LS Weekly Memo Weekly Memo Week 1, August 17-21, 2015

Thank you to all who helped with the massive move of classrooms.  Well over 1500 boxes of teaching materials moved from one class to another.   I am enjoying seeing some of you engage in the process of settling into your new teaching spaces. Creativity and flexibility are in order as we make the best of temporary classroom spaces for the year.  Bill Peoples and crew are willing to help you move large objects, but you will need to schedule their time in advance. Monday begins the official unpacking week.

COMMUNITY

LS Building Update

The Beginning School, LSCH, Covered Area and LS Office are gone.  Though demolition was delayed by almost a month because of permits, the opening of the new building by August 15, 2016 is still the plan.  The tech department has hooked up our LS Building webcam.  Check it out.  

OES Campus Traffic

Traffic on campus will be altered to accommodate the construction. Preview the OES Campus Traffic site to understand the details of this year’s Drop-off and Pick-up plans.

• Come early in the morning, before 7:30am, to avoid the traffic line-up .  
• All employees are asked to park behind the gym or at SPARC to keep the upper lot spaces free for parents and visitors

Timeliness for Dismissal - 2:55

To make Pick-up work efficiently during construction, classes will need to be on the curb on time.

Playground Natural Materials

We have accumulated a significant stockpile of tree trunks and branches from the trees that had to be removed for construction. We will be exploring use of these materials throughout the year.  

Temporary Classrooms

All of you who moved classrooms know that painting and cleaning of the rooms should be completed.  You are welcome to come in to set up your room any time.  The week of August 24 is officially designated as room set-up week.  We will have the Lower School Cafe (the Faculty Lounge in Scott House) open all week with caffeine, breakfast treats and cold water.

LS Cafe

The Lower School Cafe, located in Scott House, will be open each morning during unpacking week with caffeine and treats.  Stop by.

Opening Days Events - see email from Mo for details

• Monday - 8/31 - All Employee BBQ - 5:00 - 7:00pm
• Tuesday - 9/1 - Opening Meeting
• Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00
• Opening Chapel - 9:00 - 10:00
• All Employee meeting - 10:00 - 12:00
• Wednesday, 9/2
• Lower School Meeting, 8:00 -12:00
• Teacher Planning, 1:00 - 4:00
• Thursday, 9/3
• Lower School Meeting, 8:00 -12:00
• Teacher Planning, 1:00 - 4:00
• Friday, 9/4 - Teacher Planning, All Day

Classroom Teachers’ Welcome Letters to Students and Families

Plan on sending your letters to families on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd.

Classroom Websites

Between now and when you update your website for 2015-16, please change the share setting to private so we do not confuse parents with last year’s information.  Post your welcome letters on your web sites by Open Classroom Day.  General updates to web sites should happen before Back-to-School Night.  

Farewell

• David Loitz - has decided to commit next year to substituting and seeking a classroom teaching position. We have begun the search for a new teaching assistant.
• Lauren Shaw has accepted a position as a classroom teacher in the public schools.  While I am sorry to have Lauren leave, I am pleased to know she is pursuing her interest in classroom teaching.

Welcome New Faculty and Staff

• Beth Breiten - Kindergarten Teacher
• Jennie Kiffmeyer - Lower School Chaplain and Service Learning Coordinator
• Kathie Kimmy - Long Term Substitute for Kiah in 3rd Grade
• Alfredo Peche - Spanish, PK - 3
• Meaghan Russell - Teaching Assistant - Kindergarten
• Austin Schock - Teaching Assistant - Kindergarten/ 2nd
• Jeffrey Sprague - Interim Technology Assistant
• Chris Thompson - 4th Grade Teacher
• Jessica Wolfram - Interim PE Teacher
• Kate Romanov  - Teaching Assistant - Kindergarten

We will do more thorough introductions at opening faculty meetings.

