LS Weekly Memo Week 33 : April  22-26

I look forward to sharing the Lower School with the visiting team.  It is a great opportunity for us the share what we do so well and seek insights into how we might continue to develop and evolve our program and student experience.

COMMUNITY

Teacher Appreciation Kudos

Our thanks to Stephanie Knight and her crew for the great treats in the morning, snacks, prizes and entertainment in the afternoon.  Deborah’s Melodies were precious beyond words. Thanks, Deborah for sharing the Melodies that afternoon. Stephanie Knight is open to feedback. If you have suggestions send them to Chris or David and to be passed along to Stephanie.

Self Study - See communications from Dana

Thanks to those of you who have done some cleaning and documenting.  

Remember the three required faculty meeting this week.  There will be no faculty meeting on Thursday, 4/25.

• AS Visiting Team Meet and Greet Sunday at 5:30 - 6:30 in Dining Hall

Please arrive by 5:15 to get name tags and oriented.  

• LS Faculty and Specialists Meeting,

3:15 - 4:30 Monday in LS Art Room

• AS Faculty and Staff Meeting

3:15 - 4:30 Wednesday in Dining Hall

Moving Into Coffees (MIC)

Please be sure to review this document (see link below) and add information needed for your team- who is representing, which students will present their reflections. Specialists, be sure to check this document to see if your presence has been requested.  Let Chris or David know if you have any questions.

Chris and David will be making a brief appearance at your team meeting next week to review MIC details

Moving Into Coffees 2013

School Visits

We had great school visits -

University Child Development School

Epiphany School

Bush School

Rosa Parks Elementary School

Overlake School

Look for photos on the web site Debra created next week.  Thanks to Janet, Alysa, Kirstin, Tracy, Debra, Chris and Jon von Behren for taking the time away from school to do this important work!

Monthly Parent Grade Level Representatives Meeting

Once a month Chris and David meet with the parents who are the Grade Level Representatives for each grade.  Last week we discussed:

• Mount Hood Climb Service Day
• Uniforms - aligning the dress code with our identity and simplifying the options
• School visits - shared some reflections from our school visits
• Debriefed the auction
• Looked ahead at Moving Into Coffees and overnight trips

PROGRAM

Student Placement - 2013-14

As parents approach you about placement for next year keep in mind:

• have parents share insights about their child and how she learns
• ask parents about child’s interests and social relations
• have parents share about relationship with a particular teacher
• share with parents all that we consider in deciding on class placement, making three well balanced classes that will be effective learning communities - social, emotional, academic, special skills, talents, interests and class balance.
• Parent request will be considered in the context of classroom teacher, specialist teacher and past teacher perspectives
• Do not suggest or promise placement for a child in a particular class

Make Thinking Visible to Visiting Team

Thanks to all of you for the extra efforts put forth to make our school community’s thinking and learning visible to our PNAIS visitors.

Chapel

Be on time.  Chapel is from 11:55 - 12:20 on Monday and 8:10-8:40 on Friday. Your class needs to be seated and ready by the start time.

LS Building Update

I will be looking to schedule a morning for the architects to come on campus, visit classes and observe the flow of a Lower School day to inform their design work.  I also will be scheduling a design session with them before the end of school, likely during the 1st weeks of May.  Though the timing is tight, the architects want to make some good progress over the summer so these sessions will be critical for informing them about our needs and wants.  The Team Leaders and I will discuss timing and structure of the visits.

PGD - Big Ideas

I have heard from several of you about big PGD ideas you have for this summer or next year.  I am going to begin approving plans and budgets this week.  If you have not formally communicated a plan to me by completing the PGD form, you need to do so before the end of the day Friday, 4/26.  

OPERATIONS

Custodial Help Over the Weekend

Bill will have someone do a walk through on Saturday and Sunday.  No major work will be done on the weekend. He will have his crew wipe down furniture in common areas.

Snacks

Shirley wanted you all to know that morning snack service is changing. They no longer have access to small oranges (Cuties). She doesn’t want to give apples too often, and knows you aren’t keen on messy oranges. She will provide an alternative of raisins, and possibly a Nutrigrain bar.

