http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=7595
Greetings Roadrunenrs,
This week is Classified Appreciation Week, which is an annual event to recognize the many and varied contributions by Howard’s AMAZING Classified Staff! You all make a difference every day in the lives of our students & families. Teachers often get the glory, but classified staff have the numbers and are the ones who keep our school running. Our classified folks are a truly talented group and we would not be the school we are without you! Thank you, all, so much for your work and dedication, and please look for some treats in your mailboxes each day this week. It’s the lease we can do for you AWESOMENESS!
One other celebration, Literacy Night was a huge success! We had a great turnout and we ordered enough pizza this time (almost 800 slices). Families got to see lots of great literacy projects and see what a great school their kids attend!
Eight items of note for this week:
• Staffing Updates – We’re unfortunately still waiting for classified SPED, ESC, PE, Music, TSS, and BEST allocations, so the update is we do not have any updates. I’ll be meeting with teams this week to discuss classroom configurations, but will let staff know once I get additional information.
• Artist in Residence Schedule – I didn’t get a chance to update the artist schedule over the weekend, but will work on it Monday and Tuesday to better work around workshop times. Also, the artist cannot come in Thursday and Friday this week, so classes scheduled those days will be pushed out. More to come soon…
• Care Team Resources – The Student Care Team met last weekend here are a few resource of note that were shared at the meeting:
• Mentoring Program: A Family for Every Child – They offer a mentoring program and do an excellent job of finding mentors who are a good match for individual kids. They started as a program focused on foster children, but have expanded. They also offer a variety of other programs including a family preservation program and family support groups. They are on W11th and can be reached at 541-343-2856 or https://www.afamilyforeverychild.org/
• The Child Center Collaborative Problem Solving Classes – Free classes and dinner for parents of a children with challenging behaviors, who have tried everything with little to no success, and are frustrated and searching for solutions. The Collaborative Problem Solving Classes are an exciting model that teaches parents and children skills that will reduce meltdowns, increase positive relationships, and improve communication. To sign-up, call 541-726-1465 or visit http://www.collaborativeparent.com/
• Triple P: Positive Parenting Program – Parenting resources and online classes. The free monthly Triple P Newsletter features Triple P Online highlights, upcoming family events in Lane County, and the latest parenting blogs from the Triple P team. Triple P Online (TPOL) is an online learning program made up of sections, designed for parents of children up to 12 years of age and is free for families on the Oregon Health Plan. The newsletter and registration for classes can be done at the following website: http://www.lanekids.org/triplep/
• Success for Children and Families Project – Do you struggle with your child’s disobedience? Aggression? Fighting? Tantrums? Misbehavior in public? Help is at hand! To find out if you qualify and to get more information, call the Success for Children & Families Project at 541-434-1551, email at: success@ori.org, or visit on the web: http://www.ori.org/succes
• Revised STEP Brochure for SNAP clients (formerly SNAP 50/50) – Linked here is a revised listing of the SNAP Training and Employment Partnership (STEP) services and providers. This is for families who say they would like help with training or job search. This revision includes a few changes in the contact information. For DHS staff, primarily BEWS’s and Family Coaches, this document is used to alert SNAP clients about employment and training services available locally through a contract between the DHS central office and our local providers. It’s designed to be given directly to customers, and the customers are free to contact any of the providers based upon their employment and training needs.
• Wacky Wednesday – Crazy Sock Day – Not this week, but Wednesday next week is Crazy Sock Day, so start getting kids excited to show off their wacky and/or mismatched socks next week (as well as planning for your own crazy socks).
• Staff Role in Opt-Out Process – Generally speaking, we do not want students opting out of testing. Any student who opts out automatically counts as a DOES NOT MEET.
If parents/guardian ask about the opt out process, staff can let them know that OAKS scores have no consequences for student grades or advancement to the next grade, although most middle schools do use scores for course placement (i.e. low, middle, or advanced math classes). To graduate with an Oregon Diploma, high school students need to meet graduation requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics through the state tests. If they do not meet the requirements in this way, students have to demonstrate their proficiency through an alternative assessment. The new SAT format also matches the Smarter Balanced testing format, so OAKS is a good practice to get ready for that assessment. OAKS also provides more information about their students’ progress toward being ready for the next school level, college, and careers.
If families have additional questions about OAKS, please encourage them to contact me.
• Building 4J’s Future, Online Survey – If you’d like to share your thoughts on the upcoming bond measure being considered by the school board, linked here is a new 4J Bond Measure Community Survey for community members to share their views on priorities and how to proceed on the potential bond measure for the November 2018 ballot.
• Why Students Forget – and What You Can Do About It – Our brains are wired to forget, but there are research-backed strategies you can use to make your teaching stick, including peer-to-peer explanation, the spacing effect (revisiting topics), frequent practice tests, interleave concepts (mixing up instead of grouping like problems), and combining text with images. See this Edutopia article for more info!
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:
March 5 (M)
Classified Employees Appreciation Week
1:15, Allan to Formal Observation
2:30, Allan Meeting w/KG Team, Staffing Input (Room 2)
3:00, Allan Meeting w/1st Grade Team, Staffing Input (Room 11)March 6 (T)
8:15-11:15, Allan to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
9:00-12:00, OSEA Site Visit (Staff Room)
10:50-12:05, 5th Grade Human Growth & Development
2:30, Allan Meeting w/2nd Grade Team, Staffing Input (Room 23)
3:00, Allan Meeting w/3rd Grade Team, Staffing Input (Room 18)March 7 (W)
Title 1 Progress Monitoring Day – No Groups
9:00, February Book Winners (Conference Room)
10:50-12:05, 5th Grade Human Growth & Development
1:30-2:00, EA Supervisors Meeting/Staffing Input Meeting (Room 26)
2:00-3:30, 4J Elementary EA Behavior Workshop (Ed Center)
2:30-5:00, Allan to Pay Grade Evaluation Meeting (Ed Center)
5:00-8:00, University of Oregon Science Class at Howard (Rooms 16 & 20)March 8 (H)
10:50-12:05, 5th Grade Human Growth & Development
1:00-2:00, Allan to Listening Session with ODE (Ed Center)
2:30, Allan Meeting w/4th Grade Team, Staffing Input (Room 27)
7:00-8:30, School Bond Spanish Family Forum (Library)March 9 (F)
2:30, Allan Meeting w/Licensed Specialists (SPED, ELD, Title, PE, Music, etc.), Staffing Input (Room 10)March 10 (SA)
9:00, OBOB Lane County Regional Tournament (Thurston HS)March 11 (SU)
Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward!March 12 (M)
Penny War Begins
Artist in Residence Continues
2:30, Allan Meeting w/5th Grade Team, Staffing Input (Room 9)
4:00-5:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)March 13 (T)
2:30-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Mellissa/Mariah’s Room, RM23)
3:00, Allan to Title 1 Budget Review Meeting (Ed Center)March 14 (W)
Wacky Wednesday – Crazy Sock Day
2:30-3:30, PBIS Team Meeting (Rae’s Room, RM1)
2:30-3:30, Allan to Wrap Around Meeting (Conference Room)March 15 (H)
Staffing Plans Due to HR
12:00-3:00, Allan to ILT Meeting (Ed Center)March 16 (F)
Regular Day
Three weeks until spring break!
Allan
