LS Weekly Memo
Week 37: April 28 -May 2
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As the pace of Lower School picks up with students preparing for culminating events, informances and trips, I take great pleasure in the wonderful work you do. On Wednesday at the LS PAL meeting John Holloran, Upper School students and a faculty panel shared the many incredible inquiry experiences our students engage in across our school and helped parents see how the skills developed in Lower School support our students’ success in Middle and Upper Schools. On Thursday the International Fair preparations were well underway at the same time Amy was preparing for the 5th graders final Music Informance. Both events showcased the ownership our students have of their learning and, with that ownership, the great pride they take in sharing their learning with others. Thank you.
COMMUNITY
Congratulations to the Fourth Grade Team on a Highly Successful International Fair
It was such a pleasure to mix and mingle with students, parents and teachers at the International Fair. What learning, the enthusiasm of the students and their breadth of knowledge was truly impressive. The performance Wednesday: student’s myths, skits, then dances with Habiba, were all outstanding. What fun to see their joyful participation. Kudos to Angela who worked tirelessly put together their handmade books, including a QR code with a recording of the student’s reading their myths. Wow! Quite the accomplishment!
Nancy Teskey - New Music Department Chair
Sue Jensen, after many a year of wonderful service to the department and school, decided that this would be her last year as Music Department Chair. Please join me in congratulating Nancy on her new position.
Search Begins - 4th Grade Teacher
We have begun the 4th grade teacher search. Let Chris or me know if you are interested in changing grades or if you have someone to recommend for the position.
Trips
- Chaperones need to attend a pre-trip meeting to understand role. See trip leader for details.
- For safety reasons we need to have 2 adults plus the bus driver on each bus. Chaperones are asked to ride the bus, unless exceptions are granted by the trip leader.
4th Grade Trip
4th Grade is off to Camp Kiwanilong Wednesday - Friday. There could be sun.
Culminating Events and Learning Celebrations
Now that we move into the last six weeks of the school year, be sure to have special events noted on the Google faculty events and Anne’s All School calendars. David and Chris would like to attend as many as possible!
PROGRAM
Board Approves Finalizing LS Building Design
Thanks to the great work of the Development Staff and Mo we are well on our way to raising the money to build the new Lower School building. The Board expressed their confidence in this effort with their approval to finalize the building design. We could be breaking ground for the new building in June 2015.
Faculty Meeting, Monday, April 28 from 3:15 - 4:30 in DVR
We will meet with David Keltner and Stefee Knudsen from THA to discuss how to include students in the final design phase of the building.
- Review final schematic design
- Discuss next phase, Design and Development, where establish “look and feel” of building
- Explore how to engage students in this phase of design
Just to remind you, with the Board granting permission to go forward with the final design work on Tuesday, we have from now to the end of the school year to provide input. So now is the time to engage students. The design will be largely completed when you return next fall.
Faculty Meeting, Thursday, May 1 - FLG
Moving Into Coffees (MIC)
We begin MIC season this week. THank you to the Beginning School faculty for their input on creating a new format focused on community building with parents.
Handwriting Without Tears
Kindergarten through Third Grade teachers met last Monday to discuss the Handwriting Without Tears program. We decided to continue piloting the program next year, PreK - 2nd. 3rd grade will be engaging in their 1st year of piloting the cursive instruction.
There was positive feedback about both improved students engagement and handwriting quality. Teachers also commented on the child-friendly manipulative materials, slates and apps (now upper and lower case). If you do not have these materials, think about purchasing them for your students. To use this program effectively, we should try to establish consistent instructional practices.
Funds remain in the curriculum budget to purchase Handwriting Without Tears materials. To do so, you must submit orders before May 31st, the close of the fiscal year.
PGD Funds
We have largely allocated our PGD funds for 2013-14 as a result of 4 initiatives:
- Sending several groups of teachers to national conferences
- Sending larger groups of faculty to regional conferences
- Engaging Louise Cadwell in inquiry work starting this year
- A change in accounting practices that required reallocation of almost $5000 of this years budget to last year.
