LS Weekly Memo October 1st - 5th Week 6

Week 6.  Thank you for another inspired week.  I appreciate your support of Spirit Week and helping the students focus on their learning while they explored new fashion expressions.  Friday night Homecoming was a huge success, in part due to the enthusiasm of the LS students.  With the big events behind us, BTSP, BTSN and Homecoming, we have a good stretch of school before us to concentrate on learning in the classroom.

COMMUNITY

Parent Coffees
Our thanks to Lauren and Deborah for sharing their thoughts and wisdom at our coffees last week. We have three coffees next week.  Thanks to Dori, Doug and Tonya for representing their class/grade.  Each coffee includes a section on grade level transitions and grade specific topics.  Let Chris or me know if you have a topic you would like addressed at the coffee.

K	Monday, September 24	2nd	Wednesday, October 3
PreK	Tuesday September 25	4th	Monday, October 8
P	Monday, October 1	3rd	Tuesday, October 9
1st	Tuesday, October 2	5th	Tuesday, October 16

Classroom teachers - please sign up to attend a coffee on the google doc.
Specialist Teacher - look at the grade level coffee list to see when you are wanted.  Let us know if you can attend.  

LS Picture Days Wednesday and Thursday
If you haven’t done so, please sign up on the Google doc Jenny set up.  

LS Faculty Meeting - Notes
Thank you for your feedback at the faculty meeting.  I am inspired by your thoughtful appreciations to one another and feel fortunate to have such a talented and grateful faculty.
We will work on the Student of Interest form in Student Support Team (SST, formerly known as CORE).  Let me know if you have questions or comments.

AS Faculty Meeting - Monday, 10/1 3:15 - 4:45
We meet in the dining hall for an overview of the final phases of the self study, then move into our teams and committees to polish up our work. The main focus of the work will be to review and edit the commendations and recommendations with guidance from the Self Sudy Committee. Specialist teachers will meet in their departments.  Lower School teachers will meet in their self study groups; Math, Social Studies, English.  

LS Faculty Meeting - 10/4
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Thank you to those who are consistently prompt and present at our meetings. Please make your best effort to do the same.

10/3/2012 7:30:00 Appreciations
7:40:00 Self Study
7:50:00 PGD and Goals
8:10:00 SST Form Update
8:20:00 Announcements

Faculty Meeting Schedule for October
As always the faculty meeting calendar is a work in progress.  Changes need to occur as needs arise.  Here is the schedule for October meetings. Updates will be made on the AS Faculty Meeting Schedule and noted in the Weekly Memo.

October Monday--All School and Committee
1 AS Faculty--self study
8 Committee Meetings
15 PGD, Inquiry, Intercultural
22 AS - Self Study, Benefits
29 Divisional: conference prep No Meeting

October Thursday--Div/ Depts.
4 Divisional Self Study/ Goals
11 Divisional Team
18 Divisional All LS
25 Departments: self-study Team
1-Nov (Conferences) No Meeting


PROGRAM

Professional Development  - Look over the list to see who is doing what. We will take some time in the faculty meeting to discuss.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities:
       
PNAIS All Schools Conference - October 12, Tacoma, WA
Northwest Conference on Teaching for Social Justice, Oct. 20, Madison High School
National Conference for the Social Studies - November 16-18, Seattle, WA
CSEE - Lower School Character Education Programs - November 2-3, Hollywood, CA
National Service Learning Conference - March 13 - 15, Denver, CO
Teachers College Reading and Writing Institutes – June - August, 2013

Goals
During the faculty meeting on Thursday we will discuss connecting your professional growth with your goals.  By October 19, the Friday after our PGD Day, I would like every teacher to commit to 3 goals for the year that are:

Professionally significant

        Connect to initiatives underway in the classroom, grade, team or LS
        Build off of professional development and or summer stipend work

OPERATIONS

OES Fund - We are soooo close to 100%.

