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Hello Fine People,
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! You have lots of love coming your way this week–embrace it and know that you deserve every ounce of it! A quote to kick off the week of appreciation:

I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.
~John Steinbeck

A few notes to get us going:
1) In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week there will be 2 meals provided for you this week–Tuesday lunch hosted by classified, Friday breakfast (bagels, pastries, fruit) hosted by me.

2) EasyCBM this week:
*Kinder@10:45am on Wednesday, May 8
*Grade 1@10:45 on Tues, May 7
*Grade 2@9:15am on Tues, May 7
*Grades 3/4/5 please let me know when you will administer in classrooms

3) It’s National School Nurse on Wednesday.

4) March for Students Rally on Wednesday. You can make your way down to the old Mill to march with others by 2:30pm, or you can meet up with those who have marched from various locations at the Ed Center at 2:45pm.

5) Amity Pint Night at Worthy on Tuesday from 4-9pm. Try and make it if you can, I’ll definitely be there.

6) Bowl-a-thon this Friday! Kinder/1/5 at 9:15am, 2/3/4 at 11:45. We’ll have to do lunch a little early for the second crew–11:30. Please remind parents to get all forms in–the one with shoe size must be here by the end of the day tomorrow (Tues).

7) The district has selected an architectural firm for the Amity remodel (summer ’20). They’d like to start meeting with a small group–me, Patti, Jim, and 2 teachers. We’ll have a few meetings to get the ball rolling (date/time TBD). If you are interested in being part of the initial conversations please let me know.

8) Bend Food Project collection pick up is Wednesday–please make one more push in communications with families if you can.

9) Field Trips this week:
*Today: Grade 5 to Dillion Falls
*Thursday: Grade 2 to Ryan Ranch
*Friday: Bowl-a-thon

10) Grade 4 hosts Cafe Amity this week

11). Heidi has been working with a group of students on a rendition of Cats and they will perform on May 16. Here’s Heidi’s invite that will go out to parents in the newsletter today: Come one, come all as our own 3rd/4th grade performers bring Amity style to the musical CATS! Celebrate the genius of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and writer T.S. Elliot wrapped in the Creeker spirit! Showtime: May 16 at 2:30 in the gym.

12) Jodie Chusid has a free weekend lift ticket that she’d like to give to an Amity staff member. Let me know if you want it.

13) Fire Drill Thursday, 1:45.

Upcoming:
May 7: Pint Night at Worthy Brewing, 4-9pm
May 8: Bend Food Project donation pick up
May 10: Bowl-a-thon
May 16: Cats, 2:30pm
May 17: Last Bread and Jamity of the Year–don’t miss it!
May 21: Middle School Move-Up Day–Grade 5
May 27: No School, Memorial Day
May 29-31: Grade 5 to Tamarack!
May 30: Oregon Trail Celebration
June 3/4: Camp Amity
June 5: End of Year Family BBQ, 5-7pm
June 6: Volunteer Tea, invites sent out soon–please submit names! We’ll do right after Community Time and send the kiddos out to play so you can be present for the event (about 15 mins).
June 10: Grade 4 Cardboard Regatta
June 11: Grade 5 Art Night (Grade 5 and their families only)
June 12: Grade 5 Graduation, 1-3pm
June 14: Last Day, 2pm

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All!
I hope you enjoyed the stellar weather this weekend, I do love this time of year! We’ve got a busy few weeks (2 months) ahead, but I think it’s better to be bustling with activity this time of year in order to meet the kids’ energy.

I’ve been deep in thought about change recently, and how much change we have had at Amity in my short tenure. This week at SIW we will look to the future and begin to find our growth edge for the coming year (and years) ahead. All the change we have been experiencing, and will continue to experience, feels both exciting, but also little overwhelming at times. I read this quote over the weekend and it gave a me little levity: “Change is inevitable–except from a vending machine.” –Robert C. Gallagher

A few notes to get us going:

1) Book Fair is this week in the Studio, Wed-Fri. This means art will take place somewhere other than in the studio–either in your classroom or in the craft room. Alisa will let us know.

