Week of May 22, 2017
This is the building across the street we know as the Goodwill store.
This is the 2nd River Road school building. It was built in 1926- 1927 on River Road. We know this space as an alternative medicine doctor’s office beside our playground. Then, it was torn down in 1956, three years after our current building was built. In the 53′-55′ time period the school was run in both buildings.
Dear Shining Stars,
As we approach the farewell celebration, I find myself becoming nostalgic. Before I went home for the weekend Craig and I rummaged through several old boxes. I also brought home some really old newspaper clippings from the 50’s and 30’s. One thing is clear, people have loved this school for a long time. A couple of historian/ teachers actually wrote a book about the early history of the school. One point that they made is that we are making history. Yet again, we are making history. Now that the 4th building of River Road/ El Camino del Rio is taking shape I feel a sense of responsibility to help students understand how many people’s lives have been touched by these spaces. However, the relationship between the space and the student is not the most important thing. I believe what matters most are the teachers and children who made positive impacts on their lives, not the classroom or playground. This Thursday evening we invite some old timers to come share how much those relationships mattered to them in this space we have used for upwards of 64 years.
Here are some important items of the week:
• District Math Updates – Maddie Ahearn shared several math updates at last week’s elementary principal meeting:
• Primary/Intermediate Math Teacher Leaders Needed – Maddie is opening up the math teacher leader positions for next year and those leaders do do not have to be our traditional teacher leader. They are also asking to have two reps this coming year, preferably a primary and intermediate rep. Linked here is a job description and a list of responsibilities (meetings, trainings, and trainings you would lead). Follow this link to the 2017-2018 Rep and Leadership Positions Google Sheet if you’d like to be a math teacher leader and/or any of the other positions.
• Math Manipulatives Coming in August – Math manipulatives have been ordered for the LearnZillion rollout next fall and are set to arrive in August. They have been ordered for both General Ed and SPED teachers.
• Revised April 3rd Math PDU – One last math update, the previous PDU certificate given to teachers incorrectly shorted you on PDU hours and a revised form will be put into mailboxes this week.
• Fundraising District Policy Changes – Andrea Belz from Financial Services shared a draft fundraising policy that is most likely going into effect next year. The main changes are that if a fundraising event is held during the school day and students are pulled (such as the Tech Trot), the money has to go through the school accounts and not PTO accounts. Cookie Dough, Popcorn, or other fundraisers that don’t have an event type of activity stay the same.
The other change is progressive prizes, will no longer be allowed, such as if an individual student brings in $100 for a fundraiser you get a limo ride, and if you bring in $200 you get a helicopter ride, etc. This wouldn’t apply to events like a Cookie Dough fundraiser since there isn’t a jog-a-thon type of event happening during the school day, but it would apply to our Caminata. However, for rewards we can still do raffles for participation, classroom competitions, or overall school progressive prizes like if we bring in $1,000 the principal will sleep on the roof, etc.
• EEF Grant Update – The EEF Board meets on June 14th to review the grants and will notify grant winners soon thereafter. Also, some of the Parent Group and Site Council are meeting with Rebecca Sprinson next week to discuss fundraising.
• Family Resources- Free Summer Lunches for Kids Ages 2-18 – Food for Lane County operates one of the largest summer food programs in the state. They provide free meals to youth ages 2 to 18. Most sites open June 26. To see a list of lunch sites, please visit the FOOD For Lane County website, or email info@foodforlanecounty.org, or call (541) 343-2822. The closest location is at River Road Park (AKA Emerald Park), which will serve lunch 12:00-1:00 pm June 26th-August 25th.
• Family Resources- Direction Services Summer Directory – Each year Direction Service publishes The Direction Summer Directory with resource for recreation, respite, support, and service opportunities that families of children with disabilities can access during the summer months. Attached and you can also access it via the Direction Service webpage.
