SEL

October 3 2022

By Allan  |  2022/10/01 19:43 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Grants, P.D., SEL  |  Comments Off on October 3 2022

 

Hey Holt Bolts,

Hard to believe it’s already October.

Twenty-one items of note for this week:

• Job Postings Update – I submitted requisitions last week for a fourth 1st grade teacher and for an additional SPED EA. I’m hoping they get posted this week, but when I checked the approvals in NeoGov this weekend, no action had been taken by HR and Finance, so I sent an email to the HR admins in charge of classified and licensed hiring for them to see why approvals didn’t happen and that I want these posted ASAP. Hopefully they post this Tuesday or Wednesday. UPDATE: 1st Grade Job Posting is now live and closes 10/11 and the SPED EA Job Posting is also up and closed 10/12. 

• REPEAT: Monthly Potlucks, MONDAY! – The first Monday of the month is when we celebrate staff birthday for that month. Cake is provided by Sunshine in the Staff Room and anyone can add their name to the Potluck Sign-Ups Google Sheet if you’d like to share something.

• Optional Shared Staff Goals Committee, WEDNESDAY @2:45 – Third time’s a charm. Wednesday at 2:45 in the library is an optional meeting to develop shared building goals staff can cut-and-paste into TalentEd before the Oct. 31 deadline. I drafted a few SEL Related SMART Goals to get the conversation going, which I tried to base on things most teachers are already doing.

• Friday PD: Staff Choice – Downtown hasn’t shared the plan for this Friday. They said they planned to share info last week, but that they are “responding to feedback and making some adjustments,” so stay tuned.

• REPEAT: EEF 2022-2023 Grant Applications DUE FRIDAY – Applications will due October 7th and EEF did not say anything about Site Council rank ordering grants, so just submit you grants on the EEF 22-23 Grant Application. Below is a graphic to their funding priorities. Let me know if you have any questions or care to discuss grant ideas.

 

• Library Schedule Reminder – We start our new library schedule this week. “Week #1” classes will have two sessions of library this week. “Week #2” classes will have one session of library this week. Groups will flip flop next week, with Week #2 classes having two library sessions and Week #1 classes having one library session. Highlighted time on the linked 22-23 Library Schedule are the times you’ll have Library every week. The non-highlighted sports are the library times you’ll have every other week. I’ve noted on the Staff Zimbra Calendar which week we’re on if anyone forget and note the calendar on page two of the above linked scheduled.

 

• Picture Day, Oct. 13th – Since our Leadership Plan is not yet finalized, we do not have an official “Scheduler” to make the Picture Day for Thursday, October 13th. Pictures will be in the morning and in the gym, but I’ll see what we can do about getting a schedule out by next week.

• October 14th PD/Planning Day – The only details principals have at this point for the Oct. 14th PD/Planning Day is what’s on the 4J 22-23 PD Calendar, which says “Lang Arts Adoption (5.5 hours).” There were some times on there earlier, but they have since been taken off.

• Site Council Rep. Openings – Site Council is coming up next week and we have 1 classified opening (Jackie finished her term), 1 classroom licensed opening (Liz’s term ended), and 1 licensed specialist opening (Jenny’s term ended). Here’s the current list.

Admin Rep: Allan Chinn
Classified Rep: Cheryl Yorges (year 2)
Classified Rep: Lisa Goff (year 2)
Classified Rep:
Licensed Rep (classroom): Candace Lovato (year 2)
Licensed Rep (classroom): Geoff Parks (year 2)
Licensed Rep (classroom): Lesli Harmon (year 2)
Licensed Rep (classroom):
Licensed Rep (specialist):
Parent Rep: Billie Jo Rodriguez (year 2)
Parent Rep: Jill Ritz (year 2)
Parent Rep: Sallie Lees (year 2)

Outgoing and past reps are welcome to re-join, but let me know and/or add your name to the 22-23 Team Sign-Up Sheet if you’re willing to volunteer your time to serve on Site Council. If there are multiple staff members interested, those folks can talk and/or those stakeholder groups can hold a vote.

• Gaga Ball Rules & Pit Opening Date – The Gaga Ball Pit is closed until all classes at your grade level have reviewed the linked Gaga Ball Pit Rules. I’m available to go over rules with classes, but teachers can also review the linked Gaga Ball Rules Slide Show. Try to find time to review the rules by the end of the week, but have your grade level let me know once all classes have reviewed the rules and I will notify recess supervisors that the Gaga Ball Pit is open!

 

• Holt Bolt, Wednesday, Oct. 19th – Linked here are the PAHS Holt Bolt Planning Notes from their last meeting. Highlights are:

• Teachers will pass out a raffle tickets. Tickets will be awarded for returning their envelope, earring a Holt shirt, running 1 lap, and bringing a water bottle.
• School prizes will be:
• $5,000 Costume Bingo (this is a gimme, since it is already planned)
• $10,000 Mr. Chinn will wear a funny costume
• $15,000 Tape Mr. Chinn to the wall
• $20,000 Buddy Dance Party
• $35.000 Buddy Dance Party extreme with Special Guests
• Class Prizes are not certain yet but will be things like Slime Party, Extra recess for a week, Lunch with the Irish, Kitchen Helper for a day, Host an Assembly with Ms. Reich…

Let me know if you have questions on any of this or if you have feedback you’d like passed along to PAHS or think we should discuss as a staff.

• EA Workshop Sign-Up – This SPED EA PD Email was sent to all folks currently on SSD’s email distribution list, but principals were asked to share this just in case they are missing anyone. These trainings will be on the No-Student PD Days on Oct. 14, Jan. 3, & April 3. These are required for SPED EAs and are optional for other EAs, though Title 1 EAs will have a different required workshop. See the above email or 4J Classified Pathways Sign-Up Link for details. Let me know if you have any questions, but a few of these workshops actually sound pretty good.

• Nightly Cleaning Resumes – The Facilities Dept. has adjusted the nightly cleaning closer to normal cleaning, so all classrooms will resume their nightly sweeping and garbage collection.

• Need a Volunteer Expedited? – If you have volunteers you want to start APAP, but who are still waiting for their 4J background check to clear, let me know and I can tell downtown to prioritize those volunteers. They have literally have thousands of backlogged applications.

• How to Access Wit & Wisdom via Clever – This was emailed to teachers earlier, but in case you missed it, here are directions How to Log Onto Wit & Wisdom Via Clever (slide show or video directions).

• Student Headphones – I’ve been asking about this since last spring, but the latest answer if downtown will provide students with headphones is that the Tech Department is working on it and that they have some headphones available if schools need any now, so if any teachers need them, let me know ASAP so I can get them before they get scooped up by anyone else.

 

• 4J TOSA List – I asked downtown for a list and job descriptions of all the TOSAs. This is only the instructional TOSAs and does not include all of the other SSD, equity, and manager positions. They said they are working on job descriptions, but here’s a list if you ever need to reach out to any of them for assistance:

SIA – Leah Willow, Sara Justice, Eileen Thomas, Liz Johnson – Reading Specialists
Title – Midge Greentree and Rebecca Boyd – SDS with 1/2 time reading specialist / SEL
SSD/Instruction – Jocelyn Mendelssohn – TAG/Health
Instruction .5 – Maggie Cline – Science
Instruction – Jamie Tait – Math
Instruction – Sarah Knudson – Humanities
SIA – Katie Stiles – K-3 Literacy
SIA – Mandy Brooksheer – SEL
Grant – Tana Shepard – EWEB/Sustainability
Instruction – Kellyclare Gardner – Tech

• Classroom Buddies Sign-Up – If you haven’t already, please complete this short (3 questions) Classroom Buddy Survey. The survey was set close last Thursday but sneak in your response ASAP if it’s still open or let Lesli know your preference.

• REPEAT: TalentEd Goals and Self Assessment – The self assessment/reflection in TalentEd for all staff was due last week, but please finish it soon as you can if you haven’t already. Licensed Staff Goals are due at the end of October, but you can feel free to use the cut-and-paste goals we’ll made at Wednesday’s optional meeting or you can use ODE’s Sample Educator Goals.

• Tapping Into Compassion When Students Push Your Buttons – Our brains are wired for knee-jerk responses—so how can you keep compassion and empathy front of mind? This Edutopia Article suggests looking behind the behavior, trying to learn something about every student, reaching out to the family, and also realizing that you are ther other half of the equation in these situations. See the article for additional details.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

October 3 (M)
Library Week #1 Classes
SPED Staff Room Duty
School Custodian’s Day (ALL)
Pastini Fundraiser Continues (Sept. 12 – Oct. 16)
Fall Benchmarking Continues
8:15, Allan to Truancy Hearing (Zoom)
10:40-12:40, Staff Potluck Luncheon (Staff Room)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals Meeting (McCornack)

October 4 (T)
Title Starts, 1st – 2nd
Yom Kippur (Major Religious Holiday)
8:05, Allan Reading to Class
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting (Library)
5:00-6:30, 4J Health Insurance In Retirement Presentation (Zoom)

October 5 (W)
Yom Kippur (Major Religious Holiday)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
8:15, Allan Meeting w/Parent (Office)
2:45-3:15, Optional Building SMART Goals Meeting (Library)

October 6 (H)
8:05, Allan Reading to Class
9:00-9:30, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)

October 7 (F)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice (Zoom)

October 10 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
Office/PE/Music Staff Room Duty
Pastini Fundraiser Final Week (Sept. 12 – Oct. 16)
Fall Benchmarking Continues
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
4:00-5:30, Allan to Admin Equity PD (Ed Center)

October 11 (T)
2:45-3:30, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

October 12 (W)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

October 13 (H)
School Picture Day
5:00-6:00, Site Council (Cafeteria)
6:00-7:00, PAHS (Parents at Holt School) Meeting (Cafeteria)

October 14 (F)
No School – PD/Planning Day
Lang Arts Adoption (5.5 hours)

Five-day week this week and a four-day week next week!

Allan

 

September 26, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/09/24 20:30 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Grants, P.D., SEL, Technology  |  Comments Off on September 26, 2022

 

Greetings Bolts,

Twenty-five items of note for this week:

• Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP) Starts TUESDAY – The Sheldon Region Nutrition Services Food Manager never got back to me about an required procedures for starting the program, so I’m making up my own guidelines:

• Bags of raw fresh fruits or vegetables will be delivered to classrooms each morning in bags.
• Staff or students passing out fruits or vegetables should wash hands or wear gloves.
• Fruits or Vegetables should be served daily (not saved overnight)
• Leftovers may be sent home with students

And if there are any teachers willing to volunteer a 2-4 of your students for deliveries, let me know.

• Gaga Ball Pit Install TUESDAY – Facilites let me know they’re installing the Gaga Ball Pit this Tuesday. They’ll need to cone off part of hard play, but the rest of hard play will be open. They think it will take two days at the most and possibly just one.

The Gaga Ball Pit will be closed until I’ve had a chance to meet with Recess Supervisors (see the item a couple below) and all classes at your grade level have gone over the Gaga Ball Pit Rules.

• Optional Library Schedule Meeting, TUESDAY @2:45 – Downtown Library folks emailed the final word on the library schedule, which is classes will have library twice a week every other week and once a week for checkout on the off week. I’ll plan to hold an optional meeting on Tuesday after school for anyone who wants to help develop a schedule. I’m thinking we’ll do a rotation of K-2 goes twice a week for Week #1 and grades 3-5 go twice a week for Week #2 and then rotate, but I haven’t looked to see if that works yet, though if there are any go-getters out there who want to draft something ahead of time, that would be fabulous! Here’s a link to the current Library Schedule.

• Optional Shared Staff Goals Committee, WEDNESDAY @2:45 – This Tuesday (correction) Wednesday at 2:45 in the library is an optional meeting to develop shared building goals staff can cut-and-paste into TalentEd as your goals for the year if you choose. I drafted a few SEL Related SMART Goals to get the conversation going, but my thinking is to make goals for things we’re already doing, such as teaching Second Step, holding morning meetings, and such. See you Wednesday if you’d like to help!

On a related note, Here are some ODE Sample Goals for teachers and specialists at all grade levels if any staff want to use them.

• REPEAT: Back to School Night, THURSDAY – Back to School Night, is Thursday next week, 5:30-6:30. I’ve included in the Quick News that specialists (SPED, ELD, Music, PE, and Library) will also be available to meet with families. The schedule will be:

5:30-6:00, Free Pizza & Title 1 Presentation (cafeteria)
5:30-6:30, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Class Visits
5:30-6:00, Kinder Meetings
6:00-6:30, Free Pizza & Title 1 Presentation (cafeteria)
6:00-6:30, 4th & 5th Meetings
6:30 Back to School Night Ends

• Holt School Spirit Assembly, FRIDAY @8:15 – This Friday at 8:15 in the gym is the Monthly School Spirit Assembly. Add your name to the Hungry Hungry Hippos Sign-Up Sheet if you’d like to participate! Watch for details coming soon! UPDATE, linked here is the Assembly Map & Directions.

• Classified Meeting Friday @1:30 – This meeting was originally schedule for next week, but I wanted to meet sooner since we have the Gaga Ball Pit coming soon. I’m thinking we should have one supervisors assigned to Gaga Ball, one more for hard play (depending on how many kids are there), and one for soft play, but I want recess supervisor input on this since you’ll be the ones out there each day. I also want to go over the Gaga Ball Pit Rules to make sure we’re all on the same page and if there’s anything we want to change about the rules before we teach them to students.

• Friday PD: K-2 Fundations, 3-5 Wit & Wisdom – Linked here is the Elementary PD Doc for this Friday, which includes Zoom links and other info. Please note the time changed for K-2:

• Grades K-2, Fundations, 2:30-4:00
• Grades 3-5, Wit & Wisdom, 1:25-2:25

• October Staff Potluck, Oct. 3rd – Not this week, but next week is the first Monday of the month, which is when we celebrate that month’s birthdays with cake provided by Sunshine in the Staff Room. Staff are encouraged to bring an item to share if they wish potluck style. If you’d like to bring something, you can add your name to the Potluck Sign-Up Sheet.

• Professional Development Calendar – Related to the above, downtown is now using just one PD calendar to avoid another Friday PD debacle like last week. Linked here and on the Holt Staff Dashboard is the 2022-2023 District PD Calendar for Instructional Staff, which they continue to update, but at least they’re all working off of the same document.

