Week 20: Jan 30-Feb 3 2012

Welcome to Week 20.  We trust that by now you are all on a roll, writing progress reports efficiently in PCR.  We appreciate your willingness to take this next technological step. We think parents will value having these documents at their finger tips.

COMMUNITY

Jeannie’s Memorial on Saturday
The memorial service for Jeannie was very moving and joyful.  I continue to be amazed by the strength and poise of her family.  Dan and Sarah’s tributes to Jeannie were inspiring.  Thank to those of you who could make it.  There was a wonderful showing of past and present faculty and staff.

All School Finance Meeting on Thursday
Note the time above. Do what you need to do to be prepared to greet children at 8:45

Assembly February 3rd- Fourth Pillar Caring
Our thanks to Kristen, for sending out the email on the Random Acts of Kindness project.  We know we are a caring community- it will be nice to put caring acts in “the spotlight” throughout the week.

Random Acts fo Kindness
You saw Kristen’s email from last week...be sure to take time to discuss this throughout the week, and encourage students to place notes in the “Random Acts of Kindness” basket.




PROGRAM

5th Grade Coffee - 2/1
Topics to include:
ERB’s
Academic Support
new writing assessment
technology culture of use
General check in

1st Grade Coffee - 2/6
Topics to include: 

Transitions to 1st Grade

    Progress reports and conferences
    Mid Year Expectations
    Academic Support

2nd Grade Coffee - 2/7
Topics to include:
    General check in
    Progress reports and conferences
    Academic Support
    Hero Project
   

LS PAL Meeting, Friday, Feb. 3rd 8-9:30  Specialist teachers will speak to parents about their programs.  The timing is intentional, right before parents receive the progress reports so they have some good context for subject matter and approach to teaching in your discipline. Thanks Specialists, for putting this together with short notice and during the week of progress reports.

LSCTF - Self Study Work We met on Jan 19th to look at self study curriculum templates and begin thinking about what this process entails. Members all came away with many questions. For Thursday’’s meeting we have invited Lara Ingham and Jenny Cleveland, two Lower School representatives on the Self Study team, along with Tom Wheelock, to come and talk to the Curriculum Task Force at our next meeting on Thursday, Feb. 2th.  We’ll have the opportunity to hear their responses to our queries and formulate a timeline for completing self study tasks.

Self Study
LSCTF has already begun to work on the self study.  Our next faculty meeting, February 9 will be dedicated to working on the Self Study.

GRADE            SOCIAL STUDIES        ENGLISH            MATH
1ST GRADE        chris                            marty                  doug
2ND GRADE        janet                           jackie                  claire/ Tonya
3RD GRADE        Kiah                            paula/ kiah          Paula
4TH GRADE        Jenny                          Kathy                  Asha
5TH GRADE        Natasha                      Alysa                  Tracy
 
Wonders of Learning Exhibit Grand Opening 2/2
The internationally renowned exhibit produced by the municipal schools of Reggio Emilia opens at the Portland Children’s Museum on Thursday night.  Our thanks to Deborah Bridgnell, for being our representative on the launch committee.
Beginning School teachers, and a number of other specialists, will tour the exhibit, guided by Judy Graves, on our next professional day, Monday, April 2nd.
The exhibit will be at the museum through the end of June.  It is truly a marvel!              

OPERATIONS

Progress Reports - Proof reading
All reports should be completed by Monday so we can proof read each other’s reports after school.  If you have any trouble posting your reports on  PCR, Angela is on call throughout the weekend to help solve problems. See her email Friday listing her cell number.

Report Proof-reading Plan
All Faculty are expected to work on proof reading reports from 3:15 - 4:30 on Monday. Please complete the Report Card Checklist Google Doc once you have completed proofing and loading into PCR.

Grade level teams    proof read reports within their team
Specialist Teachers will proof read in the following way:
Art        Margaret read Shelley’s, Shelley read Margaret’s
Music        Kristin and Amy
PE        Read each others
Spanish    Carmen and Kelola read each others.  Chris O’Toole will help due to large number

of Carmen’s reports

Science -     David will proof Jane’s reports due to large number.  Chris and Jane will help.