PROGRAM

Summer Reading

Summer Reading books are in, An Ethic of Excellence.  Those of you who ordered books can find them in your mailbox, and your mailbox you can find in the temporary LS Office in Scott House.

UBD Reminder

Curriculum designs are due by the start of faculty meetings, September 1.

2015-16 Calendar

The draft of the 2015-16 calendar that we started at the end of the year was in the Lower School Library.  If your team borrowed it, please return it to one of the two easels in the library.  Our hope was that all teams/classes would enter their  dates on the calendar by Friday, August 19.  Chris and Lyn will begin entering the calendar into the Faculty Events Calendar on 8/17.

Classroom Schedules

I have drafted the schedules for 2015-16.  The majority of changes are with the PreK, K and Primary schedules.  Both the creation of two PreK’s and the change of PK, K, P lunch and recess times had a ripple effect on schedules. Lyn will email schedules out in Excel today.  Any changes to schedules need to be sent to Lyn so we have an accurate record in the office.

Duty Schedule

To accommodate the new drop-off and pick-up plan, and to cover a more dispersed recess, we have had to add a number of new duties.  We are going to need everyones help to make this transitional year work well for our students. Chris Will email the Duty Schedule out today

Summer Stipends

I hope you enjoyed your time together over the summer, getting acquainted with new team members and developing program.  See below for additional stipend details.

• AFTER the summer stipend work
• Summer stipend payment is contingent on the completion of these two forms

(forms can be found in the LS Important Docs in the Summer Stipend Forms folder):

• Summer Stipend Report – ONE report per Team/Group to be completed by the Facilitator
• Summer Completion Form – EACH Participant completes and SIGNS this form

Old LS Building - repurposed

With the ground broken for the new building, attention turns to repurposing of the current LS Building.  We did not get to discussing this at closing meetings, but ideas for the current LS Classroom and Library spaces are still welcome. Send them to Jon von Behren.  Possibilities:

• Two LS music classrooms
• Design/ Maker Space workshop
• Yoga/ Dance studio
• BS PE space
• Exercise facility
• Music practice rooms
• Administrative offices
• Drama space

Honoring our Rivers - Writing and art opportunity

We would like to extend an invitation to OES students to submit writing and art for publication in the 2016 anthology. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2016 with a publication date in April. For more information as well as entry forms and guidelines, please visit our website, www.honoringourrivers.org. You can also contact me with questions, to obtain a copy of the anthology, or to access our free resources for teachers.

OPERATIONS

Power Outage on Campus Wednesday, August 26th- Stay Home, Please Do Not Come to Campus!

PGE is lined up to do major work on 8/26th. Jon and the Division Heads want to close the campus while this work takes place.

Ordering Supplies for the New Year

Double check with your team and with Miriam about any last minute ordering needs.  

Boxes and Packing Materials

We are looking to save boxes and packing materials for when we have to do it all again and more in June 2016.  Break down the boxes  and stack neatly in your room.  Rod and crew will come around during the week of August 24 to collect them.

Furniture Moving

Rod and Crew have offered to make time to help you move large furniture and heavy items during the week of 8/24.  You will need to request time at least a day in advance.  Try to coordinate with colleagues for efficiency sake.

Materials to Storage

The moving company will return at 8:00am on Thursday, September 3 to remove any boxes, furniture or items you wish to have stored for the year. Each item heading to storage should be labeled with the black moving stickers and have your name on it.  

Access to Room 10

During these early weeks of demolition and construction there will be no access to Room 10. If you absolutely need access, contact Rod, and he will unlock the construction barrier. Be sure to contact him in advance for an appointment. He is a busy man!

Color Printer Copier

We are in the process of installing a new color copier/ printer in the library production room.  It will be faster, more reliable and provide additional functionality than our current machine.  See Brad Kuhn’s email for additional details.

1st Aid

Training is scheduled for August 25 in the US Language Wing.  Contact Rebecca Williams with your questions and to confirm your attendance.  She has contacted you if you need to attend the training.

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.

Classroom