GRE Staff Newsletter
For the Week of March 17, 2019
Dear Team,
Several of you have talked about how difficult these last few weeks have been...and they have been. But the love I have seen pour out of staff for our colleagues who are in pain, is enough to bring a tear to my eye. I have watched our team take over lesson planning, send meals, provide gift cards, give a warm embrace at the funeral home or send countless texts to our GRE family. I know that I have said it before...I feel very lucky to be here alongside you. You have proved over and over the power of relationships. While we are all trying to get ready to take another step forward, there will be a rough road ahead for some of our family. May Spring Break bring a breath to all of us so that we may come back and carry each other to the end of the year.
Sue's mother will be laid to rest on Tuesday. If you would like to attend calling hours they are Monday, from 6:00-8:00 at Shaw-Davis Funeral Home, 4341 N High Street, Columbus 43214. If you would like more information, click here. I know Sue has appreciated the time she took to spend with her mom over the last few weeks. With Spring Break next week, I will share ways we can support both Sue and Megan Truax in next week's newsletter. For now, keep the GRE love coming and continue to keep our entire staff in your thoughts.
In closing...5 days team! 5. Days! We have worked so hard, we have cried so hard, and we are so close! Keep lifting each other up, sharing smiles, and reaching out to support one another.
The week before Spring Break can get a little crazy so please make sure that you are in the hallways during arrival, dispersed through the playground during recess and put extra eyes on the restrooms as you pass them.
Take care of each other and let me know what I can do to support you-
Kate
News to Share
1. Thursday is Art Day. Be sure you are prepared by checking Christine's email from March 5th or check the schedule here. Some important reminders:
-It will be a no specials day
-Intervention will be covering planning times that day (THANK YOU intervention team!), but not at your normal time...each teacher's time & who is covering is in your schedules.
-3rd grade...your students will be attending their sessions with their SPECIALS CLASS! It is very helpful to send a student to Pharazyn's room to "pick up" the kids on the way to your session since she will have kids coming & going all day.
-If you have a session scheduled during your recess, thank you for being flexible on your recess time for that day...getting everyone squeezed in is tricky : )
2. There will be a third grade recorder concert at 2:45 Thursday. Look for a video this week remind students what is expected of them for Art Day and the recorder concert. During the assembly, be sure that you are monitoring your students and catching kids being awesome.
3. Friday is our third round of Eagle Ed. We will follow an assembly schedule on Friday. Remember, you can find the assembly in the GRE Building Schedule tab below. Eagle Ed will start at 2:25 and run until 3:20-please don't dismiss your students until you hear the announcement.
4. The Board of Education approved a one-time employee retirement incentive package known as the 2018 -2019 Employee Severance Plan (hereinafter “ESPTM” or “Plan”) on February 21, 2019. The Plan is available to certified professional staff (hereinafter “Employee” or “Employees”) who will have a minimum of ten (10) years of service with the Big Walnut Local School District (hereinafter “the District”) as of June 30, 2019.”
5. Seriously...mark your calendars for this! I know I am planning to attend. Big Walnut Local Schools will be hosting a screening of the documentary, Screenagers. This event will be held at BWMS on April 11th starting at 6:30 pm. This event is free and all are welcome! Screenagers is a documentary that focuses on the habits that children develop by using their mobile devices. Throughout the film, families are seen dealing with the consequences (often serious) related to excessive screen time or screen time without boundaries. The film focuses on the connection between mental health and how much tech time can impact a child’s development. This documentary also highlights the benefits of finding the balance of screen time and screen- free time and offers some solutions for parents. For a sneak peak of this film, click here.
6. And one final reminder...make sure that you are in the hallways during arrival, dispersed through the playground during recess and put extra eyes on the restrooms as you pass them!
PLC Challenge
This week's PLC Challenge is to complete the first week of "The First Four Weeks" that we reviewed at the tail end of the staff meeting. Click here, make a copy, and start dialoging as a team. What needs tweaked or changed to meet the needs at GRE? What questions do we have that need answered?
Starting this work now, allows us all to be ready for day 1 next school year! Prizes galore for teams that complete this challenge:)
Week at a Glance
Monday, March 18- B Day;
Tuesday, March 19- C Day; PAC Meeting 3:50
Wednesday, March 20 - D Day; Yoga at 4:15
Thursday, March 21- No Letter Day; Art Day; 2:45 Recorder Concert
Friday, March 22- A Day; 2:25 Eagle Ed
Upcoming Important Dates:
Mar. 25-29 NO SCHOOL
April 9 Box Tops Due
April 9 & 10 3rd and 4th Grade Ohio State Test-English Language Arts
April 12 Kindergarten Field Trip
April 16 & 17 3rd and 4th Grade Ohio State Test-Mathematics
April 19 No School
April 22 No School
April 25 Art Show