Month: January 2019

Happy Monday All,
It’s the last week of “Juneuary” and it’s another 4 day week! I couldn’t resist this joke: The past, present and future walk into a bar. It was tense.

A few notes to get us going…
1) Grade 4 hosts Cafe Amity this week.

2) Bend Food Project will be picking up all the food we have collected on Thursday this week. Please encourage your kiddos and their families to donate! I’m sending out a note today to remind the community.

3) SIW this week–we’ll discuss Chapter 7 in Mathematical Mindsets. Please come prepared to share your thoughts. We’ll do Chapter 8 next week.

4) This Friday is a work day. As I mentioned last week I’d like to spend some time in the AM looking at the various assessments you use, specifically in reading, writing, and math. Please bring materials with you to our meeting so that you can share with the staff. My goal is to see how we can find some commonality in the tools we use to assess. I’m still planning to bring bagels. Let’s gather at 8:30am in Heidi’s room. And, how about Happy Hour after work?

5) I’ll be off campus today from 11:45 until 1:30pm–call or text if you need me.

Upcoming:
*February 1: Work day, no students
*February 6: Family Night, 5-7pm
*February 6: DIBELS

Here’s to a great week ahead with a great group of people!
Andy

Happy Tuesday everyone,
I hope you fully enjoyed the long weekend. As we had the extra day to honor MLK I thought I’d share some footage of him cracking a little joke on the Tonight Show in 1968:

A few notes to get us going…
1) Camp Amity this Friday! Please remind parents in your class–Patti sent a note last week but another reminder, especially for Winter camp, is very helpful!

2) SIW this week–Chapter 6 in Mathematical Mindsets. 2:30pm in Heidi’s room.

3) Fire Drill this Wednesday at 12:45pm

4) Grade 5 hosts Cafe Amity this week.

5) Super cool opportunity to bring some wildlife into the classroom–have a look and let me know if you’d be interested:
https://jenkinsrobinc.wixsite.com/nature/educational-programs

6) Next Friday (Feb 1) is a work day, no students. I’d like to spend a little time in the morning looking at the various assessments that we use here at Amity. The idea would be to bring the assessment tools you use and share with the group, with the idea being that we start to hone in on some common assessments which will allow us to have some common language around needed support, etc. Please be prepared to share what you use. I’ll bring fresh bagels and fixings.

7) I’ll be away from school all day Thursday at a workshop. I can be reached by phone if needed.

8) I’ll be leaving school today at 2:30pm to attend to a personal matter. Call or text if you need me.

Upcoming:
Jan 25: Camp Amity
Feb 1: Teacher work day, no students
Feb 6: DIBELS in AM
Feb 6: Family Night–Game Swap/Game Night
Feb 20: EBISS

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Monday Morning,
I hope the weekend was good to you. My daughter Kaila has been hounding me for weeks to help her repaint her room, and I finally gave in this weekend. I got a kick out of the paint colors–some of my favorites that we encountered: nacho cheese, mown grass, dead salmon (really), anonymous, Grandma’s sweater, and divine pleasure. Kaila settled tropicana cabana, though I was hoping for dead salmon…

A few notes to get us going:

1) SIW this week: We’ll discuss Chapter 5 of Mathematical Mindsets so please have it read and be ready to share thoughts/ideas/reflections. Also, we’ll chat about a few other pertinent things as well–I’ll send y’all an agenda.

2) EasyCBM schedule for this week, Jan 15-17 (Tue-Thur):
Kinder: Wednesday 10:40-11:40 (studio)
Grade 1: Wednesday 9:15-10:15 (studio)
Grade 2: Tuesday 9:15-10:15 (studio)
Grade 3: Thursday 9:15-10:15
Grade 4: Wednesday 9:15-10:15
Grade 5: Wednesday 10:40-11:40

3) Small correction to something I wrote in an email to you last week regarding future SIW dates. The February 13 SIW is not for Science, but rather the beginning of the district series (Feb 13, March 13, April 17)– I forgot they were starting this up again. You’ll be getting a note from the district some time in the near future about signing up for a series you are interested in.

