Captain's Log 4.18.2020
Newsletter for the Lansing Elementary school staff
April 17, 2020
Congratulations on a successful implementation of our continuous learning plan. I am in awe of the level of collaboration and communication our teams are engaging in and your ability to pivot and make adjustments as teams recognize the need to do so. I've heard consistent praise and positive feedback from our community. If you encounter an unhappy parent or colleague, take a pause to remember the negative emotions probably aren't about you, but more in line from the stress and uncertainty regarding our national crisis.
Questions remain about our situation in August. The honest answer is we simply don't know at this point. I am hopeful to see the phased implementation plan offered to states to re-open their communities. But, the reality looms that we need to be prepared for whatever comes. I am confident in our teams abilities to do so.
I believe this is an opportunity to redesign what we do to best serve our kids no matter the educational environment. We know now we all have the ability to be flexible and adaptable, creative out-of-the-box-thinkers, yes-and thinkers, and above all learn and implement new and different ideas. All of these qualities will serve you well as a professional educator and provider of stability in our community.
Take a moment to be grateful for our KSDE leadership in Kansas. Many states are now turning toward the Kansas model for guidance on how to implement their continuous learning plans. Dr. Watson's vision for Kansas students is "Kansas leads the world in the success of each student". Mission accomplished!
Dr. Mindy Wells
Assistant Principal @ Lansing Elementary School
Staff-K Roundup
A big thank you to our Kindergarten roundup team: Jennah Flynn, Debbie Beall, Christine Bachtel, Mary Yandura, Carrie Portenier.
Please tell everyone you know that has an in-coming Kindergarten student to either come to round-up OR contact Carrie and carrie.portenier@usd469.net to get registered for Kindergarten round-up. We need to round-em up early!
Mark Your Calendars-Calling all in-coming Kindergarten Students- 2020-2021 School Year
Current Age Requirements
To be eligible for kindergarten, students must have turned 5 on or before August 31, 2020.Kindergarten Round-Up
April 23, 2020 5:00 pm via Zoom. NOTE: Time change.
April 24, 2020 9:00 am via Zoom.
Zoom Code: 895 6123 5947
Password: 654321
Please complete your registration as soon as possible so we can plan for your student to attend Lansing Elementary School.
***All out-of district transfers will not be approved until early August as we have an idea of local enrollment.
Please share with all incoming Kindergarten students and their family!
Parent Input for Class Placement for in-coming Kindergartener 2020-2021 school year
Please access the Google Form below to provide input for your child's class placement for the 2020-2021 school year. We ask that your refrain from naming or picking a specific teacher for your child, but instead offer qualities of the teacher that will best be suited to your child's personality and learning style. Requests for specific teachers, by name, cannot be accepted.
A tremendous amount of time and effort will go into the planning and formation of class placement by teams of both classroom teachers and support personnel. Your input will be considered along with the input of staff members. We will do our best to consider the unique needs, personality traits and learning style of every student. Thank you for taking the time to provide input for your child's class placement for the 2020-2021 school year!
Send Anna your 2020-2021 Dates
Anna and Carrie have been working hard on making a Google Calendar for our LES Building Master Calendar as well as calendars for staff birthdays and conference room sign-ups.
Please send all 2020-21 known events to Anna by May 1, 2020. This means nailing down dates and times for things you know will go on the calendar. (Field trips, musical programs, class event days with parents etc) Thank you!
LES Calendar of Events
May 21: Last day of School
Technology Requests
Technology Request
A Note from Lisa @ Lil Roar
Please take the time to participate in making a video for the Lil Roar-our students want to see you! This is for all staff!
I’m so grateful to everyone who has already sent videos, but I’m asking for a favor! I will need a constant supply of new footage from you (all elementary staff) to plug in and make every week feel fresh! We need a new cycle of videos and more teachers to appear! You can send me ANYTHING, even if you’ve already sent one! Below are some ideas, and remember, the kiddos will want to see you! So be creative and fun, let them get to know you! Videos must be short! No more than around a minute!
- Make an easy How To video
- Take us on a virtual tour of something cool that you have at home
- Send me a weather update!!! (Highly recommended, I will use sunny weather most, I HOPE!)
- Show off a skill or talent
- Challenge the kids to do something for the day
- Sing a song or lip sync
- Lip sync a birthday song! (Again, I do birthdays daily!)
- Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
If you have any questions, or need more ideas, please reach out or get inspiration from watching others who have been featured! I appreciate the help to keep this rolling! I also wanted to let you know that I made a Lil Roar TikTok account, so if you’re familiar with TikTok, I can give you the login info so you can record on that instead of using your own personal one. That way the kids will have access to everything in one place!
Remember, videos should be short, no more than around one minute! Send your videos to lilroar469@gmail.com! Or just attach it back to this email! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You’re all doing FANTASTIC with the new normal. Be watching for the next special segment! The MISS YOU montage was so awesome!!
You’re amazing! Have a great weekend! Record some cool videos!
Thank you Mental Health Team
LES Guiding Principles
- Less is More
- Quality over Quantity
- Relationships over Rigor
- Grace before Grades
- Patience before Programs
- Love before Lessons
- Do the Right Thing before Doing Things Right
- Empathy is Everything
- Integrity is Integral
- GRIT-You can do hard things!