LRMS: Week(s) at a Glance
March 21 - March 31, 2016
Sayings from Skinner
(Given the pace of the last three days, I thought I would combine two WAAGs together -- to save y'all an email to read AND to expedite getting out info!).
We are on the countdown to Spring Break, and I know that the busy-ness of the season (along with the pressures felt by the impending testing season AND the sinus pressures of all this pollen) can make the day-to-day feel very heavy. Please boost each other up through these days --- it is also a time of great rejuvenation, fresh hope, and possibilities concerning the days and months ahead --- try to focus on those things -- and all will fall into place.
We have "much water" to get under the bridge, and we certainly want our kids to keep their "heads in the game" over the course of the next week and a half AND across Spring Break --- we need to be consistent in our messaging of bell-to-bell instruction, focus on working hard, building our tool boxes, and preparing with fidelity for the challenges of grades and Milestones.
Please keep in mind the many important details shared during the Vertical Team meeting on Monday morning -- we MUST be encouraging students to take advantage of cyber-learning and cyber-review; we MUST be utilizing BYOD to help differentiate instruction and ensure mastery of the key AKS/skills; we MUST be targeted in these days, so that we can truly "finish strong." If you NEED ANYTHING in order to better support student learning, please ask an administrator or me for it --- now is the time we need to pull together, so that the vast majority of our students will be entirely focused on their learning and final preparations. I have asked the administrators to be a STRONG presence in your rooms, and they and I (also with other support personnel) are having many "fierce conversations" with students and their parents. In many cases, we are requiring their parents to come in and shadow the student for a day (or more). In these cases, do not do ANYTHING differently -- the parents are there to WATCH their own children, not take your attention, nor make any noise or commentary. They may share any of that with the APs or with me -- but they should NOT add another disruption to your room. Know that you have our utmost support -- and that we will NOT tolerate the students continual to derail you from the important work -- teaching and learning -- that you are truly charged to do.
THANK YOU for the MANY ways you go above and beyond -- it is evident how many of you are SO incredibly involved, invested, and interested in helping our students, our school, our cluster, and our community continue to grow, improve, and reach new heights. Truly, YOU are investing in a brighter future by your investments here --- you are SOOOO appreciated from the bottom of my heart!!
Happy Spring!
Sarah
Read Here and Be In The Know!!
http://radloffstaff.onmycalendar.com/
2) Kudos, Congratulations, and Good News:
*Eric Nielsen's upcoming wedded bliss -- YEH!!!
*Amazing conversations in Extended Planning!
*Awesome planning for various field trips and "extra" learning experiences
*Great job regular ed. folks assisting special ed. folks!
*Congrats to Angela Fleisher for being selected for a 2nd year in a row as a CDC Science Ambassador!!
3) Extended Planning
*Great job thus far -- thanks for the notes --- primary focus: MILESTONES READINESS -- getting the key skills/indicators for success to our students!!!
*Cyberspace for review, remediation, readiness --- encouraging the kids to take FULL advantage.
4) ELT -- Data and Info.
*MA & LA teachers -- make sure all ELT data for semester is uploaded into shared drive before leaving for Spring Break
**ELT for weeks of March 28 and April 11 will be all Milestones focused (see attachment within email for details)
5) Raider Round-ups
*These are postponed until the week after Spring Break. Students are EXPECTED to complete their cyber reviews over Spring Break to participate as the behaviors we want to reward include academic behaviors (if you have an exception to this, please run it past your grade level AP!!!)
6) International Dress-up/Faculty Cook-out -- and Social Studies Family Theme Night
*Wednesday, March 30 -- come dressed in your best International Wear (encourage students to participate as well) -- the faculty cook-out will be that day -- everyone is encouraged to eat FOR FREE at the luncheon/cookout -- grills will be set up outside the cafe -- SD room will be open for indoor seating and socializing
*Social Studies night promises to be a fun event for EVERYONE -- encourage students and parents to come -- and of course, faculty is invited to watch and participate in all the great events and performances that night!
7) Thursday, March 31 -- Hawaiian Shirts and Smoothies Day
Wear your "best Hawaiian shirt/spring break gear on Thursday to get ready to kick off the break! Also, the cafe will be offering smoothies for those who need a cool, fruity treat at lunchtime!!!!!
8) Urgency of Kids Using CyberSpace for Learning and Reviewing
*Due to BYOD expectations, promotion requirements, students' grades (and lack thus far of work), and the 21st century learning expectations --- we MUST begin to "up" the urgency and insistence on using CyberSpace (eClass and the Portal) for instruction, review, remediation, learning.
*BYOD -- if students misuse their BYOD, push the button. An administrator or tech. team member will come to collect the device. A parent must come to the school to retrieve the device and receive training about BYOD practices, uses, and policies. Please review this with your students.
9) Summer School -- what TO say; what NOT to say!
*Do NOT get into any specific details about summer school at this point! Just remind students that their best options for promotion are PASSING GRADES in ALL classes (including connections) and passing the Milestones in every area! The portal--and all the resources from their teachers -- are their BEST BET to being truly READY for Milestones and promotion -- AND avoiding summer school and/or retention!! More details to come!!!!
10) STeAM Academy, Gear Up for Graduation Academy, Lighthouse Academy --- Teaming Assignments
As of next year, Radloff will be a Three-Academy School:
***The Lighthouse Academy
***The STeAM Academy
***The Gear Up for Graduation Academy
All Academies will provide the AKS; all Academies will provide college and career readiness; all Academies will provide introductions to Meadowcreek U; and all Academies will provide supports, enrichment, and opportunities for every child to find a successful pathway to the future. (Just a teaser -- more to come!)
*The first draft of teaming assignments will be released next Friday, April 1, via Lotusnotes.
11) Summer Staff Developments and Calendars
Calendars for Summer Staff Development Opportunities (recommended, required, paid, optional) will come out next week -- please be on the lookout for these!!!
12) SPRING FORWARD -- for ILT (+ a few extras)
On Wednesday, March 30, the ILT (+ a few extra invitees) will be spending an entire day in planning for next year. This day will be focused on various "problems of practice" that will help us address things we need to do in the spirit of continuous improvement. Please share with any ILT members your thoughts about ALL aspects of Radloff . . .
*Do you LOVE IT? Do you want to LOSE IT? Do you want to TWEAK IT? (they will use your input throughout their work that day!)
13) Laminator in Media Center is DYING!
*NO more laminator use by teachers or parapros or other faculty for the year -- instead, turn in materials/items to be laminated. All lamination will be done on Wednesdays and Thursdays ONLY for remainder of year.
14) CUT-OFF Day for Grades for Spring Honors Ceremony
ALL grades must be entered by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14th, for them to be considered for the spring honors ceremony! ANY grade entered after that point will NOT be considered for any academic award -- NO EXCEPTIONS. Tell the students --- post it -- say it a LOT -- and share with parents!
15) Coverage Needed for Anything?? (Re-eval, SD, panel, etc.)
ANYTIME an employee needs coverage for ANY portion of a day, it is the employee's responsibility to enter that need into Aesop and the Portal. If it is for ANY school event (a meeting, an IEP, a panel, etc.), mark it as "Staff Development" and list the reason in the comments section -- this will NOT count against your leave time -- BUT will help us know where you are and who needs coverage for when!
16) NOT IN YOUR ROOM? If you are NOT in your classroom -- make sure you leave a note about where you/your class is located --- also, always send an email to 637 Location Notification