Hammerschmidt's Happenings
October 7th- 11th & October. 14th- 18th
**** . Special Two Week Edition ****
Happy Friday Everyone!
Dates to Note:
- Pledge - Summers
- Chorus, 7:45 - 8:30 am.
- Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday 10/8
- Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
- Breakfast with Brett Sharkey- (see info below), 7:45- 8:15 a.m.
Wednesday 10/9
Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
- Chorus Club, 7:45 a.m.
Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
- Staff Sip N' Share- Lounge, 8:00 a.m.
- ROE BUILDING INSPECTION
- D44 Institute Day @ GWMS
- Columbus Day Holiday, No School
- WHS SIP DAY (see agenda below)
Rakosnik- Pledge
Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
Fluency Lab, 7:45- 8:30 a.m.
Chorus Club, 7:45 am
Staff Sip N' Share- Lounge, 8:00 a.m.
- Staff Social, Yard House, 4:00 p.m.
- WHS PTA Halloween Party, 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Breakfast with Brett Sharkey on Tuesday, 10/8
WHS STAR TEAM UPDATES (From Early Release Day)
Student and Staff Engagement
The Student, Staff and Family Engagement Committee is excited to be rolling out several new ways to engage our Hammerschmidt community. In November, we will begin monthly recognition of students who are showing the 7 Habits, as well as those classes who are doing a great job at keeping their classrooms clean. Plans are also underway for both a WHS mini-library, and a family service night at Feed My Starving Children. We will also be publishing a school-wide newsletter each trimester designed to feature opportunities to engage with our WHS family.
Beginning with our November School-Wide Morning Meeting, we are going to be recognizing one student from each class who is doing an outstanding job exhibiting the habit featured in the previous month's meeting. (In November it will be Habit 1: Be Proactive.)
Classroom teachers will be getting a certificate in your mailbox, asking you to highlight one especially proactive student. Please fill out your certificate and return it to Neil by Monday, October 28. Specials teachers and staff, if you see great examples of the featured habit, please make sure to let the students' teachers know.
Thank you so much to all for helping to recognize our students!
The STAR committee met and discussed the next ER day which will be Nov. 1st, a perfect day to start thinking about gratitude. A lot of ideas were contributed including a gratitude coupon book where students can give a gratitude note to someone. Another idea is to create a gratitude bulletin board by the lunchroom with more examples of reasons to be thankful. Our committee plans to meet again to finalize the lesson plan and is excited to bring this idea to our STAR Constellation families.
Student Growth and Goals:
The Student Growth and Goals committee members discussed how the STAR Binders are going at each grade level. We talked a lot about student reflection and how it is being used in relation to the binders. A folder was created in the shared folder on the Drive to house reflection sheets we have used in the classroom. You can access all the STAR Binders Resources here.
Student Leadership Roles:
We are working on a bulletin board for student club ideas. We are hoping if there are enough students who are interested in a club, a staff member will sponsor the club. Once the bulletin board is up, we will share with staff how to become a club sponsor.
Student Voice and Collaborative Decision Making
Our team is work on two separate action plan items to help increase student voice and collaborative decision making.
- Principal Advisory Meetings: Each trimester Mr. Danielski will hold meetings with each grade level. Classroom teachers will identify 3 students each trimester to represent their class at their grade level meeting. These session will be informal and aimed at getting ideas and suggestions on how to make WHS better! A video will be created and shared with grade level teachers to explain this process. A google form will also be used to solicit ideas from the whole class to cast a wide net for student feedback. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
- WHS Suggestion Box: In an attempt to get ongoing student feedback throughout the year, a schoolwide suggestion box is being created. This will be housed on the second shelf under the prize bucket. Suggestion slip templates have been created. Copies will be made and distributed to teachers to keep in their classrooms. Our committee will compile these forms and collect data on what percentage of students from each grade filled one out. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
Law Enforcement "Lock Down" Drill --- FOLLOW UP
If you have any feedback about the drill that you would like to share, please email me directly. Thank you all for doing what you need to keep your kids safe....and happy at WHS.
