Week of December 11, 2017
Hello Amazing Shining Star Staff,
It’s the last week before winter break, which mean there will be lots of student excitement, anxiety, and other volatile emotions, which can mean an increase in interesting/unusual behaviors. Remember to take the time for lots of pre-teaching of rules and expectations this week because students will likely need the extra reminders.
Some items of note for this week:
• Bus Safety Training Info DUE THURSDAY – If you have not done so already, I shared earlier in the year that all classroom teachers are required by law to provide a bus safety training to all students by the end of December. If you haven’t already, email Lori the date you did your training and the training method you used (showing the video below or a teacher created lesson). Linked here are bus safety information sheets (English and Spanish) classroom teachers can teach from, but to meet the training requirement, the easiest method is by showing the quaint 1997 bus safety video The Safest Way Out. Info is due to me via email by Thursday!
• Artist in Residence Update – I shared earlier this year that the Eugene Rotary ArtSpark Program is working with downtown to bring Artists in Residence to the ten schools in 4J with the highest poverty. I met with the Rotary last week and they actually want to bring TWO ARTISTS to River Road/ El Camino del Rio this year! The PLT Team and Erin Bucklew and I have been working complete the plan. We will have Vicki Wallis come to visual arts with us in late January and Esteban Camacho will come to use in April to do a mural. The Rotary folks also clarified that they were less interested in auctioning kid art, though they would like to if possible, but not for that to guide our pick of artist. Please take a look at the Lane Arts Artist in Residence website for details on the artists and let me know if you have any questions.
•Dress Up Wednesday–Wednesday, December 13th, is our PBIS dress-up day. The theme is Cozy Winter Clothes. You will find fliers in your mailbox to send home. Please send them home on Monday or Tuesday.
•Some of the January 2nd PD/Planning Day Info – I have gotten some details on the 1/2/18 PD day. Sue Wilson is planning half of the Life Science PD at our school. We are hosts in our new building. There will be science at another school as well. I have not confirmed the second school yet. The sessions will be divided up over the school day with an AM session and a PM session. The teachers who have been so gracious to offer their rooms are getting an extra half day of planning time with Allison Krieder or planning time another day to make up for not having their room most of the day.
• Math Teacher Leader Updates – Here are some details on what our Math Teacher Leader has been up to, linked here is the latest MTL email from downtown. Jaime will share more next week at the staff meeting. Some key points included in the email for teachers to keep in mind are:
• Math Discourse (specifically QUESTIONING) is key!
• Planning supports for Conceptual Lessons
• USE TOOLS!!! (some ideas for which ones can be found in the videos or unit planners)
• Plan over a series of days for a KEY CONCEPT. Linked here are Key Concept Overviews by grade level; Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5
• Parent Math Page is up! (https://bit.ly/4jmath and Productive Struggle letter linked in English & Spanish!)
• Reach out! Planning, collaboration, feedback, etc. MTLs and downtown staff are here to help!
• First Fridays – The First Fridays, Communities of Color and Allies Network (CCAN), meets monthly with the goal to create a safe space to foster friendships and networks for people of color, social justice allies, and equity workers in the local area. If you’d like to attend or want to share with anyone who’d might like to attend, the First Friday schedule for the first part of 2018 is:
Jan. 5, 2018 Lane Council of Governments (LCOG)
Feb. 2, 2018 Eugene 4J School District
Mar. 2, 2018 Lane ESD | Bethel SD
Apr. 6, 2018 Lane Community College
May 4, 2018 EWEBSee their website for details.
• Schedule of Upcoming Events
December 11 (M)
9:00-11:00, Joel in observations.December 12 (T)
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)12:20-12:50, Joel to Screen’s classroom for some fun activities.
3:45-4:15, Meeting with parent and Jennifer
5:00-6:00,
No Site Council6:00-7:15, Parent Group Meeting (Library)
December 13 (W)
PBIS Wednesday – Colorful Winter Clothes Clothes Day8:10-8:35, Asemblea with Joe Brainard and Brenda Brainard from Natives Program
2:00-3:00, Staff Meeting
December 14 (H)
3:00-4:00, Equity Meeting
December 15 (F)
Regular Day
December 17 (S)
Staff Winter Party at the Skoubo Residence. See email for details.
Dec. 18 – Jan. 1
Winter BreakDec. 19 – 22
January 2 (T)
No School — Professional Development/Planning Day (details coming)
9:00, Joel to Principal Goals Meeting (Ed Center)January 3 (W)
Classes Resume
easyCBM Benchmark Testing Opens
In-District School Choice Opens (Closes Jan. 31)
4:00-5:00, Joel to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)January 4 (H)
3:00-3:45, GOTG Student Support Meeting
January 5 (F)
Regular DayJanuary 6 (SA)
10:00-12:00, Elementary School Showcase (Ed Center)
Have a good final work week of 2017 and a well deserved winter break!
Joel
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Week of December 4, 2017
Dear Shining Star Staff,
This last week I really enjoyed seeing our 5th graders have such an amazing moment in front of the school. He and his Tae Kwan Do team seemed very powerful together. I know that our staff are sending similar messages as Master Kwan every day. It was a beautiful metaphor for me on the student success we create each and every day. Staff, you make the seemingly impossible possible for our students every day.
United Way Campaign Pledges DUE THURSDAY– At last month’s Staff Meeting, information was shared about the annual United Way Campaign. This year’s campaign is closing very soon and all completed pledge forms are due to my mailbox this Thursday. Blank pledge forms are available under Staff Mailboxes. This year you can also pledge online instead of using the paper form by going to the United Way ePledge website. Use the generic username and password (USER: 4JEugeneScho PASS: School2017), you will be prompted to create your own unique user account.
