Team Meadow Update
Staff Update - September 8, 2019
Team Meadow,
It was fun seeing several of our Boone Meadow staff and families this weekend at the Fall Festival. The parade hosted some local celebrities: Sam Radivan was leading the pack of Corvettes with Diane at his side, Laura Aguillon was smiling as she marched with the Girl Scouts, Amy Deinlein was throwing candy at children for a local charity, and a host of children and families were participating for a variety of good causes. Days like Saturday remind me of yet another reason I love this community. Smiles, good will, music, laughter, with former and current students at every turn. These all reminded me of belonging. Belonging in this space, at this time...
Speaking of community: So Big/Mountain House is having their 3rd Annual "Born to Sparkle Gala" on the evening of October 3rd. As most of you know, we've had, and currently serve students/families that live in the neighboring Mountain House. A few of us are planning to attend the event, and I wanted everyone to know they are welcome to participate as well. If enough of us are interested, we might fill a table or two.
Also, don't forget that Cornelius Minor returns to Zionsville this week. On Wednesday evening, September 11, he will speak to the community at the Performing Arts Center (ZHS). Be sure to check out the banner below. This is yet another fantastic opportunity to support the work with our priority of deepening our cultural understandings. Hope to see you there.
Here's to another great week ahead.
Tom
Teachers Ask Jen Serravallo
As we continue to engage in various assessments and consider how this information informs our literacy instruction, I encourage you to listen to this episode. Serravallo does a wonderful job unpacking when Guided Reading and use of leveled reading materials are most powerfully employed.
Please, take a listen!
ZEF Grants
Funded by donations from individuals, small business partners and corporate sponsors, the Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) works to directly impact kids, teachers, classrooms and schools in Zionsville Community Schools. Since their founding in 1995, they have awarded more than $1.2 million in Classroom, Professional Development and Student Enrichment grants. This is available to you.
Note: The due date for the current classroom grant cycle is approaching. (September 16th)
Classroom Grants support academic excellence and innovation; community and school partnerships; and matching funds for external grants. These grants are awarded in the fall and spring of each year. Completed grant applications for Fall 2019 must be delivered to the ZEF office (Education Services Center, 900 N. Mulberry Street, Zionsville) by 4 PM on Monday, September 16, 2019. Spring 2020 applications are due Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Classroom Grants: https://zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org/how-we-do-it/classroom-grants/
Barn Bash & Other ZEF News can be found here @ https://zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org
TEXTBOOK ADOPTION REMINDER
September has arrived and as promised in Kris Devereaux's EBTKS email, we are excited to share with you the process for this year's language arts adoption. This adoption encompasses the materials we use to support the development of our students as readers and writers. Beyond reading and writing curriculum materials, we will also look at how we integrate phonics, vocabulary, grammar, handwriting, and word study. Additionally, we will be reviewing the trade texts that our students read (during read aloud, small group instruction, and from our classroom libraries) through a multiple perspectives lens. We will be working with building principals and association representatives to select two teachers per school to serve on our adoption committee- one to represent K-2 and one to represent 3-4. These committee members will meet monthly and serve as liaisons who will support decision making by gathering input at the building level.
To provide us with some initial information, we would be interested in determining our current status. For those who provide language arts instruction, as a grade level, please complete the linked needs assessment. Please complete the form by September 16, 2019.
Documentation Panels & Making Learning Visible
Our next "Pop-in" gathering will be September 16th from 2:35-3:30 in the Family Room. Kara and Kim will lead us through exploration of "Documentation Panels" and making learning visible. This PD is appropriate for all building teachers, and we hope you can make it to this opportunity of learn together.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Pop-ins:
Septemeber 16 - "Documentation Panels & Making Learning Visible"
October 28
November 18
December 16
February 3
March 16
April 20
May 18
Remember, pop-in for one, pop-in for all, pop-in for as much as you can on any given topic.
E-DAY REMINDER
With a forecast that includes temperatures near 90 degrees this week, a snow day might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, school cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons- power outages, water main breaks, etc. come to mind. if school were cancelled tomorrow, would you be e-day ready? This year, the first cancellation will activate an e-day and will not be made up in May. Please keep this in mind and make sure you are prepared.
As a reminder, the conference (digital leadership/citizenship) e-day has already been prepared at the district level. This will only be used for conferences. Please make sure you are communicating in your newsletters to families about the November 14th e-day. We have been including it in the Weekly School Smore, but the more places it can be seen, the better!
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Saving power and money is a team effort! This is a great opportunity for a student job. By assigning a student to check that the lights and projector are off classroom is empty (even if it is just for a few minutes while you walk them to related arts) we are empowering them to "take care of this place" and building positive habits for them to bring home as well. Thanks for your efforts in this area.
PTO Update
Also note, PTO meeting dates have been set for the year. It's not required for you to attend, but any opportunity to support this group that supports us so well is greatly appreciated. In addition, if any of you have suggestions/ideas for talking points, please share. I'd love to see some students and/or staff share out some of their notable experiences with our PTO and families in attendance.
PTO Meetings: (Now at a later time this year - 7:00-8:00)
- September 16th - Kim Gray is on the docket to share a variety of strategies and important understandings regarding literacy development and practices
- October 28
- November 18
- February 6
- March 4
- April 13
- May 6
- May 22
Important Dates & Information
September 9- ZTEP Beginning of Year conferences continue this week; LIteracy Coach Meeting @ BME; Staff Meeting
September 10 - Tom and Lauren out in AM for Elementary Admin mtg (7:00-9:00 AM)
September 11 - Cornelius Minor at Zionsville Performing Arts Center (PAC) @ 7:00
September 13 - PTO Luncheon (City BBQ)
September 19- Amber Hardwick (Fox 59 meteorology presentation for 3rd grade) @ 9:00 in Cafe
September 23 - Staff Meeting
September 25 - Jog-a-Thon (PTO fundraiser)
October 3 - So Big/Mountain House Gala
October 14-18 - Fall Break
October 28th - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
November 9 - ZEF Barn Bash @ Golf Club of Indiana
November 11 - Veterans Day Program
November 13 & 14 - Student Conferences
- November 13th - 3:00-5:40
- November 14th - 11:00 AM-7:00 PM (also an E-Day)
- Teachers will be allowed to leave at 2:45 on a few days surrounding conferences (more info/details at a later date)
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break
December 12th - Boone Meadow Voices Concert
December 23-January 3 - Winter Break
January 20 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)
February 5 - Global School Play Day
February 6 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
February 17 - Presidents Day (no school)
February 18 - Staff Professional Development Day (no school for students)
March 4th - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
March 20 - Boone Meadow Mixer (evening social for adults @ Golf Club of Indiana)
March 25 - Kindergarten Round-Up
March 27-April 3 - Spring Break
April 13 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
May 6 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00 (Cafe)
May 22 - Last Day of School
Personal Business Day(s) Requests
For Certified Team Members:
To requests "personal business days," please complete the following process.- Go to the following link, and complete the "personal business request" form. https://goo.gl/forms/CycfilABEUyILbh83
- Once the form is completed, please send a brief email to me (Tom) that includes the date(s) of your request(s).
- Enter your upcoming absence in AESOP as soon as possible. (It can always be deleted later should plans change.)
Thanks -
Contact Us
Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow