https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=12568
Hello Holt Staff,
Hope you’re all having a restful three-day weekend!
Twenty-two items of note for this week:
• REPEAT: Artist in Residence Starts TUESDAY – OUR Artist in Residence, Larry Meyers, starts on Tuesday. Linked here is the Schedule.
• 4J Board Member Visit, TUESDAY – Geoff is on a district committee looking at elementary libraries and 4J Board member Michelle Hsu was interested in visiting one of the schools piloting licensed librarians. She’ll be visiting Holt this Tuesday at 10:45.
• REPEAT: Holt Spirit Day – Wacky Dress-Up Day, FRIDAY – Not this week but next week is a Holt Spirit Day and it’s Wacky Dress-Up Day! Start planning your outfit now and let your kids know how they can participate, wearing mismatched closthes, bright color, crazy outfits, crazy attire, or simply wearing their Holt gear or Holt school colors!
• REPEAT: School Spirit Assembly, FRIDAY @8:05 – Note that we are starting earlier for our monthly School Spirit Assembly this Friday in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:10, but all classes should be in the gym seated by 8:05.
• Holt Friday at 4:00, @Beer Garden! – Get ready for some bangers and brews at The Beer Garden this Friday for the February Holt Staff Friday at 4:00! See you there!
• Informal Observations this Week – I’ve said this before, but for probationary folks, I’m going to try to get around to do informal observations this week, so don’t be surprised if I pop in for 10-15 minutes at some point for a short observation.
• Optional Meeting w/UO Interior Architecture Student, Feb. 27 – A UO Interior Architecture student contacted me, wishing to speak with and/or a tour the school to better understand different types of students and faculty needs. They’re hoping to talk with teachers and educational assistants to understand unique opportunities that may benefit a variety of user groups. If you’re interested in helping this UO student, I’ll be meeting with them Monday, February 27th at 2:45 in the library.
• Holt Night Out – Pegasus Pizza, Feb. 28th – Not this week, but next week on Tuesday, February 28th is a Holt Night Out Fundraiser at Pegasus Pizza at Oakway Center! Just mention Holt when ordering and Pegasus will donate a percentage of your purchase to Holt. Take out and dine in only.
• REPEAT: 22/23 Staffing Survey – To help me with next year’s staffing plan, I’d like staff to complete the linked 2023-2024 Staffing Survey. I’d like to know staff members’ individual plans and preferences for the future as well as your thoughts on next year’s staffing plan, master schedule, or other thoughts. All answers will be kept confidential and let me know if you have any questions.
• Read Across America, March 2nd – NEA’s Read Across America is next week on Thursday, March 2nd. This is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. For some ideas and resources, check out NEA (National Education Association) or Reading Rockets, or Discovery Education. Or just read aloud high-quality books, invite guest speakers, read with buddies, or any other fun celebration of reading and literacy!
• Kona Ice Fundraiser, Friday, March 3rd @12:30 – Kona Ice is coming to Holt for during Read Across America week. Teachers should sent bus riders who brought money to hard play at 12:30, so they have time to buy and eat their shave ice before having to get onto the bus. 4th and 5th grade will still be on the playground at this time, but I will be out there to crown control. And remember, all staff get a free shave ice as well! Just show your badge!
• Voice Amplification Systems – Tech folks emailed that all classrooms have now received new LightSpeed voice amplification systems. Most teachers already use the voice amplification systems, but if you don’t, I’d strongly encourage you to give it a try. Linked here is a short video and also training materials. Linked here are additional LightSpeed Training & Troubleshooting Videos. If you have any trouble with your system, submit a help ticket at 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu
• April 3rd District ELA PD Survey – The 4J ELA team emailed principals to ask teachers for input on the April 3rd ELA PD Day. Please complete the linked 5 minutes ELA PD Survey, which is grade-level specific. SPED, Title, and any licensed staff who support literacy are also welcome to fill it out.
• Staff Shout Outs! – We’ll share Staff Shout Outs at the start of Tuesday’s Staff Meeting. The link can always be found on my blog and also on the Holt Staff Dashboard.
• Summer School Dates, June 29 – August 15 – No word yet on summer program locations, but I did get an email that the dates for summer school will be June 29 – August 15. I am pitching for Holt to be given a pass on housing a program, though I don’t think we’ll get our way this year. Edison is the only new building with AC, but it’ll most likely be closed for the summer so the contractor can fix punch list items that would’ve been too disruptive to fix during the school year.
• UPDATE: 4J Grown Your Own Teaching/Counseling Program – HR sent an Email Update to principals about the 4J Grown Your Own Program that there is additional financial assistance through the Lane ESD for classified staff wanting to get their teaching or counseling degree. I’ve already heard from a few classified staff who are interested but let me know if you are interested and I will get you additional info. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28th.
