LS Weekly Memo Week 6: September 15 - 19, 2014

Thanks for a great first full week.  I appreciate your extra efforts to socialize with parents at BTSP.  With the social event behind us, on to BTSN we go.  Be sure to check in with Debra or Angela before you night if you have questions about a technological presentation.

COMMUNITY

BTSP

Thanks sharing your Friday evening to gather for our annual Back-to-School Picnic.  Our thanks to Janine Segal, Jonathan’s mom and Francis Phillips, Annie, Janie and Will’s mom,  for managing a team of parent volunteers to pull off another successful picnic.  Let us know if you have any suggestions for improvement.

Community Chapel

Thanks to Jenny Cleveland for a great Community Chapel, reminding us all to strive to bring our best selves forward.  We are fortunate to be at a school surrounded by students with such good intents.  I was also impressed that the vast majority of the comments were in the positive - what we want for our community.  Jenny is working on next steps.

Monday - HOT 95 Degrees

Keep your students well hydrated.

Recess Agreements for Primary through Fifth Grade - Keeping them in the forefront of your mind.

• Walk, Talk or Rock
• Be aware, walk around
• Recess Agreements - Be Safe, Kind, Fair and Fun
• Use the Incident Reports
• Refer recurring or more complicated situations to SST
• See the Recess Google Folder for additional details

Incident Reports

• Use the Incident Reports
• Tracking record for SST to look for trends
• Report after resolve situation
• Bullets/ short form, not long narrative
• SST reviews Incident Forms each week to look for trends
• May use to report positive behaviors as well

Student Safety

If a student’s behavior is unsafe for the student or others, Chris or I need to know about it

If a student breaks any of the Major Rules Chris or I need to be informed.

WFF Assembly on Friday

8:10 in the gym.  We will include a Homecoming kick-off video created by former LSer Ted Morissette.

Spirit Week and Homecoming - September 22 – 26

It si a uniform optional week.  Each day students have three choices; uniforms, OES spiritwear, or dressing in the theme.  Shoes appropriate for PE and Recess are still required.

• Monday- Hipster
• Tuesday- Tropical
• Wed- Clash
• Thursday- TeleV15ion (come as your favorite character)
• Friday- Spiritwear
• All School Pep- Rally 8:00 – 8:30 on Friday, 9/26 in gym

Dorm Student Buddy

Your class could adopt/develop a relationship with a dorm student! As you may or may not know we have a mini international school in the dorms here at OES. We have 58 students from all over the world. Some are as close as Bend, but the majority are from another country.  See Tasha Busick for details.

Parent Partnership Coffees 2014-2015

David and I will meet this week to finalize plans for our upcoming fall coffees. Look for more details in next week’s Weekly Memo.  Please let us know who is representing your grade level so Lyn can arrange a planning meeting this week. Click in the link above to access this document.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meetings

Plan on being available each Monday from 3:15 - 4:30 and each Thursday from 7:40 - 8:40 for faculty meetings.  See the LS Faculty Meeting Schedule for details.

Faculty Meeting

Teams Monday 3:15 – 4:30

There are several Mondays set aside for Teams.  See your team leader for agenda.

Thursday, 9/18 - No Lower School Meeting

Faculty Meeting Agenda 2014-15

Team Leader Notes

• Check-in about start of year
• THA plan
• Coffees/ PAL Meeting plans
• Inquiry common experiences discussion

Sending Students to the Library

Friendly reminder:  out of respect to our scheduled library classes, please consult the Library schedule before sending large groups down to the Library.  Heidi can assist 1-2 students briefly, but larger groups distract our classes.  We are happy to be of assistance during open library times.  Thank you!

THA Meetings

We are working though the final details of the building.  Most of this work will be done with the Team Leaders; Janet, Alysa, Debra and Chris.  Kirstin will also participate as Building Committee Member.

Classroom Dimensions

Tracy worked with the 5th grade to lay out the classroom dimensions for PK – P classrooms and 1st – 5th classrooms in the LSCH. Take a look and imagine what is possible with that space.

Volunteer Check-in

Thank you for your work with your room parents about volunteer opportunities.  I checked with Mary Lou Green on Friday and she believes all Room Parents have the information they need.  

Essential Competencies Posters

We have a few EC posters in the Faculty Lounge.  Help yourself.  If you have the original light green version please replace.

Changes to the Chapel/Assembly Schedule

There have been a few changes to the Chapel and Assembly schedule for the fall. The online calendars now list the correct information. The new events are as follows. Please correct your planning calendars. Thank you!

October 17--LS Chapel: 2nd-5th Grade

November 14--LS Chapel: 2nd-5th Grade

November 21--BS and LS Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Assembly, 8:10-8:40

Assistant Teachers Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 24th, 12:05-12:35

We’ll have five meetings this year, most will take place in the Morris House Conference Room.  

Look for details in the Weekly Memo.

OPERATIONS

BS Food Service

Chris and I met with Kelly and Jason. They estimate that last year the Beginning School had approximately $15,000 in food waste. We recognize there are many factors contributing to that waste, including menu items that are not child-friendly.  Jason, Kelly and Shirley are working on offerings that are more child-friendly.

     

• Sandwich making materials will be available daily - one or more of the following: cheese, turkey and soy butter
• Please encourage students to try the hot entree before offering sandwiches
• Encourage students to eat what they take, waste less food
• Jason will try to come down most Wednesdays to talk with students, teachers and parents about healthy eating and good choices. He is open to feedback.
• If you are interested in getting a tour of the kitchen and gardens, let Kelly know.  They love the opportunity to share their good work.
• They are also open to having farmers who serve Bon Appetit visit classes/grades to talk about farming and good eating.

Student Use of Office Bathrooms

At times we are having lines of 6 or more students at the bathroom in the LS Office.  Please limit the number sent up from PK - P lunch.

Dismissal Duty Help

Thanks to all for pitching in to get children into dismissal routines.  We no longer need the extra coverage.

Thanks to Specialist for Helping Out at Lunch Recess Duty

Thanks, Specialists, for helping out at lunch recess duty. We will go back to our usual routines, with teachers taking a lunch break when not on duty.

Sunscreen Application

This past week I noticed that a number of  students had  sunscreen stored in their cubbies. I was curious about this development and had  several conversations with Jenny Strode and Elaine Elliott. Here’s what  I learned.  

•Sunscreen, which has a variety of ingredients and varying levels of sun protection, can cause allergic reactions. It should be considered a form of over the counter medication.

•Parents who have young children should apply sunscreen brought from home in the morning.

•If parents want a second application during the day, they need to come in and do so.

•Older students may apply their own sunscreen, as requested by parents.

•Once applied, hands should be thoroughly washed.

•Sunscreen should not be stored openly in cubbies.  It should be tucked away in backpacks or in another safe location.

•Teachers, (and I know this will be hard for Beginning School teachers) you should not apply sunscreen.   

Your Announcements

Send any announcements you have for faculty to Chris or me by Thursday each week and we will include them in the Weekly memo.  This should help reduce the number of emails we are receiving, and to maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.

LS Weekly Memo Week 5: September 8 -12, 2014

Congratulations on a great first week.  I so enjoy watching the transformation of students from ones who were not sure they were ready for summer to end to those who were eager for the new school day to begin.  This week we start with our first Chapel and end with the Back to School Picnic on Friday.

COMMUNITY

Recess Agreements for Primary through Fifth Grade

• Walk, Talk or Rock
• Be aware, walk around
• Do not play gender vs. gender nor grade vs. grade.
• Use the Incident Reports
• Follow  Recess Agreements - Be Safe, Kind, Fair and Fun
• SST referrals
• Recess Google Folder for additional details

Recess Reminders

• The boat is looking quite sorry these days and needs some repair. Keep an eye on how that is being used. We will either have it repaired or removed in the coming week.
• Be vigilant at recess. Move around, avoid conversations with colleagues (we know it is tempting).  We have had several incidents of rough inappropriate play with First Graders and Fifth Graders.
• Report First through Fifth Grade behavioral issues to Chris or Melanie and submit a student incident report.  
• Beginning School colleagues, please let Chris or Melanie know if  children develop a pattern of   rough or unkind play.  We really want to support students early on and help them get on a better path.

Student Support Team (SST)

Student Support Team will meet three times a week this year.

Mondays, 9-10 am to discuss students who need our support.

Thursdays 10:50-11:50 and 3:10-3:45 for teachers and specialists to meet with SST.  Contact Ari if you would like to attend.

Yellow Jackets

If you are visiting the lake with your class please be aware of an underground wasp (or yellow jacket?) nest near the dock.  It is just a few feet from the new platform, to the left as you face the water.  Yellow jackets are hungry and ornery at this time of year so be observant.

Citizenship and Discipline

Please review the Citizenship and Discipline section of the Student Handbook before the opening of school so you are aware of our stated practices. There are seven sections to review.  We will discuss at the faculty meeting on Thursday

 

Andy Shotts - father of Elwin Shotts, 3rd Grade

Elwin will the ride bus to and from school when visiting with Andy.

Andy needs to request access to campus 72 hours in advance.

I will communicate out when permission is granted.

Senior Entrance

One of the great OES traditions is the annual Senior Entrance, where seniors unveil their theme for their class.  The entrance occurs around 8:10 at the Belltower circle.  All are invited to watch, though it may be most appropriate for 3rd - 5th grades.  For safety reasons please keep your students on the sidewalk.

Campus Explore

If you are exploring the campus be sure to:

• Let the LS Office know where you are going and for how long
• Take a cellphone and 1st Aid kit
• Take what you need for students with medical issues

Back-to-School Picnic (BTSP)

As in the past, PAL will provide a dinner before the BTSP.  We are doing something slightly different this year.  In an effort to better manage food waste and cost the pre-picnic dinner will be the same barbeque-style meal served at the pinic

• If you plan to eat here, please RSVP using this BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC SIGN UP.
• Dinner will be available for you starting at 4:00 pm so you can eat before the picnic begins. Come down to the covered area, serve your self.
• The library will be open for you to enjoy your food before socializing at the picnic.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meetings

Plan on being available each Monday from 3:15 - 4:30 and each Thursday from 7:40 - 8:40 for faculty meetings.  See the LS Faculty Meeting Schedule for details.

