http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=9463
Salutations Everyone,
The Howard Ukulele Ensemble did a great job at the Eugene Holiday Market this weekend. My favorite part was overhearing an old guy, not connected to any of the kids, with a mouth full of Rita’s Burritos say his friend, “This is a local kids’ ukulele group. That’s really cool.”
Seventeen items of note for this week:
• Student Success Act (SSA) Survey, Phase 2 — Phase 1 of 4J’s community outreach on how to spend SSA funds is now completed and we are now in the midst of Phase 2. Community and Staff Forums are over, but there is now an SSA Phase II Online Survey for staff and community members to prioritize the top ideas that surfaced from Phase 1. Make sure your opinions are heard! I have strong opinions on this and already completed the survey myself (Assistant principals for large high needs elementary schools sounds FABULOUS!). The survey closes Tuesday, January 7th.
• RESCHEDULE: Fire Drill, MONDAY @1:15 – We got rained out last week, so we’ll try again this Monday at 1:15 for our December Fire Drill. If we get rained out again, I’ll try for this same time on Tuesday.
• Showbie Tech Training, THURSDAY – Angela is leading a drop-in tech training on Showbie this Thursday at 2:45 in her classroom (RM24). See her Tech Bites Email for details on Showbie, but it combines all of the essential tools for assignments, feedback and communication in one easy-to-use app. Their aim is for teachers to spend less time struggling with your tech setup, and more time for teaching and learning.
• Roadrunner Awards, FRIDAY – This Friday at 8:15 is the December Roadrunner Awards Assembly. The assembly will run the same as last time, minus the Staff vs. Students Pie Eating Contest, but see the linked Assembly Map & Directions for details. For pre-teaching assembly behavior expectations, remember there’s slide four of the Back to School PBIS Refresher and also a nice Class Meeting lesson in the Caring School Community curriculum.
• Fun Friday: Pajama Day! – Remind your students that this Friday is a PBIS Fun Friday and that it’s PJ Day! Get your jammies and slippers ready for a comfy final day before winter break! I have a nice Chewbacca Onesie I’ve been waiting to break out.
• Friday Early Release PD – This Friday’s Early Release PD is designated as a PLC work session. Grade level teams will continue their work as needed and will also have some time to complete the above mentioned Student Success Act Survey.
• January 6th – PD Day – I forwarded David Jacobsen’s Jan. 6 PD Email last week along with the List of PD Sessions & Schedule and TalentEd Develop (TED) Registration Directions. Heres the short version:
• Classified: 8:00-10:30, register online at TalentEd Develop (TED) for a menu to training opportunities being offered at Chavez, ATA, and the Ed Center. 10:30-1:30 is travel, lunch, and prep time. 1:30-4:00 Behavior Framework focused on disproportionality and bias in discipline practices, as well as other building PD topics.
• Licensed: 8:00-10:30, register online, starting Monday, at TalentEd Develop (TED) for a menu to technology training opportunities at Churchill High School. 10:30-1:30, is travel & lunch (1-hour) and protected prep time (2-hours). 1:30-4:00 Behavior Framework focused on disproportionality and bias in discipline practices, as well as other building PD topics.
Of note for teachers, Justin Huntley, the 4J Technology Curriculum Administrator, told principals he would urge teachers to carefully read the descriptions of sessions before signing up and if you get into a session that’s not what they wanted, vote with your feet and go to a different session. He also said for principals to let him know if there are topics not being offered that would be of interest so he can organize them in the future.
• Hoods in School Discussion – I’ve heard some classified staff would like to be part of the decision on whether we allow hoods to be worn in school or not, so I’m adding this to the Jan. 6th afternoon agenda, so Tuesday’s Staff Meeting with licensed staff will simply be a preliminary discussion and not a final decision on this topic.
• PTO Meeting Updates – Linked here is the December PTO Meeting Slideshow and below are three items of noteL
• Family Science Night Jan. 10 – The next Family Night will be a Family Science Night on Friday, January 10th, 6:00-8:00. Pizza and experiment supplies will be provided by Title 1 Parent Involvement Funds, so it will be a completely free event. The PTO is planning on having six different stations for families to conduct science experiments. I don’t know the planned experiments, but we can see if they live up to the “How many rubber bands does it take to explode a pumpkin” experiment from last year.
• Hot Mama’s Wings Fundraiser, TUESDAY! – This Tuesday is the December PTO Resturant Fundraiser and it’s at Hot Mama’s Wings. Be sure to bring a digital or printed copy of the Fundraiser Flyer. I can already taste those deep fried dill pickle chips…
• BJ’s Resturant Fundraiser, Jan. 15 – Wednesday, January 15th is the January PTO Resturant Fundraiser and it’s at BJ’s Resturant. Also for this fundraiser, be sure to bring a digital or printed copy of the Fundraiser Flyer.
