LS Weekly Memo Week 34, April 25-29, 2016

Friday was an action packed end to the week.  Passover Chapel provided opportunities for our students to share an essential story of their faith and to connect the Exodus with those who are emmigrating today.  Thank you 5th grade team, for organizing a great Immigration Day experience for all. Be sure to extend your thanks to Betty Inscore and her volunteers for Teacher Appreciation Day.  How luxurious an hour long lunch seemed.

Best of luck to the 2nd grade team and their students during Hero Speech Week and to all the Lower School Lego builders who have their Lego Show on Friday.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

• The south side of the building now has locations where the exterior battens are in place.  You can get a good sense of the final look of the building.  The idea was to have the wooden finish help nestle the building into the forested background.  See what you think.
• June 30 deadline for packing rooms
• The week of August 22nd -  the official move in week with the LS Cafe open each morning.
• The building will be move in ready before 8/22, and we will let you know as soon as moving in is a possibility.

COMMUNITY

David Off Campus Tuesday - Jury Duty

Chris will be in charge.

How to Raise an Adult - Author Julie Lythcott-Haims Speaks on Campus

Monday, April 18th at 7:00 pm in the Chapel

She was inspiring - engaging, helpful perspective on raising children.  Melanie has shared her notes.

Nancy Teskey’s 8th grade Advisees

Her 8th grade advisory made some fabulous bookmarks which have now been laminated. They would love to come to your classroom, read to your kids, and give each one a personalized book mark. They have about three classes worth of book marks. Let he know if you are interested.

US Student Help

Robin Schauffler has a new team of Upper School students available to perform all types of on-campus service. They’ll do anything—indoors, outdoors, office work, classroom work, you name it. Here's when they're available:

Every Wednesday, 10:20-10:50

Every Thursday, 10:50-11:50

See Robin’s email for more details.

Lower School Teacher Emeritus Position

I am seeking input from Team Leaders and Paula on what teaching Paula might do 2nd - 5th. Talk with them or me to help us form a plan.

Teacher Searches

We are finishing our  initial interviews this week and have begun scheduling finalist visits.

Playground Planning for 2016-17

Wednesday, 9:00 - 10:00 I am meeting with Deborah Pleva to discuss the Sabin project.

Check out the designers of Westmoreland Playground and more: Learning Landscapes

Here is a link to the Sabin School’s project that they did with Learning Landscapes. It was a two-year endeavor! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcs8pvCA-aw&nohtml5=False

Thank You, Pre-K Lunch Helpers!

Thanks to all who helped out in March and April! We have next week covered and some slots filled in May and June.  If you are a specialist and work with these students and are free that period, please sign up to help out! Thanks to all for considering.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

Pre-K Lunch Helpers

Inclusivity in Lower School

Thank you Dori, Claire, Kiah and Lara for providing us with a chance to reflect on Rosetta’s work and to begin imagining what else we might do. I look forward to learning more about Kiah and Claire’s experience with US Culture Shock.

• The journey of 100 one minute conversations
• Listen and answer the question the child is asking
• Make on observation, have on obligation
• Less perfection, more connection
• This is our work

Students of Concern- Sub Folders

I had someone ask me about removing some of the names from this list.  I keep the names on if their behavior listed is still an ongoing concern.  It occurred to me that it was worth reminding people to have some respectfully written notes for substitutes in your sub folder or sub plans, alerting them to possible challenges. It would be important to add strategies and accommodations you use that help student be successful in class.

• 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
• Please remind them before going out to the field that when the whistle is blown they stop the play and players take turns CARRYING the ball off the field.
• It helps to give them an 2 minute warning before blowing the whistle to end recess.

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
• 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

Faculty Meetings

• Inquiry Design Team 3:15-4:15, Janet’s Room
• Thursday, Apr. 28th- Specialists Review Class Placement 7:35-8:35, in the Platt

Scheduling Task Force Needs Your Help

I will leave the schedules up through Monday for any other feedback.

OES Awards - see Chris Schuck’s email for details. It would be great to have some LS nominees for each. Nominations due 4/28.

I.  The OES Staff Excellence Award

II.  Grant for Graduate Studies for Faculty

III. The Mary Stephenson Award

Moving Into Spring Coffees

We began scheduling 30-minute planning meetings (during your grade’s Common Planning Time).  Click on the link below and propose a date for your planning meeting, if I haven’t already done so. Thanks to those of you who signed up on the Google doc  Moving Into Spring Coffees 2016.