2) Field trips this week:
*Grade 2 heads to the Bend Science Station on Tuesday
*Grades 4 and 5 head to Blue Hole on Tuesday

3) Grade 5 hosts Cafe Amity this week.

4) A change to SIW this week. Since we have the walk out rally next Wednesday I am shifting things around. This week we will begin visioning for next year and I have moved our engagement with Running Records and IRI to August. Please come with thoughts, ideas, and goals, as well as reflections from this year, that you’d like to share with the group as we begin to envision what next year can be. This will be a 2 part series with the next one on May 15. Ray will be joining for part 2.

5) Easy CBM next week, please make note of the times scheduled:
*Kinder@10:45am on Wednesday, May 8
*Grade 1@10:45 on Tues, May 7
*Grade 2@9:15am on Tues, May 7
*Grades 3/4/5 please let me know when you will administer in classrooms

6) Bend Food Project collections will run through next Wednesday, May 7 with pick up on May 8. I will send out a reminder to families but it would be good to include the info in any communications you send to families this week. In the spirit of giving and generosity please encourage families to participate.

7) Next week, May 6-10, is Teacher Appreciation Week. Like in previous years there will be a variety of efforts from our sweet community to show their love for all of you. As in the past, the classified staff will be preparing a tasty lunch for you on Tuesday of next week so be sure to join in the staff room for lunch that day.

8) Pint Night at Worthy Brewing is next Tuesday from 4-9pm. It would be great if we could all make an appearance in support of this fundraising effort.

9) The annual Bowl-a-thon is next Friday, May 10. All the info has gone home–please, please, please encourage families to get sponsors and donations. This is a HUGE fundraiser for us–in the neighborhood of $6000–and it is especially important because it is our last big fundraiser of the year and a chance to hit our fundraising goal. Please remember that all of us, students and staff, benefit from the extensive fundraising that occurs throughout the year and our support of these efforts is crucial! Please do all you can to support this. Thank you!

Upcoming:
May 1-3: Spring Book Fair
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week. Teacher, keep Tuesday lunch free!
May 7: Pint Night at Worthy Brewing. Let’s all try and make an appearance even if just for a short while. 4-9pm
May 10: Bowl-a-thon. All info has been sent home. Please encourage families to get donations.
May 15: DIBELS
May 28: The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM)–more info in a few weeks. Some data collection for the district.

Here’s to a great week ahead and to the last 7 fantastic weeks,
Andy

Happy Earth Day!
I hope you enjoyed the amazing, sunny day yesterday. My youngest, Kaila, turned 15 and we had a great birthday/Easter celebration in the glorious sunshine with friends and family.

It’s Earth Day so I want to start with a quote from Leo Tolstoy:
“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between human and nature shall not be broken.” I hope you take some time to celebrate Earth Day with your class today and to honor this great planet that we share!

More than few notes to get you going on this beautiful morning:
1) If you haven’t already singed up for a meeting time with me and/or done the feedback survey please take a few minutes to do so (teachers only–I will meet with classified staff soon). Here are the links (I’ll resend in an email today):
Meeting time w/Andy
Feedback for Andy

2) I’m still gathering some kinds words about Minday for the Excellence in Education award presentation. Please get me a kind word or two soon.

3) PE equipment is now under lock and key again. We’ve had to much equipment go missing and too many kids getting in to the cupboards without permission. If you don’t already have a key please see Patti.

4) If you take your classes outside to play after afternoon Choice please be sure to gather all equipment that your kiddos take out. Thanks!

5) Brad and I would like to meet with each class for a few minutes (15) this week out on the playground to review some of the playground rules. I’ll check in with each of you time find a time.

6) At the moment Alisa is scheduled to be here to teach art on Thursday and Friday, and may contact you to fit in some extra lessons on Wednesday, too. Greg did receive an official diagnosis of ALS last week so things are challenging for Alisa right now–let’s show her a lot of extra love.

7) Spring Clothing Exchange is this Wed/Thur/Fri and will take place on the stage. This means the stage will not be available for Community Time on these days. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause!

