Diario Camino del Río

Week of October 26

 

Hi everyone,

I spent the weekend on a wonderful trip to Ashland, Oregon with my partner Anna. This is the first time in 11 years (since we had kids) that we have gotten away on a trip together alone.  It was wonderful.  We saw “Much Ado About Nothing” which was fantastic! At the same time, I know some others on our staff spent much of the weekend in a more reflective and emotional way. Both Alexis and Nancy need your attention and support. Please keep them in your hearts during this difficult time for them and their families.

Calendar of Activities:

October 26 (M)

THE GYM IS OPEN! PE will begin in the gym on Monday.
Cafeteria will have kinders in the cafeteria this week.
7:45-8:00, Joel in Goals Meeting with teacher.
11:15-11:45, Joel Meets with Tasha about the CAP Budget.
2:45- 3:45, Site Council #2 for October  in Conference Room. (This will be an EEF Grant Writing work session.)

October 27 (U)

8:30-9:30, Cafecito #2- Joel speaks with families about the new building design. (Room 10)
9:30, Joel meets with Pedro Pacheco about the Parent Services through NAMI.
2:30-3:30, North Region CARE Team at Howard. Hypothetically talking about some ECDR students.

October 28 (W)

8:00-9:00, Joel and Mike Garling to meet Gustavo Balderas on Priority Schools
1:45-2:45, PLC Collaboration Time in Library with Reid
6:00-8:00, La Celebracíon del Día de Los Muertos (Whole School)

October 29 (H)
10:00-11:30, Joel to Pivot architecture office for color selection meeting.
Joel attends the Equity Committee, (Ed Center)

October 30 (F)

10:00-3:00, Joel to Region 1 Priority Schools Forum (Lane ESD)

November 2 (M)

Tech Plan due to Kim Ketterer
10:00-11:00,  Joel at El Camino del Rio Infographics Meeting (Pivot Architecture)

November  3 (T)

Larry Soberman as admin. La Cosecha
Joel, Karen, Erin Reckers leave to present at La Cosecha on our school.
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Cancelled)
6:00-7:00, Grupo de Padres

November 4 (W)

Larry Soberman as admin. La Cosecha
LEL at Awbrey Park- Megan attends without Joel.
4th Grade- Nearby Nature Field Trip
1:45-2:45, Wednesday PLC Collaboration Time on Math
1:45-2:45, PBIS Meeting in the Learning Center including supervising and classified staff.  (Yasmin attends part)

November 5 (U)

Larry Soberman as admin. La Cosecha
2:45-3:45, Mod Squad Meeting

November 6 (F)

Larry Soberman as admin. La Cosecha
Regular Day

November 9 (M)

No meetings. Regular day.

November 10 (T)

4:00-8:00 PM, No meetings. Conferences from 4-8 PM (Conferences will be in your classroom.)
Let me know if you need an extra person present, myself, or Jennifer.

November 11 (W)

Veteran’s Day- No School. Do not go to work. Rest.

November 12 (U)

No School. Conferences 8AM -8 PM  (Conferences will be in your classroom.)

November 13 (F)

Compensation Day. No School. No Work.
Classified Staff, if you have built up comp time hours, please turn in forms to take this day off.

November 16 (M)

2:30-5:00, Joel at Principal’s Meeting (Ed Center Parr)

November 17 (Tu)

All Day- Picture Retake Day
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library )
4:00-5:00, CAP Review with the PLT Team (Conference Room)

November 18 (W)

1:45-3:45, PLC Collaborative Time to plan math and create formative assessments.
2:40-3:40, Garden Design Meeting (Conference Room )
6:00-8:00, Spaghetti and Safety- A Parent Traffic Safety and Information Night

November 19 (Th)

2:45-3:45, Mod Squad

November 20 (F)

1:45-2:30, Kelly Band Assembly

 

What is happening?

•Halloween Dress and Party Guidelines
•NO masks
•NO weapons
• NO weapon-like props
• NO dress as another ethnicity or race
• NO especially scary or gory costumes (Nothing that would scare a kindergarten student)

If you are not sure about the appropriateness of a costume, please ask me. A student should not dress as another person’s race. A costume can be of a character or an individual who is of another race than your child, but not of a generalized race or ethnicity. Costumes should not be caricatures or mocking representations of any racial or ethnic group. Students will be asked to change clothes for inappropriate attire.
Pre-halloween/ Harvest Parties (No candy and all food must meet health wellness guidelines)

Be prepared to have an alternative activity for children with religious beliefs to not celebrate this holiday in school. The library can be available for your needs.

 

•Newsletter going out soon-  Please send any school wide news items to Edna and I no later than Monday afternoon for the November newsletter. It would be greatly appreciated if it is already translated.

• Building SMART Goals Reminder – For licensed staff, if you haven’t already, be sure to enter your SMART Goals into TalentEd by Monday November 2 at 4:00 PM. Attached are the SMART-Goal Templates for reading and math if you’d like to match most people’s cut and paste.

• Leave Balances, Payroll Info & Other Self-Service Lawson Information – Staff may not know about this resource, but you have access to all of your information such as leave balances, personal information, pay stubs, etc. through the Employee Self Help section of Lawson. If you are unsure where to find this, you just need to go to the 4J website >> Staff >> MORE STAFF LINKS >> Employee Self-Service. You can then click on the topic you are interested in and log in using you email log in information.

• Workers Compensation Claims: Staff Injuries – Risk management shared some resources that are good for staff to review. Staff should always try to incorporate safety into every activity every day and below are some easy strategies to incorporate a safety culture our daily work.

Strength and Lengthen
Elementary Safety 4 Children
Tough Caring Contract

• Immunization Exemption State Law Changes – The 4J Nursing Team shared this with building principals, but I thought staff may also be interested in this law change. The previous religious exemption to immunization has now disappeared. Those students will be considered incomplete and potentially be excluded from school in February unless they go through new steps for non-medical exemption. These families received an Auto-dial email from the district last week. There is information on the 4J Health Services website under Health Requirements immunization section that explains how parents/guardians can now claim a non-medical exemption, which includes an educational component either through a health care provider or the state vaccine education module.

• Data Team Meeting Survey due before November 2- Please take time to do this survey on students for academic concerns.  We are trying to compile this information ahead of time to use our time more efficiently. This will make for a more powerful conversation. This IIPM Online Referral Form will help us pinpoint the issues and create interventions that fit the student needs better.

•Getting Ready for Conferences- This year, it is my hope that you will try to do 3 things with your families in conferences.

1. Share and explain English and Spanish reading data with your students.

2. Briefly explain how we are trying to support students in math differently this year using the AIMS4S3 framework. Also, share ideas on how they can help with math.

3. Listen to parents. Set aside at least 5 minutes of your meeting to hear what parents have to say about their child. Really listen to them.

 

• A Message to all staff about reporting absences- Remember that it is ALWAYS your responsibility to enter all of your absences into the AESOP system.  For licensed staff this is a requirement whether you require a substitute or not.  This is not the responsibility of the office staff.  This reminder includes everyone on a leave of absence. If you are not sure how to complete this entry, there are training videos online at http://www.4j.lane.edu/hr/aesop-q-a-for-licensed-and-classified-staff. Classified staff will also need to enter their absences into the new Employee Self Service system in Lawson.  If you are not sure how to do this please follow up with your school Secretary. Thank you for making sure your absences are documented appropriately.

 

•Article about excessive testing.  Many of you have mentioned your frustrations with the amount of tests required of children in our district.  We are not alone. Children take on average 112 standardized tests in their k-12 careers.  Our nation is doing some navel gazing on this topic currently. Even Barack Obama has said we have too may tests in schools.  If you have time read this article by Yong Zhao (UO Professor) on the topic of Testing and Authoritarianism in China.  He has a may unique and strong arguments for less testing in our schools.

 

That is all for this week!

Saludos cordiales,

Joel

 

 

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