LS Weekly Memo
Weekly Memo Week 7, September 28- October 2 , 2015
|
I enjoyed hearing you talk about and seeing you engage parents in experiences related to your profession during BTSN. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such committed and skilled teachers in Lower School.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
- Underground utilities are going in. Retaining wall and foundation pouring is underway.
- I now have an extensive construction timeline if you want to see what will be happening when.
- Construction of the covered play area has been delayed due to design issues. Now we are looking at a January completion date.
- Jon von Behren is offering construction updates every other week, often including interesting data.
- 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.
Playground Design with Natural Materials
Let Chris or me know if you are interested in experimenting with more natural materials at recess. We are going to need to make some decisions about the New Building playground this fall and will need to defer some of the design work until 2016-17.
COMMUNITY
2015-16 Chaperone Needs
I want to get an understanding of how many requests we are going to have for teacher chaperones on trips, day or overnight. If there is sufficient need I may ask for folks to take on a chaperone responsibility as a duty. Please enter your Chaperone needs in the 2015-16 Chaperone Needs Doc.
OES Fund Request
Thank you Beth for taking this on for the LS Faculty. See her email for more details.
A gift to the annual fund, no matter the size, is saying YES to OES. I hope you will join me in contributing whatever amount works for you this year. If you have any questions about the annual fund, please seek Beth out and she will be glad to talk to you about it (I am in room 12 in the Lower School).
The link for the payroll deduction google from is here: 2015-16 Faculty/Staff Payroll Deduction - OES Fund.
2nd Grade Chaperones
The 2nd grade has a few upcoming field trips and they would like to invite YOU to chaperone. Upcoming dates include:
Wednesday, September 30 8:15-1:30--Portland Public Art and Transit walking tour
Thursday, October 15 8:45-1:45--Portland Bridges Walking Tour
Tuesday, December 8 exact time TBD--Portland Art Museum
Timeliness - it is a year long theme
Conference Room Hush
We were made aware that when you go to the 5th grade boys bathroom in Scott House (upper level) one is able to listen to the conversation in the LS conference room and in the Health Room (Nurse’s station) , albeit muffled a bit.
Students of Concern
SM in 5th
- She needs to come into class at the regular time, 7:50 - 8:00, ready for the day
- She needs to enter the building and class independently
- She needs to participate in the whole school day; specialist classes, lunch and recess included
- If she is unable to make it into class in the morning she will need to go home.
- If at any time during the day she is unable to participate in the school program she will need to go home
- Alysa will call the office and Melanie, Chris or David will come to get her. Shewill wait quietly in the Nurses Station until a parent comes to take her home.
Upper School Helpers
Once again, I will have a willing team of Upper School students available to perform all types of on-campus service:
Every Wednesday, 10:20-10:50 (note that this is only half an hour & adjust your expectations accordingly!)
Every Thursday, 10:50-11:50
They’ll do anything—indoors, outdoors, office work, classroom work, you name it.
If you can use student help during those hours, please email me a day or two ahead of time, and give the location, the job description, and the number of students needed. I assign tasks on a first-request, first-served basis. You may ask for help as a one-time thing, or for regular
BTSN Tech Help
Special thanks to Jeffrey and Debra for help with tech needs on the big nights this past week. It was fun to see the many ways you all used technology.
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
Mark Heningsen just completed a seminar on pest and has interesting information about the life of yellow jackets. It remains the season of angry yellow jackets so 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.
Monday, October 5 Team Meeting will be dedicated to working our Transition issues within teams.
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
Children got drenched today. Please remind parents and students that with minimal covered area at recess and none for 3rd-5th dismissal they need to bring the proper outerwear 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.
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 the Pep Rally. Plan on 8:10 in the Gym and it lasting fro 15 minutes, but be prepared with some flexibility.
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
- 1. If you need Day 1 or Day 2 ICC training, please confirm your attendance with Jordan.
- 2. If you are eligible and would like to request Day 3 training, send your request to Jordan.
- 3. If you have completed through Day 2 and would like to attend the NWAIS PGD day in Seattle, the deadline has passed.
- 4. If you have completed through Day 2 and do not plan to attend the NWAIS event, please connect with your chair/head/director with respect to your plans for professional development. Many departments have already begun exploring opportunities.
- 5. Enter your plans on the LS PGD October 9 document. Only about 25% of LS faculty had stated plans. You all need to be involved in PGD on 10/9.
- 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.
M 9/28 - HAC Mtg.
TH 10/1 - LS Division- Common Experience: Classroom Design that Supports Inquiry
- 8:40 Ghost Walk- tour without talking. Respond to these questions on sticky notes. Leave on teacher’s desk or take with you.
- What do you notice?
- What do you wonder about?
- What do you appreciate?
8:10 Library- Vertical Group Discussions
- What patterns in classroom design seem to exist or be forming?
8:30 Announcements
M 10/5 - Teams - Student Transition Review
Assistant Teachers Meeting
W 9/30 12:30-1:10 Beth and Megan’s Kindergarten Classroom
12:30 Introductions, time sheets
12:50 New Copier Training in the production room- Thanks, Shelley and Heidi
Author Visit Books
For those of you attending the Mac Barnett/Christian Robinson event nextFriday, October 2nd, please note that due to the number of books ordered we will try our best to get the books to your class by either Friday afternoon and/or Monday morning. Please let your students/parents know that they will definitely receive their book by Monday.
2015-16 Faculty Events Calendar - Posting Deadline 9/25 - PAST
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
Snack Bowls
I learned last week that the use of snack bowls that are hand washed daily does not meet health code. We need to use a recyclable paper cup. Miriam is looking into an affordable alternative that meets health code. Stay tuned for further details. In the New Building you will have access to a dishwasher.
Noise Level Entering and Exiting the Dining Hall
Arlene tells me that the noise level is so great at times, she can’t hear when speaking on the phone. She is also concerned about children’s safety; jumping down multiple steps, hanging on one another, etc.
Please talk to students about this. If noise levels don’t improve, everyone will have to be lead out the back door and around the longer way by MST. Look for duty changes and updates the first week of October.
Sand Box Toys
Half of the Beginning School’s sand toys, now shared with all, have disappeared in just a few short weeks. Shelley has done an amazing job of teaching BS children to care for the toys, many she has had for more than 10 years. She asks:
•Keep the opened box on the ground by the left corner of the shed (consistency matters)
•Sand toys to be used ONLY IN THE SANDBOX, when children play in other areas they tend to disappear
•Five minutes before recess ends, one duty teacher helps children collect toys, return bin to the shed
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.
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
Thanks to all who responded. Look for stickers in your box soon.
Cat 15 Keys - Recess Equipment Shed
Lyn has several. Come get one.
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.
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 Day Rescheduled, Oct. 8th
Let’s hope for dry weather!
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!
Our first evacuation drill was challenging. Maintenance is working to fix the notification issue. It should be loud and clear at our next drill.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment