Team Meadow Update
Week of August 10th
Dear Team Meadow,
We've been waiting a long time for this day! Here we are, ready to roll.
The first days of school are some of the absolute best. I love having a front row seat where I can watch the pros (that's you) take over. The talent and care you exhibit is magical. It's an honor to simply watch you engage with children as they transition to be with their school family.
I'm going to be as brief as I can, as I know many of you are carefully attending to final touches for tomorrow's successful launch. There are some important bits of information, so please take time to explore and read carefully when you have the opportunity.
A few items to note:
- Floor Maps - Floor plans to show flow patterns will be in your mailbox in the morning to use as reference for yourself and as reference as needed with students.
- Dismissal Hub (located in the BME Teachers Notebook - The link will be sent to appropriate staff under separate cover) - Teachers, please bookmark the page and have the Dismissal Hub ready to display in your classroom each afternoon when we make our announcement at approximately 2:15. Due to content, I respectfully ask that you not manipulate (add/delete/move) any items within the Dismissal Hub. In addition, please do not share any information outside of our team. This is for internal use only.
- Outdoor Learning Spaces (located in BME Teachers Notebook as well) - It defines the spaces available at different times of the day. You can sign up for the outdoor spaces as well.
- Masks - As staff members, we set the example and tone with the use of masks. Hold a high belief in what children can do in this regard, and be prepared to help a child or three with their lanyard clips. Those bullnose clips aren't friendly with the earlobes.
- Schedule Updates -- yep, we've had some changes! Please be sure to reference the most recent Related Arts schedule and Lunch schedule, which Lauren will email to you as attachments. As we work through the first week, please let us know where you see conflicts or concerns and we will work out the kinks together. Thanks to everyone for their flexibility and willingness to pitch in. We really are Better Together!
- Fire Drill on Thursday (see below)
- NWEA testing - Our NWEA window is August 17th-Sept 4th. Please refer to Lauren's email that was sent on 8/7/20 for details.
- Online Trainings - Don't forget that they are due by the first day with students. They were sent by the HR department (Robyn Nelson) at the beginning of the month.
"It's our insides that make us who we are, that allow us to dream and wonder and feel for others. That's what's essential. That's what will always make the biggest difference in our world." - Fred Rogers
Thanks for 'feeling for others'. You are making a big difference in our world.
Go get 'em!
Tom
Dismissal Hub
- Located in the BME Teacher Notebook
- Informs the entire team of dismissal timeline
- Needs to be displayed in classroom at 2:15
Outdoor Learning Page
Outdoor Learning Maps
Maps are color coded which reflects designated use/purpose of spaces. Outside, many spaces are marked by paint for staff reference.
Fire and Tornado Drills
We plan to hold our first fire drill on Thursday August 13th shortly after 1 PM. In years past, this was able to be done as an instructional drill, but mandates from the state have changed and now require us to complete a full evacuation within the first 10 days of school. Remember to review your adjusted relocation spaces on campus as these have been modified to maintain our Covid-related mitigation strategies. Spaces outside have been brightly marked with spray paint (hopefully it won't rain!).
Tornado drills may be completed on an instructional basis, and we are asking you complete these by Friday, August 14th. You need to sign off on this once it is completed. There will be a sheet posted in the staff workroom next to the mailboxes where you can sign your name.
Mask Reminders:
Staff:
Masks are required to be worn (over nose and mouth) by staff when on present on a ZCS school campus. This applies when meeting with colleagues/team members, moving through hallways, and other workspaces.
Staff is allowed to relax their mask when you are:
by yourself in your classroom (or your designated workspace or other location during a break– door closed when possible)
at lunch – if you are in a shared space for lunch, please be sure to place mask back on when finished eating and talking with colleagues
outside – when distanced from others, you may relax your mask. For example:
- Recess - When you are supervising your students during recess and they are away from you, you may relax your mask. When approaching students (or they approach you), you must wear your mask.
- Outdoor learning – When you take your students outside (for instruction, reading, movement break, related arts, etc…), you may relax your mask if you are distanced from students. Overtly inform students of when it is okay for you (teacher) to have your mask off. “We are outside, and I am far enough away to safely relax my mask while I read to you.” (This will help avoid Johnny going home and saying, “our teacher doesn’t wear a mask at school, etc…” Be explicit so that students understand when/why it is okay for you to remove your own mask, & when it is okay for them to remove theirs. I recommend being transparent when discussing procedures and routines.
Students:
Students are required to wear masks on the bus and on school campus. They may relax their masks at appropriate times and with staff/teacher permission.
Please adhere to the following parameters:
- When indoors: Students may relax their masks if they are (1) distanced from peers and (2) working silently/independently. Teachers should have consistent language, cues, or signals to inform students of when masks should be on or allowed to be relaxed. Example: “Since you will be working independently, (reading your books independently/writing your flash draft/solving the math challenge) this is a mask relaxed activity.” Be explicit of when/why it is okay at certain time for students to relax their masks. Your consistency and transparency with communication will help establish habits.
- Lunch: They are seated at their assigned spot, they may relax their mask.
- Outside – “Socially distanced” is a key concept to assist students be safe with each other. I know this might be tricky and have gray areas at times. Do your best to establish consistent guidance during these first days. Set your guidelines before recess and include modeling and examples as you establish your recess agreements. (masks off – jumping rope, on the swing, shooting hoops, dribbling the soccer ball, etc…) Examples for masks on might be if there are several people on the playground equipment and they are getting close to each other or they can’t keep distance while playing “HORSE” at the basketball goals, two minute run/lap around the field, etc… In general, however, it is best to error on the side of caution rather than being too loose.
A few other notes/reminders from "Barth" (Barb/Beth)
Just a few reminders communicated last week should you need a refresher...
Will we still use dismissal folders? - Yes! We will sanitize the folder with Clorox wipes when the student delivers them to the office in the morning. Will you kindly sanitize the folder when you receive back in the afternoon?
- AM: Please have to the office no later than 8:15-8:30 (1st-4th), Kdg 9:15-9:30
- PM: Folders will be delivered to you in the afternoon by the office staff. We will not have students deliver to classrooms at the end of the day.
Tardy passes - Like the dismissal folders, we will Clorox wipe the tardy passes. Will you kindly sanitize prior to giving back to us?
How will lunch counts be handled? - Beth created a spreadsheet for Cheryl with your students name on it and the 4 lunch choices (look for them in your mailbox by Friday). You will indicate the student choice by placing a “W” under their lunch choice for white milk, and a “C” under their choice for chocolate milk (directions are on the form). You will send the hard copy down in your dismissal folder every morning. When lunches are delivered to your room, you will get the list back in order to distribute the lunches to the correct student.
Daily Schedule - Please send Barb and Beth your daily schedule – the office team refers to it frequently!
Media Permissions -Beth placed media permissions in the Q drive under 2020-21 SY ready to go for you! 0 means they don’t have permissions, 1 means the parent gives permission. Blank means the parent hasn’t yet determined.
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Personal Business Day(s) Request
For Certified Team Members:
To requests "personal business days," please complete the following process.- Go to the following link, and complete the "personal business request" form. https://goo.gl/forms/CycfilABEUyILbh83
- Once the form is completed, please send a brief email to me (Tom) that includes the date(s) of your request(s). Remember, this should be completed at least 48 hours prior to the personal day.
- Enter your upcoming absence in AESOP as soon as possible. (It can always be deleted later should plans change.