Weekly Memo 38, May 21-25

Weekly Memo WM 38, May 21-25, 2018

Welcome back 5th grade. Though it is a mighty commitment to take the 5th grade to camp for a week, based on the picture album, first hand experiences and stories upon their return, the trip is invaluable.

This week starts with the Moving Into Kindergarten Coffee, ends with the 4th grade learning Celebration and in between we host the three 2nd grade finalists. Next weekend is a well deserved long weekend as we prepare for the final few weeks of school.

Lower School Agreements

• 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

We continue our Weekly Memo format with repeat items in blue and new items in black.

COMMUNITY

5th Grade Returns from Orkila

Thanks to the 5th Grade Team and the chaperones for making such a great experience possible. Thanks to Kirstin, Melanie, Ari and Lyn for all their extra efforts while others were away.

Gathering and Chapel - Please be seated and ready at 8:10.
Lower School Chapel Schedule for 2017-2018
LS Chapel, Tuesday, 5/22 - Chapel

LS Gathering, Friday, 5/25 - Gathering 

Discovery Day - Thursday, May 31 12:15 - 2:15 for Primary - 2nd

All teachers please be available to help with student shepherding.

Hiring - 
We have a busy week hosting three 2nd grade finalists and interviewing 5th grade candidates.
4th Grade - Adelaide Wainwright has accepted our offer
1st Grade - Anthony Villaseñor has accepted our offer
2nd Grade - Finalists visiting week of May 21
5th Grade - Interviews continue

Moving Into Coffees - Kindergarten Coffee this week.

DATES	GRADE	TIME	LOCATION
Monday, May 21	Moving into K (click for link to slideshow/notes)	8:00 – 9:30	LS Library: Lauren, Kirstin, David, Ari, Melanie, Lara, Laura, Alfredo, PE teacher
Wednesday, May 30	Moving into 2nd	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library
Monday, June 4	Moving into 3rd	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library
Wednesday, June 6	Moving into 4th	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library

Lockout Drill  - 1:30 on Tuesday, May 22

Think through where you will be and how you will respond. If something needs attention, complete a maintrequest@oes.edu.

If you are outside come inside.  Bring others with you.

Close blinds, especially classrooms on the ground floor.

Notify office who is with you.

Continue business as usual.

Watch for the Honeywell messages.

Lockout Attendance Reporting

Employees will need to report attendance to LYN by TEXT message: 503-750-6687 (most LS Employees have my cell phone number). Use email as a back-up system. KATHY will then check –off the reported attendance against the employees and students roster lists in our Emergency binder.

8th Grade Project X - culminating inquiry project by each 8th grader

CONNECT YOUR CLASS TO A COHORT

Thursday, May 24th 12:25 - 1:15 AND 1:15 - 2:05 @ OES Middle School

Sign up to bring your class to meet with one of our 8th grade cohorts on Thursday during the school day. We are looking for 10 groups of that are interested in being coached by us through an inquiry activity! It will be a fun way to learn about what we did and to think about how we can connect across LS, MS, and US. You are also welcome to bring your classes through our MS hallways from 1:15 - 2:05 to see what we created during 'Project X.' SIGN UP HERE!

'PROJECT X' SHOWCASE & CELEBRATION 

Thursday, May 24th 6:30 - 8:30 PM @ OES Middle School 

We invite you to join us in celebrating our explorations, guiding questions, and deep thinking during our 'Project X' experience this year. We will coach you through our inquiry process, share and reflect on our student designed service work, and showcase the artifacts we created to capture the story of our year.  

'PROJECT X' OPEN HOUSE

Friday, May 25th 10:50 - 11:30 AM @OES Middle School

Bring your classes, yourself, your office mates - all are welcome! We will be sharing our artifacts, our "Wall of Wondering" (an installation of all our questions and understandings), and discussing our process with visitors.

SST

A reminder that the SST agenda and SST site are updated weekly and are a good resource for student concerns: links are in the WM sidebar. 

Student Updates

The SST Site contains valuable information that is helpful in understanding a student’s history and action plans. You may want to review the entries in the site before writing a child's report. The SST Site is linked in the Weekly Memo and can only be accessed on campus.

