LS Weekly Memo Week 27: March 11 - March 15

Thanks for all your efforts to support the auction.  The classroom projects were beautiful, your volunteer efforts a tremendous help, and your other auction items greatly appreciated.    On to a week of informances, performances and another big weekend with OBOB and the Parent Daughter Dance.

COMMUNITY

Informances
Thank you to Kristen and Amy for their talent and commitment to providing the informances for the parents.  

Busick Play
Thank you John Fitzhenry and Natasha for the play summary.  I hope many of you get a chance to see the final 5th grade production of the year.

OBOB
OES is hosting the Regional OBOB on Saturday.  See Lara for opportunities to help or cheer on our team.  


PROGRAM

Professional Development Follow-up -
Those who presented topics at the faculty meeting are coordinating dates for follow up conversations.  Look for future communication

AS Faculty Meeting
Monday March 11th, 3:15
Professional Development
We will gather in the Dining Hall to share appreciations and news and then learn more about:
Inter-cultural Competency training (ICC)  - 1st opportunity of several for intercultural training.  
Faculty Learning Groups (FLG) - formation of pilot group to refine FLG process.  New FLG groups will be begun each year.
Lower School Inquiry - day to build understanding of inqury in LS and to work on end of year projects
Department Initiatives -
Everyone will be asked state their interests in priority order at the end of the meeting.

LS Inquiry Plan
Chris and I will be talking with Judy Graves this week to finalize plans for April 1.  See below for current outline for the day. I would like to have at least 1 representative from each grade so we can be sure we have good vertical discussions.  The more participants we have the better our work will be.

Inquiry in Lower School

8:00 – 8:30 – Judy presentation – Why inquiry based learning matters
8:30 – 9:00 – Q and A – large group – What is inquiry based learning

9:15  -11:15 – Beliefs about Inquiry – What are core beliefs about inquiry based learning
9:15 –10:00 – discuss in Grade Level Teams and create criteria/ values
10:00 – 10:45 – discuss in vertical groups, PreK – 5
10:45 – 11:15 – report out, look for common themes

11:15 – 12:00 – Lunch
                      
12:00 – 3:00 – Project work -
Faculty discuss end of year projects and work on enriching those projects with inquiry        12:00 – 1:00  3rd – 5th – Judy work with Team
1:00 – 2:00    1st & 2nd – Judy work with Team
2:00 – 3:00    Beginning School – Judy work with Team

3:00 -3:30      Reflection
What did you learn?
What are possible next steps?

LS Faculty Meeting - TEAMS 3/14 and 3/21
BS - See Team Leader for agenda
1st - 2nd - See Team Leader for agenda
3rd - 5th - See Team Leader for agenda
Specialists - See Shared Agenda


OPERATIONS

Celebrations - Wedding and Baby Showers
The all Lower School celebration will be on campus, ideally hosted by some of the person’s colleagues with help from the LS Office.  The LS Office will provide cake, beverages and paperware.   

Of course, anyone is welcome to offer a smaller, more intimate gathering off campus as well.

Uniforms
I am concerned about the message if some of us allow non-uniform wear and others abide by the policy.

Hats - for recess only.  Do not allow your students to wear them at any other time.  
Hats worn outside of recess should be confiscated for the day. Repeat offenders may lose the privilege to wear hats at all.

Uniform Wear in class
Only OES uniform outerwear may be worn in class - vest, sweater, sweatshirt.  All other outerwear should be in the closet.