Team Meadow Update
Staff Update - September 29, 2019
Team Meadow,
Can you believe it? October is already here! With that in mind, a few important items to keep on the radar!!
- TLOs need to be in SFS by October 1st.
- Fall Break is almost here! I can't believe how quickly it has come our way! Two full weeks of school remain until a week of R&R.
- Veterans Day Celebration is 25 school days away.
- Student/Family Conferences are in a month and a half! (November 13th is 27 school days away!) Please remember that we would never "save" concerning conversations for this date. If you have students that are on your radar for specific concerns/needs, communication should already be active. (i.e. RtI, additional support, etc...) Regarding student-led conferences specifically, I've included a few links of information below. In the meantime, dialogue among your colleagues during team meetings or other opportune times is important to get the wheels turning. (I've included a few articles to serve as a reference and refreshing read on the topic of student-led conferences.)
- October 9th is the last day of the first quarter of the school year. Remember that all students need meaningful comments on the student progress reports.
- Book Fair is coming. If you haven't already, please check out the sign up sheets located in the office workroom.
- I will be out of the building Monday-Wednesday this week. On Monday and Tuesday, I will be downtown attending the IDOE School Safety Specialists training. In addition, I will be attending Jennifer Serravallo workshop with Kim Gray, Nick Noel, Alyssa Casselman, Kim Megli, and Jenn Bender on Wednesday. Feel free to email and reach out to me if you need. I will get back with you as soon as I am able.
Have a great week,
Tom
Student/Family Conferences - November 13th & 14th
Don't forget to begin planning...
FIRST, PLEASE START REMINDING FAMILIES OF THESE DATES/TIMES AND LET THEM KNOW (OFTEN) THURS. 11/14 IS AN E-DAY!
November 13 & 14 - Student Conferences
- November 13th - 3:00-5:40
- November 14th - 11:00 AM-7:00 PM (also an E-Day)
- Teachers will be allowed to leave at 2:45 on a few days surrounding conferences (more info/details at a later date)
Student-Led Conference Resources:
As a way to start planting the seeds of this important time and to start helping your students with their own empowerment, I have listed below direct links to some great resources!
Teaching Channel - A Step-by-Step Plan for Student-Led Conferences at the Elementary Level
Angela Watson - Tips for Holding Student-Led Conferences
Education Week - The Power of Student-Led Conferences in Primary Grades
Interactive Modeling
I was reading from one of my Responsive Classroom books a few days ago about Interactive Modeling. It is a great way to teach any routine or skill that needs to be done in a specific way in any group setting. Instead of assuming that if we tell children how do do something enough times, they'll "get it." Instead, interactive modeling show students exactly how to do what we expect and gives them a chance to practice meeting those expectations. The Interactive Modeling structure has build-in steps that help students notice for themselves the details of how a routine or skill looks and sounds in action, and it provides immediate teacher feedback.
Interactive Modeling in Action:
- Say what you will model and why.
- Model the behavior.
- Ask students what they noticed.
- Invite one or more students to model
- Again, ask students what they noticed.
- Have all students practice.
- Provide feedback. (Tell them what they did well, and what can be improved. Try it again if needed.)
Remember that this is part of their learning. They'll mess up, make mistakes, and you will continue to guide. Sometimes they need reminders, however, with well established routines and clarity in expectations, you should experience the need to as many reminders.
Important Dates & Information
September 30-October 1 - Tom @ Advanced School Safety Specialist training
October 2 - Bender, Megli, Noel, Casselman, Gray & Hundley out for training (Seravallo)
October 3 - So Big/Mountain House Gala
October 9 - Yom Kippur; NVCI Training @ BME for select staff
October 14-18 - Fall Break
October 28th - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
November 9 - ZEF Barn Bash @ Golf Club of Indiana
November 11 - Veterans Day Program
November 13 & 14 - Student Conferences
- November 13th - 3:00-5:40
- November 14th - 11:00 AM-7:00 PM (also an E-Day)
- Teachers will be allowed to leave at 2:45 on a few days surrounding conferences (more info/details at a later date)
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break
December 12th - Boone Meadow Voices Concert
December 23-January 3 - Winter Break
January 20 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)
February 5 - Global School Play Day
February 6 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
February 17 - Presidents Day (no school)
February 18 - Staff Professional Development Day (no school for students)
March 4th - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
March 20 - Boone Meadow Mixer (evening social for adults @ Golf Club of Indiana)
March 25 - Kindergarten Round-Up
March 27-April 3 - Spring Break
April 13 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
May 6 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
May 22 - Last Day of School
E-DAY REMINDER
With a forecast that includes temperatures near 90 degrees this week, a snow day might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, school cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons- power outages, water main breaks, etc. come to mind. if school were cancelled tomorrow, would you be e-day ready? This year, the first cancellation will activate an e-day and will not be made up in May. Please keep this in mind and make sure you are prepared.
As a reminder, the conference (digital leadership/citizenship) e-day has already been prepared at the district level. This will only be used for conferences. Please make sure you are communicating in your newsletters to families about the November 14th e-day. We have been including it in the Weekly School Smore, but the more places it can be seen, the better!
Personal Business Day(s) Requests
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).
- Enter your upcoming absence in AESOP as soon as possible. (It can always be deleted later should plans change.)
Thanks -
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