• Leadership Plan Proposal – Linked here is the Proposed 22-23 Holt Leadership Plan. For comparison, last year’s allocations are included, but the only change was to reduce the Equity position to 2 days from 3.5 day and moving that to a new position for assemblies that are not the regular monthly assemblies, such as author visits or other performers. The thinking behind this is that although we all agree the equity position is important, we got pretty minimal support from the district TOSAs when we tried to get some things starts, so the amount of work for this position is still a bit unknown, and for the assembly position, the non-monthly assemblies are more involved since there dealing with finances, coordinating with PAHS, contracts, and working with the assembly folks. Let me know if anyone has other plans you’d like to propose and I can add them to the document. Here’s the remaining steps in our Leadership Plan process:

10/4 – Share plan(s) and discuss at Staff Meeting
10/5 – If needed, subcommittee meets to add/modify plans.
10/18 – Plans (w/out name) discussed and voted on.
10/19-10-22 – Staff sign-up to fill the leadership positions.
11/2 – Staff vote on plan with names attached.

• Classified Self Evaluation and Goals – I heard there’s some questions about the classified self-evaluation and goals, so I wanted to share that for the self evaluation when you score yourself between Ineffective, Area for Growth, Effective, or Exemplary, most people will be in the Area for Growth or Effective range. If you score yourself Exemplary, that’s an area you should be teaching others across the district. It’s also totally fine to mark ineffective if that’s where you think you are. For goals, I would say don’t make extra work for yourself and pick a goal you’re actually working on. So don’t feel obligated to commit to learning sign language or something big, but pick something you’re already doing, such as committing to attend Conscious Discipline PD or working on learning more kids names or working to keep your small group materials better organized. Essentially, make it a practical goal.

• Sub Plans and Notebooks – Germs is staring to work it’s way around the school, so make sure your Sub Plan Notebook (different from the Emergency Binder) is up to date. Notebooks should include the following:

• Class list
• Student Health Information
• Behavior Support Plans
• IEP and 504 Plan Accommodations
• Emergency generic sub plans with your schedule

There should be a notebook for this in every classroom, but if yours is missing, see Melanie or Sharon.

• Classroom Cleaning Every Other Day – Facilities has still not staffed our 2-hour night custodian, but Richie is still required to do electrostatic cleaning, which is cutting into his time for emptying garbages and sweeping classrooms. Facilities has given Jeremy an hour of overtime to clean classroom each day, so one day he is cleaning A & B wings and the next day cleaning C & D wings. If I remember right, A & B wing is being cleaned this Monday.

• No School Purchases Shipped to Your Home – If you place any online orders for school, DO NOT have them delivered to their home address. 4J Financial Services may potentially deny any reimbursements for purchases if they are shipped to your home instead of school.

• PAHS Printing Parent Volunteer – Holt parent Stephanie Gibson is resuming her role as the Holt Parent Production Assistant. Look for the Copy Order Mailbox in the main workroom for a Copies Form if you have any jobs. I’m not sure which day Stephanie is coming in, but I believe she’s planning to start this week. .

• Non-Essential Volunteers Allowed – Although I announced last week I was willing to go rogue on the above parent volunteer, Risk Management emailed principals later in the week that non-essential volunteers are now allowed. Volunteers still need to complete a background check and must also provide a proof of vaccination, though downtown is checking with legal counsel if that is still required.

• Seesaw Optional, but Great for Family Involvement – I think most teachers know this, but to just put it in writing, teachers are not required to use Seesaw. However, it’s a great way for to involve families and see what their kids are doing at school. You don’t necessarily have to do assignments on Seesaw, though you can, but having kids recording themselves reading something or taking a picture of their work and posting it for their parents to see if a pretty easy way for teachers to involve (and to ingratiate yourself to) parents. Linked here are a number of 4J Seesaw Resources if you’re new to the app or want to review the basics.

• EEF 2022-2023 Grant Applications DUE OCT. 7TH – Applications will due October 7th and EEF did not say anything about Site Council rank ordering grants, so just submit your proposal on the EEF 22-23 Grant Application. Below is a graphic od their funding priorities. Let me know if you have any questions or care to discuss grant ideas.

 

• Comp Time & Trade Time Tracking – HR is asking classified staff to use forms they created for Classified Compensatory Time (PDF or Word) and Classified Trade Time (PDF). Trade Time is what is used most of the time, but to clarify the difference between overtime, comp time, and trade time:

Overtime: When a classified staff member works in excess of 8 hours one day or 40 hours a within a week, they are paid 1.5 times their regular rate for the additional time.

Comp Time: When a classified staff member works in excess of 8 hours one day or 40 hours a within a week, they earn time at 1.5 times amount of time worked in excess that they must track on the Comps Time Form, which can be banked to use at a later date by mutual agreement with their supervisor.

Trade Time: When a classified staff member works in excess of their regularly scheduled time any day, they must track the time on the Trade Time Form, which can be banked to use at a later date by mutual agreement with their supervisor.

Note that staff must notify me prior to accumulating hours.

• BEST Coordinator Job Reposted – Downtown has been unable to hire a new BEST Coordinator for Holt (and for other schools) and are reposting the vacancy, which means our start date for BEST is currently on hold.

• Save Our Schools Opt Out Form – A heads up there’s a Save our Schools Opt-Out Form circulating online and in our community made by Heritage America. If you receive this form, simply thank the parent or guardian and let them know you’ll give it to your principal. The form cites OARs with a loose interpretation of them, but don’t engage in a discussion about the opt-out form or any actions you’ll take regarding the form. If you’re interested, here are Talking Points that were given to principals, though we too were told to not engage parents regarding the form if we get one.

• Red Cross Classroom Presentation – Red Cross is offering free classroom presentations on disaster preparedness for K-5 classrooms. If you’re interested, see the linked Email, Handouts, and Registration Link.

• Relationship Matter More Than Rules – An oldie, but a goodie from Edutopia. Community building in the classroom starts on day one. See this Edutopia Article for strategies to begin forging strong relationships.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

September 26 (M)
ELD/Speech/Counselor/Library Staff Room Duty
Pastini Fundraiser Continues (Sept. 12 – Oct. 16)Fall Benchmarking Continues
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals Meeting (Ed Center)

September 27 (T)
Title Groups Start, 3rd – 5th
Happy Birthday to Me!
8:10, Allan Reading to Class
2:45-3:30, Optional Library Schedule Meeting (Library)

September 28 (W)
1:00-5:00, 4J Flu Shot Clinic (Ed Center)
2:45-3:15, Optional Building SMART Goals Meeting (Library)

September 29 (H)
2:45-3:30, Leadership Team Meeting (Library)
5:30-6:30, Back to School Night
• 5:30-6:00, Free Pizza & Title 1 Presentation (cafeteria)
• 5:30-6:00, Kinder Meetings
• 5:30-6:30, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Class Visits
• 6:00-6:30, Free Pizza & Title 1 Presentation (cafeteria)
• 6:00-6:30, 4th & 5th Meetings
• 6:30 Back to School Night Ends

September 30 (F)
8:15, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD, 3-5 Wit & Wisdom (Zoom)
2:30-4:00, Friday PD, Geodes (Zoom)
UPDATED! 4:00, Friday @4:00 (Public House)

October 3 (M)
SPED Staff Room Duty
School Custodian’s Day (ALL)
Pastini Fundraiser Continues (Sept. 12 – Oct. 16)
Fall Benchmarking Continues
10:40-12:40, Staff Potluck Luncheon (Staff Room)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals Meeting (Ed Center)

October 4 (T)
Title Starts, 1st – 2nd
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting (Library)

October 5 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day

October 6 (H)
9:00-9:30, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:00, PAHS Holt Bolt Planning Meeting (Cafeteria)

October 7 (F)
10:00, Fire Drill
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice (Zoom)

Go, Bolts!

Allan

September 5, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/09/03 19:46 Posted in Announcements, Equity, P.D., SEL  |  Comments Off on September 5, 2022

 

Hello Holt Staff,

It was great to have a building full of staff again!

After being bombarded with instructional PD the last two weeks, give yourself permission to have fun and connect with your students the coming weeks.

Thirty-nine items of note for this week (sorry it’s so many):

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing updates:

• Title 1 EA (Vicki Gotchall) – We’ve hired Vicki as our 6-hour Title 1 EA, filling the vacancy left by Robbie as he moved into his licensed librarian position. Vicki comes to us with over 20 years experience as an Educational Assistant, most recently working as a SPED EA in the Gilham CLC. For her start date, Gilham has several unfilled EA positions currently, so Vicki will not start at Holt right away.

• BEST Coordinator Vacancy – Aubrey Bulkey, our BEST Coordinator, has taken a job with the city, which leaves our position vacant. The coordinator job is a 6-hour position, so if you know anyone good out there, please tell them to apply. There’s a job posting currently up for multiple sites.

• Special Education EA Longterm Subs – Regular Holt sub Abby Parks is covering for Darrin while he is on leave through the end of November. Also, SSD has agreed (after a lot of hair-on-fire communications from the SPED Team and myself) to give us two 6.5 SPED EA subs through the end of the month, given the level of need of a number of incoming students, particularly at kindergarten. We have two excellent subs, Stephanie Saraz, who subbed a fair amount at Holt last year, and Leah Jaeger, who was an EA at Holt during summer school and who did a long term sub job last year in the Gilham Life Skills program.

• REPEAT: Tuesday Staff Meeting @8:30 – All teachers and EAs who administer easyCBM benchmark testing need to come to the cafeteria at 8:30 on Tuesday to review fall benchmarking protocols before we start testing Monday, Sept 12th. This is the only time available between now and then (Friday this week is protected). Gloria said she can cover things in 15 minutes. Following that, EAs will meet to review cafeteria routines, which are different for breakfast and lunch last year. After that we’ll have an optional meeting to draft a Curriculum Night/Open House plan to bring back to staff.

8:30-8:45, easyCBM Review (Gloria) & Others (Allan)
8:45-9:00, Cafeteria Routines Review (Kim)
9:00-9:15, Optional Curriculum Night Open House Planning (Allan)

• REPEAT: Optional New Staff Orientation and Q&A, 9/6 @10:00 – I’ll be available Tuesday, 9/6 at 10:00 in the cafeteria to share some Holt nuts & bolts logistics, answer questions, and provide any assistance for new folks. I can get busy during inservice week, so I like to set aside a time when I’ll be available for new staff. You can also always text, call, or email.

• Optional Curriculum Night Planning – If you’d like to help plan this year’s Curriculum Night/Open House, please meet in the library on Tuesday at 9:00. Linked here is the 2019 Curriculum Night Flyer, which is the last time we held an in-person Curriculum Night.

• REPEAT: Meet Your Teacher, 9/6 @2:00 – In-person Meet Your Teacher is allowed this year and looking at past staff calendars, it was the Tuesday before the first day of school from 2:00-3:00, so that’s what I’m sending out to families. Upon a good suggestion from Jacque, I moved the Kona Ice start time to 2:30, which means families won’t get shave ice first and bring sticky messes into the building.

• Wear Your Holt Shirt WEDNESDAYS! – Wednesdays are our regular day each week to show school spirt for, so remember to wear a Holt shirt, gear, or purple & green this day each week. Go, Bolts!

• UPDATED TIME & MAP: Welcome Back Assembly Friday @8:00 @8:15 – Linked here is the Assembly Map and Directions for Friday’s Assembly. Take attendance and then head on down to the gym and sit along the wall in your grade level’s designated area. 

• Friday PD, Individual Educator Choice – This Friday’s PD time is “individual educator choice.” No district or building choice options are being put out and it’s intended to give teachers time to do whatever planning or prep you see fit. More details about future choice dates will be shared with principals mid-September.

• Friday Classified Meeting Cancelled – Unless any classified staff have something for the group to discuss, I’m planning to cancel Friday’s Classified Staff Meeting, but do let me know if you have something for the group.

• UPDATED EA Schedules – Now that we settled on Title groups four days a week, the 2022-2023 Master Schedule now has the finalized EA schedules.

• End of Day Supervision – This will be the same as last year, but for new staff and a reminder to Holt veterans, classroom teachers are to walk their non-bus riders outside to your grade level’s designated pick-up spot (see linked Dismissal Map). For bus riders, at least one staff member should walk each grade level group of bus riders down the hallway, though the cafeteria, and out to the buses. If buses are late, students are to wait under the covered play area.

• REPEAT: PBIS Rules Round-Up Schedule – Here are the revised times for the PBIS Rules Round-Up. Attached and below is a map of the stations. Classes will rotate in the station order listed below. Teachers should plan to come out early so we can start and end on time:

Wednesday @8:15
5-Minute Rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition)
Classes starts at:

1. Structures (Harshbarger, Longoria)
2. Swings & General rules (Norton)
3. Hard Play, Boundaries  (Gori, Barton)
4. Four Square, Kickball, Wallball  (Zluticky)
5. Equipment, Lining Up, Restrooms (Dempsey, Rabourn)

Thursday @8:15
5-Minute Rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition)
Classes start at:

1. Structures (Ball, Talley)
2. Swings & General rules (Benavides)
3. Hard Play, Boundaries  (Cobb, Reich)
4. Four Square, Kickball, Wallball  (Parks, Heinrich)
5. Equipment, Lining Up, Restrooms (Lovato, Ayres)

 

Wednesday 8:15 Thursday 8:15
1st grade
2nd grade
Harshbarger (no make up needed)
Longoria (make up music on Monday 9/12 at normal time)
4th grade
5th grade
Talley (make up PE on Monday 9/12 at normal time)
Ball (need to figure out a make up prep time – maybe the Monday 9/19??)
*Thank you for figuring this out, Lesli!

 

Here are the EA round-up assignments and linked here are the Playground & Recess Supervisor Guidelines.

1. Structures (Cheryl, Lisa G.)
2. Swings & General rules (Iris, Tasha)
3. Hard Play, Boundaries  (Levi Margaret)
4. Four Square, Kickball, Wallball  (Ashton, Tracy)
5. Equipment, Lining Up, Restrooms (Annie, Ben)

Let me know if you spot anything you think we should change. 

• Library Updates – I met with district admin and the two other schools participating in the Library Pilot last Friday and all schools will do the following:

• Check-out only for September . Starting in October, classes will visit the library twice a week. Amy Page, the district librarian, wants time to work with building librarians to create lesson plans, build scope and sequence, establish regular communication with learning communities, evaluating collections, etc.

• In October, classes will begin visiting the library twice a week: one day for check-out, and the other is a library learning day.

• Teachers will stay in the library with their class during their scheduled times. Downtown admin were clear this is not an extra prep. They did make an exception for large schools, in this case Howard, where Music and PE specialists are scheduled for 10 or more classes per day (8 classes per day is the recommendation, 9 is allowable, but 10 classes per day is not allowed). At those schools, library is one of the four guaranteed weekly 30-minute preps for classroom teachers and students have Music or PE only once a week.

