Week of May 28, 2018


May 29th, 2018

 

Hello Shining Stars,

I hope you all had a great weekend.  I stayed in Eugene and spent time with family. The weather was fantastic and the yard work  was calling. I hope you enjoyed time with your family and loved ones.  There is something very energizing about having a break before the last sprint.  

Staffing Update– Our First Grade position has been filled!  Ana Hansen  is coming to us from Utah.  She has been teaching in a Dual Language program for 4 years.  Ana Diaz Hansen is a native Spanish speaker from Spain.  Ana  is excited to work in our school and is also very experiences in teaching Spanish from 1st grade to university level. Ana has a son who lives in Eugene and she has a grandson she is excited to spend more time with as well. Please welcome Ana!

• 2018-2019 Leadership/Building Rep. Positions – Each year all leadership positions are considered vacant and anyone can sign up for one, with the exception of CTL positions, which downtown generally likes to keep consistent. The current list of leadership/rep positions are;IPBS, PBIS, Site Council, Social Committee, Equity, and there are also the district level rep positions such as MTL, STL, LTL . If you would like to sign up for a leadership or rep position, follow this link to the 2018 2019 Leadership Form. You’ll need to be logged onto your 4J Google account to view or add your name. If we have multiple candidates, we’ll do an email vote for those positions. You can also add rows at the bottom if anyone wants to lead a new position.

• Master Schedule Committee Meeting, Tuesday at 3:00 – Specialist staff have helped me  to draft a preliminary master schedule template for next school year. This Tuesday at 3:00 in the Conference Room will be an optional meeting for any interested staff members who’d like to have input and/or work on next year’s schedule. Right now it’s pretty up in the air, but we will build the rest of the schedule out from here. I do want to prioritize a few things for next year including SLD time school wide and more time for science and writing.  We still haven’t heard how the four PE and Music classes per will will work officially.  However,  I have some ideas how can think ahead on this topic. We should discuss ideas and realign our priorities for next school year and make sure they are reflected in the schedule.

• End of Year Checklists – Linked here is the End-of-Year Checklist for staff who are in charge of a classroom or other area. This form needs to completed and signed off by me before you start your summer. Outside of some date changes, this is the same form as last year. A sign-up sheet for checkout dates and times will be in the Staff Room and copies of the checklist will be under the staff mailboxes. If you need any boxes, just let Craig know. For checking out technology over the summer, the link is not up yet, but I’ll share that once the Tech Department sends it out. Please do make sure you take down any glass covering before you leave in late June.

• Report Card Grading Day, Classified & Licensed – Friday, June 8th is a regular work day for both classified and licensed staff. For licensed staff, HR allows teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator (me) in advance, but be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues on grading. Also, be sure to use this time for grading and not use it to run errands around town. Teachers are highly visible members of the community, so keep in mind public perception. HR has said that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice.

• Class Lists Due Friday, June 8th – In our last data meeting we worked hard on the Class Lists for a good hour.  Karen is holding these lists now. If you want to revise them, work with her to change them up a bit. Classroom Teachers should have lists finished by Grading Day, Friday, June 8th, so specialists and support staff have time to review final lists before the end of the school year. Before then, non-classroom staff are welcome to connect with classroom teachers about specific student placements.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events 

May 28 (M)
Memorial Day, No School

May 29 (T)
5th Grade Middle School Math Placement Tests begin if tests arrive.

May 30 (W)
2:30-3:30, Student Care Team (Conference Room at Howard, Jennifer goes)

3:00-4:00, PLC 18-19 Planning Meeting for Licensed Staff including a discussion with Reid Shepard
4:00-5:30, Joel to Report Card Revision Team Meeting (Ed Center)

May 31 (H)

8:00-2:40, Joel and LEL Team hosting the LEL at EL Camino del Río

June 1 (F)

Data Team #5- Final Data Team Meeting of the year. 

Title 1 and ELD are cancelled.

