@ Alta Vista
MEETING IN A MEMO
BIG CHANGES @ ALTA VISTA
Alta Vista will have three kindergarten classes and we are implementing an extended day program. All three classes will begin at 8:15 and for the first six weeks will be dismissed at 11:35. Beginning September 30th, our kindergarteners will extend their day to 1:40 and stay for lunch. On Wednesdays, they will be dismissed at 1:15 (beginning 9/30)
Shellena will be teaching second grade and Carol has moved back to third grade.
These changes had a domino effect, with a number of people relocating to new spaces:
- Christine Barbara (K) will be in room 2.
- Tanya Yates (1) will be in room 7.
- Shellena Mangione (2) will be in room 11.
- Carol Hanson (3) will be in room 14.
- Megan Ostiller (RSP) will be in the large classroom in the Media Center (MC 3).
- Carla Betz (OT) will be in room 4.5 (between rooms 4 and 5). She will also be using Extended Care for students needing more space and/or on rainy days.
All of these people (along with Manny and Gary) have been madly working to move their classrooms and get things ready for the first day of school. If you have a few extra minutes over the next few days, please check in with these people to see if they can use your help.
2019 SMART START @ ALTA VISTA
ALTA VISTA SMART START ACTIVITIES
L&I has created a list of resources and activities that you can use to fill the days with fun and learning. The Smart Start guide has everything from directions for a marshmallow challenge to creating a classroom time capsule. The links are organized by grade level, but don't let that keep you from looking at activities above or below your class.
Jon Corippo recommends 50% of the time be spent on classroom or grade level activities and 50% of the time dedicated to school-wide activities. We're not there (YET), but here is the list of school activities that you should plan on incorporating into your schedule:
- PAWS Project - In your boxes, you will find a set of paw prints. Using your grade level "color" from last year (check the art in the Media Center if you've forgotten), have each student decorate a paw print. If possible, also have them write their names on the front, but it will have to be small. We will be creating a bulletin board in the office with everyone's paw print.
- Seesaw Videos - Have each child in your class create a Seesaw video, stating their first and last name, plus some other bit of information. This can be favorite color, summer memory, or anything else. The goal of this video is to have a recording of every student saying his/her name. This will be an important resource when we are announcing student recognition "winners" or when you are getting ready to meet with a parent. It will allow us to respect each and every child by pronouncing his/her name correctly. Please alphabetize the videos by last name and share with Cathy (co-teacher). If you need help with Seesaw, reach out to Christy or others on your team.
- Team Alta Vista Dance - On August 21st, District Office personnel will be here after lunch to record the entire school dancing a simple version of the cupid shuffle to "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang. We will even have the district drone taking overhead video. How will this happen? On Monday, AV's Leadership Team is creating a short instruction video that you will use to help your class learn the dance. Many of your students already know this popular dance, so make them your leaders. This will give us a shared activity that we can use throughout the year (Walk-a-thon, Olympic Day, etc.). Stressful - hopefully not. Fun - definitely.
- Family Picnic - On Friday, the entire school will have lunch from 12:00 to 12:50. Families have been invited to join their children on the field for this community event. Information was shared with families in the Vista Views newsletter. To help things run smoothly, we'll share more details with you later in the week (once you've had a chance to catch your breath).
- Classroom Visits - Similar to last year, Cathy will be visiting each classroom. This year's focus will be PAWS, Cougar Pride, and general rules. Please sign up for a time on the Google doc.
WHAT'S NEW
Over the summer, Cathy created a Team Alta Vista website (https://sites.google.com/unionsd.org/teamaltavista/home). It is a staff only website that includes information and links to everything you need. Everything from yard duty schedules to UDEA contracts. Rather than drilling down through the shared drive, it provides an easy way to find what you need. In addition to the navigation bar, it includes the "Team Alta Vista Hub" with all the links on a single page. It will be a dynamic website, with information being added throughout the year.
To make it easy to have the information at your fingertips and on any device, please do the following:
- Visit https://sites.google.com/unionsd.org/teamaltavista/home.
- Using Chrome, click "Bookmarks" > "Bookmark This Page" > "Mobile Bookmarks".
- See Lisa or Cathy if you need help.
NEW LUNCH SCHEDULE
This year, we are adopting a new lunch schedule that will allow everyone to be done with lunch at the same time, getting rid of the multiple bells from previous years. Here are the key points:
- Grades 1/2 will go to lunch at 12:00, eating their lunches first and then playing (just like last year).
- Third grade will head to lunch at 12:00, but will have recess first.
- Fourth and fifth grade will join the third graders at 12:10, also having recess first.
