Scarlet News and Notes
October 6, 2019
Assuring Learning Excellence and Readiness for a Changing World
“Homecoming unites the past and present, it means coming home to where your heart is.”
Author Unknown
It's Homecoming Week!
Monday - Meme Day
Tuesday - USA Day
Wednesday - Character Day
Thursday - Class Color Day (staff color is black)
Friday - Red and White Day
Let's make it a little more fun - get your friends together, take a picture, email your picture to me by 10:00am, and I will post the pictures on Twitter to have students vote on the best one.
The Dodgeball Tournament is Monday night, and it is a lot fun if you would like to join us. If you can't make it Monday night, you can still get in on dodgeball by being on the staff team and playing the student champion team on Friday afternoon.
Thursday night is our Hall of Fame Banquet at the Kato Ballroom. Tickets are $20 for teachers, but please let Jodi know by Monday at noon if you would like to attend.
Friday is the big day! All hands on deck for the Talent Show and Coronation, please sit among the students to ensure positive behavior. Remember to sign up for one more supervision time on Friday. Here is the schedule:
8:15-8:30 Band Marches Hallways
8:30-9:05 Student Council Activities (students report to their 2nd hour class)
9:15-10:55 Talent Show
Coronation 11:00
Open Lunch For All Students 12:00-1:00
1:00-Dodge Ball
1:10-1:40 Gender Wars
1:40-3:00 Karaoke
7:00 Football game
9:00-11:30 Dance
Let's Get to Know...
Kristen Olinger, Business Education teacher. Kristen grew up in Littleton, Colorado and graduated from Columbine High School in 1995. She finished her BS and MAT at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kristen is teaching Personal Finance & Investing, Career Planning, Computer Applications, Business and Personal Law, Coding: HTML & CSS. In her second year at West, she’s excited to teach two new classes and to coach the upcoming VEX Robotics season. In her free time, Kristen enjoys traveling and walking her dogs with her wife, Sammi. They share three children: Wyatt, 14, Lilly, 11, and Walt, 9. They enjoy visiting and camping at Minnesota State Parks.
Kendra Hinz from the Physical Education department. Kendra teaches Health & Cardio for Life. She has been in education for 25 years, 22 of which have been at West. Over the summer, she took part in writing curriculum with other Health & PE staff. In her return to school this fall, Kendra looks forward to all the new faces, fresh ideas, and a chance to collaborate with others. Kendra is married to Joe and has a daughter, Kate.
Matt Kolb from the Physical Education department. Matt teaches Cardio for Life, Strength for the Journey, Life Time Sports, Outdoor Education, and Group and Individual Activities. Matt has been a East/West coach for 33 years. He has been teaching for 22 years, 11 of which have been a West. Matt grew up as a St. Louis Park "Oriole" (1971-1975) and an Osseo "Oriole" (1976-1982). He raised a blended family of four boys and one girl. He likes to swim, golf, and work on his home in his free time. Last summer, he attended a leadership conference and PDS cultural training. What excites him about a new school year? “New blood. A new retake policy. And No Shave November!”
Reminders
It's mid-quarter, is your Champion Student passing all of their classes? What are you doing that is having an impact? What is your plan if they are struggling?
Social Media
Other schools are sharing the great things going on in their classrooms with social media much more than we are. Thank you to those of you who have; your pictures and information are helping to tell our story. socialmedia@isd77.org.
Homecoming Shirts
The Business Leadership class will be selling Homecoming shirts this year!
They are $15 each and checks can be made out to Mankato West Deca.
Game On
Be like Cindy! Get into classrooms, submit the form, and win a fabulous prize!
Message from our APs
Friday Homecoming Supervision
If you have not had the opportunity to view and select a supervision for Friday please access the Homecoming supervision sign up sheet below. In order to make sure we have coverage at all activities on Homecoming Friday, please sign up for at least one supervision. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Homecoming supervision descriptions and sign up sheet
Google Calendar Update
When creating calendar invites involving student names only use initials in the title. For example, if there was a team meeting for Andy Krause, the title would be 'A.K. Team Meeting'. In the description you are able to put specific information regarding the meeting. Also, if you are linking documents to the calendar invite you will need to share the document with all individuals and then set the link sharing to 'Off - Specific People' - see graphic below. If you use 'On - Anyone at isd77.k12.mn.us with the link' and link the document to the calendar invite, anyone would be able to access the document. If you have any questions regarding this, please speak with either of us.
PD Opportunities
What: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (see flyer below)
When: Thursday, October 17th, 8-4:30
Where: Madison East Mall- 1400 Madison Ave, Mankato, MN 56001
Lunch will be included.
