Sunday, June 10, 2012

Welcome to Week 38, our closing week of school. Best of luck with the final three days with your students.  We have much to be proud of with so many accomplishment. Please note that this last communication will cover events and important information up to June 19th, our last official day together.  

Meetings and Events

DATEEVENTSLOCATION
Monday, June 11th, 3:15 pm



8:30-1:30
AS Faculty Meeting:  Update on Benefits for Next Year

3rd Grade Trip to Old Town Portland
Dining Hall







PDX
Wednesday June 13th
7:15-9am

9:30-10:45

11:15

Labyrinth Walk

LS Promotion Ceremony

Dismissal

Gym

Chapel

BS and Lower School
Thursday, June 14thReporting Writing
First Half Completed
Home or School
Friday, June15
9 - 11:45am

12-1:30

1:30
LS Faculty Meeting


End-of-Year Celebration

Packing or reports
LSCH


Thai Roses

School or home
Monday, June 18


4:00 pm
Proof Reports with Colleagues

AS Faculty End-of-Year
Celebration
Home or school


Raccoon Lodge
Tuesday, June 19th
8:30 - 10:30

10:30 - 12:00

12:00 -12:30


12:30 -2:00

LS Faculty Meeting

AS Faculty Meeting

Closing Chapel

Closing Lunch


DVR
Dining Hall
OES Chapel

Dining Hall

COMMUNITY

Supervision of Lunch and Recess
Last weekly there were several incidents of unkind or disrespectful behavior at lunch and recess.  Lets all be extra vigilant this week to help the year end succesfully.

Water Works Concern
Ambitious excavators removed large flat stepping stones from paths around Aardvark Community Park. It is surprising that supervising adults didn’t catch this. Please keep an eye on WW  when on duty and be sure stepping stones don’t make their way into WW. If you do find stones at WW have students replace stones on one of the parths.  

Friday’s Luncheon
As a special thank you to all fro doing so well will a challenging year, we are inviting you all to lunch at the Thai Roses.  Due to limited parking we will need to car pool to our luncheon destination.  Colesie and Jenny have kindly offered to drive two OES mini buses which will carry 28 passengers.  The rest of us can car pool. We will load cars and buses at 11:45 in the main lot. Bring your walking shoes if you want to walk back to campus after lunch.

Moving Into... Spring Coffees
Our thanks to classroom teachers and specialists who presented at these coffees. I’ve heard many rave reviews from parents. Parents find this preview of the grade ahead informative and helpful.  Thanks for your time and talents!

Laura Harley
Please join me in congratulating Laura Harley for her appointment as a 3rd/4th grade teacher at the Forest Grove Community School.  While I am sorry that Laura will be leaving OES, I know she is ready for taking on her own classroom.

Time Capsule
The contents of the AFP Time Capsule will remain on display in the Lower School Library through Monday.  Drawings and pictures from each 1991 Lower School class were placed in the capsule.  Unfortunately, much of the contents was ruined by water damage.


PROGRAM

LSCTF Discussion
We discussed progress on the continuum, end of year faculty meeting and the role of the LSCTF for next year.


OPERATIONS

Friendly Reminders About Next Week’s Events and Deadline
A Note about Prepping for Meetings (see below)  
We understand that everyone is in the throws of assessments, end-of-year events, and report writing, and probably can’t imagine how you could find time to prep for meetings. Don’t worry if you can’t find time in the coming days to prep. Folks in the Curriculum Task Force felt that colleagues would like to have the “heads-up” so they could prep if they had the time.

Wednesday, June 13 - Last Day of School
Promotion Ceremony for K-5th Grade, 9:30-10:45.  
School Dismissal at 11:15

Thursday, June 14
Report Writing day

Friday, June 15
LS Faculty Meeting - 9:00 am - 11:45 Wrap Up the Year - LSCH
Optional PREP for this MEETING:  If you have time before hand, think about what worked well, what was difficult and what could be improved (think two ways: big picture- the entire year and closer look month-by-month).

