Weekly Memo
Week 35, April 24-28, 2017
|
Thanks to the PE Team for making the Beginning Years Movement Program possible. If you have not done so already, check out the video of the grand dance finale in the Aardvark News. Friday was a great full day with MS DEAR, Teacher Appreciation and Culture Shock.
Best of luck to the 2nd graders and Tasha’s 5th graders as they prepare to present their speeches and play. We kick off class placement meetings this week and continue on through May. Mid-week is the Great OES Book Swap. Be sure your class has signed up.
As a collaborative professional community I will strive to:
- Do what is best for the students
- Assume we are all doing our best at the moment and our intentions are positive
- Be present, participate, contribute, include many voices
- Create a safe space that encourages sharing different opinions, ideas, perspectives
- Seek understanding, be curious about what others think
- Express gratitude, joy and encouragement
- Communicate with compassion, clarity and effectiveness
- Demonstrate respect
COMMUNITY
Phillip Craig, LS Chaplain Candidate, Visit 4/24
Phillip is visiting next Monday and will go through a similar process to the other two finalists. He will present at Chapel on Tuesday. Look for the email from Lyn with visit schedule details.
Heather Wenrick is Away
Before Heather took on the interim LS Chaplain role, her family had planned a grand family vacation for the next few weeks. Phillip will be stepping in to convene Chapel in her absence.
Teacher Appreciation
Be sure to thank Deb Pajor and Lisa Kellogg for the amazing Teacher Appreciation Day. They tended to every detail and treated us to quite a day.
DEAR, Friday, April 21
Thanks to Lara and Patrick for organizing our second MS DEAR. What a great way to start a Friday. We may get one more in before the year is done and include 5th grade heading up to MS.
Strategy Workshop
I know some of you were wondering why small people were sneaking around the hallways today and what all those little cards are about on the walls. Here's a little journal explaining...it was just one tiny piece of today's PreK and Kindergarten-Primary Strategy Workshops, which is our weekly time where the children all gather around a social-emotional strategy and then investigate it or practice it in small groups guided by classroom teachers, assistant teachers, specialists or support staff:
Plenty of cards left if any other classes would like to reciprocate for the Lodge residents or go on a sneaky LS tour of your own...just let me know if you'd like some!
Also feel free to remove the cards if you'd prefer they weren't on your documentation panels--the children's desire was first and foremost to get those messages to the classes that made them.
Curious about US Culture Shock. Here is the student made video used to introduce the day.
Employee Awards - Due May 1st - see email from Sage
- The OES Staff Excellence Award - The Staff Excellence Award is awarded annually to a non-faculty employee who has exemplified the highest standards of mission-minded performance in her/his position.
- Grant for Graduate Studies for Faculty - A faculty member who wishes to pursue any graduate program leading to an advanced degree, may receive 50 percent of tuition costs, up to a program cap of $10,000 subject to the limitations
- The Mary Stephenson Award - Annual award to the OES faculty member or members who has or have excelled in challenging and inspiring students to question, to think, to speak out, and to care.
Moving Into Coffees (MIC)
MIC’s begin next week, May 1st with Prekindergarten. Specialists have been invited. While we reserve 8:00 - 9:30, the agenda is only planned for an hour. See schedule below:
DATES
|
GRADE
|
TIME
|
LOCATION
|
Monday, May 1
|
Moving into PK
|
8:00 – 9:30
|
LS Library
|
Wednesday, May 3
|
Moving into K
|
8:00 – 9:30
|
LS Library
|
Friday, May 5
|
Moving into P
|
8:00 – 9:30
|
LS Library
|
Monday, May 22
|
Moving into 1st
|
8:00 – 9:00
|
LS Library
|
Monday, May 15
|
Moving into 2nd
|
8:00 – 9:00
|
LS Library
|
Wednesday, May 31
|
Moving into 3rd
|
8:00 – 9:00
|
LS Library
|
Monday, May 8
|
Moving into 4th
|
8:00 – 9:00
|
LS Library
|
Friday, May 12
|
Moving into 5th
|
8:00 – 9:00
|
LS Library
|
Supporting Exhibitions--Please help!
