https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/howardstaff/2024/04/21/april-22nd/
STATIC BUILDING RESOURCES (HERE EACH WEEK)
Teacher Professional Development Unit (PDU) Tracking
Teachers, the LINK TO THIS TRACKING PDU SHEET – All staff, please feel free to access this to help track your professional development units (PDU’s) when it’s time to renew licensures. This is here to help you easily compile the hours you need to report when processing renewal.
Student Attendance Concerns Reporting
Teachers, please remember to report student attendance concerns HERE. Our front office team will follow up with families. Thanks!
Meeting Agendas and Notes from this past week:
LINK TO HOWARD SHARED GOOGLE DRIVE HERE – To streamline access of information. The link to our Howard shared Google drive will remain here as a static feature on the blog each week. In this drive is a folder titled, ‘Meetings/Teams,’ which houses all the important meeting agendas and notes from various teams past and present. This week’s meetings included the following below. Please go to their respective team folders within the ‘Meetings/Teams’ folder to review the notes. Thanks!
- Meetings this past week, April 8th-12th, included:
- 4/15 – IPBS Tier 2/3 Team
- 4/16: Certified Staff Meeting – LINK TO SLIDE DECK
- 4/17: Certified Professional Learning – LINK TO SLIDE DECK
PTO Request for Funds
Teachers, our PTO wants to help you and your students! If you have a particular lesson, unit, or project you want to enrich and could use some additional funds to fulfill it, please fill out the request form from the PTO → LINK TO FORM! It is SUPER rare that the PTO denies funds to teachers, so please access this resource. The PTO appreciates you!
Monday Morning Announcements this Week:
Here is a LINK an interesting and informative article with some useful strategies for supporting our students struggling with behavior:
https://www.edutopia.org/article/restorative-communication-classroom
Behavior Discipline Matrix Weekly Drill Down
This week, we are focussing on the behavior flow chart on page four of our district’s Discipline Matrix document LINKED HERE.
Major Referral Reminder
Just a quick reminder, if you’re completing a major referral where there was an altercation between one or more students (a perpetrator and victim(s)), then you must complete the second small strip of paper where you log the victim’s name. We’ve been missing a few of these here and there. This is also a reminder we can only write the name of the student who is receiving the referral on the referral. We can’t write the victim’s, or any other participant engaged in the offense, on the referral. Just list those students as ‘student.’ For example, ‘Charlie hit another student in the face.’ We omit the other student’s name, and if they are merely a victim, write it on the small second page strip. If the other student retaliated and got into a fight with Charlie, then that student also gets a referral, and each of us are listed as victims on each other’s respective small second sheets. Hope this makes sense.
You CAN write the victim(s) name(s) on a sticky note if the little strip of paper is not attached. We just need the name(s) of the victim(s) to be able to enter it into Synergy. Thanks!
Grade Level Data Team Meetings, 4/25 (Jen email, 4/19)
Next Thursday, April 25th, will be our last round of grade-level data team meetings.
At this meeting, we will look at current data from your in-class instruction and make a plan for finishing the year triumphantly! Please bring any assessments, or other artifacts: unit assessments, writing samples, spelling inventories, fluency tests – anything that can be used as a data point to show growth in any area you would like to focus on for the last few weeks of school.
The schedule will be the same as last time. Please have plans ready for subs. GLDT schedule
Community Day, 4/26 (Email from Bryan V. 4/17)
Building Schedule Reflection and Input for Next Year
We are at that time of year when we begin drafting concepts of schedules for next year. LINKED HERE is our district’s instructional minutes guidelines based on ODE’s guidance. Please take a few minutes to review it, and with it in mind, please provide feedback on this year’s schedule in the SURVEY LINKED HERE. It is anonymous, but knowing which grade level you teach or if you are a specialist is helpful in knowing how we can best improve our instructional time. As always, we only have a finite amount of time and not every schedule will be perfect, unfortunately, but we will do our best.
Thanks so much for the feedback and input!
Survey about overnight 5th grade Outdoor School for next year, spring 2025:
We are in the very early planning stages for 5th grade Outdoor School next year. LINKED HERE IS A SURVEY to see which staff members are willing to chaperone a MULTIPLE OVERNIGHT 5th grade Outdoor School trip next year. This is for ANY STAFF MEMBER. If you are interested, please complete the form. Also, if you want it expressly known you do NOT want to chaperone a multiple night overnight trip, please let that be known. Lastly, to be clear, this survey has nothing to do with day trips. Only overnight trip input at this point. Thanks!