Tuesday, June 19th   
8:30- 10:30am, LS Faculty Meeting, Looking Ahead 2012-2013
Optional PREP for this MEETING
•If you have time, come prepared to look ahead and plot out  your grade level team and specialists colleagues’ big events, informances, trips, culminating events, etc.
•We’ll use the grade level colored stickies to plot this out in general terms, not necessarily with specific dates. We’ll do that in August.

10:30 -  AS Faculty Meeting
12:00 -  AS Faculty and Staff Closing Chapel
12:30 - AS Faculty and Staff Closing Luncheon

Wednesday, June 20th
Finish room packing

Thursday, June 21
Seismic Upgrades Begin in LS Classrooms!   

Room 10 Needs Work - Fire Marshall
The Fire Marshall has very clear requirements for the clean-up of Room 10.  The basic guidelines are everything needs to be on existing shelves to maintain clear egress of the room and access to utility closets.  An 18” space between ceiling and storage must e maintained for the sprinkler system. If you have anything on the floor in Room 10 find a place for it on a shelf.  If you cannot find space clearly label it SAVE, Teacher Name, DATE.

LS Yearbooks
Thank to Agi Mottern and volunteers we have another fantastic LS Yearbook.  Pick up your copies in the Faculty Lounge on Tuesday.

Push to Celebrate Birthdays
We understand that there have been a flood of summer birthday celebrations in the last weeks of school. This must cause a lot of distractions. Please consider these as options for summer birthdays next year:
•Celebrate half birthdays during the year
•Celebrate summer birthdays in the merry month of May
•Consider having a special summer birthday breakfast or lunch hosted by all of the summer birthday celebrants in May or June. Parents with summer birthday children plan this event and provide food, beverages, etc..
 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Welcome to Week 37, the last full week of the school year!    

Meetings and Events

DATEEVENTSLOCATION
Mon., June 4th, 3:15 pm




6:30 pm
ASCC Meeting - Department Chairs & Administration
NO FACULTY MEETING

LS Handbell & 3 - 5 Choir spring concert
Room 60




OES Chapel
Tues June 5th, 8:00 am

10:50-11:50



2:00 pm
2nd grade MIC

EchOES Writing Celebration- REHEARSAL!

Kathy Layendecker - Bon Voyage!
LS Common Hall

LS Library



Platt Global Room

Wed June 6th, 8:00 am

9:45 am


3:15 pm

3rd grade MIC

2nd grade Portfolio celebration

EchOES LS Writing celebration

LS Common Hall

LS Library/2nd grade classrooms

LS Library
Thurs June 7th, 7:30 am

9:00 am

6:00 pm
LS Faculty meeting

4th grade MIC

5th grade class only - promotion dinner
DVR

DVR

Covered area
Fri., June 8th, 8:00 am5th grade promotion REHEARSALOES Chapel


COMMUNITY

June 1st: What a Community Day
Kristen, Scott and Dave, thank you all for many memorable assemblies this year. Though it was sad to see Aardvark Fun Park come down on Friday, it was certainly time. Does anyone know if they found the time capsule? Let’s look forward to the next chapter in our Beginning and Lower School building and play structures.

Our thanks to Michelle Tubbs and the PE team for another great Walk-for-Fun.

And of course a thanks to Jenny Cleveland for ending the day with the Eucharist service.

EchOES Celebration - Wednesday, June 6 at 3:15
Practice on Tuesday, June 5 from 10:50 - 11:50
Those who attend practice will have priority on the day of celebration. Those who don’t attend may not have the opportunity to read their work. Please remind your students before sending them off to recess and lunch.  Thank you to Lara, Heidi and the US EchOES Activity students for all their efforts to help our students celebrate writing.

Hiring
We have made an offer to a wonderful kindergarten teacher.  We will announce her officially once we receive the signed contract.

PROGRAM

Last Friday’s optional AS Meeting
I was disappointed at how few of you showed up to learn about the OES identity work.  Of the 80 plus people there I believe there were two LS faculty present. We need to make a stronger showing in support of our school, particularly as we prepare to get the community excited about building a new Lower School.

