Monday Morning Message
Week of March 25, 2019
Thank you for the great conversations about children and learning last week at our RtI check-in meetings. It has been a busy few weeks with gathering data for the end of the quarter, report cards, and everything else in between.
We have some additional activities sprinkled into this week with our basketball games and the run up to spring break. I know I often find a bit of joy in a change of pace.
Have a great week and, dare I say, an even better week following this one! Your break is much deserved. Hopefully you are able to spend it in a manner that recharges you for the final weeks of the school year.
With much respect for the work you all do on a daily basis,
Andrew
Upcoming Dates
March 26 - PTO @ 1:15
March 27 - ZCS Growth Meeting with Dr. Robison 6:30-8:00
March 29-April 5 - Spring Break!
April 9 - Staff Meeting @2:45
April 10 - Kindergarten Round-Up 12:00-6:30
April 11 - ZWest Music Dept Visit (4th grade)
April 15 - NWEA Window opens
April 22 - ILEARN Window opens
April 23 - PTO Mtg @1:15; Staff Share 2:45
April 25 - Cultural Celebrations Night 6:00-7:00
May 15 - STEM Night 6:00-7:30
May 17 - Field Day
Congratulations Katie McLaughlin!!!
Congratulations to Katie McLaughlin, our 2019 Teacher of the Year! Many of us, whether in the classroom or in the conference room have experienced Katie's expertise, poise and unwavering commitment to kids!
Eagle Madness Schedule - Week of March 25
Back by popular demand is our award winning March Madness style basketball tournament! Alyssa, Sean and Susan have been working on bringing students into the process this year! Who knows, we could have student referees, score keepers, and coaches. Be on the lookout for some past favorites like Mr. McKinley's 3-point shooting clinic or Miss Rowan breaking down the defense as she drives the lane.
1st Grade Games
Wright vs. Grathwohl - Monday @ 11:45-12:15
Marshall vs. Wright/Grathwohl winner – Tuesday @ 12:00-12:30
Final vs. 2nd grade winner – Thursday @ 8:10-8:40
2nd Grade Games
Schmidt vs. Spencer – Monday @12:15-12:45
Slack vs. Schmidt/Spencer winner - Tuesday @ 12:30-1:00
Final vs. 1st grade winner – Thursday @ 8:10
3rd Grade Games
Grant vs. Burke – Tuesday @1:00-1:30
Werner vs. Grant/Burke winner – Wednesday @ 9:15-9:45
Final vs. 4th grade winner – Thursday @ 10:30-11:00
4th Grade Games
Sinsko vs. Carroll – Monday @ 8:10-8:40
McKinley vs. Shubat – Monday @ 9:30-10:00
Sinsko/Carroll winner vs. McKinley/Shubat winner – Tuesday @11:00-11:30
Final vs. 3rd grade winner –Thursday @ 10:30-11:00
Staff Game – Thursday @1:45-2:15 (Students come down at 1:35. PreK-2 in bleachers, 3-4 sitting on floor around perimeter)
In order to accommodate our Eagle Madness Finals and staff game, we have some shifts to the related arts schedule for Thursday, March 28.
8:10-8:40 - 1st grade vs. 2nd grade Finals
8:40-9:20 - 4th grade related arts
9:20-10:00 - 1st grade related arts
10:00-10:25 - Kindergarten related arts (all kindy)
10:30-11:00 - 3rd grade vs. 4th grade Finals
11:05-11:45 - 3rd grade related arts
12:50-1:30 - 2nd grade related arts
1:45-2:15 - Staff BB Game
Team 1
- Rick Day
- Kelly Spencer
- Austin Holtz
- Scott McKinley
- Jeanine Grathwohl
Team 2
- Andrew Foreman
- Marissa Grant
- Sean Shanley
- Marykate Rowan
- Alyssa Jackson
Book Room Spring Cleaning
It’s time to re-inventory the book sets we have in the “book rooms” around the building! Our teams are carefully thinking about which books will be the most engaging for book clubs and for libraries, which shows how much we value student voice and choice. With new grants being requested and funded, it will be important for us to critically take a look at the many book sets we currently have in the book room (library) and in the third and fourth grade storage area. We have closets, shelves, and baskets full of partial/full book sets in both areas that will support clubs for all grades. Some were purchased for particular classes, some were purchased by teachers no longer teaching at EE, some were purchased for the book room specifically, some were cleaned out of back room storage areas and relocated years ago, and some were purchased with our own personal dollars. Because storage is becoming tight, and it is important for us to be responsible stewards of our existing resources, we must work together to determine what we no longer are using and make some room the new resources we are finding to be more valuable.
Each team will be given a specific color of post it note (ex/ third grade = teal). Before spring break, we are asking that each team work together to really spend some time in the book room (library) and book storage (3/4 storage). If your team determines that a particular text set is one that you’ve used in the last year or two please write the title on the post it and mark it with a “+” indicating that it is one that is frequently used in our rotations. If you notice a book set your team has NEVER used please mark it with at “-“ indicating that it should be listed on our consideration for movement. **Nothing will be thrown away, distributed into classroom libraries, or given away at this time – this is just our first step into improving our resource spaces.**
Once we have the sticky notes completed I (Beth Brent) will take all the sticky notes and compile a list of book sets in three columns. One that lists books heavy in our rotation, books that are infrequently used (but used some), and books that don’t get used anymore. From there we will make plans as a team on what to do with the infrequent and unused books.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SHORT GUIDED READING BOOKS IN THE ZIP LOCK BAGS in the library book room that are leveled by guided reading level and sorted by topic or level. We can tackle/rearrange those to fit needs at a later point in time if needed. Our focus now are the MANY book sets that are used for book clubs or small groups.
Beth Brent
PLC Corner/RtI Check -ins
Please be sure that RtI plans have been updated, uploaded to the Q Drive and sent home to parents before Thursday, March 28.
- 4/12 - No PLCs
- 4/19 - TBD
Kindy (Alternating Thursdays):
Future Think Tank Opportunities
- First, here is the link to the recorded Think Tank from before winter break. The sound is excellent!
- Talk with your team and sign up here!!!