• Observance of Religious Holidays – An article in the Register Guard from last week that was shared we me reminded me about an item I shared with staff earlier in the year to be sure to avoid scheduling one-time tests, major projects, essays, special events, field trips, etc. during religious holidays and the surrounding dates. See the linked email or the Back to School Memo for the key Jewish Holy Days, Christian Holy Days, and Muslim Holy Days.
• Staffing Updates – The CLC 1:1 EA Job noted in last week’s announcements is now posted and closes on Tuesday, so be sure to let any good candidates know about this position.
• McKinney-Vento Staffing Update – If you hadn’t heard, Deborah Daily, 4Js McKinney-Vento Coordinator who works out of Howard in the downstairs green wing, has retired, but is staying on through the end of the school year to train her replacements. Jennifer Volem will be the M-V Liaison for North and Sheldon Regions and Kristine Craft will be the M-V Liaison for South and Churchill Regions. Becca Larsen will remain in her position as M-V Unaccompanied Youth support and Foster Point Person.
• District Admin Updates – Sue Wilson, 4J Director Of Curriculum, has accepted a position as Student Success Act Administrator at the Lane ESD. Sue has shifted to 0.25 FTE here in 4J through January 7th to focus is on writing transition plans, submitting budgets, and priorities for next year, completing Division 22, and wrapping up loose ends.
• 8-Week Online Parenting Course (Scholarships Available) – Feel free to share this OHSU Online Parenting Class Flyer & Application for a free 8-week online parenting class. The deadline to apply is Dec. 27 and scholarships are available.
• Understand cultural nuance to improve teaching – Teachers who make an effort to learn about their students’ cultural backgrounds can be more effective at their jobs, writes education consultant Nikki Williams Rucker in the Eudtopia Article. She outlines several tips for culturally responsive teaching, starting with an examination of their own implicit biases, then looking for ways those biases might be present in their curricula.
• Teaching Students to Think About Thinking – Metacognition, or thinking about one’s thinking, is the core literacy of lifelong learners. When students have the skills to process and refine how they are learning, judiciously applying strategies and analyzing mistakes, they have the keys to self-directed growth. In this issue of ASCD Express, unpack the theory and practice behind the process.
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events for the next two weeks:
December 16 (M)
10:30, Junior Achievement Presentation (Kreider)
1:15, Junior Achievement Presentation (Niccum)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elementary Principal Meeting (Ed Center)December 17 (T)
9:50-11:25, 3rd Grade Salmon Release Field Trip – Lawson/Peterson & Niccum
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting (Nicole’s Room, RM22)
4:00-10:00, PTO Hot Mama’s Wings FundraiserDecember 18 (W)
Title 1 Progress Monitoring Day – No Groups
9:00-11:00, 3rd Grade Salmon Release Field Trip – Kreider & Charpie
11:15, Allan to Formal Observation
2:45-3:30, Student Care Team (Conference Room)December 19 (H)
2:45-3:30, TLT Meeting/Training (Angela’s Room, RM24)December 20 (F)
Fun Friday! – PJ Day
8:15, K-5 Roadrunner Assembly & Tail Feather Reward (Gym)
10:30-12:45, December Birthday Lunches With the Principal (Community Room)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – PLC/SSA Survey (Library)December 21 – January 5
WINTER BREAK!!!January 1 (W)
4J In-District School Choice OpensJanuary 6 (M)
No School – PD/Planning Day
8:00-12:00, Allan to Title IX Training (Ed Center)CLASSIFIED
8:00-10:30, Classified Trainings – Various Times (Chavez, ATA, Ed Center)
10:30-1:10, Travel, Lunch, and Planning
1:30-4:00, Behavior Framework & Building PD (Cafeteria)LICENSED
8:00-10:30, Licensed Tech Training (Churchill HS)
10:30-1:10, Travel, Lunch, and Planning
1:30-4:00, Behavior Framework & Building PD (Cafeteria)January 7 (T)
PBIS Rules Reviewed – AM Recess (Playground)
9:00, Allan to Truancy Hearings (Conference Room)
2:45-3:30, PBIS Meeting (Ashley’s Room, RM25)January 8 (W)
PBIS Rules Reviewed – AM Recess (Playground)January 9 (H)
Regular DayJanuary 10 (F)
Popcorn Friday!
1:30-2:00, EA Supervisors Meeting (Title 1 Room, RM26)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – PLC (Library)
5:30-7:30, PTO Family Science Night (Cafeteria)January 11 (SA)
School Choice Showcase (Ed Center)
Five days until winter break!
Allan
