EMS Friday Focus
January 18, 2019 #17
EMS 2018-2019 Goals
ALL EMS students and staff will feel connected to our school community - safe, respected, seen, heard, and valued.
All EMS students will find meaning in the work they are tasked with.
Weekly Message
Team -
This morning I arrived at school to see a sticky note on every Infinity locker - each written with a note of kindness.
This week, I visited Phoenix and Infinity to discuss the issues of Harassment that have been occurring recently in our community. My final challenge to each team before leaving was to consider that single act of Kindness each individual could pass on at some point during the day.
These locker notes were one result.
And, they were such a beautiful example of a way to drive our school wide goal of creating an EMS community where all can feel connected - safe, respected, seen, heard and valued.
This week - Fieh and I held circles about race and racial tension in our community during Wednesday night’s PTO meeting. The different perspectives shared were humbling and powerful.
In order to provide insight to how some students at EMS feel - Annika Redman’s mother shared the poem her daughter wrote below:
I am just an alien,
Unheard
Unseen
Hiding from what could happen,
One shot,
A black man has died,
From something unfair,
Unjust,
What can we change,
What can we do,
Nothing.
When we stand up for what is right we get in trouble,
Harmed,
Life isnt the same for black and white,
they might just be colors,
But that's not how people look ,
At us,
They look at us like we are aliens,
Unworthy, useless aliens that walk around,
But we are people,
Just like them,
We deserve rights to be free,
Wear our hoods
Wear sweatpants
Dress how we want
Look how we want,
Without being judged,
But we all know that will never happen
I am just another alien that people see
The work ahead of us to foster a community where ALL our students are seen, heard and understood is great. Thank you for leaning into this work. The lessons planned for Monday by many teams will undoubtedly support this direction as will our continued commitment to action and discussion.
In partnership and with gratitude,
Meg
TASKS
- With the semester 2/quarter 3 class switch please be EXTRA vigilant about taking attendance and calling the office with any absences.
- Math and ELA Teacher Progress Monitoring is January 14th- February 8th. Please don't wait until the last minute to administer.
If you did NOT complete the feedback form for Wednesday’s circle (during your team meeting today) please take 5 min. Now. There is great desire for action steps and this will support us in identifying what those can be. Thank you!
Grades are due by Wednesday 1/23 by 5 p.m.
Let Mia and/or Meg know if you know someone who is interested in being a Paraeducator at EMS!
Announcements and Logistics For the Week
Monday is a half day schedule
There is NO professional development on Monday - faculty can leave at 12:15.
Pat and Julia have been working hard on schedules - there have been several challenges along the way. Schedules will be emailed to students tomorrow and Pat will be posted in the lobby Monday morning to distribute. Please email her with questions.
Amanda is starting ACCESS testing with her students Tuesday 1/22-1/25
Quarter 3 duties below:
FYI - 02/04 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. is Rising ninth grade Night at BHS
We are working to reschedule Mercedes for her second workshop - we have not yet been able to confirm a date. Please stay tuned and in the meantime you can hold on the homework she assigned ;)
The board has put forth the following budget to be voted on at Town Meeting - if it is passed EMS will benefit from several new positions!
Just a friendly reminder, lf anyone needs or wants to leave a vehicle in any of the districts parking lots during a snowstorm, please let Property Services know the make and model of your vehicle, and where it is located so we don't have it towed, Also, please park it off to the side and not in the middle of the lot, so we can plow efficiently. lf you have any questions, please contact Property Services at 864-8453.
Wednesday's Faculty Objective
Connecting To Best Practice
Link to the EMS Blog: This week's entry "The Problem With Perfection" by Mr. Chandler
Do you have a tool, lesson plan, idea, video, article, or something else that directly connect to one of our our "EMS goals" and to our "indicators of success"? If so, please let us know using this form. Compensation will be as follows: Blog Contribution- $25, Teach Meet presentation- $25, workshop presentation- $100