LS Weekly Memo July 2014

Enjoy your summer.  See you in August, if not sooner.

COMMUNITY

LS Office Closed for Summer

We hope you are all enjoying the many pleasures of summer break.  Lyn, Chris and Jenny go off on their breaks on June 27. David will be in and out of the office.  We all return full-time Monday, August 4th. Our thanks to all of you for a terrific year, many exciting projects to look forward to in 2014-2015!

Building Design

THA will be working on designs over the summer.  Look for detailed designs in August.

Remember the LS Building Design folder for inspirations.

Admissions

Some changes happen to enrollment over the summer.  I will be in touch if we need to change class placement for any current students.

PROGRAM

Accomplishments and Plans

Lyn has put your accomplishments and plans into Google Docs. Search for ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ INSPIRATIONS.  It has been inspiring to read through them.

Inquiry Reflections and Plans from the Cadwell Workshop

Chris has put your Inquiry Reflections and Plans into Google Docs.  Here’s the link Cadwell Workshop Documentation 6.18.14

Inquiry Ideas - Common Experiences for 2014-15

We are drafting a plan to support Inquiry in LS for 2014-15 based on your feedback from the Cadwell Workshop and discussion with the Team Leaders and Louise.  We are focusing on two primary experiences:

Common experiences for all related to

Classroom design for inquiry

Curriculum design for inquiry

Questioning and listening strategies

Inquiry talks in the classroom

Documentation

Coaching sessions with Louise Cadwell

We will roll out a more detailed plan in August

4 Year Academic Essentials Plan

The academic initiatives plan has been shared with you.  

Pick Up Your Summer Reading

A number of you have a copy of An Ethic of Excellence in your mail boxes.  Stop by campus and pick up your book!

Summer Stipends

Above is the spreadsheet of approved summer stipends and when they will occur. Take a look to see if you can find some collaboration potential.         

Curriculum Designs

I have created a common folder, LS Curriculum Designs,  where you can put your drafted Curriculum Designs.  Please place your designs here so we can learn from each other.

OPERATIONS

Summer Camps Room Usage

Here is the listing of camp usage during the summer.  KNow the plan is subject to change

Opening of School Calendar - see email from Anne Weston

Volunteers in Lower School

Right size volunteer offerings to 200 spots per grade level.

Here are the directions to get your listing of volunteer offerings.

1.  Log in to your VolunteerSpot account (this will require your email address and password).

2.  Click on the orange tab labelled "My Activities."

3.  Select the activity for which you wish to generate a report and click on the listing to open.   (Each LS teacher has "Scheduled Jobs" and "Projects" activities in VolunteerSpot.)

4.  Click the brown "Export" icon on the left of the page to download the information as an excel spreadsheet.  

Download both "Scheduled Jobs" and "Projects."

Summer Stipend Forms

Don’t forget to submit your forms to Lyn after you completed your summer stipend.  Once processed, Lyn will submit your check request when we return in early August.

Schedule Changes

I have made changes to the PreK schedule to explore a more fully integrated schedule for our youngest students. This impacted several other changes so review your scheduel when you receive it in August.

Duty Schedule for Beginning School and First Through Fifth Grade

I will make minor changes to the duty schedules this summer. Look for revised schedules in August.

LS Weekly Memo Week 44: June 16-20

Thank you for a great closing meeting.  You offered so many appreciations and so much gratitude.  Good luck completing reports.  Back to proofing I go...

COMMUNITY

Peter Buonincontro

You heard mention of Peter at the closing meeting.  Peter will have a 25% teaching position in LS next year, integrating drama skills and directing productions PreK - 5.  Consider ways you might use his talents as you do your summer planning.

Melanie Clark

Melanie Clark has accepted out offer to be the LS Counselor.  We are exceptionally fortunate to have a school counselor of her talent and experience join us. Cindy, Patti, Ari and I will work with Melanie over the summer to get her familiar with students of concern, how we do student support and to renew the counseling program.

Lisset O’Niell

Lisset will be teaching Spanish in PreK next year, exploring an integrated model of  inquiry inspired instruction for our youngest students.

Graduation

I enjoyed seeing so many lifers (18) graduate on Friday night, and seeing 5 of the 7 All School Awards given to former Lower Schoolers.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meeting Reflections

We will keep your reflections on professional accomplishments and the calendar posted in the LSCH through Tuesday.  You are welcome to review what faculty have written and add more.  We will use this work as a springboard for Tuesday and Wednesdays work.

