http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=6172
Hi Everyone,
This week is National School Counseling Week, which is a time set aside annually to focus attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within the U.S. school systems. School Counselors can have a tremendous impact in helping students achieve school success, and we are very lucky to have such a talented (and fun) counselor here at our school with Matt. We’re very glad to have you here, Mr. Matt!
Thirteen items of note for this week:
• Calendar Changed to Make Up Weather Days – The school board approved a revised calendar due to the snow and ice days. Official communication about these days will go out to staff and families soon, but five school days will be made up – four at the end of the year, and one during the school year on PD/planning days; March 17 for middle and high schools and May 5 for elementary schools. The new final day for students is Thursday, June 22nd and Friday, June 23rd is a grading day (last work day) for teachers and most classified staff. Linked here is the 4J Calendar Changes webpage and linked here is the Updated Elementary Calendar. And hope that this link to NOAA removes snow from the Sunday Night and Monday Morning forecast.
• OBOB Final Battle & Awards Assembly – Linked here is the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) Assembly Map & Directions for the final OBOB battle next week on Wednesday, February 15th. I mapped spots for grades 3-5, but if younger grades would like to attend, let me know by Friday and I’ll add your class to an updated assembly map.
• New Kitchen Staff Member – The Howard kitchen will have a new staff member starting on Monday. Adam Baker joins the team for a 2-hour position that’s currently been filled by subs. Please welcome Adam to Howard!
• Friday at 4:30: Laser Tag at Putters! – Got a beef with a fellow staff member? Settle it in the laser tag arena at Putters this Friday at 4:30! If you’d like to join in on the fun or if you just want watch your colleagues thrown down, let Shelley know by replying to her email or reply to the Facebook event.
• Report Card Reminders – Three reminders for report cards going home on Friday, February 17th:
• Comments for Translation Due Friday – If you want any report card comments translated into Spanish, those comments are due to Bianca this Friday.
• No Report Cards for Cum Files – Teachers do not need to print a report card for the cumulative file at this point in the year, but teachers will need to do it at the end of year. For students who move, Lori will print one to go to their new school.
• Specialists Reports Due Feb. 14 – Specialist reports are due to classrooms teachers by Feb. 14th so they have at least two days to get everything stuffed into report card envelopes.
• New Building Updates – Here are the items of note regarding our new building:
• Water Issues Update – Linked here is the lengthy email reply from Facilities about our white water but the short version is that there is no sediment in the water and they suspect the cause of the white water and air bubbles is increased pressure due to the flow restriction device on each faucet (meant to filter any potential sediment in the water) and also the narrowness of the fixtures. If you remove the flow restriction device, there is no cloudy water. So why wasn’t this happening earlier? Facilities answer is to that question is staff may not have noticed it by just looking at the stream, but you’d have to fill something up that is clear to notice. Secondly, the supply pressure from EWEB varies throughout the year and it’s possible it’s a bit higher right now. But despite this explanation, Facilities is also in discussion with the sink faucet manufacturer to fix this problem. One temporary fix people can do is to not open the handle on the faucet all the way, which would lessen the water pressure. More to come on this.
• Could solar panels cut schools’ energy costs? – If you ever want to teach kids about the solar panels on top of our roof, here’s an article about a California school district that expects to reduce their energy bill by 13% after solar panels are installed at 16 schools. K-12 school districts in the US spend about $8 billion annually on energy.
• New Students on the Bus – The Transportation Departments sent an email to principals and secretaries, but teachers can be a big help with new students riding the bus as well. Please remind new students of their bus route and also their bus stop. Also, if teachers can tell the bus driver the bus stop as well, especially for younger students, it’s a huge help because the Transportation Department does not tell bus drivers where to drop off new students unless they are creating a new stop.
• 2017-2018 Staffing Survey, Due Feb. 15 – A repeat from last week, but if you haven’t already, all staff should complete a short survey, either on this linked Google Form (my preference) or on the linked Word file. I’d like to know staff members’ individual plans and preferences for the future as well as your thoughts on next year’s staffing plan and master schedule. Please complete the survey by Wednesday, February 15th. All answers will be kept confidential.
