Weekly Memo
WM 17, December 4-8, 2017-18
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Congratulations to Tina, Emily and the students for their performance of “Oh My Gods”. What a great special event to accent the first week back from Thanksgiving Break.
This week the 4th grade sets off on Tuesday to the sun and snow at Mazama Lodge, participating in the first ever Lower School winter overnight. Wednesday, the 2nd graders share and celebrate their good work researching important places around Portland. Wednesday night is the annual Advent Service of Lessons and Carols. We end the week with our annual Giving Chapel and day of service by our 5th graders. Thank you Kristen and the 5th grade team for all your good work preparing us for this special day.
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.
COMMUNITY
4th Grade Overnight Trip
The 4th graders wet out Tuesday into the sun and snow at Mazama lodge.
Thanks to all who have taken on an extra duty. We still need a 4 more duties covered. Please see if any will work with your schedule.
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.
Giving Chapel, Friday, December 8, 8:10am
Giving Chapel is just around the corner! Here are some details to hold on to as you move through your week:
Giving Chapel Service Fair is open now through December 8. We invite you to visit the Fair and read over the information about our Giving Chapel agencies. While you are there, consider picking up directions for kid-designed projects that your class could do to honor the good work of these agencies. Service Learning will cover the cost of your supplies. We have extra fleece for pillows, and extra cards for Spanish learning games all ready to go, so if you wish to make these projects with your class, it would be easy to do so.
Tuesday Gathering will be a chance to wrap up our conversations about the gifts that these organizations share with us and with the greater Portland community. It might be a good chance for you to continue this conversation in your classroom. Have you heard of any organizations or topics that have touched your heart?
Melodies Choir will be singing at Giving Chapel. They have been told to check in first with their classroom teacher (by 7:40), leave their coat, and then bring their Giving Chapel bag with them to Amy's music room for warm-up at 7:45.
On Giving Chapel morning 5th Grade students will be available in all K-2 classrooms to help your students carry up their bags when your class comes up to Chapel.
Extra Giving Chapel bags are in the LS office (above the mailboxes) if any student is missing one.
Seating at Giving Chapel will be assigned based on this chart. Signs will also be on pews. Students will be singing from red Chapel books, and there will be a paper program for teachers/parents. Parents are welcome to come to Chapel, and there will be reserved seating in the back for them.
Thank you for the work you are all doing to make this event a meaningful service learning opportunity.
Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
The annual service is Wednesday, 12/6 from 6:30 - 7:30. The service honors our Episcopal tradition, the musical offerings are beautiful and attendance is optional.
Giving Season
Each December we have the opportunity to support families in need from Whitford Middle School. This is an extension of our engagement with the school through the English language learner after school tutoring program and the four-week summer day camp program. This year we have gift tags in the business office and the lower school office. If you would like to celebrate the holidays by providing a gift for a family please take a tag from the tree, purchase the listed item, and return the tagged item to the tree by Wednesday, December 13, 2017.
Please stop by Fariss Hall on December 14 and December 15 between 9-2 p.m. if you would like to wrap gifts. Our thanks and gratitude to Robin Barnstead-Long and Kathy Finn-Brennan for being our treekeepers.
Admissions Visitors Season
We had our first Admissions visitors on Friday with many more to come.
Please find the updated (and working) Observation Guidelines for Student Visit. Again, you will receive the visit paperwork folder in your mailbox a few days before each visitor, but please bookmark this link if you wish to complete your observations electronically. Also, note the specialists have their own feedback form;
Specialist observation form.
Akehurst Class Play
Congratulations Tina, Emily and the cast for a great play; great process, writing and research, acting, message and some wonderful humor.
Gathering and Chapel - Please be seated and ready at 8:10. Note several changes to regular routine.
Tuesday 12/5 Gathering
Friday 12/8 Giving Chapel
- Tuesday 12/12 Regular Chapel
- Friday 12/15 No Gathering--St. Nick’s Chapel at 1:30
- Tuesday January 2 No Chapel--ease into classroom routine
- Friday January 5 Welcome back/Epiphany 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.
