LS Weekly Memo Week 5: September 16-20

We seem to be off to a good start with the first 8 days of school under our belt.  Thanks for your extra efforts at pacing the start of school right for our students and the building of your new learning community. This week we have the Back to School Picnic;  next week the Back to School Nights.

COMMUNITY

Back to School Picnic, 5 - 7 on 9/20

This Friday is the annual BTSP.  All faculty are expected to be there.  RSVP to the dinner offered from 4:00 - 5:00 pm if you prefer to eat before socializing.

Shotts Incident

Andy Shotts was arrested Thursday afternoon for violating the restraining order.  This will likely result in a change of his access to the campus.

• Jenny Furtrell will provide us with new documentation about Andy’s access once the legal process is complete.
• In the future, the days that Andy picks Elwin up will be listed in the afternoon plans
• For now, Elwin will be escorted by an adult to the LS Office at the end of each day.  He will be picked up from the LS office each day at the end of school.

Search for Missing Child

Thank you to all who helped in the search for Elwin Thursday afternoon.  Elwin was found outside the Middle School in the company of his father.

In the future, if we have a child missing, we will be well served to have a more organized effort.

• The parent of the missing child will come to the LS Office
• Jenny and Lyn will remain in the office to coordinate communications
• Volunteers will be coordinated to conduct the search
• Volunteers will call into the LS Office with updates
• Jenny or Lyn will communicate out updates

Citizenship and Discipline

To help distinguish between Chris and Patti’s role with students, think of Chris tending to disciplinary interventions when issues go beyond what the classroom or specialist teacher would handle on their own.  Patti is responsible for tending to the long term social emotional development of our students and is available to work with groups, classes or grades about these issues.

Recess Agreements

The Second Grade team is broadening their agreements to include recess. They will create recess agreements for their own classes and later share these with students in First and Third Grade. Look for more details in the coming week.

Parent Partnership Coffee Planning and Prep

Classroom teachers representing their grade at this round of coffees  are invited to attend a planning and prep meeting with David and Chris.  Thanks for working this, and the actual coffee into your busy schedule.

Those attending coffees, please arrange for coverage of your class. If you need help, let Chris know.

LS DEAR

Kristen Haferbecker will send out details on next week’s DEAR.  This will not be held in the gym. As we arranged last year, our first DEAR will be held in more intimate spaces like the classroom, common areas, library, or maybe in an outdoor classroom, if weather permits.

David Off Campus 9/18 after 10:00

Chris will be in charge.

PROGRAM

Intentional Curriculum Design

During Team Meetings some questions arose about where this initiative came from.  The initiative is a direct outgrowth of:

• The strategic plan - coordinating curriculum PreK -12
• The self study recommendation about coordinating and articulating Prek - 12 curriculum
• Mo’s goals related to committing to change this year
• The initial steps forward  and the commitment of the work this year were decided at the Department Chair/ LS Team Leader retreat this summer

I will discuss this further at our next All LS Team Meeting this Thursday.

LS Team Faculty Meeting, 9/19, 7:40 - 8:40 am

We will start in the 3rd - 5th grade common area to provide context for the PreK - 12 curriculum work and then meet in teams.  3rd - 5th grade students will need to go to the library until 8:15 for Late Start Thursday.

LSCTF Dates

All meetings are scheduled for 3:15-4:45, to take place in a Lower School classroom. Would someone volunteer to host our meetings?

Oct. 7th

Dec. 16th

Feb. 24th

May 12th

Website Updates

Thanks to all who have included us in your updates or let us know your plan.

Assessment Support for Assessments

Ari Sternberg is making his tri-yearly offer of help with any tricky assessments, and/or questions/discussions post assessments.  Contact Ari to make arrangements.

Yoga Calm Workshop for Teachers- Boys, Coyotes and Other Creatures

Oct. 26th and 27th.  Check it out!

PGD Plan for 2013-14

October 11 -

• IC Training - FLG participants and designated others will participate in IC training.

 

All other faculty are free to attend the conference of their choice.

• The Case for Curiosity - Susan Engel, NY Times reporter is the keynote speaker at a lecture Thursday night and daylong workshop. Both are free to those who register.  Complimentary  lunch is provided. The Beginning School Team plans to attend with their Assistant Teachers.

http://www.arborcenterforteaching.org/school-leadership/the-case-for-curiosity-a-lecture-by-dr-susan-engel

• NWAIS Annual Conference - Gathering with Purpose: Participate, Collaborate, Innovate
• Location: The Overlake School, Redmond, WA
• Oregon Social Studies:  http://www.oregonsocialstudies.org/fall-conference-registration to register for this year’s conference.

Monday, March 31 - All Faculty IC Training

Monday, June 16 - LS Inservice

OPERATIONS

Calendars -

Please be sure to get events parents attend on All School calendar.  See Lyn’s notes in last week’s email. These instructions can also be found in Google Drive in the Important Docs folder.

Tag at Morning and Afternoon Recess

We do not like to restrict childrens’ fast active play, but tag around mini Aardvark is just not safe.  Children ultimately run full bore around the amphitheater concrete steps or up into the structure itself...accidents waiting to happen.

Going forward, please tell your students that they can play tag games on the turf field at lunch only.

Field Trips

Please go directly to Lyn for field trip forms, not to transportation.  Lyn tracks the budget and needs to know what your expenses are, including transportation.

LSLT  Dates

All meetings are scheduled for 3:15-4:45, to take place in a Lower School classroom. Would someone volunteer to host our meetings?

Sept. 23rd

Dec. 2nd

Mar. 10th

Apr. 28th

Student Incident Forms

Thanks to those of you who have filled out forms. This will help us track students having behavioral issues and difficulties making the transition back to school.  Again,  the form is intended to be a quick update, taking no more than 5 minutes to complete.

Friendly Reminders

• Only uniform wear is to be worn in the classroom
• Keep supervising for fun and safe play at recess
• Remind parents to stay with their cars at Pick-up and Drop-off
• School day begins at 7:50 and ends at 2:55
• Doors lock at 8:00 am for the start of school and at 3:15 pm for the end