Welcome to Week  21! 
Welcome to the LS Blog.  Just to keep you on your technological toes we are now going to be delivering the Weekly Memo to you via blog. We look forward to your feedback about the new format.  Thanks to Debra and Angela for another technological miracle. 

Hopefully you’ve all had a chance to get some rest and renewal over the weekend.  On into February we go.

Community

OBOB
Our thanks to Lara and Heidi for organizing this event and the Fourth and Fifth Grade  team’s support of students. I know that students were encouraged to read voraciously, take risks and work collaboratively on teams...what great life lessons!

Progress Report Thank You!
Our thanks to Angela and Debra for tirelessly working through progress report challenges.
Thank you, classroom teachers and specialists, for your countless hours of report and comment writing. Thanks to colleagues who took on the new challenge of reading team member’s reports.  We will have a chance to debrief on this process at an upcoming meeting.
In the meantime, we hope you had a chance to catch your breath this sunny weekend!

Complete Our Round of Winter Coffees This Week
Winter Coffees were well attended this year. Our thanks to faculty who participated, and to those who covered classrooms so faculty could attend. Parents appreciate this opportunity to hear about your good work and ask important questions.

PAL Meeting Thank You
Thanks to specialists Margaret, Kelola, Kristen, Scott and Jane who stepped up to speak to parents at Friday’s PAL meeting.  You all did a fabulous job.

Birthday Celebrations – 2/14 at 7:20
A week from Tuesday we will gather in the Lower School Faculty Room to celebrate faculty and staff’s December, January and February birthdays.  Thanks, Lyn and Jenny, for organizing this special celebration.

Program

All School Self Study 2/6
Specialist teachers will meet in PreK-12 groups.  Classroom teachers will meet in LS Art Room for orientation to Self Study and then split off groups.

Reports Posted to Parent Portal
The Tech Team will be working on posting report cards to the Parent Portal Monday afternoon.  If anyone has remaining issues with their reports please see me ASAP.


Operations

PreK Admissions Day- 2/4 A Huge Success
On Saturday, Colesie,  Lauren, Patti, Kristen and Chris O’T met with 3 groups of darling Pre-K candidates. Thank you Sarah, Colesie and Lauren for putting together seamless visits for these little ones.   While they met with the students, three Lower School parents, Jenny Cleveland, Mo Copeland, Tom Wheelock and David met with the prospective parents. We have a great crop of candidates.  Thanks to all who gave up your precious Saturday.

Lower School Admissions Day- 2/10
The big day approaches. We need everyone's help. Sarah will get us all up to speed on the roles we will play at Thursday morning’s faculty meeting.

LS Leadership Team Agenda
2/9/2012
Report Card Debrief
Conferences Check in
Calendar Review
Self Study Check in
Open Items

Conferences February 16th and 17th
Be sure to keep Jenny Strode  informed of any changes to your conference schedule so we have an accurate record in the office and adequate coverage in the gym.
Full time specialists should plan on being in the LS Library 7:30 – 3:30 on both days.  Part time specialist will need to inform Jenny Strode of your schedule  Shelley and Margaret will be in the Art Room so they can share art work.
To enable Teaching Assistants to be available for more conferences we are going to offer supervision of students in the Gym and Rainbow Room on Thursday from 7am - 5pm and on Friday from 7am to 3pm.

Library and Recess
Lara and Heidi are going to offer consistent Lunch Recess access to the library every Monday and Friday from 10:50 - 11:50. Students in the library will need to engage in quiet library related activities.  A maximum of 20 students will be allowed into library recess at a time.  The Library will continue to be open during Lunch Recess during inclement weather.

Opening of the Gym
On cold wet mornings before school and during inclement weather duing lunch recess I encourage duty teachers to open the gym for student use.  

Competitive Fourth and Fifth Grade Boys
If you have lunch recess duty or afternoon recess duty, please be especially vigilant. We’ve had a number of conflicts arise lately that required problem solving with students and their parents. Provide close supervision of football or soccer on the field and of basketball under the covered area

Fifth Grade Boys
We’re keeping a close eye on a number of boys. If you are on lunch duty, please be up and circulating about the dining hall so you can be proactive if issues arise. See Natasha, Tracy or Alysa for details.