• Academic Enrichment Grant – If anyone is feeling in the mood to write a grant, The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. Grants are awarded to individuals in amounts up to $10,000. The deadline is April 15 and let me know if anyone is applying for any grant above $5,000 so we can first get district approval.
• Free Admission for Students to Oregon Asian Celebration – The Oregon Asian Celebration is planned for February 18th and 19th at the Lane Events Center. Feel free to share with students that admission is free to students ages 12 and under and through underwriting by Oregon Community Credit Union, students 13 and older (including college students) can attend the event for free by picking up a Student Admission Ticket at any of the credit union branches. General admission is $6 for one day or $10 for both days.
• Brains! – From the very cool blog Byrdseed, which focuses on better understanding gifted learners (though it’s posts often apply to all students), recently shared the links below on how learning about the brain is essential for teachers to understand how brains affect students’ performance and behavior.
• Brains, Fear, and Nervousness – What happens when we get nervous? Can we fight it? And how can it impact students’ learning?
• Brain Friendly Puzzlements – While reading Teaching With The Brain In Mind, Ian Byrd spotted lots of great connections to his weekly puzzlement mailers. Learn how to support student interests through routine and novelty.
• Keep Their Bikes Rolling – How the brain’s reticular activating system manages students’ interest and attention, and why it’s particularly important when working with gifted students.
• 4 questions to ask yourself to increase your emotional intelligence – In the business world, there has been much research on the success of a business leader being contingent on having a high degree of emotional intelligence. This article makes the case that the same is true of educators. Although it is probably one of the least discussed proficiencies, self-awareness, which falls under the emotional intelligence umbrella, is possibly one of the most valuable. Developing self-awareness is paramount in the navigation of an educators’ career and for the students who sit in their classrooms. We must continue to be reminded that our attitude as educators sets the classroom climate for students far more than anything.
• Schedule of Events for the Week – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:
February 6 (M)
National School Counseling Week
Second Semester Begins
1:00-2:00, OBOB Games – All Teams (Library)February 7 (T)
8:15-11:15, Allan to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)February 8 (W)
Wacky Wednesday – Favorite Character Day
7:00-8:00, Allan to IEP Eligibility Meeting (Conference Room)
2:30-3:30, PBIS Meeting (Rae’s Room, A101)
6:00-7:30, Allan and SPED Teachers to Early Intervention Open House/Parent Night (Cafeteria, Gym, Community Room)February 9 (H)
Regular DayFebruary 10 (F)
Deadline for Report Card Translations
10:30, Allan Presenting Attendance Awards to Classroom
1:00-2:00, OBOB Games (Library)
4:30, Howard Staff Friday at 4:30: Laser Tag! (Putters)February 13 (M)
1:00-2:00, OBOB Games (Library)February 14 (T)
Valentine’s DayFebruary 15 (W)
Exclusion Day
9:10-9:40, OBOB Final Battle & Awards Assembly (Gym)
2:30-3:30, Grade Level Meeting Time (Jenny’s Room)February 16 (H)
9:00-11:00, Allan to ILT Meeting (Ed Center)
5:00-7:00, PTO McTeacher Night Fundraiser (River Ave.)
6:00-9:00, Howard Elementary Nights with the Ducks (UO vs Utah)
7:00-8:00, School Choice Informational Meeting (Ed Center)February 17 (F)
Report Cards Sent Home
7:30-9:00, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting
2:30-4:30, Allan to IEP Meeting (Conference Room)February 20 (M)
President’s Day – No School
If you didn’t catch it on KEZI, a Howard 3rd grader was on the news last week with his cancer fighting robot. I didn’t even know about this until I saw it posted on the 4J Facebook page, but it’s pretty cool for Howard kids to be in the news for such positive activities and big dreams. Howard kids ROCK!
Allan