To Do:

• Please read the following from Alandra and send her potential names of your students that fit this description:

  This year we are hoping to feature students in our schools who are changing the world or to have goals in the future to change the world. Do you know a student who fits this description? The students will be featured in a districtwide video as well as our annual district calendar.  Please send back the name of the student you have in mind and a sentence about how you think this student is planning to change the world.  Several schools have already submitted students, but we need a few more.

• If you have a field trip this spring in which a student needs direct care nursing services in order to participate then your school nurse needs at least two weeks notice to make necessary nurse staffing adjustments.

This and That:

• You may have heard it announced already, but I wanted to mention we have hired a new Business Manager for the district – as Zhai Logan will be heading off to retirement.  His name is Roy Burling and he comes to us with a long and successful history of doing similar work with schools.  To show our gratitude of his arrival we’ve given Roy an office at the Ed Center.  Unfortunately, we had to clear out some stored items under the stairs leading down to the basement so he could set up his new space.  Hopefully this will only be temporary!  Please welcome Roy when you cross paths with him.  Currently Roy is working with our insurance carrier and many others to assess and process claims around “snowmageddon” and will be taking on Zhai’s role after May 15 when she officially retires.
• This article, entitled: “5 Big Ideas in Education That Don’t Work” was shared with me a number of weeks ago so you may have already come across it.  It is a short article from NPR that focuses in on some of John Hattie’s work around his extensive research around what makes schools effective.  I enjoy reading what Hattie has to say because his voice is grounded in research, he isn’t afraid of stepping on the toes of tradition, and I usually find myself reflecting on ways his points could be practically implemented.  I hope you feel the same about this article.