Final Fruits and Vegetables Session provided by  Food For Lane County

June 4 (M)
Library Closed for Inventory & Close Out

June 5 (T)
All student library books due back to the library.
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

3:00- New Teacher Check In

3:30-5:00- BEST Field Trip

June 6 (W)

9:15, Fire Drill
11:00, NEHS Senior Stroll (tentative)

3:00-Final Staff Meeting (tentative)
4:00-5:00, Joel to North Region Principals’ Meeting (NEHS)

June 7 (H)
Last Day for BEST

3:00-3:45, Guardians of the Galaxy Meeting Final

June 8 (F)
Grading Day – No School
Class Lists Due (for review by support staff)

June 11 (M)

Field Day from 9:00-11:00

June 12 (T)
All staff library books due back to the library

June 13 (W)

5th Grade to the Coast All Day

June 14 (H)

3:00-3:45, Final Equity Meeting

June 15 (F)
Last Day for Students, Early Release
Last Day for 192 & 196 Day Classified Employees
 9:00-10:30-  5th Grade Breakfast (Cafeteria)
11:15- 5th Grade Clap out
10:35, Grab-n-Go Sack Lunches (Cafeteria)
11:40, K-5 Dismissal
12:00, Staff Last Day of School Root Beer Float & Ice Cream Party and Staff Farewell Celebration (Cafeteria)

June 18 (M)
Last Day for Licensed Staff

Joel

Meet your ACE Champion, Craig Young!

Week of May 21, 2018


May 20th, 2018

Hi Shining Star Staff,

I commend you for the exciting, rich environment you all create.  I am so impressed with your hard work.  Last, week, was an especially intense week emotionally for various reasons.  You all kept your head up and continued to provide a positive and strong learning environment. Thank you for all your hard work from the kitchen to the ELL classroom. 

Here are the main updates for the week: 

• Staffing Updates – HR has completed the classified bumping process and none of our classified folks were bumped.  El Camino Del Rio Team will remain intact.  In addition,  we have hired a new teacher. I will introduce them next week.

• Care Team Referrals Due Friday – The May Student Care Team is next week (the final meeting of the school year), so any new referrals are due to Jennifer this Friday. Ask Jennifer or I for the 4J Release Form to get signed, but you can also refer “hypothetical” student or family situations. Let me know if you have any questions.

• Subs and Absence Planning –  4J has been running short subs a number of different days this month and it will likely continue through end the of the year, so if you have any known dates you are going to be absent, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE prearrange a sub ahead of time and/or enter your absence as soon as possible so it will more likely get filled. Plan ahead!

• FREE NCAA Track and Field Championships – The University of Oregon and partners are providing K-8 students FREE access to Olympic Day at the NCAA Track and Field Championships on June 10th. Youth will hear inspirational stories from Olympians that emphasize achieving your goals, the importance of education, and empowering yourself through hard work. Each youth can bring one chaperone and will enjoy the Championship Meet at the NCAA’s.

Feel free to share the linked Flyer in English and Spanish.

• Checking Spanish materials for 18-19 –  Please take time to see if you have enough materials for your classroom next year.  Our school has some small classes and large ones.  Please check to see that we have enough Maravillas materials in the grade you teach next year.   If you need copies of workbooks, please consider sending to Instaprint this week or next.

• Spring Conferences– During conference week our students progress is evident.  Please enjoy the moment you share with each family  on the student successes and accomplishments.  This is a special experience you may not experience again with the change in schedules and calendar across the district.

• Classified Staff and Comp Time this week– Make sure you have contacted Joel individually to confirm your plan for the conferences week.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events

May 21 (M)
8:30-9:15- Joel in attendance support meeting.
Library – Book Return Week

May 22 (T)
8:15-11:30, Joel to Elem. Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

May 23 (W)
12:00-12:30,  Joel in Attendance Support Meeting
4:00-8:00, Spring Conferences
5:30-7:00, 4J ACE (A Champion in Education) Awards Celebration (Churchill HS)

May 24 (H)
8:30-3:30, Joel to Report Card Revision Team Meeting (Ed Center)
8:00 AM-8:00 PM, Spring Conferences

May 25 (F)
No School.

May 28 (M)

Memorial Day, No School

May 29 (T)

9:00-9:30, BEST Planning Instruction Meeting for 18-19 with Jeff Johnson

May 30 (W)

2:30-3:30, Student Care Team (Howard Conference Room)
4:00-5:30, Joel to Report Card Revision Team Meeting (Ed Center)

May 31 (H)

Joel / River Road/ El Camino del Rio to LEL at our school.

Final Guardians of the Galaxy- Fidelity Survey Meeting

June 1 (F)

8:30-2:30, Final Data Team

Produce Plus Program- Frutas y Verduras

June 4 (M)

9:00 am, Fire Drill

June 5 (T)

8:15-11:30, Joel at Principal’s Meeting

3:30-5:00, BEST Field Trip

3:00-4:00, New Teacher Meeting- How to Wrap up the year.