8) SIW this week will focus on some of the mechanics of next year: Master Schedule, EA Time, and Whole School Activity Planning.

9) Bowl-a-thon is Friday, May 10. Info packets will go home with kids this week.

10) Kinders host Cafe Amity this week.

11) Field trips this week:
*Grade 3 to the Metolius on Thrusday
*Grade 4 to Elk Meadow on Thursday

12) Ale Apothocary is hosting a fundraiser for Amity this Wednesday from 4-8pm. We get a percentage of the proceeds for the evening. We’ve done a little advertising already and will send out a note to families today.

13) Later today I will let families know about our teacher line-up for next year. In my note I will also let them know that we are actively discussing how we can best meet the needs of students in terms of shifting group dynamics and creating new relationships with mixed age groupings, especially in grades 2-5. This is not a declaration of blending classes but rather an acknowledgement that we interested in how to best meet the needs of our kiddos through flexible groupings along their journey at Amity.

14) I’ll be off campus today from 11:45 until 1:30 for a meeting.

15) I’ll be at a Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI–restraint) training all day Tuesday. I’ll be next door at the church if you need anything.

Upcoming:
April 24-26: Spring Clothing Exchange
April 24: Ale Apothecary fundraiser, 4-8pm
April 30: Grde 4/5 Blue Hole trip
May 1-3: Spring Book Fair
May 6 (week of): EasyCBM assessment
May 7: Worth Brewing Fundraiser
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week!
May 10: Bowl-a-thon. Permission slips to go out this week. More info going home soon!
May 28: The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM)–more info in a few weeks. Some data collection for the district.

Here’s to a great, glorious Earth Day and a fantastic week!
Andy

Good Morning All,
I hope Conversations went well on Friday–I had lots and lots of positive feedback from parents on their way out after their Conversations. You are all very loved and appreciated!

With Easter coming soon, a little Easter joke for you:
Why did the Easter Bunny have on a hat? Because he was having a bad hare day.

It’s a bit busy this week, here are some notes to get you going:

1) IMPORTANT: Short staff meeting (10 mins) at 3:45 today in Heidi’s room.

2) SIW this week is district level

3) MAC survey is on Thursday of this week. Email will be coming soon.

4) I’m at a workshop all day on Tuesday–call or text if needed.

5) Pastini Fundraiser tonight and tomorrow night. I’m sending out a reminder to families today.

6) Dale is out for the next 3 weeks, Deb will be here. Casey, Taran’s mom, will be covering Tuesday AM (before school) choir.

7) Fire Drill Tuesday at 9:15am.

8) Grade 1 hosts Cafe Amity this week

9) EBISS on Wednesday:
9:15-9:45—Grade 5
9:45-10:15— Grade 4
10:45-11:15—Grade 2
11:15-11:45—Grade 1
1:00-1:30—Grade 3 (Brad to cover)

10) Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday at 8am

11) Field trips this week:
Grade 2: Fall River on Tuesday
Grade 3: Bend Science Station on Tuesday
Grade 4: High Desert Museum on Monday

12) SIWs for remainder of year:
*April 24: Master Schedule, EA Time, Whole School Activity Planning
*May 1: Running Records and IRI
*May 8: Visioning and Planning for 2019-20
*May 15: Planning for 2019-20
*May 22: Teacher’s choice
*May 29: Meeting with new teams
*June 5: Grade 5 gift

Upcoming:
April 15: Staff meeting at 3:45
April15/16: Pastini Fundraiser
April 17: EBISS
April 17: District SIW
April 17: Staff Appreciation Breakfast hosted by district, 8am
April 24-26: Spring Clothing Exchange
May 1-3: Spring Book Fair
May 10: Bowl-a-thon. Permission slips to go out this week. More info going home soon!
May 28: The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM)–more info in a few weeks. Some data collection for the district.