Pre-Kindergarten	Monday, May 23rd
Kindergarten	Monday, May 9th
Primary	Tuesday, May 31st
First Grade	Monday, June 6th
Second Grade	Tuesday, May 17th
Third Grade	Wednesday, June 1st
Fourth Grade	Tuesday, June 7th
Fifth Grade	Monday, May 16th

Strings Program - FYI

Due to very low student interest, the Strings Program in MS is ending this year.  Strings will continue to be offered as an ASC in LS ( and may be offered as on in MS too).  Some strings parents are concerned about this change.  Chris Schuck, Ann Sulzer, Nancy Tesky and I are meeting with any interested parents Thursday morning.

Reading the World Workshop at Opal School, Thursday and Friday April 14 and 15

Six teachers (Kirstin, Lauren, Claire, Meredith, Deborah and Erin)  and Chris were off campus to  attend this rich workshop on playful literacy.  Seek them out for responses.

MHCSD Plans  

MHCSD Projects and Needs 2016 spreadsheet

Mt. Hood Climb Service Day and Specialists

Classroom teachers - there will be no special classes in the morning. If you plan to have specialist classes in the afternoon on Wednesday, let your specialist teachers know know.  Specialists - plan on being involved in service all the morning, helping with recess after 10:50, and teaching classes after 11:50.

Lunches for MHCSD

All students and teachers who are directly helping with a class will have sack lunches that day, regardless of whether you go off campus. To help coordinate this effort, Jennie and Kristen will submit lunch orders and will be in touch with all of you about needs for you and your students. Our deadline for submitting lunch orders is Monday, May 2.

Buses for MHCSD - If you are planning on going off campus, we ask that you fill out the proper transportation paperwork for a bus. The earlier it's submitted, the better chance your class will have for getting a bus.

Upcoming Chapel Events

Passover Chapel, Friday, April 22, 2016

Our thanks to Jennie, the children and their families for sharing the story of Passover with us.

Pet Blessing in Chapel, Friday, April 29

During our LS Chapel we will have a pet blessing. Chaplain Jennie is asking families to let her know in advance if a child would like to bring in a pet and what kind. We will also be celebrating April birthdays in chapel this day.

Monday, May 9,  11:50 - 12:20, 1st - 5 Chapel sharing of Mount Hood Story

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.

LAST CALL! 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

Thanks to those who have volunteered their time.  These trips incredible experiences for our students.

OPERATIONS

Use the new catering form provided in the OES ‘Food Services’ website – Catering Form. The catering document can also be found in the “LS Important Docs”.

Recess Equipment

PE has refilled the bags.  Our work is to be sure students collect up the equipment at the end of recess and return the bag to the ball shed.  5th grade has already lost some equipment due to leaving the ball bag out after recess.  2 balls were recovered from SPARC, one deflated ball was found by the bus barn.

Covered Play

We will continue to have ACP be a no ball zone due to the construction fence.  Remind students to be careful in the transition from ACP to the field.  Watch for vehicles.  Be aware of uneven ground.

New Substitute Phone Number

Miriam’s cellphone for substitute needs - 503-939-9120

She will be checking the phone:M-F: 6:00am-6:15am, Sun-Th: 5:00pm-7:00pm

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)

Don’t forget to fill out the Faculty and Staff Household Information

In order to collect accurate information for the School Directory, LS Website listing of employees, and most important to keep updated information in case of emergency, please open the link below and fill out the requested information by Tuesday, April 26th.

We appreciate your timely response:

LS Faculty and Staff Household Information

Please be sure to click the “submit” button at the end of the google form. Question/s, let Lyn know or if you want her to go through the form with you, bring your laptop to the office and let Lyn or Miriam will help you fill out the requested information together.They are here to assist you.

2016-17 Calendar Summit, March 16

We drafted the OES All School Calendar and it is updated.  

Turn Off Overhead Lights, Lamps and Strings of Lights

We are still seeing lights left on at the end of the day. 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.  Many families will be coming through the building in the next six weeks for culminating events.  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.

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.  

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)

•We are changing the May’s GLRT (Grade Level Rep’s and PAL parent meeting) from Wed., May 4th to Tues., May 24th. The calendar was clear of special events when we changed it last week. Please be sure to not schedule anything special for parents on that day.

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)

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.