Schedule for 2013-14 - input by May 3rd

Chris and I have begun discussion of next year’s schedule. We will not be making major changes, but we would like to know if you have schedule issues that need to be addressed.  If you do, be sure to include what does work about your current schedule as well.

The current schedule was built around the following priorities:

What is best for our students

All Together Time - time for classes, grades and larger groups to get together

Blocks - RIght size blocks of time for teaching

Community Time - class meetings, chapels, assemblies

Common Planning Time

Transitions

Uniforms

We are looking to align our uniform policy with our identity and simplify it so it is more easily managed. We will review changes at the May 2nd faculty meeting.

Lunch

Be sure to communicate with Kelly Cowing if you need to change the lunch plan for your class for a special event.

LS Weekly Memo Week 32 : April 15-19

The conversations during last Thursday’s faculty meetings were inspiring.  Thank you for your good work, innovative ideas and risk taking with each other.

COMMUNITY

Carmen Boyle

After completing two masters degrees and teaching in Lower School since 2004, Carmen has decided to take on a new challenge for next year, teaching Spanish in the Upper School. While I am sorry to lose Carmens enthusiasm, linguistic expertise and technology talents in Lower School, I know she is thrilled about her new professional challenge. With her only a short distance away, I am quite certain Carmen will find ways to engage Lower School in her new experiences.

Let us know if you have any leads on an inspiring Spanish teacher for Lower SChool .

Kudos to Beginning School and the First and Second Grade Teams and Kirstin McAuley

On Thursday morning 14 of us engaged in a Critical Friend’s consultancy protocol to support Claire with her Portal-landia inquiry project work.  Claire did a great job of presenting her project, followed by participants sharing clarifying and probing questions. Our thanks to Kirstin for facilitating this meaningful meeting!

Teacher Appreciation - 4/17

• 8:00’ish volunteers will roll out three carts with treats/beverages.  
• 2:00-2:30- EC staff will be celebrated in the LS common hall.  Snacks and prizes with be provided.
• 3:15-4:15- Teacher/Staff celebration will commence in the US cafeteria.  

There will be time at the end if the teachers want to stay and mingle.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meeting - 4/18

Departments and Team Meetings

See department chairs and team leaders for agenda.

MHCSD -See communications from Jenny Cleveland.  Fill in the LS Mount Hood Climb Service Day 2013 Projects.  Ideas due April 15.  

School visits, Tuesday, April 16th

Alysa, Janet, Debra, Chris, Kirstin, Tracy and David will be away visiting schools.   Jenny Cleveland and Ari Sternberg will be available to provide support. If you need their assistance, contact Lyn.

PNAIS Visiting Team

Things you need to know:

* The self-study report describes a school that is innovative, creative, with inquiry-based learning.   (If you are interested in seeing the final printed version, please see Anne Weston).  The Visiting Team has read it, and is now ready to see us walk the talk!  This is our time to shine.  

* Please take a moment next week to make sure that your classroom/work space is how you would like it to look to greet our guests.  

* A reminder that this is not the time for tests/movies/field trips – they want to see us in action

* Please wear your name tag at all times while they are here

* The Visiting Team arrives here on campus next Sunday, April 21.  There is a mandatory meet-and-greet for all faculty and staff from 5:30-6:30 in the dining hall. Please arrive no later than 5:15 to get your name tag (different than your OES one). There will be hors d'oeuvres and drinks.  The purpose of this gathering is for the team to put faces to names and perhaps to arrange times to meet with you while they are here.  

* The majority of the team's work with us will be on Monday and Tuesday and they will try to visit as many aspects of the school as possible.  However, due to time constraints it is possible that they might not make contact with you or their visit with you will be short; don't take it personally!  

* On Monday, April 22, 3:15-4:30 there will be three separate division meetings.  This will be a question/answer format between the visiting team and faculty (no administration) to talk about life at school.  This is required for all faculty; staff may attend one of the division meetings if desired.