Faculty Meeting - Thursday, 9/11 - Lower School Meeting

7:40 - 8:40, LS Art Room

Faculty Meeting Agenda 2014-15

Volunteer Spreadsheet

If you have already met with your room parent and reduced your volunteer requests you may be fine.  I will meet with Mary Lou and Mari on Monday to clarify.

If you have not met with your room parent yet, please edit the Volunteer Excel spreadsheet and send it to your Room Patent by the end of the day Monday.  You only need to edit the volunteer requests.  Do not worry about dates. CC me on your email so I know when they are all done.  It is quite a process for the Room Parents to enter the volunteer needs into Volunteer Spot.  They need this week to get it all inputted and ready fro BTSN.

• Each grade level should have about 200 (or 67/ class) volunteer opportunities.
• No more than 100 of the requests should be for science
• Edit the attached spreadsheet, using BOTH tabs of the spreadsheet
• Send the edited spreadsheet to your room parent by the end of the day Monday

NWAIS Fall Educator Conference - We are hosting the NWAIS Conference on our campus this year on October 10.  I would like all LS faculty to attending.  Let me know if you have other preferences fro PGD on 10/10.

The deadline for discounted NWAIS registration is September 10.  We are registering as a group – please sign-up by filling out the google form below – sign up is due by Monday, September 8th!   NWAIS PGD Sign up

 

Specialist classes

• All specialist classes meet this week

       

Classroom Website Updated?

 

Building Conversations

One of the significant sustainability questions we will be addressing before the end of September is the comfort range of the new building.  The broader the comfort range we can work with the more sustainable the building can be.  Let me know what temperature range seems manageable for your students.

THA Meetings

We are working though the final details of the building.  Most of this work will be done with the Team Leaders; Janet, Alysa, Debra and Chris.  Kirstin will also participate as Building Committee Member.

OPERATIONS

Walkway Duty

Thank you to the classroom teachers for helping out with walkway duty at the end of the day.    Helping students learn our expectations during pick-up is key:

• Where to be
• Looking for their ride
• Calm bodies
• No cellphones

We could use some help from specialists during drop off (7:30 – 7:50) this week.

• Pull ahead along the curb, even past the curve
• Drop-off at curbside
• Adult stays with car at the curb
• 1st – 5th grade students down to the playground, PK – P to LSCH

All School Earthquake Drill, Thursday, September 11th at 1:20

• By law, Rebecca Williams needs to schedule emergency drills the first week of school.  We will have our first drill on Sept. 11th.  This will be a duck and cover and an evacuation drill for all three divisions.  We should remember to line up on the left third of the field, leaving space for the Middle and Upper School.
• We also need to have emergency bus safety drills before students go on field trips.  We will discuss when to have our bus safety drill at our first Team Leader meeting Sept. 8th. Look for more details in an upcoming Weekly Memo.

       

Specialists' Sign Up- Lunch Recess Coverage Opening Days

Classroom  teachers will eat lunch with their students the first eight days and will need a midday break. Specialists, we’d like your support covering lunch recess duties the first eight days of school. Please click the link below to sign up for a duty or two. Please take a look.  There are a number of duties yet to be covered, particularly First-Third Grade lunch recess on the first day.

Sunscreen Application

This past week I noticed that a number of  students had  sunscreen stored in their cubbies. I was curious about this development and had  several conversations with Jenny Strode and Elaine Elliott. Here’s what  I learned.  

•Sunscreen, which has a variety of ingredients and varying levels of sun protection, can cause allergic reactions. It should be considered a form of over the counter medication.

•Parents who have young children should apply sunscreen brought from home in the morning.

•If parents want a second application during the day, they need to come in and do so.

•Older students may apply their own sunscreen, as requested by parents.

•Once applied, hands should be thoroughly washed.

•Sunscreen should not be stored openly in cubbies.  It should be tucked away in backpacks or in another safe location.

•Teachers, (and I know this will be hard for Beginning School teachers) you should not apply sunscreen.   

Uniforms - Have you looked for logos yet?

Please read and be familiar with the LS Uniform Policy.

All upper wear worn inside must have OES logo and must be uniform wear.

Changes to Class Schedules

Class schedules have been uploaded in the LS Important Docs.  If changes need to be made to the class schedules you need to notify Lyn. She will be the one to make changes in the excel spreadsheet – this is with an understanding that you have already approved of the changes beforehand.

Recess Bells and Electronic Doors

We know these have not been working properly. The library door remained lock during morning drop off and the bells were not functioning properly during the day. We’ll get this fixed early this week.

Your Announcements

Send any announcements you have for faculty to Chris or me by Thursday each week and we will include them in the Weekly memo.  This should help reduce the number of emails we are receiving, and to maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.