LS Weekly Memo
Weekly Memo Week 6, September 21-25 , 2015
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Congratulations on making it through the first full week. I hope routines are becoming smoother and more efficient. Thanks for helping make the picnic such a success. Best of luck with BTSN.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
The crane is gone. Foundation work will begin with form construction and cement pouring in the coming weeks. I now have an extensive construction timeline if you want to see what will be happening when. Generally:
Concrete wall construction begins this week
Covered Play construction begins end of September
Erection of steel and wood framing for the LS Building - begins mid- November
Roof Construction begins in late January
Schedule subject to change
Construction Opportunities
Jon von Behren would like inquiries about the construction project to go through him rather than directly to Kristen Fallin, the project supervisor for SKANSKA.
Let David and Chris know if your class is working with a construction exploration.These will be great opportunities for stories and photos to share with donors and the OES community.
Construction Observations and Question Board
Tracy has offered his bulletin board outside the library as a place where construction observations, questions and project can be shared.
Playground Design with Natural Materials
We have the opportunity to engage in the design of the natural play spaces on the playscape surrounding the new building. Start thinking how your students and you might want to be involved. The trunks of the evergreen trees that were around the demolished buildings are stacked behind the second house to the right of the bus barn, if you are interested in going to take a look with your students.
COMMUNITY
Timeliness
- Transitions are getting better - to and from recess, lunch and the field
- Please focus on getting students out on the walkway and ready for pick-up at 2:55. This is particularly important for K-2 as delays here cause problems with LS, MS and US pick-up. If we are late, we make everyone late.
BTSN
Tech help is available. Be sure to do a run through of any presentations before hand. Though scheduled from 6:00 - 7:30, do not feel you have to fill the time. I would shoot for no more than an hour of presentation and Q & A.
Whistle Signals
For as long as we use the whistle system follow the protocol below.
- 1 blast to end recess
- 3 blasts for an emergency
Yellowjackets
It is the season of angry yellow jackets and yellow jacket nests hidden in the ground. Please be aware as you explore the campus.
Student Support Team
Know we have begun are weekly meetings and have time slots available for teachers. Reach out if you want to consult about a student.
Transitions for 2015-16
The Transitions Document has been updated according to comments added to the doc.
Key Features:
- Designated adult leads children during transitions
- Designated adult does final sweep of ACP, Field and Porto-potties to ensure no child is left behind
- Each duty team will need to determine who the designated sweeper is and indicate on the Duty Schedule so substitutes know
- Adult monitors all crossing of roads by students, including at Drop-off- and Pick-up
- Each duty team will need to determine who monitors the cross walk
- Adults are attentive to timeliness for all transitions to class, recess, lunch and dismissal
- It is quite likely that we will need additional people for some duties. If you are willing to take on an additional duty, please add your name and preferences to the Extra Duty doc. Thank you.
- We need to practice routines with our students. We will make minimal changes until the end of September. We are striving for simple consistency..
Attendance
Brad and Jeffrey are working on the Change of Plan function. Until it is up and running we will stick to the paper process.
- Every class should have the paper copy of the attendance and after school plan every Monday.
- Pick up your copy in your mailbox by Friday afternoon.
Every MORNING
- Pre-K – 3rd grades – deposit your paper attendance in the black form bin right outside the Library by 8:10 am. Lyn will come an pick up the paper attendance for entry
- 4th & 5th grades – send 2 students to the office and submit the paper attendance to Miriam by 8:00 am – enter by the front door and not in the LS Lounge back door
Every AFTERNOON
- At 2:20 PM – Miriam will pass around the after school plan changes to classrooms. Be sure to let Miriam know if you are dismissing students from a Specialist class. She will deliver the changes to the Specialist.
- Keep your class attendance list for the next morning
As always – email to lasattend@oes.edu every time you receive an email from parents about after school plan changes or advance absences.
Whistles and Air Horns
With so much construction noise on ACP and the Field, be sure to give your whistle a single strong, long blast to announce the end of recess. We have purchased two air-horns that will be in the shed in case the whistles are not loud enough.
Rain Coats
With minimal covered area at recess and none for 3rd-5th dismissal remind all to bring raincoats to school.
Community Communications protocol
If you are inclined to send out an All School e-mail please check with David first. We want to be sure we are using this function wisely.
BTSP
It was a grand event and a fine time for folks to get to know each other. Thanks to Francis Phillips, Chair, Sandra Cost, Co-Chair and a fleet of volunteers for making the picnic such a success.
Fall Parent Partnership Coffees
Coffees begin the week after BTSN. Click on the link below to review dates, possible agendas and who typically is invited to attend. Team Leaders will meet with teams to explore possible fresh ideas on what we might offer in this first round of community-building coffees.
Stay tuned for details in the coming week.
Walk-for-Fun and Fitness
We are on for 10/2. Let’s hope the weather cooperates
Homecoming
It is also on for 10/2 with Boys and Girls Soccer games, a parade and half-time fun.
LS will only be participating in Spirit Day on 10/2. With our later start to the school year and so many transitions being new, a week of no-uniform seems too much.
US is working on finalizing the pep rally, likely happening at either the beginning or end of the day.
Classroom Website
Be sure your site is up and running before BTSN. Thanks to many of you have already done so. Simply posting a welcome, class picture and schedule can be a good start. Add you class agreements when they are ready. Ask for Tech help if you need it. The expectation is that websites are updated at least every other week.
LS Office as Communication Hub
Remember that from 7:30 - 4:00 each day either Lyn or Miriam are in the office. They are our communication hub for minor emergencies and issues.
PROGRAM
Record your PGD plan for Friday 10/9 by clicking the link above. All faculty are expected to engage in meaningful professional development on this day.
