Staff Update #14: 4/14/24

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Hey Crew! Thank you for the amazing shower on Friday… we unboxed your gifts yesterday and were absolutely floored by your thoughtfulness and generosity. Definitely feeling the love ❤️

Here is your weekend update. Shorter this week!

-Zach

Big Ups!

A couple of quick ones from me that didn’t get shared in Friday’s Appreciation Circle:

  • Allie & The Prom Volunteers: I think that Friday night’s Prom was our best yet!! Awesome venue, great decorations, and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. I am in awe of your dedication to making these events special for our students… it really is so important for our student culture. I can’t wait for the pics!
  • Renee & Addy: Navigated some pretty heavy student stuff Wednesday-Friday with incredible poise (and Renee did it while sick!). It is inspiring to see you both jump right in with no hesitation, balancing steady, professional decision-making with heart-forward empathy. I am very grateful for you both.

Upcoming Dates

  • Wed April 17th – Building-Led SIW (Intensives & Peer Observation Debrief)
  • Fri April 19th – Levy Presentation, 8:00-8:30 (middle commons, all staff)
  • Fri April 26th & Sat April 27th – Banff Film Festival
  • Fri May 3rd – Better World Day (9th & 10th)
  • Fri May 3rd – RMS Dance (Springa-Flinga) 6pm-8pm (volunteer sign up here)
  • Mon May 6th – Teacher Appreciation Week!
  • Sat May 11th – Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show
  • Tues May 15th – Fri May 19th – RHS Intensives, Round 2
  • Mon May 20th – Harju Baby Due Date
  • Mon May 20th – Thurs May 22nd: 8th Gr Travel Study
  • Tues May 28th – Wed May 29th: 10th Gr Newport Overnight Fieldwork
  • Thurs May 30th – Senior Expo Night 6pm-8pm
  • Tues June 4th – Thurs June 6th – Tentative 8th Gr Passages
  • Wed June 6th – Last Day of Classes for RHS Seniors
  • Tues June 11th – RHS Class of 2024 Graduation, 7PM
  • Thurs June 13th – RMS 8th Gr Promotion, 6PM
  • Tues June 18th – Last Day of School, 2:30 Release

3rd trimester fieldwork overview calendar!

SIW Calendar

Rubbish Renewed Volunteers Needed

Saturday, May 11th is this year’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. If you have never been to this Realms fundraiser I HIGHLY recommend attending!

Please consider signing up to volunteer using the links below:

Event Set Up: https://volunteersignup.org/9LKJC

Event Help: https://volunteersignup.org/WKPM [we are in particular need of 2 people with OLCC alcohol server permits to check ID’s!!]

Jobs on your own time: https://volunteersignup.org/X83H3

Composting Update

Our industrial composting bin has arrived and we are ready to start composting! Woop woop!

This week Kathie and the kitchen team can start collecting food waste. Zach S is on board to support.

Students have already been scraping food into composting buckets, and next week that food will begin to be composted (starting 4/22, Earth Day 🌎)!

To get kids pumped and prepped, we have a video that will go in the announcements this week. Elinor & Caleb – hoping you two can take the lead on crafting that announcement (with help from the student green teams, of course!).

We will be waiting to launch reusable dishes/cups until the fall.

EL Education Summer Institutes

We have quite a few credits remaining to send teachers to EL Education trainings before next year! Teachers, please review the following options and send me an email if you are interested in attending. Ideally we would send at least 2 people at a time.

Note that I am planning to retain a few spots to train new hires this summer. We do pay for travel, lodging, and some food, but don’t pay staff directly for training. Reach out to Tony if you have any questions or want more info about these sessions (or any others on the EL website).

1. High School Institute: Achieving Dimensional Impact in Secondary Classrooms through the EL Education Model [6/25-6/27, St. Paul, MN]

Join other high school educators from across the nation to experience how EL Education’s Core Practices live in secondary classrooms. In this institute, participants will engage as “students” in a slice of a content and literacy-rich learning expedition, as well as unpack key Core Practices that characterize EL Education’s high-achieving, engaging classroom culture.

Educators will focus on what deeper learning classrooms, equitable student engagement, and effective instructional practices and protocols look and feel like in an EL Education secondary school. Participants will directly experience practices that range from a building background knowledge workshop to active fieldwork to the scaffolding needed to create high-quality work. The High School Institute will also emphasize building community and Habits of Character through the practice of Crew. Leave the institute with a plan to apply these practices and create an engaging, high-achieving secondary classroom that is committed to educational equity

Counselor Track: This institute will also include a separate track for high school counselors to explore and develop their role within the EL Education model in relation to the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement and Core Practices. Counselors will have differentiated programming over the three days, but will have an opportunity to come together with the full institute during key moments, such as Crew.

Note: This institute is meant for 9-12 educators who are new to EL Education, new to teaching, or teachers who know EL Education but need a refresher.

2. Student-Engaged Assessment Practices: Learning Targets and Checking for Understanding [7/29-7/31, Rochester, NY]

Join us to evolve your understanding of student ownership and create a concrete plan for implementing SEA practices at your school or district.

3. EL 101: EL Education’s Core Practices – Our Vision for Transforming Schools [7/29-7/31, Boston MA] – This is the one I’m hoping to send new hires to.

Join us to discover how the EL Education Core accelerates student achievement, serving excellent and equitable outcomes across an expanded definition of student achievement.

Reminders from last blog post