http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=932
Hello Everyone,
I’m sure we’re in for a busy final week of school before Spring Break. I’ll be starting my parental leave this Friday and Carolynne Hopkins will begin filling in for me over the next three weeks of school. My plan is to return to work on Monday, April 23rd. Carolynne can help staff with most any situations that come up, but I will still be available by email or phone. If you need to email Carolynne, her email is carhop@comcast.net.
Nine items of note for this week.
• ACE Award Nominations – You’ve probably already seen an email about this, but I wanted to remind everyone that ACE Award nominations are due March 30th. Please see their website or flyer for information.
• Fire Drill, Monday 8:45 – As long as it isn’t raining, we’ll do our monthly fire drill at 8:45 on Monday. If it is raining, we’ll wait for a break in the weather and do it later that same day.
• Em-azing Reading Incentive Program Assembly, April 5th, COR 12:45-1:15 and YG 1:30-2:00 – I sent this early in the year, but the first Thursday after Spring Break, Thursday, April 5th, will be the kickoff assembly for the EMazing Reading Incentive program. The program will run the same as it did last year with the Emeralds staff visiting schools for a short assembly featuring Sluggo and an interactive presentation of Ernest Thayer’s “Casey at The Bat”. They will provide teachers with all the materials to get their students started on the 10 goal reading incentive program, and upon completion, FREE tickets to an emeralds game! Corridor’s assembly will be 12:45-1:15 and YG’s assembly will be 1:30-2:00. It’s of course optional if you want your class to participate or not, but it kids seemed to really like it last year. If you’re new to the program or need to refresh your memory, attached is a flyer that describes the program in a little more detail.
• April 2nd Professional Development, 8:30-10:30 – A reminder from last week’s announcements that when staff return form Spring Break on April 3rd, our professional development portion of the day will be on the new online networking platform now being deployed by 4J, Edmodo. We’ll meet in the Corridor Library from 8:30-10:30. Bring your laptop (fully charged) and also a class list of student user names and passwords so we can get your classes set up. This day is also a 2 hour furlough day for teachers, so teachers should remember to go home two hours earlier than you would normally work (or the appropriate proportional amount for part-time teachers).
• Asbestos Abatement Flooring Schedule – Summer 2012 – This is a ways off, but I wanted everyone to know that there will be some Asbestos abatement happening over the summer in the cafeteria and gym from July 17th – July 24th. Staff should be sure to stay out of that building during these dates. There will be some work before and after this time as well, but it is during the abatement portion of the work staff should steer clear of the gym and cafeteria.
• New Teacher Evaluation System – Teacher Input Opportunity – The director of HR, Celia Feres-Johnson, asked me to forward the following opportunity to YG and Corridor teachers. They are seeking teacher input regarding a new teacher evaluation system that is going to be implemented after next year. If you are interested, please contact Celia at feres-johnson_c@4j.lane.edu. Below is her email:
Senate Bill 290 mandates that by July 1, 2013 all school districts will implement a teacher and principal evaluation consistent with the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards. A teacher evaluation draft has been developed in accordance with state mandates and teacher input is critical. The evaluation draft is scheduled for piloting in August, 2012 and full implementation on July 1, 2013.
You are invited to participate in ONE of the 2-hour meetings being held between April 6 through April 12. Attendance at this meeting is voluntary and a sub will be provided for those who chose to attend. Please let Celia know no later than March 22 if you would like to attend one of the meetings. Please include the date, time, and the name of the substitute you would like to request and HR will enter their names in AESOP.
Meeting schedule:
Time commitment: One meeting, two hours duration
Meeting dates: April 6 through April 12.
Meeting times: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. OR 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Meeting location: Ed. CenterAt the meetings teachers will be asked to review the rubrics and standards and to provide input. Please e-mail Celia at feres-johnson_c@4j.lane.edu if you have any questions about the evaluation draft or the workgroup meetings.
• SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest – Pretty fast deadline for this (April 1), but students in grades K-8 can help raise awareness about sun safety and win great prizes by entering the 2012 SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest, organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SunWise program and the SHADE Foundation. The due date is April 1st, and the national winner will receive a family trip to Disney World and a Shade ‘N Net shade structure for their school. Contest details are available at their website. Winning posters will be displayed by the National Children’s Museum during summer 2012.
• Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice – “The opposite of poverty is not wealth. … In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice.” Bryan Stevenson gives engaging and personal talk, sharing some hard truths about America’s justice system. A very good 23 minute video to watch after school one day when you have time to put it on.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2tOp7OxyQ8[/youtube]• Snow? – And finally, for the snow watchers in the building, believe it or not, there is a chance of snow Monday according to NOAA (at least at the time I posted this blog).
Have a great the week and an even better Spring Break!
Allan