Team Meadow Update
Extended E-Day Info - March 18, 2020
Team Meadow -
I hope today allowed our classroom teachers a little time to catch their breath as our elementary counselors and related arts teachers took the reigns on content delivery. Way to go! I had the pleasure of experiencing the SEL lesson as a parent with Lily and thought the content was spot on. As cabin fever begins to set in, the importance of being able to recognize strong emotions and to use coping strategies to work through them is so pertinent- for kids and adults alike!
Also, I was thankful to have the opportunity to see most of you today in ZOOM sessions, case conferences, m-team meetings, etc... Your positive dispositions and encouragements bolster my spirit! Maybe we can hold some more sessions in the coming weeks.
A few items to note:
Community Circles & Class Meetings: We received some very positive feedback from some families regarding teachers holding class meetings or time set aside to see friends with no agenda. Sounds like a great thing to keep going.
Morning Message:
- Lauren sent a message to teachers on Will's behalf this afternoon. Please read carefully and if you can submit a 10 second (or less) video to him by noon tomorrow, that would be fantastic.
- In tomorrow morning's video, I've encouraged students/families to write encouraging chalk messages &/or pictures on neighborhood sidewalks in effort to spread some joy. I will create another Padlet for submissions later in the week when the sun comes out to play. I wrote a message outside our house that says, "love, you're not alone". It came out of inspiration from some of our best friends in East Tennessee that opened a home for children transitioning to foster care. I've included a blurb & link below for anyone that might be interested in viewing a recent episode of "Returning the Favor" w/ Mike Rowe that highlights their journey. I know your busy, but it is a feel-good show with a reminder of the good in the world. It aired last weekend a little over a week ago. (More details below).
Attendance: Kris Devereaux sent an email to all staff in response to questions regarding attendance. In a nutshell, please consider the following bits of information.
- Attendance is different than learning & feedback. This might be a little bit of a calibration from previous E-Days, but these are different times. If a student gets into the modules and attempts some of the work, they are to be counted as present. Work does not need to be completed to be counted in attendance. When you think about it, we do this every day at school. Not every students performs the same, nor do they complete all the same task when counted simply as "present".
- Learning and feedback is different than attendance. When reviewing student response, quizzes, dialogue, etc... this informs your feedback, instructional moves and design. Through your varied assessments and observations (conversations, conferences, work products, quizzes, etc...) you have opportunity to provide feedback to students.
- If students are not logging on nor completing a good portion of the work, be sure to follow up with communication with the family. Do they have a need that we might be able to support? Are they okay?
- Related Arts: We will get more guidance to you in the coming days about engagement with the RA modules. In the meantime, please continue to keep encouragements flowing as you can and are able. In addition, I am including reminders to families in my daily update. Teachers, if you could continue to include reminders in your classroom communication, that may assist.
Teacher of the Year:
- Please see information below for final input on BME Teacher of the Year.
Student Progress Reports: One last reminder that progress report input is due by 8 AM on Friday. We will be reviewing during the day and if we notice anything missing, we will reach out ahead of the weekend.
Thanks for all you do, and especially for how you do it,
Tom
Teacher of the Year...& the winner is...
At our admin meeting this morning, we were informed that our district will continue to move forward with our Teacher of the Year process. Thank you for your feedback on your various colleagues. Based on your input, we have our Teacher of the Year confirmed, and we'll announce that individual in the coming days.
In the meantime, I wanted to share input from one of your colleagues. It sums up what I've often thought, but never put to words.
Teacher of the Year Nominee: Team Meadow
I realize this is now a day late, my apologies, as there's just been a little bit going on in our lives. ;) I also realize that this nomination may not fit the mold of a typical TotY nomination, but definitely needs to be honored.
Every member of Team Meadow is deserving of the honor of being named "Teacher of the Year." While our global community is navigating a most uncertain time, every member of Team Meadow has done their part to "pull the rope" for the students, staff, and families of Boone Meadow; even when we may be worried about the personal impact this is having on their own lives.
- Teachers have sprung into action, working together, to create meaningful, engaging lessons in order to bring some sort of normalcy to the heart of our mission.
- Our instructional assistants pitched in on Friday to do whatever they could to lessen the load for teachers. Our cafeteria staff was busy making sure that all perishable food was delivered to make care packages created for our families in need.
- Our custodians are still out working in the "real world," not from the safety of their homes, to ensure our buildings will be safe and clean upon return.
- Our administrators continue to be informed about new information, send encouraging updates, and monitor well-being, among many other things.
- Parents are also navigating new routines for their families and embracing the facilitation of their children's academic learning.
Love, You're Not Alone... Isaiah House
If your looking for an inspirational show to watch sometime over the coming days, I suggest watching "Returning the Favor" with our dear friends Ronda and Corey . The show has many "feel good" episodes, but I recommend Season 4, Episode 9. "The Woman Who Changed Foster Care." Click on the photo below to view the episode.
Important Dates & Information
April
6 - Tentative return to school date; ???4th gr to IMS/STEM trip (9-2:00); ???CogAT testing window; Lit Coach mtg???
8 - Passover (@ sundown)
9- ZWest music teachers to visit BME for 4th gr (8:15-10:15)
10 - Good Friday
12 - Easter
13 - Staff Meeting; PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
14 - Hussey Mayfield Library presentations
15 - New Tentative Kindy Round Up date
17 - 1st gr field trip to Rhythm Discovery Center
19 - Orthodox Easter
20 - ILearn Testing Window begins (4/20-5/15)
23 - First day of Ramadan (sundown)
27 - Family Gathering; Staff Meeting; 3rd grade music program (6:30-7:30)
29 - 4th grade music program (6:30-7:30)
May
(ILearn continues through 15th)...
4 - LIt Coach meeting
5- BME Voices Concert at ZWest (7:00)
6 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
8- 3rd gr Zionsville HIstory Tour
11 - 4th gr to Indiana State House (9-2:00); Staff mtg
18 - Pop In
21 - 4th gr Celebration
22 - Last Day of School
Contact Us
Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow