This and That:

Staffing:

Kelle This Week:  I will be out for most (if not all) of the week ahead. It’s a long story, but the short version is that Mom is back in the hospital as she was discharged too early without the proper amount of professional care. I am hopeful that there will be a better plan in place in the next couple of days, and I might be able to leave for the last day or two of school at EME. My fingers are crossed. Thank you for all of your kind words and support as I have been away – it has meant a lot.

Wednesday, 6/14 & Friday, 6/16: Wednesday is a full day of school (no early release). Please follow the Friday specialist schedule on Wednesday and the Wednesday schedule on Friday.

Grade 5 Procession; The 5th-grade procession is a whole-school Elk Meadow tradition and will take place this year on Thursday at 8:30. We plan to start the procession at 8:30 sharp, so please have students staged by that time.  As we have done the past two years, we will be out on the AB playground around the outside edge of the blacktop. At 8:30 sharp, our 5th graders will parade around the circle while we all cheer for them.  If the weather interferes, we will line the halls instead.

Wave to Busses: An Elk Meadow tradition is to wave to our bussers on the last day of school as they leave. So, once walkers and bussers have all been called, meet in the back of the building to help wave goodbye to our students.

Assembly: The end-of-year assembly will take place on Friday at 9:15. We will start calling students to the gym around 9:05. K-2 will have the same recess on CD playground from 8:45-9:00. Please plan to supervise as a team of 6 if it is your day.

For the assembly, we are planning songs and games. As we did last year, we would like to have K-1 games, 2-3 games, and 4-5 games. It would be great to have a teacher and 1 student from each class participate in the games. There will be more details to follow about the games.

2023-2024 Class Lists: I haven’t been able to create the spreadsheets yet. I am hoping to complete them on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

End of the Year Check-out: Here is a link to the document.

iPad Roll-in (From Roy Fuller):   It’s time to roll in iPads for the summer. Please distribute the following slides in hopes that teachers will take a moment to go over them with their class before checking in iPads for the summer. Not only does this effort get a jump on rolling out ready-to-use iPads in the fall, but it also introduces organizational skills of digital materials. Realistically, most students in grades 3 and up will be able to follow along and accomplish the tasks.  Schools might want to employ some tech buddies to help with the process for younger students.

Here are the slides for kids to follow:

For a complete view of what’s happening district-wide with iPads, check out the Spring iPad plan. Take a look at the BLS tier one page or reach out to your site tech with questions.

Personal Items in Classrooms and Wings (From Walt Norris): Since we are getting closer to summer, it’s time for our custodial crew to start firing up for summer cleaning. One thing that happens every year that is an issue, is the teacher’s personal items left in the classroom. Because of security, safety, and personal reasons, custodial will not be handling them. This soft furniture, bookshelves, rugs, aquariums, plants, animals, etc., shouldn’t be a custodial responsibility to clean and is ultimately a risk if there is breakage, missing, or otherwise. Please encourage teachers to take their personal items home for the summer. The custodial crew thanks you!

Beginning of the Year Work Calendar for Certified Staff: I’m not sure if I have shared this with you, so I am sharing it now. Here is the link.

August Training (From Julie Walker): District Professional Learning Day is August 30th (formally known as Day 189). See the information below for more details:

Focus for the day:

1. Wayfinder Training (Life and Career Readiness and Social and Emotional Well-Being)
2. K-5 Curriculum Map Overview
3. K-1- Handwriting and Decodables 
4. 2-5-Using Newsela to Build Knowledge 
5. K-2 Refining Foundational Skills Instruction/3-5 HD Word Plus Training 

Media This Week: Please be sure to carefully read the email from Lindsey sent on 6/6 about media events this week regarding no library times this week, iPad returns, and other important information.

Monday Staff Meeting: No staff meeting.

Focus on Excellence and Equity:

TLC Update: Here is the June 7th Elementary TLC Update. The update for this week includes report card information and resources.

Coaching Support: Here is a link to schedule support from Anna.

To Do:

Eagle Spirit Week: Eagle Spirit Week has been shortened this year from two weeks to one week and will be celebrated June 12-16. Please promote and communicate this information with your students and families.

Last week of school schedule: Be sure to communicate to your families that Wednesday, , is not an early release day and will go a full day. Friday, the last day of school for students, is an early release day. The office will be communicating this information as well, but it cannot be over-communicated.

End-of-the-Year Checklist: Here is a link to the document. After our staff meeting on Thursday, and once your end-of-the-year checklist is complete, initialed by the correct staff members, and turned in to Chris, you are free for the summer! Please do not ask staff to initial your check-out forms between the time the students leave and the staff meeting. After the staff meeting, staff members whose contractual last day is 6/16 (most of our educational assistants) will have priority for signatures before staff with a later contractual last day. ALL STAFF MUST COMPLETE A CHECKLIST AND BE APPROVED BY CHRIS TO BE “OFFICIALLY OFF” FOR SUMMER.

Eagle Engagement Team (EET) Survey: Please complete this survey from the EET if you haven’t already.

Important Dates: