Magers Memo
August 22nd, 2019
A GREAT FIRST WEEK!
I know that every week I start Magers Memo by bragging on my staff-but I'm going to do it again! I can't tell you what a joy it is watching each of you work your magic with students daily! I am so grateful for each of you and the gifts you bring to the Sherwood team! Thank you for being you.
- Thank you for recognizing students for showing P.R.I.D.E. at Sherwood! Joanna has added additional slides that show each of the 5 words in every area of the school here. These have also been posted around the building in the various areas (Thank you Joanna!). Eventually, we will have pictures of our students that match each poster. I think we are off to a great start and I can't wait to start teaching P.R.I.D.E. to the entire student population in our monthly assemblies!
- Please make sure you are teaching students recess norms (shared in BOY staff meeting-this presentation is also linked in this newsletter below).
- It's time to start thinking about BOY Fidelity Checks. Please sign-up here for your BOY Fidelity Check.
- Every teacher should have two days of emergency sub plans. Here is the folder that houses the emergency sub plans. Please add your plans by Friday, September 6th. You may also delete sub plans from last year, or edit them for this year. Thank you!
- Information regarding the new discipline procedures was shared as "read only" during our staff meeting on Tuesday. As you may have noticed, we are using ISS & OSS less and detention more. The following staff have agreed to stay from 3:35 to 4:35 to house students in detention as needed: Robin, Carla, Tracie, & Kylee. If you want to be added to this list, please let me know. Thank you!
Emergency Drill Follow-Up:
Feedback on Drills:
- Please make sure you take your walkie out with you during fire drills
- Please assign the last student out of the classroom the job of closing your classroom doors. This lets us know that all students are out of the classroom.
- Please teach students what to do if they are in the restroom during any emergency drill. We found a couple of students in the restroom during both drills. Students need to report to the nearest classroom in the event of intruder-or put their feet up on the toilet so it would appear as if no one was in the restroom. For fire-they exit out the nearest exterior door & join the nearest class.
- Moving forward: As soon as you hear the all clear or "call time Bri" on the walkie-Beau & Lorie will report who they have. Nurse Julie will then report. Heslin does not have a walke so Heslin will report to the nearest adult with a walkie who she has and they will share those names. If after these names are reported you are missing a student-then you will share the name and ask if anyone has them. I think this will be a better process in the future and make communication more clear.
Additional Hours of Training:
Per the bargaining unit agreement, the 2019-2020 Salary Schedule includes salary increase to support four (4) additional hours of training beyond the current contracted school days and hours for teachers, counselors, and librarians. Administrators are also expected to attend. The four (4) hour training will be divided into the following categories:
- Equity Training (2 hour training delivered during 1st quarter)
- ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate; 1 hour training delivered during 2nd quarter)
- Mental Health/Suicide/Bullying (1 hour training delivered during 2nd quarter)
Secretaries, nurses, and paras are required to attend all school site trainings. These employees will record training hours on their weekly timesheets and will be paid for their time. Finally, employees not listed above (custodial, maintenance, food service, transportation) will be trained at a later date and time.
Please see Sherwood Equity and Access Training date below. This date was assigned to us, the AliCE training date will be shared soon. I apologize for the late notice.
Equity & Access Training at Sherwood
Equity Training
The Equity & Access Office will deliver the required two hour training which will be offered outside of contract time during 1st quarter. Equity champions and learning specialists will facilitate the training. If you have staff members who are not able to attend their site scheduled time, they will be allowed to attend at a different site. Opportunities to attend a make-up training will be offered during 2nd quarter. Please check the Equity Training List 2019-20 to find your scheduled date and time.Thursday, Aug 29, 2019, 04:00 PM
Sherwood Elementary School, South Golden Avenue, Springfield, MO, USA
Sidewalk Chalk on the Walls:
Mentor/Mentee Program
Hello~
I hope you have had a great start to your week! This year we are going to continue with our Mentor/Mentee program...yay! The reason we are doing this is so teachers can spend time investing in relationships with students and in turn students can then invest in relationships with others….our hope is this will be an experience in which by mentors paying it forward, students will be inclined to play it forward as well. Mentors will be asked to coordinate time(s) with their mentee’s teacher to connect with their mentees at least once a week. As the year goes on, activity ideas and topics of conversation will be shared with staff to help facilitate your relationship.