June 6 (W)

Final Walk and Roll to School Event

2:00-3:00, Final Staff Meeting

June 7 (Th)

Regular Day

June 8 (F)

Grading Day- No School

June 11 (M)

Field Day- 9:00-11:00  -Whole School Participation

June 12 (Tu)

5:00-6:00, Site Council- Parent Engagement Session

June 13 (W)

2:00-3:00, Final PBIS Meeting

June 14 (Th)

3:00-3:45, Final Equity Meeting

June 15 (F)

5th grade Breakfast  Event

Last Day of School- Dismissal 11:40

 

Have a great week everyone!

Joel

Week of May 14th, 2018


May 14th, 2018

 

Hi All,

I’d like to congratulate El Camino del Río’s ACE Award Nominees:

Licensed: Justin Potts, School Psychologist, Student Services Department

Classified and Lifetime Achievement Award: Craig Young, Custodial Maintenance Coordinator I

Volunteer: Heidi Dixon, River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School and Spencer Butte Middle School

Volunteer: Amy Green

Each of you are very deserving of your nominations, so thank you for all your work! We have many folks in our building worthy of ACE Awards. ACE nominees will be celebrated at the awards ceremony at Churchill High School on Wednesday, May 23, 5:30–7:00PM. The event is free and open to the public. Nice work, you four!

 

Here are this week’s announcements: 

• Staffing Updates – We held interviews last Thursday for our new 1st grade teacher.  We should have a recommendation sent to HR this week.

•ELL Update – I heard some awesome news from Nancy on Friday.  We tested 103 students in the ELPA 21. That is more than any other MS.  21 students were exited from ELD this Spring using the ELPA 21 assessment. This is more student exited than we have ever accomplished. By comparison, last year we assessed 100 and exited 11 students. Your hard work is paying off across the school! THIS is why we have a Dual Language program!

Journeys & Being a Writer Materials Order DUE FRIDAY – Orders are due this Friday by following this link for Journeys and Being a Writer Materials for next school year. See the linked Piktochart for details. Also, check that you have the right amount of  Maravillas materials for your classroom next year.  Ask MariCarmen about the projected classroom sizes and get your numbers to verify.

• EA & Teacher Title 1 Summer School Jobs – EA’s, if you are interested in returning and previously worked at summer school you do not need to apply. If you are interested and have not previously worked as a Summer School EA, watch the 4J Jobs website because it will be post soon. Teachers, the posting for Title 1 Summer School Teachers is already on the 4j website and closes Tuesday.

Classified Evaluation appointment – Do not forget to make a classified evaluation appointment so you can complete the process.

Schedule of Upcoming Events

May 14 (M)

3:00-4:00, IEP Meeting

4:00-5:30, Joel to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)

May 15 (T)

8:30-9:00, Attendance Support Meeting

2:00-3:45, Duncan Tonatiuh Visit with Edward M. Olivos in Flores and BEST.

Joel Leading PBIS Tour for New Zealand Principal

My daughter’s 14th birthday.

6:00-8:00, OABE Meeting

May 16 (W)

2:00-3:00,Staff Meeting- Agenda PLCs in 2018-19, Appreciations, Field Day Planning

5th Grade OMSI TRIP

May 17 (H)

5th Grade OMSI TRIP

3:00-4:00, Guardians of the Galaxy

May 18 (F)

3:00-3:30, PLT

3:00-5:30, Produce Plus Program- Frutas y Verduras

May 21 (M)

8:30-9:00, Joel at attendance support meeting.

May 22 (T)
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elem. Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

May 23 (W)

12:00-12:30, Attendance Support Meeting

2:00-3:00, Grade Level PLC

Conferences begin at 4:00

Library – Last Week of Checkout

May 24 (H)

Conferences run from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
May 25 (F)
No School- Teacher Compensation Day. 

May 28 (M)

No School- Memorial Day

 

That’s all!  Have a great week.

Best,  

Joel

Week of May 7, 2018


May 6th, 2018

Dear Shining Stars,

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Many times I include all staff members in this recognition.  However, this year,  I would like to fully recognize TEACHERS for the amazing work they do. THIS IS YOUR WEEK. The National Education Association describes National Teacher Day  as a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives.”   Our teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country.  They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated and understanding professionals that mold our children’s lives in a positive direction.  We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives on a daily basis.  El Camino del Río is a special place for students and families. Teachers, you help us build that community right in your classrooms.  Your creativity, ingenuity, bilingualism, humor, patience, and vision make our school tick. All of us support you day in and day out with different methods. Yes, we all care deeply about the kids, but you are the magic that helps us produce bilingual, bi-literate, and open minded  young people.   Thank you for being such a marvelous and talented teaching staff to work with! 

