LS Weekly Memo
Week 6, September 12-16, 2016
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Thank you for a great opening week. We had a tremendous turnout for Open Classroom, weathered the first rainy opening day in my 21 years and ironed out a number of things to help each day run more smoothly. People on the Friday building tours were so impressed with the space, how you all had set it up and the way the students were using it. I am so appreciative of starting with the three day week. Best of luck with the five day week. We, Chris, Kirstin and David, are doing our best to be available to help figure out issues, challenges opportunities that arise. Let us know how we can help.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Gratitude - Thank Jon, Rod and crew whenever you have a chance. They have been so helpful.
Maintenance Requests
Starting today, Rod would like us all to return to the usual maintrequest@oes.edu protocol for maintenance requests. The Maintenance Log will become a view only document.
Safety/ Security Issues
If you have any issues related to safety or security be sure to do a maintrequest and note that it is a safety or security issue. You can help by being sure doors and windows are closed and locked when you leave.
Blinds
The installers returned on Friday. If you know of still missing blinds - maintrequest
Windows and Doors
If you have either that are hard to open or close or are scraping against floor, sill or frame - maintrequest ASAP.
Furniture Update - we think we are done
Let David know if you think otherwise.
Furniture Reimbursements - Jon and I will negotiate who pays for what. We will be able to cover most of what you put on the list.
Rugs Rectangles
Several people requested rug squares for their classroom or commons. The rugs have arrived and are in the storage room. I have emailed those who requested rugs. All are welcome to take what is left, starting on Tuesday morning.
Classroom Setup
An amazing transformation of a beautiful building into an inspiring learning environment. I wish you could have heard all the positive feedback from parents and visitors on the community tours--thank you!
Set-up Reminders
- All windows need to be fully operable to support cooling of the building. As you are setting up be sure to keep your windows fully operable.
- All blinds and shades need to be fully operable for safety. Be sure to keep sills clear of obstructions.
- The exposed concrete plays a critical role in heating and cooling the building. Keep it exposed.
- The building was designed to be our most energy efficient building on campus. Please limit the electricity demands you are adding to the building:
- Personal refrigerators are particularly inefficient
- CFL and LED
- Turn off lights
Storage
- Please use the clear plastic storage bins for items placed in storage
- Rolls of paper, colored paper and poster board are getting moved from Room 10 nd old LS Library to our storage area.
Climate control in the New Building
You received a training from Jon. Use your windows and vents well. Maintrequest if your vents or windows do not function properly.
Lacrosse Storage Under Exterior Stair
Jon is working on a athletic bags/ lacrosse stuff storage solution for under the east exterior stairs.
COMMUNITY
First Chapel of the Year, Tuesday, 9/13
As we discussed during our scheduling time, Chapel and Gathering are Lower School Community events. We have designed our schedule so everyone is available to attend both. David would like to see everyone attend Chapel and Gathering. Specialists, please sit with your classroom buddy from Opening Day. Contact David is you are not able to attend Chapel
Transitions and Duties
We have compiled results of the learning from the first week of school regarding transitions and duties into the revised transitions document. We will continue to build upon this document as we continue to fine-tune. The goal is not to have every detail and nuance recorded, but to have an accurate account of routines that we hope to be consistent amongst all staff. This document could be reviewed before covering a new duty, given to subs, and used as a starting point next year.
Remember to check the duty schedule for which duties you have before and after school and at morning and afternoon recesses this week. We continue with the temporary lunch/lunch recess schedule this week while classroom teachers continue to eat lunch with their students daily. Late Start Thursdays have their own morning duty schedule staffed by Assistant Teachers while lead teachers and specialists are in meetings. Thank you, Assistant Teachers, for making this time possible! We still appreciate everyone’s help with dismissal duty, cars and buses this week.
The duty assignment schedule for Late Start Thursday has been updated. Assistant Teachers should review and note changes based on what we learned last week. Please submit any feedback/suggestions to Kirstin.
Emergency Drills
Our first emergency drills take place this week on Wednesday, September 14th. Clipboards with green/yellow sheets will be distributed early this week. For an explanation about these sheets as well as details about this week’s Instructional Drills, please review this document, Emergency Drills Guidelines.
