Monday AM Teacher Notes

Hey Team,
I hope that after drinking from the firehose last week that you were able to have some fun and relax this weekend! I appreciate your positivity and your focus on making the best of our situation!

A few notes for the week:
1) Students will pick up materials this Thursday, the schedule is below and it would be extremely helpful to have you helping during your time slot–not to mention how much the kids will want to see you! Please have all your materials ready to go by your scheduled time. EAs will be at school Wednesday and Thursday to help.

Materials Pick-up Schedule:
2-3pm: Kinder and Grade 1
3-4pm: Grades 2 and 3
4-5pm: Grades 4 and 5
5-5:30pm: For anyone who was not able to make it earlier

2) Teacher letters and schedules need to be sent out Wednesday morning before noon. Please be sure your note covers all the important information:
*First two weeks
*Building stamina
*Materials list
*Break times
*Acknowledge concerns, fears, grief and loss
*How you plan to do groups
*What partnership will look like
*How best to communication with you (email, text, phone, etc)
*Platforms you will be using–might be good to do a test run with families on SeeSaw and Google classroom
*Re-read your note a thousand times before you send it–check to be sure it’s not overwhelming! I have already read a few drafts shared with me and I am happy to read as many as you’ll send me. I think it’s always helpful to have another set of eyes have a look at a big, packed email.

3) Community Meeting on Webex, Thursday 6-7pm. I am hoping you can join me for this meeting with families. It’s an opportunity for them to get some updates and ask questions. It will be super helpful if you can attend and help with monitoring the chat for questions. As this is traditionally the evening we would do our Watermelon Social I am encouraging families to bring some watermelon to the chat–feel free to do the same!

4) Work days and times. I’m hoping you all have some sense of what days/times you will be at school so that we can plan on all being at school at certain times. Having lunch (and a little therapy) on those days will be really therapeutic for all of us, and it would be nice to have SIW/staff meetings in person if possible. I’m am still waiting for direction on SIWs and will share as soon as I have it.

5) Friday Art times: In looking at the schedules, I don’t think 30 minutes is going to be enough time for art on Fridays. I am hopeful we can make a small adjustment to Friday schedules to add an additional 15 minutes to the art period. This does not really impact K/1 but it will mean that 2-5 have to dip a little into SPED/ELL time just on Fridays. Art (and PE and music) will start the second week of school. I realize this ask may require us to get more creative than simply adding an additional 15 minutes–just let me know and I’ll work with you to figure out how to make it work.

6) Happy Hour at Frans’ place on Friday, hope you can make it.

Upcoming
September 9: Emails and schedules from teachers go out, by noon
September 10: Materials pick up at Northstar, 2-5:30pm
September 10: Community Webex Meeting, 6-7pm
September 14: First Day of School!

Lastly, I hope that have your full support in terms of being a solid front of stability and positivity for students and families. This has been such a challenging time for all of us, and it can be easy to slide down into the rabbit hole of disappointment and frustration. However, we have children and families really counting on us to shine bright and be a positive guiding force as we navigate this next chapter of distance learning. Let’s stay positive and lean on each other for support when needed!

A quote to share as I sign off: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain! (Vivian Greene). I think this speaks very clearly to our goal of thriving, not just surviving! Looking forward to dancing in the rain with you!

Andy

Hi everyone,
Prior to m surgery I had schedule this to go out–obviously you can ignore it! Enjoy the next few weeks!

Good Morning,
I hope last week went well and that things have been smooth (better?) in my absence! I’m recovering well and I miss you all!

A few notes for the week:
1) Child and Youth Resiliency Survey today! Parents will help with K-2 and Grades 3-5 will do the survey on line

2) Fire Drill tomorrow at 9:20

3) Irish Dancers will be here to entertain at Community Time on Tuesday!

4) Grade 4 heads to the Tower Theater on Wednesday to see Call of the Wild.

5) SIW this week is Teacher Directed, please use the time as you see fit.

6) Spring Break is next week–you made it!!! Have a great week off, I look forward to stopping by after break to catch up and see the kids!

Upcoming:
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 17: Fire Drill 9:20am
March 17: Grade 5 to Mount Bachelor
March 18: Grade 4 to Call of the Wild performance
March 20: Lottery Deadline
March 23-27: Spring Break!
April 1: First Aid Training 1:30-5:30pm
April 6: Andy returns
April 7: EBISS

Here’s to a great week before Spring Break!
Andy

Hello All,
Well, Monday is surgery day for me–it’s been scheduled from 1-3pm. I have to say, this is a strange moment for me to think about being away from school, the kids, and all of you for the next month. I’ll be off line this week but I’ll start responding to text messages and emails next week. Best not to text and email while on pain medication!

Lindsey is your go to while I am away, and Brad will be on campus full time to help support in any way needed. Please lean on both of these people if and when you need them. And, a HUGE thanks to both Lindsey and Brad for stepping up in my absence!

And, thanks for the fun send off at Esta Bien last Friday, I really love spending time with all of you and laughing! It was a perfect send off.

A few notes to get you going:
1) Lottery Tours this week, Tuesday and Thursday. These are parent led tours and the visitors will join Community Time on both days. Please remember that several of you switched Community Times for this week.

2) Grade 3 heads to Bend Science Station this week on Tuesday and Thursday from 12-2pm.

3) Cafe Amity is this Friday (changed from last week)–Kinders host.

4) SIW this week will be guided by Amanda and related to Ross Greene’s work that we have been discussing. Extra copies of Lost and Found are on Patti’s desk if you need one–you will be reading some of the text and discussing. I’ll let Amanda let you know what time you’ll start. Thank you Amanda!

SIW next week is teacher directed and you may use the time as you determine will be most beneficial.

5) Child and Youth Resiliency Survey is next Monday, March 16. Please refer back to an email I sent you on March 1 for all the details and times. Big thanks to Patti for securing volunteers!

6) Please be sure you have April 1 in your calendar for First Aid training during SIW (and likely until about 5:30pm).

7) EBISS has been moved to April 7. I’ll send a schedule the week before, we’ll need to work around PE times.

8) IMPORTANT: Playground supervision. I have communicated with EAs regarding this but I have never really made it clear to teachers and want to be sure we are all on the same page. When on playground supervision:
*There are 3 main areas–field, blacktop, swing/structure area
*It is CRUCIAL that one person is in each of the 3 main areas, so when you arrive on the playground please look to see what area needs coverage and stay in that area. If you wander from your area it leaves it unsupervised.
*Safety and Prevention are our 2 most important responsibilities on the playground. If we are not covering all the main areas and looking to prevent accidents, then accidents are likely to happen.
*If you have to leave your area to go inside due to an emergency please get the attention of one of the other people on duty so they can cover your area as well.
*I love visiting with others when I am on duty as much as you do, but let’s prioritize safety and prevention.

Upcoming:
March 10/12: Lottery Tours (led by parents)
March 10: Grade 3 to Bend Science Station
March 13: Cafe Amity, Kinders host
March 16: Child and Youth Resiliency Survey
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 17: Fire Drill 9:20am–we have to get one drill in before break
March 17: Grade 5 to Mount Bachelor
March 18: Grade 4 to Call of the Wild performance
March 20: Lottery Deadline
March 23-27: Spring Break!
April 1: First Aid Training 1:30-5:30pm
April 3: Andy returns
April 7: EBISS

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All,
Well, I’m breathing a huge sigh of relief with the auction now behind us. The evening was a great success and a big thanks to all who attended and/or helped out–always so great to have you there. We’ll have some preliminary numbers soon. Everything went very smoothly except that we had one big wine spill combined with a broken glass…

Another big week ahead with the Variety Show on Thursday night! Reminder that we will load up props immediately after school on Thursday and get everything over to Bend High. Can I leave it to all of you to coordinate a dinner break before the show? Los Jalapeños and Parilla are both right around the corner.

It’s Dr. Seuss Day! Scott will read a Dr. Seuss favorite at the end of CT and then we’ll have a morning of reading!

A few notes to get you flowing:
1) Staff meeting on Tuesday at 2:45 in Jeff’s room. Agenda:
*Variety Show roles and responsibilities
*End of Year Celebrations and/or Narratives
*Andy’s leave of absence

2) SIW this week is district level. Future:
March 11—Ross Greene continued (Amanda)
March 18—Teacher Directed
April 1–First Aid (at Ed Center boardroom) @1:30pm. This is a re-schedule of the training that got cancelled. Important that we all get trained!

3) Dress rehearsal on Wednesday beginning at Community Time. Buckle up, it will be a full day of rehearsal!

4) EA meeting on Thursday at 8:30am.

5) Reminder, no Art this Thursday, Korey is still away.

6) Cafe Amity has been moved from this week to next week, March 13–simply too busy for a cafe this week! Kinders will host.

7) Lottery Tours on March 10 and 12 starting at 8am. It’s business as usual with some extra visitors touring with parents.

8) Dyslexia Conference- The Central Oregon Dyslexia Conference will be held on Saturday, April 18 @ North Star Elementary.

9) I’ll be away from school most of the morning on Tuesday. Call or text if needed.

Upcoming:
March 4: Dress Rehearsal–all day! NO Music classes
March 5: EA Meeting, 8:30am
March 5: Variety Show!
March 9: Andy’s leave begins, surgery day
March 10/12: Lottery Tours (led by parents)
March 10: Grade 3 to Bend Science Station
March 13: Cafe Amity, Kinders host
March 16: Child and Youth Resiliency Survey
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 17: Fire Drill 9:20am
March 17: Grade 5 to Mount Bachelor
March 18: Grade 4 to Call of the Wild performance
March 20: Lottery Deadline
March 23-27: Spring Break!

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All!
It’s Auction week! There will be lots of buzz this week about the auction, including displaying the student art projects and making last minute appeals to parents for donations and volunteer support. I hope you are able to be at the auction on Saturday to support the effort!

Today is our MAC survey day and you should have already received an email from Sandy Schmidt. Please be sure to get this done before you leave school today.

A few notes to get you going:
1) Staff Meeting meeting on Tuesday. Our focus will be on preparing for the Lottery Meetings on Wednesday. 2:45 in Frans’ room.

2) Lottery Informational Meetings on Wednesday–2:30pm and 5:30pm. We will do these meetings in Lindsey’s room.

3) Fire Drill on Tuesday at 9:20am.

4) **No PE or Art this week**. You could use some of this time to help with decoration for the auction. Kelli has a few projects that need some support.

5) As we discussed earlier we need to be more vigilant in terms of hallway behavior during Choice Time. If you are in your classroom please be aware of what is happening in the hallway near your room and poke your head out from time to time. Kiddos running around and playing should be asked to go outside. Thanks for your support!

6) K/1/2 are off to see the Lorax (presented by Westside) on Thursday from 1-2pm at the Tower Theater.

7) Monday, March 2 is Dr. Suess Day. Any desire to do something school wide?

8) Thursday, March 5 is the Variety Show! We’ll move props over right after school and get things ready to go.

9) Dress Rehearsal for the Variety Show is Wednesday, March 4 for most of the day. We’ll get started at Community Time. NO Music classes this day.

10) The Child and Youth Resiliency Survey (CYRS) will be administered again this year. It will be in the AM on March 16. I’ll send a separate email with more information soon.

