TO DO:

• Please keep me in your thoughts next Wednesday, April 18.  Some of you know that on the “new teacher day” a number of Shay’s cabinet members are placed in a drawing where a new teacher is given a day off and we are the substitute for her/his class.  Well, a new kindergarten teacher at Jewell had my name drawn for her, and quite frankly I’m scared.  I mean, those little kinder kids might destroy me up before their first snack break!  Only because I’m not a complete fool, did I get Skip to allow Christie (a former primary teacher) to join me that day, so I won’t need to take the rest of next week off to recover.  Should be fun!

THIS AND THAT:

• This month I will be talking with you (or have already) about changes and the path moving forward around MS math.  There are three documents that I have saved to our TRIBE Google Doc folder (specifically, found in the “Instruction/PD/SDP” folder) I want to highlight quickly here.  I’ll be following up with you in person regarding these during my next school visit. First, there is a document outlining “by-pass” options.  Second, there is a document intended to be shared with MS parents.  And third, a document outlining the guiding principles behind these changes. These are good documents to share with your math teachers, counselors, parents, and have knowledge of yourself when you receive questions. I will also add this as an agenda item for our May Horizontal meeting.
• I have met with some, but not all of you, to look at and discuss your mid-year goals. (Rather, your yearly goals at the mid-year point.) If we have not completed this yet, plan on this being a topic at my next school visit with you.
• On a similar note, principals, you have been assigned the “summative self-reflection” for this year.  Please have that completed no later than Friday, April 27.  I hope to have your summative evaluation complete in time to share with you at our May school site visit.
• Jay will be sending out an email to you regarding some guidance around a possible student walk-out/demonstration on April 20.  The information will be very similar to previous guidance, except that this one has the possibility of lasting much longer than the March 17 walk-out, and thus consequences could also increase.  After you receive it and have an opportunity to review it, please give me a call with any questions.
• Jay sent out an email this past Tuesday evening regarding a survey that some of your teachers will be involved with.  BEA is hiring a retired teacher to come to some of our schools in order to survey some teachers during her/his prep.  This is part of a larger OEA effort to identify leaders from their membership and hear about successes and challenges from their members. Approximately half of our schools were surveyed last year, and the attempt is to survey the other half this year.  Let me know if you have any questions regarding this.
• This article is a bit longer than I like to share with you, I apologize. This one comes from a great website, MindShift, that “explores the future of learning in all its dimensions. We examine how learning is being impacted by technology, discoveries about how the brain works, poverty and inequities, social and emotional practices, assessments, digital games, design thinking and music, among many other topics.” [This is likely a site you’ll want to save to your “favorites” if you haven’t already.] To give you a taste of the type of quality article you’ll find there, here is 20 Tips to help De-escalate with Anxious or Defiant Students. [Thanks to Robi for sharing this website with me!]

REMINDERS:

• As a reminder, I had previously cancelled our Horizontal meeting this month when I thought were needed to meet right after spring break.  Even though that meeting was non needed, we will still not be meeting as a Horizontal group this month.  Our next meeting is May 21 at LPMS.