* On Wednesday, April 24, 3:15 there will be a wrap-up meeting for all faculty and staff in the cafeteria.  At this point Kirk Wheeler (the chair) will share with us his overview of the visit, and describe the next steps. This should take about half an hour and is required for all

* Below is a list of the visiting team members and their school affiliations:

Kirk Wheeler – St. Thomas School, Seattle	Skip Kotkins – Skyway Luggage Company, Seattle	Arnold Cohen – Pacific Northern Academy, Alaska
Mary Tracy – Eastside Catholic School , Seattle	Robin Bentley – The Bush School, Seattle	Daniel Heischman – NAES, New York
Liz Gallagher – Lakeside, Seattle	Eric Barber – The Evergreen School, Seattle	Jo-Anne Kingstone – Shawnigan Lake School, BC
Halsey Bell – Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences	Jon Lameroux – Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma	Julie Amberg – Cascades Academy, Bend
Ethan Delavan – Seattle Country Day, Seattle	Betsy Bailey – Portland Jewish Academy, Portland	Katie Salgado – St Mary’s School, Medford
Jen Vary – University Child Development School, Seattle

Professional Growth and Development

Got big ideas? Let David know by 4/19 so I can work on PGD budget.

Professional Growth and Development Hours

If you are interested in getting credit hours for the Judy Graves Inquiry workshop,or any future professional development experience, be sure to complete the Professional Development Units form in the LS Office.

OPERATIONS

Lock-out Drill

If you encountered any mechanical issues during the lock-out drill, be sure to submit a maintenance request.  I noticed many classes could not/ did not fully close blinds.  If you have obstructions that prevent your blinds fmor working, you need to fix them.  If your blinds are not working properly, submit a maintenance request to maintrequest@oes.edu.

• Keep students out of sight line
• Lock doors when out and about on campus
• Turn off lights

Teaching Assistant Evaluations

Please hand your completed evaluations to Lyn by April 15.

Summer Maintenance/Project Requests Due April 19th

We need all requests in by Friday of next week. Please click on the link below and save the form to your desktop, fill it out the form and send it to me as an attachment or print a copy and leave it in my mailbox.  

Summer Maintenance Request Form 2013

Trips

Create a sign-up sheet for duty coverage to be posted on the LS office bulletin board of all LS Chaperones during the overnight trips. Please do NOT send multiple emails for duty coverage (DC) – this process is hard to track who is covering whom.  While it is archaic to create a hard copy sign-up sheet, however, it is easier for everyone to see the duty coverage schedule and write their name/s down.  DC schedule posted on the BB is also a good reference for us in the office if we need to call or email a reminder.

Technology Survey

The tech department is beginning the process of planning around laptops for next year.  In order to do that properly, it would be helpful for you all to answer the three short questions on this form by the end of this week.  Perhaps

https://docs.google.com/a/go.oes.edu/forms/d/1gz-mwuLpjpMxEQMuXjgNh4o5qDrM2oPeKAbrSUhJEAA/viewform

Stevenson Award and Graduate Award

See the emails from Anne Weston about the these two financial awards.  

You may nominate yourself or others for the Stevenson Award.  

You need to apply yourself for hte graduate award, $10,000 toward graduate degree.  Carmen, Jackie and Deborah are recent recipients.

LS Weekly Memo Week 31 : April 8 - 12

I enjoyed hearing about your professional development experiences at the faculty meeting and appreciated your attention as we worked to ensure our calendar is accurate and up to date.  On into spring we go.

COMMUNITY

PAL Meeting 4/5- Inquiry and the Brain with Judy Graves, David and the Team Leaders

Judy presented the overview of inquiry and the brain we heard on Monday.  Parents attending were receptive, enthusiastic and asked very good questions.  Our thanks to Judy, Janet and Alysa. Our thanks too to Kirstin and Dave for sharing their documentation.  Parents were very impressed overall.  They are eager to learn more about inquiry.

Students of Concern - Let us know

We are in the process of scheduling year end meetings with families of students of concern.  Let us know if you have any students for whom you would like SST to met about.

School Visits - DAL and COT away on 4/15 and 4/16

Chris will be heading up to Seattle on the afternoon of 4/15 to visit several schools.  David will be heading up to Seattle early 4/16 to visit several other schools. Jenny Cleveland and Ari will serve as administrative back up, keeping Patti free to support students in need.

Overnight trips

We always need a few good chaperones.

