Tamarack Programs

Article of the Week:

Mindful Schools (Access the About Tab for great information on Mindfulness)

Important Notes:

ASEOP Update– Happening Monday at 11:00am- please make sure you make the needed changes on Monday!

ASEOP Changes Document

Fire Safety–On Friday, January 4^th, the district sent a fire & life safety message in the Staff Spotlight to all staff, reminding them of several important practices. We want to emphasize two of these to all administrators:

• Staff should check for any blocked or impaired fire/life safety devices in their classrooms or workplaces. If they have any potential issues, these are to be reported to administrators and/or staff custodians. These issues should be addressed as quickly as possible.
• It is a violation of the law to alter, remove, or tamper with any fire safety components.

New DHS Hotline- I am sure many of you are aware of this, but if not, here is some more information on the new DHS statewide hotline.  DHS is in the process of implementing a statewide Child Abuse Hotline, which will be completed in April 2019, but it has already been started in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook Counties beginning on November 1, 2018. The reporting number has changed. It is now 541-693-2854 statewide.

• They are working to correct some telephone line problems
• There will be the ability for the caller to leave their return phone number in case they can’t wait for someone to answer
• They are in the process of hiring 75% additional staff to handle these calls!
• They have implemented an email address for people to send concerns/feedback to:
  • [email protected]

This Weeks Weather

Mindfulness is the Word of the Month

Article of the Week:

As we start out the New Year- here is a great article to reconnect you with the work you do as successful educators!

25 Things Successful Educators Do Differently

Important Notes:

Updates to Wednesday PD and Meeting Schedule-

January 30th will be a grade day prep for all teams.

Instead of professional development and meeting times for the month of February, we will be meeting one on one to review goals and check-in both Certified and Classified Staff. Additionally, I want to take time to work with, listen to, and understand everyone’s professional development goals (really what you are wanting to learn) in the coming year.  Finding time when students are in session and we are all on the floor is tricky! I will be reaching out to schedule each of these with you all in the coming days. If you are not scheduled on a particular Wednesday, these days will be considered instructional prep and IEP work days.

**One on One Meeting Dates: 2.6.19, 2.13.19, 2.20.19, 3.6.19, 3.13.19, 3.20.19 (The dates originally scheduled as work days for Certified staff will remain protected time- 2.6.19 & 3.6.19).

**2.27.19  Will remain as scheduled (PD/CPI Review for K-5’s, Staff Meeting 6-12).

We need to make sure we are delivering curriculum on Bullying to our students in the program. Below is the link to the curriculum (which may need to be modified to fit our students needs). If you have not used the curriculum yet this year, please make a plan as to when you will be using it and submit it to me. If you have used it, please send me a note with dates the instruction was provided. One note to think about, we want to make sure we give intervention to those who are bullying others as well as those who are being bullied. **Tamarack MS and HS- we can discuss who will deliver the curriculum at SET.

Bully Curriculum for Elementary and Secondary Schools

This Weeks Weather

12.24.18-1.4.19 – Winter Break

Article of the Week:

Tips for Teachers: How to Recharge during Winter Break

Important Notes:

NO K-12 Meeting: Tam @ Ed Center you could use this for the SRP Training!

K-12 Field Trip to Sunriver: on Thursday 12.20.18! Make sure you work with your students on plans for hands and feet to self during the visit through the Gingerbread Village! Also, do you have a plan for a student if/when they exhibit challenging behaviors during the field trip? Happy to help develop these plans if needed, but we will want to make sure there is a plan in place!

Safe Schools are DUE this month!

CPS: You might want to add this to your calendar and begin spreading the word… Dr. Ross Greene, author of books that include: The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and Raising Human Beings is coming to Bend on May 17, 2019.

State Budget: As you have likely read by now, Governor Kate Brown has released her recommended budget. This year the Governor’s Recommended Budget includes clear priorities to better fund k-12 schools. Still a long way from being approved, it is nonetheless welcome news to have funding Oregon schools closer to the national average (QEM) than it ever has been in recent memory. Here are some highlights of the Governor’s Recommended Budget.

New School Naming- Many of you have probably read in the paper that the board now has the final three name choices for our new elementary school. The board will choose and announce at the January meeting. The three finalists are: North Star, Ruth Reid and Florence Drake. You can read the bulletin article here.

