Bear Blast
November Break Edition
Taking a Thanksgiving Timeout
We all have moments that we can think of that fill us up with so much joy we can't help but feel like exploding. But we all also have moments that crumble and deflate us so much that we are devastated to our core. We never know when someone walking by us in the hallway is full or empty.
I was pretty empty last week for reasons I can't even explain but I felt like my personal and professional worlds were colliding in on me and I was suffocating. Then, I came up for air. I decided to shift my thinking and channel positive energy. I decided I was going to create memories that would last a lifetime and I had five days to start practicing. I chose to start each day with me. What could I do for me right from the beginning of the day that would carry me to channel positive energy into others as I went on with the rest of my day? Guess what? Life's not perfect but it sure is better. I am full. (Partly because of turkey and mashed potato leftovers). It worked. And Day 5 still has the best yet to come! What about you? How's your fuel?
We are thankful. Very very thankful that we get to wake up each day and do this hard work. Man is it hard. We are tired. But we are going to show up Monday and give it all we've got for another 20 days before we get to recharge again.
You have worked hard. We see you. We thank you. Are you full or empty?
We need you to stand up and show up for 20 more days because it's time to turn it up. We are here to fill you up. Change and impact happens when someone does something that no one has before. Mr. Hoog and I are ready to support you better than we have been able to first quarter.
- What will you do the next 20 days?
- How will you greet your students?
- How will you make community circle purposeful?
- How will you plan intentional lessons that invite and engage deep learning?
- How will you fuel positive energy to your teammates?
- How will you self care the next 20 days?
See you Monday team. Buckle up.
Important Dates
Nov 28: Ryan Flessner in the house w/ Preschool
Nov 29: Breakout PD Staff Meeting @ 7:40/Hasten's Baby Shower after school
Dec 3: NWEA winter Benchmark begins K-4
Dec 7: Staff Winter Party at Porzuczek's
Dec 13: Post Data One on Ones all day
Dec 17: F&Ps Due for T2/ENL
Dec 18: Post Data One on Ones all day
Dec 19: Post Data One on Ones PM only
Dec 21: Bear Breakfast/First Semester Ends/Last day before break
Jan 7: Teachers return
Jan 8: Students return
Jan 25: All F&Ps due for rest of class and enter into Excel.
Celebrations!
BSE has been recognized as the Biggest Loser (that's a good thing!) with Watt Watchers 2 months in a row! Can we continue to hold on to this recognition? A big thank you to YOU energy savers for taking the extra minute to unplug, turn lights off, and think wisely about conserving energy when not in our rooms. Switching over to LED light bulbs was HUGE. Have you switched over yet?
Other success stories and ways to save include:
Turning on only half of your lights like the cafe does? Or no overhead ceiling lights if you're using lamps? Try it! You won't regret it!
Gold Star Thorne
Mrs. Thorne represented BSE downtown last week and accepted the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling Award. We appreciate her hard work in making this happen along side the rest of the GAK crew including Mrs. Haltom, Miss Koors and Mrs. Nornberg.
BOILER Win & Tyler Trent
Mr. Hoog was lucky enough to be present at the IU stadium for the big Oaken Bucket win by the Boilers for the 2nd year in a row. Although he and many others may have wanted a different outcome for the Hoosiers- none of us can deny Tyler Trent's Thanksgiving blessing of spending time with his family and giving to cancer research through the TTCREndowment. Please click the link to learn about Tyler's story and contribute if you feel compelled to do so. Go Boilers!
Book Fair Success
A huge thank you to Mrs. Kussy and all of her volunteers that assisted in a highly attended Breakfast With Someone Grand Enchanted Book Fair event (even with a snow day!) These types of events take a lot of coordination and preparation and it was noticed and appreciated.
Fountas and Pinnell Winter Benchmarking Time
- Please begin benchmarking all Tier 2/ENL readers first prior to rest of class. (Rich will admin all Tier 3 F&Ps.)
- Please record Instructional Levels in Excel sent by Erin Mohr in September located in Group Space before January 25th.
- All F&Ps for entire class should be completed before January 25.
We hope this extended time will help with administering the entire class in order to continue advancing readers and instruction as we move forward with analyzing assessments through PLC later in January/February.
Engaging and Innovating Environment Check
Documentation Outside Our Walls
Earlier in November a large number of staff members took some time to walk the halls in order to identify documentation outside on our walls of engaging and innovating learning happening inside our classrooms.The Admin team understands that time is a factor and reason for delay in many hallways. We want you to consider making your story visible in the next 20 days. YOU and YOUR LEARNERS have a story to tell. Almost all of you are telling it on Twitter! Now it's time to have the students help you build a documentation board.
Mr. Hoog and Mrs. Rich are looking for documentation that:
- Make us stop and grab our attention because it's so appealing
- Tell brief and easy to follow the steps of learning
- Includes something nobody else's does!
- A title (could be question) in large print typed or written?
- Photographs of student action
- Writing or quotes of students
- Essential question, process including standard covered, and end product if applicable
- Too much or too little?
Spaces Inside Our Walls
Our classrooms can be neat and tidy and sometimes messy. Both are great. As you stand in the center of your room, can you tell what's important to you? What would your students say? Is it clear that there are intentional spaces for writing materials? math manipulatives or games? project or science objects? maps and globes or ways to explore our world?
Now that we are almost finished with an entire semester consider asking your students:
"What do we need to leave up?
What can come down?
What should we recreate or revisit?"