• 4J Weather Alert Text Set-Up – Every staff member is should be set up in school messenger to receive text alerts if there’s ever a delay or school closure due to weather conditions. If you did not receive a text last week for our 2-hour delay, you should go to https://go.schoolmessenger.com to register for an account. Use your 4J email address and pick a new password. Once in, you can add/delete phone numbers for text messages and limit what notifications go to email or to your phone. And as of Saturday, there’s another chance of snow this Wednesday!
• Input on 4J Budget Priorities – Think more funding should go towards reducing class size than other district positions? The last 4J Educator Newsletter has a section called Integrated Guidance where all staff can give input on where you think district funds should be spent. Downtown identified three areas to focus on and have three different surveys. It’s a rather strange survey format, where you share your thoughts on the strategies for each of the three areas and then you rate the thoughts other staff shared. And FYI, class size is on the third survey, but I’d encourage folks to complete all three surveys to have your say. I do think downtown is genuinely paying attention to survey results, as seen by their revising next year’s proposed school calendar based on feedback.
• New School Calendar: Classes Begin After Labor Day – Mentioned above, downtown listened to feedback and significantly changed their proposed 23-24 School Calendar. They changed most of my issues with the original draft, with school starting before Labor Day, all the non-school days in September, and also moved the spring break PD day to the Monday following the break instead of the Friday before. Parent teacher conferences are now Nov. 20, 21, and 22, right before Thanksgiving Break, which is more days than in the past, so I’m not sure how this will work, but it’s fine by me (long days 11/20 & 11/21 and a comp day 11/22?). Share your thoughts on the Revised 23-24 School Calendar Survey.
• Abbreviated Day (SB 819) – Not sure if this is on folks radar, but you may have heard some rumor or speculation coming from the state that there will no longer be an option for an Abbreviated Day for students. This comes from Senate Bill 819, but the truth is there are a lot of unknowns. It is highly unlikely the bill would preclude students with IEPs and behavior plans to not have the ability to have an abbreviated day. Downtown is waiting on additional information from the state, but I’ll share more information as soon as we get it.
• Small Shifts to Limit ‘Teacher Talk’ and Increase Engagement – Guiding students to regularly direct their own discussions brings academic rewards as they gain confidence working independently on challenging tasks. This Edutopia Article reminds us to:
• Teach what good discussions look like
• Let students come up with ideas first
• Focus on all students getting to participate
• Don’t rush to clarify the hard parts
• Use video (of yourself teaching) to ensure your strategy is working• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:
February 20 (M)
No School – President’s DayFebruary 21 (T)
Artist in Residence – Ceramic Tiles w/Larry Meyers Begins
Library Week #2 Classes
5th Grade Room Duty
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
10:45, 4J Board Member Visit – Michelle Hsu
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)February 22 (W)
Bus Appreciation (4th)
Staffing Allocations Distributed to Principals
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
12:00, Student Council Meeting (Reich’s Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2:00, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting w/Sup (Ed Center)
2:40-3:30, Data Team – Kindergarten
3:30-5:30, District MTSS Team Using LibraryFebruary 23 (H)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
10:00-1:30, 4th Grade School Gardening (Garden)
10:30, Allan to HR Staffing Meeting (Zoom)
2:45-3:30, Data Team – 1st Grade
6:30-7:30, 3rd Grade Cultural Heritage Night (Gym/Cafeteria)
6:30-7:15, 4th Grade Expert Project Night (Classrooms)February 24 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Wacky Dress-Up Day!
8:05-8:40, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD, Staffing Discussion #1 (Library)
2:30-3:20, Data Team – 2nd Grade
4:00, Holt Friday at 4:00 (Beer Garden)February 27 (M)
Artist in Residence Continues
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom)
Library Week #1 Classes
ELD/Speech/Counselor/Library Staff Room Duty
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2:45, Optional Meeting w/UO Interior Architecture Student (Library)
4:00-5:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)February 28 (T)
Holt Night Out – Pegasus Pizza
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
5:45-7:15, Conscious Discipline Parent Night (Library)March 1 (W)
Women’s History Month
Fluoride and Sealant Clinic
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2;45, Grade Level Team Meetings
2:40-3:30, Data Team – 3rd Grade
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)March 2 (H)
Read Across America Day
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
2:45-3:30, Data Team – 4th GradeMarch 3 (F)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD, Staffing Discussion #2 (Library)
2:30-3:20, Data Team – 5th Grade
Keep watching for those snowflakes in the forecast!
Allan