Start Time- Here is an interesting article on start times I hope you will find that this information helps validate the start time changes we will be undertaking next school year.

This Weeks Weather

The Word of the Month is Giving!

~How are you incorporating this with the students?

Article of the Week:

When Was the Last Time You Wrote a Positive Note Home to Parents?

Important Notes:

*I will be out on Monday at a conference in Redmond.

December 19th K-12 Meeting Cancelled! Please be on the watch for the DRAFT Design Plan and next steps!

Tamarack @ Ed. Center- You could use this time for your SRP training!

Reminder- Field Trip 12.20.18!

This Weeks Weather

December word of the Month: Giving

Article of the Week:

When Kids Lead

Important Notes:

Wednesday is a work day!

I will be sending the form and a district letter to all of our Tamarack Families this week. Just wanted y’all to have access to extra copies! SBAC: Here is the Opt-Out form (Spanish, English).

Field Trip to Sunriver Gingerbread House Exhibit Scheduled: 12.20.18

Arrival: 10:45 (Sack lunch in Sunriver)

Departure: 12:45

Have you finished your SafeSchools? Now is the time!

This Weeks Weather

While we have now made it to Thanksgiving… We still have a full week of November left. Here is a funny video about passing the time quickly!

Article of the Week:

As we exit and enter the holiday seasons here is a great resource on responsive instruction!

Culturally Responsive Instruction for Holiday and Religious Celebrations

Important Notes:

Wednesday 11.28.18

Tamarack @ ED Center Staff Meeting @ 1:30pm (All staff Required)

Tamarack @ SRES & LPE Professional Development @ SRES @ 1:30pm (All staff required)

This Weeks Weather

World Kindness Day is Tuesday!

&

College day is this Friday!

Article of the Week:

How Schools Can Help Students Manage and Mitigate Anxiety

Important Notes:

Fall Break  11.19.18 – 11.23.18

This Weeks Weather

Wednesday SIW is a work day- Please use the time for planning, prep, and paperwork!

Make sure you review the calendar- it has been updated for November!

Article of the Week:

Interesting read this week, opportunity for reflection and reminders on the ineffectiveness and the harm of shame!

When Teachers Use Shame as a Disciplinary Tool

Important Notes:

SAVE THE DATE– 12.7.18 Tamarack Winter Gathering @ The Etniers

The Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools announces the Classroom Grants timeline for K-12 educators for the 2019-2020 academic year.  The grant process will open Monday, February 18, 2019 with a link to the online application form.  Grant applications must be submitted no later than Friday, March 22, 2019.  The grant application process is open to all educators in Bend, La Pine, and Sunriver.  Once determinations are made, funded grants will be awarded in May 2019.  All educators will be sent additional communication with in December and January and the online link in February.  Questions can be directed to Angie Cole, Allocations Committee Chair at:  [email protected] or (541) 318-3794  OR Michelle Johnson, Executive Director, Education Foundation at: [email protected] or (541) 355-5660.  Requests for STEM, art, music & wellness projects will be accepted during the dates indicated and must complete all necessary forms for consideration.  In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Education Foundation funded over $89,000 in classroom grants — it’s highest award in 30 years of service to the K-12 educational community.  To learn more, visit www.engagedminds.org

• November 12 Veterans’ Day- No School

• November 19-23 Thanksgiving Break– No School

This Weeks Weather

Welcome back from conferences- Hope they all went well!

Not much news this week- Happy November- The word of the month is Grateful!

Wednesday- Tamarack @ SRES Meeting with Krista (1:30-2:30)

Tamarack @ Ed. Center Staff Meeting (1:30-3:00)

Article of the Week:

Appropriately timed: Handling Halloween High Spirits

Important Notes:

*Make sure you are taking your lunches and breaks as scheduled. If you are not getting them on a regular basis please work with me directly!

Here is a FAQ regarding the Smarter Balanced Assessment for your reference!

This Weeks Weather

Enjoy Conferences this Week- It is a great opportunity to connect with parents!

No Tamarack Meetings on Wednesday afternoon!

Article of the Week:

Interesting article around sharing experiences (D&D)-

The psychological benefits of shared experiences

Important Notes:

10.24-10.26- Conferences- No School

11.12- Veterans’ Day Observed- No School

11.19-11.23- Thanksgiving Break- No School

This Weeks Weather