Staff Weekly Update
September 24th - 28th, 2018
It's so difficult to put into words the tragedy and loss our community has faced these last few days. It's heartbreaking on so many levels. It's been difficult to write this Staff Weekly Update today/this evening. I've re-written it a few times based on information I've been given by ESC and I want to ensure that what I send out underscores support for you, our students, and respect for all those impacted by this devastating loss.
Dr. Robison said it best, Many of you across the district are grieving personally, too, and yet you know that on Monday morning you are cast into a leadership role for youth. You are a first line of support for them. Thank you for welcoming the community’s youth with open arms. Thank you for loving them and taking care of them.
If there is any way we can support you, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Jessica, or Deputy Todd. As noted via Remind text tonight, I am going to reschedule our ALICE Classroom Safety Lessons. Personally, after Friday's events and depending on how much our students may know, it's simply too much, too soon. This will also allow me to be available should you need any level of assistance or support.
Many of you might be wondering . . . if this topic is brought up, how should we support our students? Below this message, there will be additional details. Also:
- There will be an optional stand-up meeting tomorrow (Monday) at 7:35am in Angela's Bourff's room. This will serve as a check-in time and an opportunity for Jessica to share some additional tips as you prepare to start your day.
- In honor and support of these precious lives, we will having an optional wearing of teal/turquoise tomorrow OR you may still wear college gear. If you don't have teal/turquoise, we will have teal ribbon available at the stand-up meeting and up at the office tomorrow.
Please be mindful that our most fragile students may need to be checked on by Jessica, even if they were not directly impacted by this tragedy. These students may be feeling the weight of the community grief in ways we might not realize and will benefit from additional support during this time.
With much respect,
Connie
Two Resources on Supporting Students with Grief
This second document is titled Supporting Our Students and it focuses on support after the death of a family member or friend.
Feel free to lean on these resources for how to respond to your students.
Calendar Items
Mon. Sept. 24th
- ***ALICE LESSONS TO BE RESCHEDULED***
- AimsWeb: 9/3 - 10/12
- College Go Week! - Wear college attire and jeans
- Janelle Drisko at SGE all day
- Martha Farley - out all day
- 8:00 - RtI/MTSS mtg - Wetzel & Slonaker
- 8:30 - 10:30 - Melanie Bowlin at SGE
- 10:10 - Counseling Lesson - Wetzel/Rent
- 2:00 - Largent in BOY
- 2:30 - Bi-Weekly Gr. Level mtgs.
- 2:45 - Largent in BOY
- 2:45 - Speech-only ACR - Fure, Wetzel, Knueven - conf. room
Tues. Sept. 25th
- AimsWeb: 9/3 - 10/12
- College Go Week!
- Tech Integration at SGE w/ Kyle Beimfohr - all day
- 8:00 - Parent mtg. re: 4th grader - Largent, Farley, Wetzel, Milam - conf. room
- 9:15 - Lockdown Drill
- 9:15 - Vectren Presentation to 4th Graders - classrooms
- 9:30 - K-12 Counselor Mtg - ZCHS
- 11:00 - Largent in BOY
- 11:30 - Largent leaves for 1/2 day PM sick day
- 11:35 - 12:10 - ZeekSquad w/ Kyle Beimfohr
- 1:00 - USS Team mtg w/ Amanda Slonaker - conf. room
- 1:30 - Speech ACR for UP - Fure, Keener, Wetzel
- 2:40 - Gr. Level Collaboration mtg - Kyle Beimfohr & 1st Grade
- 2:45 - Speech ACR for 3rd grader - Fure, Frobig, Farley - conf. room
- 4:00 - District Discussions mtg - ESC
Wed. Sept. 26th
- AimsWeb: 9/3 - 10/12
- College Go Week!
- Jog A Thon - all day
- 9:30 - Counseling Lesson - Wetzel/Nahrstadt
- 10:00 - 11:00 - Largent & 4th graders assist with IT Interviews - main office area
- 2:30 - RtI Team Mtg (email will be sent with further details - who, where, etc . . . )
- 2:45 - Speech ACR for 3rd grader - Fure, Brizzolara, Wetzel - conf. room
- 3:30 - Connie/Martha in Weekly Meeting
Thurs. Sept. 27th
- AimsWeb: 9/3 - 10/12
- College Go Week!
- $5 Jeans Day to Support Lupus! Please give all $$ to Emily Clare.
- 8:30 - ACR for 3rd grader - Watson, Farley, Brizzolara - conf. room
- 9:30 - Literacy Coach mtg. - Largent/Spillman - PVE
- 10:15 - 2:00 - Randee Kleeman @ SGE
- 1:00 - 504 Mtg. re: 3rd grader - Largent, Farley, Wetzel, Frobig, Gorham
- 2:45 - Building Support Team - USS Team & Christina Moore - conf. room
Fri. Sept. 28th
- AimsWeb: 9/3 - 10/12
- College Go Week! - Staff Tailgate/Pitch-In
- Payday & Jeans!
- K-4 RtI PLC Mtgs all day - Largent/Farley - conf. room
- 12:00 - ZCHS Peers arrive at SGE for building tour - Wetzel
Upcoming Events . . .
Wed. Oct. 3rd - Parent-Teacher Conferences from 2:30 - 3:30
Thurs. Oct. 4th
- E-DAY for all elementary students
- 11:10 - 7:00 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- PTO provides lunch for staff
Tues. Oct. 9th - End of Quarter 1
Oct. 15th - 19th - Fall Break
Oct. 24th - 2nd Annual International Fair (*new date* - changed from 10/25 to now 10/24)
Oct. 31st - Nov. 2nd - Scholastic Book Fair
Nov. 2nd - Dads & Donuts
Nov. 5th - 9th - PTO Food Drive
Nov. 9th - Veterans Day Program
Nov. 9th - PTO Mother/Son Event
Nov. 16th - KDG's Thanksgiving Sing
Nov. 21st - 23rd - Thanksgiving Break
College Go Week September 24th-28th
Let’s kick off College Go Week by wearing college attire and jeans on Monday, September 24th! Students will be joining us for our college spirit day by wearing t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, or pins of their favorite college. Families will be informed in the Friday Newsletters so you are welcome to give them a reminder as well! You are encouraged to display your college pennants or signs proudly outside or within your classroom. Each morning on the announcements, an Indiana college will be featured with shout outs to staff and a trivia question of the day!
We will also be celebrating by having a Staff "Tailagate". You can contribute by bringing your favorite Tailagate food on Friday, September 28th. Food can be placed in the Staff Lounge and enjoyed throughout the day!
Boomer is coming to Stonegate!
To wrap up the end of the Bully lessons, Boomer, the official mascot of the Indiana Pacers, will be coming to Stonegate on Wednesday, October 10th for an Anti-Bully dunk show/convocation! Please click the link that corresponds with your grade level for more information about times, place, and optional messaging to parents. Information will be shared with parents in the Stonegate Weekly Newsletter beginning next week, September 28th, until the week of the event. You are encouraged to wear Pacer attire and jeans the day of the event!
Although we will be splitting the grade levels for the convocation, it will still be loud and active in the gym. For our students who may be sensitive to large crowds, unstructured times, and loud noises, I have created a social story to help prepare them for this event. Please let me know or if you have any questions, I will be happy to assist you!
Important Announcements & Reminders
Principal's Office Has Started!
- For those of you new to SGE, "Principal's Office" is a way to dispell the stigma that going to see the principal (Mrs. Largent or Mrs. Farley) is bad. Instead, we *want* students to come to the principal's office for great behaviors and/or any great success (no matter how small or big) that your students have achieved.
- Principal's Office Forms can be found in our Stonegate Staff Drive. It's on the main page of our Stonegate Staff files and it's titled: PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE FORM
- Send these forms down anytime and as soon as Martha or I am available, we will call your students to come to see one or both of us. Thanks!
PTC Schedules
- Just a friendly reminder that as your PT-Conference schedule gets finalized, please update your form in our Stonegate Staff Files.
- Deadline is Friday 9/28.
- Office team will be printing out these forms after school on this date in order to look over what conferences we will need to attend and to ensure that we can be there to support you.
Professional Development Requests
- If you would like to attend any type of professional development, please click here. Next week, this message will be moved to the "Links to Work Orders and *NEW* Google Form Links" section below and it will remain there for the rest of this year for easy access.
Please Join Our REMIND Group
- SGE (staff only) has an all-staff Remind text messaging group called: 18-19 SGE (all staff).
- To simply *receive-only* the text messages, please text the number 81010 and in your "message line" type in the code: @k29hfe.
- If you'd like to be able to text back and forth w/ me via REMIND, please download the app or create an online account.
- As a friendly reminder, please do not share this code with non-SGE staff members.
Above & Beyond Nomination Form
- On our ZCS website, any ZCS staff and/or community member can nominate the work of any ZCS employee that has done extraordinary work. If you've experienced professional support that is above & beyond, feel free to recognize them through this nomination! Please click here to nominate.
Leaving EARLY afterschool and you've gotten permission from Connie/Martha . . .
- If this is the case for you, please help us by always emailing the entire office team to let them know you've gotten permission and also leave your cell # in the email message, in case we need to contact you.
- Who is the "office team?" Connie, Martha, Angie, Jen, Jessica, Hailey
LINKS TO WORK ORDERS & *NEW* GOOGLE FORM LINKS
Technology Work Orders - Reminder from Dan Layton:
- Click here to access this link.
- It is always extremely helpful if you can submit actual technology work orders for any help you need. Please refrain from picking up the phone or emailing a question.
Marquis Work Orders:
Did your trash not get picked up? Does it seem the carpet didn't get vacuumed? Please help Angie & Jen out by filling out the Marquis work order on your own. Thanks!
1. Go to the Zionsville web site
2. Click on Teachers/Staff tab
3. Scroll down about halfway
4. Look for: Custodial Work Orders by Building
5. Click on Stonegate
Click here to access the Teachers/Staff tab
18-19 PTO Wish List - NEW GOOGLE FORM LINK!
- Click the NEW LINK HERE to access this Office 365 Form
Personal Business Leave Request - NEW GOOGLE FORM LINK!
- Please click the NEW LINK HERE to access this form and then don't forget to SAVE this page under your "favorites."
- Finally, as a friendly reminder of our ZCS Personal Business Leave + good information to know for our newest staff, I have copied/pasted the email about personal days sent by Becky Coffman on 5/8/16. This is per our CBA - Collective Bargaining Agreement
- A. Amount – Each employee shall be entitled to be absent from work three (3) days each school year for the transaction of personal business or the conduct of personal or civic affairs. Such leaves may be used in whole or half day increments. Requests for personal business leave should be made 48 hours in advance in writing to the building principal. In cases of emergency or other similar unforeseen circumstance, requests may be made orally to both the substitute coordinator and the building principal.
- B. Employees are discouraged from using personal business leave on staff development days or to extend a school vacation. If used on a staff development day then the employee remains totally responsible for securing the learning lost from their being absent during that activity.
- C. Accumulation – If an employee does not use all of the personal business leave in a given school year, the remaining personal business leave shall be accumulated for use in later school year, except that no more than a total of two (2) days may be accumulated from earlier school years for use as personal business leave, so that the maximum total personal business leave available in any one school year is three (3) days earned during the school year and up to two (2) days accumulated from earlier school years or a total of five (5) days.
- D. Conversion to Sick Leave – Any unused personal business leave not accumulated for use in later years as personal business leave shall be added to the employee’s accumulated sick leave.