http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=8700
Hello Friends,
If you didn’t catch the Howard Facebook post last week, here’s a cool story to share with students to help them dream big. Former Howard student Simon Longnight is now performing in the Broadway production of Hamilton! If you follow the link to the Register Guard Article there’s even a video of Simon and the Hamilton cast performing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon!
Fifteen items of note for this week:
• Roadrunner Award Assembly, Friday – Linked here is the Roadrunner Award Assembly Map & Directions for Friday’s awards assembly. K-2 will be 8:45-9:10 and 3-5 will be 9:20-9:45. We’re pairing this with a Jump Rope for Heart kickoff that Michelle is coordinating. Regarding Jump Rope for Heart, they’ve wanted to partner with us for a few years and they’re a good organization, but I only committed to sending home information. For the Roadrunner Awards, teachers should choose 2-4 students who have demonstrated exceptional Roadrunner Behaviors (Safe, Kind, and Responsible). Certificates and parent/guardian invitations are located in the filing cabinet by Elizabeth’s desk. Be sure to get certificate to me before Friday so I can get them organized before the assembly.
• Library Items of Note – Two Library related items:
• CORRECTION: OBOB Final Battle & Awards Assembly, THURSDAY – Linked here is the OBOB Final Battle & Awards Assembly Map & Directions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes, which will be this THURSDAY, 8:10-8:40 in the gym.
• Quiet Walking by Library & Nook Spaces – Please remind students to walk quietly down the halls and on the catwalk, so not to disrupt library classes. There have been more misbehaviors lately as kids are transitioning place to place. On a semi-related note, to head off any mischief, we’re also going to limit the library nooks to one at a time for 4th and 5th graders.
• Safety Inspection Update – We did well on our safety inspection and will get our final report sometime this week, but a couple items of note I wanted to share with staff:
• Space Heaters Okay, but not with Power Strips– I’d always though space heater were forbidden, but the inspector from SAIF said they are allowed as long as they have an automatic shutoff if they are tipped over and if they are plugged directly into the wall. They are not allowed to be plugged into a power strip or extensions cord (extension cords are not allowed for any reason).
• Fire Sprinkler Water Clearance – Nothing can be hung from the ceiling or light that would obstruct the water spray from a fire sprinkler. Everyone did a good job not hanging anything within 3-feet of a sprinters, but this year we got dinged for some hangings that would potentially obstruct the water spray.
• PTO Meeting Next Week – Not this week, but next week on Tuesday at 6:00 in the cafeteria will be the February PTO meeting, so if you’re able to volunteer your time to come, I know parents appreciating seeing staff at the meeting. Hope to see you there!
• EA Supervisor Meeting Notes – On the Howard Google Team Drive and linked here are the February EA Supervisors’ Meeting Minutes. Items of note include:
• Shoe Rules – Students should keep their shoes on at recess, even for gymnastics in the field. We can revisit this in the spring.
• CICO Card Points for Students on Bench – Student DO NOT get points at recess if they got in trouble that particular recess and are told to sit on the bench. Students DO get their points if they are sitting on the bench for an earlier incident if they owe their time on the bench appropriately.
• Playground Equipment – It is time to order some additional balls to replace lost and damaged balls. Recess staff will let Allan know what needs ordered. Allan will order two Frisbees for each grade level. We’ll also see if we can find a more rugged tetherball that wont’ break right away, which will hopefully give student another option at recess. Lisa noted that her previous school bought a tough/expensive tetherball rig, but it still broke pretty fast.
• Soccer Balls on Blacktop – There has been different issues with soccer balls at recess on the blacktop areas, but it is not across all grade levels. If problems persist for certain grades, soccer balls will go in “ball jail” for the time being.
• Snow on the Playground – If there is snow on playground, there will be inside recess. This is for safety reasons, student management reasons, and to keep students dry, as well as keeping hallways dry and safe. If there is only some snow, we will go outside.
• PLC Meetings Next Week – Not this week, but Tuesday and Wednesday next week are Grade Level PLC Meetings with roving subs. Dates and times for grade level teams are:
Tuesday, February 19
1st – 8:30-9:30
2nd – 10:00-11:00
5th – 11:15-12:15Wednesday, February 20
KG – 11:10-12:10
3rd – 12:15-1:15
4th – 1:25-2:25• Radon Testing Devices – The Facilities Department wanted principals to remind staff to not touch or tamper with the radon testing devices (see picture below) when they are installed, which should be sometime this week.
• Friday Early Release PD – This Friday’s Early Release PD was cancelled to compensate for the lost hour of prep on Grading Day, Friday, February 1st. Enjoy!