• Scheduling Classes – For September, I’m assuming teachers would prefer to schedule Library on the one day of the week you do not have PE or Music, which works for one class in each time block. The SSHA (Science, Social Studies, Health, Art) time at the end of the day or during core reading time would also be good times to schedule a library slot. I’ll set a little time at Tuesday’s Staff Meeting to discuss how we want to build the twice a week Library schedule (a small committee, the scheduler, or a good old fashioned free-for-all [probably not that one]).

• Science Material Info – Elementary Science TOSA, Maggie Frassetto Cline, emailed principals to share the following information as you arrange and store your Science kits and materials:

• The Science kit and student book boxes should not be discarded. The boxes are where the materials are stored and we do not have replacements.

• If you have “extra” or “surplus” materials from past years still in your building, please reach out to Maggie. 4J is missing quite a few teacher manuals, materials, and parts of kits including entire boxes.

• Health, Science, ELA PD Links – Links to materials shared at the Math, Science, Health, and ELA PD the last two weeks are linked on the Holt Staff Dashboard. If I missed one, let me know and I’ll add it.

• District Mandatory Policy Review for all Staff – Linked here is this year’s District Back-to-School Memo, which covers a variety of district rules, policies and guidelines. Section 1 is the portion that staff are required to review. I didn’t get a chance to go over it this weekend, but I’ll plan to highlight any changes in next week’s announcements. 

• Staff Orientation Checklist DUE Oct. 31 – All staff must review the above policy memo and sign & return the Check List Acknowledgment Form to signify that you have read and understand the memo. Forms should be returned to me no later than Monday, October 31. I’ll place hard copies of the acknowledgement form in staff mailboxes this week. Looking over this year’s memo, downtown

• TalentEd Goals and Self Assessment – All staff, both classified and licensed staff, need to complete the self assessment/reflection in TalentEd by October 1st.

Regarding SMART Goals, all licensed staff need to have goals entered into TalentEd and signed-off by me by October 30th, but I’ll offer teachers an optional building goals you could cut-and-paste and adopt as your goals for the year. I got an okay from Mike Ingman, the new HR Licensed Admin, to do more SEL focused of goals, which would be a little softer on our data points than if we used easyCBM, OSAS, or other more formal of measures. I’ll hold an optional meeting to develop these goals on Wednesday, September 20th if anyone would like to join.

• Cafeteria Food Composting Video & Lesson for Students – Downtown emailed principals a link to the 2022/23 Love Food Not Waste for Schools Google Folder, which has resources teachers can use to show students to explain how composting in the cafeteria works and why we do it. There’s a ton of resources there, but the main one of interest is the 4J Cafeteria Waste Stations Slide Show, which contains is pretty much all you need to show show kids.

• No Morning Announcements This Week – I’ll hold off on doing morning announcements until Monday next week. I’ll do it the first few weeks until we have some some students ready to go.

• Classified Staff Sub Entry Reminder (don’t include 30-min. lunch) – HR created a Classified – As you know, classified staff 5-hours or more have 30 minute unpaid lunch breaks. If a 6.5 hour EA who works 7:30-2:30 entered those hours into absence management, the sub would get overpaid. Linked here is an Classified Absence Management Cheat Sheet on entering your default times. If default times are entered with the unpaid break noted (7:55-11:30 and 12:00-2:55) you can enter your absences without having to use a variation or enter AM/PM and the break time will automatically be deducted from the sub time. It will show 7 hours, but the sub paid time will be 6.5hours. Let me or Melanie know I you have any questions on this.

• Don’t Park by the Giant Weed Piles – 4J Facilities is picking up the massive piles of weeds on Tuesday and is also planning to use a blower to clean up afterwards, so don’t park anywhere near those piles on Tuesday.

• Student Rostered in Clever – Your class should be rostered in Clever, which means they should show up in all connected apps. If you don’t see your class or are missing students, put in a ticket to 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu or at the 4J Tech Help Desk (which will replace 4jdesktop later this year).

• Equity Team SEL & PBIS – After some feedback, I’m rolling the Monthly Equity Team Meeting into the bimonthly PBIS/SEL Meetings. I heard there was interest in joining the Equity Team for some, but they were understandably hesitant to commit to one more meet. I’ve updated the Team Sign-Up Spreadsheet accordingly.

• TSS Schedule – Rob Geerling, our excellent Technology Support Specialist (TSS), has set his schedule for this year, which has him at Holt Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in the afternoons and Thursday & Friday in the mornings.

• Lamination – Please limit lamination to just a couple posters for now. We don’t have enough lamination to laminate everything in the new curriculum for the entire year, so for now please just laminate those piece your are using this month.

• Enrollment Update – Holt is closer to our projection than most elementary schools, so I’m feeling safe downtown won’t look to us if they need to fix large class sizes at other schools. When class sizes reach 30 is downtowns usual magic number when they will look to add a teacher. See the linked Enrollment as of 09/02/2022 doc for the latest district enrollment numbers.

• YMCA 2022-23 Youth Roster – Not on m blog, but attached is my announcements email is the YMCA Roster of students attend the YMCA after school program this year.

• REPEAT: Morning Arrival Supervision Assignments – Here’s the plan for where folks will be stationed for morning arrival. See the EA Schedule tab on the Master Schedule for your official arrival times, but most EAs on morning supervision will start in the cafeteria at 7:25. At 7:35 EAs responsible for supervising entrances listed below will transition to those locations: 

Cafeteria (Levi)
A Wing Doors – 5th Grade (Carol, Vicki)
B Wing Side Doors – 3rd & 4th Grade (Annie, Kelly)
C Wing Doors by Gym – 2nd Grade (Jackie, Lisa P.)
D Wing Doors – KG & 1st Grade (Cheryl, Wendy, Amber)
Crossing Guards (Darren’s Sub & Ben)
Buses (Lisa G.)

• UPDATED: Rainy Day Arrival Plan – I’ve updated the rainy day assignment to match the updated morning supervision assignments. Kids can be tough with a little drizzle, but if we get a downpour, we will use mostly the same rainy day plan as last year, except we’ll double up in the gym instead of using the cafeteria. Thie plan below would also apply to days with poor air quality, with the exception of moving the 5th graders into the gym:

Cafeteria – (Levi, Lisa G. after buses)
5th Grade – Covered Area (Carol, Vicki)
3rd and 4th Grade – Gym (Annie, Kelly)
     • Enter through gym doors on blacktop
2nd Grade – Library (Jackie, Lisa P.)
     • Enter through 2nd grade door and walks to library
     • Robbie in Library, Annie at door, Jackie at K-2 intersection
KG & 1st Grade – K-1 Hallway (Cheryl, Wendy, Amber)
*Outside – Kim, Allan, Darla directing traffic flow

AT BELL, all stations stay in area to avoid traffic jams. Use radios to coordinate release.

         • K-1 and 2nd graders in Library released first
         • 5th grade enters through A Wing exterior doors
         • 3rd & 4th released down main hall.

• K-5 iPad Classroom Inventory – Since iPads are staying at school this year, schools do not have to check out iPads to individual students in the Learn21 systems, but classroom teachers should still have your own system to know which iPad belongs to which students. And if you’re using stickers or tape, make sure they are removable and don’t leave a residue.

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program – Nutrition Services said the FFVP program will start in October. I’ll keep you posted as I get more info and we can start planning some of the logistics of delivery and returning containers to the kitchen.

• EEF Fun Run – Any runners on staff? A Holt parent has created a team sign-up for Holt families and staff who may be interesting in joining Holt Team for the EEF fun run at Alton Baker Park on October 23rd. I’ll add this to the Quick News, but Sign Up Here if you are interested.

• REPEAT: Principal Visits to Classrooms – I’d like to visit every classroom sometime during the first few weeks of school to greet students and introduce myself. I’ll read a favorite story to your class and chat with the kids a bit. Teachers, please let me know a good 10 minutes block of time I can come and visit sometime this month. Thank you!

• REPEAT: Team Sign-Ups – If you’d like to sign-up to be a member of one of our building teams, please add your name to the Team Sign-Up Sheet (2022-2023). Leadership Team (monthly), IPBS Team (monthly), and PBIS/SEL/Equity Team (twice a month).

• REPEAT: Insurance Open Enrollment Deadline, Sept. 15 – A reminder that you need to choose your insurance plan by September 15th or else you will lose your health insurance benefits for this year. See the linked 4J Open Enrollment 2022-23 Website for details.

 

• REPEAT: Holt Staff Fun Facts – If you haven’t already, be sure to fill out or update your info on the Holt Staff Fun Facts Spreadsheet.

• Morning Meeting Info (courtesy of Kim) – There are some consistent elements of “Morning Meetings.” They can provide a framework for your planning and provide the consistency needed to create a classroom community.

GROUNDING
• A grounding element brings student focus to the group. Examples:

⁃ Classroom phrase – “I am strong, I am kind, I am brave, I am smart, I am a good friend.”
⁃ A musical element while kids close their eyes and think of a particular topic. This is a great way to help students think of what they might want to share or discuss.
⁃ Yoga and stretching
⁃ Tibetian Singing Bowls allow students to “ring” the bowl as a commitment to the group. (My personal favorite)
⁃ A clapping routine – some classrooms add another step in their routine each week and by the end of the year, there is a 30+ step routine they have learned.

• For some teachers this element can initially feel a little awkward or a bit “touchy-feely,” but give it a few weeks to discover the benefits.

GREETING
• Students greet each other by name. You can combine the “grounding” with this activity too.
• Keep it fresh and change the greeting regularly so students don’t just quickly greet each other without intention

SHARING
• Have a sharing topic that is fun and allows students to share something about their lives.
• Point of caution here -topics need to be accessible to all students. So instead of asking – “Share where you traveled to this summer,” say “adventures can be found in things we have read, things we did by ourselves, or with our family. Share an adventure you had this summer.” Not all students can travel and not all students have parents that are active in their lives, s providing an extended definition of your question and then giving an example from your own life, allows students to participate.
• For students who struggle to “remember anything,” create a sharing topic with 2 or 3 options. Example: “Today we are going to share something that is special to you. You can talk about a “thing,” like a pet or stuffed animal, a person, or a time you remember that was really fun.”

GROUP ACTIVITY
• This is a fun activity that creates laughter. This activity can also have an academic element too. Either way, you want to create cohesion in the group. Examples:

⁃ Pictionary
⁃ Rhyming stories – start with a story topic and have students rhyme the next sentence
⁃ Counting game – partner up and have students alternate saying “1-2’3.” Then you add elements like “clap when you say 1,” or “high five when you say 2, etc”
⁃ What is in the box – have a funky feeling box where students try to guess by feeling what is inside

MORNING MESSAGE
• This is your time to present topics, typically SEL based. Students should still be interacting with the message, but this is the learning time.
• For September meetings, focusing on COMMUNITY is a great way to build your classroom community.

FINALLY…
• As a school, we have the power to create a school-wide community while we hold our morning meetings. Kim will send a link on Tuesday with suggested Morning Meeting elements, ideas, and topics for September. Use what you like or create your own. The new SEL committee will be assisting with these elements.
• These topics will also give us a common language to focus on each week as we help students through their day. For example, if COMMUNITY is the topic and two students are loud in the bathroom, you can reflect on how that impacts the community as a whole. (Age appropriate of course.)

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

September 5 (M)
Labor Day – No School

September 6 (T)
Collaborative Planning Time for Lang Arts Adoption
8:30-9:15, Staff Meeting (Cafeteria)
10:00-11:00, Optional New Staff Orientation and Q&A (Cafeteria)
2:00-3:00, Meet Your Teacher
2:30-4:00, Kona Shave Ice Fundraiser (Hard Play)

September 7 (W)
Classes Begin – First Day of School
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

September 8 (H)
Regular Day

September 9 (F)
8:15-8:35, Welcome Back Assembly (Gym)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD – Individual Educator Choice

September 12 (M)
4:00-5:30, Allan to Equity PD (Ed Center)

September 13 (T)
2:45-3:30, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

September 14 (W)
Regular Day

September 15 (H)
Deadline for Open Enrollment (Insurance)

September 16 (F)
2:00-3:30, Friday PD – Curriculum, K-2 Only (Zoom)

September 19 (M)
International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Let’s have a great week, everyone!

Allan

 

August 22, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/08/20 21:33 Posted in Announcements, Arts, Literacy, P.D., SEL, Technology  |  Comments Off on August 22, 2022

 

Hello Holt Bolts,

Hope you all are enjoying your final week of the summer.

Twenty-five items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing updates:

• Head Custodian (Jeremy Rutledge) – Jeremy starts this Monday and comes to us from Awbrey Park where he was the lead custodian for the past seven years. I also learned that Jeremey graduated from Sheldon High School around the same time as Jackie. Small world! Please welcome Jeremey to TEAM HOLT!

• Librarian (Robbie Cortez) – I’m pleased to announce that Robbie, our current Library Assistant who happens to be a licensed teacher, was offered and accepted the position as our new licensed librarian. The school board intends to fund this position as a pilot for 5 years at Holt, Howard, and Chavez, so it’ll be great to have Robbie continue to be with us in the library!

• Title 1 EA, 6-hour (Job Posting) – Now that Robbie is in a licensed position, we are hiring to fill his classified hours, except instead of hiring for a library assistant, we’re hiring for a general education assistant position. The Job Posting is now up and closes Wednesday. I already know of three strong candidates who are applying who we interviewed previously this summer for other jobs, so I’m feeling confident we’ll find someone good!

• 22-23 Master Schedule – Linked here is the 2022-2023 Master Schedule and is also on the Holt Staff Dashboard. You may noice a new block at the end of the day labeled “SSHA” which stands for Science, Social Studies, Health, and Art, taking the place of last year’s Science/Social Studies/Art block. We took this from the 4J Content Minutes Schedule Guide I shared last year (which was just a guideline and not a requirement), but putting SSHA at the end of the day felt like a softer ending to the day for kids instead of Core Math or Reading. Grade level teams are, of course, free to shift time blocks around as you see fit, as long as they don’t move Title, SPED, or PE/Music pullout times.

We’re almost finished with the EA schedule, so watch for that soon.

• Who is A/B and C/D on the Schedule? – Grade level teams should let me know which classes will follow the A, B, C, or D schedules and I’ll add names to the Master Schedule and the PE/Music Schedule tab.

• Inservice Schedule – Downtown has made some updates to the Inservice Master Schedule Google Doc, but principals pointed out there are some overlaps on Thursday 9/1, so there will be some tweaks, but it is generally correct. The above linked doc also includes the PD schedule for licensed specialists (Counselors, Librarians, Music, PE, Title, SSD, and EL teachers) and a tab for classified staff (Gen Ed and SSD EAs). Zoom links and several of the in-person locations will be added later this week, so watch that doc for the official dates, times, locations, and links.

