Founders Weekly
November 26th to 30th
Shout out!
So many great things happened this week! I want to recognize a few:
- Ms. Yeidi for her ability to keep the office (mostly) kid free during lunch!
- Mrs. Strumolo for being an amazing field trip coordinator!
- Ms. Rameaka for supporting us in developing bigger toolboxes!
Arts Transition
This week is the end of Culinary! Chef Park will be ending her rotation but hopefully joining us to sub! The kids will be sad to see her go! Hana will be starting Visual Arts in the cafeteria.
Middle School Behavior and Positive School Culture
Middle school is a time of great change and need. There will be undesirable behaviors and activities. We need to manage those behaviors and teach students how to be better citizens. I agree with Mrs. Strumolo when she says we are in need of systems. I believe that we need a system to celebrate kids who are doing the right thing and modeling the behavior we seek. We need something tangible for kids to work for in addition to Founders Funds. I am open to meeting any and all teachers who have ideas for systems that we are lacking and want to help improve our school. Forming relationships with students is essential! I also encourage everyone to review our Code of Conduct and offer appropriate consequences and learning opportunities for classroom and minor behavior issues. I believe that we are creating a more positive and inclusive school culture already, even if we have a lot of work left to do.
Social Worker
We have engaged a social worker! She needed to give notice to her previous job but will start soon! Her tentative hours will be 9am to 2pm all days EXCEPT Thursday!
Trinity and Field Trip Concerns
Please add names to this list for any concerns you have for students ability to attend the upcoming field trip including behavior or financial so we can address them.
Town Meeting
I will not be in for Town Meeting this week. Please use this time as an Advisory period. I have great icebreakers and games that can be played during this time for some advisee bonding!
Culinary Arts Night
We were able to rent the Millspace kitchen and banquet area for the 8th Graders Culinary Arts Night. This means that the 8th graders will get to cook for their families in a real commercial kitchen instead of on hotplates! We will be sending a couple of adults to help Chef Park supervise and manage.
IDEA Block Revision
We have a proposed change to IDEA block for the upcoming session to make it more equitable and effective. We are also looking at adding a movement break and some additional changes to study. I hope to put it all together for teacher feedback in the next week. Please bear in mind that as it currently stands 11:20am to 2:35pm are chaotic and difficult to manage for most. In addition, we are seeing STAR scores drop not rise. While changes are challenging to manage we need to try something new.
504s-IMPORTANT!
It's important to know and follow each child's IEP or 504 plan. These plans are important to both the child's success and in helping adults be successful working with them. I have received several calls and requests for meetings in the last week from parents concerned that their children's 504 plans were not being followed. I will print them out for you this week.
Pineapple Chart
The Pineapple Chart is here! Please note anything your colleagues might like to see! This is a great way to observe, grow, and build our professional community!
NEW Founders Hub & Team Notes
All department and grade level meetings notes should be posted on our new Founders Hub Please join with the classroom code: c6dokb. This will be a home for any information to be shared with Founders Staff.
Town Meeting and Flash Announcements
Click this button to put in your announcements for TM & Flash next week. We are looking for teachers to shout out some student success! This could be academic, social or anything you noticed that we would like to see more of in our community!
Upcoming dates:
NPIN Team out for Training Seminar Wednesday and Thursday 11/28 and 11/29
Java Jam Wednesday 11/28 6pm
8th Grade Junior Achievement Field Trip 12/5
Whole School Trinity Field Trip 12/6
Culinary Arts Night 8th Grade 12/11 4 to 6pm (Field Trip all day)