Reports Due: 9:00 AM Monday, June 15

Monday, June 15 - Report proofing and loading into PCR

Tuesday, June 16 - 8:30 AM (officially 9:00 AM, but you will be in a faculty meeting)

PCR closes for report revisions

Closing Meetings

Tuesday, June 17, 8:30 - 11:00 - Faculty Meeting Agenda, LSCH

Looking Ahead to 2013-14

8:00     Breakfast

8:30 Volunteers and LS

9:00 Plans and Goals

10:00  Calendar 2014-15

11:00  AS Meeting and Closing Lunch

Tuesday, June 17, 11:00 - 2:00 pm - AS Chapel, Meeting, Lunch

Cadwell Workshop Agenda

Wednesday, June 18, 8:30 - 3:30, LSCH

8:00     Breakfast

8:30     Welcome and Orientation

8:45     Inquiry Experience Reflection

9:15     Images of Inquiry

10:00 Break

10:15   States and Stories Presentation

11:00   Exemplary Work exploration

11:45   Break

12:00 Working Lunch – Guided conversation

1:00     Inquiry Workshop

             (Come with unit to review through inquiry focus)

3:00     Wrap-up

3:30     Adjourn

NWAIS Conference Proposals

Congratulations to those of you who have had your workshops accepted for NWAIS.  

OPERATIONS

End-of-Year Expectations-

• Rooms should be packed to make way for summer camps
• BS Rooms by end of day Tuesday, June 17
• LS Rooms by end of day Thursday, June 19
• This gives Bill Peoples and crew two days for cleaning and Joan Lowe and summer staff Friday for set-up.

• Pass along to next year’s teacher:

•A Letter to next year’s teacher about themselves (recorded by teacher for non-writers, unedited by teacher for the older grades)

•DRA Folders with completed assessment information listed on the folder (K-3)

•LLI Information (Last lesson- student’s reading level, 1st and 2nd Grade)

• Reading assessment (Fountas and Pinnell?)- 4th and 5th Grade

•Final Everyday Math Assessment (1st-5th)

•Math Fact Fluency Data or Final Test (1st-4th)

•Words Their Way Spelling Inventory (1st-5th))

Pass this on to Ari, who will distribute in August

• School Supplies Ordered online
• Consumable Workbook Orders Sent to Jenny

Everyday Math Workbooks Handwriting Without Tears

Spelling Workbooks Any other workbooks you need

• Faculty Meeting Thursday 6/12, 8:30 - 12:00
• Reports Due - 8:00 AM Monday, 6/16
• Proof-Reports - Monday, 6/16, 8:00am - 4:00 pm

• Progress Reports in PCR Tuesday, June 17th by 9am
• Faculty Meeting - Tuesday, 6/17, 8:00 - 11:00
• AS Closing - Tuesday, 6/17, 11:00 - 2:00
• Cadwell Workshop, 6/18, 8:30 - 3:30

Schedules and Duty Schedules

With the exception of PreK and the specialists working with PreK, we are not planning on making significant changes to the schedule.  PreK will be piloting a more integrated schedule.

Calendar Work for Next Year

I made copies of the Master Calendar- one copy  for each grade level/class.  The large chart paper version will be in the library. When planning for next year keep in mind:

• Parent meetings are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Please don’t schedule events involving parents for Wednesday morning.
• If possible, plan gatherings involving parents on a day when we have a Parent Partnership Coffee (three per year).  Second Grade has done this for a number of years. Their parent coffees are always well attended. Parents appreciate having more than one event on the same day- fewer breaks from work and life responsibilities.
• Don’t schedule field trips on Monday or Friday, if the plans  cause you to miss Chapel or an assembly.
• If your whole grade level invites parents in for a special events that includes plays, stagger the times of the performances so parents with twins can see more than one play.  For example, this year First Grade scheduled one play for 8am, the second for 8:20 and the third at 8:40.  David and I were able to attend all three. Thank you.

LS Weekly Memo Week 43: June 9-13

Here we are, the final week of school.  Once again I have so many reason to be thankful for being part of the Lower School. Thinking about the week that was, there are so many ways you have helped your students celebrate and share what they have learned:

• Student presentations at the Moving Into Coffees
• EchOES Writing Celebration
• Student discussions of their design ideas with THA architects
• LS Spring Concert with band, strings and handbell performances
• Claire Kucera’s wetlands play
• 2nd grade’s Portfolio Celebration
• The Field Days

I am looking forward to Thursday when we gather to reflect on and celebrate this year.

COMMUNITY

LS Counselor Search Update

Thank you to all who met with Melanie Clark on Wednesday.  Ari, Cindy and I meet Monday afternoon to review feedback.  

Help on Wednesday

We could use extra help with pick-up both on the Loop Road and the Walkway on Wednesday as it is always chaotic - Teaching Assistants and any available teachers

Recess Duty Vigilance - We are almost there

We need to keep a careful eye on all students when on recess duty.  It is an emotional time for many students.