Classified staff should note you have district PD on Tuesday 8/30 (SSD EAs, 8:00-12:00), Thursday 9/1 (All EAs [KG, SSD, Title], 1:00-3:30, KG EAs 3:00-4:00) and Friday 9/1 (All EAs, 9:00-12:00).

I’ll keep the Holt Staff Zimbra Calendar current with what’s on the document. The dates/times at the bottom of this post are current as of Saturday night.

• K-5 Health Adoption – Downtown let principals know the K-5 Health Adoption Team selected The Great Body Shop as 4J’s new health curriculum to be implemented this year. Teacher Kits will arrive at schools soon for each classroom teacher.

Downtown is taking into account the new Language Arts implementation are planning a “soft start.” Instead of teaching all 10 units, they have identified 5 priority units for this year.

Downtown sent principals a GBS K-5 Introductory Slide Show that staff need to see before the 9/1 and 9/2 Health PD days. They suggested blocking out 20 minutes at our Back-to-School Staff Meetings, but since this doesn’t apply to all staff, I don’t want to take up meeting time and figure teachers can play it while you’re working in your classrooms. Downtown also shared with principals the linked K-5 Health Scope & Sequence if you want a preview of this info before the Health PD.

For more info is available on the 4J Elementary Health Website, including How-To videos to get started with The Great Body Shop, and more info will be added later.

• Holt Staff Fun Facts – Ashley has updated the Holt Staff Fun Facts Spreadsheet if new staff members can add your info or if there are other staff who want to update your info, such as what you want kids to call you (“Mr. Chinn”), your favorite coffee drink (almond milk hot chocolate extra hot), or your hobbies (Filmgoer, Video Games, Books, Comics, Bigfoot Enthusiast).

 

 

• Holt Staff Dashboard – I’ve updated the Holt Staff Dashboard for this school year, but also left prior year dashboards on separate tabs. For new folks, this is your one-stop-shop for the many links that get shared out by the district (Absence Management, Curriculum Links, District Phone Lists, etc.) and at the building level (Master Schedule, Class Lists, DHS Reporting Forms, etc.). Let me know if there’s any info you think we should add, change, or delete.

• Class List Email Friday Afternoon, Sept. 2nd – 4J is continuing the practice of emailing families class placement instead of posting class lists outside of the office (which did present privacy issues). Teachers should plan on sending a welcome letter to families of all students in your class the afternoon of Friday, September 2nd. We can decide at our BTS staff meeting on a general time teachers will send the email, but I’ll keep it vague with families, saying they will be emailed class placement info Friday afternoon.

• Friday PD Times – The Friday PD days this year that are not “Teacher Choice” or “Building Based” will be led by district TOSAs (on Zoom I’m guessing), which means the times are being dictated by downtown, but luckily the times they chose for early start schools is what we were already doing last year, 1:30-2:30, with prep happening 2:30-3:30. Downtown also told principals there will be more details coming regarding Staff Choice PD, which begins October 7 (September 9 is “Individual Educator Choice”), so I’m guessing there will be parameters around these days.

• Title 1 Groups 4 or 5 Days a Week? – Prior to last year, Holt has held Title 1 groups 4-days a week instead of the 5, where teachers kept their students on Fridays. This was brought up at the end of last year and I’m putting it on the back-to-school meeting agenda as a discussion item whether we want to go back to that or or keep it five days a week. We’ll make a final decision at the 9/16 Friday PD Day (I’ll steal some time away from the TOSAs). The rationale for this is to give Title 1 staff time to meet, to progress monitor, and to give classroom teachers a day for guest speakers, field trips, or bigger projects. Also, it doesn’t have to be the same for all of K-5, but it could be.

• Volunteers Need Admin Approval – I mentioned last week that we are continuing to limit visitors and volunteers, but also wanted to highlight that staff still need to notify me before your volunteer can start, so I can submit a Volunteer Screening Form to Risk Management before they start. Volunteers also have to complete the required 4J Volunteer Background Check before they start, which for now still includes a proof-of-vaccination requirement.

• Entered ALL Absences into Absence Management (even if you don’t need a sub) – 4J is in the process of revamping their system for staff to record absences, but for now all staff should continue to use Absence Management (formerly AESOP for us old timers) to enter all absences, including when you don’t need a sub or even if it’s just a few hours. If you cannot enter an absence by 6:00am for a sub, call, text, or email Allan and/or Melanie so we can get it entered.

• Back to School Family Newsletter – I’m going to finish the Holt Family Welcome Back Quick News later this Sunday and send it out Monday morning, but the link will be up on the Holt School Website before I email it if you want a preview.

• Second Step Digital Curriculum & Pacing Guide – Also on the Holt Staff Dashboard is a link Online Second Step curriculum materials along with the Second Step Pacing Guide for the year. If you’re not able to log on with your 4J email, let me know and I can resend an invite to connect you to Holt. Codes for your grade level will be in the front of your teacher guides, but let me know if you can’t find them and I can get you right codes.

• ALL Wit & Wisdom Material NOW Available – The missing K-2 Wit & Wisdom materials have arrived and everyone should now have a complete set waiting outside your classroom door. Let me know if you are missing anything. However, the module zero is still at the printshop, so that one is still coming (gold star to Candace for noticing that).

• REPEAT: Wit & Wisdom Online Access – All staff have digital access to Wit & Wisdom. Just visit the website and log on using the password: elafororegon

• REPEAT: Wit & Wisdom PD Notes – Katie Stiles, K-3 Literacy TOSA, had a few suggestions and notes regarding the PD on August 26th and 29th:

• Print Module #1 – It is available online, but she suggested printing the first model and bringing it to the PD.

• Review Student Text – She also said reading over the student text ahead of time will make staff feel more prepared.

• REPEAT: Report Back Dates, CLASSIFIED DATE CHANGE – Please note HR made a mistake on the Classified Work Year Calendar and you now report back one day later than what was originally on the calendar. Here are the report back dates:

• Licensed Staff – Friday, August 26
• Classified Staff – Tuesday, August 30 (196-day on 8/24)

• REPEAT: Welcome Back Burritos, Coffee, & Supplies! Tuesday, 8/30 @8:30! – Join us for burritos, coffee, school supplies and socializing with school friends! Brought to Holt Staff by the amazing group at The Hope Project on Tuesday, August 30th at 3:30 in the School Garden!

 

• REPEAT: Optional New Staff Orientation and Q&A, 9/6 @10:00 – I’ll be available Tuesday, 9/6 at 10:00 in the cafeteria to share some Holt nuts & bolts logistics, answer questions, and provide any assistance for new folks. I can get busy during inservice week, so I like to set aside a time when I’ll be available for new staff. You can also always text, call, or email.

• REPEAT: Meet Your Teacher, 9/6 @2:00 – In-person Meet Your Teacher is allowed this year and looking at past staff calendars, it was the Tuesday before the first day of school from 2:00-3:00, so that’s what I’m sending out to families. I’ve also scheduled Kona Ice to come at 3:00, so hopefully that’ll make it easier to chase families out of your classrooms when the event is over.

• REPEAT: 2022-2023 Class Lists – Here’s the link to the 22-23 Class Lists that were created last spring. As usual, there are quite a few new move-ins and move-outs, so some adjustments will need to be made.

• REPEAT: ArtSpark Artist in Residence Survey – Holt will get two Artist Residencies again this year funded by ArtSpark. I want to get your preferences early, so we can lock in an artist and date before the good ones are taken. Please fill out the linked Artist in Residence Survey to help start the conversation when we make a decision at our Back-to-School Staff Meeting. ALSO, I got a hot tip from another principal that Jen Hernandez’s Story Crafters & Comics was super good, making a kindness display across the school!

• REPEAT: Make Sure Your Voicemail is Set-Up – Ensure your 4J voicemail is set up and working. See the linked 4J Phone Voicemail Manual or this Quick Start Voice Mail User Guide for how to set it up. If you have questions, contact Rob, at 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu or call (541) 790-7777.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

August 23 (T)
8:00-3:30, New Teacher Welcome Event – Day #1 (ATA)

August 24 (W)
8:00-3:30, New Teacher Welcome Event – Day #2 (Churchill)

August 25 (H)
8:00-3:30, New Teacher Welcome Event – Day #3 (Zoom)

August 26 (F)
Licensed Staff Report Back
8:00-9:00, Time to Pick-Up Wit & Wisdom Materials
9:00-4:00, Wit & Wisdom ELA PD – Day #1 (Holt)

August 27 (SA)
9:00-12:00, Holt Work Day 2022 (Front of School)

August 29 (M)
8:00-3:00, Wit & Wisdom ELA PD – Day #2 (K-3 @Zoom, 4-5 @Holt)

August 30 (T)
Protected Teacher Planning
Classified Staff Report Back
8:00-12:00, SPED EAs to SSD PD (Location TBA)
8:30, Welcome Back Burritos, Coffee, & Supplies! (School Garden)

August 31 (W)
8:00-8:30, Breakfast Stacks & Socializing (Cafeteria)
8:30-12:00, Holt Back to School Meeting (Cafeteria)
4:30-7:00, Learn to Ride a Bike – Family Event (Ed Center)

September 1 (H)
8:00-11:00, 4J Staff Back-To-School Gathering (TBA)
1:00-3:30, EAs (Title, SPED, KG) Wit & Wisdom PD (TBA)
1:00-4:00, Health for Grades K-2 (Zoom)
1:00-4:00, Math for for 3-5 (Zoom)
3:00-4:00, KG Teachers & EAs to Kidnerzone Meeting (TBA)

September 2 (F)
9:00-12:00, Classified & Licensed Universal Design for Learning PD (SEHS Auditorium)
1:00-4:00, Health for Grades 3-5 (Zoom)
1:00-4:00, Math for for K-2 (Zoom)

September 5 (M)
Labor Day – No School

September 6 (T)
Collaborative Planning Time for Lang Arts Adoption
8:00-10:00, Staff Meeting – If Needed
10:00-11:00, Optional New Staff Orientation and Q&A (Cafeteria)
2:00-3:00, Meet Your Teacher
3:00-4:00, Kona Shave Ice Fundraiser (Hard Play)

September 7 (W)
Classes Begin – First Day of School
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

September 8 (H)
Regular Day

September 9 (F)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD – Individual Educator Choice

See you all soon!

Allan

 

June 13, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/06/11 20:28 Posted in Announcements, Literacy, Math, P.D., Science, SEL  |  Comments Off on June 13, 2022

 

Hello Holt Staff,

We’re almost at the finish line! 

Twenty-four items of note for this final week:

• Two Staffing Updates – Two staffing updates:

• 4-hour Title EA Updates – HR has filled our two 4-hour EA vacancies. Lori Tingue, who was a Title 1 EA at Holt last year before taking a temporary 2nd grade classroom position at Gilham this year, is filling one, and Lisa Neeley, a Title 1 EA from Family School, is filling the other. Please welcome Lori and Lisa to Holt, though both are applying for teaching positions, so we may have vacancies to fill later on.

• Want to be the Holt Summer School Admin Intern? – Downtown can’t find any assistant principals interested in doing the second part the summer SEAL program, so they changed the job to a licensed position, so teachers or any licensed employees can apply. I’ll be principal the first two weeks to get things started, July 12 – 22, also working with this person, and after that they would be in charge though August 12th (though I actually report back to work the following Wednesday, so there’s only two days where I’m not there). If any of your are interested in some extra summer mad money, feel free to find me and here’s the Job Posting.

• SEAL Room Assignments – SEAL officially need 12 classrooms and the Music Room, and KITS needs two kinder classrooms. I’ve come up with the following Summer School Classroom Map, which doesn’t require us to move desks and chair to match the different sized students and also allows Holt teachers teaching summer school to remain in their classrooms. However, I am open to discussion, so let me know if you have other ideas or if you can twist the arm of a colleague to volunteer their room.

• General Summer Cleaning Schedule – I’ve only gotten general details that the summer deep cleaning will happen before summer school and a quick refresh clean will happen after summer programs. I’ll add details to the calendar once I know of any off-limits days. I’ve heard the hold up is the carpet cleaner vehicles are being fixed up in Portland right now and they don’t know for sure when they’ll be ready to start.

• 22-23 Master Schedule Coming Soon – The schedule is still being worked on, but we should have a draft ready to share out with staff before the end of the week. Stay tuned!

• REPEAT: Schedule Your Gaga Ball Rules Lesson – If you haven’t already, let me know a good 10-minute block to go over the Gaga Ball Rules Slideshow with your class sometime before Field Day.

• REPEAT: Erin’s Law & Second Step Child Safety Unit, THIS WEEK – If you haven’t already, teach lesson 6 of the Second Step Child Protection unit this week. Linked here are Child Protection Unit Scans of the teacher guides.

• UPDATED – REMINDER: Field Day Details – See the linked Schedule for Field Day for details and the Field Day Map for the layout of the event, which Alex emailed out earlier. UPDATE: There are no PE or Music classes this day. 

There will be 8 minute rotations. Teachers, see the schedule where you will start and be sure to have your students divided into 4 color groups before field day:

• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Yellow

• Keep or Send Home Reusable School Supplies – Since 4J paid for school supplies, we can keep any reusable or unused school supplies, but it’s also okay to send stuff home with kids. Do note we’re not ordering more book bins or pencil boxes replacements, so hold onto those if you want them for next year.

• End of Year BBQ Sign-Up – Don’t forget to sign up for the Staff End of Year BBQ happening this Friday.

• Return School Radios to Office FRIDAY – All school radios should be returned to the front office on Friday, so Facilities can do their yearly maintenance.

• REMINDER: Consumable Ordering – Teachers should place orders for Math and Science Consumables you (or your replacement if you are leaving your grade or classroom) this week:

2022-2023 Math Consumables Order (Due Wednesday) – Jamie’s Email

2022-2023 Science Kit Consumables Restocking (Due Friday) – Jamie’s Email

• REPEAT: Report Cards Go Home Friday – Report cards are to be send home with students this Friday. If any students are absent, you can bring their report card and belongings to the office.

• Technology Checkout Contract 2022-23 – If you are taking home your school laptop, iPad, or other equipment over the summer, complete the linked 4J Technology Equipment Checkout Contract 2022-23.

• REPEAT: End of Year Checklist – Linked here is the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022. This needs to be completed by all staff in charge of an area before you start your summer and need both mine and Ryan’s sign-off. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

• REPEAT: ELA Materials Packing Directions – Linked here is the list of ELA Materials to Keep or Discard, as well as Eric Anderson’s Email.

