https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=13682
Hello Bolts,
Happy Staff and Teacher Appreciation Week! I count myself very lucky to work with such a fun, dedicated, and hard-working group of people. You all make me never want to leave Holt and glad to come to school each day!
Twenty-three items of note for this week:
• 0.2 Music & PE Job Postings – No candidates were selected for our 0.2 Music and PE specialist position at the Job Expo, so these position will be posted to internal and external candidates possibility this week or next.
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, THIS WEEK – This week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. If you’d like a preview of what the Holt PTO has planned, take a peek HERE.
• Wednesday PD: Upbeat Survey Time 5/8 – This Wednesday will be time for staff to complete the spring Upbeat Survey.
• Earthquake/Fire Drill, THURSDAY @1:15 – Thursday at 1:15 will be our second required Earthquake Drill of the year, followed by a Fire Drill. I’ll get on the PA to announce the earthquake drill, reviewing Drop, Cover, Hold, and will launch the drill by saying “EARTHQUAKE! DROP, COVER, and HOLD!” We’ll pull the alarm to signal when to evacuate the building. In a real earthquake, you could evacuate once the earthquake is over. There are many resources for teaching Drop, Cover, Hold at The Great Oregon Shakeout. Linked here is a copy of the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line-Up Map.
• Self Manager Recess, THURSDAY @1:30 – We’ll hold a bonus Self-Manager Recess this Thursday, 1:30-1:50 for the first round of Self-Managers. Send your managers down the hallway to the 2nd grade entrance door and we will have the kids responsibly walk themselves back to class down the hall after recess is over.
• easyCBM Spring Benchmark Opens (5/13 – 6/3) – The spring easyCBM Benchmark Testing Window opens next week. See Debbi’s Email from last week for details.
• Grade Level Team Meetings, May 14 – The first two Tuesdays of the month on non-Staff Meeting weeks are dedicated Grade Level Team Meeting times. Teams should:
• Meet in their wing so specialists can connect if needed
• Take care of any needed team business
• Complete the Team Meeting Minutes Form (make a copy) and email it to holt_staf@4j.lane.eduThe Team Meeting Minutes Form can also be found on the Holt Staff Dashboard.
• Wednesday PD: Master Schedule Rep Meeting 5/15 – Wednesday, May 15th will be time for grade level reps to meet to share what their grade level has put onto the Skeleton Schedule that will be sent out this week. As a repeat, the master schedule timeline will be:
Friday, April 26 – Survey Due
Monday, May 6 – Skeleton Schedule Shared
Thursday, May 9 – Feedback on Skeleton Schedule
May 9 – 14 – Teams Fill in Schedule
Wednesday, May 15 – Reps Meet to Discuss Schedule
Wednesday, May 22 – Meet if needed
Thursday, May 23 – Staff Meeting to Discuss Schedule
*3 weeks buffer after that week
• 403b Enrollment Help Session for Classified Staff, 5/16 – Thursday, May 16th at 10:30 in the Staff Room will be a, 403b Enrollment Help Session for Classified Staff.
• Self-Managers Application Deadline, 5/17 – Friday, May 17 is the deadline for the second round of the Self-Manager Applications. I updated the form to ask kids for first and last names (there were a few confusing situations with nicknames and common first names last time). The timeline is:
Friday, May 17 – Applications Due
Monday, May 20 – Names Announced on Zoom
Monday, May 20 – Sign Name on Postcards (Staff Room)
Wednesday, May 22 – Postcards mailed home
• Holt Bolt, Jog-a-Thon, 5/17 – The Holt Bolt is on Friday, May. 17. Times will be:
K/1/2
Before going outside – Put on Holt Bolt shirts, fill water bottles (make sure they have names), tie shoelaces, pass out and explain QR codes, review expectations
8:20 Go out to your class’ table on hard play. Have students keep their water bottles at the table (we are not running with bottles). Shortly before the start everyone will be called over to the starting line and grades will be announced to start the race.
8:30 Running begins
9:30 Running will end and kids should go back to their tables to gather their belongings and check in with teachers quickly before getting an otter pop. (Awards will be announced later.)
