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.