Based on the survey results from last year, staff would like to begin this program earlier in the year and have a kick-off for the mentors and mentees. The kick off will be on September 3rd from 3:45-4:15 (Mentors duties will be covered during this time and permission slips will be sent out for mentees). During this time, mentors and mentees can get together, learn the why of the program, and work on developing (or further developing their relationship if you already know the kiddo).
Here is the list recommended students from last year as well as teachers that requested to work with them. You will notice some students have yet to have a mentor. If you would like to participate in this program, please feel free to add your name next to a student’s name. If all students are taken and you would like to participate, please add your name at the bottom so we can include more students in our program. Here is the permission slip form that will be filled out and put in teacher’s mailboxes to be sent home on Friday.
Thank you for supporting our mentees as we pay it forward!
Crystal, Lara and Amber K
Sherwood Vision Statement:
According to the Task Force on Developing Research in Educational Leadership (2003), "Effective educational leaders help their schools to develop or endorse visions that embody the best thinking about teaching and learning. School leaders inspire others to reach for ambitious goals" (p. 3). Your school must have a vision that all staff members recognize as a common direction of growth, something that inspires them to be better. An effective vision also announces to parents and students where you are heading and why they should take the trip with you.Without a vision, your school lacks direction. As the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca observed, "If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind." If you don't have a common, agreed-on destination, then everyone is left to his or her own devices to imagine one—a scenario that results in unharnessed and unfocused efforts, with everyone believing that what he or she is doing is right. A common understanding of the destination allows all stakeholders to align their improvement efforts.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107042/chapters/developing-a-vision-and-a-mission.aspx
Here is where our vision is currently: It is still under revision. I don't want to rush the process and get it right the first time. We will talk more about this soon.
The Sherwood community will inspire and nurture learners to be Problem solvers, Respectful individuals leading with Integrity, Dependable citizens that put forth Effort while discovering their potential.
PLEASE REVIEW AND WATCH THE WEATHER AND STUDENTS: TAKING A SHORTENED OUTDOOR RECESS & DOING SOME INDOOR RECESS IS AN OPTION
HEAT RELATED ILLNESS
When temperatures remain in the 90’s and the heat index rises, the potential for heat related illness increases. Some students (especially those with chronic illnesses) are more susceptible to heat related illnesses. The best prevention is to keep students and staff well hydrated. Remember that with increased exercise, children can often have mild dehydration even when outside temperatures are not excessive.
Students/staff must have access to water in order to maintain hydration. It is imperative to allow students frequent trips to the water fountain and that water is available in the classroom. Students and staff should be encouraged to bring water bottles to school with them.
Light activities are encouraged during physical education, outdoor field trips, and sporting activities until temperatures moderate. Monitor elementary students on the playground during recess activities as well.
Heat cramps:
Signs and Symptoms:
Painful muscle spasms caused by loss of fluids and electrolytes resulting from sweating
First Aid treatment for heat cramps are:
- Help the person to move to a cool place to rest
- Given an electrolyte-and carbohydrate-containing fluid such as Gatorade, or fruit juice or water
- Lightly stretch the muscle and gently massage the area to relieve cramps
Heat exhaustion
Signs and Symptoms:
- Cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin
- May complain of headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and exhaustion, as well as possible fainting or vomiting.
First Aid treatment for heat exhaustion is:
- Begin cooling the person by:
a) Moving to cool area
b) Removing or loosening excess clothing
c) Applying cool cloths and fan person
- Provide cool electrolyte and carbohydrate-containing fluid or give water (unless vomiting)
- If unable to tolerate oral rehydration or develops any change in mental status, 9-1-1 should be called immediately.
Heat stroke
Life-threatening emergency. The body’s cooling system is completely overwhelmed and stops working.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Body temperature increases (105° degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
- Hot, red, dry skin
- Pulse is rapid; shallow breathing
- Confusion; vomiting; seizures;
- May lose consciousness
First Aid treatment for heat stroke is:
Move immediately to a cool area if possible, apply cold cloths, and call 9-1-1.
HEAT RELATED ILLNESS PROCEDURES-PLEASE REVIEW
Weather-Related Illness
Heat: Students and staff should be well hydrated, particularly when outdoor or indoor temperatures are 90 degrees F or more. Students should be allowed water both in and outside of the classroom to prevent heat-related illness. Anyone experiencing signs of heat exhaustion should be moved to a cool area and the school nurse or Health Services should be notified. Hot weather health alert procedures will be posted electronically by Health Services. Principals should review practice or rehearsing procedures during excessive heat hours with coaches and sponsors of extracurricular groups. The Director of Athletics provide procedures to principals on an annual basis.