Senior Entrance, Monday, 9/12
As they have done for the past several years, the seniors have invited Lower School to attend the Senior Entrance on MOnday. Bring your class to the sidewalk around the Belltower at 8:00 on Monday if you wish to witness the Class of 2017’s grand entrance.
Community Building Tours, 9/16
Thanks for the welcome and patience you extended to our tour groups on Friday. Kirstin, Chris and David will be leading tours of the building from 8:30 - 10:00 again on Friday, September 16.
Donor Recognition, Saturday, 9/17
The donors who donated the money to make our building possible are being invited in for a special celebration on Saturday night. We will be touring them through the building. Please tend to some extra tidying before you depart on Friday. Thank you.
The Confluence
Wondering what Chris and Kirstin have been up to all week? In addition to trying to smooth out some of the details of our days, they have also been humbled and gratified to be in your rooms as learners and documentarians. To get a peek into what Kirstin saw in our first day as well as the types of connections to pedagogy and our mission that Chris and Kirstin hope to help illuminate for families, visit their collaborative blog The Confluence.
Religion Classes and High Holidays
Callie will be away from school for Rosh HaShana (10/3) and Yom Kippur (10/12); please note if your schedule is affected and let Callie know if you’d prefer to cancel or reschedule your class.
Educational Support for Students
See Ari to review files of students with known learning differences.
Students to know
Rebecca Schindler in Jackie Blake’s class had surgery this summer on her foot. She is in a non weight bearing cast throughout September. Her nanny is coming in for support during lunch and lunch recess. Jackie appreciates extra support getting Rebecca to her specialist classes and to recess. Please remember she is not to be picked up nor helped in the restrooms, only the nurses or family can help with these supports. Please contact Jackie or Chris T with questions.
George Willmott in Erin Moulton’s class should be allowed to read during recess. His parents and Erin are working on a long term plan to help support George but for right now, they would love if duty teachers do not intervene at this point in time. That may change over time and then I'd notify folks of any changes. At this point people commenting to him about it causes great frustration to George. Please contact Erin or Ari with questions.
Colton Prater in Tracy Arensberg’s class had an appendectomy last Tuesday. His appendix was highly infected before surgery so his return time is unknown and he will need extra support upon return including a break from PE for at least 3 weeks. Please contact Tracy or Melanie with questions.
Health Alerts
Elaine has put your students health alerts in your mailbox. Please remember to treat this information with strict confidentiality. This information is confidential and protected by law.
Epi pens are no longer kept in the first aid kits for walks to the wetlands or for field trips. Many of you do this already, but it will be important to always gather any student prescribed epi pens for your outing to carry with you just in case of an emergency. There are two stock epis kept in the small project kitchen-soon to be moved to the kitchen when a cabinet is installed.
Food from Home
We are fortunate to have a food service that is so committed to tending to the dietary needs of our students. Rarely, we find ourselves in a situation where a student needs to bring food from home rather than use the school’s food service. We will consider this option only we have done the following:
- Worked in partnership with the parents and Bon Appetite to test in-school options
- Had a parent meeting including a Bon Appetite representative and the OES Nurse
- Received doctor’s statement about the medical issue and proposed interventions
Class codes and names.
KA Bridgnell
KB Breiten
KC Burton
1A McCall Petke
1B Kucera
1C Whitmore
2A is Schilling
2B is Blake
2C is Simms
3A is Griffin
3B is Moulton
3C is Johnson Mounsey
4A is Arensberg
4B is Taylor
4C is Sathyaraj
5A is Tasha Busick
5B is Alysa Williams
5C is Tina Akehurst
Sub Hiring
We are starting to look for substitute teachers for the upcoming year. If you know of someone who you think would be a good addition to our sub team, please invite them to send their resume to lsteacher@oes.edu . Chris and Kirstin are conducting initial interviews this week.
New Substitute Procedures 2016-2017
- We are no longer using the substitute cell phone number-do not call or text
- Do email requests to lssub@oes.edu
- Kathy will check this email box at 6:00pm and 6:00am. You may send the email as soon as you know you need a sub.
- Kathy will email teachers and subs as soon as the assignment is made.
- Only for morning of emergency on the way to work needs-after 6:30am. Send a text to Kathy Finn-Brennan at 503-989- 3737
PROGRAM
Volunteer Needs -
I trust you sent your requests to Sarah or you let her know you had no volunteers needs for September. supdx05@gmail.com. She will post volunteer needs once she has heard from all classroom teachers. The timeframe is September 14-October 7th.