Student Update

Friday afternoon a 5th grade student was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to extreme pain in her hip.  She is at home and recovering from appears to be a severe muscle cramp.  Once again, I am thankful for Elaine Elliott who manged the situation so well.

Patti Beyer Farewell

Patti intends to make a quiet exit from OES without a formal send-off. We have a card in the office where you can write a message of good wishes and farewell.  If you prefer to write your own letter, please do.  We will collect them in the LS Office and get them to her.  Your words of appreciation will mean a lot to her.

PROGRAM

Last Day of School, Wednesday, June 11 - Calendar to Faculty

Closing Meetings

Thursday, June 12, 8:30 - 12:00 - Faculty Meeting Agenda, LSCH

Tuesday, June 17, 8:30 - 11:00 - Faculty Meeting Agenda, LSCH

Tuesday, June 17, 11:00 - 2:00 pm - AS Chapel and Meeting, then Lunch

Cadwell Workshop Agenda

Wednesday, June 18, 8:30 - 3:30

8:00     Breakfast

8:30     Welcome and Orientation

8:45     Inquiry Experience Reflection

9:15     Images of Inquiry

10:00 Break

10:15   States and Stories Presentation

11:00   Exemplary Work exploration

11:45   Break

12:00 Working Lunch – Guided conversation

1:00     Inquiry Workshop

             (Come with unit to review through inquiry focus)

3:00     Wrap-up

3:30     Adjourn

THA Visit on 6/6

Thank you to those of you who came to see the THA architects, Stefee Knudsen and David Keltner. If you were unable to meet and have student work you want to share, please scan and post. Keep the ideas coming -  LS Building Design Folders

Summer Learning Experiences - Prek - 12

All should have received their orders. Contact Patrick Fuller if you have not.

End-of-Year Expectations-

• Rooms should be packed to make way for summer camps
• BS Rooms by end of day Tuesday, June 17
• LS Rooms by end of day Thursday, June 19
• This gives Bill Peoples and crew two days for cleaning and Joan Lowe and summer staff Friday for set-up.

• Pass along to next year’s teacher:

•A Letter to next year’s teacher about themselves (recorded by teacher for non-writers, unedited by teacher for the older grades)

•DRA Folders with completed assessment information listed on the folder (K-3)

•LLI Information (Last lesson- student’s reading level, 1st and 2nd Grade)

• Reading assessment (Fountis and Pinnell?)- 4th and 5th Grade

•Final Everyday Math Assessment (1st-5th)

•Math Fact Fluency Data or Final Test (1st-4th)

•Words Their Way Spelling Inventory (1st-5th))

Pass this on to Ari, who will distribute in August

• School Supplies Ordered online
• Consumable Workbook Orders Sent to Jenny

Everyday Math Workbooks Handwriting Without Tears

Spelling Workbooks Any other workbooks you need

• Faculty Meeting Thursday 6/12, 8:30 - 12:00
• Reports Due - 8:00 AM Monday, 6/16
• Proof-Reports - Monday, 6/16, 8:00am - 4:00 pm

• Progress Reports in PCR Tuesday, June 17th by 9am
• Faculty Meeting - Tuesday, 6/17, 8:00 - 11:00
• AS Closing - Tuesday, 6/17, 11:00 - 2:00
• Cadwell Workshop, 6/18, 8:30 - 3:30

End of Year Report

• Access to the 2nd Semester Report Card section available on Monday, May 19.  
• All reports need to be written and saved in Google Drive by Monday, June 16 so they can be proofed, corrected, and finalized in PCR by 9:00 AM on June 17
• Access to uploading, correcting, and entering any information through PCR will end at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 17.

OPERATIONS

Calendar Work for Next Year

I made copies of the Master Calendar- one copy  for each grade level/class.  When planning for next year keep in mind:

• Parent meetings are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Please don’t schedule events involving parents for Wednesday morning.
• If possible, plan gatherings involving parents on a day when we have a Parent Partnership Coffee (three per year).  Second Grade has done this for a number of years. Their parent coffees are always well attended. Parents appreciate having more than one event on the same day- fewer breaks from work and life responsibilities.
• Don’t schedule field trips on Monday or Friday, if the plans  cause you to miss Chapel or an assembly.
• If your whole grade level invites parents in for a special events that includes plays, stagger the times of the performances so parents with twins can see more than one play.  For example, this year First Grade scheduled one play for 8am, the second for 8:20 and the third at 8:40.  David and I were able to attend all three. Thank you.

2013-14 Budget

• Please submit your receipts as soon as possible so our budget is accurate.