- Those who have not completed Day 1 and Day 2 of ICC training are expected to do so
- There are several spots available for folks interested in day 3 ICC training
- The NWAIS All Schools Conference at Lakeside looks interesting. We will look to register in bulk at the end of next week, 9/25. Be sure to indicate on PGD Plan doc if you want to spend Thursday night in Seattle as the school will cover the cost, depending on number of folks interested.
- The NW Film Study Center is offering a PGD day to teachers on digital film making. It's a great technique for integrative teaching and learning. You can check out their site at: http://nwfilm.org/school/classes/term/187/
Visual Thinking Strategies at Lewis & Clark College. Learn how to facilitate VTS image discussions, explore the philosophical foundations of the method & hone your practice of paraphrasing, linking and neutrality. This course also provides the opportunity for some action research & analysis of student writing. The course includes a full day at the Portland Art Museum on Friday, October 9 from 10a-5p and three Saturday workshops at Lewis & Clark College from 9-noon on November 21, February 27 and May 7. You can choose to register for graduate course credits & receive 15 CEUs/PDUs and 1 graduate credit from Lewis & Clark OR non-credit for 15 CEUs/PDUs.
- Other ideas - send them my way
M 9/21 - Team/ Department Meeting (check with Team Leader/ Department Chair)
TH 9/24 - NO LS Faculty Meeting
M 9/28 - HAC
TH 10/1 - LS Division
Supporting teachers in the implementation of Bridges will be Tracy’s highest priority this year. He has put a lot of thought into how to make the year work. See linked above for his articulation his goals for the year.
Author Visit
Please note that the venue for the Ben Hatke visit (3-5) on September 24th has been changed to the Chapel due to the number of classes attending. If you could arrive at12:50-12:55 it would be much appreciated. The Mac Barnett/Christian Robinson (K-2) visit on October 2nd will also be in the Chapel. Please try to arrive around 12:40 for the12:45 start time (unless you have already let me know a different scenario). Judy Schachner will present in the Library.
2015-16 Faculty Events Calendar - Posting Deadline 9/25
Chris and Lyn are updating LS Events calendar on a weekly basis.
Schedules
Any changes to schedules need to be sent to Lyn and me so we have an accurate record in the office.
OPERATIONS
Lunch and Dismissal Duty Next Week
We’ll return to our regular duties this week. Please let us know if there are any challenging situations that arise with fewer people on duty. We have several folks who have volunteered to take on an additional duty. And did we mention - EVERYONE MUST BE ON TIME FOR DISMISSAL AT 2:55!
Locking Doors
We are working on getting the timing of doors locking just right. Please do not prop open doors. If you find a door propped open, please shut it. If a door locking schedule is off, please email Robbi Garvin, garvinr@oes.edu.
OES Car Stickers Needed
Jordan Elliott, Upper School Head, checks the parking lots at the beginning of the year to make sure that US students are parking “legally” in their reserved spaces. He observed that many cars do not have stickers and wondered if all Lower School faculty and staff have stickers. If you don’t have a required parking sticker, please sign-up below. Look for it in your box in the coming days.
Cat 15 Keys - Recess Equipment Shed
Lyn has placed a Cat 15 key by the 1st aid station near the LS Library for all to use. We will have 10 Cat 15 keys available for any who wish to have one Monday after lunch.
Extension Cords
The Fire Marshall says - USE OF EXTENSION CORDS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASSROOMS.
You will need to replace extension cords with surge protectors with multiple plugs.
Bring Cell Phones to Recess Duty
We would like you all to bring your cell phones with you when you go out to recess duty. Please have Miriam’s direct line on speed dial 503.768.3143. Let us know if you choose not to carry a cell phone, we’ll figure something else out.
After School Classes Begin Monday, Sept. 21st
Kati, our new After School and Summer Program Director and Sherrie, her Assistant, may stop by your classes ever so briefly on Monday to introduce themselves.
Our after school class and bus pick up plan for younger students:
Juidi- Comes by around 2:50 to pick up Beginning School students. Juidi could you stop by the BS classes Monday some time during the day to introduce yourself to our young friends?
Debra or Ari - Meets First and Second Graders at the Tech Office door, library door
Third through Fifth Grade walk down the back walkway and enter the gym via the front door by the covered walkway.
Classroom Cleaning
As custodians get into a routine, email Bill Peoples if you have compliments, questions or concerns, peoplesb@oes.edu.
Pictures Taken Thurs., Sept. 24 and Friday Sept. 25th, Don’t Forget Your Forms
Hope for sunny or dry weather.
The Teacher collects the filled out picture forms from the students not the office. The Teacher will then turn in the class picture order forms to the photographer during the actual picture day. Some students may have ordered on-line, and not need to submit a form.
Safety - Blinds
Be sure your blinds are functional in case of emergency.
Bus Safety
Please sign up this weekend if you haven’t already done so!
Above is the link to the Fire and Earthquake evacuation routes. Most importantly, in any emergency you are going to have to use your best judgement about the safest route. Let me know if you have questions.
Emergency Drills
As in the past, you will not be notified about the date and time of our emergency drills. We want this to be authentic, spontaneous and efficient.
Rebecca Williams, our Safety Coordinator, informed me that the state of Oregon requires that all students have a minimum of 30 minutes of classroom instruction around emergency drills per year...above and beyond the actual drill.
Please take time early in the year to run through what a fire drill evacuation, earthquake duck and cover and evacuation and lock-down would look like. This is especially important this year, given we are in different spaces with very different conditions.
If you have a student(s) who are have extreme fears around these drills let Chris know, and she will give you one week advanced warning.
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.
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