th @ 2:30
• Friday:  Wear Green Day!  Bubble Party at PM Recess (more details to come)

*The ICCL Team discussed the dashboard in Dreambox and planning for Wayfinder as potential items for teams to discuss this week during PLC Meetings.

In the next couple of weeks we should receive detailed feedback from the safety representatives that visited on Tuesday. During this meeting one of the things we discussed was whether classroom doors should be locked during the day. We learned that doors should be locked at al times, and can be either closed and locked or open to the neighborhood commons and locked. Office doors do not need to be locked.

The Art Night invitation is being sent to families later today.

The Erin’s Law letter will be sent to Lava families on Monday. Here is a copy.

From Jenny White: Wayfinder Activities of the week are focused this week on commitment and growth mindset. Kindergarten: Intro to Growth Mindset. 1^st – 2^nd: Drawing, Dancing, Dialogue. 3^rd – 5^th: Intro to Goal Setting

Finally, if you are having a bad day, try calling: 707-8-PEPTOC. You won’t regret it! Really—do it!

Next week is an A Week

Thank you Classified Staff for all of your hard work! You are the best!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting at 2:30
• Tuesday: District Safety Team Visit
• Wednesday:  SIW: Erin’s Law preparation time @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday:  Lion Pride Drawing @ Lunches; 5^th MTSS @ 2:30;  PTO Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center (No PLC Meetings)
• Friday:  Lunches-Fun Friend Friday grade level lunch

On Tuesday, members of the district safety team will be on site providing feedback on safety preparedness at Lava Ridge.  You will likely see people in your classroom or area as they gather information. In classrooms and office areas, they will be looking for:

• Evacuation maps near the main door of classrooms and office spaces.
• Interior windows free of obstruction.  Line of site is clear from the neighborhood commons into classrooms. 
• Standard Response Protocol (SRP) posters located in classrooms and office spaces.
• No ropes, magnets, or other mechanical devices in the way of securing classroom or office doors.

In the event you do not have a SRP poster or evacuation map for your classroom or office, please let Haley know.

On Monday, the ICCL Team discussed Art Night. Here are all of the details.

On Monday, Stephanie Wrather will be begin substituting for Kassi during her leave.

Forefront Dashboards! You will notice you now have a Dashboard in the sidebar of Forefront. This was created to help facilitate Mid-Year Core Instruction Check-ins. Reach out to Kerry Morton or Sara if you have any questions.

We have canceled PLC Meetings on Thursday, so a member of each grade level can attend the PTO Meeting. Thank you for supporting our PTO!

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Monday: ICCL Meeting @ 2:30
• Wednesday:  Character Trait Awards @ Lunches; SIW-Educator Network Day
• Thursday: Leap Day! Lava Teams @ 2:30
• Friday:  Dress Up Day:  Favorite Book Character; Fun Friend Friday @ Lunches; Read-In 1:30-2:00

Wonders Reading Materials update: The district is in the process of locating a purchaser to buy the Wonders teacher manuals and anthologies at the end of the school year.  As you complete units in your classroom, feel free to send home leveled readers with students as these will not be included in the TEs and anthologies sale.

A Life and Career Readiness note from Jenny White-This week’s highlight in Wayfinder is encouragement which can be found in the Activity Library in Wayfinder.

• Encouragement Relay (K – 3)
• Encouragement Wings (2 – 6) In this exercise you might want to assign partners and make sure every student will get a set of wings.

As we discussed at the Staff Meeting, on Thursday February 29 from 5:30-8:00 the KIDS Center is offering a free, 2-hour training for families with students in grades 4-10 on internet safety.  Sky View Middle School is hosting this event.  Dinner is provided and families will learn more about online risks to children and how to prevent them. Interested? Register here. 

Next week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Tuesday: Read-A-Thon Begins!  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  12:10-EA Meeting in A3; Baby Celebration @ 1:30 in the Media Center; SIW:  Teacher Prep
• Thursday:  Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches; Kindergarten MTSS @ 2:30 (PLC meetings for other grade levels)  
• Friday: Buddy Recesses and Lunches

Here is additional copy of the staff details for the Read-A-Thon. The “Great Lava Ridge Read-In” will be from 1:30-2:00 on March 1st.

The ICCL Team discussed having Art Night earlier this year and have decided to go with March 20th. The event will be from 5:30-6:30 and we are planning to offer early entrance again for our students and families that benefit from quieter and less crowded environments. Similar to years past, staff will not be required to attend. We’ll discuss more at the Staff Meeting on Tuesday.

Recently we have had some students that are leaving early for an appointment exit the school without checking out in the office. At your next morning meeting, will you please remind your students about the student entrance to the office and the need to always exit through the office if they are leaving during the student day. Thank you!

A reminder that the deadline to apply for the second round of Education Foundation Grants is March 1. Grants will be awarded in the following three areas: STEM, PE, and Art/Music. Teachers who did not receive funding in Fall 2023 will receive first priority. Here is a link to apply.

