http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=8541
Howdy Roadrunners,
Twelve items of note for this week:
• Student Reports of Physical Aggression – This is nothing new and Howard staff are very good about this, but as a reminder, it’s very important that staff ALWAYS report and take seriously student reports of any physical aggression. Given all of the recent amount media attention, parents are rightfully on high alert about this and we need to make sure we’re addressing every situation that gets reported to us.
• Balancing the Holidays in Your Classroom – While teachers are guaranteed a certain level of academic freedom in what they teach, we want to balance that with being inclusive of all students and families, so please be mindful in your class activities and displays as we enter the holiday season. This Teaching Tolerance article serves as a nice reminder, where the author writes that each year at this time, teachers are faced with a dilemma: How to balance the holidays to create the most inclusive environment? As Hanukkah and Christmas approach, many teachers will decorate with candy canes and construction-papered dreidels, but there are more holidays being celebrated this month. Muharram begins this month, the liturgical new year of the Islamic calendar. Meanwhile, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day this month. December also marks Kwanzaa, the Hindu family holiday Pancha Ganapati, and Yule for pagans. Many secular people either have winter solstice parties or observe no holidays at all. “By opening our hearts and minds to all religious traditions, we are serving the greater good and our connections with others grow deeper.” See the above link for more related articles and this link for additional resources. Winter themed activities, such as these WeAreTeachers Winter Craft Ideas, are always an option as well.
• Fire Drill Friday at 8:45 – We’ll hold our December Fire Drill this Friday at 8:45, which shouldn’t step on any PE/Music or recess times.
• ESC Interviews Friday: EA Meeting & Friday PD Rescheduled – A Recess Supervisor’s Meeting was schedule for this Friday, which I’m rescheduling for next week. Also, this Friday’s early release PD was set to be a Behavior Framework training, but I’m postponing it until January, where we will combine two modules. Instead, I’m conducting interviews this Friday from 1:30-3:30 for our ESC Position, so if there are any classified or licensed staff who would like to volunteer their time to help with interviews, please let me know.
• Monthly Walk & Roll to School Day, Wednesday – The first Wednesday of each month this year is a Walk + Roll to School Day, so remind your students that if they’re able, they should bike, walk, skate, or scooter to school this day. Again, this is a low-key version of the event with no “Walking School Bus” or prizes and such, but is a periodic reminder to kids and families about encouraging physical activity and alternatives to driving cars.
• December PBIS Focus: Generosity – The December PBIS monthly focus is Generosity. The PBIS team created a PBIS/Caring School Community Cheat Sheet that matches our monthly PBIS themes with corresponding Caring School Community class meeting lessons, which is a nice way to tie the two activities together.
• Wacky Wednesday – Pajama Day – Not this week, but next week is the December Wacky Wednesday and this time it’s Pajama Day, so remind your students to wear their PJs on Wednesday, Dec. 12th!
• STEAM Room Unavailable Tuesday – Please note that the STEAM Room will not be available this Tuesday due to kindergarten hearing screening.
• Natives Program Assembly Dec. 14 – A Native American Storytelling Assembly will be Friday, Dec. 14th in the gym, with the K-2 assembly 8:45-9:10 and the 3-5 assembly 9:20-9:45. See the linked Assembly Map & Directions for details.
• Artist in Residence Schedule – Several changes were made to the draft schedules. Anyone who’s times changed already know, but for everyone else, linked here is the Updated January Schedule and the Updated May Schedule. For the January schedule, let me know by the end of the week if see anything else that needs changing, so I can finalize the schedule with the artist.
• Howard Pinterest Page – During the design phase of our building, I’d created a Howard Pinterest account for staff to share their ideas for the new building. Later I added add some curricular Pinterest boards (ELA, Math, Science, Arts, Specialists) where staff could share internet finds if you are a Pinterest user. To pin to these boards, just follow the Howard boards and then I will “invite” you to be a “collaborator” on the boards. Let me know if you’d like access and I’ll get you added!
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the year:
December 3 (M)
Computer Science Education Week / Hour of CodeDecember 4 (T)
8:00-12:00, KG Hearing Screening (STEAM Room)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Erin’s Room, RM22)
4:00-7:00, Allan to 4J Assessment Adoption Workgroup (Ed Center)December 5 (W)
Monthly Walk & Roll to School Day
11:15-12:40, OBOB Lunches (Community Room)
2:30-5:00, Allan to Pay Grade Evaluation Committee (Ed Center)
4:00-5:00, Allan to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)December 6 (H)
8:30-10:00, Allan to ESSA Meeting (Ed Center)
10:00-11:30, Allan to El Camino Meeting (Ed Center)
4:00-7:00, Alan to 4J Assessment Adoption Workgroup (Ed Center)December 7 (F)
8:45, Fire Drill
1:30-3:30, ESC Interviews (Conference Room)December 10 (M)
9:30, Allan to Truancy Hearing (Office)December 11 (T)
8:30-12:00, Allan to Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
4:00-7:00, Allan to 4J Assessment Adoption Workshop Group (Ed Center)December 12 (W)
Wacky Wednesday – Pajama Day
11:15-12:40, OBOB Lunches (Community Room)December 13 (H)
National Cocoa Day
4:30-6:00, 4J Science Teacher Leader Meeting (STEAM Room)December 14 (F)
Bus Safety Due to Lori
Title 1 Progress Monitoring Day – No Groups
8:45-9:10, K-2 Natives Program Assembly (Gym)
9:20-9:45, 3-5 Natives Program Assembly (Gym)
1:25, EA Supervisors Meeting (Title 1 Room, RM26)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – Math PLC (Library)
Licensed Interventionists (Title & SPED) PLC – Virtual Meeting
Have a good week, y’all!
Allan