Change to Pick-up for 2nd - 5th Grades
In an effort to improve the efficiency of pick-up, Jon von Behren has changed MS and US pick-up.  For LS there are two accommodations we will need to make.

1. All LS students remaining on the Covered Walkway at 3:05 will head to the LS Office. All MS students will be heading to the covered walkway at that time.

2. LS Students will no longer be walked up to MS for pick-up. They will wait on the Covered Walkway until MS students come down. One LS Walkway duty person will need to remain on the walkway until 3:10 to supervise these students. Sign up below if you are willing to cover this transition.

Monday -
Tuesday - David
Wednesday -
Thursday - Margaret
Friday -

Report cards out 2/6
Our plan is to send reports out to parents on Monday, February 6th. All reports should be completed by Friday, February 3rd so they are ready to post on the 6th.

AS Finance Meeting
Don’t miss this important meeting on Thursday morning. Note the start time is 7:45.

Pre-K Admissions Saturday
The Pre-K teachers, Kristen Haferbecker, Patti, Sarah and Chris O’T will greet three groups of Pre-K candidates on Saturday, February 4th. Mo, Tom W, several LS parents and David will present to the parents.

Admissions Day Update and Training for Specialists, Wed., Feb. 8th, 8am to 9am
We set up this date because specialists have department meetings the morning of the 9th,  We know that the PE teachers normally teach at 8:10 and will likely not attend this training.
If you can, please try to attend this important meeting.

Admissions Day Update and Training for Faculty, Thurs. Feb. 9th, 7:30am to 8:30am
Please be on time for this important meeting with Sarah Ross-Bailey. We need to be prepared for our big Admissions Day!

Reenrollment Contracts out 2/6
Contracts go out electronically on that Monday. If you hear that a student is not planning on returning, please let David or Chris know. Contracts are to be returned by Tues., Feb. 21st.

ERB’s out 2/13
Students’ scores will be sent home to parents in time for conferences.  Fourth and Fifth Grade teachers, you can schedule time with Ari, if need be, to review students’ scores, develop strategies on how to share data with parents.

Week 19: Jan 23 - 27 2012

Some how we all managed to survive this week with the pressures of mid-year assessments, report writing, snow  excitement, a delayed start, torrential rain and floods.    The next few weeks promise to be equally packed with report writing, admissions and then conferences. Be gentle with your selves. Be sure to get lots of rest, eat well and take time to renew when you can. Thanks for all of your hard work.

COMMUNITY

First and Second Grade Level Coffees Rescheduled
First Grade Parent Coffee, Monday, Feb. 6th, 8-9
Second Grade Parent Coffee, Tuesday, Feb. 7th, 8-9


Admissions Season is Upon Us
Saturday, February 4th, Pre-K Admissions
Thursday, February 9th,  7:30-8:30, Faculty Meeting: Prep for Admissions Day
Friday, February 10th, Admissions Day, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND ASSISTANT TEACHERS
Saturday, February, 25th, Admissions Day- One Session for Make Ups

Jeannie Rawley Memorial – 1/28 at 11:00
The Celebration of the Life of 3rd Grade Teacher Jeannie Rawley will take place on the campus of Oregon Episcopal School on Saturday morning, January 28th, at 11:00 am. Please complete the attendance survey Phillip Craig sent out.


CURRICULUM

Lower School Faculty Meeting - 1/23 GUILD ROOM
We will have a LS Faculty meeting from 3:30 to 4:15 on 1/23. We will start off with announcements.  At 3:45 Mo Copeland will join us to hear from us about the opportunities the Master Campus plan and new Lower School building. This is our first opportunity to help Mo  develop the case for building a new Lower SChool. Drawings and representations of the Master Campus Plan will be on the wall in the Guild Room to inspire you possibilities.  Stop by anytime during the day for a preview.

NO LS Faculty Meeting on 1/26
Please use the time for report card work.

