Week of March 19th, 2018
Gabriela Mistral, Chilean Poet
Hi all,
What an amazing week we just completed! I am so proud of our community and staff for the welcoming event which we have just accomplished.
Here are some items of note:
• Staffing Configuration: Expect and email this week from me with the staffing information for the whole staff. I still do not know PE/ Music or Sped assignments. I will share classroom information and classified once I get to all the classified staff to tell them of any changes.
• Clarification on School Closed for the Summer- There will not be any programs in the building. Teachers can enter the building to work on their rooms but workers will be present. It might be hard to access the building when they are working on the driveway. A short walk to school may be necessary during certain times of the summer.
• Fire Drill is at 2:00 PM Monday. Take attendance, be prepared, know your routes.
• Expect Spring Break Work-On that same note, I expect that there will be construction workers in the building over Spring Break. I encourage you to put up messages to construction workers about respecting your space during Spring Break. Be respectful but firm about how to treat your space. If there are concerns you have about them using filing cabinets, cleanliness, etc. please make your expectations clear to them.
• Assembly Decision: A solution has been found for assemblies. We are moving to Wednesday mornings. This decision was made to respect PE/ Music needs on Friday mornings for preps. Also, the PLt team felt the need to reduce disruption in other parts of the day. A Wednesday AM assembly reduces the amount of transitions required at other times of the day.
Items that must happen with this change:
- Teachers must arrive at 8:10 to make this work.
- Teachers and all staff must be active to manage student behavior in the morning.
- Older grades must help set up the cones for seating.
- Teachers and staff must watch kids very closely to make sure food is not in the gym.
• Preliminary April 2nd PD Day Plan – Jaimee Massie sent information to the MTL group, Math Teacher Leaders, as a preliminary plan for the April 2nd PD Day. More details will come this week and times may shift one way or the other by 15 minutes, but here’s the current plan:
ALL LICENSED STAFF (This includes Title 1 and ELL) PE & Music should contact Sue Wilson for directions.
Focus – Giving access to language, tools, and discourse then applying learning back in buildings
Grade-level Collaborative Math PD from 8-12 (K-2 at Holt & 3-5 at Chavez)
Building Math Design Time 12:45-2 (back in buildings)ALL CLASSIFIED STAFF
Focus – Unpacking and engaging the OA/NBT standards
Elementary Math Foundations PD from 8-12 at River Road/El Camino del Río – (probably in the gym/café area)PRINCIPALS
Focus – Preview access sessions, developing instructional leadership around math, and leading learning back in buildings
Grade-level Collaborative Math PD from 8-10 (Holt/Chavez)
Admin Math PD 10-12 (RiverRoad/ El Camino del Río, I am guessing that this will be in the library or a classroom)
Building Math Design Time 12:45-2 (back in buildings)
•Your progress on RFZ Race Lessons– This is a task for all 14 classrooms. Please fill out this survey about your plan for RFZ lessons. When will you have an RFZ declaration ready? and What will you do to reach that goal with your students? It is ok for this to vary widely. The idea is to ensure that there is time spent on race in every classroom before our meeting with Bahati Ansari on April 20.
Please submit your plans in your classrooms here on this Google Form.
In addition, here is another resource from the New York Times to discuss race in classrooms: It has a series of 25 short fils that could be very useful for lesson planning, discussions, and classroom morning circles. 25 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias and Identity With Students
Here is one of the 25 videos indexed on the link-
Here is the calendar of some of the upcoming events:
March 19 (M)
2:00, Fire Drill
March 20 (T)
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
Stage door will be opened from 12:00 PM to 1:30 on Tuesday for the special Sluggo assembly.
PE Sessions cancelled from 12:15 PM to 2:00 PM.- Make up sessions can be provided on Wednesday. Contact Joel for help on this.
12:15-12:50- Joel in press conference with EMS.
Students called from classrooms to the Sluggo assembly.
1:00 PM Special Assembly with the EMS- Sluggo plus a very exciting EMS- Chicago Cubs reveal. Press will be at the school to learn about this event.
3:45-5:30, 4J Staff of Color Affinity Group (Howard Community Room)
4:00-6:00, Outdoor School Meeting
March 21 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel in Classrooms
2:00-3:00, Staff Meeting in A210 (Required for all to attend.)
Required Topic: restraint and seclusion training formal staff including custodial staff and office staff.
3:00-3:30, Joel in Summative Eval. Meeting
March 22 (H)
9:30-11:30, Joel in Attendance Support Meetings
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
4:00-5:30, Joel to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)
March 23 (F)
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
8:10-8:35, Virtudes Assembly
3:00-3:30, PLT
3:30-4:30, Latinx Alliance
March 26 – 30
No School – Spring Break (Yahoo!)
