This and That:
11/13 SIW Plans: Our SIW this week will be the gift of time for committees to meet and sketch out a year-long plan (and maybe even start to take action on the plan!) If you are not currently on a committee, please let me know which one you would like to be on this year.
Before School Indoor Recess: After talking with the Advisory Team last week, we determined that before school indoor recess will continue to be in classrooms from 7:40-7:55. Classroom teachers that have duty on those days WILL BE IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOMS (not supervising the wings). For the most part, teachers should plan to be in their rooms during this time for a smooth start to the day. All available support staff will be in wings so that a teacher can leave their room for a few minutes for a bathroom break, get some coffee, make a copy, etc… If there are more than a couple of days in a week where indoor recess is needed, we will be providing an all school supervised alternative (such as a movie in the gym).
Forefront Data Entry: I am pretty sure everyone is already doing this, but just to be sure, I am going to share the following communication that principals received this week in Gary’s newsletter. Please let me know ASAP if you have questions, concerns, or need support with this:
We are asking all teachers input into Forefront at the minimum:
- All post assessments
- NC Baseline and Checkups 2 & 4
Behavior “Hotline”: When you need behavioral support for a student, please be sure to dial x1500 (not one of us directly) so that Sue or April can determine which of us is best able to support at that moment.
Lice: As I mentioned at our staff meeting this past week. Although there are many strong opinions about how lice situations should be handled in schools, we will be strictly following the district guidelines. A short summary:
- Students who have live bugs will be sent home for treatment. Students who only have nits can remain at school. On a side note, our district is more conservative than what the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommends which is to allow students with live lice to remain in school.
- We do NOT do whole class or whole school lice checks. We can check specific students only if they are exhibiting signs or symptoms of a lice infestation in their own hair. This should be done in the office, not in the classroom to provide privacy for the student.
- A letter will be sent home when two ore more students have LIVE bugs (not just nits) within the same seven day window.
Movies in the Classroom: With the holidays upon us (and based on past years), I am assuming that several classrooms will plan to show a movie sometime during December. This is a good time to remind everyone of district policy regarding movies (full policy here.) Below is a brief summary. Before showing ANY movies (at any time of the year) please be sure that you know their rating and follow district policy accordingly:
- G films/videos may be used in grades K-12 as long as they are directly linked to the curriculum and fit the scope and sequence of the class.
- PG films/videos may be used in grade four and five only with permission of the principal and of the parent or guardian.
- PG and PG-13 films/videos may be used in grades 6 – 8 only with
permission of the principal and of the parent or guardian. The films must be directly linked to the curriculum and fit the scope and sequence of the class. - G, PG, and PG-13 films/videos may be used in grades 9-12 as long as they are directly linked to the curriculum and fit the scope and sequence of the class.
Winter Art of Ed Conference: The Winter Art of Ed. Conference will be February 1, 2020 this year. Several of our staff enjoy participating in this conference for a few reasons: one, if you register early enough, you great swag; two, it has a lot of great ideas; three, you can do it from home in your jammies!; and it’s a great “day 190” for those who still need one. Register by winter break and the school will take care of your registration.
To Do:
Reminders For This Week:
- Monday: No school (Veterans Day)
- Tuesday: Red, PBIS team meeting
- Wednesday: Yellow, ICCL meeting
- Thursday: Red, EBISS Gr. 4
- Friday: Yellow
- Weekend: Two weeks until Thanksgiving Break
SIW Schedule:
- 11/13 Committees
- 11/20 Individual Time
- 11/27 Thanksgiving Break
- 12/4 TBD
- 12/11 QPR Training
- 12/18 Individual Time
- 12/25 Winter Break