- At 12:30, intermediate students will eat their lunches. Hopefully, we'll be able to extend the recess time as students get use to the new routine.
- At 12:50, lunch will be over for everyone.
Students will sit at assigned classroom tables most of the time, with the opportunity to earn "Free Choice Fridays". To eliminate the problem with intermediate students running in the halls when they are released, 3/4/5 teachers will meet their students at the tables. Please hold them responsible for leaving the area clean.
To eliminate the need for third, fourth, and fifth graders to go to their classrooms to pick up lunchboxes, we would like each class to place lunches in a cart and have students wheel this to the lunch area before playing. If you need a cart (or two), please see Vicki.
SPECIAL SCHEDULES
Due to the many changes that took place over the last week, these are still being updated. PE and Music schedules should be available for viewing on Monday. At that point, you will also be able to select your Library time. Please note that due to Rhythm & Moves professional development, PE will begin on August 19th.
P.A.W.S.
We have "rebranded" our golden tickets and weekly Cougar Pride recognition, calling it P.A.W.S. PAWS is an acronym for Problem solve, Act respectfully, Wise choices, and Spread kindness. Before the first day of school, you'll find the new PAWS tickets. Please be generous in handing these out on the playground and in the classroom. Just like last year, you'll submit one winning name each week that will be announced during the Friday announcements. You can find the link to the PAWS form on the Team Alta Vista website.
COUGAR PRIDE
We are reusing the Cougar Pride name for a different student recognition program. Each month, we will be focusing on one Cougar Pride Character Trait through weekly announcements, Vista Views newsletter, and classroom conversations. For example, during the month of September, our focus will be on respect. At the end of the month, each teacher will submit the name of one student who will be recognized during a Cougar Pride Assembly. Immediately after lunch, on the first Wednesday of the month, we will have a Cougar Pride Assembly outside. It will be an opportunity to recognize these students, introduce the next month's character trait, and anything else we can fit into 25 minutes. We'll discuss this more at our August 28th staff meeting.
Summer Updates
M&O was busy over the summer, completing the following projects:
- Grounds refresh work: Walkway planters near the office were replanted and new irrigation installed; Media Center planter on West side replanted; Wood chips added for weed control.
- Front grass: Irrigation was modified and adjusted for construction area; New sod installed; Wood chips added for weed control.
- Garden Fencing: A wooden white picket fence was installed and painted around the entire garden perimeter.
- Lunch tables: Additional tables were ordered, received and installed.
- Push Bar Secondary Locks: Secondary locking mechanisms were added to doors with push bars (rather than door handles).
Manny and Gary were also very busy. Not only did they support the summer school program, but they also helped EIGHT classroom moves happen (3 in June and 5 in August). Everything looks amazing, inside and out. Please be sure to let them know how much we appreciate their hard work.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
- District breakfast (7:30) and general meeting (8:00) at UMS. Meeting attendance is required if this is a work day for you.
- Work day - Time to get your classroom (and your colleagues) prepped.
- 10:30 - SPED meeting in the staff room (WARNING - You will be receiving Google invitations for IEP meetings for the entire year. These are preliminary and are intended to be "place keepers" on your calendar.)
- 12:00 - Lunch provided by AVHSC. Join us in the staff room for a Q&A session about anything and everything.
TUESDAY
- Work day - More time to get ready
- We will not have scheduled grade level RSP/SDC meetings, but SPED staff may be reaching out to you with information. You can also contact them with questions.
- 10:00 - Kindergarten Meet & Greet
- 8:00-2:15 - SPED Meet & Greet with Caitlin
- 10:00-12:00 - 504 Meetings
- 4:00 - Class placements available to families via PowerSchool
WEDNESDAY
- 8:00 - If you are available, please be present on campus to assist people with finding their classrooms. There is a large "selfie sign" outside the fence near room 4. We will also have "picture frames" created by Student Council available for more pictures. Cougar Pride bracelets will be handed out to each student. Unfortunately, we don't have enough extras for family members. We'll put extras in your boxes for those students who don't get one. There will also be an adult-sized bracelet for you.
- 8:15 - School starts
- 8:15-8:45 - AVHSC Welcome Coffee in the Cafeteria
- 11:35 - Kindergarten dismissal
- Lunch - Please review the new schedule
- 1:15 - Dismissal
THURSDAY
- Regular Schedule (8:15 - 11:35/2:40)
FRIDAY
- Regular Schedule (8:15 - 11:35/2:40)
- 12:00 - Alta Vista Family Picnic (More information during Q&A on Monday)