April 2 (M)
No School – Professional Development/Planning Day (District Math PD)
Admin and District EA PD will be in our building much of the day.
April 3 (T)
Classes Resume
April 4 (W)
2:00-3:00, Staff Meeting, In Room A210
- 18-19 Schedule
- Classroom Arrangement Input and Discussion + 2018-2019 PD Planning.
- FLOSEM Alignment work with Classroom Teachers, Specialists except Nancy need not attend.
April 5 (Th)
3:00-3:45, Guardians of The Galaxy
April 6 (F)
3:00-3:30, PLT Meeting
5 days until Spring Break!
Joel
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Week of March 12, 2018
Baile Folkorico Mexico En La Piel will be here this Wednesday for a performance at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Hello Shining Star Staff,
This week will be very exciting and fun for many students. The Note Cultural is going to be an event that will bring us a tremendous sense of pride. Please reach out to David, Lily, and Chavo to see if there are any ways we can support them as they organize this beautiful event. And thank you to those who are hosting an international presenter in your room. It will be very exciting and positive for our whole community. Come together to provide a unified vision of our school.
Some items of note for this week:
• Staffing Updates – Principals have to turn in staffing plan by Thursday this week, so I’ll email staff the plan that I’ve submitted to HR by the end of the week. We have not yet received classified SPED, PE, Music, TSS, or BEST allocations. We will not be counting on BEST allocations. This year is the end of the 21st Century grant and I have not heard about a large sum of money coming to replace the grant funds.
• Artist in Residence Updates – The animation artist in residence activities will continue for the next week. In April, we will begin the mural activity with Esteban Camacho. I am looking forward to hearing from him about ideas for this activity. Also, we will be adding another mural to our school to bring more warmth and color to the space. His work with us will begin in mid-April.
• Baile Folklorico Assembly on March 14– There will be an assembly this March 14th from 1:00 PM to 1:35. I will begin calling teachers to the gym at 12:45.
• Noche Cultural Support on Wednesday, March 14 – Setup will begin quickly after dismissal. Teachers are encouraged to attend but are not required to be at the event. We are also getting volunteers from North Eugene MeCHa and the YMCA. One great thing to do is leave simple instructions about how to setup your projector with a computer. There may be people who do not use a computer in your room, but it would be nice to leave a simple not on how to connect if you are hosting. Other things you can do to help include, helping the custodians set up chairs, and providing guidance to families and community members as they enter the school.
• Eugene Emeralds Reading Program Assembly, 3/20- Not this week, but also on Tuesday next week is the kickoff for the Eugene Emeralds’ Reading Incentive Program. The program will run the same as in the past, which is classroom teachers set a reading goal for students and if students meet that goal they get two free tickets to attend an EMS baseball game this summer. The assembly will be 2:00-2:25, where Sluggo will motivate kids to meet their reading goals. In addition, Sluggo will have a special announcement for our students that day. There will also be press here to talk to the EMS marketing team and some of our students about Sluggo and some changes with the EMS.
School Closed for the Summer- I have gotten news from facilities that the building will be closed this summer. There will not be any activities at the school like Summer School, Migrant Ed, etc. There are some repairs that need to be made to the building. In addition, the driveway will be fixed to improve traffic flow.
• Safety Awareness: Daylight Savings & Spring Break – With daylight savings time this weekend and spring break only a few weeks away, Risk Management sent an email regarding the heightened risk for an on the job injury to occur around this time (article). Factors can range from getting less sleep and not being as alert to taking a shortcut when performing a task to save time. Linked here are reminders they shared regarding Ask for help when moving heavy tables, knowing yourLeverage Zones when lifting, Injury Prevention in SPED Classrooms, and Strengthen and Lengthen Warm-Ups.
• P-3/P-8 April 7th Conference – This is a FREE opportunity to learn more about Oregon’s early learning and kindergarten guidelines, connect with PK providers in Eugene, and learn about how we can better transition kids into Kindergarten. The good news is that this is free and lunch is provided. The bad news is that it is on a Saturday. Linked is here a Conference Flyer as well as the registration link if you are interested.
• Schedule of Upcoming Activities
March 11 (SU)
Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward!
March 12 (M)
7:30, Teacher Meeting
9:00-11:00, Joel in Classrooms
4:00-5:30, Joel to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)
March 13 (T)
3:00, Joel to Title 1 Budget Review Meeting (Ed Center)
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
3:00-4:00, Summative Eval. Meetings
5:00, Site Council
6:00, Parent Group Meeting
March 14 (W)
8:00, Attendance Support Meeting
9:00, Attendance Support Meeting
1:00 PM, Assembly, Students called at 12:45.
5:30-8:00, Noche Cultural (Please come celebrate with us!)
March 15 (H)
Staffing Plans Due to HR
9:00-11:00, Joel in Classrooms
12:00-1:00, Safety/Security Meeting with 4J Safety Officer Carl Stubbs
March 16 (F)
Regular Day
8:10-8:35- Virtudes Assembly
9:00-11:00, Joel in Classrooms
12:00-1:00, Joel Writing Newsletter and Blog
3:30-4:30, Latinx Alliance
3:00-5:30, Produce Plus Program (Lobby)
March 19 (M)
2:00, Fire Drill
March 20 (T)
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
3:45-5:30, 4J Staff of Color Affinity Group ( Howard Community Room)
4:00-6:00, Outdoor School Meeting
March 21 (W)
9:00-11:00, Joel in Classrooms
2:00-2:30, Joel in Summative Eval. Meeting
March 22 (H)
9:30-11:30, Joel in Attendance Support Meetings
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
4:00-5:30, Joel to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)
March 23 (F)
12:00-2:00, Joel in Classrooms
8:10-8:35, Virtudes Assembly
3:30-4:30, Latinx Alliance
March 26 – 30
No School – Spring Break
April 2 (M)
No School – Professional Development/Planning Day (District Math PD)
April 3 (T)
Classes Resume
10 days until spring break!
Joel
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Week of March 5, 2018
Hello Shining Star Staff,
This week is Classified Employees Week. There are so many things to be proud of when it comes to our amazing classified staff. We have teachers among us who help children learn to read in two languages. We have office staff who welcome every member of our community with smiles each day.
We have custodians who have been at it longer than just about anyone else in the district and have served thousands of students with clean buildings day in and day out. Did you know that Craig has been an employee of the district since October 1, 1980? Jimmy Carter was president. Think about how many children he has served. We are talking about touching thousands of young people’s lives.
We have a set of computers and iPads maintained by classified staff that help our students learn things on their own device that works seamlessly with our TSS’s help. So many roles in our building and over 20 of the classified staff help us make school work each day. Thank you classified staff!
Thank you Margarita, Antonio, Lupe, Ingrid, B, Maritza, Peggy Lima, Peggy Vega, Dan, Craig, Alicia, Yasmin, Mari Carmen, Mari, Rita, Michelle, Pilar, Gloria, all the BEST Staff, all the bus drivers, and all the facilities staff that maintain our new building.
• Care Team Resources – The Student Care Team met last weekend here are a few resources of note that were shared at the meeting:
• Mentoring Program: A Family for Every Child – They offer a mentoring program and do an excellent job of finding mentors who are a good match for individual kids. They started as a program focused on foster children, but have expanded. They also offer a variety of other programs including a family preservation program and family support groups. They are on W11th and can be reached at 541-343-2856 or https://www.afamilyforeverychild.org/
• The Child Center Collaborative Problem Solving Classes – Free classes and dinner for parents of a children with challenging behaviors, who have tried everything with little to no success, and are frustrated and searching for solutions. The Collaborative Problem Solving Classes are an exciting model that teaches parents and children skills that will reduce meltdowns, increase positive relationships, and improve communication. To sign-up, call 541-726-1465 or visit http://www.collaborativeparent.com/
• Triple P: Positive Parenting Program – Parenting resources and online classes. The free monthly Triple P Newsletter features Triple P Online highlights, upcoming family events in Lane County, and the latest parenting blogs from the Triple P team. Triple P Online (TPOL) is an online learning program made up of sections, designed for parents of children up to 12 years of age and is free for families on the Oregon Health Plan. The newsletter and registration for classes can be done at the following website: http://www.lanekids.org/triplep/
• Success for Children and Families Project – Do you struggle with your child’s disobedience? Aggression? Fighting? Tantrums? Misbehavior in public? Help is at hand! To find out if you qualify and to get more information, call the Success for Children & Families Project at 541-434-1551, email at: success@ori.org, or visit on the web: http://www.ori.org/succes
• Revised STEP Brochure for SNAP clients (formerly SNAP 50/50) – Linked here is a revised listing of the SNAP Training and Employment Partnership (STEP) services and providers. This is for families who say they would like help with training or job search. This revision includes a few changes in the contact information. For DHS staff, primarily BEWS’s and Family Coaches, this document is used to alert SNAP clients about employment and training services available locally through a contract between the DHS central office and our local providers. It’s designed to be given directly to customers, and the customers are free to contact any of the providers based upon their employment and training needs.
• Building 4J’s Future, Online Survey – If you’d like to share your thoughts on the upcoming bond measure being considered by the school board, linked here is a new 4J Bond Measure Community Survey for community members to share their views on priorities and how to proceed on the potential bond measure for the November 2018 ballot.
