Week of May 2, 2016
Hello Shining Star Staff,
Last week we had Administrative Professionals Day and this week is national Teacher Appreciation Week, though I would like to take the opportunity to recognize the efforts of ALL staff, both classified and licensed, and your tireless work to support El Camino del Río students, families, and each other. A school or program is really only as good as it’s staff and I count El Camino as THE premier elementary school in Eugene. We have grown to be a model program with all of your support. El Camino del Río is a shining light of the community and it’s all thanks to you!
• Friday, May 6th PD Day – I send the agenda in a separate email, but I wanted to remind everyone that we’ll be meeting in the library at 8:00 this Friday. I’ll have my usual spread of breakfast snacks, coffee and goodies. The main agenda is to wrap up our AIMS4SCubed for the year, but if classified staff have comp time coming this would be an okay time to cash that time in since there are only a couple more days this year when comp time could easily be used. Classified staff should connect with their cooperating teachers if you will be using comp time this day. You also need to report the use of comp time on the comp sheet in the office. Please submit the form to Myka BEFORE you take the time. I will approve and sign if you have the hours available.
• Staffing Updates – It is looking like I will be posting for Tracy Denman’s position soon. This will be a 6 hour EA Position. It is a bilingual required position. I will be posting this in mid May. In addition, we may be posting for a 6 hour bilingual assistant position to primarily support 1st grade and ELD instruction. When I get the particulars of this figured out I will share the posting date for you.
• TalentEd End-of-Cycle Goals Reflection and easyCBM Comparison Reports – I’d previously mentioned that all licensed staff, no matter which evaluation cycle you are on, have to complete the End-of-Cycle Goals Reflection form in TalentEd, but to help people easily compare your students’ benchmark scores, you can access the “Grade Comparison” report which will give an easy-to-read breakdown of how your class is doing on reading and math benchmark assessments. Teachers can wait until spring benchmark testing if you want, but you’re welcome and encouraged to do it now and use the fall to winter benchmark information as an indicator of student progress towards your goal. Let me know if you’d like a copy of this report or if you have any questions. Of course, EDL2 can also be used to show progress towards the student goals.
• New Building Updates –one item of note for the new building:
The building construction starts this week. I will be regularly attending meetings in the house down the street called OAC meetings. These meetings occur every Wednesday at 9:00 AM. Things should start to move pretty quickly. I would also expect that construction will begin on the East side of the site since they will probably want to move West in the construction process. Expect it to be noisy in 5th grade wing and the gym.
• North Region Night at Swede Stadium this Tuesday – To help build community in our region, the North Eugene baseball game this Tuesday at 5:00 will be North Region Nigh at Swede Johnson Stadium. There will be inflatables for kids if they get bored of the game as well as free popcorn and ice cream treats of some sort (though I was pulling for Fudgsicles). Kids can enter to throw out the first pict and can also run the bases at the end of the game or get their photo taken on the pitchers mound.
• Family Summer Resources from Care Team – DHS staff shared a a great resource from Direction Services I thought I’d pass along, which is the Direction Services 2016 Summer Directory. The directory has a current lists of camps, diagnostic and treatment services, education services, employment programs, recreation, respite care and support, and website resources for families.
• Math Curriculum Adoption Process – Next school year will see the start of a math curriculum adoption process, with full implementation of the selected program the following school year, 2017-2018. Linked here is the draft math adoption timeline shared with the school board regarding the timeline and process for the adoption, but the short version is that all schools will send a math teacher leader rep to be on the committee and there will be a pilot in the fall, with a program selected in February for use the following school year.
• Science Adoption Update – If you’d like to know the latest news on the science adoption rolling out this fall, linked here is an Elementary Science Newsletter for Principals that was sent last week to elementary principals by Kim Finch, the district STEM Administrator. The short version is that the district adoption team unanimously recommended the district adopt FOSS NGSS. All of the district PD days this coming year will be focused on the science adoption. Our academy days will be focused on ELD instruction and biliteracy.
Remembering Cinco de Mayo Properly: Here is a good slide show that discusses cultural appropriation and the pitfalls of Cinco de Mayo. I recommend that you spend five minutes watching it.
• Artist in Residence Schedule Still in the works. – Alexis and I are working on the Artist In Residence Schedule to make sure it is ready to go for all of you.