• Teachers will get 6 boxes per classroom.
• Most Journeys and Being A Writer materials: Box and attach this Label Template on each box.
• Leveled Readers: Box separately and use the Leveled Reader Label Template ere.
• Trade books and big books: Keep them for 4J use. If your building does not want them, please send them to Bailey Hill using this label.

• REPEAT: Diverse Classroom Libraries Inventory – Teachers (or Title staff if you connect with Jenny) will inventory the SIA Diverse Classroom Library Book Sets. There are two processes depending whether you are teaching the same grade next year or if you are moving grade levels or schools.

If not moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, keep books in your room.

If moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, leave bins in classroom, and write the bin barcode number on the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022.

• UPDATE: June 20th, Juneteenth Expectations – This HR Email sent to staff explains how Monday, June 20th is the last regular workday for licensed staff, but it is also a new Federal Holiday, so staff have the option to work extra days prior to Juneteenth and not work this day OR you can take June 20th off and work on Tuesday, June 21st instead.

 

• 22-23 Arrival Plan – For anyone who missed it at the Staff Meeting or in the minutes, the morning arrival plan for next year (assuming we are no longer cohorting) will have students eating breakfast back in the cafeteria. 7:25, buses arrive and students are supervised in the cafeteria. 7:35, students are release to line up at the same grade level entrances we used this year and K/1 going out to hard play (they like to run). Students arriving late who want breakfast can go to the cafeteria until 7:50, when the first bell rings for students to go to class, with all doors closing at the tardy bell at 7:55.

• Fall PD Plan – If you’re wondering what the PD plan is for when teacher report back early, so are principals. I asked about this at a principals’ meeting a couple weeks ago and still haven’t gotten an answer what the plan is yet.

• No “Huggy Wuggy” Talk – I’m old and uncool and did not know about this, but if you hear kids talking about Huggy Wuggy, it’s a fairly scary and inappropriate character from a horror survivor video game, so tell kids that’s not something to talk about at school.

• EOA School Choice Process for Next Year – The back and forth between online and brick-and-mortar has been frustrating to say the least, but next year downtown has made the decision to treat EOA as it’s own school and that parents will have to go through the regular school choice process, which will hopefully cut back on the back and forth we’ve seen this year.

• Fox Hollow Redesign – SSD’s Fox Hollow program is being redesigned to be more of a temporary placement and not as much of a permanent placement. Linked here is the Fox Hollow 2.0 Redesign Slideshow that was presented ot principals last week if you are interested.

• FREE Summer Camps – I’ll share this in the Quick News but feel free to share this list of FREE 2022 Summer Camps with kids and families.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the school year:

June 13 (M)
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6
8:00, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Ayres)
8:15, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Barton)
8:30, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Gori)

June 14 (T)
8:00, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Vaughan)
8:15, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Seno)
8:50, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Reich)
9:50, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Lovato)
11:45, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Harmon)

June 15 (W)
8:45-10:15, Field Day, Grades 3-5 (Field)
9:00-10:00, Allan Skipping Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:00-1:30, Field Day, Grades K-2 (Field)
7:00-9:00, Sheldon HS Graduation (Hult Center)

June 16 (H)
10:30-10:50, Kinder Lunch Outside (Bike Cage Area)
1:15-2:15, Kinder Bubble Party (Hard Play)
1:30, Allan to BEST Meeting (Office)

June 17 (F)
Summertime Tie-Dye Day
Last Day for Students
Last Day for 192 & 196 Day Classified Employees
8:30-10:00, 5th Grade Breakfast & Celebration (Cafeteria)
10:15-10:30, 4th & 5th Grade Recess
10:45, Grab-n-Go Lunches Delivered to Wings
11:10, Early Dismissal
Staff Social – End of Year BBQ

June 20 (M)
Juneteenth
Last day for licensed staff
8:00-4:00, Allan to I Love U Guys Training (Ed Center)

June 21 (T)
8:00-4:00, Allan to I Love U Guys Training (Ed Center)

June 26 (SU)
4:00-8:00, “Holt Night” at the Ems!

August 26 (F)
Licensed Staff Report Back

August 29 (M)
Classified Staff Report Back

Have a fabulous summer, everyone!

Allan

 

 

 

STAFF SUMMER READING PICKS

 

JENNY

The Overstory by Richard Powers – It was recommended by two different friends, who don’t know each other, so it must be good!

 

 

MANDRA

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

The Kite Runner by Khaled Husseini

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

 

 

ALLAN

Shogun by James Clavell – I loved the Richard Chamberlain 1980s TV mini-series, but am curious to read to the book

V.C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic – A horror staple I never read, though I did see the terrible movie version, but feel I should read it since it’s such a pop culture icon of horror. 

Consumed by David Cronenberg – David Cronenberg has made some of the most seriously weird movies you’ll ever watch (The Fly, Dead Ringers, Videodrome, Scanners, etc.), so when he’s not limited by budgets or special effects, I’m curious what kind of story he’ll tell. 

Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O’Neill – I’m not usually a true crime kind of guy, but this is supposed to be THE definitive book on Manson, so I have to read this. 

Mark Harris Books on films of the 50s, 60s, and 70s – I heard Quentin Tarantino talk about Mark Harris as a terrific writer on the behind the scenes history of Hollywood, which piqued my interest, so I bought a few of his books. I’m planning to start with Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood.

June 6, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/06/04 20:48 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Literacy, Science, SEL, Technology, Video  |  Comments Off on June 6, 2022

 

Howdy Bolts,

We’ve almost made it!

Twenty-three items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing updates:

• Ryan Moving to Washington – Our fabulous Lead Custodian, Ryan Brown, is moving to Washington at the end of the month, which sadly means we are now on the lookout for hiring a new lead. Wish Ryan well on his new adventures!

Facilities will post the position soon, but custodial jobs have been very hard to fill this year, so over the summer we’ll likely have a lead custodian from another building fill in during SEAL and KITS. If you know any good custodians out there, please encourage them to join our awesome school!

• New 2nd Grade Teacher, Myah Rahbourn – We had a strong pool of candidates for our remaining 2nd grade opening and have hired Myah Rabourn. Myah student taught this year with Ashley, but before that was an EA in Lebanon School District and at the end of last year taught 3rd grade on an emergency license. Watch for Myah subbing at Holt this week and welcome her to the team!

• Job Posting Updates – Our Human Services Coordinator position and possibly our 4-hour Title 1 EA position will go up this week. We have two 4-hour opening and HR is likely bumping someone into at least one of these positions. They emailed me one person was bumping into one of the openings, but when I sent that person a “Welcome to Holt” email they told me HR offered her a job at Howard instead of Holt. I emailed HR about this, but haven’t heard back, so at this point I’m not sure if we have one or two openings. If you know anyone good out there though, please encourage them to apply.

• REMINDER: PE/Music On-Time Pick-Up – With PE and Music out on the field, make sure you’re out there on time to pick up your class, so that Alex and Ashley get their breaks.

• ELA Adoption: Wit & Wisdom – Staff were emailed that Wit & Wisdom was officially adopted last week by the school board. Due to delays in the pilot process and delays in obtaining school board approval, we will not have materials until August. However, staff do have digital access if you go the Wit &Wisdom Teacher Review Site and use the password: elafororegon

Scroll down to access a 10-minute “Welcome to the ELA Review Page” video.

Additionally, there is a Wit & Wisdom Introduction Slide Show teachers may want to check out, which goes over what models you will teach, as well as links for further exploration.

• ELA Materials Open House TUESDAY & FRIDAY – If you want to preview materials now, there is an open house this week. Here are the details:

Tuesday, June 7, 2:30-5:00
Friday, June 10, 9:00-4:00

Bailey Hill Instructional Center
2295 Four Oaks Grange Rd.
(off of W 18th, west of Churchill)

• REPEAT: Erin’s Law & Second Step Child Safety Unit, THIS WEEK & NEXT – All classroom teachers should use the Second Step Child Protection Unit for meeting the state Erin’s Law requirements. Teach lesson 6 right before summer break, within the last two weeks of school. Each grade level has their own kit, but linked here are the Child Protection Unit Scans of the teacher guides if that makes things easier.

• Earthquake/Fire Drill, TUESDAY @1:10 – We’ll conduct an Earthquake/Fire Drill this Tuesday at 1:10. I’ll get on the PA an announce the earthquake drill, reviewing Drop, Cover, Hold, and will launch the drill by saying EARTHQUAKE! EARTHQUAKE! EARTHQUAKE! We’ll pull the alarm to signal when to evacuate the building. There are many resources for teaching Drop, Cover, Hold at The Great Oregon Shakeout. Linked here is a copy of the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line-Up Map.

• Allan Job Shadow TUESDAY – Beth Kruzki is going to job shadow me on Tuesday. Beth will be the SEAL/KITS principal for the second part of this summer. I’ll be principal for the first couple weeks of summer school to get things going and Beth will take over for the remainder of the program, although I report back a couple weeks later on July 27, so I’ll be around most of the program anyhow. Beth wanted to job shadow me to get a sense of how things look at elementary (she has mostly secondary admin and online admin experience).

• REMINDER: James Brown Award Nominations, DUE WEDNESDAY – See Ashely’s Email for details, but complete your nomination for the 2022 James Brown Award by Wednesday at 9:00pm. Here are the past James Brown winners:

2018 – Jincy and Heidi
2019 – Lisa Goff
2020 – Jenny Potter
2021 – Kelsey Hicks

• REPEAT: Kona Ice, WEDNESDAY at 1:45 – Kona Ice is coming to Holt THIS WEDNESDAY. Bus riders who bring money can be dismissed at 1:45 if they brought money for shave ice, so they have time to buy and eat their shave ice before getting onto the bus. Supervision of students will be provided.

 

• REPEAT: FRIDAY Report Card Grading Day Expectations – This Friday is a regular work day for both classified and licensed staff. For licensed staff, HR allows teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator (me) in advance, but be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues this day. Also, be sure to use this time for grading and not use it to run errands around town. Teachers are highly visible members of the community, so keep in mind public perception. HR has said that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice. For classified staff, this is a good day to cash in any accumulated trade time you’ve built up, but remember you need to notify me before you begin accumulating time.

• REPEAT: Report Card Printing & Envelope Stuffing – Since grading day is before the last day of school, like normal, 4J elementary schools are going back to normal report card procedures, where teachers print report cards and stuff envelopes, which will be sent home with students the last day of school. Melanie will do the “Update Attendance” procedure in Synergy the Thursday before grading day, so wait until grading day to print report cards.

• REPEAT: Schedule Your Gaga Ball Rules Lesson – Gaga Ball is going to be one of our Field Day stations, which I’ll be running, and I’d like to teach kids the rules ahead of time. Let me know a good 10-minute block to go over the Gaga Ball Rules Slide Show with your class sometime before Field Day on Wednesday, June 15th. The closer to Field Day the better, but email a time that works well for you.

• EA Help Boxing Materials this FRIDAY & Next Week – Title 1 EAs will be available this Friday and next week to help box up ELA Materials (Journeys & Being A Writer) and also to inventory the SIA Diverse Book Library Kits. Just let Jenny know and she will send someone your way.

• ELA Materials Packing Directions – Linked here is the Full ELA Materials List to Keep or Discard, as well as Eric Anderson’s Email.

• Teachers will get 6 boxes per classroom.
• Most Journeys and Being A Writer materials: Box and attach this Label Template on each box.
• Leveled Readers: Box separately and use the Leveled Reader Label Template ere.
• Trade books and big books: Keep them for 4J use. If your building does not want them, please send them to Bailey Hill using this label.

• REPEAT: Diverse Classroom Libraries Inventory – Teachers will inventory the SIA Diverse Classroom Library Book Sets. There are two processes depending whether you are teaching the same grade next year or if you are moving grade levels or schools.

If not moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, keep books in your room.

If moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, leave bins in classroom, and write the bin barcode number on the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022.

• REPEAT: End of Year Checklist – Linked here is the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022. This needs to be completed by all staff in charge of an area before you start your summer and need both mine and Ryan’s sign-off. Let me know if you have any questions.

• REMINDER: 3/4/5 Climate Survey  – If you missed the deadline, the survey is still open for 3/4/5 teachers to have students complete the student climate survey. See the email I sent earlier for details, but first show the video and then have students complete the survey.

English version: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/4jelementaryclimate2022
Spanish version: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ambienteprimaria4j2022

• REPEAT: June 20th, Juneteenth Expectations – HR was supposed to send something out, but principals got the succinct graphic below. Monday, June 20th is the last regular workday for licensed staff, but it is also a new Federal Holiday, so staff have the option to work extra days prior to Juneteenth and not working this day or you can take June 20th off and work on Tuesday, June 21st instead.

 

• REPEAT: Science Kit Restocking – If you need additional materials for your science kit, be sure to complete the Science Kit Restock Order Form before the end of the school year.

• 2022 Direction Service Summer Directory – The 2022 Direction Services Resources for Youth and Families is an annual resource containing recreation, respite, support, and service opportunities that families of children with disabilities can access. I’ll share this in the Quick News, but wanted to share with staff as well.

• District Admin Updates – Paula Nolan, current EOA principal, will be the new principal at Spencer Butte Middle School, replacing Peter Tromba who is moving back east. Also, Andrea Belz, Director of Financial Services, Holly Langan, Director of Support Services, and Christine Nesbit, 4J General Counsel, are all leaving 4J at the end of the school year. See this email for full details.