Here’s to a great week!
Andy

Good Morning All!
First, an article to share that was posted on our Creeker Facebook page by a parent addressing a better alternative to saying sorry–this is worth the read:A Better Alternative to “Sorry”

Two jokes for you:
*What did one raindrop say to the other? Two’s company, three’s a cloud 

*For those of you who are more hip: Why does Snoop Dogg need an umbrella? Fo’ Drizzle 

A few notes to get us going this week:
1) Dale is out for the rest of this month and Deb will be here to cover

2) Free Cone Day Tuesday! As discussed we’ll be making our way there in waves with most partnering with another class. Please be sure to let families know we will doing this.

3) SIW this week is time for you to prep for Conversations

4) NO Cafe Amity this week.

5) Easy CBM is coming up the first week of May. I’ll share a schedule in a week or so.

6) I’ll be at an admin meeting this afternoon so will be leaving school a little before 3pm.

7) New staff member for next year update (no longer calling it a “hiring update”): Principals involved in receiving or losing teachers will be meeting on Wednesday morning (I’ll be at the meeting for a few hours that morning) and Gary will update us all on his initial plans for transfers with final decisions and announcements done Friday. At the moment we have at least two great possibilities, so I am feeling very optimistic!

8) Please remember that we have money to spend–what do you need for your classroom and/or the school? Let’s be sure we are spending the money we have. Check with Patti.

9) We may need to do Lunch Recess inside today; if so, we will use K/2/4 classrooms. Hoping we don’t need to!

Upcoming:
April 9: Free Cone Day!
April 10: SIW–prep for Conversations
April 12: Conversations
April15/16: Pastini Fundraiser
April 17: EBISS
April 17: District SIW
April 17: Staff Appreciation Breakfast hosted by district, 8am
April 24-26: Spring Clothing Exchange
May 1-3: Spring Book Fair
May 20: The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM)–more info in a few weeks. Some data collection for the district.

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Greetings Vacationers,
A big welcome back, and big hopes that you had an amazing time away. Today begins that beautiful time of year when Spring has sprung, and we begin dreaming of long, sun filled days… and off in the distance is the faint glow of summer. I am really looking forward to this last stretch of the year!

It’s April Fool’s Day, beware of the fools!

Lots going on in April, here are a few notes for this week…

1) Grade 4 is off to OMSI on the coast today and will be gone until Wednesday. Brad will be joining them, Karima will be here for him in the afternoons and covering PE.

2) Grade 2 is off to High Desert Museum today. Grade 2 also hosts Cafe Amity this week.

3) Tuesday is lottery day. Patti and I will be at the district office from 8am until about the time school starts. Letters will be sent out on Friday.

4) SIW this week will focus on the schedule for next year. Come with some fresh ideas about how we can create a great schedule with our new start time.

5) I will be off campus a few times this week:
*Monday afternoon starting around 3pm for an admin meeting
*Wednesday AM from 9:30-11am at Highland
*Thursday from 11am on at the job fair in Redmond

6) April 9 is Free Cone day at Bend and Jerry’s! Let’s plan on heading there that afternoon. We can coordinate times next week.

7) Please be sure you are scheduling Conversations for next week!

8) I know you are all wondering…no word from Gary yet about hiring. I’ll let you know as soon as I know, which I am hoping is early this week.

Upcoming:
April 1-3: Grade 4 at OMSI
April 2: Lottery
April 5: Lottery letters mailed
April 9: Free Cone Day!
April 10: SIW–prep for Conversations
April 12: Conversations
April15/16: Pastini Fundraiser
April 17: EBISS
April 17: District SIW
April 17: Staff Appreciation Breakfast hosted by district, 8am
April 24-26: Spring Clothing Exchange
May 1-3: Spring Book Fair

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning!
I hope you a great weekend. I spent mine recovering from this the bug I’ve been fighting for the last week or so and I am glad to be back at near full strength! Sometimes we forget to really value our health, but I am really appreciating mine right now!

In hopes that Spring is really coming, a Spring joke:
How excited was the landscaper about Spring? So excited he wet his plants.

A few notes to get us going:
1) Grade 3 hosts Cafe Amity this week

2) Dale is out this week, Deb is here to cover for him

3) Fire Dril this Thursday at 1:45pm

4) Please work with Patti to make sure you get your Conversations on-line sign up out this week. Parents have been notified that we will only be hosting Conversations on Friday, April 12.

5) SIW this week: We’ll have some time to catch up on things and set our agenda for the rest of the year.

6) Just in case you have friends that are applying or anyone is asking, the lottery application deadline is this Friday, March 22. The lottery is April 2, and letters will be sent out April 5. Deadline to accept is April 19. We have lots of applications this year!

7) Lost and Found: We have notified parents that all Lost and Found left at the end of the week will be donated. We’ll have items on display towards the end of the week.

8) Grade 4 will be headed to OMSI for 3 days immediately after break–April 1-3.

9) The Spring Equinox is this Wednesday, a cool event to share with the kids. Here are a few sites to get info:
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/time/equinox.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaG6PTVrFP4
https://easyscienceforkids.com/vernal-equinox-facts/

10 In an effort to conserve energy please make sure to turn off all power strips and appliances before leaving for break–and please take a moment to clean out things you have in the fridge.

Upcoming:
March 20: Spring Equinox
March 21: Fire Drill, 1:45pm
March 22: Lottery Deadline
March 23–March 30: Spring Break
April 1-3: Grade 4 to OMSI
April 1: Grade 2 to High Desert
April 2: Lottery
April 5: Lottery letters sent
April 10/11: School days
April 12: Conversations


Here’s to a great week before vacation!
Andy

Greetings!
I hope the weekend was good to you. It’s been a very busy few weeks and I am truly grateful for all the extra time, effort, and love you have shared on behalf of the kiddos! I’m looking forward to the next few weeks of settling back into some calmness (Amity style calm) before the break.

As we have been discussing math quite a bit lately I’m sharing a math joke to start us off:
Q: Why is beer never served at a math party? 
A: Because you can’t drink and derive. 

A few notes to get us going:
1) The Listening Sessions have been rescheduled for Tuesday of this week at 8am, 9:15am, and 5:30pm. If you can join one of the sessions (certified and classified) it would be great to have you there. If you can’t one of the sessions, the site council would still like your input. We’ll have a station set up on one of the hallway tables for the next week–there will be cards there to fill out. It’s anonymous and we’re hoping people will feel comfortable sharing their input–celebrations, concerns/questions, and ideas. The idea is to draw out input from as many community city members as possible.

2) Gearing up at lunch. If kids are going to be wearing snow gear out to lunch recess it would be extremely helpful if they could come to the cafeteria for lunch wearing their snow pants and boots so that after lunch all they need to do is grab their jackets and gloves. Your support of this will greatly increase kiddo time outside, and make it manageable for me and Mindy in the hallway helping get kids dressed. Thanks in advance!

3) Grade 4 hosts Cafe Amity this week.

4) I’ll be gone for most of the day on Thursday. In the AM Kille Hidlebrandt from Elk Meadow will be here visiting, and then later in the morning I’ll go to Elk Meadow for a visit. By noon we both have to be in Redmond for our workshop. Call or text if needed.

5) Stuart Little on Thursday starting at 2:15pm. Let’s shift things a little on that day and have afternoon Choice Time from 1:40-2:00 and then have kids return to your classes. You can remind them about the importance of being an awesome audience and then get them to the gym by 2:10, ready for a 2:15 start. Any reason this can’t work?

6) There is a Mountain Air fundraiser this Wednesday from 2-8pm. Please include in any communication you have with families before Wednesday.

7) SIW this week is district level

8) Everrett’s (Grade 1) dad, Andre, is interesting in supporting the creation of a mural for the wall ball wall (on one side). I’d like to solicit input from the kids on a theme so I will introduce the idea at Community Time this week. Over the next few weeks we’ll collect some themes, have a vote, and have kids submit some drawings related to the theme. I’ll share the drawings with Andre and he’ll be working with one of his employees to create a concept sketch for us to consider. Stay tuned.