• Assemblies will remain on Friday mornings.- After a survey and a review at PLT, it was decided to confirm our original decision to keep our assemblies on Friday morning. We had 4 votes to keep it Friday and 4 votes to change to Wednesday. There were also lots of thoughtful reasons on both sides to change it or keep it. Teachers and staff should be especially proactive to look for any breakfast or food taken into the gym. Do not allow it, especially juice boxes! Also, a small group of 4th and 5th grade students should help set up the Gym for PE each Friday morning. The principal and custodian will also help prepare the space for physical education learning.
•March 14th National Walkout Day- Some of you may be aware that on March 14th there is expected to be a walkout across the country in many schools to protest gun violence in schools. April 20 will also be the 20 anniversary of Columbine which some also plan to protest on. The district is working on formulating a plan to deal with the March 14 walkout. Brooke Wagner let principals know this last week that teachers and principals must remain politically neutral in the situation. If students were to organize and plan a walk out, I would want you to ensure that they were safe during the 17 minute walkout between 10:00 and 10:30 on March 14. I would want you to communicate with me if the students decided to walkout so I can provide some protection for them outside. Teachers, nor principals, should be promoting or endorsing this walkout as it is not politically neutral to do so.
However, you might consider these ideas:
- Students or staff can wear orange as a sign of support for peaceful schools; (This is protected speech for all.)
- Students and teachers can organize a sit-in or a teach-in before, during, or after school.
- Teachers can encourage students to write policy letters to organizations they support or opinions to the newspaper.
- Educators can also invite local elected officials to campus for discussions on mental health and bullying and create lessons plans on social justice that explore gun violence, how communities of color and those in poverty are affected by gun violence, and the history of student-led movements.
- Teach Tinker vs. DesMoines to help them understand their constitutional right to free speech. Here is a lesson plan that fits in intermediate grades. Tinker Lesson Plan
Noche Cultural is coming March 14th. – This is turning out to be a spectacular event. With several donations, we will be providing a top notch Baile Folkorico Group to come to Eugene. They will be playing at the event and it will be marvelous for our kindergarteners and 1st graders to watch and learn from. They will also perform during the day on March 14 for all students to enjoy. At minimum, it will be inspirational. There will also be several speakers at the event sharing ideas on the refugee and immigrant experience. Chavo, Lily, and David will send out an exact schedule this week with information on speakers in your classrooms, etc. 5:30-8:00 is the span of the whole event. Food Carts are coming too so there will be lots of food from around the world.
Please share this poster widely. We have 10 days until the event.
Racism Free Zone Tasks of the Week:
This is the original RFZ declaration. Start brainstorming ideas on how to make your own in your classroom with your students. I suggest using an “I” statement more than a “We “statement.
1.Classroom Teachers: Please begin having conversations about how to make a space safe for all students in your classroom. You should set aside 30 minutes in social studies time to discuss race specifically. The purpose of this lesson is to begin to write your own declaration of a racism free zone for your classrooms. We will be choosing and reformulating these RFZ statements for a school wide declaration. It is my hope that some classrooms of the school to have some of these posted in classrooms by March 14th when we begin the Noche Cultural.Please use the Tolerance.org lessons below.
2. All staff: Please read this article to think more deeply about race. It is beneficial to all of our students if we can talk about these issues.
Lesson plan resources from Tolerance.org:
Kinder through 5th Grade Lessons – All can be adapted for each grade level at our school.
Different Colors of Beauty– A Summary and links to all of the lessons.
Benito Juarez Celebration is this Friday, March 9th- Please go to celebrate with the Kelly Middle School students. Many of those student are our students. 5:30-8:30 next Friday. Don’t miss it!
Here are some of the events at school in the next two weeks:
March 5 (M)
Classified Employees Appreciation Week
ELPA 21 Testing Continues
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)
2:00-3:30, 4J Elementary EA Behavior Workshop (Ed Center)
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. All classified should attend including custodians and office. Close the office as soon as possible.
March 8 (H)
Joel, Nancy, and Jaime to the ELA Alliance Conference
1:00-2:00, Joel to Listening Session with ODE (Ed Center)
3:00-4:00, Equity Meeting (David Barnes Classroom)
7:00-8:30, School Bond Spanish Family Forum (Howard Library)
March 9 (F)
Joel, Nancy, and Jaime to the ELA Alliance Conference
PLT Meeting in the office conference room.
5:30-8:30, Kelly MS, Benito Juarez Celebration
March 11 (SU)
Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward!
March 12 (M)
4:00-5:30, Joel to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)
March 13 (T)
5:00-6:00, Site Council Meeting- Focus Parent Engagement Plan
6:00-7:15, Parent Group Meeting- Focus is on Fiesta and Noche Cultural
March 14 (W)
5:30-8:00, Noche Cultural (El Camino del Río)
March 15 (H)
Staffing Plans Due to HR
3:00-4:00, Guardians of the Galaxy (Conference Room)
March 16 (F)
Regular Day
Three weeks until spring break!
Joel
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