https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=12819
Hi Everyone,
The Spring Carnival was a ton of fun! My favorite moment was when a 2nd grader at the car bash paused whacking the car with a baseball bat for a moment to yell out, “I’ve been waiting my whole life to do this!”
With just four short weeks left in the school year, I wanted to remind everyone to do your best to stay positive when working with challenging students and situations. I know I’ve caught myself being short with students I could have handled differently. Remember to take the extra time to pre-teach the behaviors you expect, acknowledge positive behaviors when students are following expectations, and when students are not following expectations, start with a reteach, giving students a chance to turn things around before jumping to a consequence. We’re all tired at this point in the year, so it’s important we remember the teaching component when handling misbehaviors (myself included).
Twenty items of note for this week:
• 23-24 Staffing Updates – Three staffing updates:
SECRETARY, Sharon Alberts! – I’m pleased to announce that Sharon has been hired as our secretary for next school year! This means we’ll be hiring for her office assistant position, which I hope will get posted this week. We’re glad you’ll be in this role to take care of us next year, Sharon!
0.2 PE POSTING PULLED – HR pulled our PE job posting because they may be placing someone into this position.
0.2 MUSIC INTERVIEWS – Ashely and I will conduct interviews for this position after school on Zoom, 2:35-3:45. If anyone would like to be part of interviews, let me know and I will send you the interview materials.
• Team Meetings, WEDNESDAY, Class Lists Due – Grade level teams should complete your 23-24 Class Lists by this Wednesday. After Team Meetings, lists will be available for classified and licensed staff to review and share feedback ahead of the June 6th Staff Meeting were grade levels will meet to share individual student information.
• Fundations + Math Student Consumable Order Due FRIDAY – See this email for details, but remember that consumable orders for Fundations and Math are due Friday, May 26th. One person from each grade level should place your order.
• Holt Spirit Day – Vacation Day, FRIDAY – This Friday is a Holt Spirit Day and this time it’s Vacation Day. Show your school spirt by dressing up as if you’re going on vacation (tropical shirts, sunglasses, tourist gear, etc.) or simply wear your Holt spirit gear! Get your students pumped!
• Final Friday PD: Staff Choice – This Friday is Staff Choice. I plan to ask at Monday’s principal meeting if the Zoom trainings are still happening. Seems the last few times they did not share out the Zoom links and I’m not sure they’re actually happening.
On a related note, this is the last Friday PD of the year. Next week (6/2) is a double prep to make up for Grading Day (6/9), and the final Friday of the year (6/16) is the last day of school for licensed staff.
• Staff Social! Friday @4:00 at Beer Garden! – Mark your calendar for our final Friday at 4:00 of the school year, which will be at The Beer Garden. See you there!
• Last Book Nook, May 31 – Let your kiddos know that Wednesday, May 31st will be the last Book Nook for the school year.
• Annual Safety Inspection, May 31st @10:30 – Third time’s the charm. 4J’s liability insurance agent and members of 4J Risk Management are scheduled to conduct a safety walkthrough inspection next week on Wednesday, May 31st around 10:30. Linked here is a handout of the Most Common Classroom Safety Violations. The two main items we got dinged for last time were:
• Combustable items hanging from ceilings
• Door egress width (3 feet) blocked by rolling carts and other items• May Spirt Assembly & Talent Show Combo Assembly, June 1 – Rather than hold two separate assemblies so close to one another, we’ll combine the May School Spirit Assembly and the Talent Show Assembly for Thursday, June 1st, 8:30-9:30 in the cafeteria. Linked here is the Assembly Map and Directions. Stay tuned for additional directions for the performers.
• Erin’s Law & Second Step Child Safety Unit – All classroom teachers should use the Second Step Child Protection Unit for meeting the state Erin’s Law requirements. For each grade level, there are six lessons, which are to be covered at three points in the school year, with Lessons 1-4 in the fall, lesson 5 right before spring break, and lesson 6 right before summer break (within the last two weeks of school). Each grade level has their own kit, but linked here are Child Protection Unit Scans of the teacher guides if that makes things easier.