Self Study Assignments
As you heard at last week’s meeting, self study assignments are being revised.
1. Classroom teachers at each grade 1st - 5th will need to decide who from each team will be on the Social Studies, Math and English committee so we have representation from each grade.
2. Specialist teacher have already been assigned to department committees
2. Grade level teams will also need to complete the Grade Level Blueprint once we receive it from Jon Holloran.  See your LSCTF representative for additional information.
3. LSCTF will work on answering several big picture questions.

Geography Bee
The top two point earners from each grade (one point per question-- 7 possible points) will compete in the school bee on
Monday, Jan 23rd from 8:10-9:10 in the chapel (4th-8th)  -- please bring your class.

OPERATIONS

Report Writing Day 1/27 -  Please complete ½ of your reports by the end of the day. CORE team will be on campus if you need support.  You are welcome to work from home or at school. Debra and Angela will be ready to help you all week if you encounter technical difficulties.

Calendar Review- This is a busy time of year. Please be sure to update your team’s calendar entries in the Beginning and Lower School Google calendar.

No LSLT on 1/26 - time to work on reports

Coffee – PK, 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Coffees
Let us know who is coming and if you have any topics you wish to address.
PK - 1/23
3rd - 1/24
4th - 1/25
5th - 2/1

Report Proof-reading Plan – Specialists and Classroom teachers
Grade level teams -proof read reports within their team
Specialist Teachers will proof read in the following way:
Art - Margaret read Shelley’s, Shelley read Margaret’s
Music - Kristin and Amy
PE - each read each others
Spanish - Carmen and Kelola read each others.  Chris O’Toole will help due to large number of Carmen’s reports
Science - David will proof Jane’s reports due to large number of Jane’s reports

All School Meeting: Finance Report on February 2nd at 7:45 am
We will gather in the dining hall for our annual report on the school’s finances. 

Week 18: Jan 17-20 2012

COMMUNITY

Welcome Sally Sterling!
We are pleased to announce that Sally Sterling, a Catlin grad and experienced Third Grade teacher, will join the Third Grade team Tuesday morning.  Sally has taught Third Grade at Chapman Elementary and the Touchstone School.  While raising her son and daughter, Sally subbed in public and independent schools.  Please introduce yourself when you see her on campus.


Friday’s MLK Remembered Assembly
Our thanks to Mr. D. and his guest musician, Frog Town.  What an amazing talent! Our thanks to Dave Hall for his original Six Pillar compositions.The Fourth Grade team did a fabulous job, once again. Thank you Jenny, Asha and Kathy for stepping up to present this important assembly.
 

Mid-Year Parent Coffees
We had about two thirds of the Kindergarten parents come to theFriday morning coffee. Thanks to Kirstin and Dori for attending and sharing their thoughts and wisdom.  Please be sure to remind parents about your grade level coffee in your newsletter or web site calendar.  Let us know who will be attending from you teaching team aqnd if you have any topics you wish to address to the parents.


Grieving Children and Parents
Please let one of the CORE team know if you have concerns about students and/or their parents.  As we’ve come to know, grieving can take many forms and emerge at different times. Please be vigilant and keep us informed, so that we might provide assistance.


Take Care of Yourself
These are very busy times for us all with report cards, coffees, self-study and the ongoing grieving of the loss of Jeannie. Be kind to yourself. Ask for the support you need.  Offer the help you can. 


Responsibility for Playground Equipment
Can we start out the new year with a resolution?  Ask children to return playground equipment to the bin, rather than dropping it on the ground and walking away.  PE teachers put out 6 footballs last week...we are now down to one.  Folks on duty, please try to reinforce this. Classroom teachers remind children of this. 


PROGRAM


Progress Report Update
By now you should all have access to the report forms you need, had the chance to receive training by Angela or Debra.  I know several of you mentioned you had already started or were planning on getting started this weekend.  Let us know how it is working.  Angela has many a trick up her sleeve for making the process efficient, you just need to ask for her help.  Debra and Angela will be working to ensure their schedules are flexible during the week of 1/23-1/27 so that they can provide assistance as needed.


