LS Weekly Memo Week 34 : April  29 - May 3

What a full week; PNAIS accreditation visit, Hero Speeches, the Portland Musical and the Lego Show.  A tremendous thank you to the 2nd and 3rd grade teams and Jane and her Lego crew.  And what fun to have the 5th graders teach us all to dance.  Thank you 5th grade team and Kristen Haferbecker for organizing another great community event.  Last week is a hint of what is to come in the rapid journey to the end of the year.  Let’s all calendar carefully and support each other.

This week: Reggio presentation, BS Movement Program, ECHOES Writing Celebration, 3rd Grade field trip, 4th grade overnight and 5th grade Immigration Day.  Lean in and enjoy the wild ride.

COMMUNITY

Great Work Welcoming PNAIS Visiting Team!

Thanks for going the “extra mile” this past week to welcome the visiting team. We know many of you put in considerable time preparing and displaying documentation that told the story of the fabulous work going on in your classrooms.

Exploring Space

Thanks to Alysa and the 3rd - 5th team, for working with Jon and the maintenance crew, to give the Fourth and Fifth Grade common area a whole new look, feel and purpose. What an inviting space!

Our Architect - THA

The Building Committee, which included Kirstin and David, unanimously selected THA Architects to design our new Lower School Building, through a process that included reviewing proposals from 16 different firms in the Northwest.  The THA team,  is eager to get on campus to begin work on the first phase of the design process.  They will be spending May 7th on campus observing Lower School to get a sense of how we use space and will return May 9th for design conversations and exercises.  Details still to be determined.  

Daron Havlik Farewell - May 6 @ 3:15

Daron is leaving OES to start a new chapter in his life.  Daron gave us great support throughout his years at OES. He’s a “Jack of all Trades” who can fix anything from sound systems to traffic snarls on the Loop Road. He will be greatly missed! Please join us for a farewell celebration Monday, May 6th!

Hope for Sun

The 4th graders are heading to the coast Wednesday through Friday.  For the past two years they have endured relentless rain during this trip. Let’s see if we can spur on the sun for them.

PROGRAM

Reggio Presentations

Chris and April will give presentations on their experiences in Reggio Emilia, Italy from 3:30-4:30 on Monday, April 29th in the Lower School library (note the change in venue).  Chris will present on the 0-99 continuity in education project and innovative school design.  

The focus of April’s presentation will be on insights gained around documentation. Please join us! Bring your own drink of choice, we’ll have snacks.

Chris Mader’s Science  Survey

Classroom teachers, please be sure to fill out Chris’ brief survey in the coming week. It will be valuable information for Chris as he considers Pre-K through 12th Grade science, design and engineering curriculum.

Summer Stipends - Sent out on May 1. Due on May 15

MHCSD - see communications from Jenny Cleveland

PGD Thank You

I have received a number of great proposals for summer PGD and am working to be sure we can finance them all.  OES is fortunate to have faculty who are so committed to professional development.

BS Movement - Tuesday

The PE Team is presenting their annual Beginning School Movement program on Tuesday.  It might keep you smiling all day.

ECHOES Writing Celebration

Thanks to Patrick King and his ECHOES volunteers and Lara Ingham, we will be celebrating writing in Lower School on Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:00.

OPERATIONS

Fourth Grade Trip and Duty Help

Fourth Grade heads out bright and early Wednesday, May 1st for Kiwanilong (Chris O’Toole is not going along as originally planned).  Please be sure to check the duty help sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside the faculty room. Sign up to help out with duties if you can.

Timeliness to and from Specialist Classes

In the busy weeks ahead of us with special events and critical work on projects, being on time really matters.

Personal Days

We are getting a large number of personal day requests.  Trips and special events are already requiring many substitutes.  We may need you to be flexible with scheduling.

Before requesting a personal day please review the following from the Employee Handbook:

Personal days are to be used for personal business and not for illness or vacation.  Personal days may not be combined with paid vacation days and may not be taken on the last week of school or work, or immediately before or after a school vacation or paid holiday, except with the permission of your supervisor.  

Receipts

The Business Office is noticing an increase in requests for reimbursement without receipts. Legally, then the reimbursement becomes taxable income to you.  Thank you for your diligence in turning in receipts for expenses incurred.

Calendar Reminders

Take time in your Team Meetings to review the end-of-year calendars.  Be sure to send important dates to Anne Weston if parents are involved in or invited to the event.

Playground Safety

-We had two students chip front teeth in recent weeks, another broke a finger.  Be vigilant when out on recess duty. Try to be proactive to prevent possible injuries.  

- Mini-Aardvark’s stairs are in need of repairs. Darele has been notified and will make the repairs soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on this structure- no fast-paced games of tag, with students running up the stairs.

-WATERWORKS- You may have noticed that Waterworks is again turned off due to children clogging up the area by the drain and filter with rocks and other materials.  The large stone, that was intentionally cemented in place to protect the drain from obstructions, has been removed by students. We will make an announcement in Chapel next week.  Please reiterate our concerns in a class meeting. See if students have insights into what is going on, and if they have possible solutions.  Let us know if you gain insights and helpful strategies from students.

Snack Reminders

We understand that from time-to-time, morning snack is not eaten. Shirley reports that she finds bags of snack left behind in all Common Areas. In the past, she’s seen morning snacks served in the Common Hall at lunch.   

Please take the time to feed students their mid-morning snack. Children need that nutritional boost to perform their best in the classroom, specialist class and recess.

Photo Shoot - All School

Marty Jones has scheduled a photo shoot for school publications, admissions viewbook and the website for May 6-8. Professional photographers will be on campus.  Please be flexible and supportive of this important all school effort.

Photo Shoot - 5th Grade

5/20 at 3:15  in LS Art Room

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.