Monday Morning Memo - Week 27
3/17/19
Where ever there is privilege, there is oppression. Where ever there is oppression, there is privilege.
Dear Poupard Leaders,
Conferences
As you prepare for conferences this upcoming week, I'd like for you to consider a few things as we celebrate student growth, share ways for students to continuing improving, maintain strong relationships with our students/families. One way we can continue to maintain strong relationships is by not blaming students. Please remember, the adults create the conditions in our classrooms and building that either promote success or failure. We create environments where students want to be or avoid completely. We communicate with students in ways that can excite them or disengage them. The same goes for when communicating with parents. Students have many things outside of their circle of control. You only have 15 minutes to conference with most parents...
- What do families need to know?
- What do you want families to know?
- How might they interpret what we're sharing from their lens?
- What experiences about school are families bringing in with them?
- Is enforcing certain rules worth the potential loss of relationship capital with the student/parent?
Accept it or not, 81% of our families are from a marginalized, oppressed and disenfranchised race. This week provides an opportunity for us to be inclusive, value others and allow for them to be represented in their child's learning. I'm going to leave you with our Core Values that we agreed to earlier this year and expect that they are represented in your discussions with families:
- Giving Mutual Respect
- Building Relationships
- Everyone Can Learn
- Being Compassionate and Empathetic
- Recognizing and Valuing Diversity
- Hard Work and Effort
- Everyone has a Talent or Strength
PTO Reimbursements
Please be sure to submit all your receipts to receive reimbursement from the PTO by March 29th. This will be the last date that they will be accepting them. Let me know if you are unsure of how much you receive.
Instructional Rounds - March 28th
We are having teachers from Maire join us on the 28th to visit our Dragon Dens and learn more about Leader in Me as they prepare for their own journey with the program next fall. They have already visited a couple other schools and Poupard will be their last stop. Please let me know if you would prefer not to have someone popping into your classroom during Dragon Dens on the 28th. Thank you for sharing your experience with Leader in Me with other teachers from across the district!
This also provides a great opportunity to reflect on our LiM program at Poupard:
- What am I noticing going really well inside my own classroom?
- What impact is it having on our students leadership skills/opportunities?
- How have students behaviors shifted due to the 7 habits?
- How am I doing with incorporating the 7 habits within my own life?
- How am I incorporating the 7 habits inside of my classroom?
Let's have a great week!
Your Fan,
Ali
Week at a Glance
NO PLC: Conferences
Ali in Coaching Session with Sonja 9-11
Ali in Weekly Meeting with Brandy and Michele at 2:45
Chess Wizards
Tuesday, March 19th - D Day
No Staff Meeting: Conferences
Wednesday, March 20th- A Day
Ali in Weekly Student Support Meeting with Brandy and Molly at 8:45
GES3 in PM
Conferences in PM
Thursday, March 21st- B Day
Half Day: Dismissal at 11:36 - Afternoon Conferences
Friday, March 22nd - C Day
Half Day: Dismissal at 11:36
Weekly Office Meeting at 9:45
Saturday, March 23rd:
Sunday, March 24th:
Staff Birthdays - March
3/1- Kelly Sexton-Bolen
3/5- Cathy Rapp
3/8- Michele Stateczny
3/28- Erika Stout-Kirck
March Student Birthdays
Important Dates
3/18 - No PLC Meeting: Pre-Conference Slots AM
3/19 - No Staff Meeting: Pre-Conference Slots PM
3/20 -
- GES3 Meeting
- Conferences in PM
3/21 - Half Day: Conferences in PM
3/22 - Half Day
3/25 - Bring back story problem #3
3/27 -
SIT Meeting at 7:15
Tornado Drill at 1:00
3/28 -
Dragon Den
Blue Ribbon Committee Meeting
3/29 -
PBIS Team Meeting at 7:15
Leader of the Month Lunch
Popcornopolis Prize Assembly
3/30 - 4/7: Spring Break
4/8: Classes Resume
Nuts and Bolts - Updated 3/3/19
March is Reading Month
The School Improvement Team wanted to encourage students to read during the month of March. You will be receiving reading logs to pass out students to log the amount of time they are reading. If students meet the reading requirements on their reading logs they will be entered into a raffle to participate in a student vs. staff volleyball game.
Requirements:
- Upper grades: 20 minutes inside of class, 20 minutes outside of class. (Face in front of text)
- Lower Grades: 20 minutes inside of class, 10-15 outside of class.
Additionally, we will offer buddy reading for 20 minutes on Fridays. Teachers can use the Dragon Den time from 12:20 - 1:00 or a mutually agreed upon time. The SIT believe that some buddy reading classrooms have already been established since earlier in the year so the SIT randomly paired up teachers that may not have one yet.
Buddy Classrooms
-Hultgren/Mead
-Jabara/Chaklos
-Bourke/Castile
-Sexton-Bolen/Halpin
-Rumohr/Stout-Kirck
-Rillema/Whateley
-Hool/DeSandre
-Gallagher/ split between 2nd grade rooms or buddy up
Behavior Referrals
Behavior Referrals must be completed using the Online Behavior Form. Staff must complete the behavior form anytime a student is sent down to the office for a major office referral. Homeroom Teachers and Special Area Teachers are responsible for contacting the family to notify them of any incidents that occurred inside of the classroom. Please call home over an email whenever possible. Personally, I'd recommend sharing anything over 3-4 sentences over a phone call as well.