• District Admin Updates – Tasha Katsuda will be principal of Spencer Butte Middle School in 2016-17, replacing Greg Borgerding who will move to Churchill High School. Tasha has been the district Federal Programs (Title 1) Coordinator, but prior to that she’s been a middle school teacher, an assistant principal at Jefferson MS and a building principal at McCornack. Melissa Ibarra will be the new principal of Buena Vista, replacing Juan Cuadros when he becomes principal of Kelly Middle School next year. Melissa taught for several years at BV and after earning her administrator license, was hired as lead teacher at the Guy Lee dual immersion program. Lastly, Kathy Owen, principal of Twin Oaks announced she is retiring at the end of the school year. This currently leaves admin openings for a principal at Cal Young and Twin Oaks, an assistant principal at Churchill, the Equity Diversity Inclusion Manager, a Federal Programs Coordinator (though the Instruction Department is currently restructuring and responsibilities for this administrator may change), a Tech Department Director, an Instructional Technology Director, and a Facilities Management position (Harlan Coats’ old job, who’s now Director of Facilities).
Melissa Ibarra
• School To Prison Pipeline Seminar – Join the EEA’s Human & Civil Rights Committee for Harry Lawson, Chair of NEA Human and Civil Rights Committee, for a seminar on The School to Prison Pipeline, May 10th from 4:30 – 6:30 at the EEA Offices on 2815 Coburg Rd. Across the country, school districts and communities are moving away from zero-tolerance and other harsh disciplinary policies and practices that have created a school-to-prison pipeline and led to negative educational outcomes for children, especially children of color. This session will examine historical school discipline trends and their impact on educational outcomes; explore effective discipline policies, practices, and alternatives; and provide attendees with the tools to implement successful strategies within their schools and communities including how to access and examine their local data. If you have questions, contact Linda Smart, Chair HCRC, at the email in the poster below.
• Are stereotypes driving STEM gender gap? – There are two stereotypes that keep girls away from courses in science, technology, engineering and math, three researchers write. In this commentary, the researchers note that stereotypes persist that students who take computer science and other STEM courses are “geeky” and that boys are better at math and sciences.
• Schedule of Events for the Week –
May 2 (M)
Teacher Appreciation Week
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Children’s Book Week
National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
May 3 (T)
8:00-4:00, Reciprocal Teaching Visit from Guy Lee to ECDR (Conference Room)
10:00-11:00, 8th Grade WEB Leaders from Kelly MS at RR
1:30-3:00, 4th Grade Garden Project- M. Brougher (School Garden)
2:45-3:45, PLT Meeting with Guy Lee Reciprocal Visit Debrief (Conference Room)
5:00-8:00, North Region Baseball Event – Night at the Swede (NEHS)
May 4 (W)
7:30-8:00, Parent meeting with Mr. Barnes
8:30-9:30, Centro Latino Meeting on Wrap around services.
9:30-10:30, ECDR OAC Meeting Construction Meeting-( In the white house down the street)
10:00-11:00, Joel in Furniture Meeting- teacher desk space.
9:00-11:00, 5th Graders to Kelly MS for Tour (Kelly MS)
1:45-2:45, Kinder ELD 2016-2017 Planning
1:45-2:45, Teacher Collaboration Time in the Library PLC group focus: Preparing for Friday’s PD with Lisa Meyer and AIMS4S3
2:00-2:15, Joel in Custodian Meeting
May 5 (H)
7:30-8:00, Teacher Goal End of Cycle Meeting
8:30-1:00, Dental Flouride Clinic
2:00-2:30, Teacher Silly Assembly- Title 1 Survey Reward
May 6 (F)
8:00-1:30, Professional Development Day – No Students
Agenda coming soon from Lisa Meyer. Snacks and coffee served at 7:45.
5:00-8:00, Fiesta – All staff are encourage to attend.
May 9 (M)
1:30-2:00, Meet with Police Chief Pete Kerns about shootings at Emerald Park
2:30-5:00, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
May 10 (T)
8:00-4:00, Reciprocal Teaching Visit Guy Lee- Some Staff in Springfield
6:00-7:00, ODE Reimagine Education in Oregon Community Forums (SEHS)
May 11 (W)
8:30-9:00, Teacher End of Cycle Meeting
2:45-4:00, Joel and Myka at Attendance System Meeting (Ed Center)
4:00-5:00, Joel to North Region Administrators Meeting
May 12 (H)
Staff Meeting- Cancelled.
3:00-4:00, Allan Chinn (Howard Principal) Taking River Road Design Team to See Furniture (New Building)
5:30-6:30, Kindergarten Orientation (Cafeteria)
May 13 (F)
9:00-1:30, Skinner’s Butte Kindergarten Field Trip (Skinner’s Butte)
Have an excellent week, everyone!
Joel
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