Approximately 9:45 classes should be headed back inside to give volunteers time to set up for the next group.3/4/5
Before going outside – Put on Holt Bolt shirts, fill water bottles (make sure they have names), tie shoelaces, pass out and explain QR codes, review expectations
10:15 Go out to your class’ table on hard play. Have students keep their water bottles at the table (we are not running with bottles). Shortly before the start everyone will be called over to the starting line and grades will be announced to start the race.
10:25 Running begins. 5th will miss library and PE/Music this year, but can take their prep by missing part of the jog-a-thon. We should have plenty of coverage.
11:25 Running will end and kids should go back to their tables to gather their belongings and check in with teachers quickly before getting an otter pop. (Awards will be announced later.)
Approximately 11:40 classes should be headed back inside. 3rd grade goes straight to lunch @ 11:40.As we did last year:
• All morning recesses are canceled. 1st-5th teachers are welcome to take their morning break during their jog-a-thon time.
• KG and 1st lunch recesses will be in the gym. Kids should move through the hallway to the gym. K/1 teachers will pick up from the gym.
• Kinder and 1st grade lunch recess will be soft play only while things get finished and cleaned up.
• EA support will be limited during the jog-a-thon because of supervision needs.
• Kids starting on hard play, running around the building and keeping track of laps with a badge on a lanyard they’ll scan each time they finish a lap.The PTO Emailed some updates earlier and I will keep folks updated.
• Holt Bolt Student Slideshow – If you want to get your kids pumped for the Holt Bolt, here’s the PTO Holt Bolt Slideshow Kimberly Brown went over with kids last Monday.
• Elementary Curriculum Updates – Linked here are the latest Elementary Curriculum Updates shared with principals. The main item of note about master schedules, which I pasted below as the next item, but if you’re curious, this is additional info shared with principals about Mystery Science being purchased district-wide, Math Adoption Updates, and other info.
• 4J Master Schedule Guidance Changes – Downtown made some revisions to their Instructional Minutes Master Schedule Guidance. As I said before, there is not enough time in the day to fit everything onto the schedule and we’ll have to use our professional judgment when fitting everything, but I do agree with the last sentence below that what matters most is that all the elements on the list are present in teachers’ classroom schedules.
• Block Time (instead of Flex): We are shifting the “flex block” language to “Block Time”. Our concern is “Flex Block” gives the connotation that anything can happen at that time. We are developing pacing guides that will have “blocks” of science and social studies to help teachers map out how to get those content areas in.
⁃ Science or Social Studies = 3 times per week during Block Time
⁃ Library = 1 time per week (Library might happen at another point in the daily schedule due to scheduling limitations in the library schedule, but it’s the same amount of time as Block)
⁃ Teacher Choice = 1 time per week teachers can choose how they use this time. Ideas include art, enrichment, catching up on lessons that are unfinished, community building, buddies, etc• Number Talks + Great Body Shop: Number Talks are called out for 15 minutes daily in the minutes guidance, however it’s recommended they happen 2-3 times per week. The other two days, teachers can teach Great Body Shop health lessons. They generally take about half an hour and it’s recommended they are split into two lessons.
• Acknowledgement of Constraints: We know that as we give this guidance, it’s focused on the number of minutes and how they fit in the puzzle of the day and not how the schedule would best flow for teachers and students. At the end of the day, what matters most is that all the elements on the list are present in teachers’ classroom schedules as their regular practice.
• Teacher Appreciation at the DAC – Amber Frank, a teacher friend who’s now a realtor at Frankly Real Estate let me know that the DAC is having a teacher and nurse appreciation week this week (5/6-5/12). Teachers and healthcare providers are welcome to use the club for free ALL WEEK! You can use the gym, take classes, swim, hot tub, sauna…whatever! You just need to bring your school ID to prove employment. If you’re interested, Amber teaches spinning on Monday at 6am.
• No Riding in Wagons – I’ve had to stop kids from riding in lunch wagons before and after lunch recesses a fair amount lately, so make sure your students know this is a safety issue and not allowed.
• Monday Mailers Reminder – Make sure you are regularly sending home student work and other school communications in Monday Mailers. I heard from several parents last week they have not seen mailers in weeks. The school agreement is to send home information just on Mondays, so we train families to always look for info on that day.
• Free Bike Grant – Safe Routes to School has a grant from EEF to buy bikes for students whose bikes are stolen from school or who simply need a bike – ideally for school transportation, but that’s not a requirement. The same grant also provides u-locks and helmets to give away to students. If you know of a student in need of a bike, just fill out the linked Lock, Helmet & Replacement Bike Requests Request Form.
• AANHPI and Jewish Heritage Month Resources – If you didn’t look closely, there are some good resources for May’s Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month on the latest Library Lowdown.
• 2023 Graduation Rate by Elementary School – One principal asked for the 2023 graduation rate for alumni of their school (leaving elementary school in 2015-16) and the linked Spreadsheet was shared with principals. We know that the gaps in student outcomes between the highest and lowest SES schools are larger for us than in other districts in Oregon and across the country, but it is surprising that students from one of our elementary schools could have a grad rate of 98% (6 points above the highest state grad rate in the US) while those from another have one of only 70% (6 points below the lowest state grad rate in the US). Lots of factors are in play here, but it’s fascinating data.
• District Admin Updates – Edgewood Principal Nadira Rizkallah is leaving her position as Edgewood principal to take another position in 4J to help support her family.
•Repeats & Reminders – See prior announcements for details:
• PTO Childcare EA Help in June – Are any EAs interested in helping with childcare at the June 6 PTO meeting, 5:30-7:30? The PTO will pay extended contract or I can offer trade time if you’d rather bank some hours for a future non-student day. Let me know if you are interested.
•Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:
May 6 (M)
1st Grade Staff Room Duty
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
TAG Testing Week
Spring SAEBRS Window Open (May 1-31)
Artist in Residence Continues (Music Room)
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Sign-Up
2:30-4:00, Girls on the Run
3:30-5:30, Allan to Elem Principal Meeting (Ed Center)May 7 (T)
1:15-2:30, Mobility International USA (MIUSA) SPED Visit
2:45-3:30, PBIS/SEL Meeting (Calming Room)May 8 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
1:30-2:30, Wed. PD – Upbeat Survey Time
1:30-3:00, Girls on the RunMay 9 (H)
8:50-10:35, Book Nook (Cafeteria)
1:15, Earthquake & Fire Drill
2:45-3:30, Staff Meeting (Volunteer’s Room)
6:00-7:00, Accessible Education Parent Group (Library)May 10 (F)
Kinder Transition Meetings
9:00-12:00, 4th and 5th Grade Track Meet (Sheldon Track)
4:30, Allan to Mentor Meeting (Campbell Center)May 13 (M)
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
Artist in Residence Continues (Calming Room)
easyCBM Spring Benchmark Opens (5/13 – 6/3)
Spring SAEBRS Window Open (May 1-31)
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom) Pledge Sign-Up
2:30-4:00, Girls on the Run
4:00-5:00, Allan to SEAL Admin Meeting (Ed Center)May 14 (T)
Birthday Drinks & Goodies in Staff Room
8:15, Allan Meeting w/BEST Admin (Office)
10:15, Student Council (Reich’s Room)
2:45-3:30, Grade Level Team MeetingsMay 15 (W)
1:30-2:30, Wed. PD – Master Schedule Rep Meeting (Library)
1:30-3:00, Girls on the Run
7:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)May 16 (H)
8:50-10:35, Book Nook (Cafeteria)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
10:30, 403b Enrollment Help Session for Classified Staff (Staff Room)
2:45, Leadership Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)May 17 (F)
Self Managers Application DeadlineHolt Bolt, K/1/2
8:20, Go Outside
8:30-9:30, Running
9:45, Go InsideHolt Bolt, 3/4/5
10:15 Go, Outside
10:25-11:25, Running
11:40, Go Inside1:00, 4th Oheros – Are you smarter than a 4th grader?
4:30, Allan to 4J BIPOC Staff Affinity Meeting
Hope you all had an excellent May the 4th and celebrated with something Star Wars-related.
Allan