• Is Silent Ball the Best Classroom Management Tool You Never Knew Existed? – I used to play this game all the time when I taught 2nd and 3rd grade, except I called it “Quiet Ball” and this was back in olden times before GoNoodle or even projectors. This WeAreTeachers Article shares why it’s a great tool to have in your classroom-management toolbox.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the school year:

June 5 (SU)
3:00-7:00, Barbara Kitterman Retirement Celebration

June 6 (M)
1st Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6
8:00, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Ayres)
9:50, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Heinrich)
3:45-4:45, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

June 7 (T)
Beth Kruzki Job Shadowing Allan
8:00, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Parks)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
12:00-1:00, Allan to KG Transition Meeting (Zoom)
1:10, Earthquake/Fire Drill
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)

June 8 (W)
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
1:45-3:15, Kona Ice – Holt Shave Ice Fundraiser! (Hard Play)
9:00PM, James Brown Award Nominations Due

June 9 (H)
Last Day for Title 1 & ELD Groups
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
2:45, Allan to SPED Planning Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:00-7:00, PAHS (Parents at Holt School) Meeting (Zoom)

June 10 (F)
No School – Grading Day

June 13 (M)
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6

June 14 (T)
9:50, Allan Teaching Gaga Ball Rules (Lovato)
2:45-3:25, PBIS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

June 15 (W)
8:45-10:15, Field Day, Grades 3-5 (Field)
9:00-10:00, Allan Skipping Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:00-1:30, Field Day, Grades K-2 (Field)
7:00-9:00, Sheldon HS Graduation (Hult Center)

June 16 (H)
1:30, Allan to BEST Meeting (Office)
2:45-3:25, Leadership Team Meeting (if needed)

June 17 (F)
Last Day for Students
Last Day for 192 & 196 Day Classified Employees
8:30-10:00, 5th Grade Breakfast & Celebration (Cafeteria)
10:15-10:30, 4th & 5th Grade Recess
10:45, Grab-n-Go Lunches Delivered to Wings
11:10, Early Dismissal
Staff Social – End of Year BBQ

June 20 (M)
Juneteenth
Last day for licensed staff
8:00-4:00, Allan to I Love U Guys Training (Ed Center)
4:00-5:00, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

August 26 (F)
Licensed Staff Report Back

August 29 (M)
Classified Staff Report Back

8 1/2 days to go!

Allan

 

May 30, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/05/28 21:19 Posted in Announcements, Literacy, Science, SEL, Video  |  Comments Off on May 30, 2022

Greetings Bolts,

That was fun seeing folks on Friday at Roadhouse and at Top Gun: Maverick. My capsule review of the film is that it was the perfect mix of nostalgia (buzzing the tower, Danger Zone, shirtless beach sports, etc.) and an entertaining original story that was able to stand on its own. No deep subtext. Just a fun summer popcorn flick. 3 1/2 starts out of 5. 

Twenty-five items of note for this week:

• Safety Reminders (Doors & Visitors) – For those not at Friday’s Staff Meeting, a few key safety reminders:

• Doors – All exterior doors are to remain locked at all times. Do not prop doors open. Also remember that this time of year the doors don’t always properly close on their own due to pressure differentials, so make sure they are fully latched shut behind you.

• Visitors – All visitors need to go through the main office entrance. Do not let anyone in through a side door, even if they are a 4J employee.

• TUESDAY Staff Meeting – Not exactly a standard Staff Meeting, but as shared earlier, we will meet in the library this Tuesday at 2:45 for sending and receiving grade level teams to discuss students of note (not enough time to discuss all students).

• 2nd Grade Interviews, WEDNESDAY (Avoid Staff Room) – We’re holding interviews for our 2nd grade classroom this Wednesday at 2:40 in the Staff Room. Please avoid the Staff Room after school that afternoon if possible. If you’d like to join Lesli, Kim, Jenna, Ashley R., and Lisa Z. when we interview, just let me know and I’ll share applications and interview materials.

• Bricks & Minifigs Fundraiser, THURSDAY – I forgot to put this in the Quick News last week if you can share this with kids, but Bricks & Minifigs is doing a fundraiser for Holt this Thursday. Just bring the flyer, which I’ll include in Monday’s Quick News, and Holt get’s 20% of all sales!

 

• FRIDAY PD Cancelled – Double Prep – To make up for the missed hour of weekly prep next week on the Grading Day, there is no meeting this Friday, which will instead be a “Double Prep” Friday.

• End of Year Checklist – Linked here is the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022. This needs to be completed by all staff in charge of a school area before you start your summer and needs both mine and Ryan’s sign-off. It’s the same as last year with the following exceptions:

• ELA Materials Boxed-Up – Downtown is sending all classroom teachers six boxes to pack up ELA materials (Journeys and Being a Writer). Teachers can keep any books or pieces you want to keep for future use. Classified staff can help with packing on the June 10th, Grading Day. Leave the boxes outside your classroom for Warehouse Staff to pick-up in August.

• Diverse Classroom Libraries Inventory – Teachers will inventory the SIA Diverse Classroom Library Book Sets. There are two processes depending whether you are teaching the same grade next year or if you are moving grade levels or schools.

If not moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, keep books in your room.

If moving: Inventory books, cross any missing books off of the inventory list, leave bins in classroom, and write the bin barcode number on the End of Year Checklist 2021-2022.

• Friends/Family Allowed to Help End of Year Packing – For the last week of school, when students are not in session, downtown is allowing friends and family of staff members to be “essential visitors” to help with end of year packing. The only requirement is they check-in at the Raptor Kiosk in the office (if  you’re packing on a weekday) and limit their movement throughout the building.

• Report Card Grading Day Expectations – Friday, June 10th is a regular work day for both classified and licensed staff. For licensed staff, HR allows teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator (me) in advance, but be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues this day. Also, be sure to use this time for grading and not use it to run errands around town. Teachers are highly visible members of the community, so keep in mind public perception. HR has said that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice. For classified staff, this is a good day to cash in any accumulated trade time you’ve built up, but remember you need to notify me before you begin accumulating trade time.

• Report Card Printing & Envelope Stuffing – Since grading day is before the last day of school, 4J elementary schools are going back to normal report card procedures, where teachers print report cards and stuff envelopes, which will be sent home with students the last day of school. Melanie will do the “Update Attendance” procedure in Synergy the Thursday before grading day, so wait until grading day to print report cards.

• CORRECTION: Kona Ice, June 15th 8TH at 1:45 – Kona Ice is coming to Holt the SECOND TO last week of school and this time, as we discussed at a Staff Meeting a few months ago, bus riders who bring money will be dismissed early if they brought money for shave ice, so they have time to buy and eat their shave ice before getting onto the bus. Kona Ice will be here Wednesday, June 15th 8TH at 1:45, so teachers can send out at that time, where they will be supervised.

• UDPATE: “Grab & Go” Sack Lunch DELIVERY – To simplify some scheduling issues and I think also to make it easier on teachers, Deb agreed to deliver Grab & Go Lunches to each wing at 10:45 the last day of school instead of the schedule I shared last week. 

• June 20th, Juneteenth Expectations – HR was supposed to send something out, but principals got the succinct graphic below. Monday, June 20th is the last regular workday for licensed staff, but it is also a new Federal Holiday, so staff have the option to work extra days prior to Juneteenth and not working this day or you can take June 20th off and work on Tuesday, June 21st instead.

 

• End-of-Cycle Goals Reflection;- I’m hoping to finish everyone’s observations over the next two weeks, but one final step probationary licensed staff need to complete in TalentEd is the End-of-Cycle Goals Reflection. You do not need to write a novel. A few sentences reflecting on how you did towards your goals is fine, but please complete these before the end of the school year. Let me know if you have any questions.

• YMCA/BEST iPads Stay at School – Starting this week, students who attend YMCA/BEST can begin leaving their iPads in class and no longer need to take them home each night.

• Schedule Your Gaga Ball Rules Lesson – Gaga Ball is going to be one of our Field Day stations, which I’ll be running. I’d like to teach kids the rules ahead of time, so let me know a good 10-minute block to go over the Gaga Ball Rules Slide Show ahead of June 15th.. The closer to Field Day the better, but email me a time that works well for you.

• Summer SEAL Update – Downtown emailed principals and Title 1 Coordinators an update on SEAL, which included a count of the current number of students enrolled by grade level and region. Looking at these low numbers, it doesn’t seem likely we’ll use many classrooms. We’ll also host at least two middle school classes and one classroom for KITS. I’ll keep staff posted on how many classrooms are needed, but I estimate it’ll be no more than 8-9 classrooms at most. Stay tuned!

• UPDATED: 22-23 Classroom Map – Semi related to the above, linked here is the 22-23 Classroom Map (Dynamos & Calming Room change over summer) we came up with a couple months ago. I’d actually forgotten some of our shifts, so I figured others may want a reminder as well. I’ve also updated the map with some of our new hires.

In order to help the Calming Room with alternative recesses and to also find a spot for our new Human Services Coordinator, I’d like to move:

• Dynamos (Title 1) stay where they are this year instead of Stimler’s room.
• Calming Room moves to Stimler’s room.
• 0.5 SPED (Whitney) moves to the Calming Room (this year’s location)

The back grass area by Stimler’s old class would work well for alternative recesses and the exterior door allows one person to supervise both the outside area and also the Calming Room. That room is also large enough to house our new Human Services Coordinator

 

 

• REMINDER: Science Kit Restocking – If you need additional materials for your science kit, be sure to complete the Science Kit Restock Order Form before the end of the school year.

• ELA Updates (Adoption, SIA Kits, PD Options) – The district ELA TOSA’s shared the linked ELA Update Slide Show with principals last week. They are going to email teachers additional details, but here it is is you’re curious.

• Wellness Policy Reminders – Nutrition Services emailed principals a reminder about food at end-of-year parties. For quick resources and answers, see the 4J Wellness Policy, including guidelines for snacks and parties. Note that families can provide special foods, but make sure they are commercially prepared and are not served at the same time as school meals. Kitchen staff need at least two weeks advance notice if students will not eat school breakfast or lunch. Shellfish or nut products are discouraged.

• REPEAT: Erin’s Law & Second Step Child Safety Unit – All classroom teachers should use the Second Step Child Protection Unit for meeting the state Erin’s Law requirements. Teach lesson 6 right before summer break, within the last two weeks of school. Each grade level has their own kit, but linked here are Child Protection Unit Scans of the teacher guides if that makes things easier.

• Safety & Lagging Skill Planning Resources – 4J Behavioral Safety Assessment Coordinator, Sheri Hoyland, emailed principals a reminder about the 4J Safety & Lagging Skills Planning webpage, which lists safety interventions and educational components for a student’s safety plan. I’m not sure staff were aware of this page or the larger Student Wellness & Safety Resources website, which has some useful resources and tips for creating plans for students with unsafe behaviors. 

• REPEAT: Summer Reading Staff Picks! – Email or let me know in person any summer book recommendations you have for colleagues and I’ll post everyone’s picks in my final weekly announcements of the year. Another book I’m considering reading this summer is Consumed by weirdo horror movie filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Fly, Dead Ringers, Scanners, Videodrome). Let me know your summer reading picks!

• HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHT: Staff Mailboxes – This week’s highlight from the Holt Staff Handbook, is on Staff Mailboxes:

Housekeeping:

• Students should pick up scraps, books, pencils, etc. off the floor before being dismissed each afternoon.
• Similarly, chairs should be stacked each afternoon and all trash cans should be placed outside your door.
• No stickers should be placed on desks, chairs, books, cubbies, etc.
• Student work habits often reflect their surroundings. Maintaining a neat and tidy classroom serves as a positive model for children to emulate.
• While seemingly unimportant, housekeeping details can make a difference in school appearance and students’ respect and attitude toward learning.
• Trash cans should be placed outside the room each night.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the school year:

May 30 (M)
No School – Memorial Day

May 13 (T)
Kinder Staff Room Duty
3/4/5 Climate Survey DEADLINE
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
1:50-2:05, K/5 Buddy Recess
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)
6:00-7:30, Parent PD: Teen Substance Use & Coping (Churchill)

June 1 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
1:35-1:50, 1/3 Buddy Recess, Barton/Gori/Talley, Longoria
1:50-2:05, 1/3 Buddy Recess, Cobb/Benevides
2:40-5:00, 2nd Grade Interviews (Staff Room)
7:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

June 2 (H)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
1:50-2:05, 2/4 Buddy Recess
2:45-3:25, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)
6:30-7:30, 4J Math Education Parent Information Session (Zoom)

June 3 (F)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
1:30-2:25, Friday PD Cancelled – Double Prep

June 5 (SU)
3:00-7:00, Barbara Kitterman Retirement Celebration

June 6 (M)
1st Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
3:45-4:45, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

June 7 (T)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
1:10, Earthquake/Fire Drill
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)

June 8 (W)
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
1:45-3:15, Kona Ice – Holt Shave Ice Fundraiser! (Hard Play)

June 9 (H)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
6:00-7:00, PAHS (Parents at Holt School) Meeting (Zoom)

June 10 (F)
No School — Grading Day

June 13 (M)
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6

June 14 (T)
2:45-3:25, PBIS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

June 15 (W)
8:45-10:15, Field Day, Grades 3-5 (Field)
9:00-10:00, Allan Skipping Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:00-1:30, Field Day, Grades K-2 (Field)
7:00-9:00, Sheldon HS Graduation (Hult Center)

June 16 (H)
1:30, Allan to BEST Meeting (Office)
2:45-3:25, Leadership Team Meeting (if needed)

June 17 (F)
Last Day for Students
Last Day for 192 & 196 Day Classified Employees
8:30-10:00, 5th Grade Breakfast & Celebration (Cafeteria)
10:45, Grab-n-Go Lunches Delivered to Wings
11:10, Early Dismissal
Staff Social – End of Year BBQ

June 20 (M)
Juneteenth
Last day for licensed staff
8:00-4:00, Allan to I Love U Guys Training (Ed Center)
4:00-5:00, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

 

12 1/2 days to go!

Allan

 

May 23, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/05/21 21:27 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Literacy, P.D., SEL  |  Comments Off on May 23, 2022

 

Howdy All,

It’s out last 5-day week of the year!

Sixteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Four staffing updates:

• 2nd Grade Hire, Michael Dempsey – We hired Michael Dempsey for one of our two 2nd grade opening. Michael is an experienced teacher who’s taught since 2004, starting our teaching high needs primary grade students in the Bronx, New York to teaching at the Hong Kong International School (check out their website to see a SERIOUSLY swank school!) and currently at the Ruamrudee International School in Thailand.

• SPED Hire, Emily Henson – For our full-time SPED teaching position, Emily Henson will join Kelsey and Whitney Oliver (our 0.5 SPED teacher) next year. Emily is coming to us from Utah where she’s taught in a self contained classroom at an autism charter school.

• School Nurse Resignation – And another one bites the dust. Our new school nurse lasted a week before she resigned. Student Health Services is working to hire a replacement, but this is a problem across the district right now, which you can read about on this SSD Email to principals last week.

• CORRECTION (date fixed) 2nd Grade Job Posted (Closes Tuesday) – If you know anyone good, please encourage them to apply for our 2nd Grade Job Posting. The job closes Tuesday. If HR gets me candidates quickly, I’ll plan to hold interviews next week on Wednesday, June 1st, 2:40-5:00. Let me know if any of you (both licensed or classified staff) would like to volunteer your time to help find us a newest staff member!

• Holt Spirit Day – Superhero Day, FRIDAY! – Get your superhero outfits, shirts, or gear ready for this Friday’s Superhero Day! Get kids pumped and don’t forget to log onto the Virtual Assembly at 7:40.

