LS Weekly Memo Week 3: September 10-14

Thank you for a terrific start to the school year. The week began with the transformation of the Lower School classrooms to learning communities, first through your efforts to create beautiful, organized and inviting learning spaces and then by your planning activities to enage students in the work of becoming a classroom community.  As I write many of you are meeting with parents to learn about your students from those who know them best. 

Enjoy a well deserved rest this weekend. See David if you have questions.

Community

Marty Update
Jenny Cleveland has been in contact with Marty Eastman Brown.  Her surgery went well and she has begun the slow recovery process.

No Uniform Days- LS Back to School Picnic, Walk-4-Fun, and Homecoming
We have 3 big community events coming up over the next 3 weeks, all of which are uniform optional days.  Pace yourself.

LS Back to School Picnic - 5:00 -7:00 p.m., Friday, September 14
Be sure to RSVP if you want to have dinner before BTSN.  See the invitation from Carolyn Stanley.  All faculty are expected to attend.  See me if you have a conflict.  Grade level teams, be sure to share details of the events with your new colleagues.

Senior Entrance Monday at 8:00 a.m.
Every year the seniors make a grand entrance, based on their theme of the year, at the Belltower.    Use your discretion about attending as the Senior Entrance can be rated anywhere from G to PG-13.

Beginning and Lower School Parent Coffee ‘12-’13 Google doc-  Sign up to represent your Grade Level at one of the coffees.

Andrew Shotts Restraining Order
Jenny Shotts, mother of Elwin in 1st and Edgar in 7th, has renewed a restraining order against Andrew Shotts, as follows:

(1) Boys can have unlimited contact with Dad by phone. Dad can call the
boys on Mom's cell phone Tues and Thurs evenings from 7-8 pm.

(2) Dad can't come to school or remain there, except to drop off at
school on Monday mornings on the alternate weekends when Dad has
custody, and to attend the boys' school and sports events.  If he is
on campus he must stay on opposite end of field/ gym/ auditorium/ classroom/ whatever from Mom.

(3) Dad can't knowingly come within 150 feet of Mom, can't contact Mom
in person or through 3rd parties, can't mail or email her except for
parenting purposes, or text or call her (except for 7-8 on Tues/Thurs to
talk to the boys).

(4) Dad can't threaten or hurt Mom or the boys or do anything that makes
them fear he will hurt them.

If Andrew appears on campus please contact the LS Office immediately.

David in MS Monday Morning
I will be in the Middle School all Monday morning for Parent Partnership.


Operations

Late Start Thursday Reminders
Remind students next Wednesday about late start
Students are checked in the BS, 1st/2nd and 4th/5th wings
Quiet reading or homework in the library
Social time in the common areas (no computers)
Backpacks for 1st and 2nd Grade- lining walkway, not dumped at the top of the stairs
3rd-5th line backpacks along the covered walkway wall of the gym
Bell rings at 8:45.                                                       

School Supplies -
I understand we have some back ordered school supplies. We did some brainstorming and have come up with a solution for the future.
School supplies will be ordered by grade level and delivered the next day.
We can only fit a single grade level order in Room 10.

Teachers may choose a date for delivery in August with the understanding that teachers will come in to sort and store their supplies on that day.

Jenny will place orders strating in August according to dates chosen by teachers.

Earlier ordering in August will prevent back ordering delays.

Hats
There seems to be a proliferation of hats on the heads of LS student. Hats are not a part of the LS dress code and are not to be worn inside.  In Wednesday Express I will request that hats stay at home.  Parents may send a plain colored hat to school in uniform color to be worn for sun protection during recess.  

Recess Equipment Reminders are Working
PE teachers report that we did a better job at collecting equipment at the end of each recess. Keep reminding the children and praise them for their efforts

Dismissal Reminder Siblings, new students, ⅘ EC
Oldest siblings go to their youngest sibling’s pick up area
Dismiss Grades 1-5 at or around 2:50, giving them 5 minute passing time to get to their spot in the Beginning School.  Late older sibs cause major tie ups in the pick up lane

Morning Drop Off Help, Please Specialists
Volunteers needed at drop off to help with drop off. We need to have specialists flagging parents to pull down to the farthest drop off points, and remind parents gently to park in the lot, not park curbside and go into the building

Student Support Team (SST) -

New structure-

•SST (David, Chris, Patti, Ari, Jenny C. and Elaine) meets every Monday morning from 9-10 to discuss students of concern

•SST meets with teachers (by appointment through Ari) on Thursday at lunch/recess

from 10:50-11:50

Curriculum


Faculty Meeting - Thursday, Sept. 13th, 7:30-8:30 Team Meetings

There is no faculty meeting on Monday.
Thursday’s faculty meeting will be in teams. We will develop the agenda in collaboration with the team leaders:

BS with Chris

First and Second Grade with Janet
Third Grade with David
Fourth and Fifth Grade with Alysa
Specialists with Ari, Patti and Jenny

Professional Goals and Professional Development
To help stimulate your thinking about your professional goals and professional development see the professional development opportunities below

PNAIS All Schools Conference - October 12, Tacoma, WA

National Conference for the Social Studies - November 16-18, Seattle, WA

CSEE - Lower School Character Education Programs - November 2-3, Hollywood, CA

National Service Learning Conference - March 13 - 15, Denver, CO