DISTRICT INFORMATION
Cooperating Teacher Interest Form (Email 4/18 from Chemika Bolden)
Every year 4J licensed professionals host over a hundred university students from a variety of university licensure programs from around the state and country. We believe that hosting can be a valuable experience and would encourage you to consider this opportunity for the 2024-25 school year. Hosting a licensure candidate can be a rewarding experience as you help them get a positive start on their career, foster a collaborative mentoring relationship with an eager partner willing to assist you and learn from them as they work to apply their ideas, new learning tools and current education research to their practice.
There are two requirements to qualify as a cooperating professional.
1.) Must be at a contract level status. Have taught with 4J or in Oregon for 3 or more years.
2.) Receive approval from the building principal or supervisor.
Additional information and details about the process will be provided to those who express an interest by completing the google form linked HERE.
STEM Training for Elementary Teachers
The Lane STEM Team would like to announce a great summer opportunity for K5 teachers in our county: a 4-day paid workshop on ELA-Science integration. Dara Brennan, TOSA from Springfield is leading this workshop based on her successful experience in her district, and bringing it to the rest of Lane County.
When: July 15 to July 18 Where: Lane ESD Stipend: $1200
Check out the flyer here. Please share with any of your teachers that you think might be interested.
This is the link to the application form: https://forms.gle/o4SCqdTxxzPKBStc8. This application closes May 1.
Feedback Requested on Social Studies Curriculum (Email 4/18 from Sarah Knudsen)
How has it been going with the new social studies materials and lessons? We are currently in the process of refining and expanding the suite of social studies materials that were sent out earlier this year, and we would like your feedback! Let us know what has gone well, what has been a challenge, and suggestions to make it even better. Please share your ideas in this brief survey. Thanks!
EARTH DAY, 4/22 (Resources Email 4/19 from Tana Sheppard)
Earth Day is next Monday! 🌎🌏🌍 Let’s celebrate her all week by taking some actions at home, in the work place and with students. There are themes for each day put together by 4J Climate Justice students, as well as an Earth Day Shift pledge. You may like to include this info in student/family/staff communications.
Here are some links to help you get the Earth Week celebration started:
April’s Eco Experience Newsletter
Note: The massive amount of info below is all available in this document with information for each day.
🌎🌏🌍
And, in case you’d rather not access the doc…read on…
Below are some short blurbs for each day of Earth Week with hot links for your emails/newsletters/websites/announcements.
Introduction to Earth Week:
Every year April 22nd marks Earth Day; the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement; a day set aside to honor, celebrate and take action for our one precious Earth. The 4J Climate Justice team has put together a week of Shifts and a small collection of resources for teachers to use with students to bring awareness to Earth Day and small shifts we can all take to make a big impact for our planet.
4J Climate Justice Students invite people like you and me to make small shifts for big impacts to help Planet Earth. Shift to a new green habit!
There are many ways to reduce our carbon footprint-meatless meals, rethinking waste, conserving water, reducing and reusing items, getting outside and more! All living things are connected and we all share Earth as our home. When we make shifts to greener habits, it makes the world a healthier place to live. Stay tuned this week for daily actions to help our Earth. Visit the 4J Earth Week Actions to learn more.
Take the pledge and make a commitment to reducing personal waste! Let’s Shift together, People!
Monday’s Shift: Small shifts, big impacts.
Meatless Monday-Save Water and Land by planning a meatless meal, eating at least one meatless meal a week, figure out your food footprint with the impact calculator, read more about Meatless Mondays.
For every burger skipped, you can save enough water to drink for the next three years. Meatless meals are nutritious and delicious…Give it a try!
Tuesday’s Shift: Small shifts, big impacts.
Trashy Tuesday-Reduce your waste by reducing what you need, choose reusable over single use items, Love Food Not Waste-start curbside composting, Eat Smart, Waste Less, Recycle Right
Trash: noun, discarded matter; waste. As humans we live in a world of convenience and disposability. Many of us don’t think about what we will do with items we buy and use at their end-of-use-life and where these items will end up when we throw them “away”. Where in the world is away? Most items, unless we plan for them, that place called “away” is usually the land fill. We can make choices about the items we purchase, accept and how to dispose of them in more environmentally friendly ways.
Wednesday’s Shift: Small shifts, big impacts.
Water Wednesday-Conserve and protect water by always using cold water unless you need hot, don’t leave the tap running, take shorter showers, run full loads of clothes/dishes, water outdoors only when needed, always use a reusable water bottle, pick up litter to keep waterways clean
Did you know 70% of Earth is water and only 2.5 % is fresh water? All the water we have is all the water we will ever have. In our area, we rely on the McKenzie river for our drinking water. Water is a precious natural resource that all living things need to survive. It is a first food. Water is life.
Thursday’s Shift: Small shifts, big impacts.
Thrifty Thursday-Save money and the planet by buying second hand items, hang clothes to dry, choose reusable items, repair instead of replace, eat your leftovers, shower less, say no to things you don’t need, shop local
Thrifty: adjective, (of a person or their behavior) using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. When we have a thrifty mindset, it not only keeps money in our wallets, it helps us reduce, reuse, repair, rethink our consumer choices.
Forest Friday-Get outside and love our planet by walking instead of driving, go plogging, make a tree friend, take a hike, smell the flowers, sit by a river, climb a butte, ride a bike, plant a tree, watch an insect, listen to the birds sing.
In Eugene we are lucky to have multiple areas to wander and be outside in natural spaces. Whether it’s right in your neighborhood or a trail nearby, take a moment to get outside and get to know a tree. Is there a tree in your yard or on your street that you love? A tree you always notice on a hike? A tree you’ve read about, but haven’t visited? Get to know that tree. Lean against its trunk, feel its bark, follow its roots with your eyes, look high into its branches and inhale its gift of oxygen…thank a tree today.
Water Weekend: Did you know 70% of Earth is water and only 2.5 % is fresh water? All the water we have is all the water we will ever have. Water is a precious natural resource that all living things need to survive. It is a first food. Water is life. Take some time this weekend to reflect on your personal water usage and ways you may be able to conserve and protect this life giving resource.
FYI: Climate Justice Team “bio” written by high school students and teachers:
The Eugene 4J Climate Justice Team is comprised of high school students, K-12 teachers and support staff across Eugene School District 4J. We are working together for a better future in climate education, to address the issue of climate change for long term impact. This group is dedicated to formalizing climate change education (CCE) across all subject areas and age groups in Eugene 4J and beyond. The team was formed in January 2019 at the first ever 4J Climate Education Summit as a response to the call for action by 4J students and the 4J School Board Climate Resolution of May 2019. Team membership is voluntary and all 4J folx are invited to join and take part in this work.
Enjoy your week-end…and remember, small shifts, make big impacts for our planet.
Upbeat Survey, Spring Edition!
The window for the spring Upbeat Survey will open up May 1-10. I will make sure time is allotted for staff to complete this survey within this timeframe.
Let’s Race: Run Miles On Memorial for Free
Our district is covering the registration fee for 4J employees who want to participate in the Miles on Memorial runs on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at Alton Baker Park. The event begins at 9 a.m. and includes 15K, 10K and 5K runs. All events will be chip-timed with common start and finish lines.Make sure to enter code 4JMiles24 at checkout (https://eclecticedgeracing.com/miles-on-memorial). This code may only be used for 4J employees. Sign up soon, as our district is covering the cost of up to 400 individual race entries. If you are interested in registering friends or family members, the fee is $30 per entry.
Questions? Reach out to the benefits coordinator for your employee group.
WEEK OF APRIL 22ND-26TH
Monday, April 22nd
- 8:45am – Black Student Union in the cafeteria
Tuesday, April 23rd
- 2:45pm – PBIS Tier 1 Team meeting in the Nest
Wednesday, April 24th
- 9:00am – Front Office Group (FOG)
- 1:30pm – Classified Staff Meeting in the Library
- 3:30pm – Life Skills Meeting in Room 1
Thursday, April 25th
- Grade Level Data Team Meetings
- 8:00 – 8:40: 3rd Grade
8:45 – 9:25: Kindergarten
9:35 – 10:15: 1st Grade
10:20 – 11:00: 4th Grade
12:45 – 1:25: 2nd Grade
1:45 – 2:25: 5th Grade
- 8:00 – 8:40: 3rd Grade
- 1:50pm – “Beep! Beep! Winners” Activity
- 2:45pm – Grade Level Team Meetings
Friday, April 26th – Community Day!
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- 8:40am – Community Day Awards Assembly
- 1:50pm – “Beep! Beep! Winners” Drawing
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- 5:00pm – District Kindergarten Event at River Road Elementary
WEEK OF APRIL 29TH-MAY 3RD
Monday, April 29th
- 2:45pm – Attendance Team meeting in the Nest
Tuesday, April 30th
- No Meetings
Wednesday, May 1st
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- (SAEBRS spring screening window opens through end of May)
- 9:00am – FOG
- 12:15pm – Latinx Student Union for 2nd/3rd
- 1:30pm – Certified Professional Learning in the Library
- Unpacking and reviewing SPED Inclusivity Survey Data
Thursday, May 2nd
- 1:50pm – Beep! Beep! Winners
- 2:45pm – Grade Level Team Meetings
- 3:35pm – School Site Council meeting in the Library
Friday, May 3rd
- 1:50pm – Beep! Beep! Winners drawing
