Sunday, March 5, 2017

Weekly Memo
Weekly Memo Week 29, March 6 - 10, 2017
I hope all your conferences went well. Reach out to an SST member if you want to debrief a conference or discuss follow-up actions.  My special thanks to Kirstin, Chris, Melanie and Ari for attending so many of the more challenging conferences.
Kudos to Jeffrey, Debra and Mike Gwaltney for hosting a great EdCamp conference over the weekend. Over 100 attendees participated in the "unconference", coming from public, private and parochial, Prek-12 and higher ed, urban and suburban schools.


As a collaborative professional community Lower Faculty Employees will strive to:
  • Do what is best for the students
  • Assume we are all doing our best at the moment and our intentions are positive
  • Be present, participate, contribute, include many voices
  • Create a safe space that encourages sharing different opinions, ideas, perspectives
  • Seek understanding, be curious about what others think
  • Express gratitude, joy and encouragement
  • Communicate with compassion, clarity and effectiveness
  • Demonstrate respect
COMMUNITY

OES Auction, Saturday, 3/11 - Like, Totally Aardy Auction
You heard from Hillary. You saw the great class project display. Volunteer, attend or just be thankful for all those who support this great fundraising effort.
Conferences
Many thanks to all who made the conference days so valuable; the teachers who communicated their students’ progress and goals, the assistants who provided supervision of the children, and Extension who provided engaging activities each day.
Changes in Faculty Responsibilities - 2017-18
This year several teachers took on new responsibilities in 1st - 5th grades. Next year PreK and K are going to mix it up.  We will formally announce these changes at the moving up coffees in the spring. I am excited about the professional growth for each teacher and the benefits for student learning.
  • K- Colesie Tharp and Beth Breiten Job Share
  • K - Lauren Endicott
  • K - Deborah Bridgnell - mentoring Lauren
  • PK - Carole Burton and partner
New Employees
Long Term PE sub (Jessica) - Jake Evans, former OES student
Long Term 3rd Grade sub (Tonya) -  Jefna Cohen
Long Term 5th Grade sub (Alysa) -  Caley Peterson
3rd Grade Job Share Partner for 2016-17 - Kathie Kimmy
3rd Grade Job Share Partner for 2017-18 - Suzanne Lee
2017-18 Hires
LS Chaplain - reviewing resumes
2nd Grade Long Term Substitute
PreK Teacher
2nd Grade Teacher
2nd Grade Long Term Substitute
The search has begun. Let me know if you have anyone to suggest who could teach Natalie’s class form April 24 - June 16 and then write EOY reports with support from Natalie.
Communications to Kiah and Kathie
Be sure to include both Kiah and Kathie in any school communications.
Admissions Offers
Admissions acceptances will be sent out on Friday. We have a tremendous number of applicants connected to the school; employee children, siblings of current students, children of alumni. Some will be receiving acceptances, others offer of the waitpool and some being informed that their child is not ready yet. If questions come your way, please direct them to Admissions.
Student Support Team
Check the SST tab or schedule a a time to meet with the team.
Students of Concern
5th - JaSier Ramsey
JaSier swore at recess last week. He has made reparations and will not be allowed to participate in competitive games this week at recess.
5th - Swearing
Incidents of inappropriate language use should be reported directly to the classroom teacher.
4th - Mia Schoenkerman
Mia is having frequent bloody noses. When she has one she needs to go to the office.
Major Lower School Rules
The following infractions are considered serious and could result in a range of consequences including dismissal from the school. Unless otherwise stated, these rules apply to conduct at all school-related events both on and off campus.
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
  • Monday, 3/6 - FLG/ CFG
  • Thursday, 3/9 - Diversity Focus. Tech Check redux.
  • Monday, 3/16 - Food Handlers Licensing/ Open Work

Monday, 3/6 Faculty Meeting
After School Meetings: Monday March 6th
New faculty Cohort:  Mid-year reflection and fellowship   -  US Room 60   3:20 - 4:30
Evaluation Year 1:   No meeting Scheduled but start thinking ahead to PGD opportunities & summer stipend work to further your goals.
Evaluation Year 2:   FLGs meet with groups - Note that May will be the final meeting of these cohorts. Please be prepared do some reflection on your time with your group, to help the new Assoc Head of School consider next steps for your year 3 of the process, including more facilitated, topic-driven groups.
Evaluation Year 3:   FLGs meet with groups - Note that May will be the final meeting of these cohorts. Please be prepared for a reflection and a debrief of your two years together.
Year 4 of the process is a reflection and implementation year - where you collect the work of the evaluation process (goals, reflections, presentations, PGD work) and present it to your Div Head at the end of the next school.
Food Handlers License
We are going to require all faculty and teaching assistants  to get their Food Handlers License. The Monday, 3/16 faculty meeting is set aside for your training.

New Language Materials have been added to the Lodge for emergent literacy to support alphabet skills and early writing. More information and a sign-up sheet for Kindergarten and Primary student small group work can be found here.  If you have questions about the new materials or have students who need additional support with these foundational skills, please contact Kirstin.


Tech Reminders
Please take a minute to run through the Checklist for your Laptop for the week.
If you'd like another printed card like the one I passed out a while back, let me know and I can get you one.
Ed Camp Success
There was a sizable turnout at EdCampPDX on Saturday, thanks to all who donated their rooms and assisted. If you’d like to see the valuable session notes take a look here. I’ll be summarizing it further soon.
Yoga & Mindfulness offerings!
Kathleen Hicks is doing Yoga Calm classes to grades pre-k to 1st. Please contact her to discuss possible yoga experiences for your class. Please feel free to reach out to her: kathleenjhicks@gmail.com
Harvard Project Zero Course: This week = Examining Assumptions in Education
Carole, Colesie, Deborah, Katherine, Kirstin and Chris T are participating in the Harvard Project Zero Course Making Learning Visible. Their first readings are around assumptions in education that we may want to reexamine: one great article they're reading can be found here. From that article: "The world is becoming increasingly connected and interdependent at the same time that many of us are feeling more isolated in our own communities. If children grow up in a culture that values group learning and begin their formal schooling with support for thinking, feeling and acting in groups, they will likely be better able to participate in and practice democracy as informed and caring citizens."