LS Faculty Meeting 1-19-12
See Google Doc - LS Faculty Meeting Agenda 2011-12


LS Curriculum Task Force 1-19-19
See Google Doc - LSCTF Agenda 2011-12


OPERATIONS 


School Closings
If there is a school closing or a delayed opening we will activate the phone tree. Be sure to have your emergency phone tree handy in the event that we have wintry weather this week.


Emergency Situation
On Friday 1/13 a 4th grade student ran from the lunchroom, across campus,  and headed toward Nicol Road.  My thanks to Ari Sternberg and Jenny Shotts for acting swiftly and contacting the main switchboard and LS Office to mobilize support, as well as to the maintenance staff for catching up with the student and escorting him back to the LS Office.  We are addressing the situation with the boys parents.  Please take some time in the near future to review the Emergency Procedures flip chart in your room.

Week 17: Jan 9 - 13 2012

Thank you
Friday was an amazing day; starting off with an excellent parent meeting with a representative from the Dougy Center, followed by an incredble student performance during the Spelling Bee, with labyrinth walks through out the day, an memorable visit from Dan Rawley, Sarah Rawley and Bodie, and ending with a beautiful chapel and the creation of Jeannie’s Remembrance Table.

I am particularly appreciative of all that Patti Beyer, Jenny Cleveland and Chris O’Toole did this past week to support us.  I am also incredibly thankful for the good work that Whitney McManus has done in Jeannie’s classroom. She has been a critical source of consistency and support for Jeannie’s students. Paula was a remarkable presence, calm, focused and ensuring the 3rd grade program continued as we all adjusted to Jeannie’s loss.


Student Support
Jenny and Patti will be available to support students and visit with classes as needed this week.  Look for an email from them about whether or not regular chaplain and counselor classes will meet.

Update on Jeannie’s Class
See email I sent you that is a copy of what I sent to Jeannie’s parents.

Schedule Tom Handel
Don’t forget that you can schedule time with Tom Handel, our experiential education director. He is a great resource for community building through cooperative games and outdoor experiences

Next Year’s Plans
We will begin the search process for new teachers next week, so please do let me know if you are considering options beyond OES.  I would also be interested to know if you are interested in changing grade levels.

Shelley Stoffer has decided that she will retire at the end of this year.  Margaret Synan - Russel will be teaching studio art for 1st - 5th grades.  We will hire a new art teacher for Beginning School whose function will be more similar to an atilierista , collaborating with the classroom teachers to integrate the visual arts into the Beginning School project work.

I am 80% sure we will be hiring a Math Specialist for next year.  This position will be 50% Math Specialist and 50 % math teacher.  Part of the function of this of this position will be to teach math in the classrooms of the Build Group Leaders, a 25% position I am working on creating, one for Grades 1st - 3rd and one for 4th and 5th.

Grade Level Teams Invited to CORE
Thank you Ari for organizing grade level CORE visits.  This sessions should be very helpful on the verge of reports and conferences.

Thursday Faculty Meeting and LSLT
Patti Beyer is looking into the possibility of having Joan Schweizer Hoff from the Dougy Center come and speak with us about children, grieving and how we can best support our students.  I would like to do this Thursday afternoon from 3:15 - 4:15. If this is scheduled for the afternoon there will not be a Lower School Faculty meeting in the morning and LSLT will meet from 7:30 - 8:30 am.  Look for confirmation from Patti Beyer early this week.

PROGRAM

Master Campus Plan
Please note that there is an all school meeting on Tuesday from 3:15 - 4:15 to provide us with the opportunity to review the draft of the Master Campus Plan with the SLAM Collaborative consultants.  Attendance is required for all faculty.  You should know there are significant conversations about the location and structure of the Lower School in which I want your participation.

First Fourth through Eighth Grade Spelling Bee a Huge Success
Our thanks to Ari and the Middle School team for putting this together.   I wish you could all have been there to see this exciting 4th through 8th Grade spelling bee! It was an amazing show down...imagine 100 plus students and their teachers on the edge of their seats for 90 minutes! In the end, Amaya Smole, former LS student, now a 6th Grader, won!  Fifth Grader Simon Hatcher came in as Second Place. It was a close call, and Simon persevered. Yeah, Simon!
This is an accomplishment we should all be proud of...clearly these students received excellent instruction.

