Weekly RoaR!
Week ending October 10, 2014
Happy Birthday to YOU!
October 13 - Marla Carter
Dates to Remember
October 17 - PTA to cover duties & recess
- Due to some issues on the playground last month, we have requested that PTA keep students inside for recess.
October 17 - Kinder to Arboretum
October 21-24 - Parent-Teacher conferences (October 21 will be designated for late conferences.)
CHANGES
October 21 - Picture Day
- Please relay this message to parents.
October 22 - Unity Day
- You may wear jeans, if you wear orange.
Communication with Parents
- keep to the facts,
- use appropriate grammar, capitalization, and punctuation,
- do not write anything that can possibly, maybe, even a little bit be misconstrued,
- remember you are speaking about a person's most precious possession in the entire world,
- do not disclose any information about other students,
- and always proofread or have another person proofread any newsletters or the like prior to sending them out.
Watch DOGS
That being said, I understand that preparing for a Watch DOG in your classroom can, at times, feel like a burden. Of course it is easier to do it yourself. I got you. I found myself saying those things too when I had a parent volunteer. But I also found myself saying, "It would be nice to have some assistance while I <fill in the blank>." Let's utilize these willing adults to their fullest while they are at our disposal.
Watch DOGS can work one-on-one with students who are behind, struggling, or who needs an extension because they "got" what you are teaching. They can help cut, laminate, etc. They can lead a small group. They can play games with your kids. They can read a book to your class that you had already planned to read.
At Dodd Elementary, our norms when it comes to Watch DOGS include:
- We will not turn away a Watch DOG who shows up at our classroom door. If you have a problem, contact Legg, Duvall, or Branch.
- We will be grateful and appreciative for their help.
- When we are on their schedule, we will have something (big or small) prepared for them to do.
That's it. These men are using their sick/personal days to come and help us out. At the Kick-Off Party, I talked to one dad who has to give a 90 day notice to his employer to be able to serve our campus. He asked me twice at the event and even emailed me a week later to ensure that he had chosen dates that were conducive to our schedule. The least we can do is honor their time by making their experience meaningful. Thank you for your help in making this happen.