Weekly Memo
WM 15 & 16, November 20 - December 1, 2017-18
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Two days until a well deserved break and then the three week sprint to Winter Break. Thanks to Kirstin and the 4th grade team for their good work on Purpose to Practice. I hope this helped clarify the purpose of the work and the way forward. Do be sure to review the Grandparents Day notes as the schedule is different this year. There are several notes looking ahead to the week after break in hopes that I will not need to interrupt your break with a WM update.
LS Faculty Norms
- 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
We continue our new Weekly Memo format with repeat items in blue and new items in black.
“As teachers, it should be our goal to provide productive struggle for our students.”
Strategy Keys as Tools for Problem Solving, Herold-Blasius
COMMUNITY
Grandparents Day, Tuesday, November 21
Schedule
- 8:00 - 8:30 - breakfast in gym
- 8:30 - 9:30 - LS Classroom Visits - All students in homeroom for this hour
- 9:30 - Grandparents Choice
- Recess, snack (1st and 2nd, PK-P also?)
- State of Lower School in LS Library
- Specialist visit ( If your class has a special after 9:30 students should go to their special. Grandparents can make their choice; Recess, Special or SOLS)
- 9:45 - Boys Choir to the Upper School Pit for suiting up and warming up
- 9:50 - Girls Choir to the Gym for warm-ups
- 10:05 - Grandparents head to gym for the concert
- 10:15 - 10:50 - Concert in Gym (Melodies, LS Boys and LS Girls Choirs are performing)
Important Notes
- All students are asked to be in their homerooms from 8:30 - 9:30 so grandparents can find their grandchildren with ease.
- See email from David with lists of students singing at the concert.
- Keep track of those who leave early with family
- Take whole class to concert (grades 3-5) or not, and let David know
- We encourage grandparents to follow the schedule of the day. We discourage grandparents from staying all day. Knowing that about 1/3 of the students have grandparents coming, we do want to have the day return to a normal schedule after the planned events.
Giving Chapel Bags and Service Fair
Please remember to send Giving Chapel bags (decorated or un-decorated--your choice!) home with students before Thanksgiving Break. As you send them home, consider giving a brief announcement or having a brief conversation with your classroom about the purpose of Giving Chapel--"As you have been hearing about in Chapel and Gathering, there are many places helping people or animals in Portland. Giving Chapel is a chance for us to help in that work. We want to fill the bag with items that show our heart! The things these places need most is listed on the Wish List attached to the bag."
The Giving Chapel Service Fair will take place on Nov. 28-December 8 in the LS Lobby. Consider visiting to see kid-designed projects you can make in the classroom (or families can make at home) that honor the work of some of our Giving Chapel organizations.
Welcome Back Amy
Amy Rheingans returns from her leave on Monday.
Admissions Visitors
Student visits start after Thanksgiving - Friday Dec. 1st. See Sarah’s email for details.
Akhurst Class Play, 11/30 & 12/1
See TIna’s email to sign up
Gathering and Chapel - Please be seated and ready at 8:10
- Monday, 11/20 - Thanksgiving Chapel (Changed to Monday to accommodate GPD)
- Friday, 12/8 - Giving Chapel
Parent Speaker
Amy Morin, PCL Speaker, 1/13/18 at 3:30 and 7:00
Save the date for Amy Morin, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, who will be on campus on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, as part of PAL's Community Enrichment Speaking Series.
Students Updates
The SST Site holds lots of valuable information which is helpful as we learn student’s history and as a way of communicating student action plans as we move forward. The SST Site is linked in the Weekly Memo and can only be accessed on campus.
Guest Teachers
We have added a number of Guest Teachers and Assistant Teachers to our roster--take a look at the bios for these new members of our community!
Food Allergies
Just a reminder to check the posted menu signs each day in the lunchroom before serving food to children to avoid potential allergens. The Bon Appetit staff has been trying out some delicious new recipes, so new ingredients may appear from time to time.
