Staff Bulletin
February 1, 2019
Keith Staff Purpose Statement:
Coming Events
Thursday, Feb. 7
School Improvement: Bring Committee Goals!
1-4pm - Keith Media Center
KALPA #979214
Tuesday, Feb. 12
9:15 - 10:00 am K-2
10:15 - 11:00 am 3-5
Friday, Feb. 15
Announcements
IReady and IRIP Dates:
- iReady Window 1: 9/19/18-10/24/18
- IRIP Window 1: through 12/10/18
- Ready Window 2: 1/3/19-2/15/19
- IRIP Window 2: through 3/22/19
- iReady Window 3: 5/6/19-6/7/19
- IRIP Window 3: through the last day of school
Here is a link to the IRIP information - reporting is the same as last year! Please let me know what questions you have!
Science Fair Night - Thursday, March 21 from 5-7pm
From the PTA: Educational Assemblies Coming Our Way!
Good Morning Keith Staff -
The PTA is excited to announce some special events coming to Keith this winter!
Tuesday, February 12th, the Michigan Science Center will be presenting the following exciting presentations for our Keith Students!
9:15 - 10 am - K-2
Science Rocks!
What is sound? Why do things make different sounds? Or why you beat a drum but pluck a guitar? This booming show is sure to be a roaring racket of a good time!
10:15 - 11 am - Grades 3-5
KABOOMISTRY!
Why do things explode? Learn about the relationships between pressure, temperature, and fuel to explain why things go KA-BOOM! Physics and chemistry will be mixed to get some loud, flashy effects!
Monday, April 8th, Anthony Ianni
9:15 - 10 am Grades 3-5
Relentless Tour
The Relentless Tour with Anthony Ianni is a first of its kind grass roots initiative designed to help eradicate bullying across the state of Michigan and beyond.
Bullying is something that affects everyone in one form or another. Additionally, individuals with autism are one of the highest targeted groups to be the victims of a bully with numbers ranging from 65-90% and it has to be stopped.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) own Anthony Ianni, one of the most sought after anti-bullying advocates in the state and across the country, has pledged to visit as many schools as possible in Michigan over the next year.
Anthony’s story is one that reaches everyone. Diagnosed with autism at a young age Anthony’s parents were told he would never graduate, never play sports and likely have to live in a group home for his entire adult life. Anthony was bullied extensively as a child because of his autism and the fact that he shot up to 6’9″ quite young.
Anthony defied all of the odds and not only graduated from MSU with a degree in Sociology but went on to be the first known individual with autism to play college basketball. During his time on the team he played in two Big Ten Championships and a Final Four.
And now he is sharing his story and helping others live their dreams. The outpouring of letters from victims and even the bullies themselves after each time Anthony speaks is astounding. He makes an impact every time.
More information about Anthony Ianni can be found on his website: relentlesstour.com
If you have any questions, please see Marci, or contact Amy King at amyking06@gmail.com.
We hope you and your students will enjoy these exciting performances!
Thank you-
Amy King
V.P. Education
Keith Elementary PTA
March is Reading Month Assemblies
United Shore Professional Baseball League - March is Reading Month Kick Off Assembly
Friday, March 1st - Keith Gym
9:15 - 9:45 am - Grades 3-59:45 - 10:15 am - Grades K-2
The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers Coach, Chris Newell, will be a guest reader during the assemblies and the mascot, Buzz, will get the kids excited for the opportunity to read and earn a ticket to a baseball game!
Author Julia Cook
March 26th - Keith Gym
1:30-2:30pm - Grades K-2
2:30-3:30 - Grades 3-5
Award winning author and former school counselor, Julia Cook leads an entertaining discussion on the use of storybooks to offer children and adults a fun way to learn important people skills. Julia will demonstrate humorous and effective ways to use books on such subjects as tattling, bullying, personal space, video game addiction, digital citizenship, interrupting, divorce, anger, responsibility, and personal safety. The writing and publishing process will also be explained – learn to become a published author!
For more information on Julia Cook, please see the attached document.
Kids Heart Challenge Assembly
Keith Committee Work
ELA Committee
District Diversity Committee
Please join the WLCSD Diversity Committee at Walled Lake Central High School on Thursday, February 7th from 4:30-5:30 p.m. to spend an hour learning how to build self-efficacy and self-esteem in our students. This professional learning opportunity is valuable for ALL Walled Lake Schools’ Staff.
Course Details
· Course Title: Building Blocks: Creating A Place for All Voices
- Course Description: Presentation and discussion will be centered around building self-efficacy and self-esteem, particularly for female students. The interactive session will also look at our perceptions about student learning and how it may impact our roles as teachers.
- Presenter: Dr. Sylvia Hollifield, Michigan State University Assistant Professor. Dr. Hollifield was also the keynote speaker at our recent MLK Celebration
- Kalpa Course #: 979275
- Expiration Date for Kalpa: February 28th
- Location: Walled Lake Central High School Media Center. Park in the back and enter through back doors closest to the Media Center (door #26)
- Date and Time: Thursday, February 7th from 4:30pm-5:30pm
The workshop is sponsored by the Diversity Committee.
