Week of February 26, 2018
Dear Shining Star Staff,
Most educators have been thinking about the tragedy in Parkland Florida. I know it has been difficult and sad for me. In addition, I am aware that teachers are especially sensitive to the fact that our school is very transparent. I know that this causes some teachers stress as they consider whether the school’s curtains work, how the glass does or does not protect students, etc. Please do make sure your curtain systems work well and keep those areas clear. Please do think about how to keep students safe. And please do respond to student mental health needs as they come up. Please do support each other in these times. This national event triggers some staff in previous trauma. Recognize that. We need to be mindful of how sensitive some are when these things occur and how important it is to be kind to each other and show love and support in our community.
Here is an excerpt for a teaching tolerance article called When Bad Things Happen by Sean McCollum. The full article is here. You may have to use this tool for a variety of circumstances.
Psychological First Aid
Psychological First Aid (PFA) frameworks, like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “Listen, Protect, Connect—Model & Teach” program, can help educators promote healing in the face of community violence.
Step 1 LISTEN
Teachers or staff should facilitate opportunities for students to share their experiences and understanding of what happened, and also express their feelings. Younger children may be encouraged to draw, perhaps with an indirect prompt to avoid introducing unpleasant thoughts that a child may not have, suggests clinical psychotherapist Marlene Husson.
Step 2 PROTECT
Adults should work to reestablish students’ feelings of physical and emotional safety. Returning to regular school and classroom routines can contribute to this. School staff can advise students and families to avoid news coverage, violent films and other stimuli that may trigger children.
Step 3 CONNECT
As needed, teachers and staff can encourage students to reestablish normal social connections, both in and out of school. Self-isolating is one of the common reactions to trauma. If this behavior lasts beyond an expected period, it may suggest the need for intervention.
Step 4 MODEL
At home and at school, students look for behavioral cues from adults they respect and trust. Adults in the school community should model calm and optimistic behavior. This sets an example and sends the signal that, as anxious or sad as students may feel, it is necessary and possible to carry on.
Step 5 TEACH
Psychologists, social workers or counselors can present information to students and parents about common reactions to stress, which may include changes in appetite and sleep patterns, as well as temporary difficulties with concentration and memory. These professionals can also reinforce the idea that seeking help is admirable, not something to shy away from.
• Staffing Information Update – I shared information last Tuesday in an email, but for a quick update we are still waiting to get our staffing for classified SPED, PE, Music, TSS, and BEST allocations.
There will be an optional staffing scenario session on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at 7:30 in the Conference Room to discuss potential scenarios.
We will have a final recommendation staffing meeting on March 7th. The staffing will be submitted on March 15. I will also be sharing scenarios I have created so far on Monday via email.
• Earthquake/Fire Drill Tuesday at 1:30 –We are holding the drill this Tuesday at 1:30. I’ll announce the drill ahead of time for students. If you send information with classroom dojo or email, please let them know ahead of time about the drill. Remember there are many resources for teaching Drop, Cover, Hold at The Great Oregon Shakeout.
•Wednesday versus Friday Assemblies- There are two main times for running our weekly assembly. Wednesday at 1:10 and Friday at 8:10. There are some differences. PLT already made a decision to not do Wednesday in early February but I feel we need more input given some of the concerns brought up.
1. If we are to try to run a specials program the Wednesday time will not work and we will have to abandon that idea this year.
2. It disrupts Ronny’s prep time before PE on Friday mornings to run it on Friday.
3. There is some food still snuck in from the cafeteria on Friday mornings. A Wednesday session is probably less sticky in the floor.
4. Parents have an easier time making it to the Friday morning assembly than the Wednesday assembly if their child is receiving a recognition.
Here is the survey to get your recommendation for my decision: survey link here.
Please respond by Wednesday at 4 this week. We will decide on this Friday in PLT.
This next week we will have our assembly at 8:10 AM on Friday.
•Noche Cultural will be on March 14 from 5:30-8:30- Thanks to Chavo, Lily, and David, this event is turning out to be very exciting. We have several vendors and donors coming to help out already. In a addition, some speakers, dancers and artists are also going to be there. A Flier will be out next week for you to share with students.
That is all for the week. Here are some of the upcoming events:
February 26 (M)
9:00-11:00, Joel in classrooms
4:00-5:30, Joel at All Admin Meeting
February 27 (T)
7:30-8:00, Optional session on Staffing (Conference Room)
9:00-11:00, Joel in classrooms
1:30-1:45, Earthquake Drill and Evacuation- A special announcement will be made to families ahead of this announcement.
3:00-4:00, Racism Free Zone Meeting (5th grade Commons)
7:00-8:30, Building 4J’s Future: Bond Community Forum (Kelly MS)
February 28 (W)
7:30-8:00, Optional session on Staffing (Conference Room)
9:00-11:00, Joel in classrooms
2:00-3:00- Grade Level Planning for Math Instruction- Teachers expected to work together by grade level on planning. Prepare for the Data team on Friday.
3:00-4:00, Optional session on staffing if you choose you use your prep to provide me input. (Library)
2:30-3:30, Student Care Team Meeting (Conference Room at Howard, Jennifer attends)
March 1 (Th)
8:00-4:00, Joel at the TAG Training at Lane ESD
March 2 (F)
Assembly Friday AM
8:00-2:30- Data Team in A209 (Karen will send details.)
March 5 (M)
Classified Employees Appreciation Week
3:00-3:45, Optional Work Session on Staffing (Library)
March 6 (T)
8:00-11:30, Joel at Principal’s Meeting (Ed Center)
11:50-1:30, Joel in classrooms. (1st Floor)
3:00-4:00, Racism Free Zone Meeting (5th grade Commons)
March 7 (W)
2:00-3:00, Staff Meeting
Agenda will include the final recommendation for staffing from teachers and classified staff and a short training on restraint and seclusion.
March 8 (Th)
8:00-2:30, ELL Conference- Jaime and Nancy out. Joel in and out.
3:00-4:00, Equity Meeting (David Barnes Classroom)
March 9 (F)
Assembly Friday AM
8:00-2:30, ELL Conference- Day 2
5:30-8:30, Kelly MS, Benito Juarez Celebration
March 14 (W)
5:30-8:00, Noche Cultural (El Camino del Río)
That is all for the week.
Don’t forget to read something fun on March 2.
Saludos cordiales,
Joel
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