Please include: name of activity (i.e., lunch helper); date(s); time of shift (start and end); how many volunteers needed; and description of activity. Attached are documents detailing the volunteer information for each classroom for last year. There are two documents for each classroom: "Scheduled Jobs" and "Projects". These can be used as a reference to generate volunteer requests for the current school year. Over the course of September, you and your room representative can meet to discuss volunteer needs for the rest of the school year, and the room rep will enter those into SignUp.
Extention
Kati Stenstrom and here team are working out some of the details of their new program. Kathy Finn-Brennan and she are working on efficient and accurate communication between the LS Office and Extension. Kati is putting together an Extension FAQ and will email it to you all so we all have a base level of understanding about the program.
Service Learning Materials
If you found any materials (gloves, etc.) that belong to Service Learning (gardening gloves, garbage bags, etc.) in the course of the move, please let Kristen know where they are, and she will come collect them and consolidate them into the Service Learning storage area. She would like to begin an inventory of supplies next week. Thank you!
PGD Priorities
Look for an email from Chris Schuck. The basic prioritization is:
- ICC Day 1 and 2
- Strategic Plan Task Forces
- Department or LS Team initiatives
- Other PGD - NWAIS All SChool Conference, Restorative Justice task force (see email from Ann Sulzer), other regional conferences
PGD Possibilities
Faculty Meetings
Monday, 9/12 - No Meeting
Thursday, 9/15 - Department/ Team
Monday, 9/19 - FLG/ PGD - See John Holloran email for details
Gathering Friday September 16th 8:10-8:40
MS is eager to come and see the new building as well as connect with old teachers. This will be an informal DEAR gathering with classes in their rooms and MS students in the halls, with the possibility to mix available but not required. This is an opportunity to build strong reading presence in the school culture to benefit both MS and LS.
We are not having a LS focused gather because David, Kirstin and Chris will be leading tours this Friday, our buddy partners have not been solidified, and therefore we thought this option was a low key solution to starting a gathering routine in a hectic beginning of the year. The specialists are working on a plan for the 23rd which will begin our gatherings as a LS.
OPERATIONS
Safety
- Post your emergency evacuation route in near an exit in an obvious location
- Post your Emergency Procedures flip chart near your desk in an obvious location
- Bathroom Storage - no permanent storage in any of the classroom bathrooms due to ADA and emergency guidelines. Temporarily putting wet boots and hanging wet jackets in the bathroom is fine.
Snack
Snack will be stored in a large storage cabinet located on the ground floor near the stairs.
Shirley will deliver snack to each affinity commons. Please indicate where in the commons you want snack delivered.
Cheese
In an effort to reduce the number of mini-refrigerators in the new building we will store cheese in the following areas
PK, K, P - Teaching kitchen refrigerator
1st, 2nd, 5th - Faculty Lounge refrigerator
3rd, 4th - TBD
Calendar Event Updates
These are the 2 main LS Calendars:
1. LS FACULTY CALENDAR (also known by some of you as the LS Faculty Google Docs calendar). This is our internal calendar and is not visible to the public or to the families.
Type of events that are posted on our LS Faculty calendar - all events or activities happening in your grade or department not requiring parents/families attendance and all divisional meetings.
2. LS EVENTS WEB CALENDAR (technically known as "Final Site" calendar) - this is the calendar on our main OES website: LS Events Web Calendar - this calendar is visible to the public or to our families! All events submitted to this calendar are reviewed and approved by the Head of School Executive Assistant.
Type of events that are posted on the LS Events Web calendar – events or activities in your grade or department requiring or inviting our parents’ attendance, and events like trips* for information purposes.
* For security reasons - when submitting a trip event, don't mention the specific location of the trip, rather post it as "2nd grade field trip", etc... you can mention the location of your trip in your classroom website or in your email to the parents.
IMPORTANT: Faculty or Staff hosting an event is responsible for submitting request for posting an event into the LS Web Calendar. This is to ensure accurate event information.
NOTE: this calendar information can also be found in the LS IMPORTANT DOCS.
Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Kirstin, Chris or David 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 maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.
Archive
Utilize the archive for previous Weekly Memo.
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