Upcoming:
February 25: Fire Drill at 9:20
February 25: Staff Meeting, 2:45pm–Frans’ room
February 26: Lottery Meetings, 2:30 and 5:30pm
February 27: K/1/2 Lorax Musical @Tower (Westside performance)
February 29: Auction! 5:30-9pm at Boys and Girls club (no child care)
March 4: Dress Rehearsal–all day! NO Music classes
March 5: EA Meeting, 8:30am
March 5: Variety Show!
March 6: Cafe Amity, Kinders host
March 9: Andy’s leave begins, surgery day
March 10/12: Lottery Tours (led by parents)
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 23-27: Spring Break!

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All,
I hope you all had a fantastic long weekend! I’m still away from school Tuesday but will back bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Wednesday and look forward to seeing all of you.

A big thanks to all of you for EBISS last week! We have so many things to celebrate in terms of growth and I am so appreciative of all you do to support your kiddos!

Also, as Amanda noted in her email, thanks for being a group of people who are willing to have open discussions and honor all thoughts and ideas. In the coming weeks we will make a clear decision about Celebrations/Narratives and we will do so with everyone’s input. This is not an all or nothing decision, but rather an opportunity to try something new that may work better for the group going forward. Not everyone needs to try it this year, but I am hopeful that one or a few of you will want to try. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

A few notes to get you going:
1) We have Lottery Information meetings coming up next Wednesday, February 26. We’ll have one meeting at 2:30pm and another at 5:30pm. We’ll be joined by some Amity Graduates and parents. We’ll discuss in depth at our Staff Meeting next Tuesday.

2) First Aid training this Wednesday from 1:30-5:30 (hopefully not this late, but plan on it).

3) I want to share a few non-specialist dates to get in your calendar–these are dates that Deb and Korey already had booked prior to taking over in their roles.
*Feb 19 (this Wednesday): No Music
*Feb 27/28 & March 5: No Art

4) The Auction is almost here! While you are not required to attend we greatly appreciate when you do, and it’s always a fun night. Saturday, February 29th 5:30-9pm. Feel like helping out? There are plenty of jobs to fill if you are interested, just let me know. Not an obligation.

5) Fire Drill next Tuesday, Feb 25 at 9:20am.

6) Be sure you March 4 on calendar as Dress Rehearsal for the Variety Show. ALL DAY.

Upcoming
February 25: Fire Drill at 9:20
February 26: Lottery Meetings, 2:30 and 5:30pm
February 27: K/1/2 Lorax Musical @Tower (Westside performance)
February 29: Auction!
March 4: Dress Rehearsal–all day!
March 5: EA Meeting, 8:30am
March 5: Variety Show!
March 6: Cafe Amity, Kinders host
March 10/12: Lottery Tours (led by parents)
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 23-27: Spring Break!

Here’s to a great week ahead! See you on Wednesday.
Andy

Good Morning!
Wow, it’s been a few really busy weeks…and it looks to stay busy for the next few as we head into the heart of Auction and Variety Show season. A big thanks for all you do for both of these amazing Amity traditions!

A few notes to get you going:
1) EBISS this Wednesday. Veronica will be here to cover your classes. We’re having to work in harmony (pardon the pun) with music times:
8:30-9:00: Grade 4 
9:00-9:30: Grade 5 
10:00-10:30: Kinder
10:30-11:00: Grade 3
11:45-12:15: Grade 2 
12:15-12:45: Grade 1

2) SIW this week: We’ll have a general staff meeting and a discussion about End of Year Celebrations for those interested. No Staff Meeting on Tuesday. We’ll start at 1:30 this week–Ray’s room.

**SIW on Feb 19 is teacher directed. Please share ideas as to how you’d like to use the time.

3) Variety Show update: Rehearsals this week at Invitations. On Monday we’ll all meet in the gym to solidify commitments and share the plan with the kids.

4) EA meeting Thursday at 8:30am

5) Chair Massages this Thursday–be sure to check the time you signed up for!

6) I have an admin meeting on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 so I’ll be leaving around 3:15.

7) I’ll be out this Friday and next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday). Please reach out to Scott if you need extra help with a student–he can work with the student or cover your class so you can support the student. If anything serious comes up please call me.

8) Looking ahead there will be NO Music on Feb 19 and NO PE on Feb 25. Please be sure to get these dates in your calendar.

Upcoming
February 12: EBISS
February 13: EA meeting, 8:30am
February 14/18: Andy out
February 17: NO SCHOOL, Presidents’ Day
February 25: Fire Drill at 9:20
February 26: Lottery Meetings, 2:30 and 5:30pm
February 27: K/1/2 Lorax Musical @Tower (Westside performance)
February 29: Auction!
March 5: EA Meeting, 8:30am
March 5: Variety Show!
March 6: Cafe Amity, Kinders host
March 10/12: Lottery Tours (led by parents)
March 17: Irish Dancers at Community Time
March 23-27: Spring Break!


Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning Fine People!
I hope you had a tremendous weekend and that the workday on Friday has you feeling at least a little closer to being caught up. Thanks for a really fun lunch break, I thoroughly enjoyed the laughter! I’ve spent the weekend mapping out our Bend Ken launch…

A few notes to stir the juices:
1) I sent a few important emails at the end of last week and over the weekend. Please be sure you have read the emails.

2) DIBELS on Tuesday morning–Scott coordinating.

3) Please let me know if you have plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day in your classrooms and what you plan to do–I just like to know what’s going on!

4) I sent this in an email but here is a reminder–the new Music schedule:
10:00-10:30—Grade 3
10:30-11:00—Kinder
11:20-11:40—Ukulele and Choir
11:45-12:15—Grade 1 (directly from lunch recess, students do not return to classroom)
12:15-12:45—Grade 2 (Brad and Scott will bring Connor and Graham)

5) No staff meeting this week. SIW is district level trainings–be sure you have signed up!

6) We’ll have all school Invitation on Monday to get kiddos signed up for the Variety Show. The rest of the week groups doing skits will work on scripts during Invitations.

7) EasyCBM next week on Tuesday, Feb 11th–all in the studio:
Kinder: Monday (10^th) 10:00-11:00
Grade 1: Tuesday (11^th) 10:00-11:00 
Grade 2: Tuesday (11^th) 11:45-12:45
Grades 3/4/5: in their classrooms by February 11th.

8) Field trips this week:
*Grade 5 heads to Bend Science Station on Thursday and Friday

9) EBISS next Wednesday, February 12:
8:30-9:00: Grade 4
9:00-9:30: Grade 5
10:00-10:30: Kinder
10:30-11:00: Grade 3
11:45-12:15: Grade 2
12:15-12:45: Grade 1
* I know this gets a little confusing with our new music schedule but we need to keep EBISS on Wednesday for now in order to include Tammy.

10) I have an admin meeting today so will leave around 2:45pm.

11) Just an FYI, looking ahead I am taking two personal days, February 14th and 18th.

Upcoming:
February 4: DIBELS in AM
February 6/7: Grade 5 to Bend Science Station
February 7: Cafe Amity, Grade 1 hosts
February 12: EBISS
February 13: EA Meeting, 8:30am
February 14/18: Andy out
February 17: NO SCHOOL, Presidents’ Day
February 26: Lottery Meetings, 2:30 and 5:30pm
February 29: Auction!
March 5: Variety Show!
March 10/11: Lottery Tours (led by parents)

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All!
Well, we survived a challenging week of illness at school and I hope we all continue to stay strong and healthy! We have another short week with kids this week with a work day on Friday–a good chance to catch up and connect! Would be fun to all have lunch together on Friday, and/or drinks after work.

Someone recently tried to make a pun about sickness, but it flu over my head..

A few notes to get you going:
1) Time to start planning for the Variety Show. We’ll discuss at our Staff Meeting tomorrow. 2:45pm in Frans’ room.

