LS Weekly Memo Week 18: December 16-20

What a great way to end the week; the band concert in Chapel, the research celebration in 2nd Grade, the Beginning School Winter Celebration and the Faculty and Staff Holiday Party.  Thank you to all who helped make those events possible. On to Winter Break and 2014.

COMMUNITY

Giving Chapel

Our thanks to Jenny Cleveland and the Fifth Grade teachers and students for organizing this generous outreach to those in need.  For the first time this year Natasha and Alysa’s classes went out to Neighborhood House and Woodburn Family Learning Center to deliver our donations.  Tina’s class went caroling at two area nursing homes. It was a great day of service for the Fifth Grade. Our thanks, Jenny, for making this all possible!

LS Party and Potluck, Monday, December 16th 3:15-

Hope to see you all there!  Here’s the potluck Google doc-

https://docs.google.com/a/go.oes.edu/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnKxLNoiFee7dDIzeWxQVS1tTUFGY1VjQTdqcURuTXc&usp=drive_web#gid=0

St. Nick’s Chapel, Friday, December 20th, 1:30-2:30

Good to have students all packed up and ready to go before Chapel, as well, give students some time to run around ACP before settling in for our raucous annual ritual in the gym.

Ready for Break Brains

The combination of ready for break brains and excitement is challenging for our students to manage. Let’s all be ready to assist those in need, particularly during transitions, at lunch and recess.  

Recent Thefts

In this time of special events, be sure to secure your valuables.  Some items have disappeared from campus recently.

Plans for Next Year

If you are considering changing your professional plans for the 2014-15 school, please let David know after Winter Break.  This could include an interest in changing grades at OES or a pursuit of opportunities beyond OES.

SST in January

When we return in January Ari will send out a Google doc sign-up sheet for SST check-ins before winter conferences.

PROGRAM

Thursday, December 19 - FLG Will Meet

Otherwise no other meetings are planned.

Mo’s Administrative Change

Come see me if you have questions or wish to discuss.

Change in Winter Coffee Format

We need a representative from  Kindergarten, a First, Third and Fourth Grades to attend these coffees.  Please sign up on the Google doc   Winter Parent Coffees 2014  We will set up a time to meet with you to prepare for these coffees.

OPERATIONS

LS Leadership Team, Rescheduled, Monday, January 13th, 3:15-4:30 in Kathy’s Room

Inclement Weather Recess Options

If the weather is particularly bad, you always have the option of opening the Gym and/ or Library for recess, as long as it does not conflict with PE or Library activities.

LS Weekly Memo Week 17: December 9 - 13

Post-Thanksgiving thanks to the 2nd grade team for hosting Cora’s baby shower, to Amy Rheingans for her work preparing and directing the boys bell choir and girls choir at Advent Service and to Alysa and her class for their performance of Arabian Nights. This week culminates with three big events; the 2nd Grade Portland Project Celebration, the Beginning School Winter Holiday Celebration and on Saturday, the Faculty and Staff Holiday Party.

COMMUNITY

The Arabian Nights

Our thanks to Alysa and her acting troupe for an outstanding performance.  The acting was superb.  The best part was seeing how much the children enjoyed themselves and got into their roles.  Well done. Thank you for this gift Fifth Graders.

Giving Chapel

Let’s arrive in stages:  3rd-4th arrive at 8, 1st and 2nd at  8:05 BS at 8:10 with the hope that everyone is seated shortly thereafter so we may begin the procession of 5th Graders at 8:15.

See email from David with Seating Chart.

See emails from Jenny Cleveland with details.

Four Giving Tree Tags Left

As Jenny said in yesterday’s email, we have a few Giving Tree tags left.  If you are feeling like you can pick up another tag and share the joy please pick up a tag soon.  Giving Tree gifts need to be in by next Thursday the 12th of December.

Secret Santa

See email from Jenny Strode with details and whose Secret Santa you are.  The link takes you to the Secret Santa wish list.

All School Holiday Party - 12/14

Be sure to RSVP to Anne Weston. Come share great food and good cheer. I hope LS will be well represented.

