Month: February 2026

Yikes, it’s already March! It’s getting light earlier and the days are getting longer, and I’m not complaining! I got out to the Metolius over the weekend and it was spectacular as always!

The Variety Show was once again a massive success. I have heard so many positive comments from so many parents, all as impressed with the team’s ability to make the magic happen as they were with the kids performances! You all were so amazing in supporting the kiddos, and doing whatever it took to make things happen–a huge thank you to all of you!

Now that Variety Show season is behind us, I think this is a good time to slow down a bit, take some time to reconnect with your classes, and get back into our normal rhythms. This is also a good time to remind kiddos about our expectations in terms of taking care of themselves, taking care of each other, and taking care of this place. I think with all the excitement of the Variety Show things can go a little sideways and we see behaviors that we don’t usually see. As we know, being out of our normal routines can cause a lot of dysregulation for the kids (and us!), and from all that we have been learning this year, we know our neurodivergent kiddos are especially impacted. So, let’s take some deep breathes, slow down a bit, and reconnect.

A few notes to get you rolling…
1) New Theme for March: Collaboration
Hallway bulletin board: Lauren

2) Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday starting at 7am. Hoping everyone will take a few minutes to enjoy some breakfast!

3) With Conversations on the horizon it’s time to get your sign up link ready to go. I need each of you to send me your link by Wednesday of this week so that we can get all the links out to families who have more than one kiddo at Amity. Thanks! Next Monday you can send out your link to your families.

4) Student Success Meetings this Wednesday. I sent you all an email with a link to the Google doc prep forms, and the schedule. Here is the schedule again just in case:
8:45-9:15-Lauren/Sara
9:45-10:15-Lindsey
10:15-10:45-Frans
11:45-12:15-Brian
12:15-12:45-Amanda

5) SIW this week is Educator Network, be sure to sign up.

6) Just a few friendly reminders:
*It’s really important to get to your afternoon recess duty on time. There have been times in the last few weeks where there was only 1 adult by themselves for a few minutes with 140+ kiddos. Please make this a priority and give yourself a few extra minutes of getting ready on your duty days.

*Please remember to lock your doors during lunch recess time, and any time you are on duty.

7) Lottery info night is next Wednesday, March 11 at 5pm. SIW that day is a teacher work day–normally I wouldn’t ask you for anything on a TWD, but I’d to meet for 15-20 minutes to talk about the info night. Let’s meet at 1:30pm in Brian’s room. Thanks!

8) FYI, here at the dates for Outdoor Ed Trips. Patti is working on buses and trip slips:
Kinder –  half day walking field trip – April 29th
Grade 1 to Benham East Day Use Area – May 8th
Grade 2 to Fall River Tubes in La Pine State Park – May 7th
Grade 3 to Caldera near the Link Creek Campground – May 12th
Grade 4 to Riley Ranch – May 19th
Grade 5 to Benham East Day Use Area – April 23rd

9) I have an Admin meeting on Tuesday, so I’ll be taking off around 2:45pm.

Upcoming
March 4: Student Success Meetings, Brad will cover
March 18-19: Conversations
March 20-No School
March 23-27: Spring Break
April 23: Grade 5 to Benham East
April 29: Kinder Outdoor Ed
May 2-Auction
May 7: Grade 2 to Fall River Tubes
May 8: Grade 1 to Bentham East
May 12: Grade 3 to Caldera Arts

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Happy Monday!
I hope the weekend was rejuvinating! The last few weeks of rehearsals have been nutty as usual–highs and lows for sure, so I hope you were able to relax and enjoy the weekend! It’s full steam ahead to the show on Wednesday-what you do to make this happen is truly special!

A few notes to get you rolling…
1) Dress rehearsal on Monday after Community Time. Let’s shoot for 8:10am–have students bring their chairs and props with them.

2) Cafe Amity on Wednesday, Grade 3 hosts.

3) We’ll head over to Caldera around 2:45 on Wednesday to drop off props (risers are being delivered this year!) and get the lay of the land. After that you’ll have a little time to grab a bite to eat, take a walk, or take a nap in your car 🙃. Doors open at 5:30pm, show starts on time at 6pm-I’m excited!