I apologize for the inconvenience this causes for those with PGD proposals for this year. The 2014-15 PDG budget begins on July 1, 2014.
Summer Stipend Form - Requests are due May 9th
- As we begin to look to summer time and the flexible time it allows for projects, the Division Heads have been working to create a common on-line form that faculty from all divisions can use to apply for Summer Stipend funds.
- There have often been more requests than available funds, and there is a need to coordinate as we prioritize the use of these valuable resources.
- Summer hours can be particularly valuable for groups that otherwise have difficulty meeting, and summer stipends can be a great way to support those projects.
- Department Chairs and Team Leaders will help to prioritize requests, and in general, requests that support on-going school initiatives (department/team curriculum design, all school Inquiry, Intercultural Competency, FLG, and/or are-cross divisional or interdepartmental) will be given priority.
Curriculum Design Expectations - 2013-14
- Requirement for this year is for each teacher to be familiar with the UBD process. To do this each teacher should have been involved in the design process including articulation of:
- Core Understandings
- Essential Questions
- Core Skills
- Skills Questions
- Evidence of Understanding
- Formative Assessments
You may need to get to unit level to get at the assessment articulation.
Lower School classroom teachers are asked to do this initial work for their grade level in Social Studies.
NWAIS All Schools Conference Proposals - see email from Mike Gwaltney. Follow link for proposal process.
- Click on the link above.
- Please review to determine when you are needed. First, Third and Fifth Grade teams, please let us know who is representing your team at each coffee. We want to start scheduling planning meetings after break, before Spring Trips and Class Placement.
- As in the past, students will share their valued perspectives. Chris will schedule time to meet with students. Ideally we like 2 representatives, a girl and a boy, from each class.
Awards - Deadline April 30.
As Mo announced there are three awards given annually. You may nominate colleagues and/ or yourself. See Anne Weston’s email for additional details.
- Mary G. Stephenson Award
- to the OES faculty member or members who has or have excelled in challenging and inspiring students to question, to think, to speak out, and to care. Faculty may apply on their own behalf or may nominate a colleague.
- OES Faculty and Staff Graduate Award
- A faculty or staff member who wishes to pursue a job-related graduate degree program leading to an advanced degree may receive 50% of tuition costs, up to a program cap of $10,000.
- Staff Excellence Award
- The Staff Excellence Award is awarded annually to a non-faculty employee who has exemplified the highest standards of mission-minded performance in her/his position.
OPERATIONS
2013-14 Budget
- Please submit your receipts as soon as possible so our budget is accurate.
- The last day to place orders is May 31. Order submitted after that will be completed in August.
Summer Maintenance Requests
It is that time of year...look for a form in your email early this week. Maintenance requests should cover basic needs, given that we will be leaving these buildings in the near future. Please submit requests to Chris by Friday, May 16th.
Kiwanilong Chaperones Need Your Help
Jenny Futrell, trip leader for the Fourth Grade Overnight, will post the duties that need to be covered on the faculty bulletin board in the office. Please take a look, and see if you can cover a duty. We need your help!
Lacrosse - Only at Lunch Recess. For safety reasons students are not allowed to use lacrosse sticks at other recesses. We need to be consistent about this. See earlier WM for details.
Benefits Meeting - See email from Andrea Bride
Optional meeting about the Benefits Survey in the MS Library at 3:15 on Monday, May 12.
Ice cream will be provided! Please click here to RSVP. Attendance will be limited to those who have RSVP’d.
We will reschedule the LSCTF meeting scheduled on 5/12.
Send Two Buddies to the Office When a Child is to Go Home Early or When a Child is Sick
We’ve noticed that students often come to the office with just one student when they are ill, and need to stay in the office. Please send two children to escort that sick child. We don’t want children walking from building to building alone.
Three Interesting Articles
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