Week of October 30, 2017
Hello Estrellas Brillantes,
What a beautiful week! I am very proud of the many things I have seen in classrooms lately. All of you make me smile and bring me hope. I was impressed with so many teachers emphasizing complete sentences during instruction. That really took off in the school. I was also impressed with the teamwork to support some of our neediest students. Our response time to help students get refocused and back in class is lightning fast. The cafeteria continues to get refined and more orderly. Thanks to the classified staff who make it a cheery, clean, positive, and safe place four our kids.
Here are some of the announcements of the week:
• ArtSpark Eugene: This year the district is working with Rotary to provide a free artist in residence program. We will get to choose our ArtSpark artist in residence and plan it soon. PLT will be involved in completing this with Erin Bucklew’s leadership. Thanks Erin! I believe we will get four sessions per classroom through this program. We will need to plan these opportunities over the next few weeks. It is my hope that we can begin the sessions right after winter break.
Check out this video if you want to get pumped about this project:
•Supporting Undocumented Students – Supporting Undocumented Students. The most important point is 4J is committed to a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment for all students, regardless of their national origin, immigration or documentation status, which in practice means we do not collect or share any information regarding immigration status. Tis fall we will be running another Know Your Rights session. I encourage you to attend. You will learn a ton.
• LearnZillion Tips – Principals had a mini-training at our last elementary principals meeting and were told what were the top “Power Moves” for successfully teaching the new math curriculum. They were:
• Learning Targets – How do teachers communicate criteria for success?
• Manipulatives/Visuals – How do teachers help make student thinking visible?
• Anchor Charts – How do teachers help make academic language accessible?
•Voluntary Elementary EA Workshops – 4J added some quarterly training opportunities in addition to the EA Extravaganzas. The quarterly trainings will be a 1-1/2 hours, on early release days. They will offer the same training on three different days to accommodate the various early release times/days in buildings across the district. Over the course of the year there will be four different trainings offered, two on behavior and two on math. These are voluntary trainings. If they go beyond the EA’s workday, they may check with their building administrator about using trade time. Our first training topic will be focused on behavior during supervision and presented by our 4j Behavior Consultants: Systematic Supervision: Creating a Safe and Positive Playground and other Common Areas. In this workshop, participants will learn to-
- Develop playground scanning methods that incorporate movement and proximity strategies
- Establish and maintain positive environments and relationships with students
- Focus on positive appropriate behaviors and Respond to problem behavior/take action
Schedule for quarterly trainings:
- November 3, Auditorium 1:30-3:00 Behavior 1 (Supervision Focus)
- November 8, Auditorium 2:00-3:30 Behavior 1 (Supervision Focus)
- December 6, Tower room 1:30-3:00 Number Sense 1
- December 8 Auditorium 1:30-3:00 Number Sense 1
- January 10, Auditorium 2:00-3:30 Number Sense 1
- February 7, Auditorium 1:30-3:00 Behavior 2
- February 9 Auditorium 1:30-3:00 Behavior 2
- March 7, Auditorium 2:00-3:30 Behavior 2
- April 11, Tower room 1:30-3:00 Number Sense 2
- April 13, Auditorium 1:30-3:00 Number Sense 2
- May 9, Auditorium 2:00-3:30 Number Sense 2
*They may move a Behavior 2 right after Behavior 1 so there is an opportunity to try things and come back and share
Hold the date! – Elementary EA Extravaganza, February 2nd. Contact Marlee Litten if you have any questions x7586.
•Allison Kreider’s science blog: has important information including every grade level kit.
https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/4jscience/
This is an amazing resource. BOOKMARK IT! There is every target skill that is printable and can be put up in the room. It also includes curriculum resources that teachers have asked for. Use it!
Don’t forget to ask her to do a model lesson in your classroom.
•Karen’s absence and opportunity: Once Karen begins her administration work at Spencer Butte we will have a roving sub who can support classrooms. Contact Karen if you want a half day or full day to observe teachers at our school. She will create a Google doc for the six weeks she is out. Please sign up for a sub so you can learn from each other. This is an amazing opportunity!
• 3 ways to boost brain function – It is possible to boost brain function and capacity in students, asserts Eric Jensen, a brain-based teaching and learning expert and former teacher. In this EdSurge Commentary, he shares three ways to kick-start this process to better serve students living in poverty.
Here is the calendar for the next two weeks:
October 30 (M)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
October 31 (T)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
3:00-4:00, Alice Refresher in Conference Room
No costumes or parties.
November 1 (W)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
2:00-3:00- Staff Meeting
Agenda for Staff Meeting:
2:00-Parent Group Intros – Information on who they are, 5 minutes
2:05-RJ Follow Up.- Restorative Process Explanation- 15 minutes
2:20-Leadership Plan Discussion and decide: 25 minutes (hopefully decide)
2:45-MTL and Science Report- 15 minutes
3:00-4:00, Teacher Prep time
4:00-5:00, Joel to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)
6:00-8:00, El Día de los Muertos Event- (Gym, Cafeteria, Lobby, Library)
November 2 (H)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
3:00-4:00, Guardians of the Galaxy
6:00-7:00, Zumba for Families in the Cafeteria
November 3 (F)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
3:00-3:30, PLT
Joel to LatinX Alliance Meeting
November 6 (M)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
November 7 (T)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
1:50-2:20, Alice Prep Lesson
November 8 (W)
9:00 AM, Alice Drill
9:30-11:00, Classroom Observations
2:00-3:00, PBIS Meeting in Library
November 9 (H)
9:30-11:00, Classroom Observations
6:00-7:00, Zumba for Families in the Cafeteria
November 10 (F)
No School- Veteran’s Day
Looking a little further ahead:
- November 16, North Eugene Spanish Visioning Session at El Camino del Rio- 5:30-7:30.
- November 20, Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-8
- November 21, Parent Teacher Conferences, 8-8
- November 22-24, Fall Break December 1, KYR Session with attorney Luis Garcia(Chavo’s brother)
- December 3, Centro Latino Americano, Fiesta del Invierno at our school.
- December 6, City of Eugene First Responders bilingual outreach event at our school. December 16, Winter Break begins.
I am so excited for el Día de los Muertos at our school. It has taken a personal tone for me. In addition, this is going to be an amazing event for our community in the new building. I hope to see you there.
Joel