Emergency Signal - 3 Sharp Whistle Blast
Lower School will use 3 sharp whistle blasts as our emergency signal outdoors. If a child hears that he or she should come quickly toward the nearest known adult.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meetings

Monday, 5/21 - BY/IY Meeting: (BY meet in Flex Classroom)
Thursday, 5/24 - Specialist Class List feedback. Flex Classroom. 7:35 - 8:35

Library News

Teachers-Please include the following italicized paragraph (and the link mentioned below) in your communication home this week!

Here are some important dates for the end of the year for our Library.  All library materials are due Friday, June 1st.  We will send final overdue notices home via paper and parent email on June 5th.  It is important for us to have all materials back so we can complete our annual inventory.  We encourage all interested families to check out materials for the summer on a parent account. We open our library on June, 11, 12, and the morning of the 13th for parents to come in and stock up for summer reading.  Materials can then be returned at the start of the school year.  Please reach out to me (Lara Ingham at inghaml@oes.edu or 503-416-9245) or our Library Assistant, Ms. Alma Gomes (gomesa@oes.edu or 503-416-9243) with any questions or suggestions.

Please consider returning any library books in your classroom which you are no longer using to us so we can get them checked in for you.  We will be happy to print out or email a list of books on your classroom or personal account.

We are switching up our summer reading this year and will be encouraging students to create a reading garland over the summer-I will be sending info home via WE and also will share the information directly with the students.  If you could also share this link with book recommendations and details about summer reading in your parent communication, I would appreciate it.  

Play in LS

• What happens to our shared language when we see a range of images and reflections on important ideas/big rocks in LS?
• What documentation practices can help us articulate both a shared and diverse vision of education in LS?
• What possibilities and questions arise when we examine the work our colleagues do with students?
• How can documentation help us better understand our own work and the work of our team? What changes in practice will we make based on what we see/hear/learn? 

The reflection sheet for documentation is here--you can save your own copy and use it electronically, or you can print it and paste a photo/handwrite your reflection. Please add your documentation to the wall of the faculty lounge if it isn't there already. 

Articulation Planning Sheets 

Summer Stipends - Deadline Has Passed
Division Heads begin reviewing requests on Tuesday.

Class Placement
1st round is done. Specialists are adding comments based on placement criteria.

• Gender
• Students from each of three classes
• Friedships
• Social dynamics
• Academic strengths and challenges
• Tutoring/ support services
• Behavior strengths and challenges
• Mix of former Primarians in each class
• Leadership
• Diversity
• Family structure
• Parental needs
• Volunteers
• Employee, volunteer leadership children

Placement Requests

If parents have placement requests please direct them to David to schedule an appointment.

Summer Reading Options
A colleague refers to May as the 100 days of May because so much is happening in schools.  As we finish out this 100-day month, I know some of you may be thinking about what you might read this summer.  The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys is a must read.  Ali Michaels, Marguerite W. Penick-Parks, and Eddie Moore, Jr. offer an engaging book that touches upon culturally responsive teaching, critical race theory in practice, and systematic racism.  Please watch this webinar  to learn more. 

OPERATIONS

AP Exams - This Wednesday and Friday, May 23 and 25
The Upper School students have AP exams in Farris Hall this year
Move quietly past Fariss for the morning exams on May 23, and 25
Keep away from Fariss Hall during morning and lunch recess on May 23, and 25
Do not use the Fariss Garden before 1:00pm on May 23, and 25

Safety on the Playground...

...the list is growing. Please help support these guidelines when you're on duty!

• Some of the 1st/2nd grade tag games are getting too physical. PE Team, can you help with some tag games that would still allow the thrill of the chase, but could be more fun for more players?
• Monitor the energy of the tag games on the new playground boulders. We had a slip, fall and head scrape Friday.
• Swings: please play safely with swings at the approved height, swinging back/forth, one child per swing, facing in the same direction so others can navigate around the swings. Thank you!

Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Kirstin, Chris or David by Thursday each week August-June 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.

WM 37, May 14 - 20

Weekly Memo WM 36, May 7 - 13, 2018

Happy Mothers Day. There are 21.5 days left in the year. Students will be done with school before Father's Day.  