Trudy Ludwig Rescheduled- Social Lives of Children- Friday, March 2nd
We are finalizing details, but it looks like Trudy will come the first Friday in March. More details to follow.

OPERATIONS

Specialists and Classroom Teacher Task Force
Before break a number of issues came up regarding specialists and their schedules.  Later in the month we will meet with a task force committee consisting of classroom and specialist teachers to discuss ways to deal with our challenging schedule.  

LSLT - see updated agenda
We will check in, review the January calendar, check in on online reports and paretn cffees.

Grade Level Parent Coffees
The parent coffees begin with Kindergarten this Thursday and continue on through the month. The PreK coffee was originally scheduled for this Tuesday, but we have rescheduled it for Monday, January 23.  Let Chris or me know if you have topics you want to be put on the agenda.  Please be sure to have your classes date on your web site calendar.  Encourage parents to attend.  David and Chris will stop by your planning meeting next week to review agenda items.

On-Line PCR Progress Report Training
Angela, what a trooper, sent out via Google docs the First through Fifth Grade progress report templates. Let Angela and/or Debra know if you are having any problems using these templates.  Unless PCR has a breakthrough this week, Beginning School progress reports will remain paper based.

Online Report Cards – Classroom Teachers
Again, my great thanks to Angela, Deri and Brad for their work on the reports.
1.       Angela has sent you the report card forms as Google docs.
2.       Look for an email from Angela about a final editing process for the forms themselves
3.       PCR report forms to be ready by January 16
4.       The afternoon faculty meeting on Monday, 1/30 and the morning meeting on 2/2 will be dedicated to report proof-reading by faculty.  Grade level teams will read each others. Specialist will read within departments and with support of CORE members.  Teachers may request a CORE member to review a particular student’s report.

Admissions Season is Upon Us
We will talk more about who will help out on the 4th and the 11th.  
Saturday, Feb. 4th- Pre-K Candidates
Friday, Feb. 10th- Kindergarten-5th Grade Candidates Visit- No School for Students and Assistant Teachers
All Classroom Teachers and Specialists Assist with Admissions,
Saturday- Feb. 11th Kindergarten Candidates Visit

Buddies Going to the Office and Other Errands
When you need to send a student to the office be sure to send students in pairs. If a student isn’t well, or hurt, and needs to spend time in the office, be sure to send that student with two classmates.  We don’t want students walking solo from building to building.

Week 16: Jan 3-6 2012

COMMUNITY

Thank you to those of you who were able to be at the gathering Monday morning. Your comments helped us all be ready for Tuesday.

First Day Back- Special Plans
7:30
Mo Copeland, Phillip Craig and David will be on the walkway greeting parents and students as they arrive.  
Chris O’Toole, Shelley Stoffer and Margaret Synan-Russell will be in the library with art materials for children to create cards, memories or process their thoughts
Jenny Cleveland, Patti Beyer and Shiela Gelber will be in Jeannie’s classroom starting at 7:30.
Morning recess will happen as usual for all other students

7:50 All students to classrooms
Jenny Cleveland and Patti Beyer will conduct a morning meeting for the students in Jeannie’s class.  All other classes conduct usual opening meetings.

8:30
1st - 5th Grade Chapel
Please be in the Chapel by 8:30 for a special chapel that will include details of the support we will make available to students and adults and the opportunity to create contribution to an alter of remembrance  for Jeannie

9:00 Normal Day Begins
Part of supporting children during the grieving process will be to provide them with the normal experiences of school.  Please conduct your classes as usual.
Jenny Cleveland, Patti Beyer and additional support people will be in the LS Library all day ready to support any children who need it.  You are welcome to send a child down to the library if they need additional support.
All Library classes are cancelled for Tuesday

All Counselor and Chaplain classes are cancelled for the week.  Jenny and Patti will be available to support students and visit with classes as needed.

