Monday Morning Message
Week of August 13, 2018
Upcoming Dates
August 13 - 1st -4th Grade Welcome Convo 8:10-8:40 in gym, K @ 9:30 Location TBD
August 14- Math, Inquiry, Wellness, & Literacy PLCs
August 21 - Staff Share @2:45
August 23 - Curriculum Night, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
- K: 5:30 – 6:00 pm
- 1st: 6:00 – 6:30 pm
- 2nd: 6:30 – 7:00 pm
- 3rd: 7:00 – 7:30 pm
- 4th: 7:30 – 8:00 pm
August 28 - LT Mtg @ESC 9:30-11:30 (Andrew)
September 4 - Staff Meeting
September 26 - Jog -A-Thon (rain date on 27th)
Smooth Start
On Monday, ou Second Step kick-off convo in the gym will be brief. Much to our disappointment, the flash mob idea that was being tossed around won't be able to take place this time. Perhaps that is an idea to keep in our back pocket for the next convo. We will however be taking the time to introduce our team. Per Mr. McKinley's suggestions, we will try to go with a Chicago Bulls starting lineup introduction circa 1994 (We won't need anything on your part. Just stand and wave when we introduce you). We really want to continue to build on the idea of fostering relationships and community, not just in our classrooms, but school wide. The convo will be little more that introductions and welcoming remarks from me. We will call classes down starting at 8:10 and we should be done and back to rooms before the end of our scheduled Second Step time.
Please provide feedback to the office about how it is going with our new transportation notification in Powerschool. Our folks at the bus lot, walkers and car riders line have found it helpful to have all of the information in one place. We want to make sure that it is meeting your needs in the classroom as well. I'll be looking into how we can get the Powerschool app on our mobile devices so that we can check the daily bulletin via smartphone.
School Safety Note: I noticed a number of classroom doors unlocked this week. Please get back into the habit of having doors locked at all times. If you need a latch cover we may have some extras in the office or will look into getting you one.
Staff update: Due to the way that Title I funding works, we will unfortunately only have Joan Brandt with us Mondays and Tuesdays this year. She will be over at SGE Wed. through Fri. We also have some new IAs helping out in preschool. Stefanie Alvarado will be joining the PK4 and Nahid Rezai is back with the PK3. Tina Nell is replacing Cathy Patal and will be helping out in Jessica Weaver's room until Jessica's knee has the chance to heal. Joann Shrote and Melanie Henning join us in the DP classroom as well.
One additional FYI for future planning: We are looking at scheduling our Outdoor Learning Experience installation for Friday,October 5. Our goal is to help with planning some activities for that day and even for the E-Learning day on the 4th. Hopefully that takes a little bit off of your plates in the midst of conferences.
Have a great week!
Andrew
NWEA
3rd and 4th grade teachers have had the luxury of providing students the opportunity to test the environment where a majority of the instruction is taking place, the classroom. The link for the schedule above presents this opportunity with use of some additional touchscreen Chromebooks from the tech department and borrowing from our 3rd and 4th grade classrooms after their testing is completed.
We have noticed that our students are much more comfortable and familiar with a Chromebook versus a desktop computer. As we build up our resources and provide students the opportunity to use technology as a tool to amplify learning, versus a place that we go, this is a nice step in that direction.
Utilizing the Chromebooks also helps Katie M. by creating uniform grade level testing times as she supports teachers and students.
I also believe Susan will be sliding into the design lab to work on some digital citizenship topics during their media center time.
Diane, Beth, Molly and myself are commiting time to support this shift. Please let me know if you have any questions.
iVolunteer - Classroom Volunteers List
Teachers-
Welcome back! As we are gearing up for a great school year, I wanted to reach out to make sure it can be as easy for you as possible! This year, I am in charge of coordinating the volunteer needs for the teachers and PTO. I have included a link to the iVolunteer system that we use to coordinate these needs (http://eaglepto.ivolunteer.com/). Last year’s requests are still present for you to review. Please email me and let me know what your needs are for this year as soon as possible so I can update it. If your needs are the same, please just let me know that too and I’ll carry it forward. If it’s easier to chat in person, I’m happy to find a time to meet with you as well.
Thanks!
Ashley Meredith
***Let's aim for completing this by the end of the week if possible to allow Ashley plenty of time to get everything up a running before Curriculum Night. Thanks!
PLC Corner
Grade Level PLCs will take place during your related arts block on Friday. We will plan on meeting in my office or the conference room with your grade level team every other Friday. To try to help keep track we will start on August 17th with 1st and 3rd grade meeting in my office while collaborates as a team on their own. We will alternate every other Friday between meeting in my office to examine student learning and data and your team collaborating on the alternate weeks.
8/10 - Collaboration time for 1st -4th
8/17 - 1st and 3rd PLC; 2nd and 4th Team Collab
8/24 - 2nd and 4th PLC; 1st and 3rd Team Collab
8/31 - 1st and 3rd PLC; 2nd and 4th Team Collab
9/7 - 2nd and 4th PLC (RtI); 1st and 3rd Team Collab
9/14 - 1st and 3rd PLC (RtI); 2nd and 4th Team Collab
Kindy (Alternating Thursdays)
PLC to examine student learning and data on 8/23, 9/6, 9/20 to get us started.
Emergency Drill Procedures
Please email me once you have completed your instructional emergency drills.
Kindy and Preschool Color Days
Preschool and kindergarten will be starting our color days next week. We would love for you to join us by wearing the different colors. Below is the list of colors we are focusing on each day:
Monday (8/13): Red
Tuesday (8/14): Yellow
Wednesday (8/15): Blue
Thursday (8/16): Orange
Friday (8/17): Green
Monday (8/20): Purple
Tuesday (8/21): Brown
Wednesday(8/22): Pink
Thursday (8/23): Black & White
Friday (8/24): Rainbow
Happy Friday!
Preschool and Kindy Teams
PTO Enrichment Grants
Manny Scott Book
Click Here to order your own copy!
I keep thinking about his statements about what is "normal?" Just because something is normal for me and my culture does not make it normal for everyone else and their culture. It helps remind me to take a step back and learn from the perspectives of others.