LS Weekly Memo Weekly Memo Week 31  March 9-13, 2015

Thanks you Chris, for organizing a great Positive Discipline workshop and to all the attendees for sticking with it on such a beautiful weekend.  Ask us about our take-a-ways: Colesie, Lauren E, Meredith, Carole, Kirstin, Deborah, Dori, Claire, Tina, Melanie, Kathy F-B, Chris and me. Tasha and her class perform "Much Ado About Nothing" Wednesday through Friday this week. I hope you class gets a chance to see a performance.

Remember to Spring Forward and set your clocks ahead.

COMMUNITY

Earthquake Drill in Chapel on Monday

We will have a duck and cover earthquake drill in Chapel on Monday at 12:10. Students will be directed to get on the floor, face away from the windows and duck.  This will be a guided drill in the middle of Chapel.

Congratulations to the Book Ninjas

The Book Ninjas, Leela, Jacob, Arun, Maxwell, and Jeremy, are headed to the state tournament, after qualifying this weekend.

Spring Behavior

Students need our help to redirect their spring enthusiasm into safe, fun, kind and fair behavior during transitions, recess and lunch.

Fifth Grade Expectations

We are seeing the perennial Spring issue of Fifth Graders testing boundaries.  Their teachers are working with them to clarify expectations at recess, lunch

SST Meetings

SST will be scheduling spring check-in meetings for each class.  Specialists are welcome to attend.  Look for a schedule from Ari.

Things from Home

Generally, things should not come into school from home. By allowing Rubics Cubes to come to school, we have opened an opportunity for all sorts of things to come into school from home.  Please remind your students about the information below from the OES handbook:

What Not to Bring to School

Students should not bring lighters, knives, or other weapons or weapon-like objects, radios, iPods, CD players or electronic games. In general, toys from home are not allowed at school. If there is a toy which a student feels may be appropriate to bring to school, he or she should ask for permission from the Lower School head before bringing the toy to school.

Children should not bring candy or money to school, except for special events when the classroom teacher has granted permission, e.g., book fair, a party, or a field trip. Use of a cell phone is not permitted when at school or on a school function; in special situations, exceptions may be granted by the LS head.

Auction – Saturday, March 14

We need your help. Please volunteer or attend. Contact Chris Gong.

Hiring Updates

• Kindergarten -  finalist selection
• 2 finalists visiting before Spring Break
• Ugina Covington - Thurs., March 12th
• Victoria Gangotena- Monday, March 16th
• 2 finalist visiting after Spring Break
• Jenny Youngblood- After Spring Break- TBA
• Andie Cunningham- After Spring Break TBA
• Spanish- finalist visiting after SPring Break
• Chaplain search - semifinalist interviews beginning

Chaperones - Still Needed

Teacher Appreciation - Friday, April 17.  See April Gilster’s email for details.

Students Who Needs Extra Support

4th gr - Sophia M - For the first time since October Sophia will be attending full days M, W, F. Recess and PE are hard for her so she will be easing in. After Spring Break she will attend full days for the rest of the year.  See Melanie for details if you have questions

3rd gr- Scarlet J.- Improving from recent illness. If headache or other issues, send her to the office right away.

Fifth Grade Boys on the Basketball Court- It is the spring of their Fifth Grade year. They are bursting at the seams.   Competition is ramping up for these boys. We learned this week  that there is a bit of power imbalance, and some are more assertive and controlling than others. Keep an eye on this if you are out on recess duty.

Kindergarten- ZT - See previous

2nd gr - Ben K - see previous

5th gr - Peter G - see previous

3rd gr - JaSier R - see previous

Communications - Casey Knopik, knopikc@oes.edu

PROGRAM

2015-16 - The Year of Creativity and Flexibility

Lower School Diversity Initiative

Last week a group gathered in the LS Library to continue our discussions of equity and inclusion. We watched this video and had a preliminary discussion about Stereotype Threat.

Facing History and Ourselves offers many resources for educators that support exploration global civil rights movements, internment, and genocide.

Claire also discussed a wonderful resources for literature and lesson inspirations: Perspectives for a Diverse America.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.  We will discuss the book Whistling Vivaldi.  We hope you can join us!

Financial Awards

The school offers the following opportunities each year:

• Stephenson Award (faculty excellence) - see Anne Weston email
• Graduate Studies Award - See Anne Weston email
• Staff Excellence award -
• Lamb Endowment - See Peter Langley email

Safe Schools - complete online Mandatory Reporter Training. Teachers will need to provide TA’s with 20 minutes to do the refresher or 60 minutes if a TA has not done t efore.  See emails from Tammy.

Giving to the Building

• The matching offer, your $250 becomes $500 for the school.
• You can spread payments over two years
• Both your participation and the amount you donate matter.  We are seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars from foundations and about $5Million all together

Faculty Meetings –

Mon., Mar. 9th -  All School Faculty and Staff Meeting: Strategic Planning

(Required for all teachers and assistant teachers, who will be paid for their time)

Thurs., Mar. 12th Common Experience- Mind Maps

Thurs., Mar. 19th No Meeting

Committee Meetings

Inquiry Design Team- Wed., Mar. 11th

Math Feedback

Tracy has shared out both his Math Presentation and his Feedback Form

Discuss at Team Meeting so Team Leaders can make a recommendation. Tracy shared links to review

Cadwell Plans

David and I spoke with Louise this week. She had an exciting proposal for our next round of coaching.  Look for an email soon about details.

Team Leaders – Agenda

• Buidling Events - Formers and Groundbreaking
• PGD on 3/30
• Mind Maps

• UBD Reminder - Previous WM
• Lower School Building – Previous WM
• PGD – Previous WM
• 2015-16 Budget – Previous WM
• Community Talks - Here is a link
• Inspired? – Try out a community talk some time in the coming weeks.  

OPERATIONS

Attendance input at 8:00

After hearing from some of you and discussing with Team Leaders, we are going to return to our original attendance request so we have an accurate accounting of students in school and who arrives on time.

• 1st - 5th grades complete attendance at 8:00.  students who arrive 8:00 are tardy.
• Pk - P complete attendance at 8:15.  Students who arrive after 8:15 are tardy.

Attendance recording

Miriam has put a decision flow chart about attendance in your mailbox to further improve our records, clarifying excused and unexcused, tardies and absences.

Classroom Clocks

Check to be sure it has accurately made the time change.

Lunch Trays

1st - 3rd Students need practice putting trays away more carefully.   In their haste to clear, food is spilled and trays are tumbling.  Please remind your students of expectations or even practice careful clearing with your class.

The Yellow Line and Safety

Keep students back from the yellow line under the covered walkway during pick-up.  We had a student fall into the street during pick-up time when they slipped off the curb.

When to Use LS Division Only and All School

Remember lsdivisiononly@oes.edu is for confidential email ONLY

Use alllsfaculty@oes.edu for regular communication to entire LS faculty

Bus Riders Check In on Thursday

• If students arrive before 8:15 they need to come into the building. Assistant teachers will take them out to recess at 8:15

• For safety reasons, adults should open the metal storage bin and secure the chain.  Children should not.  

Recess Reminders

• Students are not allowed on ACP until adult supervision arrives
• Duty teachers - be on time

 

Family’s Take Holidays and Vacations When School is in Session

See the OES Handbook for details about elective absences and homework.   

• Catering and Sack Lunch Procedures
• No Cough Drops at School - see previous
• Lost Clothing with No Names - see previous
• Duty teachers be punctual - see previous
• Disinfectant – Previous WM
• Buddies to Office – Previous WM
• NEED A SUBSTITUTE OR A DAY OFF? – Previous WM

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.