Therapy Dog Visits to WHS SPAC Classrooms
We are excited to announce a new partnership with Independent Service Dogs Foundation this school year to provide therapy dog services within our Specialized Academic Classrooms. Therapy dog teams (dog and handler) provide physical, psychological, and emotional benefits to individuals through episodic interaction. ISDF therapy dog teams are properly screened to ensure suitable temperaments and they are trained, certified, and registered to serve in this capacity. Our therapy dog, Bruno Cannoli, will be accompanied by his trained handler at all times and only within the Specialized Academic Classrooms. The team will visit every other Thursday beginning the second week of October.
For more information on this program, please visit:
D44 Institute Day - 10/11
WHS SIP Day, -- Tuesday, 10/15-- Agenda
Family Meal Time- Paired Potluck
Here’s the idea: We’ll pair up different grade levels and everyone will have their own mini-potluck lunch together with another grade level. You’ll get a full hour for this, although you may elect to not use the entire time. I know it would be easier for us to not do this, for everyone to just eat with who and wherever you want, but consider this our school family’s version of making us all take a little time to connect with others. The pairings (also listed on the SIP Day Agenda) are as follows:
Family Meal Time (Paired Potuck)
Kdg., Gr. 3, S/L, IF
Gr. 1, Gr. 4, Psych
Gr. 2, Gr. 5, SW, Infinity, LRC
Pri. SPAC, Int. SPAC, OT
LSS, Resource, EL, Specials
You’re free to organize this further among your own group if you wish, but to keep things simple, I suggest that you don’t worry about who’s bringing a main dish, who’s bringing a side dish, etc… Just everyone simply bring a lunch, perhaps just a little bigger than normal, but that can easily be divided and shared. You’re free to bring whatever you wish, but if you have time and can manage it, I would encourage you to share one of your specialties or family favorites. I mean, if you’re having a potluck, why not show off some kitchen skills, right?
SIP Day Preparation Request - Action Needed
To be prepared for this please consider making the following preparations:
- If you have any trouble, Morgan can help you with this.
- Using your phone, while completely optional, is encouraged. I think it will be the best way to experience the activity.
Tweet of the week:
We Are Family!
Jessica Anderson - Kindergarten Teacher
If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it?
A New Beginning
Favorite Memory of a recent school experience:
My favorite memory from last year was watching one of my struggling readers sitting in my classroom library laughing and reading a Dr. Seuss book. He was really reading and it was because of all the hard work he had done. I got to watch the magic of a book come to life for him!
Memory of My Elementary School Experience:
My fondest memory of elementary school was Ms. Bartley and her Barbie doll that she styled to look just like her. She would drive her barbie around the classroom in a barbie car. She made everything about learning fun and exciting!
Three Words That Describe Me:
honest, hardworking and passionate about what I do
Bucket List:
Go to Africa
What is your hidden talent?
Making up songs to get our kids to bed
What advice would you give to someone just starting off their career in education?
Always remember why you chose to become a teacher! You have the power to make a difference and impact a child every minute of every day. How will you impact them?
What is the last joke that you recall?
Why did the bike fall over? It was too tired. (My husband loves "Dad" jokes)
Best Concert:
Bon Jovi
Staff Shout Outs!
Lisa B., Erica B., and Jill Y.
They made my 5 sense stations happen! I could not have done it without them!
Michelle Hoganson and Shelly Meiers
Michelle and Shelly can be found in the kindergarten hallway before and/or after school to help kindergartners prepare for arrival and/or dismissal. Thanks, Shelly and Michelle, we appreciate your presence and assistance!
Kelly Summers
WHS Staff "Shout Out" Nominations
When Your Students Act Out, Ask These 7 Questions instead of "Why Did You Do That?"
Feel-Good Friday Video
Contact Me Anytime!
Email: ddanielski@sd44.org
Website: http://wh.sd44.org/
Location: Wm Hammerschmidt Elementary School, Hammerschmidt Avenue, Lombard, IL, United States
Phone: 630-677-8457
Twitter: @ddanielski