We have some exciting exhibitions of culminating student projects coming up--we thank you in advance for supporting that work with alternate transition routes and group gatherings at alternate times if necessary. Avoiding the inner stairwell from the Lodge Level to the main level will be important. The following dates/times are lined up for performances in the Performance Commons/Dining Commons, so thanks in advance for preserving quiet in that area at these times:
Wed. 4/26: Schilling Hero Speeches, 8:10-9:30 (E Day)
Thurs. 4/27: Blake Hero Speeches, 9:00-10:15 (D Day)
Fri. 4/28: Simms Hero Speeches, 8:10-9:30 (C Day)
Wed. 5/3: 3rd Grade Play, 8:30-9:30 (F Day)
Mount Hood Climb Service Day Logistics:
Thank you for all of your great ideas for meaningful and connected projects for your classrooms on Mount Hood Climb Service Day. Please visit the spreadsheet link below and fill in the columns for timing, materials, and helpers needed. Specialists and staff, please fill in your morning and afternoon plans at the bottom of the sheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/174vI9ululv4beU3SxuL9PWmyplsAJ-PCalZdtGe2LBs/edit?usp=sharing
Don't forget to sign up for one of the afternoon community and reflection stations: join cooperative team-building games with the PE team, a service learning DEAR session with Lara, walk the labyrinth with Chaplain Jenny, engage in Yoga Calm with Kathleen, or participate in an artistic reflection with Kristen. The leaders of these sessions are prepared to lead them alone, to allow classroom teachers a moment of self-care in the afternoon. Link below:
This week I will be communicating with each of you about lunch orders, as I described at the faculty meeting on Thursday.
Thank you for your service! Kristen
GOBS
GOBS! Wednesday, April 26th in the Upper School.
Please sign-up for your class visit time as soon as you can. If you are new and have any questions about GOBS please don't hesitate to check in with Lara.
FOESL & GOBS UPDATE
GOBS is scheduled for the week of April 24th at the UPPER SCHOOL LIBRARY!
* * * please note new location * * *
Kids will visit GOBS during the school day on Wednesday, April 26th. Families who have donated books are also invited to an early browsing session before school on Wednesday from 7:30 to 7:50 AM.
Book donation drop-off begins Monday 4/17. Please bring books to the Upper School Library any time that week. We'll also do curbside collection on Mon 4/24 (AM drop-off and PM pickup lines), and Tues 4/25 (AM drop-off line only). Please separate into adults' and children's titles for ease of sorting.
Email Rebecca Thompson at rebecca.n.thompson@gmail.com if you'd like some help to transport/unload your books the week of 4/17, or with questions.
Also please get in touch if you can spare a few minutes at dropoff/pickup times on Mon or Tues of the week of 4/24 to collect curbside donations and bring up to Upper School.
Please sign-up for your class visit time as soon as you can. If you are new and have any questions about GOBS please don't hesitate to check in with Lara.
Teacher Searches
LS Chaplain - Finalist candidate visits 4/24
PreK Teacher - Offer out
5th Grade Teacher - interviews underway
Candidate Feedback
Send your candidate feedback to David. Chaplain search committee will convene during week of 4/24. See Lyn’s email for form.
Student Support
- First Grade - We appreciate your help at First Grade recesses keeping an eye out for Andy B, Juliette B., Aaron S., Alex J. and friends. They may need support navigating social issues and particularly in using kind and inclusive language together.
- Neal Family - Alexa, 2nd, and Mark, PreK. The family is going through a difficult transition. If either child needs support, let Melanie know.
Playground Safety
This week a 5th grader jumped over the fence from Mini-Aardvark to where the bike racks are. He fell from that height to the concrete below between two racks. It was very lucky this student wasn’t injured as seriously as he could have been. A good rule of thumb for students and duty teachers is to look to the ground. If cement is under the bars/wall/etc., you know these were not meant to be played on and is not part of our play area. Under our climbing structures such as the monkey bars and slide, there are bark chips to cushion and protect students when they fall. This also pertains to balancing on the outside fence line by the bike rack. The bike rack area is off limits for playing. It is hard to supervise and is a storage area for bikes.
4th graders have started a game around the slide. The 4th grade team is excited to see the class play together in a large group and now other grade levels are becoming involved. At the same time, we have had a couple injuries from students jumping or falling off the slide. While the slide area is over bark chips, a couple safety rule have been added. No jumping off the top of the slide or stairs. No climbing onto the platform from the side of the slide. You cannot go down the slide if someone is standing at the bottom.
Major Lower School Rules
The following infractions are considered serious and could result in a range of consequences including dismissal from the school. Unless otherwise stated, these rules apply to conduct at all school-related events both on and off campus.
Verbal abuse, physical abuse, bullying, or inappropriate physical touch.
Lying, deceit, or other dishonest conduct
Destruction of property belonging to the School, its personnel, or another student
Stealing
Inappropriate language
Possession or use of weapons or any object that is used in a threatening manner
PROGRAM
- Monday, April 24 - Required All School Emergency Management Plan
School Calendar Task Force Representatives
David Lowell
LS: Tina Akehurst, Claire Kucera
MS: Dennis Chang, Anna Rossi
US: Joel Gray, Liz Weiler
Extension: Kati Stenstrom
LS Budget - Thank you for your ideas. I have submitted a proposal and am awaiting final decisions
LS Envisioning - Chris, Kirstin, David are working through the ideas that emerged during our retreat
Lamb Endowment Applications due Monday, April 24th
The William G. Lamb Endowment Award celebrates inquiry-driven and research-related pursuits. This is a call for proposals for the second round of applications in the 2016-17 school year. Award recipients will get their award after the end of this fiscal year, on July 1.
