WM 28

Weekly Memo WM 28, March 5 - 9, 2018

I hope your conferences went well.   Do reach out to an SST member if you would like some help with post-conference follow-up. I am looking forward to 5 days in a row with students and without a threat of snow.

Lower School Agreements

• 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 Weekly Memo format with repeat items in blue and new items in black.

COMMUNITY

Gathering and Chapel - Please be seated and ready at 8:10.
Lower School Chapel Schedule for 2017-2018
Chapel 3/6: 
Gathering 3/9: Gathering
Chapel 3/13:
Gathering for Peace, 3/14, 10:00am*

School Safety Response - Faculty Training

We will discuss the training plan at Thursday's faculty meeting. The basics of it are:
Lockout Drill - Before Spring Break
Active Shooter Scenario - April 2, PGD Day
Crisis Response Drill - August Faculty Meeting days

LS Gathering for Peace, 3/14 in response to National School Walkout
We will discuss how we might do this at the faculty meeting on Thursday. 

Shrek, The Musical

Wow, what an amazing performance. Kudos to OES Lifers Harper Hale, Noe Johnson and Ella Menashe, and the whole cast ( including several Lower Schoolers) for putting together such a wonderful production in such limited space.

Admissions Acceptances go out Friday, 3/9
This Friday Admissions sends out acceptances. As is true every year, several connected families will be offered a place in the waitpool. If you get questions, please direct them to  Sarah Ross-Bailly.

OES Auction - 3/10 Volunteer or Attend
I hope you enjoyed seeing all the auction projects on display in the LS Lobby, The Auction is this Saturday. I know they are still in need of volunteers. There may even be a spot our two left f you want to attend.

Author Elise Broach
We will welcome author Elise Broach to campus this Monday.  If you have signed up to bring your class, please meet in the Chapel and be seated and ready to listen by 9:15. Her presentation should be about 45 minutes. Content-wise, she's planning to create a picture book/story structure presentation focused on her latest book My Pet Wants a Pet. It will include how she got started writing, favorite childhood books, how she comes up with ideas, components of a great story, and then the specific creation/revision process for her new book. Thank you Lara Ingham.

Recess Duty
Some questions arose during conferences about recess activities and supervision. Thank you for tending to your duty and actively supervising the play spaces. Are there better ways fro us to help children how to engage in play that is safe, fun, fair and kind?

Juidi Alongi 
Welcome back. This week she will be here half days. Next week she hopes to return full time.

NW Regional Cup Stacking
Stephanie had over 70 participants in the cup stacking tournament this past weekend. Ask her about results.

4th Grade Opening

The search has begun. Let David know if you have any recommendations.

Student Updates

The SST Site contains valuable information that is helpful in understanding a student’s history and action plans. You may want to review the entries in the site before writing a child's report. The SST Site is linked in the Weekly Memo and can only be accessed on campus.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meetings

Monday, 3/5 - Department/ CFG

Thursday, 3/8 - Safety and Security

Monday, 3/12 - Dr. Gary Isenberg; Understanding Learning Differences -A  Neuropsychological Perspective

Chinook Artist and Vanport Mosaic Exhibits

Thank you 3rd grade team, Dori and Margaret for bringing these two exhibits to us. 

Conferences

SST meets Monday morning. COntact an SST member if you want some support as follow-up to a conference.

Yes Brain

We meet Tuesday, March 6 from 7:30-9:00 in the LS Library. Please join us! 

Admissions

Decision meetings continue with offers of enrollment being sent out on March 9th.

OPERATIONS

Faculty Contracts

Tammy is getting ready to send them out. See Peter's letter for details.

• Lower School Contracts on or around March 9
• Middle and Upper School Contracts on or around March 16
• We ask that you electronically sign and return your contract by Monday, April 2.

Prompt arrival
Remember, we all agreed to ensure we ended our class/ activity in time for student to transition to their next class on time. If you are late you will likely make someone else late,

Duties

You need to end your class in time to allow you to make it to duty on time. For example, you need to end your class before 10:50 in order to make it duty at 10:50. Prompt arrival to your lunch/recess duty is appreciated.

Weather Challenges
None. I see a snowless week at long last.

Classroom Budget

• Check your classroom budget shared by Lyn online. Review the budget entry and if you have questions, let Lyn know.
• Do not wait until late April to order classroom materials. Fill out the order form online in the LS Common Forms & other Relevant Information. Let Kathy know if you need assistance with the order form.

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.