Lower School Faculty Meeting, Thursday, June 7th 7:30-8:30am
DVR
End of Year Logistics
End of Year Meeting Topics

LSCTF
6/7/2012
Literacy Check in - Continuum
EOY faculty meeting agenda items
Next year - Social Studies Themes and Inquiry

AS Faculty Meeting on Benefits Next Monday at 3:15
This meeting will present important new information about medical benefits. Please plan on being there.

Ordering of Consumable Materials and Classroom Supplies
Jenny will email a link to School Supply with instructions on how you can access your order from last year and create a new order for this year.  
Please let Jenny know what you need in terms of math and literacy materials before June 29th. She will place all orders the week of August 6th when we return from break.

Learning Celebrations
There are many learning celebrations coming up in the next week. Please be sure the details are listed on the Beginning and Lower School Calendar. David and Chris would like to attend as many as possible.

Stipends
I have adjusted stipends so they fit our budget. You will receive confirmation of actual stipend days. I appreciate your tremendous interest in developing the program over the summer.  Let Lyn know the dates of your stipends so Chris and I may participate when possible.


OPERATIONS

End of Year

Wednesday, June 13 - Last Day of School
Promotion Ceremony for K-5th Grade, 9:30-10:45.  
School Dismissal at 11:15

Thursday, June 14
Report Writing day

Friday, June 15
LS Faculty Meeting - 9:00 am - 12:00 - Wrap Up the Year - LSCH
Lower School End-of-Year Party 12:00 - 1:30

Monday, June 18
Proof-read reports
Pack-up Rooms
All School/Faculty and Staff Celebration, Raccoon Lodge - 4:00pm - ????

Tueday, June 19th   
(There are 2 different timelines for this day. Anne Weston will confirm the correct one.)
8:30- 10:30, LS Faculty Meeting, Looking Ahead 2012-2013
10:30 - 12:00 AS Faculty Meeting
12:00 -  AS Faculty and Staff Closing Chapel
12:30 - AS Faculty and Staff Closing Luncheon

Wednesday, June 20th
Finish room packing

Thursday, June 21
Seismic Upgrades Begin in LS Classrooms!  

Monday, May 28, 2012

Welcome to Week 36. A short but busy week ahead. Be sure to keep track of calendars and special event plans.  See below.

Congratulations to the Third Grade team on their successful Pioneer Overnight at Nate’s Creek. Our thanks to Paula, Kiah and Sally and all of the helpful chaperones that made this a meaningful experience.  As one exuberant 3rd grader put it as we headed back to the cabin on Thursday night,”This is the best day of my life!”.

Meetings and Events

DATEEVENTSLOCATION
Tues., May 29th, 8amMoving Into Primary CoffeeCommon Hall
Weds., May 30th, 8amMoving Into First GradeCommon Hall
Thurs., May 31st, 7:30am








11:30-1
NO LS Faculty Meeting - time maybe used to finish work on the reading continuum or further coordinate the end of year events.



Lifer Lunch: Pre-K, Seniors and their Families









Common Hall
Fri., June 1st, 8:05

8:30


8:45

2:10



3:15
LS Assembly

Farewell to Aardvark Fun Park

Walk-for-Fun

Eucharist Chapel for Primary through Fifth Grade

AS Faculty Meeting: OES Branding
Gym


Aardvark Fun Park

Track and Field

OES Chapel



Dining Hall




COMMUNITY

GOBS
Once again, our parent volunteers with the leadership of Lara and Heidi, did a fantastic job of rounding up gently used books.  What a delight it was to see the happy faces of children whose backpacks were filled with GOBS summer reading.  