4) Football…after all the thoughtful pleas, how can I say no?! I plan to bring football back but only once per week, and only at lunch recess on Fridays. We’ll start this week and see how things go. Olders only for now.

5) Student Success Meetings are on March 4. I’ll send out a schedule and the prep form later in the week.

6) Upcoming: Erin’s Law, child abuse prevention. Nothing to worry about quite yet, just a heads up that we will start the lessons in March. If you are wanting to get a look at the lessons here’s the link: Barbara Sinatra Foundation. I’ll circle back on this soon. If you think you may want support from Kelsey with delivering the lessons please reach out to her soon so she can start blocking time in her schedule.

7) Upcoming: Conversations are coming up March 18 and 19. I want to be very intentional about sending out sign up links to families with multiple children at Amity first, so please don’t send out anything until I’ve done that. I’ll check in with everyone soon to get your sign up link. Thanks, just don’t want to miss this again!

Upcoming
February 23: Dress rehearsal
February 25-Variety Show, 5:30 doors open with show at 6pm
March 4: Student Success Meetings, Brad will cover
March 18-19: Conversations
March 20-No School
March 23-27: Spring Break
May 2-Auction

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Hey All,
I hope you had an amazing 3 day weekend! I got over to Corvallis to meet my new granddaughter Zara Magnolia (adorable!) and spend time with my other grandkiddos and kids. It was a really great weekend!

A few notes to get you rolling…
1) Variety Show rehearsals continue this week-1:35-2:05 on Tues/Thursday, 11:45-12:30 on Wednesday. On Thursday we’d like to get groups up on stage to practice, especially the skit groups. On Friday, Brad will be here to cover classes so teachers can work with groups as needed.

2) SIW this week is a Teacher Work Day–enjoy the time!

3) On Tuesday, Grade 4 is heading to High Desert Museum as part of their EL unit on Animal Defenses.

4) Thursday is the 100th day of school! (At least according the master calendar in the office).

5) Bread and Jam on Friday.

6) Future, just getting the seed planted-we have a small group of parents who are working to create some crossing flags for the intersection of Wall and St Helens. They’d like to get kiddos involved and would like to host an Invitation for this on March 2, March 5, and March 9.

Upcoming
February 23: Dress rehearsal
February 25-Variety Show, 5:30 doors open with show at 6pm
March 4: Student Success Meetings, Brad will cover
March 18-19: Conversations
March 23-27: Spring Break (Aloha Lindsey!)
May 2-Auction

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Hola amigos y amigas!
I hope the weekend treated you right, and that you’re feeling ready for an exciting week!

A few notes to get you going:
1) Variety Show rehearsals begin Monday and continue through Thursday. I’d like to slightly adjust the time for Monday/Tuesday/Thursday to 1:35-2:05pm. Wednesday is at 11:45-12:30. I’ve been working on populating the spreadsheet using the planning forms I have collected so we can have a decent idea of where everyone should be. Let’s be sure to collect any remaining forms first thing Monday! A few date reminders:
February 12: Script must be locked in–only small changes after this time, students may not re-write the script.
February 20: Sub coverage so that teachers can pull students who may need extra support with their act.
February 23: Dress rehearsal.  All costumes and props are to be brought for this rehearsal

2) Cafe Amity on Wednesday, hosted by Grade 2. Proceeds from this week’s cafe will be donated to UNICEF! This is tied to Grades 2’s EL unit.

3) SIW this week is in house again. We’ll get together for an hour or so and then you’ll have the rest of the time to get other work done.

4) Reminder:Looking for folks to a committee to follow up on the work we did a few weeks ago regarding progress reporting-this Thursday, February 12 from 2:30-3:15. Hoping at least of few of you can make it! Please let me know if you plan to join so I am not sitting alone in the dark waiting…

Upcoming
February 12: Reporting committee meeting, 2:45-3:15pm
February 25-Variety Show, 5:30 doors open with show at 6pm
March 18-19: Conversations
March 23-27: Spring Break (Aloha Lindsey!)
May 2-Auction

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy