Staff Weekly Update
Shout Outs!!!!
This week's shout-outs section is different; I have had quite a few conversations, with all kinds of folks, about the struggles we're facing right now and - particularly - the amount of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that are going into all things Remote Learning and student support.. and, most of it, behind the scenes.
This week, I would like to shout out ALL of the countless, infinite, billions of things you all do EVERY SINGLE DAY to support our kids, each other, and your families -- and to acknowledge that it hurts when most if it remains unseen by anyone and everyone, or only seen in little glimpses. We're all working hard, many harder than we've ever worked before, and it feels overwhelming, exhausting, and (often) unseen.
With this shout-out, please know that I SEE YOU. I see the nighttime phone calls to each other to keep sane; I see the miles on the car in trekking to school to find a quiet place to work and record; I see the little gestures of kindness and love that you send to our kids through your video, audio, email, and hand-written messages; I see the hours of phone calls and Meets and meetings; I see the boxes of Oreos used to bribe your own kids, or to comfort yourself; I see the work to support kids who aren't traditionally "yours"; I see the hours of prep time to plan and record mini-lessons; I see the careful organization of awesome, engaging plans that no one or only a few kiddos show up for -- and those that are too packed; I see the static and visual chaos of whole-group Meets/Zooms, and the thousand ounces of patience you practice as you guide them through; I see the late nights, early mornings, 2ams, and 2pms where you pack in a few more minutes of work just to get it done. I see how hard you're working, and how much you're throwing into this.
The ground beneath us seems to be constantly shifting, as we calibrate and recalibrate, flex and adjust and then do it all again; this is, without a doubt, the hardest it has been. We are in this together, and yet we often feel so alone.
Please know that I see you. Please know that I hear you. Please know that I am right there with you; it looks, feels, and IS different for all of us, depending on our roles and our lives and our paths, but it is -- for ALL of us - HARD, unprecedented, and worth it.
Hang in there. When the going gets rough, and it is rough, remember: we're doing this for our kids. They are eating up every ounce of hard work we give to them, and have never before realized just how much they need, want, and truly LOVE school. They miss you, they miss us, they miss everything about Field Park. When they say it (and my hope is that, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week, they'll say it loud and often!) and when they don't, they are why we do this, and they are better off and stronger for all that you do.
Thank you, Field Park family. I see you, I hear you, I'm with you. We're in this together, and will get through it together.
Updates for the Week of 5/4 - 5/8
Dates/Reminders:
- Teacher Appreciation Week is THIS WEEK! Our PTO has some big signs of love headed your way - be on the lookout!!
- Tuesday, 5/5: Carl Hooker Virtual Trivia Night! Check out the link (thanks, Vickie!)
- OPTIONAL Google Meet Staff Meeting, Friday, 5/8, at 2pm
End of Year Planning:
We know you’re all thinking ahead to the final weeks of school, especially as the weather gets warmer and we get closer and closer to summertime! Here is the plan for that final week of school:
Week of May 25-29: remote learning per usual; same expectations of staff/students
Monday, 6/1: Choice Board - Dive into Summer Day! Details TBD.
Wednesday, 6/3: No instruction; 5th Grade Virtual Clap-Outs (details to follow), Materials Pick-up/Drop-off (incl report cards, adv placement matrices, etc.)
5th Grade Clap-Out:
We are actively planning for the “virtual” piece of the 5th grade Clap-Out, and will have full details in the Friday, 5/8 , Staff Update. Here are the preliminary pieces:
We will host the 5th Grade Virtual Clap-Out as a pre-recorded video on Wednesday, 6/3, for all students/families, and will HYPE IT UP!
The video will likely start with a montage of pre-recorded classroom “claps” (we’ll ask you to record your class clapping on Zoom/Google Meet sometime in the next few weeks, more details/how-tos coming)
We’ll incorporate some sort of 5th grade slideshow (possibly the same from PTO/PTAs, or adapted - in talks with PTO/PTAs now)
We will do a “Clap-In” in August to welcome our 5th graders to McClure - details TBD as we know more about what the Fall will look like.
Report Cards Planning:
Only fill in the applicable areas, leave blank those that do not apply.
Habits of Success plan: Sarah will provide a letter to invite parents to complete the Habits of Success for their child; teachers will NOT do this piece.
Due date for report cards: Weds., 5/27
Plan for distribution of report cards: they will be in materials for pickup (Admin Assts. will add to materials for pickup, along with Adv. Placement matrix for 3rd/4th graders)
Advanced Placement Updates/Reminders:
Please remember to complete Professional Judgment Forms (PJF) by 5/15
Update to this year's process: every student, 3rd-5th, will get a letter from the Board Office regarding placement, along with their T3 report card on the 6/3 Materials Pickup with their materials pickup and report card:
If already in Adv. Math, the letter will state that existing placement
If NOT in adv math, matrix will clarify standing, etc.
Matrix will clarify the general standing (points on the matrix) to give a clearer picture of where they are, with our data points, AND re-emphasize the use of our data points
We will say no, or yes, or invite to future OOL testing (summer) as needed
(Don't worry too much about the finer details on this one from Dr. Coffey -- the “biggie” for right now is the PJF process!)
End-of-the-Year Materials Pick-Up/Tech Drop-Off
As we discussed in our meeting today, we will be scheduling a materials pick-up and technology drop-off on Wednesday, June 3. To assist us in planning for this process, please complete THIS form. It is mostly geared toward classroom teachers, however, any staff member is welcome to complete, should you have this type of need.
Conceptually, things will look very similar to the process in March. Here are the details:
Tables will once again be set up in the GYM, labeled by class.
Student materials will be bagged and individually labeled, including office add-ins of report cards for T3, Advanced Placement Letters, and CogAT information for 3rd/5th graders.
Schedule will be as follows:
Last Names A - I from 9:00am - 10:00am
Last Names J - R from 10:00am - 11:00am
Last Names S - Z from 11:00am -NOON
Pre-K-2nd graders will drop-0ff iPads, Chromebooks and chargers in designated location in the gym.
We will have a designated spot for materials students have borrowed from you that need to be returned. Please indicate such on the form, above.
Carts will be available for library book return.
REPEATED FROM LAST WEEK, but still important!
REMINDER: D101 Remote Learning Website:
Please be sure to post your updated taskboards on our D101 Remote Learning website when you send them to students/parents weekly, so our "one stop shop" for all things remote learning is complete and up to date. Thank you!
REMINDER: Class Lists Update:
As discussed in our Weds. 8am staff meeting:
- Classroom teachers will share back with AB by 5/12; from there, lists will be shared with intervention/resource and then the full team of specialists for input.
Principal Weekly Update for Parents:
Here's this week's parent update, in case yours went to spam! I heard from a few of you today that it made it to the regular inbox - woo hoo!