It’s the first week! I always love the start of the school, so much promise lies ahead! A big thanks for the retreat last week, it felt so great to connect about some really important things at the heart of what we do!
A few notes to get you going these first 3 days:
*School-wide theme: Community…what else could it possibly be?!
1) Be sure you are up to date on the First Two Weeks
2) We will have Community Time on the first day at 8:45am. Prior to bringing your students down please spend a few minutes (if you can!) setting expectations. Last week we talked about the importance of focussing on this– let’s start with the following traits of good audience members (this can also easily transfer to outside performers/experts who come to school). Asking your class what makes a good audience member would be a great way to start the conversation, and they will likely nail every one of these!
Good audience members:
*Sit next to people they feel will also be good audience members
*Quietly listen when the hosts/performers are speaking, singing, or performing
*Let the hosts/performers know they appreciate their efforts by clapping and cheering when they are finished
*Politely ask their neighbors to be quiet if needed
*Leave their snacks and any toys in their classrooms
3) CT on Thursday this week will be hosted by K-2 teachers, on Friday by 3-5 teachers. Let’s set the tone by starting at 7:45am!
4) Please review Playground guidelines!
5) Reminder about our conversation regarding Choice Time: Students can stay in but must be in a classroom (more often than not, Frans’ room)
6) Here is the after school in-class pick up rotation for this year
Mondays: Kinder and Grade 1 families
Tuesdays: Grades 3 and 5
Wednesdays: ALL outside
Thursdays: Grades 2 and 4 families
Friday: ALL outside (Bread and Jam every other week–coming soon!)
Note: Kinder and Grade 1 families will do inside pick up every day the first week.
7) I sent you all an email about how we will approach gate duty–please read it!
8) Attendance: EAs will continue to take care of this each morning. Karima will do Kinder/Grade 5/Grade 4, Diane will do Grades 1/2/3. Please help them provide reasons for absences if you are in the know. Eventhough lunch is free we will still take a count every day. Thanks!
9) Afternoon duty help needed first day! Normally we don’t have afternoon Choice Time on Wednesdays, but we do on the first day. Since no one is assigned to duty on Wednesdays I kindly request that everyone try to be out on duty the first day–you’ll probably need the break and some fresh air! As a reminder, here’s the duty rotation–be sure to grab a vest and fanny pack, and have your keys and phone:K-2 Teachers (including Lauren) on Mondays and Thursdays, 3-5 Teachers and Haley on Tuesdays and Fridays.
10) Classroom agreements: Please make time this week to create classroom agreements with your classes, and find ways to tie it to Taking Care of Self/Others/Place.
11) As a reminder, Specials (Enrichment, PE) and Invitations start next week.
12) You will be provided with some paper work for each student to take home on the first day (including a Camp Amity permission slip). Please be sure it goes home and that you let parents know to expect it and to sign and return forms ASAP. Please collect and track the Camp Amity permission slips as they come in, and keep them in the folder. Please also collect all other forms and pass them along to Patti and she will track them.
13) Just FYI, a message about birthday treats went home to parents last week. It outlines the decision we made last year to discontinue treats in favor of other, more lasting ways of celebrating.
14) Speaking of treats…we’ll get Cafe Amity and Bread and Jam up and running in the next few weeks.
September Calendar
As requested, here’s my first shot of including a calendar in my posts. I’m sure it will evolve, let’s see how it goes!
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 4-First Day, dismissal at 2:15pm | 5 | 6 | ||
| 9 | 10 | 11-SIW | 12-Fire Drill, 9am | 13 |
| 16-Bus evacuation drill, 9am In house ICCL, 2:30 | 17-Staff Meeting, 2:30-3:15pm | 18-SIW: TWD Back to School Night-5:30pm | 19-Lion’s Vision Screen, 8:30 | 20 |
| 23-Camp Amity | 24-Camp Amity | 25-SIW/TCT | 26 Lockdown, 9am | 27-Pancake Breakfast, 7-8am |
| 30 |
Here we go–let’s have an amazing, joy-filled year!
Andy