Week of March 17th, 2014
Schedule of Events for the Week
March 17 (M)
St. Patrick’s Day
Mrs. Stock’s Class to the McGowan Old Growth Forest
8:00-4:30, Joel at negotiations. Gregg Marron is at Awbrey Park
2:30-5:00, Joel to Elementary Principal’s Meeting (Ed Center)
March 18 (T)
Mrs. Tait’s Class to the McGowan Old Growth Forest
8:00-4:00, Joel to Jon Saphier Principal Training (Ed Center) (Joel leaves early to attend CLIC)
3:00-4:00, CLIC Instructional Meeting- Focus, the big rocks list.
March 19 (W)
1:00-1:30, Compassion Assembly (We will begin seating students at 12:45)
March 20 (H)
1:00-2:00, Ultimate Bulldog Recess
3:00-4:00, IPBS Meeting
March 21 (F)
No School — Professional Learning/Planning Day
8:30-12:30, Awbrey Park Professional Learning (Room 13/Classrooms)
8:00-11:35, EA Extravaganza (Ed Center)- If you have already been to these trainings please join us at Awbrey Park for our sessions.
March 31 (M)
Classes Resume
April 1st (T)
Jeremy Boyce returns!
3:00-4:00, Staff Meeting
Hello Everyone,
It’s almost Spring Break and only around 54 days left in the school year! Here we go getting ready for another 4 day school week with our last major professional learning opportunity on the day before break. This last Saturday I spent the day at the OALA Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. It was inspiring and motivating. I was seated next to a man named Emilio Hernandez who was my principal when I worked as a tutor at the University of Oregon High School Equivalency Program in 1995-97. He received an honor called DHLEA Award. It was special to see an educator be recognized for working in the state for over 40 years of service to young people.
Have a great week and don’t forget to love the kids you work with. They need your love and compassion. Whether it is a plate of food or a new way to solve a math problem, the work we do every day comes from the bottom of our hearts and it’s why we are here.
Awbrey Park to Host ESY this Summer – Yes, Awbrey Park will once again host ESY. The good news is that Gregg Marron and Venus Williams will return to direct and administrate in our building. They will ensure your room is left exactly as it was found. Last year, they took photographs of every room to ensure each space was exactly the same.
Kids in Transition to School Program Description – 4J has been wanting to get involved in Pre-K for quite some time and is taking some first steps with the Kids in Transition to School program. If it takes off, it’s essentially a summer school program for students entering kindergarten in targeted neighborhoods. Attached is a program description. My guess is that this won’t be placed at Awbrey Park since we already have ESY in our building this summer.
ODE Seeks Nominations for 2015 Oregon Teacher of the Year – Downtown asked principals to share the attached information regarding nominations for the Oregon Teacher of the Year. See the email for information.
The Brain’s Best Friend – Science tells us the brain develops and learns best in safe, supportive environments. Does your classroom fit the bill? See this Teaching Tolerance article for specifics.
CIS Director Change – 4J’s CIS Director, Peter Tromba, has accepted a job at the Oregon Education Investment Board. His new job starts immediately, but he will continue to work part-time as Technology Director until June 30. The process of finding a new director will be starting very soon.
Section 504 Q and A – Last week the District was found non-compliant for Child Find under section 504 and IDEA. “Child find” is the process of locating and identifying students with disabilities. Under Section 504, school districts must annually identify and locate all Section 504 qualified children who are not receiving a FAPE and take appropriate steps to notify their parents and guardians. Principals were asked to communicate with staff that that anytime a parent requests an evaluation for 504 or SPED we need to document it. Further, we need to make decisions related to whether we believe a student should be considered, in a planning meeting. Let me know if you have any questions on this as I am the 504 Coordinator currently.
Have a great week and let compassion and humanity drive your work.
Respectfully,
Joel