Please consider donating a small amount. You can even donate directly to your school, grade level, or classroom through EEF on the form or online. For more information on how United Way of Lane County is assisting in Eugene, please visit United Way website or see their video below.
• Learn Zillion Support – This is just a reminder that Jaimie Massie continues to offer help teachers in any way you need with Learn Zillion. Jaimee is available to:
• Visit with teams
• Email resources
• Model a lesson
• Observe a lesson
• Meet for planning
• Create a quick video
• Ask LZ or stakeholders
• Answer questions
• Bring in a grade-level expert
• Give team planning time (yes, paid sub time!)
• …and more!
• Fire Drill Friday at 1:45 – The December Fire Drill will be this Friday, December 8th at 1:45. Please take your binders with you and make sure your attendance sheets are accurate before leaving classrooms. Share with substitutes the use of emergency binders. Rain or shine.
• AIM4S3 Webinar for New Teachers THIS WEDNESDAY 4:00-5:30- This week we had many teachers out during AIM4S3 webinar and we had some technology difficulties with running the webinar. This week we are ready for Session #1. New teachers (Arturo, Lily, Ghisleli, Edith), it is a high priority to go to this 1st session. Please come at 4:00 PM to begin. All other staff are invited to come and learn as well. This webinar will be live and recorded for staff as well so we can use it later for extended learning.
• Number Talks with Reid Shepard for Staff Meeting this Wednesday at 2 PM– Hi all, this week Reid will be presenting his next installment of Number Talks to staff. All classified EA’s should attend. Music, Counseling, and PE Specialists do not need to attend. Special Education and Title teachers should attend. Jaime Jones will also share some strategies from the last MTL meeting.
• Hazardous Weather Conditions Change – Downtown sent everyone updated Hazardous Weather Conditions info, but one change I wanted to highlight is that if there is a 2-hour delay on an early release day (which is rare, but did happen last year), the early release is cancelled and schools will dismiss at their regular non-early release times. So for El Camino del Rio, this means if there were a 2-hour delay on a Wednesday, we would dismiss at 2:40 instead of 1:40.
• easyCBM Security Update and Site Re-Routing – Houghton Mifflin did a major update to easyCBM last week that may impact your access to the site. If you bookmarked the old site (http://www.4j.or.easycbm.com) it should automatically redirect you to the new site (https://4j-or.easycbm.com/).
• We need 3 elementary school showcase volunteers – It seems far off, but since this event is right after winter break, I thought I’d ask now. Saturday, January 6th, 10:00-12:00, 4J will hold a shortened version of the Elementary School Showcase if any staff are willing/interesting in helping me share info about our AMAZING BILINGUAL school! The showcase is a one-stop information fair for parents considering their elementary school options. Each elementary school has a table staffed by the principal and one or two other knowledgeable, personable representatives, ready to talk with parents. Let me know if any of your are willing/interested in helping at this event.
Reminder about Winter Activities and Holidays– Please remember that teaching about Christmas among several other winter holidays is only OK in a very narrow context. When planning crafts and creative activities, it is important that you include several opportunities for students to learn about multiple cultures’ traditions. For example, it is not Ok to simply do one lesson on Las Posadas and then stop there. If you plan activities that include religious/ cultural traditions, it must be from a social studies context. After doing a Las Posadas craft one might also plan a craft activity on Kwanzaa or Eid al Fadr. Then, later, a short craft activity on indigenous winter traditions or winter solstice could be planned. Please do not decorate your classroom with Santa Claus or other Christmas related decor only. The point is that we cannot share with our students one tradition over another. We must help them learn about all of them. It is always ok to do activities related to winter and the science of the season. The Winter Olympics in PyeongChang South Korea are coming in 2018. The concept of sports in winter is a related winter topic to use instead of holidays.
DLENM (Dual Language New Mexico) retreat in February – District is paying for K-12 retreat February 22-23 all day. It will be focused on the North and Sheldon Spanish programs. Five teachers from each school will attend. Let me know if you want to be a part of this.
Schedule of Upcoming Events –
December 4 (M)
Joel in observations in the AM
Two Attendance Support Meetings in the PM
December 5 (T)
9:00-11:00, Health Screening (Room A209)
4:00, Joel to LCC Grant Meeting (Kelly MS)
5:30-7:30, North Region Visioning Community Engagement Event (Kelly MS)
December 6 (W)
Asemblea- Get your Virtues Awards in on time please.
WINTER WALK AND BIKE TO SCHOOL – STAFF CAN PARTICIPATE IT TOO!
2:00-3:00, Staff Meeting (Number Talks), Library with Reid Shepard (Please be on time after bus duty.)
6:00-8:00, First Responder Safety Event
December 7 (H)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
December 8 (F)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
1:45, Fire Drill
6:00-8:00, Movie Night (Cafeteria)
December 11 (M)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
4:00-5:30, Joel to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)
December 12 (T)
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
3:00-4:00, New Teacher Check In- Bring me your questions.
No Site Council for DECEMBER
6:00-7:15, Parent Group Meeting, (Library)
December 13 (W)
8:10-8:40, Asemblea with Joe Brainard and Brenda Bainard on Native American Learning and Inspirational Messages, Virtudes before Winter Break
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
December 14 (H)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
December 15 (F)
9:00-11:00, Classroom Observations
Dec. 18 – Jan. 1
Winter Break
January 2 (T)
No School — Professional Development/Planning Day (Here at El Camino del Río)
January 3 (W)
Classes Resume
In-District School Choice Opens (Closes Jan. 31)
Have a great winter break.
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