LS Weekly Memo Week 10: October 13-17

Thanks to all for making the NWAIS conference such a great success.  From those of you who I was able to find, it sounded like your workshops went well and were well attended.  I also heard great feedback from those who were able to attend a sessions or keynote.

I lookfroward to spending some time this weekend wandering outdoors thinking about what Richard Louv and Sian Beilock shared; using all my senses, moving my body, seeking peace and creating some new “meadow memories”.  I hope you have the opportunity to do the same.

COMMUNITY

Welcome New 2nd Grade Student - Victoria Bonar to Tonya Griffin’s class

Jim Blumenthal, first grader Ben’s dad, died yesterday (Wednesday) from cancer.   Although he had been struggling with cancer for some time, his health declined very quickly and  unexpectedly earlier this week.  Ben has been home with his mom all week.  Right now, he would like privacy around the loss of his dad— but I thought you might like to see this beautiful tribute to Jim.    Before Ben returns to school, I will send out an email of plans for supporting him.  May prayers surround Ben and the family at this time.    http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/lifeatosu/2014/osu-buddhist-scholar-james-blumenthal-dies-at-47/  Peace, Jenny Cleveland

Special Request - Lunch on 10/15

Upper School administering the PSAT to all sophomores and juniors on Wednesday, October 15 from 8:45 am-12:15 pm.

Control noise by having all lower school students take the following route to and from lunch.

• Come in through the front door of the building past Arleene (and leave through, using the same route through the front door).
• Remind students to keep their voices down as they enter and leave.
• Do not walk past the US library when coming into lunch

Upper School Helpers

Ready to help you in your classroom next Wednesday afternoon, October 15th and/or from 9-12:30 on Friday, October 17th. They will do anything - you do not need to make up anything dramatic or special for them to do.

FOR WEDNESDAY HELPERS: Contact JULIE SIKKINK or Jenny Cleveland

FOR FRIDAY HELPERS: Contact DEBBY SCHAUFFLER or Jenny Cleveland

Recess Reminders

• A student cut his head open on one of the outdoor bleacher cross bar.  Students should not be playing on or around the outdoor bleachers.

• The second tether ball pole will be installed soon, and it will again be a “Specials court”.  This will be a “Specials court” only, everyone playing must understand the specials chosen by the server, and after three consecutive wins they must rotate to the end of the line.  PE will post a list of specials close to the tetherball pole, and continue to review the rules during PE as needed.  

Fill Someone’s Bucket

The Green Bucket is awaiting your students’ ideas about how to fill one another’s buckets. See Jenny Cleveland, Sylvie Bissel or Ellie Riser if you have questions.

OES Fund - Congratulations - 100% Participation

Parent Partnership Coffees 2014-2015, Last One - 3rd - 5th grade on 10/14. Thanks to all who contributed!

Students to Watch on the Playground

PG, 5th - difficult in social situations

AW-3rd - testing boundaries of appropriateness

It will be important to document any issues in an Incident Report.  We are working closely  with these students’  families. See their photo in PCR if you don’t know what they look like.

BK- 2nd Continues to have challenges in competitive games.  PE team, please supervise the games he participates in. Document any large frustrations in a Student Incident Report.

PROGRAM

NWAIS All Schools Conference

• Congratulations Workshop Presenters
• Thank you attendees for helping to host

Open House

• 6:00 - 8:00 pm , 10/15
• All faculty are expected to attend
• See Sarah’s email for details
• Monday Faculty Meeting - quick detail check
• Dinner will be available to those who ordered

Citizenship and Discipline

One of the main topics explored at our Fall coffees is Citizenship and Discipline.  Please take time to read the handbook if you haven’t done so recently. Parents may ask you questions about our policies.

Citizenship and Discipline- Levels of Response and Consequences

We recently created a document that outlines major rules and levels of response when students present challenging behaviors.  This is not meant to be shared with parents at this time.

Technology Reminders

Reminders about being a good caretaker of your technology tools:  

• Install critical security patch.  See email from Angela. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1769?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US)

• Restart your laptop at least once a week!  How about thinking of Monday morning as (to paraphrase Anne Shirley) “a whole new week… with no mistakes in it yet.”  Your machine will stay more “mistake-free” if you just restart it regularly.
• Always restart your laptop and open only the necessary applications before giving a presentation.
• When was the last time you cleaned the keyboard or screen?
• Have you just been pushing the “Remind me later” button or have you taken the time and responsibility to install those updates it keeps reminding you about?

Field Trip Guidelines Please read!

There are two documents to review: a field trip check list and medical field trip info. Please be sure to post your dates on the Faculty Events Google Calendar and Anne Weston’s calendar (without the destination).

LS Diversity (LSD)

Thanks for a great conversation about “When were you the only one?”

Faculty Meetings

• Open House Meeting - Monday, 10/13/14,3:10 - 3:40,  LS Library
• No Faculty Meeting - Thursday, 10/16 - Open House recovery time
• Student Support Team - Thursday, 10/16/14 @10:50 and 3:10

Team Leader Notes

No Meeting this week.  David away at Building Meeting

• Curriculum Design check-in
• LSCTF agenda review
• IDT agenda review

OPERATIONS

Fire Drill, Thursday, October 23rd at 10:20

While this is advanced notice for you, First through Fifth Grade students should not have advanced notice. Beginning School teachers, you use  your judgement on this. Remember:

•Leave the building quietly. No talking, children and adults!

•Line up in order by grade level, with Beginning School lining up on the far left side.

•Sit quietly until notified to re-enter the building.

Call Maintenance for Clean Up

If a student vomits or has an accident involving bodily fluids or waste, call maintenance to clean it up.  

Mischief in Shared Bathrooms- Possibly First through Third Grade

I understand that there has been a new trend of peeking at classmates in bathrooms.  Please discuss the inappropriateness of this  in a class meeting. If you learn something that would mean that Chris or David would need to get involved, please let us know.

OES Book Sale - Wish List

• Thank to the grade levels who submitted Wish Lists
• If you have questions or ideas, please direct them to Margueritte Kim at kimfamilypdx@mac.com.
• Need some help with books - ask Lara

Missed Meals

• Missed meals apply to students only – your head count should exclude Faculty/Staff/Chaperones
• Information you need to email the personnel involved for missed meals:
• Date of missed meals
• Number of students
• Personnel you need to notify/email for missed meals:
• Kim Sparkenbaugh: sparkenbaughk@oes.edu – business office
• Kelly Cowing: bonappetit@oes.edu – for approval
• Lyn: zenisekl@oes.edu – will provide the account number to be credited for missed meals
• Time line: 72 hours before the missed meals
• There is no online form to fill out for missed meals
• The “missed meals” information can also be found in the “LS Important Docs”.

Benefits Meeting

Benefits Renewal meeting on the afternoon of October 20 and the Benefits Fair on October 21st.

• If you use our medical benefits, you should attend as you will learn more about benefits, and it is not feasible for everyone to get a one on one with HR so the general, the all school meeting is really important.
• Supervisors will completely support employees in attending by accommodating schedules and workload. We feel it is really important for you to attend.

Lunch Recess Duty Reminder

A friendly reminder that one person on lunch recess duty should wait up at the top of the covered walkway until the last students have come down from the dining hall.  As I understand it, that same person then goes to the field. Let Chris know if you have any questions.

Please talk with each other and decide who will play this important duty role.

Your Announcements

Send any announcements you have for faculty to Chris or me by Thursday each week and we will include them in the Weekly memo.  This should help reduce the number of emails we are receiving, and to maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.