3rd Grade - May 23 and 24, David to go on this overnight

4th Grade - May 1 - 3, Chris will be away on this trip

5th Grade - May 13 - 17, David away on this trip Wednesday through Friday

NEW EVENT - BS Field Day and LS Field Day - June 6th

Teachers, bring your sneakers and comfy clothes, we’ll all be joining in the fun.

BS - 9:15 0 10:45

LS - 12:30 - 2:30

PROGRAM

Moving Into...Coffees- Dates and Who Should Attend

Please review this document and let us know if you have any questions

Moving Into...Coffee- Dates and Who Should Attend

Team Meetings and Coffees

Chris and David will be visiting common planning times to check in about inquiry projects and the end of year Moving Into Coffees.

Pre-K- Friday, Apr. 12th 11:15-11:30, Chris

K- Monday, Apr. 8th, 11:30-11:20, Chris

Primary- Wednesday, Apr. 10th 9:50-10:10, Chris

First Grade- Thursday, Apr. 11th, 11:50-12-10, Chris

Second Grade- Tues., Apr. 23rd, 10:20-10:40, Chris

Third Grade- April 9, 12:30 - 1:00 ,David

Fourth Grade- April 11, 11:30 -12:00, David

Fifth Grade- April 12, 11:00 - 11:30 , David

Summer Stipends and PGD funding

Hope 4/1 inspired your thinking. Folks are beginning to come forward with significant PGD ideas for this spring and summer.  Let me know if you are interested so I can budget accordingly.

Summer stipends forms will come out on May 6, but it is not too early to begin colecting ideas for stipends.

Reggio Presentation- Monday, April 29th, 3:30-4:30  in the MHCR

Chris O’Toole will be joined by Kindergarten Assistant April Castillo, who just returned from a study tour this week. Chris will focus on Reggio’s Pre-K through Fifth Grade program continuity, early childhood through Primary grades and school design. April will look at Reggio municipal school’s documentation- how to create documentation and how to use it in your practice.  

MHCSD - May 8

See communications from Jenny Cleveland about details.  Fill in the LS Mount Hood Climb Service Day 2013 Projects when you are ready. Ask Jenny your questions.

OPERATIONS

Chapel Fire Drill

Thank you Jenny Cleveland for running the drill.  Let me know if you have any feedback.

Lock Down Drill, Monday, April 8 - 8:30

See emails from Rebecca Williams and review Lock Down Procedure.  Chris and David will becoming around to check doors.

Submit Summer Maintenance Forms

Please send in the completed form on or  before April 19th. David, Jon and Chris will review requests with Jon von Behren before the end of the month.  As you know, it is a juggling act for our crew to tackle maintenance jobs and work around Joan’s busy summer camp schedule. We will do our best to fulfill your request.

Here’s a link to the form Summer Maintenance Form

Safety

As the weather gets nicer, a few safety reminders:

• The track and field are open to the community before 7:30 am and after 6:00 pm.  Strangers are not allowed on the track during recess or PE
• Do not prop doors open when rooms are unoccupied
• Do not prop open main doors to buildings
• Approach strangers on campus

Uniforms

We are working on modifying the uniform for next year so it is more consistent with our school colors and simpler.  In the meantime keep up your uniform checks.

• In the classroom - only uniform wear.  Students should be in uniform at Chapel and Assemblies unless they arrive there straight from drop-off or recess.

Accident in Parking Lot

At pick-up time last week there was an accident between a bicyclist and a car in our parking lot.  Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.  Let’s use this as a reminder to be aware and cautious on campus. There will be putting a note in the Wednesday Express as well.

LS Weekly Memo Week 29 and 30 : March 25 - April 5

I hope you all enjoyed your break and are returning well rested, healthy and ready for the final 10 weeks and all that we pack into them.  See you at 8:00 am Monday in the LS Library (no fooling).

