September 9th, 2013
Hi Everyone,
Here we go! The First Week of School is upon us.
Here are several items of note items of note for this week:
September PBIS Focus_ Learn School-Wide Expectations: The first monthly PBIS focus of the year is to learn about all of the school environments. Please review all the expectations for each space in the settings not in the classroom.
CFK First Week: During the first week of school and second, I would like to join your Morning Meeting. I will be wandering through classrooms in the first and second week to assist you or co-facilitate if you like. I may be photographing some meetings too.
Supervision First and Second Week of School – All available staff should help supervise in the morning near the cafeteria and the bus zone. Also, as agreed in our staff meeting, please swap the PM supervision between primary and intermediate so that primary teachers can assist on the buses the first weeks of school.
Proposal for Friday Folders to become Monday Folders School-wide: I would like to propose that we begin using Friday Folders on Monday as a school-wide communication tool. We will discuss and decide on this in the staff meeting on Tuesday as a group decision. Important messages to families get lost or communicated when we spread out messages over several days. During the first week, it is ok to send a folder home before Monday.
Register Guard Newspapers in Education Program – The Register Guard provides free newspapers to classrooms (Wed. – Fri.) and are now adding free access to their Register Guard e-Edition. See the attached letter for details, but you can call or email them if you’d like to sign-up. (541) 338-2310 nancy.guardino@registerguard.com
EEF Grants – The Eugene Education Foundation hasn’t made their official announcement for this year’s grants, but they did send an email to principals saying that the process will likely be the same as in the past (each school being allowed to apply for two $500 grants and two $2,000, or for one $5,000 grant). And if you’re wondering how the EEF grant reviewers decide what gets funded, they look for grants that do the following:
• Serve the greatest number of students.
• Broaden students’ educational experience.
• Lend direct, immediate support to instructional activities and services.
• Support other efforts that are expanding educational opportunities.
• Encourage completion of a student’s education.
• Support the mission and goals of School District 4J.
The Site Council meeting on September 5th we created a ranking of possible grant ideas.
Here they are:
1. Let’s hear a story- multicultural storytelling (2000.00)
2. Active Awbrey Park Kids- A way to help our students be active year round. (2000.00)
3. Student Council Leadership Project To Prevent Bullying and Harassment at Awbrey Park- (500.00)
4. College Ready Kids! – Creating a school wide college and career readiness event week at AP. (500.00)
Synergy Security Issue – CIS has asked principals to remind staff there is a lot of new data we all can see in Synergy and that all information in Synergy is confidential and shouldn’t be shared outside of school.
Title 1 Newsletter – If you’re curious what’s happening in Title 1 from the district perspective, here is the latest Title 1 Newsletter that went out to all Title 1 Coordinators and principals.
Classroom Newsletters – I’d love to have copies of classroom newsletters when teachers send/email them home. I encourage you to think about sending some of your newsletters home electronically if you have not started to do so. Of course, many of our families still need paper if they do not have an active email. I prefer the electronic version this year. This helps me keep up to date on what’s happening in classes, and also lets me know details of any class activities.
Reading Visits in your Classrooms – Please let me know a time that I can come into your classroom for 15-20 minutes to read a story to your class and introduce myself to your students.
Staff Meeting Agenda for September 10th
Agenda:
1. Monday Folder Decision 5 minutes
2. Scholastic Week Decision 5 minutes
3. Andrew ESC Procedures for the year. 5 -10 minutes
4. Leadership Proposal from Joel – Discussion, Vote in October. 10 minutes
5. Announcements and upcoming events- Moon Festival, Jog-a Thon, Hot Diggity Dog -5 minutes
Schedule of Events for the Week
September 9 (M)
Planning Day
10:00-11:00, All playground supervisors in Room 13 to review agenda supervision plan.
12:00-1:00, Open House in Cafeteria/ Gym and Classrooms
September 10 (T)
First Day for Students
3:00- 4:00, September Staff Meeting
September 11 (W)
Early Release Day
September 12 (H)
3:00-4:00, Q&A Session for New Staff (Room 13)
6:00-8:30, Hot Diggity Dog Event
September 13 (F)
1:45-2:15, Welcome back to school assembly
Coming up…. Fall Benchmarking -September 16th to 20th Moon Festival on September 20th and Jog-a-thon October 3rd
Equity and Diversity Link of the Week: This year I will be including a thought provoking article or blog entry to keep us thinking about equity and diversity in our building throughout the year.
For Whites Like Me: An Open Letter to White Parents
Have a great first week of school everyone!
Joel