Walk-for-Fun and Fitness Assembly and the All School Gathering: Aardvark Fun Park Retires, Friday, June 1st
A Message from Kristen Haferbecker about Friday’s Assembly
I am just writing to sum up several conversations we have had in the past few days regarding the final assembly of the year--Friday, June 1. Due to the Aardvark Fun Park demolition, this assembly has to be very short! Below is the "official" agenda.
  • 8:05! BS will begin Thriller dance at 8:05, regardless of whether everyone is seated. Scott will coordinate.
  • Brief summary of all pillars--David will introduce. Scott--could we just have 6 RAZZ kids to hold the pillars?
  • Brief Walk For Fun into/reminders--Scott and PE department
  • LS Band will play "Go Band Go" with appropriate cheer--Nancy will introduce
  • David will dismiss classes to go to Aardvark Demolition. LS Band can play "Go Band Go" while we exit
This means that the following have been moved OFF the assembly agenda:
  • 4th grade writing awards will be given out during chapel
  • Specialist Scavenger Hunt announcement will happen either during chapel on Monday June 4 or in classrooms
  • RAZZ equipment announcement will not take place

Moving Into Coffees
We had three very successful coffees last week; our thanks to Alysa, Colesie, Kirstin, and all of the specialists who participated. We’ll welcome Primary and First Grade Parents to this week’s Moving Into Coffees. We are looking forward to having several specialists who teach Primary and First Grade students attend these coffees.  We have a number of new families moving into Primary and First Grade next September.

Friendly Reminders...Upcoming Chapels:
Wednesday, May 30 @ 8:10 a.m. - Beginning School Friendship Chapel for PreK - Primary.
Friday, June 1 @ 2:10 p.m. - LS Eucharist and Beginning Strings
Monday, June 4 @ 11:55 a.m. - 5th Grade Girls' Bell Choir
Friday, June 8 @ 2:10 p.m. - Last regular Chapel of the year

Hiring
We are in the process of checking references on our Kindergarten finalists.

Team Leaders
I am beginning interviews with those who have expressed interest in the Team Leader positions. See me if you are also interested.

Parent Meetings
Thank you to all who are involved in the various end of year parent meetings that we have scheduled to check in on student progress and plan for next year.


PROGRAM

Faculty Meeting - There will be no LS Faculty Meeting on Thursday morning due to the AS faculty meeting on Friday. You and your grade level team are welcome to use the time to finish work on the reading continuum or further coordinate the end of year events.

AS Faculty Meeting – Friday, June 1 @ 3:15 in the Dining Hall
I hope many of you will be able to attend this optional faculty meeting and ice cream sundae fest.  We will be learning about the marketing and branding work that Marty Jones has been leading.

No LSLT or LSCTF meeting this week

Proofing Progress Reports
After our conversation last Thursday about proof-reading progress reports I felt I needed to clarify my expectations of your work.  You are proof-reading not peer revising.  Based on past experience proof-reading reports I would expect classroom teachers to take no more than 10 minutes to proof each narrative (3 hours maximum) and Specialists to take about an hour per grade of reports.  I hope that means that everyone can complete proofing in half the day on Monday, with the remainder of the day for finishing up the year and packing up rooms.  I would be happy to work with anyone who is concerned about completing the proofing by noon on Monday, June 18.

If you have particular concerns about a student’s report Chris O’Toole or I would be happy to work with you on it.


OPERATIONS

Seismic Upgrades- Packing Boxes
Jon von Behren will provide packing boxes. Jon asked me how many you would need. I said on average 10 boxes would be a good count. If you feel that you will need more, let Chris know.

Lacrosse at Recess
Just to clarify expectations about lacrosse at recess, we agreed on the following guidelines to be sure lacrosse is fun and safe:
1.      Use of tennis balls only (No lacrosse balls)
2.      Passing , catching and shooting only ( No checking or goalies)
3.      Play at Lunch Recess only and only on the turf field – so there is safe space for all.
Students who are not playing by these guidelines lose the privilege of playing at recess for the day.  Repeat offenders will lose the privilege for longer.

Board Retreat
On Saturday, June 2 at the Board Retreat we will learn the results of the feasibility study and possible next steps for the Master Campus Plan. Stay tuned.