COMMUNITY

Chapel Changes

For a variety of reasons we have had to do some Chapel shuffling.  Please make note of the following changes:

Easter Chapel - Tuesday, April 2 (Changed from 4/8) - Primary – 5th grade

Eucharist Chapel - Friday, May 10 (Changed from 4/19) - Primary – 5th grade

BS Chapel - Wednesday, May 2 (Changed from 4/24)

PROGRAM

Inquiry Workshop with Judy Graves on April 1

8:00 - 11:15 Inquiry Investigations

12:00 -3:30 Inquiry based project work

3:30 ALL SCHOOL ICE CREAM SOCIAL

LS Faculty Meeting - April 4

4/1 review

PGD and Stipends

EOY Calendar

Birthdays

Matthew Holm Illustrator Visit - April 8

See schedule from Lara

ECHOES Writing Celebration

A Note from Patrick King, leader of ECHOES, the US literacy group:

As you may remember, each spring we have the Lower School Writing Celebration. It's meant to be a time for kids to share their writing with the Lower School community. Kids may reading one of their pieces aloud at the celebration or they can submit their work to be displayed in the Lower School Library. The writing can be anything they are proud of or excited about and does not need to have gone through the revision process to be submitted. Finally, we don't want the kids to feel forced to submit their work.

The deadline for submissions is Friday April 19th. The celebration will be on Tuesday April 30th from 3-4p.m. in the L.S. Library.

Self Study Team Visit is Around the Corner!

A few reminders…

•Gathering and meetings that LS Faculty and Administrative Staff will attend

Sunday, April 21st from 5:30-6:30, Welcome Reception for the Self Study Team

Monday, April 22nd, 3:15-4:30, All School Faculty and Staff Meeting

Wednesday, April 24th,  3:15-4:30, All School Faculty and Staff Meeting- Report from Self Study Team

(NOTE:  No Faculty/ Staff Meeting on Thursday, April 25TH)

During Study Team’s Visit April 22nd-24th

• Do not plan on or off campus field trips during campus field trips that week, be in your classroom whenever possible.

• There are lots of special events, Jackie and Tonya’s Hero speeches, Third Grade Portland Musical, feel free to attend

•Be available to meet with self study team, as needed

April is the Month to Prep for Spring “Moving Up Into …” Coffees Coming Up in May and June

Please review your Grade’s MIC info, including who will represent your grade.  If you have a new team member, select another representative for this coffee.

Link to BS and LS Parent Coffees 2012-2013

https://docs.google.com/a/go.oes.edu/document/d/1jC9-Qk0do1Wt90TZIyU1W2VvnkdqeXM8e633X-FgNrg/edit

As in the past, we will need to find time for the following planning sessions:

•Review last year’s PowerPoint, make changes as needed

•Teams provide awesome photos of big events

•Prep student ambassadors who will present at the MIC- Let Chris know if you want to prep students, or if you want her to take this

David Sobel- Father of Place- Based Curriculum (another form of inquiry project work) Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODDfoR2v7g0

Food for thought!  It is 45 minutes long...worth the time-he’s inspiring!

ASCD Smart Brief Link:  Five Tools to Help Students Learn How to Learn- A short article

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/5-tools-to-help-students-learn-how-to-learn

OPERATIONS

Fire Drill in Chapel - April 5

We will have a guided fire drill in Chapel.  Please explain to your students that the Friday, April 5 will be a fire drill not a regular Chapel.  Specialists teachers, plan on joining your buddy class for this drill.

The plan:

• Students enter chapel taking regular seats
• Sing 1 song
• Jenny or David to explain the drill process
• Ring alarm
• Door monitors (Those adults sitting in the back of the Chapel) will go open the main outside doors
• Students will exit the church, those seated in the rear of the chapel first.
• Students and faculty will evacuate to the field lining up in the regular manner
• Dismissal

Lock Down Drill - April 2nd???

Calendar

All are responsible for requesting posting events of importance to parents on the OES Web calendar, the Finalsite Calendar

Team Leaders and LSLT members have access to post events on the LS Google Calendar.

Overnight Trips

Specialists please consider chaperoning one of the overnight trips.

3rd Grade - May 23 and 24 -  1 night, Nate Creek Camp. Paula is Trip Leader

4th Grade - May 1st - 3rd - 2 nights, Camp Kiwanilong. Jenny is Trip Leader

5th Grade - May 13 - 17 - 4 nights, Camp Hancock. Alysa is Trip Leader

Uniforms

Please be sure your students are wearing uniform wear inside buildings.  They should not be wearing non-uniform outerwear inside.  Parents, colleagues and I, are noticing inconsistent enforcement of this rule.