Brooks Briefing
Liberty Park Elementary
Week of December 10th
LP Week at a Glance
Monday the 10th
Tuesday the 11th
Twitter Chat @ 7pm
Wednesday the 12th
Late Start Day - Staff Meeting at 8:20am
Thursday the 13th
Friday the 14th
Pass the Puddin! Who can you celebrate this week?!
- Shout out to both Mrs. Small and Mrs. Halpin for greeting and welcoming each student in their classrooms in the morning! ~Brooks
- Shout out to Sara Rosenbaum for differentiating her small group instruction to help her students be able to do long division. Sara used different strategies for different groups. ~ Leslie Koomler
- Shout out to Jessica Jerrils for having a classroom where open dialogue is accepted and encouraged.~ Leslie Koomler
- Shout out to Tonta Shank for getting her second grade students to be able to independently find text evidence and write it down. ~ Leslie Koomler
- Thank you to all staff that were able to help with the PTA's Holly Jolly Fest! ~Brooks
- Fist bumps to everyone that took a part in helping make sure that our LP families have a great Christmas. It is amazing to work with a group of people with such big hearts. Additionally, thanks to Kathy for spending Friday night by driving around to a few our families ensuring that they have food for the weekend. ~ Brooks
Don't forget that a quick email to share a shout out can go along way in celebrating your team and colleagues!
December 12th - Late Start Day
December 21st - Staff Breakfast @ 7:30am in LGI
December 21st - CORE Carnival & Last Day Before Break
December 22nd - January 6th - Christmas Break
Coaching Thought(s) of the Week
Communication Updates and Info
- YMCA - From the YMCA: Thank you for your continuous support of our before and after school programs. It is our priority to ensure that we are providing a high-quality program to the community. One way we measure our success is by receiving feedback from school personnel. Please complete this survey by December 17th at 5:00pm, and also forward to key school personnel that have contact with the YMCA program. This may include teachers, custodians, cafeteria staff, administrators, etc. The more responses to the survey we receive, the better understanding we have of how we're doing.
http://surveys.ymcaexchange.org/f/180408/1e3a/ - Late Start Wednesday - This Wednesday we will meet at 8:20 in the media center. Teachers Treasurers will be here for another shopping trip!
- NWEA - Link to MOY NWEA Schedule
- Book App - Sharing this app that is a great resource for providing culturally responsive text into the classroom: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/we-read-too/id908782619?mt=8
- SB 355 - You may have seen information in the Patriot Press regarding SB 355. (I've copied the letter parents are receiving at the end of this newsletter). In short, this requires all public school students to receive curriculum on abuse and safety. The high school counseling department will be sending people to each school to lead through an intial lesson along these lines. What do you need to do? Have your class at participate at the time listed below. Each session should last about 30min. **All of our times are for Tuesday the 18th in the LGI room**
Kindergarten - 9:30 - 10:00am
1st and 2nd Grade - 10:30 - 11:00am
3rd and 4th Grade - 1:15 - 1:45pm
Old News: Please review old items to be sure any TO DO items are completed.
- Wonders Walkthroughs - I will be completing walkthroughs during reading blocks in the coming weeks to collect data on where our current state of reality is with the new reading curriculum. I've already been able to visit some rooms and have seen great things!
- SDM - Please continue to communicate with parents via text system, phone, newsletters, etc until all students have "set their default" in School Dismissal Manager.
- Winter Weather - 20 degrees is the threshold for outdoor recess/activities and this includes windchill. So if it is 32 but windchill or "real feel" is 20 or below - please stay in. However if it is above 20, our school board policy encourages outdoor recess even if a little shortened time- they need to use that energy! Just like when it is hot weather please check your temp and wind chill prior to heading outside. If kids have parents who call or send notes about kid staying in, work with them for a day or two and then let them know we need a Dr. note after that. Let me know if you need clarification. Please keep an eye out for students that do not have warm clothing and refer to Kathy or Nurse Kelly so we can keep those kids safe and warm.
- Safety - Please be sure that POD doors are locked and closed before leaving school in evenings. This will help keep after school club parents, students from wandering into your pods after hours.
- Yearbook - Looking for 1-2 more certified or support staff volunteers to support the yearbook team. See Bev if interested.
- Tech - 1. Friendly reminder to submit weekly device report. 2. If you need additional green head phone jack protectors, please email me with the # needed.
- MOY - MOY testing dates are posted on the LP Google calendar and the district testing calendar is linked below.
- MSD of Warren Township Testing Calendar
- LP NWEA Schedule - Please be sure to click on MOY tab at the bottom when listing your testing administration times.
- Thanksgiving Outreach - Our Thanksgiving Outreach was very successful again this year. Thank you to everyone for their support of our canned food drive (record high!), those that donated financial to provide hot food, and those that came out Wednesday morning to help prepare and deliver food to our community.
- Classroom Visits - Please remember that between Fall and Spring break I would like each classroom teacher to observe 3 other colleagues. Visit Request Form and Visit Exit Ticket for your classroom visits are both located in the Liberty Park Team Drive. Please let Leslie or I know if you have any questions or need support with this process.
- Wednesday - This Wednesday I have invited the Gallahue program to give us more insight into trauma informed care. We will begin promptly at 7:30am. The Gossetts will also be stopping by to answer any questions on dependent care and additional insurance coverage. (Support staff will meet in the media center at 9am)
Senate Bill 355
Dear Warren Family,
During the 2017-18 Legislative Session, State Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 355, which required all public schools to provide age appropriate research, evidence-based instruction, and child abuse education and policies on child abuse and child sexual abuse to students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Beginning on December 17, 2018 your child’s school will be using the Think First & Stay Safe child personal safety program. Think First & Stay Safe teaches students skills to help them stay safe. Presentations will be given by the Indiana University School of Social Work, Marion County Department of Child Services, and Warren staff and administration. Our learners will be taught the importance of treating one another with kindness and respect. They will also learn about personal boundaries and their right to have their boundaries respected by others. The program’s interactive lessons help children differentiate between healthy and unhealthy behaviors. The program gives students regular reminders that trusted adults are available to help with their safety, and are available to talk to any time.
If you have any questions about the Think First & Stay Safe curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact your building principal. Working together, we can all help to ensure the health and personal safety of our children.
Sincerely,
James Taylor, MSW
Director of Student Services