Upcoming:
*March 12: Listening Sessions
*March 12: Scott celebrates a long time on this planet
*March 13: Mountain Air fundraiser
*March 14: Stuart Little, 2:15-3:15pm
*March 22: Lottery Deadline
*March 25-29: Spring Break

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning Amity Creek,
It’s show time this week and lots to do! Here’s a joke to make to start us off:
What’s the best way to kill a variety act? Go for the juggler.

FYI, Andrea was sick on Friday. Jim came in over the weekend to clean your rooms and the rest of the school. Please be sure to take a moment to express your appreciation.

A few notes to get us going:
1) Variety Show Thursday, doors open at 5:30, show at 6pm. We’ll need to get busy right after school to transport all props to Bend High.

2) Matt and Frans will need some extra time with skit groups this week so thank you in advance for being flexible when they request to work with certain students!

3) Dress rehearsal on Wednesday morning. At the moment I am assuming we will start right after Community Time. Please let me know if this is not the common assumption.

4) We’ll do Wheel of Talent on Friday AM at Community Time.

5) SIW this week: We’ve had to delay our wrapping up of Mathematical Mindsets for weeks now and I am looking forward to being able wrap it up this week–Chapters 8, 9, and have a look at the appendices. What will be our big take-a-ways and things we feel we can incorporate into our philosophy about teaching math?

6) It’s Woman’s History Month. I’m guessing we all feel somewhat the same in not wanting to confine this to one month of the year, but it is a good reminder to be sure you helping to deepen the understanding of the contributions of woman to the world at large, and highlighting sheroes near and far. It’s really about equity and how we are doing in terms of promoting equitable living! Obviously there are a ton of resources on line.

Two great, short videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLr2GNRnmXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Aweo-74kY

7) Lunch recess is going to have to be a mix of inside and outside. Classrooms 1/3/5 today.

8) The lottery tour that was missed last Tuesday has been rescheduled for this Tuesday.

9) Stuart Little comes to Amity next Thursday (March 14) courtesy of Summit High. The performance will be 2:15-3:15pm for all grades.


Upcoming:
March 7: Variety Show
March 13: District SIW
March 14: Stuart Little Performance
March 14: Andy off campus at workshop all day
March 25-29: Spring Break!

Here’s to a busy, but amazing week ahead!
Andy

Good snowing morning!
What an incredible storm–hope you are thoroughly enjoying your snow day! If it continues to snow like this we may be off again tomorrow. A big thanks to all of you for joining in the fun at the auction. It was a great night and fun to see you all there having a good time! Initial totals are looking good.

A little snow humor to get you going: If you live in an igloo made of snow, what’s the worst thing about global warming?
A: No privacy! 

A few notes to get us going:
1) Info tours are this week, Tuesday and Friday weather permitting. They start at 8:30am. If you have an empty bulletin board outside your classroom please take a moment to decorate it with art or other student work. Thanks!

2) Site Council is hosting the Listening Sessions this Thursday at 8am, 9:15am, and 5:30pm. If you can make one of the session please do! Your input is important. If you can’t make any of the sessions there will be an opportunity to fill out some cards next week–stay tuned. The idea is to get input from the entire community–what’s going well, what needs attention, and new ideas to consider.

3) Dental Screenings this week, Thursday and Friday. Info and permission forms went home last week. We’ll get you more info once we have all the forms in–please bring them to the office.

4) Kinder hosts Cafe Amity this week

5) SIW this week: We’ll read and discuss the last two chapters (Chs. 8 & 9) in Mathematical Mindsets. Also, have a look at appendixes A and B, with special attention to B. The big question: How will what we have been reading and discussing help to shape our common beliefs and practices in math?

6) The Variety Show is next week–Yikes!We’ll continue with rehearsals this week–I think we will need to add Wednesday since we are missing today.
*Final rehearsals on March 4 & 5
*Dress rehearsal on March 6
*Show time on March 7
*Wheel of Talent on March 8

Upcoming:
Feb 26 (depending) and March 1: Lottery Tours, 8:30am
Feb 28: Listening Sessions–8am, 9:15am, 5:30pm (see recent email)
Feb 28/March 1: Dental Screenings
March 7: Variety Show!

Here’s to a great week, however long it may be!
Andy