LS Weekly Memo Week 42: June 2- 6

I have many appreciations for your work last week:

• to all faculty and staff who helped out to make Discovery Day such a success
• to the Kindergarten teachers for their wonderful learning celebrations
• to Angela for her presentation to LS PAL
• to those of you who have been working on design ideas with your students
• to Jane and her Lego Zoo crew

Now on to the last full week of school.

COMMUNITY

BS and LS Field Days

Thank you to the PE team for organizing our field days.  The weather looks promising for both days.

BS 9:15-10:45 Thursday, June 5th

LS 12:30 - 2:30 Friday, June 6th

Any specialists who are available, we could use your help.  We are a bit short on volunteers.

Friday, 6/6 will be a uniform optional day.  PE has several water activities planned for field day.

Rachel Clarke Taylor

I am please to announce that Rachel Clarke Taylor will be our new 4th grade teacher, filling the teaching vacancy resulting from Jenny Futrell’s decision to move up to MIddle School to be the Technology Coordinator.   Rachel comes to us with six years teaching experience in England.  Many of you may know Rachel as she has done extensive volunteering in 3rd to 5th grades this year.  Please join me in congratulating Rachel.

LS Counselor Finalist

Melanie Clark will be on campus on Wednesday.  Thank you to all who are making time to meet with her.

Volunteers - 40,000 hours

Volunteers logged more than 40,000 hours at OES this year.  We are fortunate to have such supportive and engaged parents.

We will be discussing volunteers in Lower School and the results of the recent parent survey at our meetings looking ahead at 2014-15.

School Supplies for Afghanistan

For the past two years we have placed gently used classroom supplies  in boxes (scattered around the BS and LS).  These gently used supplies have been shared with schools in Afghanistan.   Once again, we will be collecting and giving supplies that we no longer need or will use — but are still usable.   The boxes will be placed in various hallways on the afternoon of June 11, after students have departed.   Hopefully, knowing that the supplies will be used helps give a boost in meaning to the cleaning out task.  

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.

PROGRAM

THA Visit on 6/6 - LS Library 8:30 - 11:50

Stefee Knudsen and David Keltner will be in the LS Library on Friday, June 6 from 8:30 - 11:50 in hopes of hearing your students’ design ideas.  Sign-up with another class if you want to.  We can always split into two groups if need be.  

Keep the ideas coming -  LS Building Design Folders

THA Summer Work

We will be doing significant design work over the summer.  I will reach out to you to see if your are available to meet with THA once I know more details.

Angela’s PAL presentation:

Here is the link to Angela’s presentation on Technology and Summer that she presented at teh final Lower School PAL meeting last week.

Summer Learning Experiences - Prek - 12

If you are participating in the summer reading, you may pick up your book at the closing faculty meeting on Thursday, June 12

LS Team Leaders Agenda

• Counselor Search Update
• 4th Grade Update
• Stipends Decisions
• Evaluation Cohorts
• Cadwell Plan

Cadwell Workshop Preparation - Closing on Monday

•Sign up if you wish to attend the workshop. Follow this link.

•Louise wants a photo album of all OES faculty.  I am finishing up faculty photos Monday.  Next I will visit specialists’ classes to take their photos.Before the end of the week I hope to take Assistant Teachers’ photos and EC teachers too.

•Fill out a Google lunch order form.  

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 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.

Stipends

Summer Stipend awards will be coming out this week.  The vast majority of requests were granted and, in order to remain within budget, the number of days granted were reduced.  Do note that the Division Heads’ request to increase the Summer Stipend per diem rate to $200 was granted.

Moving Into Coffees

Last three coffees this week. Thanks to all who participated!

• Click on the link above. Last round of coffees this week and next.
• Please review to determine when you are needed.

Echoes Writing Celebration - Monday, June 2, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

The Echoes Writing Celebration will host its fifth annual writing celebration assembly. Students and parents are welcome to come to the Lower School Library to hear the wonderful works of lower school students.

OPERATIONS

Calendar Work for Next Year

I made copies of the Master Calendar- one copy  for each grade level/class.  When planning for next year keep in mind:

•Parent meetings are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Please don’t schedule events involving parents for Wednesday morning.

•If possible, plan gatherings involving parents on a day when we have a Parent Partnership Coffee (three per year).  Second Grade has done this for a number of years. Their parent coffees are always well attended. Parents appreciate having more than one event on the same day- fewer breaks from work and life responsibilities.

•Don’t schedule field trips on Monday or Friday, if the plans  cause you to miss Chapel or an assembly.

•If your whole grade level invites parents in for a special events that includes plays, stagger the times of the performances so parents with twins can see more than one play.  For example, this year First Grade scheduled one play for 8am, the second for 8:20 and the third at 8:40.  David and I were able to attend all three. Nice!

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

Chris and I will tour with Jon to review requests.

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.