LS Weekly Memo Week 38, May 23 - 27, 2016

As the end of this year approaches (pace yourself, there are still 3 and ½ weeks left) I am incredibly appreciative of the time we take to help our children reflect on the great growth and excellent work they have done.  Thank you for giving your students time to reflect on their good work after the big event; the celebration, performance, installation or presentation. The third grade play was inspiring. The students had clearly done a great deal of research, gained an appreciation for the multiple perspectives of history and knew their play had real purpose.  The Prekindergarten installations were magical, allowing parents and their children to walk through a year of learning together, marveling at the growth over the course of the year and experiencing the curiosity, wonder and excitement of learning together.  The Primary celebration showcased the integration of art, music, technology and literacy, as well as demonstrating the great growth of each class member’s understanding of themselves and their place in their community.

On to PreKindergarten Moving into Coffee, Lifer Lunch, Discovery Day and 1st grade Learning Celebration.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

• One more tour option, Tuesday, 6/21 in the afternoon
• June 30 deadline for packing rooms
• Robin Schauffler has offered US student help for packing/unpacking. Contact Robin if you could use some help
• Rod has packing materials. Let him know when you are ready
• Moving trucks are tentatively scheduled for the week of July 25.  Kudos to SKANSKA and Jon. Teachers may get in a early as August 1st.
• August 22nd -  the official move in week with the LS Cafe open each morning
• We are making final decisions on furniture (what we need and can afford) and playground equipment (minimal)
• Gender Neutral Bathrooms - After reviewing plan with Team Leaders and Jon, we are going to have two gender neutral bathrooms in the LS Building, not including the gender neutral bathrooms in the classrooms PK - 2. Bathrooms by floor
• 1st -
• gender neutral bathrooms in PK, K, P classrooms
• Gender neutral bathroom adjacent to Dining Commons
• Boys, Girls, Faculty bathroom in utility core
• 2nd -
• Gender neutral bathroom in 1st, 2nd classrooms
• Gender neutral bathroom in utility core
• Boys and girls bathroom in utility core
• Faculty bathroom in LS Office
• 3rd -
• Boys, Girls, Faculty bathroom in utility core

COMMUNITY

Lower School Assembly, Friday, May 27

Our next Lower School Assembly will be Friday, May 27. Please sit with your buddy in the gym by 8:10. We will start with a brief introduction to the work of Andy Goldsworthy and to natural materials mandalas. Buddy pairs will then go out around campus to designated locations and create collaborative sculptures. The activity is meant to be peaceful and reflective and quiet. Please encourage your students to only use natural materials that are on the ground; do not pick living things. We will not regather after the activity, but rather, teachers can decide when the classes are ready to go back to their own classrooms.

In order to be efficient and spread out our work, I have designated 10 locations around campus where you and your buddy class could work. Before Friday, please sign up on the spreadsheet below to choose your location. I tried to find places where natural materials would be readily available, and which are close to the gym to reduce travel time. However, if your classes have a connection to another place and you want to go there, please indicate that on the spreadsheet.

https://docs.google.com/a/go.oes.edu/spreadsheets/d/1jN2Gd56kjnnmCiBu1-0yHXjdw7uqNBYoIHQO4RBDyw8/edit?usp=sharing

The Mask You Live In

Thanks to those who could make it. It was a powerful documentary on the challenges boys face growing up.  Ann Sulzer has a copy if you wish to see the final 30 minutes or you can stream through Netflix.

3rd Grade Musical

The 3rd grade team and Emily Stone did amazing work with their students, researching, writing and rehearsing their own Portland history play.  

MHCSD: It's a Wrap!

• Please go to the MHCSD feedback form and let them know what you think.
• Great photos are in the shared MHCSD 2016 All-Employee folder

Chris O’Toole - Back on Tuesday, March 24

She will read  and respond to email at least once a day and hopes to return Tuesday, May 24th.  Please contact Lyn if you need support and she will have Melanie, Ari, Jennie K or David assist you.

Bouncy House Fun

Thanks for keeping it a secret.  All enjoyed the surprise, PK - 12.  Thanks Jordan, Deri and the US.