2) Music update: Janelle will no longer be teaching music, so music class is temporarily on hold as we figure out how to move forward. I’m in conversation with Deb Mata who may be able to cover but is currently only available on Wednesdays. I’ll keep you posted.

PE Schedule without music:
10:00-10:30: 4/5 Group 1
10:30-11:00: 4/5 Group 2
11:45-12:15: Kinder
12:15-12:45: Grade 1
1:35-2:00: Grade 2 (directly from Choice Time)
2:00-2:30 Grade 3

**Please walk your class to and from PE, this will greatly help!

3) This Thursday at 3pm we will be hosting a presentation on PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus) by Dr Janelle Payne and Vanessa Cardui. You are invited to join and I think you will find it extremely insightful, and I do believe we will be seeing more and more children with this diagnosis in our schools. A few teachers from Highland will also be joining us.

4) If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to chat with your class about expectations in the hallway during Choice Time–the hallways are for quiet visiting with friends, eating snack, reading a book, playing a game (board), etc. Students who are using the hall for any other reason should be asked to head outside or to the gym. Thanks!

5) I’ve requested a few times that you make sure to return any PE equipment you use for class activities and invitations to it’s rightful place. Please make the extra effort to return equipment after you are done using it as I am finding equipment on the stage almost every day.

Some of you may believe in the concept of the Magic Coffee Table effect when it comes to PE equipment–for your viewing pleasure: Magic Coffee Table

5) We’re showing some really great improvement in terms of our energy use at Amity–we now qualify as an Energy Star School, meaning we are making good efforts to reduce our energy use! Please keep turning off lights any time you leave a room–your classroom, staff room, craft room, and especially the gym! And turning off power strips at the end of the day and for the weekend also help.

6) I have an admin meeting today so will be leaving a little before 3pm.


Upcoming:
January 31: NO SCHOOL, teacher work day
February 4: DIBELS in AM
February 6/7: Grade 5 to Bend Science Station
February 7: Cafe Amity, Grade 1 hosts
February 12: EBISS
February 13: EA Meeting, 8:30am
February 17: NO SCHOOL, Presidents’ Day
February 26: Lottery Meetings, 2:30 and 5:30pm
March 5: Variety Show!
March 10/11: Lottery Tours (led by parents)

Here’s to a great 4 day week ahead!
Andy

Good Morning All!
I hope you enjoyed the long weekend, it was a welcome little break! We’ve got back to back 4 day weeks, and Camp Amity this Friday!

A big thanks to all of you for how you handled the big news about the remodel and the move to North Star last week, I greatly appreciate your understanding and support. Luckily we have lots of time to wrap our heads around the move and to start thinking about our future–wouldn’t want to do it with any other group of people!

A few notes to get you going:
1) Earthquake/Fire Drill on Wednesday at 9:20am. We’ll do Earthquake first and then evacuate for Fire.

2) When you leave your classroom for Choice or Invitations please be sure to lock your door.

3) NO STAFF meeting today (Tuesday). We’ll make time to chat about kiddos at SIW.

4) SIW this week–we’ll continue our discussion/planning for end of year Celebrations and see if we can agree on some key items. Also, I’d like to explore the idea of a Math Family Night. Frans had a mini Math Night back in December and the parents who attended really got a lot out of it.

SIW next week–Amanda will guide us as dive into some of Ross Greene’s work.

5) Field Trips this week
Thursday: Grade 5 to Bend Rock Gym
Friday: Everyone to Camp Amity!

6) Thursday at 5pm I’ll be hosting an open forum for parents with questions about the remodel/move to North Star. I had 3 parents show up for the afternoon session last Friday. No need for any of you to attend, just wanted to let you know. I’ve been able to answer many of the questions people have on the go via hallway chats, but there haven’t been a lot of questions yet. Overall the news was received with a lot of positive support!

Upcoming
January 24: Camp Amity!
January 31: NO SCHOOL, teacher work day
February 29: Annual Auction

Here’s to a great week ahead!
Andy