LS Weekly Memo
LS Weekly Memo Week 31, April 4-8, 2016
|
We hope you all had a restful and renewing Spring Break. Now on to the excitement of Spring and its inevitable action-packed race to the end of the school year! Enjoy your PGD day working on ICC, FLG, Schedules or other professional development. If you are not in ICC, FLG or Scheduling let David know your plan for the day.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
- Thank you Jon for the tour for 3rd and 4th Grade teams, SST and teachers who had not taken a tours. If you didn’t get to go on a tour, let Chris or David know.
- Part of the point of the tours was to get our heads around furniture. We will need to come up with a prioritized furniture list - need, wish, dream.
- Whiteboard, screen projector decisions are made
- Furniture decisions need to be made by April 15.
- Stop by if you want to look at the plans: floor plan, verticals, utilities.
- June 30 deadline for packing rooms
- The week of August 22nd - the official move in week with the LS Cafe open each morning. We will let you know as soon as moving in is a possibility.
COMMUNITY
Thanks to Miriam and Austin for Great Coverage in the LS Office
Our thanks to Miriam and Austin (and Carole for graciously sharing Austin Monday through Wednesday and the 2nd Grade Team on Thursday) for holding down the fort in the Lower School Office the last before break. Everything ran smoothly, complete with touches of humor and laughter. Many thanks!
New Roles in 2016-17
Paula Hunger, Lower School Teacher Emeritus - Paula is going to be our first ever Lower School Teacher Emeritus, working part time on special assignments, teaching children in 3rd - 5th grade. Schedule and teaching assignments will determined in the new year in consultation with teachers. Some of you might know Paula has been considering retirement for a few years. Knowing she was not done teaching yet, Paula, Chris Schuck and I began exploring ways for her to wind down her teaching career and arrived at the idea of a Teacher Emeritus position. Please join me in congratulating Paula on her new role.
Tonya Griffin joins the 3rd Grade Team
Tracy Arensberg joins the 4th Grade Team
Lower School Teacher Emeritus Position
- Up to 50% FTE
- Paid at current salary with benefits
- Responsibilities to be approved by Head of Lower School
- 1 year assignment
Teacher Searches
We are beginning the search for a new 1st and a new 2nd grade teacher and are in the process of gathering resumes from local and national hiring resources. Kirstin McAuley, Chris Thompson and Chris O’Toole conducted a few initial interviews the week before Spring Break. Let us know if you know any great candidates.
The process:
- Openings are announced and posted. Starting the search in April, we will be considering internal and external candidates at the same time.
- David and Assistant Heads review resumes
- David, Assistant Heads and grade level teachers and conduct initial interviews
- They recommend finalists who will come to campus for daylong visit
- Daylong Visit: Interviews with Grade Level Teams, Team Leaders, SST, Head of Lower School, Assistant Head, and a demonstration lesson
- All faculty who engaged in interviews with finalists provide feedback to David and Assistant Heads
Safety on Campus
The surveillance footage that REbecca Williams showed was quite sobering and reminded us of things we need to do:
- be sure no doors are propped open
- lock your classroom doors
- be sure adults have name badges, building passes or name tags
- Be aware of strangers on campus. Approach them or contact the Front Desk if you are uncomfortable doing so.
Child Inspired Natural Playgrounds, March 21, 2016 from 3 to 5 p.m.
On Play: https://oregonplay.wordpress.com/
Deborah, Carole, Kirstin, Claire, Jackie, Tonya, Chris O’T, Margaret, Jon von Behren and Rod Maynard attended this information-rich workshop on inclusive natural playgrounds for all abilities and how to include children in the design process. Follow these links to learn more about two of the three projects featured in this presentation
A few of us were able to meet afterward to brainstorm next steps.
Stay tuned for further details!
Friendly Reminder: Our Bon Appetit Friends Need Our Support
Any effort that OES employees can provide in the Dining Room toward a thoughtful presence with our student community is greatly appreciated. Specifically, please encourage calm behavior, and remind everyone to clean up after themselves. While those endeavors are regularly important, they matter all the more these days."
Thank You, Pre-K Lunch Helpers!
Great news! We have the month of April covered, with the exception of Wed., April 20. Sign up, if you haven’t done so! Your support is greatly appreciated.
How to Raise an Adult - Author Julie Lythcott-Haims Speaks on Campus
Monday, April 18th at 7:00 pm in the Chapel
PCL is bringing author to campus.
This was in the New York Times this past week...another point of view!
Ashwin Wins Geography Bee
Congratulations to former Lower Schooler, Ashwin Sivakumar, who won the Oregon state Geo-bee for the second year in a row. http://patch.com/oregon/beaverton/oregon-geography-bee-back-back-wins-sixth-grader-oregon-episcopal-0
4th and 5th grade Students
7:49 am – the place for the students to wait is on the covered walkway.