LS Party and Potluck

The LS Faculty and Staff Holiday gathering and celebration is Monday, December 16th – 3:15 pm, LS Library.  https://docs.google.com/a/go.oes.edu/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnKxLNoiFee7dDIzeWxQVS1tTUFGY1VjQTdqcURuTXc&usp=drive_web#gid=0

Holiday Potluck* is our annual tradition – the link above is merely a suggestion of what you can do or bring to the party to share and this list is not set in stone! If you wish to bring a different dish/food item other than what is suggested on the list, please let me know and we are more than happy to accommodate your request. A hard copy of the potluck list is also posted on the bulletin board (in the office) for reference.

*Also included on the Potluck list are suggested names of F/S who can assist with décor, music and activities.

Plans for Next Year

If you are considering changing your professional plans for the 2014-15 school, please let David know after Winter Break.  This could include an interest in changing grades at OES or a pursuit of opportunities beyond OES.

Fire Drill This Week

Thank you for working with your students on their fire drill behavior. Well done, especially considering how cold it was outside.  Please continue to reinforce the need to be calm, quiet and orderly as you evacuate the building.  In the case of a true emergency this practice will help us reduce injuries when exiting and allow us to issue special instructions if needed.

PROGRAM

PGD - I will be working on the PGD budget next week.  If you are interested in any of the significant PGD offerings listed, please sign up.  Thanks to those who have contributed additional offerings.

LS Curriculum Task Force, Meets Monday, Dec. 9th

See agenda sent out by David on Friday.  Bring 5 copies of your Curriculum Design to the meeting so we can share and discuss.

Department/ Team Meeting 12/12

See Department Chair or Team Leader for agenda.

Mo’s Administrative Change

Come see me if you have questions or wish to discuss.

Change in Winter Coffee Format

After consulting with Grade Level Rep Team we’ve decided to change the format of Winter Coffees.  Instead of individual grade level coffees, we will have “Team Coffees”  and “Affinity Coffees.”

Date	Coffee	Who is attending?
Wednesday, January 15th	Beginning School Coffee	Colesie 1 Kindergarten Teacher Dori David Chris
Tuesday, January 21st	LS Parent Coffee: Digital Tools	Tech Team
Friday, January 31st	First and Second Grade Coffee	Janet First Grade Teacher David Chris
Wednesday, February 5th	Third through Fifth Grade Coffee	Alysa A Fourth Grade Teacher A Third Grade Teacher David Chris
Monday, February 10th	LS Parent Coffee: Service Learning	Jenny Laurie Price David Chris

Each will contain a presentation for all the first 30 minutes, the last 30 minutes we will break out into grade level discussion groups. More details on the agendas to follow.

Design Engineering at Arbor - http://arborschool.org/pdfs/TinkerTailor.pdf

Interesting article about design engineering at Arbor School.

OPERATIONS

Frequent Tardies or Absences

Be sure to communicate to the parents if you have a student who is frequently absent or tardy. Inform David if you do not see improvement.

LS Leadership Team, Rescheduled, Monday, January 13th, 3:15-4:30 in Kathy’s Room

Inclement Weather Recess Options

If the weather is particularly bad, you always have the option of opening the Gym and/ or Library for recess, as long as it does not conflict with PE or Library activities.

LS Weekly Memo Week 15 & 16: November 25  - December 6

Two more days and then a welcome break.  Enjoy your time away with family and friends. We have about the same number of grandparents coming this year as last.  Lower School will be full on Tuesday from 8:45 - 10:00.  

COMMUNITY

Grandparents and Special Friends - 283 RSVP’s (up 10 from last year)

The number varies widely per class.  Look at the list from Cindy Plummer so you know how many grandparents and special friends to plan for.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day - Tuesday November 26

Note the change in recess time.  Remember to keep children in the classroom during the duration of grandparent's visit.

Schedule of Events

8:00 – 8:40 a.m. Breakfast – Gym

LOWER SCHOOL

8:45 – 10:00 a.m. Visit Classrooms

9:45 – 10:05 Recess (1st & 2nd Grades) - NOTE LATER RECESS TIME

10:15 – 10:45 a.m.Chapel – Students Grades 1st–5th, all guests welcome

Students will sit with their grandparents or special friends. See Jenny Cleveland’s email.

