LS Weekly Memo Week 39: May 12-16

Kudos to the Fifth Grade and the Tech team  for putting together last Friday’s Immigration Day.  This year, for the first time, the Fifth Grade team moved Immigration Day from the fall to the spring. After a yearlong exploration of  World History and  American history, students had a better perspective on what immigration was all about.

We have an action-packed week ahead, with Mt. Hood Climb Service Day on Wednesday and the Lego Show on Friday. Our thanks to Jenny and the faculty for designing meaningful service for our students and families.  

COMMUNITY

MHCSD - May 14

MHCSD SIGN-UP - Be sure you are clear about your plans Specialists and Classroom Teachers. See Jenny C emails for details.

Class Placement

Thank you for your thoughtful work and in depth discussions about class placement.  Specialists met last Thursday to review initial placement across the grades.  Now we begin round two with classroom teachers.  Check your schedules for your designated grade level time.

5th Grade Trip Week of May 19-23

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.
• Sign up to cover Hancock volunteers duties.  Look for a sign-up sheet this week.

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.

Counselor Search

We will begin the counselor search on Monday. Cindy, Ari 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 finish up semifinalists’ interviews and will schedule finalist visit in the coming week.

PROGRAM

LS Building - Designing with Students

Thanks to Jackie and Margaret for getting us started.  Kudos to Debra for organizing the folder - LS Building Design.

Stipend Proposals Due

Division Heads will begin reviewing stipend proposal on Tuesday.  Those that come in after the deadline will be considered after initial round of awards is determined.

Benefits Meeting, Monday, May 12th, 3:15-4:15, Platt Global Classroom

The hard-working benefits team will present information from the benefits survey for the upcoming year.  Please click here to RSVP. Attendance will be limited to those who have RSVP’d.

AS Faculty Meeting, Thursday, May 15th, 7:45-8:45

We gather in the Chapel Thursday morning to hear about the new professional growth and development plan, formally know as the formal cycle of supervision and evaluation.

Team Leader Meeting

5/5 Topics of Discussion

• Summer Reading

Ethic of Excellence

Why Are All The School Buses Yellow?

Viewing of American Promise

• Team Leader Retreat - topics to address
• LS Building Update - gathering student input

5/12 Agenda

• Retreat Agenda
• Social Media Policy
• PreK - 5th Grade Drama
• Its Complicated

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.

Lego Volunteers

Jane warms up her Lego troops with a school display in the library.  Later in the month, the weekend of May 31st and June 1st, the annual Lego Show takes place at the Oregon Zoo. Let Jane know if you want to volunteer. It is a great experience to watch our students talk about their Lego passion.

End of Year Pack Up of Rooms for Summer Camps

Joan, Helen and Jon finalize camp plans in the next two weeks.  They will let us know which Lower School classrooms will be used and when.  Beginning School teachers, you can assume your rooms will be used most, if not all summer. Look for further information towards the end of the month.

Moving Into Coffees

• 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.

We will reschedule the LSCTF meeting scheduled on 5/12, to allow for the Benefits Meeting

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.

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.

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

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.  Please submit requests to Chris by Friday, May 16th.

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.

Cougar Sighting at Hayhurst Park and Ridgewood Elementary School

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also shared these tips for anyone who may encounter a wild cougar:

• STOP - Never approach a cougar at any time for any reason.
• STAY CALM - Face the cougar and do not turn your back towards it. Do not run. Running encourages it to chase.
• APPEAR LARGE - Make yourself look large. Do not bend over or crouch down. Raise your hands. Hold your coat open. Hold small children.
• FIGHT BACK - Fight back if attacked.
• MAKE NOISE - Make noise while hiking to reduce the chance of surprising a cougar.
• KEEP CHILDREN CLOSE - Always keep children close by and in sight.
• AVOID WALKING ALONE