Chris O’Toole at Critical Friends Facilitator’s Training, Oct. 8th through Oct. 10th
Please check out the Chris’ duty coverage sign up sheet in the Lower School office. If you can, sign up to cover a duty.  

Laminator
We are anticipating delivery during the week of October 8.  Look for communication from Lara about training opportunities.

Duties Task Force
Our thanks to Debra Thomas, Shelley Weiller and Kristin Haferbecker for stepping up to work on the duty schedule.  We will meet for the first time the third week of October. Lyn will try to find a time during the day or after school that is mutually agreeable.
The task force will:

Address concerns about equity and preference of duties

Develop and present options for duty schedules

Consider what is equitable
Consider undocumented duties
If you are interested, please contact Chris by October 1st

TGIH - Thank God it is Happening
The group will develop ideas for getting LS faculty and staff together
How do we want to spend time in each other’s company - hoisting a beer, doing some yoga, going for a walk, bowling????
Contact David if interested by October 1st

LS Weekly Memo September 24th through September 28th

Welcome to Week 5.  Thank you for making Back to School Night such a great event for our parents.  I met with the Grade Level Representatives and they were very appreciative of the information and experiences you provided for them in the classroom.  Enjoy your weekend.  Get your Spirit Week outfits together and be ready to join in the best Homecoming ever.

COMMUNITY

Walk for Fun and Fitness
Thank you to the PE team, Jaime Sales and the volunteers for another joyous WFF.  We look forward to learning how far your students went.  

Spirit Week
You have all weekend to plan your outfits. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.  

Monday Athletic Wear
Tuesday Career Dear
Wednesday Clash Day
Thursday Hawaiian Day
Friday OES Spirit Wear

As we are looking for the school to rally around Lower School and building us a new building, I hope many of you will rally and be at Homecoming.  

All School Pep Rally Friday Afternoon at 2:35
Because there will be an afternoon pep rally, there will not be Chapel nor Assembly Friday Morning.

Buddy Classes
We looked at survey results and based on your feedback played “match maker” with some new pairings and maintained buddy relationships when faculty requested to keep their past buddy.

                                               Buddy Classes 2012-2013

Younger Buddy	Older Buddy
Pre-K	Asha’s Fourth Grade
Deborah’s Kindergarten	Paula’s Third Grade
Carole’s Kindergarten	Kiah’s Third Grade
Kirstin’s Kindergarten	Erin’s Third Grade
Dori’s Primary	Janet’s Second Grade
Claire’s First Grade	Tina’s Fifth Grade
Doug’s First Grade	Jenny’s Fourth Grade
Marty’s First Grade	Natasha’s Fifth Grade
Jackie’s Second Grade	Alysa’s Fifth Grade
Tonya’s Second Grade	Kathy’s Fourth Grade

Faculty Meeting - 9-27
Professional Development and Goals
Communicating about Students

PROGRAM

Professional Development Sign-in
If you have not done so already, enter your professional development choice for 10/12.  New teams may choose to spend the day collaborating.  Specialists should check with their department chairs to see if their is a departmental initiative. PNAIS Fall Conference regular registration ends Friday, 9/28 - great featured speakers and workshops.

Parent Coffees
Parent coffees begin this week.

K	Monday, September 24	2nd	Wednesday, October 3
PreK	Tuesday September 25	4th	Monday, October 8
P	Monday, October 1	3rd	Tuesday, October 9
1st	Tuesday, October 2	5th	Tuesday, October 16

Classroom teachers - please sign up to attend a coffee on the google doc.
Specialist Teacher - look at the grade level coffee list to see when you are wanted.  


OPERATIONS

Dismissal and Loop Road Pick Up


Chris O’Toole’s Coverage
Jenny Cleveland, Patti and Ari have stepped up to offer support when Chris is serving as Beginning School Team Leader.  If you have an urgent matter that needs administrative support and Chris and David are unavailable, Jenny, Patti Ari will be available to support your and your students.

Attendance
See Jenny’s email about attendance.  It is critical that you follow the process so we can accurately account for each LS child at the start and end of each day.

