LV Impact
Lakeview Staff Newsletter - February 21
Some quotes from Collaboration Day
• People support what they create (Margaret Wheatley)
• This is a process and it takes time
• Students deserve the "dignity of risk" (don't over-scaffold)
• Learned helplessness is the worst disability of all
• We must recognize the difference between a Co-support model vs. true Collaboration
TSS next week
At the staff meeting on Wednesday, Tanya and I will co-facilitate a conversation about recognizing student escalation and strategies for de-escalation as well as thinking about the "ABC's" of student behavior.
Then on Friday, our entire staff (including paras and secretaries) will meet in the library from 8-10 a.m. to talk about the concept of "lagging skills" and what to do when you recognize the lagging skills a student may have. Please read (or re-read) this article by Ross Greene entitled "Kids Do Well if They Can" - many teachers already have this article and have annotated it from past meetings. Please bring the article to our meeting. Paras and secretaries received a paper copy to read for the first time. This meeting will be facilitated by our Lakeview TSS team.
I am truly excited to be able to have two big conversations in one week, and especially excited to have the entire staff together on Friday morning. These are both part of our Lakeview TSS action plan.
Looking ahead
Mon, Feb 24 - Golden Lion assembly from 9:50-10:20 (Jaime & Rachel will lead - thank you!)
Feb 24 & 25 - Chris in Madison for AWSA BEL Academy. Our work around small group instruction is being presented to attendees.
Wed, Feb 26 - Lakeview staff meeting 7:15-8:15 a.m. in the library.
Thurs, Feb 27 - PTO Snowball Dance 5-7 p.m. in the gym
Fri, Feb 28 - PD Day, including LV paras and secretaries from 8-10 in the library
Tues, Mar 3 - Compass Mentoring 4-5:15 p.m.
Thurs, Mar 5 - Tammy hosts Breakfast BYTES in the library 7:45-8:15
Fri, Mar 6 - Sunshine event after school
Structural Items
Recess Radios - Starting Monday, we will have two walkie-talkie radios to use during recess - one for each playground. They will be next to the duty sign-off sheets so that you can provide your initials at the same time. Please work out with your duty partner who will pick up the radio consistently at 11:55, who you will pass it to at 12:20 and who will bring it back to the office at 12:45. Please do not give that job to a student. Radios are for emergency use to contact the office. Never use student names. We can show you how to use it when you pick it up the first time.
Golden Lions - I am thrilled that Golden Lions have become a wonderful reinforcer for our students. I have a favor - let's "dial it back" a little if possible and slightly decrease the number of Golden Lions being given out and see what happens. I don't know if there is a magic number, but one per day is probably good to try for awhile.
Need a quick way to add free images? I added this extension to Chrome this week that lets you search for images quickly from Creative Commons and it creates attributions as well. It's called Creative Commons Search Browser.
PTO Staff Basket for Snowball Dance - Last chance - we could use a few more gift cards because our tree is already generous, but a little bare looking. Even a $5 gift card sitting around your house is appreciated. Give to Roxanne or Chris.
PTO Meetings - Please look ahead at your calendar and make sure you have a chance to attend at least one evening PTO meeting or event. Thanks to those that have already or have signed up for remaining times.
Summer School teacher applications - Last week, Eric Wightman sent out the link to sign up to teach Summer School. Six weeks of 4-mornings/week goes fast in Summer. Dates are June 22-July 30 this year. Please consider and submit your interest by March 4th.
Summer School student recommendations - Here is the spreadsheet that was emailed to you on Tuesday, along with the guidelines for recommendation. Remember, every student needs a box filled in. If you do not recommend, then choose the "Not recommended" dropdown box. If you only recommend one class, it goes in Column G (regardless of what class it is), two recommendations uses Columns G & H, three recommendations uses G & H & I.
Link to this week's family newsletter
Personal Day Blackouts - here is a link to blackout days for elementary personal days.
Lakeview Elementary School
Email: csepersky@sdsm.k12.wi.us
Website: lakeview.sdsm.k12.wi.us
Location: 711 Marion Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI, USA
Phone: 414-766-5252
Twitter: @sepersky