GRE Staff Newsletter
For the week of August 19, 2019
Dear Team,
Over the first three days I had the opportunity to get in to classrooms, talk with kids and see the hard work you are putting in to implementing Responsive Classroom. I saw several classes practicing expectations throughout the school. It took me back to my own classroom and the first year I implemented Responsive Classroom. I remember thinking, "enough already-I can't do one more day of expectations". But I stuck with it because I wanted to see if it really made the difference my colleagues talked about. Turns out, it was worth every extra minute I spent on routines and expectations. We spend so much time rushing around in our lives and in our classrooms. Days will turn in to a blur. Take a breath. Take your time. Enjoy the time with your students where you can just focus on them as kids. This week, continue to practice routines and expectations. Build stronger relationships. Consider inviting other staff members to your morning meetings or switching teachers on a team for a morning meeting. I know your anxious to get started on the academics and this has to feel painfully slow compared to years fast but consider this:
"On average it takes a minimum of 21 days for a behavior to become a habit."
They have been here for three-keep going. The pay off will be worth it!
Here's to an awesome week!
Kate
Congrats to these photo booth runner-ups!
News to Share
2. Katie shared a schedule to have one of us come and do an Interactive Read Aloud with your class over the next two weeks. Sign up here! We can't wait to be a part of your class. You can also invite us in to attend a morning meeting.
3. Be sure to check the building schedule here. Eagle Time (our fifth special) is up and running and so far has received positive feedback. If you have ideas, questions, or concerns, please let me know. Remember, if you need a private space and Eagle Time is in your classroom, you are welcome to use my office, Katie's office or the conference room.
4. Curriculum Night is coming up on August 29th from 6-7:30. BWE and GRE are doing Face to Face Curriculum Nights this year, while Souders and HSE are trying a video approach to Curriculum Night. Here is the schedule for Curriculum Night to begin sharing with your families. I've also included a graphic for you to try posting in Schoology.
6:00-6:30 pm: Classroom Presentations (Last Name A-K)
6:30-7:00 pm: Trail Mixer in the Cafeteria (This will include booths for our specialized areas as well as ways families can get involved in the community)
7:00-7:30 pm: Classroom Presentations (Last Name L-Z)
Click here for more detailed information including what classroom teachers are responsible for sharing during their portion of the evening.
5. Review the GRE Housekeeping doc to help make sure you have all of your beginning of the year "to-do's" in progress or completed.
6. Learn about our Keys to Success and Student Recognition from reading this document. Share this information with your students as you begin (or continue) to pass out Keys to Success. We will start Student of the Week (new this year) on Friday! Guess what! The fun isn't just for students. We will also be voting on one staff member to be recognized each month. More details will come out about this soon:)
7. A note about cleaning routines and procedures. The building has been divided up by custodian. The blue area and trailers will be cleaned nightly by Adam, purple by Becky and Steve will clean Kindergarten. Tables will be scrubbed on the following schedule:
K-tables will be cleaned nightly, make sure table tops are empty
1-tables cleaned M, W, F
2-tables cleaned T, R
3-tables cleaned M, W, F
4-tables cleaned T, R
If you have any questions or special requests, please contact your custodian.
8. Some very important reminders from the office. Do not contact a parent directly about picking up a child who is sick. Please work with the front office staff if you feel a student is sick and needs to go home. If you receive a school excuse make sure you turn it in to Kelly's mailbox the same day you get it. With the new attendance laws this is critical when determining truancy hours. Finally, please remember that the office is the main hub of the building and is always buzzing. You should do your printing, make phone calls or other tasks from your work space. If your space is shared, feel free to use the conference room or Katie or I's office to complete that work. If you have questions, let me know.
9. Last call for favorite summer photos! I'm sure you were expecting another video from me but I've got something else cooking for these photos! I will be implementing operation family next weekend so please get your photos to me by then.
10. Assessment information is coming out next week from Katie. The STAR window will open for GRE on Wednesday. Remember that the focus for these first few weeks is on teaching expectations and routines and building relationships with students.
11. Finally (phew, you almost made it), Katie and Kate will begin their normal schedule this week. Check below to see the schedule and contact your PAC representative or Katie or Kate with questions.
Monday: Office/Behavior (Katie); Classrooms (Kate)
Tuesday: Office/Behavior (Kate); Classrooms (Katie)
Wednesday: Flex Day
Thursday: Office/Behavior (Katie); Classrooms (Kate)
Friday: Office/Behavior (Kate); Classrooms (Katie)
Another zinger by Doug and Trish-this years Photo booth Winner!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, August 20th-E Day; Happy Birthday Anjali
Wednesday, August 21st- A Day;
Thursday, August 22nd- B Day;
Friday, August 23rd- C Day; Happy Birthday Megan S.
Upcoming Important Dates:
August 26 Intervention Groups Start
August 29 Curriculum Night 6:00pm
August 30 Mumkin packets sent home
August 30 Spirit Wear Sale online begins
September 2 NO SCHOOL
September 2 Spirit Wear sale online ends
September 4 Picture Day
September 12 PTO Meeting 6:30pm
September 16 No School (PD Day)
September 19 Parent Teacher Conferences
Mumkin orders due
September 22 Big Nut Strut
September 27 2nd Grade Lehner’s Farm