Before 7:49 am – everyone must go to ACP or the library and join their peers
Students of Concern
- HB - K- CB
- Has difficulty keeping up with the flow of things, can be disruptive. Let Carole and Chris know if he is having difficulties. We want to be consistent in our support.
- OB-K-CB
- Mourning the loss of her father
- Giving her lots of love and support
- Attending full days again and generally doing well.
- Please keep Carole and Chris in the loop if challenging behavior arises again
- Read if you supervise the field at lunch recess for 1st and 2nd Grade
- First Grade boys are having heated arguments about soccer and football. One person on the field at lunch recess should oversee their games
- Try to be alert, and help problem solve before things escalate
Updated entry, please be sure to read if you teach or supervise Second Grade
- JB and JP- 2G
- JB and JP’s relationship has greatly improved
- The boys can now play together if they want to join the same game
- The boys have the option of sitting apart or together in specialists’ classes
- They will continue to transition from class to class and recess apart (JP at the front of line, JB toward the back of the line)
- Please let Tonya or Chris know immediately if there are any issues reported to you
- SG - 2 JB
- Let Jackie or Chris know if he is having difficulty in your class
- If he gets stuck and disrupts the class, let Chris know- call the office
- Specialists, we value your input and appreciate your feedback. Please input any rating and observations at the end of each day into the weekly googledoc. In addition to the daily communication with his family this document is also sent daily to Sam's outside support team. They appreciate the specific examples we provide and work through them with him (accomplishments and challenges). Thank you.
- Fourth Grade World Cup Soccer Games
- Track and Field Duty People, please continue to keep a close eye on these games. They made a plan:
- Gather at the beginning to organize teams. They will divide into two mixed ability groups with one soccer goal OR play one large game of soccer using two goals (no larger than 8 or 9 students)
- Teachers out on the field, please continue to monitor this situation. Last week I had to remind them of their agreements.
- SS and LB- 5 TA
- L and S have had challenges of late. Please keep an eye on them and let Tina know if you experience L saying or doing any unkind things- as well, if S is doing anything to annoy L.
Major Rules - If a student violates a major rule, Chris and David need to know and need to be part of the determination of consequences and reparations.
- Verbal abuse, physical abuse, bullying, or inappropriate physical touch.
- Lying, deceit, or other dishonest conduct
- Destruction of property belonging to the School, its personnel or another student
- Stealing
- Inappropriate language
- Possession or use of weapons or any object that is used in a threatening manner
PROGRAM
PGD Day, Monday April 4th
- ICC Training Day 2 and 3 - see email with details from Jordan Elliott
- FLG - see email from John Holloran for details
- Schedulers - see email from David with details. Plan on 9:00 - 3:30 in Platt.
- All Others - send email to David with details of your PGD plan.
Thurs., Apr. 7 Lower School Faculty Meeting- Review Models of New Schedule, 7:35-8:35
Reading Diversity Tool from Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance is offering a free webinar about the Reading Diversity Tool to help you best select culturally responsive and inclusive materials for your classroom. It's Tuesday April 12 at 4:30 central tIme which makes it 2:30 our time. . .a tricky time, but perhaps a few of us can participate. Seems a great way to build on our Rosetta Lee visit.
Upcoming Chapel Events
LS Easter Chapel on Friday, April 8. Our theme will be stories of resurrection from the Christian tradition. For those who are interested and able to attend, the US students and faculty will be celebrate Easter on Tuesday, April 5, from 9:50-10:50am. The chapel service will include a Eucharist and a sermon preached by Bishop Michael Hanley of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon.
Beginning School Chapel gathering on Wednesday, April 6 from 8:15-8:45am. The featured story will be Eric Carle’s Draw Me a Star which echoes some themes currently being explored by our friends in the Beginning School and invites us all to consider the ways we are co-creators with God as well as the joy and beauty that can occur when we live into our gifts as human beings.
Please be in touch if you have any questions about upcoming Chapel events. I hope each of you had a relaxing and rejuvenating spring break and, for those who celebrate Easter, a meaningful Holy Week and joyful Easter season.
Blessings,
Jennie
Mt. Hood Climb Service Day
Our thanks to Jennie for leading our plans for a day of service on Wednesday, May 11th. As we discussed at the faculty meeting, the sooner you submit your plans and requests, the more likely you are to get all of your requests granted, including transportation. Mt. Hood Climb Service Day Sign-Up Spreadsheet
Lamb Endowment
It is time for the second round of applications for the Lamb Endowment. Attached is the purpose statement. A few examples of the types of project that we have funded before can be seen in the link below. The second round deadline is April 18, 2016. Follow this link to fill out the application.
|
Friendly Reminder: Scope and Sequence Work
We had hoped that the pertinent information from your three UbDs would be transferred to the scope and sequence document by the end of February. Please be sure to get this task done in the coming week. Department Chairs will meet after Spring Break to look at these Pre-K-12 scope and sequence docs.
