This and That:
Staffing: I am happy to announce that we have hired Rebecca Wright for one of our 5-hour Educational Assistant positions. Rebecca is in the middle of a move from Washington to Sunriver, so her start date will be November 2nd.
Halloween Celebration: We will be moving forward with a Halloween celebration on Friday, October 30th. Below is the basic concept (details are still being hashed out):
- The morning will be normal instruction for students and they can come by the school sometime in the afternoon between 1-4 (times could change a little).
- Teachers/ teams can let students know if and when they will be there.
- I am creating a school-wide treat bag so that all students will get the same.
- Please plan on dressing-up/ being festive. Students are also invited to dress-up, but they will not be able to get out of their cars.
- If we tie any materials distribution to the day, materials will also be available the morning before the event and the following week so that families can choose to skip the Halloween part if they choose.
Math Manipulatives: K-2 math manipulatives arrived in the building late in the day on Friday. I will sort through the boxes on Monday and they should be in your hands by the end of the day. You are welcome to get them out to students whenever it works best for your team. You are also welcome to wait until the 30th so families have the option of combining distribution and the Halloween celebration. Again, whatever your team decided is best is great.
myON Digital Library: Staff will have the opportunity this week to learn about the myON Digital Library, a tool that is MUCH more powerful than Epic. I STRONGLY encourage you to read the TLC department’s blog post about myON and plan to attend one of their training sessions this week.
Speaking of the TLC Blog…: If you visit the TLC blog you will find recent posts on Videos for instructional use, WebEx breakout sessions, myON Digital Library, Finding Videos on PBS, and many more. Be sure to check this blog regularly for some really helpful tips, tricks, and resources.
Culturally Responsive Communication Practices:
- Interpreter Tips: Feel awkward communicating via an interpreter? Check out these tips!
- Home Visits: Don’t underestimate the value of a home visit (for the student, family, and yourself). Aim to listen as much as you talk. ELL/Language Department specialists and liaisons are happy to support those visits.
- Listen and Reflect: When you connect with a family, listen for the values you hear underlying their questions, concerns, or comments. After the conversation, reflect on what you learned about the family, what new biases you uncovered in yourself, and what you’ll do as a result of the conversation.
Families in Need: Here are a couple of useful resources for families in need:
- BLS Family In Need Website: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/district/parents/families-need
- Bend Food Resources English/Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LY71D8Ei0Kpqqj0So9zN5GRUSZvbzlk_AyQMzBttVJk/edit
Instructional Practices Risk Mitigation During Hybrid: The following document has been reviewed by the health professionals and our local county health partners to assist staff in safety measures when designing learning tasks: Risk Mitigation in Implementing Instructional Best Practices. Please contact Frank if you have any questions about this.
COVID/ Safety related information:
Questions/Concerns about COVID-19 related matters?: Please follow this flowchart. If in doubt about what to do, you can always check with Frank or Kelle. Frank is our Safety Team Lead, and Ann Hollenberg is our School Nurse.
To Do:
•If you haven’t already, complete the MAC training (all staff)
Important Dates:
Tuesday: Core EBISS Team Meeting
Wednesday: Grade 1 distribution,
Thursday: Grade 3 distribution, lockdown drill, STAFF MEETING CANCELED
Friday: Safety Team meeting