10:45 a.m. Say Goodbye

Grandparent Options:

Coffee in the LS Library @ 8:45

Coffee in Chapel Narthex @ 9:15

OES School Store Open 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Chairs

60 Chairs on a cart in the Beginning School Hall/Wing

60 Chairs on a cart in the Lower School 1- 2 Grade Hall/Wing

30 Chairs on a cart in the Lower School hall near room 24/25

30 Chairs on a cart in the Lower School hall near room 22

Thanksgiving Break - No School, 11/27-12/1

Enjoy.

Kristen’s Baby Shower, Monday, December 2nd

Thanks to the 2nd grade team for organizing.  We may even get to meet Cora.  See Jenny if you wish to contribute to a gift.

Soccer During Afternoon Recess

McKenzie Lay - will be out on afternoon recess M, W-F from 1:30 - 2:00.  She is there so we have enough coverage to open up the field for soccer. She is not available to help on Tuesdays as she has an EC staff meeting.  No soccer during afternoon recess on Tuesdays.

Arabian Nights

Good luck Alysa and class.  Performances are 12/3 - 12/6.

Holiday Season Excitement and Student Behavior

We all know the huge impact the holiday season has on students and our families.  Please keep SST informed of students who are having a hard time managing behavior.  Remember to post Student Incident reports when appropriate, or let Chris, David, Patti or Jenny know about students of concern.

Evening Advent Service and Afterglow, Wednesday, December 4th

Older students may need to leave class for a rehearsal.  Look for information from Sue Jensen.  

PROGRAM

LS Building

Stop in and see David if you want to review the building concept design more closely.

Oregonian Article- Living and Travel Section- Get Your Child To Pay Attention

There was an interesting article in the Sunday Living and Travel section about the work of a team of researchers at the University of Oregon.  There website is Changing Brains   Check it out! Share it with parents. It has helpful tips for home and at school.

NY TImes - Are Children Too Coddled?

No Meetings, Monday, Nov. 25th

Prepare for Grandparent and Special Friends’ Day.  Have fun Tuesday!

Faculty Meetings

• 12/2 - Kirsten’s Baby Shower @ 3:15 in LS Library

• 12/5 - FLG/ Admissions Office Hours

Look for a communication from Sarah R-B about student visits for 2nd - 5th grade applicants.  She will have office hours from 7:30 - 8:45 to answer any questions.  She is particularly interested in getting Specialist TEachers feedback

• Optional Team Meeting - check with your team leader

Faculty Meeting - We will continue to have meetings start at 7:40 through December. With one divisional meeting a month I need everyone to arrive on time.

Geo Bee Preliminary Round, Monday, December 2nd

Ari will let us know times for these events.

OPERATIONS

A Friendly Reminder- Duty Transition from 11:15-11:20

Jane, who is on Fourth and Fifth Grade duty on Tuesdays,  pointed out that First through Third Grade students often come down from lunch between 11:15-11:20 when Fourth and Fifth Grade duty folks are transitioning students off the field and ACP and heading up to lunch.  There are lots of children and few adults to supervise them in that small window of time.

Please have one person from the Fourth and Fifth Grade’s recess shift stay on duty until the next shift arrives.  Those of you who have First through Third Grade lunch recess duty need to be on time, or a few minutes early, when possible.

Upcoming Fire Drill, Thursday, December 5th at 12:00

Please give a general reminder about Fire Drill expectations when we return from Thanksgiving Break.  

•Walk out of the building calmly in a single file line.

•No talking

•Line up in grade level groups

*Wait quietly, including adults, until the signal is given to return to the  buildings

Umbrellas at Recess

Adults are welcome to use umbrellas at recess.  Children are not allowed to use umbrellas at recess for safety reasons.

Gift Policy - Tis the Season

Questions concerning hte OES Gift Policy were brought up at HAC. Below is the text of the OES Gift Policy. I included it in Wednesday Express as well.

While we are very appreciative of the high regard in which students and their families hold their teachers and coaches, we are concerned that student affection and gratitude be expressed in a manner that doesn't divide families according to financial means. We do believe that it is best for all if gifts be a simple expression of thanks and affection. Therefore, we ask that gifts be restricted to very inexpensive and/or handmade items. We also suggest giving a book to the library in honor of or in memory of a teacher or coach, or you can designate that your annual OES Fund contribution be a tribute gift. We do ask that you not give gifts of significant monetary value. Our faculty and staff always welcome your kind words and personal appreciation of their efforts.