• Lockdown Magnets Are Here & Please Give Feedback – I shared earlier I’d volunteered us to try using the lockdown door magnets, which the plan for is that doors will always be locked and the magnets will be placed over the latch plate on the door jam, which allows the door to remain unlocked, but in the case of an emergency, the magnet can simply be pulled off by anyone to secure a classroom instead of staff having to fumble for keys. For teachers who currently keep your doors locked and closed, you are welcome to continue this practice if you choose. We will deliver magnets to staff for use on interior doors, and since this is a pilot, be sure to share with me any feedback once you start using them.
• Raptor Tech Issue and Rosters Not Synced – Risk Management emailed principals they are having tech issues syncing student rosters in Raptor Alert, so if you didn’t see your class during last week’s Fire Drill in the Raptor app, it wasn’t you, it was a district tech issue, which they are working towards resolving.
• 4J COVID Protocol Updates – 4J is changing three COVID protocols to align with changes in state policy. One, COVID positive staff and students are no longer required to quarantine for 5 days and instead just need to be fever free for 24 hours without meds. Two, schools recieve new testing kits in the fall to have on-hand. Three, effective June 17th, the vaccination and religious or medical exemption requirement for staff, visitors, and volunteers will end. See this email for details.
• Ems Tickets for Sluggo’s Reading Challenge – Ems Tickets are here. They are sorted by class. There are also free staff tickets, two per staff member. Come get your tickets from Melanie by the end of the week and any tickets left after that can be claimed by staff wanting more than just the two tickets.
• Free Moving Boxes – Melanie ordered boxes for staff who are moving classrooms or schools, but the warehouse dropped off twice as many as we’d asked for (we think they’re trying to get rid of them), so staff are welcome to take what you want. The boxes are on a pallet next to lost and found. The sooner you can take them the better.
• Mystery Science Subscription? – 4J has cancelled the district license for Mystery Science due to low usage rates. It’s $1,695 for a site license if there are enough teachers who want it. Let me know by the end of the week if you and/or your grade level regularly use this and would want it for next year.
• UO Field Study Volunteers for Your Classroom – Are you looking for extra support in the classroom next year? If so, there are UO Education undergrads hoping to complete their required Field Study in classrooms with teachers. See this email for additional info, but if you would like to host an intern, RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/UOHostFieldStudy
• District Admin Updates – Eight district admin updates for next year. Erin Gaston, the current Howard principal, is the new Elementary Curriculum and MTSS Administrator. Replacing Erin at Howard is Charlie Jett, principal at Twin Rivers/Dos Rios in Springfield. Adrienne Pierce, current Elementary Curriculum Administrator, is the new Secondary Curriculum and MTSS Administrator. Nadira Rizkallah, former HR/Equity Director in South Lane, is the new principal at Edgewood Elementary. Kimberly Ingram, and elementary prinicpal in Salem-Keizer, is the new principal at Yujin Gakuen. Justin Corey, current principal at Junction City High School, will be the principal at Madison Middle School. Morgan Christensen, the current 4J Title IX Coordinator, is the new HR Licensed Administrator, taking Mike Ingram’s place, who is returning as the Sheldon principal. Lastly, Megan Russell, current AP at Gilham, is the new assistant principal at Monroe and taking her AP job at Gilham is Tom Piowaty, the current Yujin Gakuen principal (who Lavinia used to be his AP at Corridor/YG). See these emails (one and two) for details.
• 24 Morning Message Ideas To Get Your Day Started on the Right Foot – A morning message is the perfect way to engage your students the minute they walk through the door. Answering a question with no right or wrong answer allows learners to discover and articulate what’s important to them and supports their social-emotional growth. Not only that, the questions can spark important conversations that bring your community together on a deeper level. Here are some of WeAreTeachers Favorite Morning Message Ideas teachers are using to connect with their students.