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.

Packing Help

US students available, now and during the summer. Contact Robin.

Thank You, Pre-K Lunch Helpers!

Still need a few. If you are a specialist and work with these students and are free that period, please sign up to help out! Thanks for ll your help. Pre-K Lunch Helpers

Students of Concern- Sub Folders

Remember the SST site has helpful information.

See Chris if you have questions. She keeps the names on the list if the behavior listed is still an ongoing concern.  Remeber 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

• 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.

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

Students not Returning in 2016-17

The following students will not be returning to OES next year.  Treat this information confidentially, as we do not know which students have been told nor how comfortable they are with the decision.

Students Not Returning 2016-17 as of 5/22/16

1st

Scarlet Ganes - relocation

Brooke Gilson

Rebecca Laakman - relo

Elsa Swanson - relo

2nd

Mako Jindai - relo

Kianna Meyer

3rd

Ben Blumenthal - relo

Lincoln Weiler

4th

Zorian Chakraborty - relo

Hanako Jindai - relo
5th
Andrew Reveno - relo

6th

Andrew Kashiwagi

Will Owen

Ashley Schroeder

Hannah Swanson - relo

PROGRAM

Summer Stipends - Due Monday, May 23

Please use the link below to submit requests to your DEPARTMENT CHAIR/ Team Leader by end of day Monday, May 23. Summer Stipend Request Form 2016

Faculty Meetings

• Thursday, May 26, 7:35 - 8:35 - Team Meeting
• Thursday, May 26, 3:15 - ??? - Charlton Room
• Scheduling Task Force Summit
• Thursday, June 2, 7:35 - 8:35 - LS Faculty Meeting
• Schedule model presentation

Closing Faculty Meetings

• Thursday, June 16th, 8:30 - 11:30am - Celebrating the year that was

Breakfast at 8:00.  Meeting starts at 8:30.

• Friday, June 19 - Monday, June 20 - report writing and proofing
• Tuesday, June 21, 8:00am - Reports Due in PCR
• Tuesday, June 21st, 8:00am - 12:00pm - Looking ahead to the year that will be

Moving Into Spring Coffees

We have begun 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 - MS Library - Note Change of location	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

Student Panels at Moving Into Coffees- Please send Chris the names of your ambassadors and the best times to meet with students

Chris will prepare students for their roles as panelists. She plans to meet (20-30 minutes)  with them on the Thursday or the Friday the week before the coffee.  They don’t need to prepare anything written, just be mentally prepared with some responses to the questions she will pose.

She will give each student a note to take home to their parents explaining their roles.  

Teacher Searches

Thanks to all who toured and interviewed finalists last week. Be sure to send in your feedback forms. David is checking references.

Class Placement

We have specialist feedback, parent requests and your reflections to go over during the 3rd round of class placement discussions.

Playground Planning for 2016-17

We have a lot of play space to work with around the new building.

Check out the designers of Westmoreland and Sabin Playgrounds and more: Learning Landscapes, Michelle Mathis.

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

Discovery Day for Primary through Second Grade Students, Thurs., May 26th 12:15- 2:30

• Sarah Berglund and Ashley Bingham, fabulous Chair and Co- Chairs, will provide name tag with students workshop assignments
• Session One @ 12:15 Students gather in the gym, find their workshop sign and leader
• Break for yummy snack and recess from 1:15-1:30
• Session Two @ 1:30 gather in the gym, find their workshop sign and leader
• 2:30 return to class. Youngest children should be escorted by workshop leaders.

Chaperones for Spring Overnight Trips

4th Grade trip next week.  Another first, a trip to OMSI’s new Camp Gray.

OPERATIONS

Be on Time for Dismissal

Packing and Unpacking of Rooms

Rod has materials. Let him know what you need. US Students available to help. Contact Robin Schauffler.

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”.

Important: Be Observant and Proactive at Recess

Recess Equipment - Collect it up

Covered Play - no ball zone

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)

2016-17 Calendar

OES All School Calendar and it is updated.  

Common Areas: A Friendly Reminder - Please keep Common Areas tidy

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.

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.