LS Weekly Memo Dec. 10th- Dec. 14th

Welcome to Week 16. We hope you enjoyed our design session with Suzy Cessor last week, and that it stirs your imagination for our sessions with Ashley Cadwell, SLAM and the Building Committee next week.  Remember, our program and design work is now on display in the Morris House Conference Room(MHCR).  You can visit any time Monday for a second look at your work, and a closer look at colleague’s work.

If you can, take time in the coming week to visit a part of the BS or LS that you don’t normally visit.  If your world revolves around the ⅘ wing, take time to pop into a ½ classroom or the BS.  If you haven’t seen the BS studio, please take time to do so.  Visit a specialist’s class.  Specialists, visit a classroom.  Get a feeling for the programs in our school. We think that might help you imagine what our new school could look like.
Our thanks in advance for sharing your time and talents.

COMMUNITY

Meeting Monday, Dec. 10th
Inquiry, PGD, intercultural Competencies and LSLT Meet

Busy Weeks Ahead
This week is full with Design Sessions, Eric Kimmel’s visit, Advent, King Midas, SHH.  It all coming to a spectacular crescendo on Friday when we have a day full of special events - Howard Hiton at LS PAL, 2nd Grade Learning Celebration and the Beginning School Winter Program. Pace yourself so you are ready the enjoy the Board Holiday Party on Saturday night.

LS Leadership Team Agenda, Mon., Dec. 10th
• Service Learning- Appreciative Inquiry, Heifer, Giving Chapel, etc.
•Hand-off to Specialists- How is that going?
•Lunch and recess procedures- How is that going?
-Possible new boat on the playground, courtesy of Darele Lowry.
•Looking ahead- Progress Reports, Admissions
PJ Day - 1/25 or 2/1 and DEAR
•Other Topics?

Student Art Work Damaged
Francesca Fox Gitomer’s self portrait was significantly damaged late Thursday while it was hanging on the wall of the 3rd grade hallway.  Someone scratched portrait with a push pin and then stuck the pin through the self portrait.  Teachers in Grades 2nd -5th, please talk with your students about the importance of respecting every child’s work.  Please ask your students to speak to you privately if they know anything about the incident.

Secret Holiday Happening- SHH
Remember, if you are participating, you should have fun this weekend selecting three small fun surprises for your SHH recipient. Have fun next week placing little gifts in his/her mailbox or some unexpected place.
We’ll gather for our SHH celebration on Monday, Dec. 17th in the Library.  See Lyn’s list of assigned contributions.

All School Board Sponsored Party
We hope many of you will plan on attending. It will be festive and fun, and demonstrate your appreciation for the Board’s support of our new Beginning and Lower School building.

LS Interns
Calling all LS Teachers!  Could you use an extra set of hands in your classroom?  Could you use someone with more energy than your students?  I've got just the solution for you: a Lower School Intern through the Winterim program!  From March 14-21, the Upper School hosts a program called Winterim where 8th graders and Upper School students engage in activities to pursue interests beyond the classroom.  One activity that has traditionally been offered is the LS Interns program where interested students come to intern in your classrooms.  This activity is being offered as both a morning and afternoon activity, so you could have an Upper School student or 8th grader helping you out from 8-11:30 and/or 12:30-3 every day during that week in March.

In the past Tonya Griffin, Doug Whitmore, Jackie Blake, and others have hosted interns in their classrooms, so check in with them about the experience. Please let me know if you would be willing to host interns during that week.  It's a great opportunity for our older students to connect with younger students and vice versa, not to mention a great chance for you to get some extra help in the classroom.

Email me at sulzera@oes.edu if you're interested or have any additional questions - Ann Sulzer

New Adventures in 2013-2014?
I am anticipating the busy pace of school life after Winter Break, a period of time that includes the hiring season. If you are contemplating professional changes for next year, please schedule a time to meet with me to discuss your plans.

Service Learning
While it is the season of giving, and a time when many of us are recommitting to our service interests, I do want to remind you that our list serve or OES emails should not be used for solicitation for a particular passion/project — regardless of how worthy that project is.  If you are interested in bringing your service interest to the school, talk with Jenny Cleveland, LS Service Learning Coordinator.

Author Eric Kimmel Visits Tues., Dec. 11th
Primary through Second Grade Storytelling- 9:15-9:45
Third and Fourth Grade Presentation- 10-10:45
Book Signing- 10:45-11
Lunch with Faculty (BYOT Bring your own tray) 11-11:50
Fifth Grade Writer’s Workshop- 12-2:55
Thank you Lara and FOESL fro making these author visits possible.


PROGRAM

LSCTF
We discussed a range of topics:  
•Use of the Reading Continuum at Conferences
•How and when to roll out the use of the Writing Continuum, what professional development do we think we need?
We are leaning toward 1st through 5th Grade FLG groups reading about Lucy Calkin’s writing workshop, explore Reggie Routman’s Writer’s Workshop Kit (Tonya won at a conference last year), possibly read some of Katie Wood Ray’s books for one year, then have Lucy Calkin’s Rep come for a 5 day training site visit, the summer of 2014
•A few teams are considering some changes in their report card. We need to meet asap with Angela to make this happen before Winter Break.

Thursday Morning, 12/13 Faculty Meeting
Prek - 12 Departments will meet.
Teams will meet at Team Leader’s discretion. Look for an email from your Team Leader early next week.

LS Building Design Meetings - 12/11 and 12/12
Teams meet with Ashley Cadwell, Cadwell Collaborative and SLAM Representatives, Rich Connell and Paul Baldinger  in MHCR
7:30-9 Specialists
9:30-11 Third through Fifth Grade
12-1:30 First and Second Grade
2-3:30 Beginning School
3:45 - 5:00 on 12/12 -  All LS Faculty and  Specialists meet with Building Committee to present faculty design themes and ideas. Platt Global Classroom

See David’s email for additional details.
Our thanks to all who are covering duties and classes so teachers can attend the Cadwell consultation meetings.

OPERATIONS