• Friday PD, Class List Input Session – We will meet in the cafeteria this Friday at 1:30, where specialists, prior year teachers, receiving teachers, and other staff will review the draft 2022-23 Class List Placement Form to provide input. Specialists may want to look at the lists ahead of time since you’ll be looking at all of the class lists.

It was suggested we have a schedule, though I’m also fine if we want to keep it looser and staff can just float between teams, which was my original plan. If folks want something more structured, below is my initial thinking, but input is welcome.

1:30-1:35, Review Process

PE/Muisc specialists meet with:
1:35-1:40, KG
1:40-1:45, 1st
1:45-1:50, 2nd
1:50-1:55, 3rd
1:55-2:00, 4th

Interventionists (SPED, Title, ELD) meet with:
1:35-1:40, 4th
1:40-1:45, KG
1:45-1:50, 1st
1:50-1:55, 2nd
1:55-2:00, 3rd

Sending & Receiving Teams will meet:
2:00-2:10, K-1, 2-3, 4-5
2:10-2:20, 1-2, 3-4
*Prior year teachers can also float to other grade levels at this time

2:20-2:25, Wrap-Up, Next Steps, Others

• Friday @4:00 and Top Gun: Maverick! – A reminder the Sunshine Committee has scheduled a Friday at 4;00 this Friday at the Original Roadhouse in Springfield, followed by Top Gun: Maverick across the parking lot at Cinemark 17. Bring your family and order your tickets now!

• REMINDER: 3/4/5 Climate Survey DUE May 31 – A reminder for 3/4/5 teachers to have students complete the student climate survey by the end of the month. See the email I sent earlier for details, but first show the video and then have students complete the survey.

English version: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/4jelementaryclimate2022
Spanish version: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ambienteprimaria4j2022

• Erin’s Law & Second Step Child Safety Unit – All classroom teachers should use the Second Step Child Protection Unit for meeting the state Erin’s Law requirements. For each grade level, there are six lessons, which are to be covered at three points in the school year, with Lessons 1-4 in the fall, lesson 5 right before spring break, and lesson 6 right before summer break (within the last two weeks of school). Each grade level has their own kit, but linked here are Child Protection Unit Scans of the teacher guides if that makes things easier.

• Report Cards – Grading day is Friday, June 10th and report cards will be sent home with students the last day of school, Friday, June 17th. Melanie will do the “Update Attendance” procedure in Synergy the Thursday before grading day, so wait until grading day to print report cards.

• iPad Inventory & Collection – Four iPad related updates:

• BEST Student iPads Stay at School – Students attending BEST/YMCA should keep iPads at school, just like everyone else. The plan for next year will be for BEST to have their own set of iPads.

• Email Melanie if any iPads are missing – If there are any students who have not brought back their iPad email Melanie. 

• Email Melanie Charger/Cord Info (if you have it) – We know that most teachers did not track who returned their iPad charger and cord, but if you happen to have that info, please email it to Melanie. If you don’t have that info, don’t worry about it.

• Inventory Last Week of School – Melanie is planning to begin inventorying iPads the last week of school, so it would be helpful if teachers can have iPads stored in a COW Cart or all in one location.

• Summer Reading Staff Picks! – Since summer is almost here, it’s time for me to put together my annual end-of-the-school-year Summer Reading Staff Picks! Email me or let me know in person what your summer reading list looks like and I’ll post everyone’s picks in my final weekly announcements of the year. I love hearing what other are planning to read and have found some good books this way. For my picks, I’m going old school and thinking I want to read couple 70s pulp classics I never read before, James Clavell’s Shogun and V.C. Andrews’ Flowers In The Attic. Let me know what you’re reading to join the fun!

• HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHT: Staff Mailboxes – This week’s highlight from the Holt Staff Handbook, is on Bicycles, Inline Skates, and Skateboards:

Bicycles, Inline Skates, and Skateboards:

According to Oregon helmet law, any child under the age of 16 must wear a helmet when riding a skateboard, scooter, skates, or a bicycle in a public place. Once on campus, bikes, skates, scooters, or skateboards should be walked to the storage area (classroom keys will open the lock), bicycle racks, or the skateboard/scooter rack. School is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

• District Admin Updates – Linked here is an email with a few district admin updates. Spring Creek principal Sebastian Bolden will be the new Director of Middle School Education. This is a new position and a bit of a restructure. Currently there are two elementary directors and one secondary director for middle and high. Prior to that, there were two directors of K-8 and one director of high schools. Now each level will have their own director or directors. The other admin updates were secondary assistant principals if you’re interested.

• Virtual Public Works Week! – The city isn’t doing an in-person Public Works Day this year, buy they are offering a Virtual Public Works Week instead. If you’d like to show your class, they created a series of eight videos, targeted towards children and from a child’s view. They feature a local kid talking with staff about different public works services.

• Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program – Sure it’s a marketing ploy, but kids can earn a free book by picking any book to read, completing the linked reading journal (English or Spanish), listing the book title and their favorite part, and after eight books, redeem their journal for a free book at Barns & Noble. See the linked website for more details.

• COVID-19 Free Test Kits – In case you missed it, every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests, 8 kids the time. Order yours here: https://special.usps.com/testkits

• Future-Proofing Students – When they’re adults, more than half of today’s students will work in jobs that don’t yet exist, says author/psychologist Michele Borba in this Educational Leadership article. Her research has identified seven skillsets that are vital to success in this ever-changing world. “These strengths are not fixed nor based on scores, IQs, or ZIP codes,” says Borba, “but teachable abilities that can be woven into daily lessons and help prepare kids for life.” See this ASCD Article for details on the strengths, each with several associated abilities:

• Self-confidence: Self-awareness, strength awareness, finding purpose
• Empathy: Emotional literacy, perspective taking, empathic concern • Self-control: Attentive focus, self-management, healthy decision-making • Integrity: Moral awareness, moral identity, ethical thinking
• Curiosity: Curious mindset, creative problem-solving, divergent thinking
• Perseverance: Growth mindset, goal setting, learning from failure
• Optimism: Optimistic thinking, assertive communication, hope

“Our moral obligation,” Borba concludes, “is to equip this generation with the content and abilities they will need to handle an unpredictable future and thrive. Doing so may be our most important educational task.”

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the school year:

May 23 (M)
Office/Library/Music Staff Room Duty
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:05-9:50, 3rd Grade OSAS
4:30-6:00, Allan to Conscious Discipline PD (Zoom)
7:00, 5th Grade Graduation Parent Planning Meeting (Zoom)

May 24 (T)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:05-9:50, 3rd Grade OSAS
2:45-3:25, Leadership Team Meeting (Debbi’s Room)

May 25 (W)
Towel Day
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:00-11:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
9:05-9:50, 3rd Grade OSAS
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade

May 26 (H)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:05-9:50, 3rd Grade OSAS
9:10-10:10, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
10:40-11:40, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
12:45-1:45, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
2:45-3:25, IPBS Team Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
4:30-6:00, 4J Annual Retirement Celebration (ATA)

May 27 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Superhero Day!
7:30-8:30, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting (Zoom)
7:40-8:10, Spirit Day – Virtual Assembly (Zoom)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
1:30-2:25, Friday PD – Class List Calibration (Cafeteria)
4:00, Friday at 4:00 (Original Roadhouse)
5:00, Staff Social, “Top Gun: Maverick” (Cinemark 17)

May 30 (M)
No School – Memorial Day

May 13 (T)
Kinder Staff Room Duty
3/4/5 Climate Survey DEADLINE
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)

June 1 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
2:40-5:00, 2nd Grade Interviews
7:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

June 2 (H)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
2:45-3:25, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)

June 3 (F)
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS
1:30-2:25, Friday PD Cancelled – Double Prep

June 5 (SU)
3:00-7:00, Barbara Kitterman Retirement Celebration!

June 6 (M)
1st Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6
8:45-9:25, 4th Grade OSAS

June 7 (T)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
1:10, Earthquake/Fire Drill
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)

June 8 (W)
9:00-11:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade

June 9 (H)
11:00-12:00, 5th Math Advancement Test (Location TBA)
6:00-7:00, PAHS (Parents at Holt School) Meeting (Zoom)

June 10 (F)
No School — Grading Day

June 13 (M)
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
Erin’s Law Lesson #6

June 14 (T)
2:45-3:25, PBIS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

June 15 (W)
8:45-10:15, Field Day, Grades 3-5 (Field)
9:00-10:00, Allan Skipping Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:00-1:30, Field Day, Grades K-2 (Field)

June 16 (H)
1:30, Allan to BEST Meeting (Office)
2:45-3:25, Leadership Team Meeting (if needed)

June 17 (F)
Last Day for Students
Last Day for 192 & 196 Day Classified Employees
Spring Benchmark Testing Closes
8:30-10:00, 5th Grade Breakfast & Celebration (Cafeteria)
10:00, Grab-n-Go Lunches (Cafeteria)

10:00 Kindergarten
10:10 1st grade
10:20 2nd grade
10:30 3rd grade
10:40 4th grade
10:50 5th grade

11:10, Early Dismissal
Staff Social – End of Year BBQ

June 20 (M)
Last day for licensed staff

17 1/2 kid days left!

Allan

April 18, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/04/16 20:50 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Literacy, P.D., SEL, Video  |  Comments Off on April 18, 2022

 

Greetings Bolts,

Hope you all had a good semi-three-day weekend.

Twenty items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Two staffing updates:

• Darrin Update – I know lots of folks are concerned and have been asking about Darrin. He’s asked us not to share too much, but we can share that he will be out the rest of the school year for medical reasons, but that he’s getting better daily and plans to come back in the fall. HR is having us put in for subs for the remainder of the school year.

• School Nurse Update – Martin McCarthy, RN has agreed to stay with Holt to support the current illness outbreak as well as providing nursing coverage. We will continue to have Hallie Ritter, LPN continue to be the one to provide on-site nursing services. SSD has already hired a new RN who starts early May and they’ve asked Maxim for another LPN who could help cover for absences, so we will have more staffing options soon.

• Job Expo Update – I was not notified of any changes from round one of last week’s Job Expo, so as of Saturday night, we still have 1.5 FTE special education teaching positions vacant for next year and no other staffing changes.

• REPEAT: Volunteer Appreciation Week, THIS WEEK – This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week. See the linked Sunshine Committee Volunteer Appreciation Doc for details and sign up on the Treat Table Spreadsheet to celebrate our volunteers and student teachers, bringing teats each day this week!

• REPEAT: Fire Drill, TUESDAY @1:10 – As long as the weather cooperates, this Tuesday at 1:10 will be our April Fire Drill. Linked here is the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line Map.

• Friday PD – Watch for a separate email regarding this Friday’s PD, which will focus on the ACT area of High Leverage Instructional Strategies.

• Allan Out April 25th – Not this week, but Monday next I’m attending a COSA Conference and will be out of the building, but I’ve asked the Monroe principal, Sun Saeteurn, to be on call if anything out of the ordinary comes up.

• 2022–23 School Calendar Dates Pending Approval – If you didn’t catch it in the 4J Family Email shared with staff, the 22-23 School Calendar for next school year is posted online. Key dates include:

• First Day of School (Except Grades 7 & 8): Wed., September 7
• Winter Break: Mon., Dec. 19–Mon., Jan. 2 + Tue., Jan. 3 (staff work day)
• Spring Break: Mon., March 27–Fri., March 31 + Mon., April 3 (staff work day)
• Last Day: Thu., June 15 (or later if weather makeup days are needed)

• FRIDAY PD Follow-Up – As a follow-up to Friday’s PD, here are links to the:

• Second Step Training Modules
• Second Step K-5 Pacing Guide
• Kelso’s Choice Slide Show
• Printable Pocket-Sized Kelso’s Wheel
• SB 13 Update for K-5 Slides and Zoom Recording (Passcode: iK56V=S2)
• LETRS Introduction Slides and Zoom Recording (Passcode: iK56V=S2)
• LETRS Sign-up Form
• ELD Adoption FAQ, answering questions from the February ELA Update Video

Lastly, please enjoy the cringy Kelso’s Choice music video.

• SSD Learning For All PD – Related to the above, linked here is the SSD Slide Show shared with licensed SSD staff last Friday, as well as a Recording of the Zoom (access code: 8Uyz9i?Q)and the questions/comments from the chat.

• Kindness Rocks! – See the Kindness Rocks Email for details, but show your kids the Student Council Bertha Holt Kindness Rock Project Video to get the excited.

– Grade level rocks are outside Ashley’s room (B5).
– Paint them anytime. Could be a Buddy Activity!
– Give finished rocks and leftover paints & pens to Ashley by May 11th

• Bruce Hale Author Visit, May 11th – Also mentioned at Friday PD, we will have an optional Virtual Author Visit from Bruce Hale, author the the Bruce the Shark series among others. If you want to introduce your kids to Bruce Hale before the visit, here are some Fun Actives & Curriculum Tie Ins with the author visit and also s a collection of Bruce Hale Videos on Writing from his website.

• Fiddle Pictures? – Did anyone get good pictures or videos of Kelly fiddling with your class? If you did, can you email them to me?

• iPad Cords & Charger Order Cancelled – Tech Department got wind of our order, so we do not have our off-the-books extra chargers and cords coming. However, the Tech Department is planning to order additional cables and chargers, so hopefully we’ll get those soon. For now, continue to put in tickets to 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu if you need additional chargers so you stay on this list, but eventually, COWs will have a full set of chargers.

• Nut Products at Snack Time – I finally got an answer about how to handle nuts and allergies during snack time. Downtown said teachers should have a nut free space for students that require it. Also wipe down before and after any food break. You can say that a room is nut free, especially in a room where there is a significant medical need. You have to look at medical plans so the messaging will be different for different classrooms. Medical staff should weigh in for students with sensitivities to nut products.

• Summer Job Opportunities w/KITS – KITS emailed that they are looking for KITS Site Supervisors, KITS Lead Educators, and KITS Parent Group Facilitators. Job posting close this Sunday, but if you missed that deadline, let me know and I can reach out to the KITS Coordinator on your behalf.

• Self-Harm Community Event – 4J is hosting a Self-Harm: Suicidal/Non-Suicidal Self Injury Community Event on April 25 from 6-7:30pm in the Sheldon Auditorium to learn what to do when your child exhibits signs of cutting, what it means, and where to seek help.

• April is National Poetry Month – This month is National Poetry Month. If you looking for any classroom resources, you can start at Reading Rockets, Read Write Think, or Edutopia.

• District Admin Updates – Coming from Springfield, David Hulbert has been hired at the new principal for Edison starting next school year. Also, Peter Tromba, principal of Spencer Butte Middle School, has accepted a high school principal position in Asheville, North Carolina. See this email for details.

• HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHT: Class Placements – This week’s highlight from the Holt Staff Handbook, is on Class Placements. This topic is going to be revisited at the next Leadership Team Meeting and brought to rest of the staff if we want to tweak or change any parts of this process:

Class Placements
Procedure:
• Each spring our staff works to place students currently in Grades K-4 into balanced classes. Staff uses an electronic matrix to configure classes for the following fall. Point values were assigned to various attributes in an attempt to equalize the classes given a variety of factors. Our Grade 5 teachers work to complete transition paperwork for our middle school. All placements go to the front office and administration at the conclusion of this process. The administrator(s) then review the lists, verifying that there aren’t extenuating variables which need to be considered.
• Kindergarten teachers, along with Administration, meet following the first full week of school in September to configure the classes for the school year.
• Administration makes the final decision on all classroom placements, considering the needs of the teachers, educational assistants, students, parents, and school.

Moving students
Prior to school start and during the year:
• Classroom placements are an administrative decision. We do the best to include teacher feedback in all decisions. Requests for classroom changes by families will not be considered until the second full week of school. All requests should be directed to the building administrators. No classroom changes will be considered until Friday of the second full week of school. If a change can be made it will be made the following Monday. Any changes made after the initial two week request are an administrative decision. Medical and Emergency moves are determined as needed.

Parents:
• Parents MAY NOT make requests for classroom/teachers through you. If parents have information about their student they feel is important for placement for the following grade, the office has a form that is due at the end of May for them to use. Those forms will be given out by office staff to teachers when placement time comes, to the grade level. Please disregard any emails or notes you may have received from parents regarding placements.

Staff Responsibilities:
• Please remember to use neutral comments like “wears glasses”, “seat close to teacher”, or “see me for more information” in the comment section of the grid. Back of the cards are now left blank
• Some students will be assigned to classes based on need (ELD, SPED). These decisions are made by staff in those areas and administration.
• Card comments: please remember anything written on a student card is public record. Please keep comments helpful, but neutral. If you feel you have specific information that a teacher needs to know about a student, mark the “see teacher” field
• Class lists are created using the “green” and “blue” cards, as well as an electronic matrix. As you build each class, it is helpful to keep in mind these characteristics and details:

⁃ SPED- CLC, LC, 504,
⁃ Behavior challenges, CICO, and IEPs
⁃ Academic skills, Title, should be in Title but not enough room
⁃ Speech
⁃ Gender
⁃ Parent volunteers
⁃ Personality conflicts between students
⁃ Parental needs (how frequently does parent contact teacher)
⁃ TAG
⁃ Medical issues

• When your team has finished creating classes:

⁃ Make a master list (ideally alphabetical by last name) of each class created, wrap it around the cards and secure it with a rubber band. These go to Melanie asap.
⁃ NO information about class placements may be shared with families- not even that they have been created.

• A New Resource for Free Digital Field Trips – This Edutopia Article share how the Museums for Digital Learning was developed in partnership with teachers and provides curated material on a variety of subjects. They have resource kits and ebooks sourced from museums across the country. It has materials for kids at all grade levels. Create a free account and check it out!

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

April 18 (M)
Volunteer Appreciation Week
3rd Grade Staff Room Duty
3:00, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)
3:00-5:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

April 19 (T)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
1:10, Fire Drill
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)
5:30, 22-23 Kindergarten Orientation (Zoom)

April 20 (W)
Oingo Boingo Day
8:15-9:00, Allan to Retention Meeting (Office)
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
3:00-4:00, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)
4:00-6:30, School Board Work Session (Zoom)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

April 21 (H)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
5:00-6:00, Site Council Meeting (Zoom)

April 22 (F)
Earth Day
7:30-8:30, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting (Zoom)
1:30-2:25, Friday PD

April 25 (M)
4th Grade Staff Room Duty
Allan at COSA Conference
9:15-5:30, 5th Grade to Outdoor School (Camp Lutherwood)

April 26 (T)
Allan Potentially Testifying at Custody Hearing
9:15-5:30, 5th Grade to Outdoor School (Camp Lutherwood)
2:45-3:25, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

April 27 (W)
8:00, Allan to Truancy Hearing (Zoom)
9:00-11:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
9:15-1:45, 5th Grade to Outdoor School (Camp Lutherwood)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade

April 28 (H)
Max Out, but with Sub Covering
K/1 Hearing Screening
9:10-10:10, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
10:40-11:40, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
12:45-1:45, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
2:15-3:00, Kona Ice – Holt Shave Ice Fundraiser! (Hard Play)
2:45-3:25, Leadership Team Meeting (Debbi’s Room)
4:00-7:00, Allan to Job Expo (Zoom)

April 28 (F)
Max Out, but with Sub Covering
Holt Spirit Day, Wacky Wear Day
K/1 Hearing Screening
7:40-8:10, Spirit Day Virtual Assembly (Zoom)
1:30-2:25, Friday PD
1:30-2:20, 4th Grade Data Team Meeting
4:00, Friday at 4:00 @Public House

Lots of rain in the forecast this week. Fingers crossed it’s not during school hours!

Allan

 

April 11, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/04/09 22:43 Posted in Announcements, Articles, P.D., SEL  |  Comments Off on April 11, 2022

Hello Everyone,

Although we have many deserving staff members, I wanted to congratulate our Holt ACE Award Nominees; Elizabeth Cobb, Kelsey Hicks, Ashley Reich, Desiree Talley, and Lisa Zluticky. Thank you for making us look good!

Fifteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Two staffing updates

• REPEAT: Holt SPED Openings for Job Expo – Spread the word that Holt is the place to be to your teacher friends! Let’s find someone good for our 1.0 and 0.5 SPED jobs for next year!

• School Nurse Update – I’ve honestly lost count of how many school nurses we’ve had this year, but our latest nurse, Awbree Cardwell, has taken another job outside of 4J, but Hallie Ritter is coming back to fill in until SSD can hire another school nurse for us and Martin McCarthy is taking over duties on our suspected Norovirus outbreak. Welcome back, Hallie!

• Caesar the Llama Visit, THURSDAY @12:45– You may have seen this llama on some educator friends’ social media around 4J, but we finally nailed down the owner of Caesar the Llama for a visit at Holt. Cesar will come at 12:45 and will visit each wing for classrooms to come out to pet, visit, and take photos with Cesar. I’m thinking the schedule will be as below, but let me know if you see any issues:

12:45-1:15, D-Wing
1:15-1:40 C Wing
1:40-2:00, B Wing
2:00-2:20, A Wing

• Friday PD/Planning Day – Downtown still doesn’t know the time for the district PD portion of the day or if they do know they haven’t told principals, so watch for a separate email with my guess at what the schedule for this Friday will be. We’ll focus on Second Step, Kelso’s Choice, and I’ll also hold a separate Classified Staff Meeting following the all-staff meeting.

• Kindness Rocks! – I’ll add this to Friday’s agenda, but we received a Kindness Mini Grant for the Kindness Rocks! Holt Rock Project 2022. Participation will be optional since this grant was written before our staff agreement regarding grants that impact the entire staff, but coming out of the Holt Student Council, the idea is to create our very own painted rock garden with messages of kindness. Students will decorate their very own rock with kind words or colorful images. See the above linked file for additional details and we can talk logistics on Friday.

• CPR/AED/First Aid Training Available Friday – If you’d rather attend a CPR/AED/First Aid Training at Edison (the swing school location next to Market of Choice) this Friday, 9:00-2:30, which had 14 last minute cancellations, let me know ASAP before those slots get filled. The training is free of charge. See this email for details.

• 4J Login Change, DUE FRIDAY – Be sure to follow up on 4J Technology’s emails about claiming your 4J account with the new RapidIdentity system. Linked here are the directions. You’ll need to use your 4J email and password to view the file. I’ll add this to the end of the agenda for Friday’s PD so walk anyone through this who may need help. I know it’s tripped up a few people.

• Volunteer Appreciation Week, NEXT WEEK – Not this week but next week is Volunteer Appreciation Week. See the above linked file from the Sunshine Committee for details and sign up on the Treat Table Google Doc to celebrate our volunteers and student teachers!

• Fire Drill, 4/19 @1:10– Not this week, but next week on Tuesday, April 19th at 1:10 will be our April Fire Drill. Linked here is the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line Map.

• Earth Day is April 22nd – Not this week, but next week is Earth Day, which is annually observed around the world on April 22nd. If you’d like ideas for this day, linked here are Edutopia Resources, Education World, the EPA Website, and Tana’s Earth Day Email from last year.

• Suspected Norovirus Updates – It’s still called a “suspected” outbreak until someone ill gets a stool sample tested, but since it quacks like a duck, and acts like a duck… so Lane County Public Health (LCPH) and 4J are treating it as if it were confirmed Norovirus. I shared these updates at the end of our Friday PD Meeting, but to update everyone here is an email summary and here are the highlights:

• Drinking Fountains Closed Again – Any drinking fountains that were uncapped and flushed have to be closed again.

• Additional Cleaning Measures – The short version is custodial staff are doing the types of nightly deep cleaning we did last spring, using electrostatic disinfection nightly, using a stronger disinfectant in restrooms, and replacing and re-testing the sanitizer solution used to wipe down cafeteria tables.

• PE/Music Restroom Re-Opened – LCPH said we can re-open these restrooms as long as common touch points are cleaned twice a day, which Ryan started doing on Friday.

• Student Lunch Service Changes – Student cannot reach into common areas for food, so the mild cooler closed and will be passed out by staff, extra fruit & veggies cannot be out and additional food will be added to trays instead, eating utensils will be provided on trays instead of in a bin, and the “No Thank You” bin is closed.

• COVID Updates – Two COVID related updates:

• Badging In Still? YES! – I asked downtown if we still need to bad since we’re no longer contact tracing and the answer was, yes, we still need to badge in.

• Volunteer Message to Families – Downtown is sending the following message to families about volunteers being allowed in schools again, so heads-up you may have parents reaching out to you:

Volunteers are essential!

In non-pandemic circumstances, thousands of parents and community members volunteer to support 4J schools each year. While visitors and volunteers in schools are limited due to the pandemic, dedicated volunteers are providing a variety of essential supports this school year.

Volunteers are serving in 4J schools to support essential needs for health and safety and critical instructional supports such as small group instruction. Volunteers also are needed to help outdoors with landscape maintenance.

Each school has identified different needs and volunteer opportunities. If you would like to volunteer to provide essential supports, please ask your school about available volunteer opportunities. Volunteers who may have contact with students or may go into a school building must be fully vaccinated and complete a background check process.

• Outdoor School Staff Volunteers – 5th Grade is going on day trips for outdoors school this year (overnight was cancelled when Coyote Outdoor School couldn’t hire enough staff), but we are looking for any interested staff members to help chaperone on Monday, April 25th. Subs are being offered by downtown to help with outdoor school.

• Mental Health Events and Training Opportunities – There are several upcoming events and training opportunities around grief, mental health, and suicide.

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) April 12 & 13 – ASIST is a 2-day, in-person, April 12-13th, advanced training appropriate for people responsible for suicide interventions, safety planning and follow-up care within their school or organization. This training is offered by Lane County Public Health and Lane Education Service District.

• Community Resilience Forum, April 14th – Community members are invited to join a conversation about how we navigate losses and strategies for supporting each other. Spanish and ASL interpreters will be available on site. The event will be recorded and can be viewed the following day on preventionlane.org. Child care will also be available.

• Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)– QPR is a 1.5 hour virtual training for anyone interested in learning more about suicide prevention and how they can play a part in helping others in distress. QPR workshops are facilitated by members of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Lane County and are appropriate for all audiences. We’re always adding new dates which you can find by going to the Services tab on suicidepreventlane.org.

• Youth Mental Health First Aid Two-Part Course – Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a 6 hour virtual training for anyone who would like to learn more about mental health issues among youth and how they can provide support and navigation of services. YMHFA is offered by the Oregon Family Support Network in cooperation with LCPH and is open to all people who live in Lane County. There is an April 27th and June 16th training.

• Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR), June 22 – AMSR provides participants with the core competencies to screen, assess, safety plan and manage the care of people at risk of suicide. No previous training is required, however AMSR provides advanced skills for professionals who have already taken QPR or ASIST. Click flyer or website to learn more about AMSR content and objectives.

• Strategies for Managing Challenging Student Behaviors – Student misbehavior has been particularly agonizing for teachers this year, but this Edutopia Article covers proactive steps educators can take to remedy it, including:

• Taking a closer look
• Displaying curiosity and humility
• Building Connections
⁃ Survey students with academic and nonacademic questions
⁃ Observe more, talk less
⁃ Partner with students
⁃ Compliment students
⁃ Support students
⁃ Elevate students
⁃ Collaborate for students on their behalf
• Celebrating Success

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

April 11 (M)
Artist in Residence Final Week
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
4:00-5:00, Optional SEAL Program Info Meeting (Zoom)

April 12 (T)
Allan Potentially Testifying at Custody Hearing
2:45-3:25, PBIS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

April 13 (W)
8:00, Allan to Truancy Hearing (Zoom)
9:00-11:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
2:40-3:30, 5th Grade Data Team

April 14 (H)
9:10-10:10, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
10:40-11:40, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
12:20-12:25, Caesar the Llama Visit
12:45-1:45, 4th Grade School Garden Project Lessons (Garden)
12:30-2:25 Cesar the Llama Visit
4:00-7:00, Allan to Job Expo (Zoom)
6:00-7:00, PAHS (Parents at Holt School) Meeting (Zoom)

April 15 (F)
No School — Planning/Professional Development
8:00-1:30, Staff Meeting (Cafeteria)
1:30-2:20, 3rd Grade Data Team Meeting
2:25-3:15, 4th Grade Data Team Meeting

April 18 (M)
Volunteer Appreciation Week
3rd Grade Staff Room Duty
3:00, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)
4:00, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

April 19 (T)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
1:10, Fire Drill
2:45-3:25, Staff Meeting (Library)
5:30, 22-23 Kindergarten Orientation (Zoom)

April 20 (W)
Oingo Boingo Day
9:00-10:00, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Zoom)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
12:45-2:25, Storyteller, 4th Grade
3:00-4:00, Allan to IEP Meeting (Zoom)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

April 21 (H)
11:30-12:20, 5th Grade OSAS – Science
5:00-6:00, Site Council Meeting (Zoom)

April 22 (F)
Earth Day
7:30-8:30, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting (Zoom)
1:30-2:25, Friday PD

And if you’re a snow-watcher like me, stay turned for that unexpected blizzard Sunday night!

Allan