• Howard Ukulele Ensemble at Asian Celebration Saturday – This weekend is the 34th Annual Oregon Asian Celebration, and our fabulous music teacher, Siera, is taking Howard’s Ukulele Ensemble to perform on Saturday at 5:00 on the Martial Arts Stage. Come to the celebration to root on Howard kiddos and then get some pretty excellent food!
• Color Printing Reminder – Quite a few unnecessary color copies are coming across the office color copier (i.e. documents with just a red 4J apple or an email with a blue link). It’s fine to print in color for class projects (though be judicious with class sets), but please change your print settings to default to print in black & white for general printing. To do this, you’ll need to install the linked Canon Printer Driver (also located on the Team Drive) and after installing select the C2225 print driver. If you need help setting this up, let me know and I can help or you can email Peggy at 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu or call the Technology Help Line at x7777.
• Wacky Wednesday, Superhero Day & Staff Photo – Remind your students that this Wednesday is the February Wacky Wednesday and this time it’s SUPERHERO DAY! And be sure to keep your own superhero shirts, gear, or outfits on at the end of the day for our own Howard Staff Group Photo!
• REPEAT: 2019-2020 Staff Survey, Due Feb. 15 – To help me in planning staffing scenarios for next year, I’d like staff to complete the linked 2019-2020 Staff Survey or on the linked Survey Word File. All answers will be kept confidential and please let me know if you have any questions.
• REPEAT: Studying Skillful Teaching Module Offerings – Teachers, I’ll personally vouch for this PD. As one of the eight schools 4J is working with on ESSA improvement, Howard’s been given sub days for interested teachers to attend the linked Skillful Teaching Modules (AKA RBT and Jon Saphier) at the LaneESD. Some sessions start as soon as this week and other don’t start until May. Please take a look at the offerings and let me know if you’re interested in any of modules or if you have any questions.
• Students Learn From People They Love – Here’s a reaffirming column from political opinion writer David Brooks on education that advocates for putting relationship quality at the center of teaching and learning.
• Try This 3 Minute Movement/Brain Break! – Tired of the GoNoodle paywall? fitBoost isn’t as flashy as GoNoodle, but it does provide a nice movement break that includes a warm-up activity, a fun move, and a cool down stretch – all within 3-minutes. However, you can still find quite a few free GoNoodle YouTube Playlists online.
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the year:
February 11 (M)
Regular DayFebruary 12 (T)
8:00-10:00, 4th Grade NAEP Testing (STEAM Room & ELL Room)
10:45-12:45, 4th Grade NAEP Testing (STEAM Room & ELL Room)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Erin’s Room, RM22)
4:30-8:30, 4J First Aid Class (Library)February 13 (W)
Wacky Wednesday – Superhero Day
2:45, Superhero Day Staff Photo (Library Story Cove)February 14 (H)
Valentine’s Day
8:10-8:40, OBOB Final Battle & Awards Assembly (Gym)
2:45-4:45, ESSA Meeting #1 (Conference Room)February 15 (F)
8:45-9:10, K-2 Roadrunner Award/Jump Rope for Heart Assembly (Gym)
9:20-9:45, 3-5 Roadrunner Award/Jump Rope for Heart Assembly (Gym)
1:30, PBIS Meeting (Rae’s Room, RM1)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – CANCELLED, Make-Up for Feb. 1st Missed Hour of PrepFebruary 16 (SA)
5:00, Howard Ukulele Ensemble Performance at Asian CelebrationFebruary 18 (M)
No School – Presidents Day (Possible Hazardous Weather Makeup Day)February 19 (T)
8:30-12:15, Howard PLC – Half-Day (1/2/5)
1st – 8:30-9:30 2nd – 10:00-11:00 5th – 11:15-12:15
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting (Volunteer’s Classroom)
6:00-7:00, PTO Meeting (Cafeteria)February 20 (W)
Exclusion Day
11:10-2:25, Howard PLC – Half-Day (K/3/4)
KG – 11:10-12:10 3rd – 12:15-1:15 4th – 1:25-2:25
3:30-5:00, Allan to ESSA Schools Meeting (Ed Center)
4:00-6:00, 4J and Apple iPad Training (STEAM Room)February 21 (H)
Book Fair Set-Up (during school) – Library Closed
2:45-4:45, ESSA Meeting #2 (Conference Room)February 22 (F)
Student Book Fair Preview
7:30-9:00, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting
9:00-9:30, K/1 Music Performance (Gym)
10:30-12:40, February Birthday Lunches With the Principal (Conference Room)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – Behavior Framework #7 (Erin’s Room, RM22)
And if you also missed this on Howard’s Facebook Page, Safe Routes to School made a nice video about the new sidewalks recently installed along Grove and North park.
Have a good week, everyone, and look forward to the 3-day President’s Day weekend!
Allan