Last week included the opening of 3rd Grade Living History Museum, The Lower School Spring Music Concert, MHCSD, the fina performance of the Primary Play and the 97th Lego Show.

This week we send the 5th grade off to Camp Orkila for the week, have Specialists review class placement lists and on Saturday, welcome families who will be new to OES next year.

Lower School Agreements

• 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

We continue our Weekly Memo format with repeat items in blue and new items in black.

COMMUNITY

Away at Camp Orkila 

Chris Thompson is away all week.

David is away Monday through Wednesday.

Kirstin will be in charge Monday through Wednesday with Ari and Melanie ready to help out.

Gathering and Chapel - Please be seated and ready at 8:10.
Lower School Chapel Schedule for 2017-2018
LS Chapel, Tuesday, 5/15 - Chapel

LS Gathering, Friday, 5/18 - Gathering (It is also LS PAL so Kirstin and I will not be at Gathering.)

Keep Them Hydrated

It is going to be hot on Monday, warm on Tuesday and sunny all week.

Discovery Day - Thursday, May 31 12:15 - 2:15 for Primary - 2nd

See the information packets distributed last week.

Be sure to have your students turn in their forms, ideally by end of day Monday

New format this year to reduce transitions. 

All teachers please be available to help with student shepherding.

New Roles Next Year

Please join me in congratulating Kiah, Suzanne and Jeffrey as they prepare to take on new responsibilities for next year.

Kiah Johnson Mounsey - Youth Engagement Coordinator, Middle School Health and Wellness Teacher, and Middle School Cross Country and Track Coach

Suzanne Lee - 3rd Grade Teacher

Jeffrey Sprague - 50% LS Technology Coordinator, 50% EC3 Operations Manager

3rd Grade Living History Museum

Thank you to the 3rd grade team for the powerful experience that was the Living History Museum. Your students had learned so much and taught us all so much.

LS Spring Concert

Thank you Deborah and Amy for your good work with your choirs. Watching your students I could see the joy and hear the skill. The same was true of watching you conduct. clear joy and what skill.

97th LEGO Show - Friday, May 11
Another great success. Thank you Jane and your legion of volunteers, for supporting our students explorations of building and programming.

Hiring
4th Grade - Adelaide Wainwright has accepted our offer
1st Grade - Anthony Villaseñor has accepted our offer
2nd Grade - Finalist visiting week of May 21
5th Grade - Interviews have begun

Moving Into Coffees - No coffees this week.

DATES	GRADE	TIME	LOCATION
Monday, May 21	Moving into K	8:00 – 9:30	LS Library
Wednesday, May 30	Moving into 2nd	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library
Monday, June 4	Moving into 3rd	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library
Wednesday, June 6	Moving into 4th	8:00 – 9:00	LS Library

Lockout Drill  - 1:30 on Tuesday, May 22

We will have a lockout drill on May 22. Between now and then be sure the safety features in your room are fully functional. Think through where you will be and how you will respond. If something needs attention, complete a maintrequest@oes.edu.

Emergency Signal - 3 Sharp Whistle Blast
Lower School will use 3 sharp whistle blasts as our emergency signal outdoors. If a child hears that he or she should come quickly toward the nearest known adult.

SST

A reminder that the SST agenda and SST site are updated weekly and are a good resource for student concerns: links are in the WM sidebar. 

Student Updates

The SST Site contains valuable information that is helpful in understanding a student’s history and action plans. You may want to review the entries in the site before writing a child's report. The SST Site is linked in the Weekly Memo and can only be accessed on campus.

PROGRAM

Faculty Meetings

Monday, 5/14 - No AS meeting 
Thursday, 5/17 - Specialist Class List feedback. Flex Classroom. 7:35 - 8:35

Play in LS
Thanks so much for your participation in expanding our collective understanding of play in LS at Thursday's faculty meeting. We will post the documentation in the faculty room and use your see, think, wonder work to guide some discussions in our closing meetings. Our goals and questions for this work are multifaceted and relate to our Big Rocks/Purpose to Practice:

• What happens to our shared language when we see a range of images and reflections on important ideas/big rocks in LS?
• What documentation practices can help us articulate both a shared and diverse vision of education in LS?
• What possibilities and questions arise when we examine the work our colleagues do with students?
• How can documentation help us better understand our own work and the work of our team? What changes in practice will we make based on what we see/hear/learn? 