Moving Into Spring Coffees
Yes, it is that time again. We’ve had to make some changes due to overnight trips. Plan on MIC planning sessions when we return in April. Thanks to those of you who signed up on the Google doc Moving Into Spring Coffees 2016
Send DRA AND Fountas Pinnell Reading Assessment Data to Lyn
If you haven’t done so, please take a few minutes on Monday (goal was to have them in by Friday) to gather and send your mid-year reading assessments to Lyn. We’d like to review the data and make plans to support students when we return from spring break.
Chaperones for Spring Overnight Trips
We have a chaperone plan. Trip leaders will be reaching out to you to confirm availability. We are going to need more help than usual as we have some overlapping trips.
OPERATIONS
Evacuation Drill - Quiet and Calm
- Quietly walk to evacuation site
- Sit or Stand in classroom line awaiting instruction
- The older Lower School students need to set a better example
2016-17 Calendar Summit, March 16
Keep Red Recess Packs Stocked
Keep your red recess packs with you on duty and well stocked with First Aid supplies (bandaids, disinfectant wipes, gauze, a baggie for used gauze and gloves). First Aid supplies can be found in the Lower School Office Nurse’s Station.
Ants - Work has been done. Let Maintenance know if the ants are back after the break.
Turn Off Overhead Lights, Lamps and Strings of Lights
Be energy and safety conscious by turning off all lights when you leave at the end of the day.
Common Areas: A Friendly Reminder
Please keep Common Areas tidy. Store cardboard boxes and piles of students’ artwork out of sight. If you clean out paint pots in the Common Area sink, please clean up after yourself. Sarah still takes visitors on tours. We want to make a good impression.
Important Safety Issue: Visitors Must Have Visitor Badges or Stickers to Enter the Building
All visitors must sign in and get a visitor badge or sticker (we use them when we run out of key cards).
If you see someone at the door wearing a visitor badge you may let them in. Otherwise, politely say “I’m sorry. You need a visitor’s badge or sticker to enter the building.” David plans to put a friendly reminder in the Wednesday Express.
Recess Equipment Bags Left Out at the Bottom of the Hill
Bags were left out once again this week. Please be sure to have students or a teacher return the bags to the shed. If you are short on time, leave the bags by the shed door, and a kind soul can get them into the shed.
Assistant Teacher Substitutes
I have several new subs in the process of doing their background checks. Please know that we are in a pinch, and we will need everyone to be flexible.
Duty Changes Coming
As expected, as soon as I published the new duty schedules, I got a flurry of emails saying that revisions were needed. Look for the revised documents in your email.
Emergency Drill Substitutes
In the future these people will be the designated helpers if David and Chris are unavailable.
· Scott Corris – in charge of public announcements and dismissal
· Class attendance – Lyn and Tracy
· Faculty & Staff attendance – Ari and Miriam
· Debra Thomas stays with Donna (Schilling’s class)
Friendly Reminder About Calendar Updates
Please remember to get your important dates on the Faculty Google Calendar, and where appropriate, Anne’s All School Calendar when parents need to be notified.
Believe it or not, while there are more than 3.5 months left in the school year, the calendar is filling up quickly with special events.
Before you go on Spring Break, be sure to get your culminating events on the calendar(s). I will create a Google doc that lists all of these important end-of-the-year events.
We hope this type of calendar will help us all make good choices as to when we want to host a culminating event (for families, buddies and other classes), and help plan which culminating events you hope to attend with your classes.
Calendar Updates and Conflicts
Lyn and I reviewed the calendar on Friday and we found a number of issues.
•Learning Celebrations- Please do not schedule when there is a parent meeting (Wednesday and Friday mornings)
•List all events and field trips (with destination and times on the faculty calendar, no destination on Anne’s All School public calendar) on the Google Faculty Event Calendar AND Anne’s All School Calendar.
•If you change the date of an event, be sure to remove the old date from the calendar(s)
Change in Lunch Routine
Kelly needs at least 72 hours notice if you need to change lunch plans (not eat in the dining hall, need sack lunches, etc)
Students on Covered Walkway and Loop Road Pick Up by 2:55
Thanks for the extra effort. It makes a difference.
Friendly Reminder About Sub Requests
Miriam continues to get requests late at night. Please do not text Miriam after 7pm. Contact her:
Evening: Sunday through Thursday 5:00 - 7:00pm
Morning: Monday through Friday 6 - 6:15am
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