OES Fund - 100% by Homecoming
We could send a positive message to the community by getting to 100% Lower School Faculty participation in the OES Fund by Homecoming.  Get your form to Tasha soon.

Laminator
Based on concerns expressed by you about the laminator we are ordering a new upgraded machine.  Lyn will inform you of the timeline.

Leadership Team Meeting - Notes
We determined two actions to be taken during our meeting.
1. Formation of the Duties Task Force.
To address concerns about equity, preference
Task force to present options for duties -
What is equitable
What are undocumented duties
Composition - classroom teachers, specialists, assistants, COT
If you are interested, please contact Chris by October 1st.

2. Formation of TGIH - Thank God it is Happening

Group to develop ideas for getting LS faculty and staff together

How do we want oto spend time enjoying each other’s company - hoisting a beer, doing some yoga, going for a walk, bowling

Contact David if interested by October 1st

LS Weekly Memo Week 4: September  17 - 21

What a great first full week! Thank you for all of your hard work creating effective learning communities in your classrooms.  While I know many of you feel the urge to get going with your academic curriculum, the time you take now to build community will pay off in the long run. I greatly appreciated your energy and enthusiasm at the Back to School Picnic after the first full week.  Our thanks to Carolyn Stanley, Luke and John Stanley’s mom, and Diane Engelhart, Chase and Walker Jones’ mom, for putting this wonderful picnic together. Thank them for that delicious dinner is you have a chance.

Community

Walk-for-Fun and Fitness
Jaime Sales, mother of Kindergartner, Aaron and Third Grader, Ashlyn, is organizing parent volunteers. Stephanie, Scott and Lauren will get Mile File cards to you next week. Look for cards in the Faculty Room.  
As in the past, we will all gather for an Walk-for-Fun and Fitness assembly at 8:10.  Please be in the gym, ready to begin by 8:10- that means heading down around 8 or 8:05.  Can you also remind families in your Weekly Newsletter to be sure to be prompt that day? We will likely have stragglers, arriving late. Perhaps assistants can be out on the walkway or common areas, collecting late arrivals.  
Expect the assembly to be short and sweet. Following the assembly all will walk at least one lap with their students.
Parent volunteers will be on the track all day until 2:05,  marking mile file cards.

Parent Partnership Coffees
Chris will send outhte link to the Parent Partnership Coffees document. Please revisit the google doc for dates and list who is coming.
We start our first round of parent coffees on Monday, 9/24 with Kindergarten.

Buddy Class Survey
Thanks to the 11 classroom teachers who filled out the Buddy Class Survey on Google docs. If you haven’t filled it out, please do so by Monday. We want to establish new buddies by Tuesday, so you can share this information with your families at BTSN.

David at Self Study Retreat - off Campus on Wednesday, 9/19
Chris will be in charge.

Be Present at Meetings
I ask that we all be present in meetings, focused on the topic at hand, not tending to email, correcting student work or attending to other work.


Program

Professional Growth and Goals
We will discuss professional growth and goals at our 9/27 meeting.  Please come prepared with ideas for each.  Professional development connected to goals will be given priority.  

October 12 Professional Development Day
Friday, October 12 is one of two professional development days that we have during the year (The other is Monday, April 1st).  Chris has shared a Professional Development document for you to enter your plans for the day.

How to Sign Up for Workshops
•Connect goals to your professional development work
•Fill out a professional development form- hard copy in the office, or find it on Google doc.
•If your plans include travel and hotel, please write up a proposal with anticipated expenses, to be approved by David
•Once approved, register on line, then come to the office with your laptop so Lyn can pay fees with our school credit card

Walk-a-bouts
On Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons David has scheduled time to walk about and visit classrooms.  Please let me know if you have a special event you would like me to visit.  The sooner I know the better my chances of being able to come.  I have enjoyed my visit to classes both for reading to the class and simply visiting.

BTSN
Let us know if you have any questions about BTSN.  David and Chris will meet with new teachers to be sure they feel set for next week’s gatherings.
Wednesday, 9/19
K & 2 @ 4:30 - 6:00
PK & 4 @ 6:30 -8:00
Thursday, 9/20
1st & 3rd @ 4:30 -6:00
P & 5th @ 6:30 - 8:00

LSLT - Monday, 9/17 3:15 - 4:15. No Faculty Meeting
See LSLT 2012-12 Agenda
Debrief start of year
Review recess plan
Duties task force

Faculty Meeting 9/20 - No Faculty Meeting
Either rest up from or in preparation for BTSN

Election Year
In this election year, I want to remind you of the need to approach political conversations with your students is a very thoughtful and intentional manner.  Please do encourage respectful discourse, careful fact finding and checking while remaining neutral about your political opinions.

Operations
LS Library at Lunch Recess
Library will be open on Tuesday and Friday for lunch recess. Librarians will encourage most students to select books, then head outside for fresh air and exercise.  

Homecoming - 9/28
As you are likely aware, courtesy of some enthusiastic work by Donna Knight and a number of volunteers, Homecoming is going to be bigger and better than ever this year.  In that spirit I have agreed to have Lower School participate more fully in the excitement.  I hope many of you will plan on attending and showing some school spirit.

Kick - off Rally - Monday, 9/24 from 8:00 - 8:15

Spirit Week - students will have a week of uniform optional ( either they come dress in the theme or they wear their uniforms), theme days to get in the spirit with MS and US.  Thanks to the LS Homecoming Liaisons who helped create the themes.
Monday - Athletic wear day
Tuesday - Career Day
Wednesday - Clash Day
Thursday - Tropical/ Hawaiian Day
Friday - OES Spirit Day

Pep Rally - Friday, 9/28 at 2:35 p.m.
Homecoming Parade, Friday, 9/28 at 5:45 p.m. featuring student made floats. Paretn Volunteers are organizing the float making which will be done outside of class time.

Annual Fund Progress
Thanks to those of you who have given.  Look for an update from Tasha.  It would be great to be at 100% before homecoming to show our OES Spirit.

Specialist Communication with Parents
The question arose in the Specialist meeting last Thursday about how best to communicate with parents. I propose the following:
1. Specialist teacher checks in with classroom teachers to see of there is additional context of relevance about the student.
2. Specialist then communicates directly with parents.  
3. If the Specialist chooses to email, cc classroom teacher. If the Specialist choose to phone or meet in person, the specialist will communicate back to the classroom teacher relevant information.
By following this simple protocol, the Specialist Teachers will be able to have the direct communication with parents that they desire while ensuring the classroom teacher is kept informed about their students.
Thank you again for getting us off to such a good start. On to our 2nd full week we go.

LS Weekly Memo Week 3: September 10-14

Thank you for a terrific start to the school year. The week began with the transformation of the Lower School classrooms to learning communities, first through your efforts to create beautiful, organized and inviting learning spaces and then by your planning activities to enage students in the work of becoming a classroom community.  As I write many of you are meeting with parents to learn about your students from those who know them best. 

Enjoy a well deserved rest this weekend. See David if you have questions.

Community

Marty Update
Jenny Cleveland has been in contact with Marty Eastman Brown.  Her surgery went well and she has begun the slow recovery process.

No Uniform Days- LS Back to School Picnic, Walk-4-Fun, and Homecoming
We have 3 big community events coming up over the next 3 weeks, all of which are uniform optional days.  Pace yourself.

LS Back to School Picnic - 5:00 -7:00 p.m., Friday, September 14
Be sure to RSVP if you want to have dinner before BTSN.  See the invitation from Carolyn Stanley.  All faculty are expected to attend.  See me if you have a conflict.  Grade level teams, be sure to share details of the events with your new colleagues.

Senior Entrance Monday at 8:00 a.m.
Every year the seniors make a grand entrance, based on their theme of the year, at the Belltower.    Use your discretion about attending as the Senior Entrance can be rated anywhere from G to PG-13.