This is a free training offered FREE to employees in our district in partnership with Mankato Clinic. You will earn 8 continuing education hours, these hours will include Suicide Prevention and Mental Health requirements for teachers. Space is limited to 24 participants. Sign up now, registration is open until October 7th.
Note from the presenter, Mary Beth Trembley, RNC
The training will be held from 8:00-4:30, please arrive by 7:50. In order to be certified, attendees must be present for the entire 8 hours. Lunch will be provided. The training is held at the Madison East Center in conference room A, this conference room is located in the middle of the mall. There will be signage to help people once they get inside the mall. It’s a perfect location for the course, plenty of room to stretch and quiet corners to gather. Parking is at the back of the Madison East
AVID - Culturally Relevant Teaching: Transforming Educators
November 6 and 7 in Austin, MN
Please let me know if you would like to attend. This is a strand that I would like many of our teachers to attend.
Game On Thursdays
Have you visited another classroom? If you haven't, and you feel uncomfortable going into someone else's classroom, let me know and you can come with me and do some walkthroughs.
Here is the link to a quick Google form that helps us get a sense of what you are seeing as well as helps move us closer to our goal of 75% participation.
Next winner will be drawn the end of October.
Staff Meetings
This Wednesday, the topic of our staff meeting will be our Champion Students. Please be prepared to share how your student is doing in each of their classes, what you are doing that is having a positive impact, and/or what is your plan to ensure the student passes all of their classes this quarter.
We will meet in the Media Center, please bring your devices.
Conferences
United Way - Message from Molly Fox
Greetings West Staff!
The United Way kick off starts October 7, 2019! We are so excited this year to support our local agencies that support youth, adults and elders! United Way supports the funding of P4T which engages so many of our youth in our community and surrounding communities. Echo Food Shelf allows for our youth and families in need to have food relief monthly. Connecting Kids support our youth with community sports, summer camps and community education opportunities to name a few. Feeding our Community Program (FOCP) feed many of our elementary and middle school youth in our community throughout the school year and summer. These are just a few examples of the funds that are distributed by United Way to boost our community. You also have the opportunity to write in what agency you want your money to go to. There will be a list on the back of your form which will be in your box on Monday morning. This year we are adding a few fun additions to fund raising!
GIVE AWAYS: Drawing will be held November 1, 2019
Scheels Card
Aveda Card
All Donations no matter the amount will get a 5.00 gift card to Pub 500!
FUN EVENTS!
10/15- Tuesday Pajama Day $1.00 Kids $2.00 Adults
10/21-Monday JEANS DAY Pay $2.00
10/28-Monday JEANS DAY Pay $2.00
Department Wars: Whichever department raises the most money will have coffee and donuts delivered to their department. We will divide per person per department so it is equal.
Last But Not Least- IF EVERY STAFF FILLS OUT THE UNITED WAY FORM TO DONATE EVEN $1.00 (100% PARTICIPATION). Some or all of the District Cabinet team will be serving our building breakfast.
As always I will send out reminders each week with some cool impact stats. The last day to donate will be November 1, 2019! Thank you for your support and giving! It makes such an amazing impact that we see every single day!!
Standards Based Grading
Take a look if you would like more information on SBG.
Standards Based Grading Part 2
On January 29, 2014, Rick Wormeli brought his passion and enthusiasm to Ankeny Community Schools in Iowa to talk about standards-based grading and reporting. Part two of five.
Things I Have Been Reading/Watching
The Week at a Glance
Monday
Meme Day
Events: Dodgeball Tournament 6:30pm - Gym
Tuesday
USA Day
Late Start
PLCs 7:45am - West
Problem Solving Team 2:15pm
Department Rep 3:15pm - Multi Media Suite
Events: Boys' and Girls' Cross Country 3:45 - Minneopa Golf Course
Wednesday
Character Day
Staff Meeting - Champion Students 3:15pm Media Center
Thursday
Color Day - Staff Black
Game On!
Events: Hall of Fame Banquet 5:30pm Kato Ballroom
Friday
Red and White Day
High Five Friday
HOMECOMING
Birthdays This Week
Happy Birthday
Cathy Neve - Wednesday, October 9
Coming Soon
October 14 - Conferences 3:30 - 7:30
October 15 - PD requests due
October 16 - PSAT
October 17, 18 - No School
October 29 - Link Crew Freshmen Retreat
October 31 - New Course Proposal deadline
November 7 - End of Quarter
November 7 - Learning Academy
November 8 - Teacher Work Day, Staff Meeting 10:00 - 11:30