Madison Middle School

By barsotti_p 　https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/madisonstaff/2021/03/13/march-12-2021/

Hi Madison Staff,

One week to Spring Break! As we look toward start your new classes after Spring Break, this coming week will likely be a lot of work wrapping up Trimester 2.  Please continue the good work of loving the students we serve.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

This Week’s Schedule:

Quick Links: 

• SPED/Gen Ed Collaboration Log – Complete the full 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.
• COVID Protocol Suggestion Box – Please add any suggestions or concerns here.   
• FOCUS Slides
  • Monday – Begin Discussing Hybrid with kids
  • Tuesday – Social Distancing: Don’t for to sanitize!
  • Wednesday – SEL lesson: The Bystander Effect
  • Thursday – BINGO

MADISON INFORMATION      

• Trimester 3 Classes
  • We are able to keep all of your Focus classes the same as last trimester.
  • Your classes should be ready to view Saturday morning in synergy and maybe even Canvas
• LIPI Fire Drill
  • This Monday and Tuesday we will be doing two fire drills in the morning.
• Canvas Prep Time
  • On March 15th, 17th, 18th – No Collaborative Planning time 10:45-11:45
  • March 17th and March 18th, after prep – no morning Meetings or official office hours. Also if it fits with your classes, you can plan a quick wrap up for your afternoon classes.
• Hybrid Planning
  • March 31st and April 7th – All day except  10 am staff meeting
  • April 8th and 9th – All day but need to plan async work for students
• Weekly Check In: Don’t forget that the weekly check in includes a space to celebrate each other. Linked here is the staff weekly check-in. I’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: 
  • I want to Thank everyone who helped make our Classified Week so Special & Gina, Thanks for the Yummy Breakfast.
  • I would like to celebrate the Not Require Committee. I love laughing with all of you.
• Madison Covid Protocol Virtual Suggestion Box

DISTRICT INFORMATION   

• Child Care Resources: The district created a child care voucher for employees with students aged 5-12 who need to access childcare to return to on-site learning. Linked here is the email about the program sent on Friday. 
      

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Trauma Informed Teaching: Strategies That Work, Even In Remote Learning: This article from Better Lesson shares tips for infusing trauma informed practices into hybrid and remote learning. Many of these we already do, so it’s good to have those choices reaffirmed. There’s one key idea I wanted to address. I recognize the mixed messages I may have sent when we discussed instructional models. We talked a lot about ensuring the work students did on their “off cohort” days wasn’t essential to the work they would do when in person. This may send the message that this is busy or throw-away work. It isn’t and shouldn’t be. Kids should know the work you ask them to complete is important, that it’s key to their learning, and that you expect them to do it. Students who may struggle to complete work on their own should be encouraged to talk with you, work out a plan, but still get the clear message the work is important. There will always be situations that impede particular students’ ability to engage during their off cohort days, and we should approach those with a trauma informed lens, but creating routines and expectations for students and helping teach them strategies to meet those expectations is good for everyone in the long run.
        
• Keeping the Plates Spinning: You’re being asked to be all things to all kids. I want you to know I see that and I hear it coming out of my own mouth (see linked article above). The load is always heavy but this year it’s super sized (and not in the good McDonald’s french fry way). So thank you. Thank you for showing up every day even on the mornings when you lie in bed and wish you didn’t have to get up. Thank you for building relationships with kids and creating a safe learning space. Thank you for connecting with families and doing all you can to get kids engaged. Thank you taking in all the changes and trusting they’ll get figured out. Thank you for staying. I’m sure there are days you don’t want to and days where the only thing keeping you here are those faces on Zoom. Thank you.       
• What’s Coming Next Week: 

We’ll get through this together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or just need someone to listen. I’m here for you.

Gina and Peter