Next week is a B Week

Happenings This Week at Lava Ridge:

• Tuesday:  ICCL Training/Meeting @ 3:15 in the Media Center
• Wednesday: Valentine’s Day! SIW Mid Year Core Effectiveness @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday:  Earthquake Drill; 1^st MTSS @ 2:30
• Friday: Fun Friend Friday grade level lunches

On Tuesday I’ll be out of the building assisting with the Elk Meadow principal interviews at District Office

It’s almost time to “Read Around the Ridge” during the PTO, Read-A-Thon, February 20-March 1st!  Here are some of the details:

• PTO is planning to send home an informational sheet next week. Keep an eye out for this in your mailbox.
• On March 1st we will have a “dress as your favorite book character” dress-up day and in the afternoon a schoolwide, read-in (ie. everyone reads at the same time across the school) 
• On March 15^th, every grade level will have an afternoon recess that will be a bubble party!   
• Families will be encouraged to donate via FundHub

From Jenny White (SEL/LCR):This collection from Wayfinder engages students in fun interactive games that promote engagement.  This collection include games the encourage cooperation, adaptability, and connection. Directions on how to find the collection in Wayfinder. Direct Links. Kindergarten. 1st – 2nd. 3rd – 5th

Soon we will be learning the storage/disposal plan for Wonders resources. At this point, you can send home the leveled readers with students or keep them for future use in your classroom.

Looking for a great read?  Here are some recommendations from our staff:

• Boys of Biloxi
• Tuesdays With Morrie (or any book by Mitch Albom)
• The Silent Patient
• The House in the Cerulean Sea
• November 9
• Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing
• The Boy who Wore Blue
• The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
• Boys on the Boat
• The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge-

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting @ 2:30
• Tuesday:  SVMS Music Orientation for 5^th grade @ 1:20 in the gym; Social Team Meeting @ 2:30
• Wednesday:  SIW-Math Focus @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches; 2^nd MTSS (PLC Meeting for other grade levels) @ 2:30

It’s National School Counseling Week! Thank you for everything you do for our students, Madeline. We are so happy to have you and your services this year at Lava Ridge!

School Resource Officer Appreciation Day is on February 15th. If you or your class would like to recognize our SRO, Keely Cashman-Caceres, cards/pictures of appreciation can be sent to Kayla in the Safety Department.

On Tuesday, Laura Cooper will be on site shadowing Joelle and preparing to begin as the long term substitute for Joelle during her leave.

Education Foundation Grants–Round 2! The Education Foundation will begin accepting applications for a second round of grants beginning February 5th. This time, the grants will be awarded in the following three areas: STEM, PE, and Art/Music. Teachers who did not receive funding in Fall 2023 will receive first priority. The grant application closes on March 1, and will be announced March 6-15th. www.blpedfoundation.or

Next Week is a B Week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Wednesday: Character Trait Awards @ Lunches; SIW:Teacher Prep; 1st Grade Penguins and Winter @ 6:00 in the gym
• Thursday: DIBELS Day; MTSS 3rd Grade @ 2:30 (Other grade levels PLC Meetings)
• Friday: Teacher Workday

Heads Up…We will be doing our January fire drill this week.

From Dave Van Loo in Assessment: Here is an opportunity for LA or math teachers to make some extra money and learn a bit more about testing and their content areas.

Here are the resources Megan shared with us recently for Black History month.

It was wonderful to have the Sky View Middle School Creative Writing students reading to our students on Thursday. Here is a link to the story KTVZ broadcasted about the event.

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week (It’s Spirit Week!) at Lava Ridge:

• Monday:  Pajama Day
• Tuesday: Show Your School Spirit Day
• Wednesday:  Crazy Hat and/or Hair Day; Safety Assembly @ 10:00 (loading at 9:55); SIW: Grade Level Report Card Planning and Discussion + Staff YouthTruth Survey @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday:  Crazy Socks Day; SVMS Creative Writing Class Reading to 1st (10:25-10:40) and 2nd (10:50-11:05) grades; Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches;  PLC Meetings @ 2:30
• Friday:  Color the Rainbow Day;  Buddy Recess and Lunch

Families received the most recent newsletter on Tuesday (the attached doc does not include the attachments that were in the newsletter that was sent)

Heads Up! Principals learned today that all report card information will need to be entered into Synergy by the close of the workday on February 2nd.

From Julie Walker: Check out this one-pager on marking lessons as complete in Wayfinder.

From the Ed Foundation: Education Foundation Grants–Round 2! The Education Foundation is doing a second round of classroom grants. This time, the grants will be awarded in the following three areas: STEM, PE, and Art/Music. Teachers who did not receive funding in Fall 2023 will receive first priority. The grant application opens on February 5th, closes on March 1, and will be announced March 6-15th. It’s not too early to start thinking of what you may need!

Next Week is a B Week