 A similar topic appeared in this Sunday's NYT, Why We Believe Obvious Untruths by cognitive scientist Philip Fernbach and Steven Sloman, professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences. From that article: "What really sets human beings apart is not our individual mental capacity. The secret to our success is our ability to jointly pursue complex goals by dividing cognitive labor. Hunting, trade, agriculture, manufacturing — all of our world-altering innovations — were made possible by this ability." 
Conversations around Race, Bullying and Trauma
Harvard’s Usable Knowledge Project has created a resource called ‘One and All’ to help teachers navigate difficult conversations with their communities. Through this link you can find articles, videos and reflections around the question How can we welcome diverse perspectives and hard conversations?

SST meetings are available on Thursdays from 3:15-4:00 for anyone who would like a whole team approach to supporting a student or students. Please contact your Assistant Head to request a Thursday afternoon SST. Also let us know who you’d like to request to attend.


3 PGD Possibilities
Diversity and Representation in Global Children’s Literature
NCTA and Five Colleges Early Elementary Program: Doors to the World: East Asia Summer Institute. July 9-14, 2017. Priority application deadline: Monday, April 3, 2017. PreK-grade 3 teachers, librarians, and literacy coaches are invited to apply for this institute to be held at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Participants in this 30-hour program will examine diversity and representation in global children’s literature about and/or from China, Japan, and Korea. Participants will consider the histories and cultures of these nations to contextualize selected children’s books. Sponsored by the Five College Center for East Asian Studies and the Five College Doors to the World Project. For more information, visit the FCCEAS website.
Children, Nature and School Symposium
The Intertwine is organizing a Children and Nature Symposium on March 13th at the Oregon Zoo. Please join us for a day of learning and strategic thinking around this effort. We also invite you to join us for a green schools tour the following day (includes lunch).  You can register for one or both events here.
Event details:
Where: Oregon Zoo // 4001 Southwest Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221
Cascade Crest ballroom
When:Mon, Mar 13, 2017, 9:00 AM // Tue, Mar 14, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT
Project Based Learning
Ann Sulzer would like to invite you to join the Middle School as we take a deep dive into exploring how to teach through the lens of inquiry. Eighth grade teachers are preparing to launch the Eighth Grade Inquiry Project (more exciting title to come) next year, a year-long research exploration guided by student interest that is cross-curricular. To better acquaint teachers with the protocols and framing that are helpful for student driven work, the Middle School is hosting Steve Barrett, of the Wildwood School in Los Angeles, to host a day long workshop on Saturday, May 20th.


OPERATIONS
Students are starting to get creative with the dress code. Wearing of hats and non-uniform sweatshirts indoors, non-uniform footwear and exciting headbands seems to be growing. Please review the dress code with your students as needed. A reminder in your weekly parent newsletter/blog posts about appropriate uniform clothing with a link to the dress code may be helpful.
Duty Consistency
We need people to do their duties and do it on time. Too many teachers are left outside alone with large groups of students. If this happens to you, please send a text or student into Lyn and Kathy. They will send someone out and find the duty people who are needed.
Fariss Hall Construction Begins
For the rest of the year the two parking lot side entrances to Fariss Hall will be used for construction access.  Soon, the only access for students will be the entrance facing the Chapel.
Gardening Equipment in Fariss Hall
A collection of gardening equipment is outside Fariss Hall by the back door facing the Chapel. It will need to move. If it is yours, let me know so we can work on a relocation plan.
Field Trips on or off Campus
Inform the LS Office when you take your class on a trip out of the building. We need to know where your class is at all times during the school day.  Take with you what you need; cellphone, 1st aid, emergency forms and more as needed.
Calendar Updates
Update grade level events on the faculty calendar and the Finalsite Calendar.  The spring is a very busy time. We want to be sure all know what is happening when with sufficient time to work through conflicts and plan on attending
OES LS Employee Attendance
For any unplanned absences or tardiness, such as illnesses or emergency situations, whether you need a substitute or not, you must notify lssub@oes.edu. We need to track of all Employees who are off campus on a given day. Lyn sends a monthly report to HR about our Division’s attendance.
Early Morning Supervision
Just a reminder to please wait until 7:30 am before allowing students into the building each morning.  Children arriving before 7:30 should wait outside the building with their caregivers until the building opens.


Schedule
Early Dismissal Plan/ Emergency Dismissal Plan
All LS employees are expected to remain for at least 30 minutes after the scheduled dismissal time to help with student management.  We will plan for the dismissal of faculty after assessing how many students we have remaining.
Employee Resources
A helpful tool is created in the OES website for employees to save time searching different sites when you need to access the basic forms like check request, catering, maintenance requests and other resources. Check out this link:
ADP Tutorial
For help on any ADP related matters: login or registration, password retrieval, or time card approval process, please view this beautiful presentation that Ed Cecere put together.  This is a helpful guide and should answer your ADP related questions.   If you still have problems after using Ed’s helpful guide, please let Veena: iyengarve@oes.edu know.  There is a plan to put the ADP resource link in the LS Employee Resource page for future reference. Stay tune.
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.


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