The Annual Fund Continues
- Thanks to all who have given thus far
- The Fund remains active all year
Upper School Helpers Every Wednesday and Thursday
- Send “help requests to Sandi Lillevik (lilleviks@oes.edu), copy Ashley (scatesa@go.oes.edu)
PROGRAM
Faculty Meeting Follow-up
Thanks for all of your participation at the Faculty Meeting on Thursday, with some special gratitude to the 4th grade team for sharing their work and Kristen H. for documenting our process. The Fishbowl chart, color-key and questions are in the faculty room for temporary viewing, but here are some digital resources for your team access longer-term:
- Culture of Curiosity Slides (includes list of potential community practices)
We look forward to hearing more about what you are learning about each other and your own practice as you delve into these conversations with colleagues.
Faculty Meetings
Monday, 11/20 - No meeting, GPD preparations
Monday, 11/20 - 1st/2nd Strategy Workshop Planning Meeting
Thursday, 11/23 - Thanksgiving
Monday, 11/27 - AS EC3 Meeting
Planning session for 4th grade team and all specialists who work with 4th grade. Look for details from Jeff.
All other faculty are invited to tour the space, learn about updates on space, tools and program
Thursday, 11/30 - Departments & BY/ IY meetings
ERB Testing Begins after Thanksgiving Break
- 4th grade, 11/28-12/1
- 5th grade, 12/4-12/8
- Please keep common spaces and transitions quiet so test takers can focus
Primary Conversations begin after Thanksgiving Vacation
We begin conversations about primary candidates after the break. All who teach K students re invited to attend discussions.
New Travel for School Policy
Several questions have arise about travel for school related reasons. A new Travel Policy will be included in the Employee Handbook by the new year.
All School Tutoring Policy
Note that the Employee Handbook tutoring policy was updated last year. In Lower School, we ask that all recommendations for academic tutoring go through Ari. See excerpt below. “Employees may tutor non-OES students for pay, outside of school hours and off campus, as long as this does not interfere with their school duties. Employees are discouraged from privately tutoring OES students for pay during the school year, except in unusual circumstances, with the approval of their supervisors. (An exception is made for music teachers offering private lessons to students on campus.) OES is willing to help families find outside tutoring help when needed. In no case (other than music) may employees tutor students currently in their classes. “
If you have questions, see David.
Mindfulness - Thank you, Claire and homeroom teachers for supporting this important work
- Claire will teach during Counseling block for 10-15 minutes
- Teachers have kids on rug in a circle at the start to help with time efficiency
- Teachers stay during the practice time to build common vocabulary, incorporate the concepts into your themes, continue practice, listen to your student's experience and take a mindful break for yourself)
- Claire will send follow up resources and exercises to practice
SUMMER FUN AT OES!
Think about teaching in your most casual setting ever...deep-dives into exploration of your choice, very little time restraints, happy students interested in your subject matter, and sunny weather. THAT IS THE OES SUMMER PROGRAMS! "Disclaimer - usually". See Shannon HAcker’s email for more details.
OPERATIONS
ADP Employee Portal
- Be sure to approve timesheet mid-month and at the end of the month in ADP
Wireless Passwords Changing
Look for an email from the tech department about a change in wireless passwords in the next week or so.
Uniform Compliance reminder
Time for a few uniform reminders - Lower School Uniform Policy
- Post copy in your classroom if you have questions
- Shoes appropriate for PE. No Uggs, blinking shoes or wheelies
- Jewelry - watches and stud earrings only. No necklaces, bracelets, hoop or dangling earings
- Hair bands - white, navy, forest green, or Kirk plaid.
Stair Treads are on order
Installation will happen when a few good days come around after the treads arrive at the end of November.
Smartfind Express Subfinder
- Every time you take some time off from work, you need to login & create an absence in the Smartfind Express
- Don’t contact the guest teachers and guest assistant teachers directly. Use Smartfinder
- Do contact your assistant teacher directly if you want ask her or him to lead the class
- Employees’ no pay days and absences in Smartfind are reported to HR bi-weekly
Bus Cost: $50/hr or $2.75/mi
Information Organization
Lice Policy - There have been some changes
Amazon orders - OES Amazon Business Account
Curriculum, Furniture and Students Services Supplies - Contact your division Assistant Head Trips around and off campus - be sure Ls Office knows where you are
Disease Prevention - health department predicting an early and heavy influenza outbreak
Field Trip Budgets - approximately $1500 per grade.
Food From Home - must have approval from the nurse
TIME SHEET -Fill out your timesheet digitally in ADP and approve it twice a month
Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Kirstin, Chris or David by Thursday each week August-June 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.
