February 4th, 2021

By barsotti_p  

Hi Madison Staff,

Last week was National School Counseling Week, so we wanted to take a minute and celebrate Mrs. T for all she does for our students and families (and all of us as well). We are so grateful to have you, Anne! Many thanks to Anne!

Here’s what’s happening this week:

This Week’s Schedule:

Mon, February 8

A – Day

Tue, February 9

B – Day

Wed, February 10

Flex Day

Thur, February 11

A – Day

Fri, February 12

B -Day

8:00 TLC GLT

11:15 Talk About Race Book Study

8:00 Climate Team

9:45 Not Required Committee

10:15 Staff Meeting and PD

8:00 Justice League  

Quick Links: Please make sure you’re signed into your 4J Google Account to access many of these links.

  • SPED/Gen Ed Collaboration Log – Complete the log at the beginning of each unit. Complete the last 2 questions weekly for students on IEPs who are not engaging or are not on track.   
  • Week 7 Focus Class Slides
    • MondayHelp us celebrate last week’s National School Counselors Week by having kids watch Gina’s Flipgrid challenge and submit a short clip sharing what they love most about our very own Ms. T! It’s easy, fast, and fun!
      •  
    • Tuesday – Two minute mindfulness and journal reflection – A 4-year-old’s bucket list
    • Wednesday – Flex Day
    • Thursday – SEL lesson – Brene Brown on Empathy
    • Friday – Zoom Hide and Seek, like we played during our staff PD. Allison, thanks for modeling that for us!

Madison INFORMATION      

  • Wednesday PD: This Wednesday’s PD is going to be with Spencer Butte and will be the next in our series about Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care.  
  • Madison Tuesday Book Group:   No new reading this week. We are going to meet as a large group and have small conversations about the book with staff members not in your small group.
  • Reimbursements: If you’ve purchased anything for school this year and would like to be reimbursed from your classroom funds, please get receipts to Mary.
  • Repeat – Weekly Check In:  The weekly check in will now include a section to celebrate one another. We’ll be sharing these out in staff meetings and in our blog. Let us know who we should celebrate and why! Linked here is the staff weekly check-in. We’d like to know how you’re doing and be able to offer support for those who need it.
    Here are the shout-outs from last week:

    • Several people offered shout outs to their book study groups and commented that they’re really enjoying the opportunity to have meaningful conversations and build deeper connections with colleagues.
    • 8th grade team – We operate like a support group, a steering committee, and a cheerleading squad. We can admit struggles to each other, and because of that, we can also share ideas and solutions. Then, when we have GOOD news to share, we can all celebrate the success!

DISTRICT INFORMATION                 

  • Vaccinations: About 1/5 of 4J staff were offered the opportunity to be vaccinated on Friday 1/29. They targeted staff members who will be present with the first students return to school (K-2 and LIPI staff), including our food service worked, custodians, and educational assistants, and staff who is already working in-person with kids such as school psychs who are testing and those working at internet hubs. 
       
     As one of our staff members said, the vaccine clinic was one of the most organized events 4J has ever hosted. For those who feel comfortable, consider signing up to participate in V-Safe after your vaccination. It’s an online tool on your smartphone to gather information about vaccine side-effects to help improve the information available about the vaccine. It asks for your name, birthdate, and phone number to register. You then check some boxes to share any side effects you’re experiencing and rate them from mild to moderate to severe. You then receive a text the day after your vaccination to rate that day’s side effects as well.
        
  • 2020-21 State Testing Waiver: ODE submitted a request to the Department of Education to waive state assessments for this year. It has not yet been approved and the state testing window is still currently set to open March 4th, but this is good news and we are hoping it gets approved ASAP!
      

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

  • Black History Month: This article from Teaching Tolerance explores why we need Black History Month more than ever this year. “Perhaps there would be no need to observe Black history in a designated month if it were taught year-round, alongside other histories as part of a regular curriculum. It wouldn’t be such a novelty if there were a rigorous effort to view it as a central part of the American story. But we aren’t there yet. And, until we get there, Black History Month should be recognized as a crucial opportunity to broaden students’ knowledge and help them see how the past connects with their lives today—and how it has inspired movements for change.”Another way to honor Black History this month is to consider our curriculum and plan for opportunities to teach Black history, and work to include the history of other traditionally marginalized populations, throughout the year. Here are a few ideas to hopefully spark some opportunities:
    • When learning about time, students can also learn about Benjamin Banneker, the man who built America’s first clock. He also accurately predicted a solar eclipse which contradicted the predications of more well-known astronomers at the time.
    • During the Hour of Code, students could learn about Valerie Thomas, who invented the Illusion Transmitter, which is the basis for all 3D experience-based games and movies. 
    • Just for fun, kids might be interested in knowing about Lonnie Johnson, the man who invented the Super Soaker and Nerf Guns.
    • Euphemia Lofton Haynes was the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in mathematics.
    • Mark Dean helped develop the first color computer monitor and invented the first gigahertz processor.
    • If you’re teaching about Thomas Edison, don’t forget to include Lewis Latimer! Edison’s original lightbulb only lasted a few days at the most. Latimer invented the carbon light filament which allowed the bulbs to burn longer. Latimer helped patent Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, worked with Edison later in life, and invented an early air conditioning unit.
    • We have Mary and Mildred Davidson to thank for the invention of the toilet paper holder. That might be a fun lesson as students return to in-person learning.
    • This resource from Portland Public Schools, authored by Beatrice Lumpkin, offers more opportunities for teachers to share African and African-American contributions to mathematics. While the resource was published in 1987, it’s very informative. Did you know we have the Egyptians to thank for the partial products method in multiplication (see page 18)?
    • When teaching the Civil Rights Movement, did you know that Claudette Colvin was arrested 9 months prior to Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person?
    • During the American Revolution Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave of African and Native American descent, was the first person to give their life during the American Revolution. Phyllis Wheatley’s poetry carried strong messages against slavery and served as a rallying cry for abolitionists. James Armistead pretended to be a runaway slave wanting to serve the crown and brought intelligence back to the colonists, including his commander, General Marquis de Lafeyette.

What’s Coming Next Week: 

Mon, February 15

A – Day

Tue, February 16

B – Day

Wed, February 17

Flex Day

Thur, February 18

A – Day

Fri, February 19

B -Day

 

 

GLT

11:15 Talk About Race Book Study

9:45 Not Required Committee

11:00 PD

8:00 Justice League  

Here’s to hope on the horizon!

Peter and Gina


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