If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Award committee: Brad Baugher, Erin Moulton, Ryan Holland, or Peter Langley.
Summer Stipends -
Mandatory emergency training meetings
April 24th and May 1st from 3:15 - 4:45pm
All employees will gather in the dining hall for mandatory emergency training meetings.
The OES Emergency Operations Plan is now complete and will be rolled out to all employees
during these training meetings. Come ready to learn about the organization and jobs designed for you to keep employees and students as safe as possible during an emergency.
These meetings are required as every employee on campus will have a role.
Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention to these trainings.
Sub Requests
Whenever possible please call in the night. More notice increases your chances of having adequate staffing for your classroom. Thank you!
Harvard Project Zero Class
The Project Zero participants (Katherine, Colesie, Carole, Deborah, Kirstin, Chris) have ‘zeroed’ in on their shared inquiry question: How do we create an environment where student voice is central? Our hope is to discover some new terrain around this question with an expansive view of ‘we’ as well as ‘environment.’ How do our learning groups bring their voices forth? What structures allow them to do so with independence? What allows us to hear and respond to student voice? In what ways do students illuminate the voices of and connect to our build on the ideas of others in their community? What makes this possible?
As many of us in Lower School think about how to show parents the rich processes our students have been engaged in around project work, these words from our readings might be helpful:
Interpreting documentation is essential to the practice of documentation and what distinguishes it from display...displays become documentation when teachers assume a research stance and collect documentation that invites inquiry about children’s thinking and predictions about effective teaching. When teachers [and students] include their analysis and interpretation of the learning represented in the documentation, documentation moves from informing to educating.
Some guidelines for documentation panels meant for public viewing:
- Beware of including too much written text.
- Try to balance metacognitive learning and learning content.
- Documenting the experience of one small group, moment or event is often more powerful than documenting an entire lesson or unit.
- If you are feeling adrift in a sea of data, ask yourself, “What is the learning I want to make visible?”
- Consider including: title, context (one or two short paragraphs), supporting artifacts, your analysis or interpretation
We continue to value these resources:
- If You Only Have Five Minutes...short documentation moves (most are self-explanatory but all the Project Zero participants have the book referred to if you want more details)
- Entry Points Chart for planning learning groups
- Ladder of Feedback for helping students give effective peer feedback and a brief video about how teachers use it with students
- Article on ‘Zooms,’ ways to engage in documentation about a shared inquiry idea
Yoga Offerings
SST meetings are available on Thursdays from 3:15-4:00 for anyone who would like a whole team approach to supporting a student or students. Please contact your Assistant Head to request a Thursday afternoon SST. Also let us know who you’d like to request to attend.
OPERATIONS
Recess Duty
A reminder that during recess duty, make sure you are spread around the playground watching kids, especially around the lincoln logs, 4 square game, and football. These areas have had a surge of rough play and disagreements.
Cell Phones and Toys
- Please avoid using you cell phones during duty, unless absolutely necessary
- Students should not be using cellphones while on campus
- Toys from home require special permission to come to school
- From the LS Handbook
- In general, toys from home are not allowed at school. If there is a toy which a student feels may be appropriate to bring to school, he or she should ask for permission from the Head of Lower School before bringing the toy to school.
- Children should not bring candy or money to school, except for special events when the classroom teacher has granted permission, e.g.: book fair, a party, or a field trip. Use of a cell phone is not permitted when at school or on a school function; in special situations, exceptions may be granted by the Head of Lower School.
Students are starting to get creative with the dress code. Perhaps a review of the Dress Code is in order for your class. Uggs are not PE appropriate footwear.
Performance Commons - check to be sure it is available
If you are practicing for a performance in the Performance Commons that requires a large setup for an extended period, please do the following:
- Add this information to the Faculty Calendar under ‘all day events.’ You can see an example on the calendar between now and spring break, where a stage set-up for 4th grade has been noted.
- Let Chris, Kirstin or David know so they can add the information to the weekly memo. This will help everyone be aware that Performance Commons usage may be limited by the setup even when the room is not reserved.
Please note that the current stage set-up in the Performance Commons will be in place until spring break.
Field Trips on or off Campus
Inform the LS Office when you take your class on a trip out of the building. We need to know where your class is at all times during the school day. Take with you what you need; cellphone, 1st aid, emergency forms and more as needed.
Calendar Updates
Update grade level events on the faculty calendar and the Finalsite Calendar. The spring is a very busy time. We want to be sure all know what is happening when with sufficient time to work through conflicts and plan on attending
Early Morning Supervision
Just a reminder to please wait until 7:30 am before allowing students into the building each morning. Children arriving before 7:30 should wait outside the building with their caregivers until the building opens.
Schedule
A helpful tool is created in the OES website for employees to save time searching different sites when you need to access the basic forms like check request, catering, maintenance requests and other resources.
Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Kirstin, Chris or David 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 maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.