Beginning and Lower School Parent Coffee ‘12-’13 Google doc-  Sign up to represent your Grade Level at one of the coffees.

Andrew Shotts Restraining Order
Jenny Shotts, mother of Elwin in 1st and Edgar in 7th, has renewed a restraining order against Andrew Shotts, as follows:

(1) Boys can have unlimited contact with Dad by phone. Dad can call the
boys on Mom's cell phone Tues and Thurs evenings from 7-8 pm.

(2) Dad can't come to school or remain there, except to drop off at
school on Monday mornings on the alternate weekends when Dad has
custody, and to attend the boys' school and sports events.  If he is
on campus he must stay on opposite end of field/ gym/ auditorium/ classroom/ whatever from Mom.

(3) Dad can't knowingly come within 150 feet of Mom, can't contact Mom
in person or through 3rd parties, can't mail or email her except for
parenting purposes, or text or call her (except for 7-8 on Tues/Thurs to
talk to the boys).

(4) Dad can't threaten or hurt Mom or the boys or do anything that makes
them fear he will hurt them.

If Andrew appears on campus please contact the LS Office immediately.

David in MS Monday Morning
I will be in the Middle School all Monday morning for Parent Partnership.


Operations

Late Start Thursday Reminders
Remind students next Wednesday about late start
Students are checked in the BS, 1st/2nd and 4th/5th wings
Quiet reading or homework in the library
Social time in the common areas (no computers)
Backpacks for 1st and 2nd Grade- lining walkway, not dumped at the top of the stairs
3rd-5th line backpacks along the covered walkway wall of the gym
Bell rings at 8:45.                                                       

School Supplies -
I understand we have some back ordered school supplies. We did some brainstorming and have come up with a solution for the future.
School supplies will be ordered by grade level and delivered the next day.
We can only fit a single grade level order in Room 10.

Teachers may choose a date for delivery in August with the understanding that teachers will come in to sort and store their supplies on that day.

Jenny will place orders strating in August according to dates chosen by teachers.

Earlier ordering in August will prevent back ordering delays.

Hats
There seems to be a proliferation of hats on the heads of LS student. Hats are not a part of the LS dress code and are not to be worn inside.  In Wednesday Express I will request that hats stay at home.  Parents may send a plain colored hat to school in uniform color to be worn for sun protection during recess.  

Recess Equipment Reminders are Working
PE teachers report that we did a better job at collecting equipment at the end of each recess. Keep reminding the children and praise them for their efforts

Dismissal Reminder Siblings, new students, ⅘ EC
Oldest siblings go to their youngest sibling’s pick up area
Dismiss Grades 1-5 at or around 2:50, giving them 5 minute passing time to get to their spot in the Beginning School.  Late older sibs cause major tie ups in the pick up lane

Morning Drop Off Help, Please Specialists
Volunteers needed at drop off to help with drop off. We need to have specialists flagging parents to pull down to the farthest drop off points, and remind parents gently to park in the lot, not park curbside and go into the building

Student Support Team (SST) -

New structure-

•SST (David, Chris, Patti, Ari, Jenny C. and Elaine) meets every Monday morning from 9-10 to discuss students of concern

•SST meets with teachers (by appointment through Ari) on Thursday at lunch/recess

from 10:50-11:50

Curriculum


Faculty Meeting - Thursday, Sept. 13th, 7:30-8:30 Team Meetings

There is no faculty meeting on Monday.
Thursday’s faculty meeting will be in teams. We will develop the agenda in collaboration with the team leaders:

BS with Chris

First and Second Grade with Janet
Third Grade with David
Fourth and Fifth Grade with Alysa
Specialists with Ari, Patti and Jenny

Professional Goals and Professional Development
To help stimulate your thinking about your professional goals and professional development see the professional development opportunities below

PNAIS All Schools Conference - October 12, Tacoma, WA

National Conference for the Social Studies - November 16-18, Seattle, WA

CSEE - Lower School Character Education Programs - November 2-3, Hollywood, CA

National Service Learning Conference - March 13 - 15, Denver, CO