 

Here are some items of note:

• Master Schedule Recess/Lunch Survey  – The Proposed Standard School Schedule requires 60 minutes daily for lunch & recesses and 50 minutes on early release days. I’d like staff feedback on how you’d like to implement this. Send me an email if you have ideas on how to use this time.  This will also be a staff meeting topic later this month. 

• Last Day for POs & Reimbursements – The last day MariCarmen can create POs or do credit card purchases from student body funds is May 15th. General funds can be used up to June 15. All employee reimbursement requests are due by May 15. If you miss the deadline, hold on to your receipts and we can reimburse in the fall.

• K-12 Comprehensive Human Sexuality Workgroup – Downtown is seeking teachers, counselors, EAs, admin, parents, students, and community partners for a workgroup to adopt a comprehensive K-12 human sexuality program. This is in response the a new ODE requirement. See this link for additional information. Let me know by the end of the week if any of you are interested in serving on this committee and I can forward your name.

  EEF Grants, Last Chance  On Tuesday, Site Council will approve the priority order for EEF grants. If the grant isn’t sent to me by 3:45, I can’t  submit it for priority and it will not be send to the EEF email for submission.

  Planning the RFZ Dedication and completing language I need a small team to help complete the RFZ language and plan our dedication assembly.  Please come to the equity meeting this week if you want to be a part of this important event.

 Technology working hard on the AMX system– Aaron Boykin has come to help us work out many bugs in the  projector, audio system, and PA system.  He has found several errors and is working through it systematically.  Some improvements will be immediate. Others will take more time and will not be noticeable until the end of the year. We will go through a new training with the system in September so everyone  can use the system with full functionality and operate a system the way it is supposed to work.

   Please send out your Spring Conference Meeting Link-  Make sure you are active to get parents signed up for  conferences.  Here is the set of links as a reminder.  Our goal is to get strong  attendance at this set of conferences. Spring conferences are a rare opportunity to help families see how much students have grown in their learning.  It also helps us uphold our strong sense of community at the school. Be sure to personally invite parents if they do not respond to initial requests.  

Classroom teachers:
 
Bucklew
Skoubo
Brougher
Barnes
Chaves
Hellman
Hernández
Ramírez
Flores
Piper
Reckers
Gómez
García
Screen

Here are some upcoming events at Our School

May 7 (M)
Teacher Appreciation Week
8:30 – Joel giving a tour.

11:45- Courageous Kids

May 8 (T)

Teacher Appreciation Day
8:15-11:15, Joel to Elem. Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

9:15-10:15 AM- Kelly Web Leaders visit our school.

3:00-5:00- Kelly admin and staff visit with 5th grade team.

5:00-6:00, Site Council- Parent Engagement Session

6:00-7:15, Parent Group Session

May 9 (W)
3/4/5 Math OAKS
8:00-8:20, Walk & Roll to School Day- Walking School Bus from the Pharmacy on River Road

8:15-8:40, Reunion Comunitaria

8:45-10:45, 5th grade goes to Kelly MS

2:00-2:45, PBIS Meeting, All Classified Attend
4:00-5:15, Joel to Report Card Committee Meeting

May 10 (H)

9:45-2:00, 1st Grade Interviews

3:00-4:00, Equity Meeting

May 11 (F)

3:00-3:30, PLT Meeting

May 14 (M)

Business Commute Challenge

11:55-12:20, Courageous Kids

3:00-4:00, IEP Meeting

4:00-5:30, Joel to K-12 Admin Meeting

May 15 (T)

2:00-4:15, Duncan Tonatuih Visit, 3rd Grade Flores Workshop + BEST Workshop  with K-2

6:00-7:00, Joel in OABE Meeting via Skype

May 16 (W)

8:15-8:35, Reunion Comunitaria

5th Grade Field Trip to  OMSI

May 17 (Th)

5th Grade Field Trip to OMSI

3:00-3:45, GOTG

May 18 (F)

3:00-3:30, PLT

 

Thanks everyone and have a great week.  Make sure you thank a teacher this week.  They really deserve it!

 

Saludos cordiales,

 

Joel