LS Weekly Memo
Week 38: May 5 - 9
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We started the week with a great conversation about the new Lower School building, a conversation you are all invited to continue this Monday. Tuesday through Thursday the 2nd graders presented their hero speeches. They and their teachers are heroes in my eyes. Wednesday night’s Portland Musical showcased the music and acting talents of our 3rd graders. Friday the 4th graders returned from their experiential education trip to the coast. I wonder how our new building could enhance the learning around culminating experiences such as these?
COMMUNITY
Patti Beyer
You all received Patti’s note about making this her final year at OES. As the year winds down, she will be having transitional conversation with students. We will be working on ways that we can honor her good work over the past ten years.
Counselor Search
We will begin the counselor search on Monday. Cindy, Ari, Chris and I will serve as the search committee. Finalists will spend the day on campus meeting with faculty, staff and students.
4th Grade Search
We have begun interviewing semifinalist.
Class Placement
Thank you for your thoughtful work and in depth discussions about class placement. Specialists, we meet this Thursday to review initial placement across the grades. Check you schedules for your designated grade level time.
Immigration Day
Looking forward to the new high tech Immigration experience thanks to the Tech Team and the 5th graders.
OT Conversation
Thank you Ari for arranging the time fro several of us to meet with Erin Forgeron and discuss OT and young children.
Cougar Sighting in Hayhurst Park, SW Portland
Be aware of your students’ safety as you explore our wildlands. Any classes want to set up track traps, simple ways to collect animal tracks?
5th Grade Trip
Two down, one to go. 5th grade to Hancock on May 19.
- 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.
Special Friend Volunteers
Please let Cindy Plummer know if there are special friends; grandparents, nannies, aunts, uncles, others, who should be recognized for their volunteer efforts. All parents have already been invited.
PROGRAM
Lower School Building
Join us in DVR for another session with THA. They have some design tools to share with us and are eager to hear how they can support our design work with students. I will be working with the Building Committee to select the contractor for our building on Thursday.
Faculty Meetings
Monday, May 5, 3:15 – 4:30 in DVR
Optional meeting with THA to further discuss/ plan for student involvement in the design process. THA will be bringing Image Cards, floor plans, scaled classroom floor plans.
We will reschedule the Design Team meeting
Thursday, May 8, 7:40 – 8:40 in LS Art Room
Specialist class placement discussion
- 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.
Wetlands Work to Share?
On Wednesday, Mike Houck and John LaCavalier, two former OES science teachers and active members in the environmental education community in Oregon, are coming to campus to see how we are using the wetlands as an educational inspiration. Let me know if you would like us to stop by between 8:00 -9:00.
We will reschedule the LSCTF meeting scheduled on 5/12, to allow for the Benefits Meeting
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.
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.
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.
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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