4) Dale is still out on residency and Deb continues in his absence.

5) Earthquake drill on Tuesday at 11:30. Duck and cover. We’ll make an announcement followed up by an in-person visit to see if you heard it. The drill will only last a few short minutes.

6) Kinders host Cafe Amity this week.

7) Grade 4 is headed to Elk Meadow on Thursday morning.

8) I was asked this question a few times last week: What time does lunch start? Lunch begins at 11:45, with Kinders coming a few minutes early. The schedule is set up so that you have homeroom time from 10:40-11:40, leaving you time to clean up and get the room in order before sending the kids to the cafeteria at 11:45. Please do not send your classes at 11:40 (except Kinder) as Wendy has mentioned she’s not always ready. Thanks!

9) Just a friendly reminder as we have shifted to afternoon Choice Time coverage…
Mon: Amanda
Tues: Frans
Wednesday: Heidi (still AM Choice)
Thurs: Wendy
Fri: Matt

10) Just an FYI, Lottery info meeting will be Wednesday, February 20–one at 2:30pm, the other at 5:30pm. Lottery tours will be Feb 26 and March 1.

11) I have an admin meeting this afternoon so will be leaving around 3:30. Call or text if you need me.

Upcoming:
Jan 21: No school–MLK Day
Jan 25: Camp Amity!
Feb 1: Teacher work day, no students
Feb 6: DIBELS, 9:15-11:45

Here’s to a great week ahead (and the three day weekend that follows it)!
Andy

Good Morning and Happy New Year!
I hope your break was phenomenal and restful.  So much to look forward to in 2019 and I look forward to many, many amazing experiences with all of you.

A joke to get you going: What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve? He got 12 months!  So bad it’s good.

A few notes to stir the new year’s pot:

1) Here’s the new schedule starting today:
8:45-9:00–CT
9:15-10:15–Class Time
10:15-10:35–Choice Time
10:40-11:40–Class Time
11:45-12:05—Lunch
12:05-12:30–Lunch Recess
12:35-1:30–Class Time
1:30-2:00–Invitations
2:00-2:20—Choice time
2:25-3:20–Class Time
3:20-3:30—Stewardship

2) Dale is out this week and next.  Deb Mata is here to cover his classes.

3) We honor Martin Luther King, Jr on January 21 (his birthday is on Jan 15).  I am hoping once again this year that you will spend some time honoring MLK with your classes–I think it is really important to keep the memory of King alive and to share his message of love and courage each and every year.  If you are looking for ideas here are a few (of many!) links:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/martin-luther-king-jr/

https://www.ducksters.com/biography/martin_luther_king_jr.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALQeX7IFBcg

https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/martinlutherkingjr/

4) New partnerships begin this week–I’m excited to see where these new pairings lead us!  K/1, 2/3, 4/5.  Please continue to be intentional about these partnerships.

5) Grade 1 hosts Cafe Amity this week.

6) Grades 4 and 5 head to Wanaga on Thursday for Survival Structure building.  (Hmmm, thinking I might join them!)

7) EasyCBM schedule for next week, Jan 15-17 (Tue-Thur):
Kinder: Wednesday 10:40-11:40 (studio)
Grade 1: Wednesday 9:15-10:15 (studio)
Grade 2: Tuesday 9:15-10:15 (studio)
Grade 3: Thursday 9:15-10:15
Grade 4: Wednesday 9:15-10:15
Grade 5: Wednesday 10:40-11:40

8) Two emergency drills in January to get on your calendar:
Jan 15: Earth Quake drill @11:30am
Jan 23: Fire Drill @12:45

9) No SIW this week, please use the time to settle in after break.  We will continue our discussions about Math next week.  I’ll send a note later this week about what to read for our Jan 16 SIW.

10) I have an admin meeting across the street at 3:30pm so will be leaving a few minutes before the end of school.  Call or text if you need me!

Upcoming:
Jan 14-18: EasyCBM week
Jan 21: No school–MLK Day
Jan 25: Camp Amity!
Feb 6: DIBELS, 9:15-11:45

Here’s to a great week and a great 2019!
Andy