LS Holiday Party
Monday, December 11 at 3:15. Lyn has sent out our POTLUCK assignments. You are also invited to bring a small gift, valued under $20 (wrapped) to join in our Yankee Swap game.
PROGRAM
Faculty Meetings
Monday, 12/4 - LS Faculty Meeting 3:15 - 4:15
Thursday, 12/7 - PGB
Monday, 12/11 - LS Holiday Gathering
Thursday, 12/14 - LS Coffee Prep
Winter Coffees -
- PK/K - Jan 5 - PK/K 2016/17 Coffee Presentation
- P/1 - Jan 12 - P/1 2016/17 Coffee Presentation
- 2nd/3rd - Jan 8 - 2nd/3rd 2016/17 Coffee Presentation
- 4th/5th - Jan 22 - 4th/5th 2016/17 Coffee Presentation
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.
ERB Testing
- 5th grade, 12/4-12/8
- Please keep common spaces and transitions quiet so test takers can focus
Lesson Plan Reminder
When you leave lesson plans for Guest Teachers, please note that their day ends at 3:15. Your plans should indicate this--Guest Teachers are expected to work on brief notes to you about your class during non-student contact time in the day or in the moments after dismissal, but they should check out from the office at 3:15 pm. Thank you for your help with this detail!
OES Google 2 Factor Authentication requirement
It is time to require the use of 2-factor authentication for all of our Google accounts. This type of increased security will initially require you to confirm that you are the authorized user of the account by requiring you to provide a second method of verification. A text message to a phone number, an app on a smartphone or a list of one-time login codes are all available avenues to verify your identity. We want to give you some time to enable this yourself before we start enforcing the policy. Here is the Link to get you started, it has more information about the process and on this Link it shows the different ways of getting your personal codes.
After your initial authorization all users are required to re-verify every 30 days. This may have an impact on the way you normally operate because it means you will need to plan to have access to either:
a smartphone with an app
a phone that can receive a text or
one-time login codes for your account
In order to avoid delays that may impact your planned workflow.
Please sign up for this extra level of security as soon as possible to avoid issues when we start enforcing this policy early next year. We know some of you will have questions, and we are here to help. Please either open a ticket with oeshelp@oes.edu or connect with your divisional tech coordinator. Failure to enroll will shut you out of your account after we enable enforcement of the policy on Thursday January 24th.
Primary Conversations
We have had initial conversations about primary candidates in two of the three K classes. All who teach K students were invited to attend discussions. If you were unable to attend please send feedback about any possible any students who you would like us to consider for Primary.
Bridging the Museum and the Classroom, December 10
The Portland Art Museum has expanded the popular Poster Project and created eight, new, free posters this fall. Posters feature art across the Museum’s permanent collection by artists from Argentina, Syria, India, Oregon, and beyond. Join us for this workshop: Deepen your knowledge of the original works. Make connections to school tours. Learn strategies for teaching writing, science, critical thinking, and more through art. Take away activities, lessons, and posters—available free to all educators.
5:15 p.m. Refreshments in the Miller Gallery
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Teacher-led workshops
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Discussion in the galleries
Summer Teaching Opportunities - Extension
Kati and her team are actively developing Extension to be a true extension of our school. 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
Complete your time cards in ADP
Substitute Teachers
Be sure your lesson plans specify that work hours are 7:30 – 3:15 pm.
Food Service
Kelly is always juggling the desire to provide great food and service with cost management and waste reduction. Three things that could help Kelly and the food service team.
- In the Dining Commons, Kelly will put out an extra pitcher of milk that a duty teacher use when the milk is all gone from the table. Please promptly return the bonus milk pitcher to the food service area for others to use.
- When children are eating more than the anticipated amount of an offering, Kelly will call up to the kitchen to get more. Please be patient while we wait for more food to come down.
- Help reduce waste by proving moderate portions to children and encouraging them to eat what is on their plate.
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.
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