Thank you,
WLCSD Diversity Committee Chairs
Professional Learning Corner - February
Making Thinking Visible
Circle of Viewpoints: A routine for exploring diverse perspectives
Brainstorm a list of different perspectives and then use this script skeleton to explore each one:
- I am thinking of ... the topic... From the point of view of ... the viewpoint you've chosen
- I think ... describe the topic from your viewpoint. Be an actor - take on the character of your viewpoint
- A question I have from this viewpoint is ... ask a question from this viewpoint
Wrap up: What new ideas do you have about the topic that you didn't have before? What new questions do you have?
Purpose: What kind of thinking does this routine encourage?
This routine helps students consider different and diverse perspectives involved in and around a topic. Understanding that people may think and feel differently about things is a key aspect of the Fairness Ideal.
Application: When and Where can it be used?
This routine can be used at the beginning of a unit of study to help students brainstorm new perspectives about a topic, and imagine different characters, themes and questions connected to it. It can be used after reading a book or chapter. Provocative topics and issues are encouraged and the routine also works especially well when students are having a hard time seeing other perspectives or when things seem black and white. The routine can be used to open discussions about dilemmas and other controversial issues.
Launch: What are some tips for starting and using this routine?
After identifying a topic, ask students to brainstorm various viewpoints about this topic. This can be done solo, or as a class, but make sure to give the initial brainstorm enough time for students to really stretch and explore diverse ideas. If students need help thinking of different viewpoints, try using the following prompts:
- How does it look from different points in space and different points in time?
- Who (and what) is affected by it?
- Who is involved?
- Who might care?
After the brainstorm, ask each student to choose one of these viewpoints. Give them time to prepare to speak about the topic from that perspective and to embody the viewpoint using the script skeleton to structure what he or she says.
Once students have prepared their “characters”, the class should be ready to go around the circle and act out their various perspectives.Taking turns, ask students to speak briefly about their chosen viewpoint using the script skeleton. Invite them to stand up and use gestures and movement if necessary. The discussion at this point might move fairly quickly, capitalizing on the immediacy of the experience as each student goes through the script and presents a perspective. The array of responses will hopefully be broad and distinct, as each student should strive to produce a unique viewpoint. If some students choose the same character, encourage them to perform differently. For example, if several students choose the viewpoint of an explorer, one may be trying to seek out wealth through trade, another explorer might be adventurous or want to become famous. Ask them to raise different questions in order to elaborate their viewpoints.
Viewpoints connect to the idea of physical perspective taking and you may notice that your students interpret this literally at first by naming and describing what their characters see. While it is fine to help students get started with concrete examples, try to move your students to consider thoughts and feelings of characters, rather than describing a scene or object.
As students perform their viewpoint in the circle, their ideas can be recorded or written on the board so that a class list of perspectives is created. The last question of the routine asks students to think of a question they might have from their chosen viewpoint. Collect these questions or ask students to write them down and answer them as they think more about the topic as it is studied in class. Once everyone in the circle has spoken, the teacher can lead a discussion by asking: “What new ideas do you have about the topic that you didn’t have before?” and “What new questions do you have?
Circle of Viewpoints Routine
Professional Development/Staff Meeting Dates
2018-2019 Professional Learning Dates
Monday, 8/27 - 9am-11am - Keith Media Center - KALPA #948195
Tuesday, 9/18 - 1-4pm - Keith Media Center - KALPA #948199
Thursday, 10/11 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center #963533
Wednesday, 10/31 - 1-4pm - District PD - Keith Media Center #966357
Thursday, 11/15 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center #971113
Thursday, 1/10 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center #972650
Thursday, 2/7 - 1-4pm - Keith Media Center #979214
Thursday, 2/28 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Friday, 3/22 - 1-4pm - District PD Location TBD
Thursday, 4/11- 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Thursday, 5/9 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Remaining 2018-2019 Leadership Team Dates (with Marty Chaffee and Julie McDaniels)
Tuesday, February 12 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Tuesday, March 12 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Tuesday, March 26 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
Wednesday, April 24 - 7:45-8:45am - Keith Media Center
***These were originally School Improvement Team meetings, so adjustments will need to be made for that committee. I would like to publish all remaining committee meeting dates for everyone in next week's staff bulletin, so please be sure to email me a list of those dates for the math, school improvement, and PBS teams. I had the ELA committee dates and those are below, and I noticed that the ELA team may need to adjust a day in March. (The dates above are not as flexible due to coordinating with Marty and Julie's schedules.)
Remaining ELA Team Dates
Tuesday, February 26 - 7:45-8:45am - Nashella's Room - 121
Tuesday, March 26 - DATE MAY CHANGE BECAUSE OF CONFLICT ABOVE
Tuesday, April 23 - 7:45-8:45am - Nashella's Room - 121
Tuesday, May 21 - 7:45-8:45am - Nashella's Room - 121
Parking Lot Duty Schedule
Staff Responsible for Dragon Pick Up
Job Responsibilities for Parking Lot Duty
Gym Door - Taking dragon pick up cards from parents who walk up to the door
MC - Announces names in the gym
Supervisor in Gym - Helps keep kids quiet for MC to announce
Supervisor in Gym - Helps keep kids quiet for MC to announce
Hallway near gym doors and main entrance - helps flow of traffic between gym and students going to bus
Outside Dragon Pickup - Help Bob and supervise students and flow of traffic
Outside Dragon Pickup - Help Bob and supervise students and flow of traffic
Staff Birthdays!
John Kanowski - 2/4
Nichole McCarthy - 2/4
Keith Elementary School
Email: MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: 248-956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary