BARBER BULLETIN
September 18-22
JOY worth sharing!
This weekend, Teach to Lead will hold it's 14th Summit in Austin, Texas and Pontiac staff members will be there! After 70 ideas were submitted, 17 school teams were selected to represent 14 states across the country! Topics range from:
better school/communicty collaboration
supporting new teachers
rethinking professional development
family engagement
Our team, made up of Marissa Young, Katie Barber, DeAnna Savage, Chuck Holland, and Ashley Saullo, will develop an action plan in an effort to create a systematic approach to blended learning instruction in grades 3-5. Marissa Young will serve as our Team Lead and the others of us are the Idea Participants.
The team leaves Friday morning and after returning on Sunday evening, we will expect a follow up from Teach to Lead 45 days after our professional development.
We are looking forward to a weekend of learning together!
Please take the time to read our blog post on our school professional development blog upon our return!
Trauma Training
- Mrs. Whitney is excited to be offering a trauma training for our staff this year. During this training, we will view the documentary, Paper Tigers, which is about an alternative High School in Washington state that adopted a trauma-informed, instead of punitive-based, structure and how its students were impacted. This documentary does an amazing job addressing how trauma impacts students and how we can respond as educators. Each time she has viewed it, it deeply impacts her as far as how we can respond to our students who have experienced trauma. Even though these are high school students, we can see our kids when we watch it. Mrs. Whitney is confident you will leave this training as a better educator. It will be offered on Monday, Oct. 9th from 3:30pm-5:30pm. In exchange for your time commitment, you will be able to leave at 3:30 on BOTH Monday, Oct. 16th AND Monday, Oct. 30th. In addition, the district will provide you with re-certification hours for attending. It's a real WIN WIN
- Please sign up here if you plan to attend.
- The training will be offered to all Teaching Assistants on October 19th from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Please plan to attend. Thanks!
Social Committee Dues
It's time to turn in social committee money...This year all certified staff members will pay $15 and non-certified staff memebrs will pay $10.
Below is a break down of what the dues cover. The first team who has 100% particpation will get a small surprise from Besty and Courtney! You can bring the money to either Besty Jackson (E-2) or Courtney (J-8). Feel free to write a check made payable to Pontiac Elementary Social Committee.
This is a long standing committee committed to taking care and supporting each other in times of need as well as helping to build community and relationships with each other.
You never know what may be thrown your way in life and I think many of our faculty and staff members can attest that a meal, card, flowers or note can be so uplifting and helpful during times of need.
A few things worth noting as you read the guidelines:
* This is not a "party" account and all money is spent fairly and equally for all in need.
* Any special events that may need some support from the group will be discussed by all team representatives prior to the event.
* Representatives from each grade level/group will meet to discuss needs/concerns and ideas for events.
* PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE: Let Courtney or Betsy know if you have a team member that needs support in any way- we cannot address needs if we don't know about them. ALSO- VERY IMPORTANT: Please understand that there are individuals who may not want needs made public or addressed and we will respect their wishes. We just don't want to leave anyone out of support if they would like it.
Donations still needed!
Bess Reynolds is still collecting clear bottles for an art project she is doing this year. Please let your classes know! She is taking any sizes except for the mini ones.
Dan Koch and Jessica Yarbro would like old t-shirts to use at their life skills station in their classrooms. If you have old t-shirts that you or your children no longer wear, feel free to send them their way!
Here's a look at our week together:
Please support the PTO Fall Fundraiser this week by encouraging your students to SELL!
Monday:
3:30pm Staff Data meeting
Tuesday:
Flu Shots offered
10am Meteorologist Tim Miller from WIS visits our Lower Montessori classes
K.Barber participates in A Day in the Life of a Newcomer in honor of Hispanic/Latino Heritage
Wednesday:
8:30am Kindergarten and Primary Montessori meet with Alice Shawen
3:30pm AVID site team meeting
Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset (Jewish holiday)
Thursday:
International Day of Peace (Montessori special event)
7:45am SIC meeting
Several staff members will be visiting RON CLARK ACADEMY! Stay tuned for their blog posts!
Friday:
MAP testing ends
Rosh Hashanah ends (Jewish holiday)
Teach to Lead conference begins in Austin, TX.
RECYCLING NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION
Thank you to Jennifer Kirby for attending the recycling district meeting. Please read the information to help us with our recycling efforts:
Classroom bins:
Clear or opaque bottles (#1 or #2, rinsed and empty with lids on)
Paper that is flat and larger than ΒΌ a page
Newspaper, cardstock, pamphlets and envelopes
Magazines without glued bindings
Chip board (gray cardboard)
Once a week, please have your student leaders take the recycling to the bins in the extra PE hallway for depositing. They should separate the bottles and place them into the plastic bottle towers and other items into the closable bins on the floor. All Brown Cardboard needs to be taken to the cafeteria after lunches are completed and placed in front of the dumpster door.
Do not recycle:
Bulletin board paper
Milk cartons
Glass
Whole books or books with glued bindings
Paper plates
Shredded paper