• Change in the Oregon Accountability System – A major change is coming in the Oregon School and District Accountability System (i.e. state report cards) that was included in the Oregon ESSA Implementation Plan submitted by ODE to the US Education Department. If that plan is approved by USED then starting next year, the proficiency rates to be reported by ODE in the report cards would count each non-participant student, those opting out to state testing, as not being proficient. In other words, proficiency rates will be defined as the number of students reaching levels 3 or 4 divided by total enrollment. This change does not affect the student growth scores also included in the report cards. This change will also affect all information about schools that includes proficiency rates in state tests, so any students who opted out of testing this year are really going to hurt us on our next state report card.
Teaching and Learning with Emerging Bilingual Learners
America’s Promise Alliance mini documentary: Non-native English speakers represent the fastest growing population in U.S. public schools. We need to better understand their experiences to support them. In this video, three students whose first language is not English share their challenges, experiences, and accomplishments learning English in Massachusetts high schools.
• Teaching Tolerance Guide: Serving ELL Students and Families – Teaching Tolerance recently posted a new guide, Best Practices for Serving English Language Learners and Their Families. With sections centered on instruction, classroom culture, policies, and family and community engagement, the guide is packed with recommendations that can be applied across buildings.
Calendar for the Remainder of the Year:
May 22 (M)
May 23 (Tu)
Joel out of the building
2:45-3:45, PLT Meeting (Cancelled)- Postponed to Thursday, May 25.
May 24 (W)
9:00-11:15, Joel in Construction Meeting
1:45-2:45, Wednesday PLC Time- Technology Focus- Primary Intermediate- Math Assessment
4:00-5:00, Joel at All Admin Meeting
May 25 (Th)
2:45-3:45, Rescheduled PLT Meeting (Conference Room)
5:30-7:00, River Road Farewell Event in the cafeteria and parts of the school.
May 26 (F)
Academy Day- No School
Short staff meeting in the AM focused on moving questions and the new building. PBIS and routines in the new building will be a topic.
Most of the day is allocated for packing boxes and doing moving preparation.
May 29 (M)
Memorial Day- No School
May 30 (Tu)
Joel and some teachers to Rigler Elementary in Portland
6:00-7:00, Parent Group Multicultural Potluck Dinner Final Meeting of the year. (Cafeteria)
May 31 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel at construction meeting.
1:45-2:45- PLC Time Focus- Planning for math instruction.
June 1 (Th)
5th Grade Outdoor School
June 2 (F)
5th Grade Outdoor School
June 5 (M)
Regular Day
June 6 (Tu)
2:00-2:30- Assembly- School Wide BEST Strings Performance in Cafeteria
3:00-4:00, Final Staff Meeting of the year in (Room 18)
June 7 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel at construction meeting.
1:45-2:45- PBIS Meeting in Room 9
1:45-3:45- PLC Time – Professional Development on Imagine Learning software for 2017/2018. Extended contracts provided.
June 8 (Th)
8:00-2:30, Final Data Team Meeting #6 (Room 18)
June 9 (F)
Now a REGULAR SCHOOL DAY
June 12 (M)
3:30-5:00, Joel at Immersion Task Force Meeting (Parr Room)
June 13 (Tu)
4:00-5:30, Final Site Council Meeting: Transitions for new members and thank you for old members.
June 14 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel at construction meeting.
1:45-2:45- PLC Time- Focus:Aligning report card information across grade levels.
June 15 (Th)
9:00-11:00, Field Day
11:00-12:15, School wide BBQ
June 16 (F)
No School – Grading Day
June 19 (M)
Regular Day
June 20 (Tu)
Regular Day
June 21 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel at construction meeting.
1:45-2:45- PLC Time- Let’s pack together!
June 22 (Th)
The Last Day of School (Dismissal 11:40)
June 23(F)
Last work day for teachers. All employees must be out of the building before 12:00 AM-(Midnight).
June 24 (Sa)
Salvage and Asbestos Abatement begins in the old building. No teachers or classified staff may be present.
Look forward to your 3-day weekend!
Joel Lavin