The reflection sheet for documentation is here--you can save your own copy and use it electronically, or you can print it and paste a photo/handwrite your reflection. Please add your documentation to the wall of the faculty lounge if it isn't there already. 

Notes from the 5/3 meeting can be found here. 
The reflection sheet for documentation is here

All faculty should read this article.

Stuart Brown's TED Talk "Play is More Than Just Fun,"
this CNN article by Erika and Nicholas Christakis
this NAEYC article on brain science and guided play.
Articulation Planning Sheets 

As we plan or reflect on Project Season...
Louise Cadwell recently posted this really useful blog post titled Patterns and Elements of a Great Project.  We thought it might resonate and inform you as you communicate about project learning to families and think about refining projects next year.

Summer Stipends - Deadline, May 15!

• Speak with your Division Head and, when appropriate Department Chair, about your preliminary idea(s).
• Fill out the following FORM so that we are aware of your request. (If you are applying as part of a team, your group only has to submit one form for all of you. Just be sure to include all participants names.)
• Be sure to pay particular attention to areas of All-School, Divisional and / or Departmental priorities. These will be important elements of determining what requests are funded.
• Funding for Summer Stipends is limited, so it may not be possible to fund all requests.

Class Placement
Lyn has them all scheduled. Classroom teachers, please come prepared with the first draft of your of placement consider balancing:

• Gender
• Students from each of three classes
• Friedships
• Social dynamics
• Academic strengths and challenges
• Tutoring/ support services
• Behavior strengths and challenges
• Mix of former Primarians in each class
• Leadership
• Diversity
• Family structure
• Parental needs
• Volunteers
• Employee, volunteer leadership children

Placement Requests

If parents have placement requests please direct them to David to schedule an appointment.

Mount Hood Climb Service Day

A tremendous thank you to Kristen Haferbecker for all her work supporting your good work. It was a meaningful day for all.

OPERATIONS

AP Exams - This Monday and Tuesday
The Upper School haveAP exams in Farris Hall this year
Move quietly past Fariss for the morning exams on May 8, 14, 15, 23, and 25
Keep away from Fariss Hall during morning and lunch recess on May 8, 14, 15, 23, and 25
Do not use the Fariss Garden before 1:00pm on May 8, 14, 15, 23, and 25

Safety on the Playground...

...the list is growing. Please help support these guidelines when you're on duty!

• Swings: Have fun with the swings at their approved/safe/installed height, with one person per swing, facing the same direction. 
• All rocks should be kept at ground level. One was accidentally dropped on a student's head from the rampart walk.
• A student slipped while going up the double slide and chipped two teeth. Please use the slides to go down, and the rocks or stairs to go up.
• Some of the 1st/2nd grade tag games are getting too physical. PE Team, can you help with some tag games that would still allow the thrill of the chase, but could be more fun for more players?

Admissions Days in 2018-19: 
Thursday, February 7  - K, P, 1 Admissions Day
Friday, February 8 - PreK Admissions Day
We are going to try this new schedule next year. This will allow us to eliminate the Saturday PreK Admissions Day. LS Faculty who write reports will be scheduled for one of the two days. The other day will be available for report writing. Those faculty who do not write reports may be asked to work both Admissions days.  Plan subject to change fro unusual circumstances such as faculty illness or significant increase in application numbers. 

Schedules
Please review your schedule here and on your google calendar. Be sure Kathy and Lyn have correct schedules. See Chris if you would like to discuss small changes within your schedule.

Sign out on whiteboard in LS Office when go about campus

We need to know where you are for safety reasons. Be sure to sign in and out on the office whiteboard. Thank you to those who are consistent.

Take Attendance for PK-Primary @ 8:10, for 1st-5th @ 8:00

Doing attendance promptly simplifies the start of Kathy's day. Thank you.

Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Kirstin, Chris or David by Thursday each week August-June 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.