Grieving Resources
Here are some resources you might find helpful in anticipation of starting school tomorrow.  This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of resources, but rather a starting point.  We will be providing more resources as the week progresses.  

The Dougy Center, located in Portland, is a nationally and internationally known grief support and resource center for children, youth, adults and families:  http://www.dougy.org/.

For a concise article on ways to support children after the death of a teacher, please go to: http://www.cmionline.org/home/cmi/page_637#.TwDklPfllMk.mailto

Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss, by Michaelene Mundy, Abbey Press, 1998.

LS Parent Gathering in Chapel at 2:00
Just so you know.

All School Faculty and Staff Gathering 3:30 on Tuesday
All are invited to a gathering in the Chapel Tuesday afternoon.  The format will be similar to our gathering this morning.

Open House Thursday
We plan to move ahead with our Open House plans. We understand that some of you might not be in a place to greet visitors. If you feel you can’t attend, we understand, but please let us know.  If you feel that you can rally to meet perspective parents, great.  We’ll carry on.

Dinner Before Thursday’s Open House
A simple dinner will be served from 5-6pm in Room 60.

Next Year’s Plans
If you are considering changes for next year, such as retirement or new career ventures, please let David know in the coming week.

Grade Level Teams Invited to CORE
Beginning next week we will invite Grade Level teams to CORE for New Year’s check in.  Please arrange a time with Ari to meet with the CORE team.

Spelling Bee
Scripps Spelling School Bee is on Friday, January 6th from 8:10-9:30/10 in the Chapel (4th-8th) -- please bring your class if you can.

Geography Bee
The top two point earners from each grade (one point per question-- 7 possible points) will compete in the school bee on
Monday, Jan 23rd from 8:10-9:10 in the chapel (4th-8th)  -- please bring your class if you can.

Trudy Ludwig Cancelled
We will cancel Trudy’s visit on Friday and reschedule for some time in the near future.  

Possible PAL Meeting to Focus on Parent’s Support with Grieving
Patti Beyer is looking into the possibility of having someone from the Dougy Center  or other community resource to come to Friday’s meeting to talk with parents about the grieving process.

Special Chapel on Friday, Jan. 6th for Primary-5th Grade
We will have a special chapel on Friday that will include the creation of an Alter of Rembrance for Jeannie. We are exploring the possibility of having the Labyrinth available for walks all day Friday. Look for an email from Jenny with details.

Snack Issues
Please monitor your use of snacks:  don’t over consume and don’t leave uneaten snacks to spoil.

Specialists and Classroom Teacher Task Force
Before break a number of issues came up regarding specialists and their schedules.  Later in the month we will meet with a task force committee consisting of classroom and specialist teachers to discus ways to deal with our challenging schedule.  

PROGRAM

On-Line PCR Progress Report Training
Angela, what a trooper, sent out via Google docs the First through Fifth Grade progress report templates. Let Angela and/or Debra know if you are having any problems using these templates.

Online Report Cards – Classroom Teachers
Again, my great thanks to Angela, Deri and Brad for their work on the reports.
1.       Angela has sent you the report card forms as Google docs.
2.       Look for an email from Angela about a final editing process for the forms themselves
3.       PCR report forms to be ready by January 16
4.       The afternoon faculty meeting on Monday, 1/30 and the morning meeting on 2/2 will be dedicated to report proof-reading by faculty.  Grade level teams will read each others. Specialist will read within departments and with support of CORE members.  Teachers may request a CORE member to review a particular student’s report.

OPERATIONS

Recess Transitions
To ensure there is always supervision on ACP during lunch recess I would like the following people to remain on the playground until the next shift of recess duty teachers arrives.
Monday – Chris O’Toole
Tuesday – Lauren Shaw
Wednesday – David Lowell
Thursday – Stephanie Rankin
Friday – Jenny Cleveland
Let me know if you have a conflict that would make this duty impossible for you.

Thursday Late Start
There is no LS Meeting.  Use the time to prepare for Open House or your choice.