Because we believe "We are thinkers and collaborators. We care for one another and celebrate each other" all of our classrooms should have the following:
- A space where each family is celebrated within the classroom in some way.
- A space designated for whole group and a different space that fosters small group collaboration.
- A space for an individual to escape and do self care.
- A space for my items and a different space for community items.
- A space where all gather together for morning meeting or afternoon circle (could be the same as whole group).
Little Kids Have Stories
What's Your Class Story?
Big Kids Have Stories
November 29 Staff Meeting Breakout PD
Session 1 7:45-8:10 AM
Erin Mohr: Examining Deeper Math Learning w/ Depth of Knowledge (Kraick's Room)
Maria Kussy: Inclusive Mentor Texts for Units of Study (Media Center)
Allison Haltom: Global Goals (Arndt's Room)
Fatima Rich: What is a Restorative Chat? (Art Room)
Andrea Thorne: Quick & Easy Counseling Snip-its (Schnaus' Room)
Session 2 8:15-8:40 AM
Olivia Biehl: Picture Book with Purpose (Arndt's Room)
Erin Mohr: Examining Deeper Math Learning w/ Depth of Knowledge (Kraick's Room)
Maria Kussy: Inclusive Mentor Texts for Units of Study (Media Center)
Fatima Rich: Tips from Teachers College Writing (Art Room)
Allison Rogowski: Bridging My Love and Lucy's Love for Writing UofS (Schnaus' Room)
NWEA Winter Benchmarking
Who?
- All K-4 children will take both reading and math on student Ipads unless their parents have opted out (1 student only.)
- Teachers will use https://www.nwea.org/ to facilitate testing. Put your email in for login and click forgot password to receive a temp password.
When?
- K-1 Dec 3-12
- 2nd-4th Dec 3-Dec 18
- Reading should not be taken the same day as math.
- Each test should be completed in same day as started.
Sign up for your NWEA testing day/times here.
How?
- All children may test at their pace not exceeding 30 minutes for K-1 or 45 minutes for 2-4 without a break.
- All children may be offered breaks during test. If more than a 3-5 minute break is needed, the test should be paused and resumed later in the same day.
- General education children may be tested whole group, half the class, small group, or one on one.
- Children with an IEP/LEP/504 must follow specifics stated in plan for environment regarding small group, one on one, or breaks. *Extended time does not pertain to this test.
- Read Aloud accommodations are now allowed digitally and must be turned on prior to giving test. Please see Allison, Jamie, or Kristin to determine if your exceptional learners qualify (may already be done for you from fall).
Who facilitates?
Classroom teachers may facilitate testing for all children in their classroom and/or request support from Allison Haltom (ENL), Jamie Chevilett, Kristine Nelson, (Resource) or Andrea Thorne (Counselor).
What do I need?
- Please have 1-2 Ipads on hand in the event that one freezes.
- Headphones for K-1 and any student that has read aloud accommodation.
- Scratch paper/pencils for math
- Laptop
- Radio/Phone OFF unless assistance is being requested.
What can support look like?
Support may include:
- Pull out children to test
- Push in to test
- Push in to monitor other children while classroom teacher facilitates testing.
How do I request support?
Please email the person directly to coordinate support. Jamie will coordinate support given by IAs.
Troubleshooting
Just in case you forgot "whom is married to whom." During testing, you will most likely need to have children stop and return to testing. Before you choose pause or suspend keep in mind how long they will be taking a break. See below.
One on One Meetings
Who are yours? How are they doing? Please come prepared to give updates on these students as well as any high flyers receiving enrichment and students that have received remediation.
Signups below are in 20 minute slots, please do not sign up for more than 2 slots back to back. Sara Bear will cover your room unless you mark "no coverage needed."
December 13 Signup for K-1 only.
December 18 and 19 (PM) Signup for 2-4 only.
What to Bring:
- Reflection on Aimsweb or personal progress monitoring.
- Anecdotal notes from conferring.
- Updated F&Ps
- Recent EDM Unit Tests
- Reflection on reports if applicable (Moby, Lexia, etc)
Friendly Reminders
Attendance
Please make an effort to have your attendance in before 9:30 AM. If students arrive after you've completed it please update it or call Ext 1083 so Sheri can do this for you. Parents do not like to be called with a message that we are missing their child when they sent them to school! Thank you for making this a priority!
Recess
BSE Admin and the Discussion Team have drafted our input to the district level in order to look at solutions for recess coverage and maintaining safety while allowing some bonus prep time to classroom teachers. We are operating on status quo through the end of 1st semester and will continue to update any changes as they come.
- With 100% of your team on duty, please review which 2 staff members are starting duty INSIDE near music room and bathroom while the rest of the team merges OUTSIDE for duty immediately.
- Whistles should be used consistently and loudly to signal clearly that recess is over and it is now time to transition inside by lining up.
- Spread out across zones and never have back to students.
- Use discretion if students are able to play in fields pending dampness and mud.
Lounge Love
The lounge has received a lot of compliments and we must maintain the warm and cozy feeling it provides for those that enjoy team lunch together.
- Please take trays and silverware OUT of lounge back to kitchen (not in sink.)
- Please maintain cleanliness inside microwaves.
- Please throw away trash including inside refrigerators.
Teachers have REALLY enjoyed all the extra donations - keep them coming if you can.
Preschool & Kinder: Bags of candy
1st: Diet Coke Cans
2nd: Forks/Individual Chip Bags
3rd & Exceptional Learners Team: Individual Snacks
4th: Regular Coke Cans/Forks
Related Arts: Bags of Candy