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the rest of the year:
May 22 (M)
Upbeat Survey Closes
Spring Benchmarking Window Continues
Library Week #2 Classes
SPED Staff Room Duty
Scholastic Book Fair BOGO Sale
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Class Sign-Up
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)May 23 (T)
10:45-11:45, Math Acceleration Testing (TBA)
2:45-3:30, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meetings (Kelsey’s Room)May 24 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
10:45-11:45, Math Acceleration Testing (TBA)
1:00-2:15, 4th Grade Storyteller (Classrooms)
2:45-3:30, Team Meetings – Class Lists Deadline
2:35-3:45, 0.2 Music Teacher Interviews (Zoom)May 25 (H)
Towel Day
10:00-1:30, 4th Grade School Garden Project (Garden)
2:45-3:30, Leadership Team Meeting (Library)May 26 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Vacation Day!
Fundations + Math Student Consumable Order Due
7:30-9:00, Allan to 4JMAPS Meeting
9:15-9:45, 4/5 Monroe Victory Tour Performance (tentative)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD – Staff Choice
1:30-2:30, Classified Staff Meeting (Library)
4:00, Holt Friday at 4:00! (Beer Garden)May 29 (M)
No School – Memorial DayMay 30 (T)
Spring Benchmarking Window Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
Office/PE/Music Staff Room Duty
PE & Music Outside (Gaga Ball)
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Class Sign-Up
2:45, Allan to Parent MeetingMay 31 (W)
8:50-10:45, Final Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
1:00-2:15, 4th Grade Storyteller (Classrooms)
2:30-4:00, Talent Show Rehearsal (Music Room)June 1 (H)
6:00-7:45, Talent Show (Cafeteria)June 2 (F)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD -Double PrepJune 5 (M)
Spring Benchmarking Window Continues
Library Week #2 Classes
Title Staff Room Duty
PE & Music Outside (Kickball Field)
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Class Sign-Up
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)June 6 (T)
Birthday Drinks & Goodies in Staff Room:
8:05, Fire Drill
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting – Class List Transitions (Library)June 7 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
1:00-2:15, 4th Grade Storyteller (Classrooms)
2:45-3:30, Team Meetings – Class Lists Deadline
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)June 8 (H)
Last Day for Dynamos / Title 1 Groups
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
5:00-6:00, Site Council Meeting (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)June 9 (F)
No School – Grading Day
8:00-1100, Allan to Admin LETRS Training (Zoom)June 10 (SA)
7:00-9:00, Sheldon HS Graduation (Hult Center)June 12 (M)
Spring Benchmarking Window Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
Kindergarten Staff Room Duty
PE & Music Outside (Kickball Field)
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Class Sign-Up
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)June 13 (T)
8:45-10:15, Field Day, Grades 3-5
12:00-1:30, Field Day, Grades K-2
2:45-3:30, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)June 14 (W)
8:30-10:30, KG Walking Field Trip (Country Lane Park)
2:45-3:30, Grade Level Team Meetings
1:30, Kona Shave Ice Fundraiser (Hard Play)June 15 (H)
Last Day for Students – Release Time 11:10
Last Day for Classified Staff
8:30-10:00, 5th Grade Breakfast & Celebration (Cafeteria)
9:00-10:00, Kinder Magic Show (TBD)
Grab-and-Go Lunches
10:25 – Kinder
10:30 – 1st
10:35 – 2nd
10:40 – 3rd
10:45 – 4th
10:50 – 5th
11:10 – Early Dismissal
11:30-12:30, Annual End-of-Year BBQ (Cafeteria)
June 16 (F)
Last Day for Licensed Staff
7:30-9:00, Allan to MAPS Board Meeting
It’s our last 5-day week of the year, ending with a 3-day weekend!
Allan
