LS Weekly Memo
Week 41: May 26 - 30
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We have an action-packed 2 ½ weeks ahead. This week we have several special events; the Lifer Lunch, final round of class placement meetings, informances, celebrations, Discovery Day, Lego Display at the Zoo and more.
COMMUNITY
4th Grade Search
In final stages of selection.
Counselor Search
We are scheduling visits for two finalists. Each finalist ill interview, teach a demonstration lesson, work with a small group of students. I thank you in advance for your scheduling flexibility during this busy time of year.
Class Placement - Round II
Thank you for your thoughtful work and in depth discussions about class placement. Specialists met to review initial placement across the grades and add suggestions. We have begun round two with classroom teachers. Check your schedules for your designated grade level time.
Discovery Day, Thurs., May 29th, 12-2:30 and FIFTH GRADE UNIFORM PARADE @ 2:10
If you normally have recess duty Thursday afternoon supervising First and Second Grade students, please cover the Discovery Day recess break. Popsicles are usually served, making it an especially fun recess.
The second session of Discovery Day will be punctuated with the rowdy 5th Grader’s marching about with their cast off uniforms. Prepare young students for this raucous celebration.
Summer Learning Experiences - Prek - 12
Sign up if interested - Summer Reading Form
Recess Duty Vigilance
Please keep a special eye on him, and the other Fourth and Fifth graders as the year winds down.
We need to keep a careful eye on all students when on recess duty. It is an emotional time for many students.
Botanist in our Midst
Allan Lehman, custodian, is quite a botanist. When John LeCavalier visited last week, he mentioned what a great resource Allan is, particularly about native species and wetland plants. If you are looking for a plant expert, he would welcome the opportunity to support you and your class, lehmana@oes.edu.
PROGRAM
LS Team Leaders Agenda
- Counselor Search Update
- 4th Grade Update
- Stipends Decisions
- Evaluation Cohorts
- Cadwell Plan
Faculty Meeting - May 29th - FLG
LSCTF Meeting - Tuesday, May 20
The Leadership Team put together a DRAFT forecast of curriculum initiatives. LSCTF members reviewed and commented. See Team Leader or LSCTF member if you have questions.
End-of-Year Expectations-
- Rooms should be packed to make way for summer camps
- BS Rooms by end of day Tuesday, June 17
- LS Rooms by end of day Thursday, June 19
- This gives Bill Peoples and crew two days for cleaning and Joan Low and summer staff Friday for set-up.
- Pass along to next year’s teacher:
•A Letter to next year’s teacher about themselves (recorded by teacher for non-writers, unedited by teacher for the older grades)
•DRA Folders with completed assessment information listed on the folder (K-3)
•LLI Information (Last lesson- student’s reading level, 1st and 2nd Grade)
• Reading assessment (Fountis and Pinnel?)- 4th and 5th Grade
•Final Everyday Math Assessment (1st-5th)
•Math Fact Fluency Data or Final Test (1st-4th)
•Words Their Way Spelling Inventory (1st-5th))
Pass this on to Ari, who will distribute in August
- School Supplies Ordered online
- Consumable Workbook Orders Sent to Jenny
Everyday Math Workbooks Handwriting Without Tears
Spelling Workbooks Any other workbooks you need
- Faculty Meeting Thursday 6/12, 8:30 - 12:00
- Reports Due - 8:00 AM Monday, 6/16
- Proof-Reports - Monday, 6/16, 8:00am - 4:00 pm
- Progress Reports in PCR by Tuesday, June 17th by 9am
- Faculty Meeting - Tuesday, 6/17, 8:00 - 11:00
- AS Closing - Tuesday, 6/17, 11:00 - 2:00
- Cadwell Workshop, 6/18, 9:00 - 4:00
End of Year Report
- Access to the 2nd Semester Report Card section available on Monday, May 19.
- All reports need to be written and saved in Google Drive by Monday, June 16 so they can be proofed, corrected, and finalized in PCR by 9:00 AM on June 17
- Access to uploading, correcting, and entering any information through PCR will end at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 17.
LS Building - Designing with Students
Keep the ideas coming - LS Building Design Folders . We will invite David and Steffee back to review ideas.
Stipends
I am inspired by your desire to continue to enhance the LS experience by requesting time to do summer planning. The challenge you have presented to me: decide about 209 stipend days requested with a budget for only 94. I am working my way through to get budget, priorities and stipends aligned.
- Reduce all request by some number of days
- Limit amount any one person/ group can get
- Swap release time during school year for summer stipend time
- Have those who submitted multiple requests prioritize stipend requests
- Click on the link above. Last round of coffees this week and next.
- Please review to determine when you are needed.
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 - May 30th deadline.
See email from Mike Gwaltney. Follow link for proposal process.
Echoes Writing Celebration
On Monday, June 2nd, the Echoes Writing Celebration will host its fifth annual writing celebration assembly. From 3:00-4:00pm on this day, students and parents are welcome to come to the lower school library to hear the wonderful works of lower school students while enjoying sweet treats and refreshments. If any lower school student wishes to read or submit (to be displayed) his or her writing piece, please submit work to the LS library.
Mindful Schools On-line Course
The first Lower School Mindful Schools cohort completed the six week course last week. Thanks to all of you who took the time to take this course. Last week Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, wrote a blog post entitled Exercising the Mind to Treat Attention Deficits. In it Goleman sites recent research on the effectiveness of mindful meditation practices in treating children and adults with attention issues.
Interested in the course? Check it out...Mindful Schools
OPERATIONS
Lock Down
Overall our lock down drill went well. Everyone locked classroom doors and got children to a sheltered area of the classroom. If you had problems pulling down malfunctioning shades, let us know.
We understand that many of you have classroom materials on windowsills preventing you from rolling down shades completely. If you had that problem, please remove items from that area permanently. We need to ensure the safety of all.
Personal Days - Employee Handbook reminder:
Personal days are to be used for personal business or unforeseen circumstances such as weather, and not for illness or vacation. The employee is asked to provide as much advance notice as possible to their supervisor if they need to use a personal day. Personal days may be taken in two-hour increments. Personal days may not be combined with paid vacation days and may not be taken on the last week of school or work, or immediately before or after a school vacation or paid holiday, except with the permission of the employee’s supervisor.
Off Campus - early, late, middle
Be sure to let the the LS Office know if you will be arriving late, leaving early or off campus during the day. Teachers are expected to be on campus 7:45- 3:45 daily.
If you do need to arrive late or leave early the time will recorded on your timesheet. When these situations occur you will need to stop by the office and sign your timesheet at the end of the month. Lyn is responsible for submitting time sheets to the business office.
Reimbursement
Be sure to remove personal items from reimbursement requests before submitting them to TBO. A few folks have turned in receipts that included both personal and professional items.
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 - Last Call
Thanks to those who submitted requests last week. Maintenance requests should cover basic needs, given that we will be leaving these buildings in the near future. I’ve only received a few requests.
All School Video and Photo Productions - see email from Marty Jones
- Please email Marty dates and times of any cool projects/activities that can be filmed this week. Both indoors and outdoors.
- Time-lapse filming all over campus - currently May 8, 28, 29, 30
Please call or text Marty with great, and late breaking opportunities (503) 475-5294
Paper Plates
Ava Durrant was concern about use of styrofoam at school. She brought in paper plates for your use. Thank her when you see her.
Research Links
Recess Shed - Adults Only
Only adults are allowed in the recess shed. Students have been hiding equipment in the shed.
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.
