Madison Middle School

By barsotti_p 　https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/madisonstaff/2021/05/21/may-21-2021/

Hi Madison Staff,

With only about 18 work days left until the last day of school!  We’re in the home stretch, but this is when things start to get busy and changing quickly. Please read blogs and emails that come from the office.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

This Week’s Schedule:

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 full log at the beginning of each new unit. Complete the last 2 questions weekly for students on IEPs who are not engaging or are not on track. 
• Focus Slides
  • Monday – Canvas Self Check
  • Tuesday – Mindfulness
  • Thursday – Self-care at Middle School
  • Friday – Team-building Name, Place, Animal, of Thing

Madison INFORMATION         
     

• Tuesday Book Group: Please read the last two chapters to be ready for book group (chapter 16 and 17).
• Wednesday Staff Meeting and PD: This week we will continue to work on the the Revision and give you some time to do the SEABRS.
• COVID Protocols Update: 
  • Mask Wearing: The CDC has updated their guidance on mask wearing for vaccinated individuals HOWEVER, 4J is NOT changing their policy as our students haven’t had a chance to be vaccinated. All staff and students are expected to continue following current protocols and remain masked up when sharing a space with someone else. You can unmask to take sips of water, when eating, and when alone in your classroom or office.
  • Quarantining: If there is a positive case or you report contact with someone who is positive, Gina has been asked to ask you if you are vaccinated. This will help the team determine who needs to quarantine and who doesn’t. If Gina can provide the district team as much info as possible (exposure date and length of time of exposure, names of all people exposed, and vaccination status), they can work much more quickly.
  • Teleworking: Teleworking is not an option in lieu of taking a sick day. Dawn Strong is now the only person who can approve an employee to telework if they usually work in the building. If you are scheduled to work onsite and you cannot come in that day, you will need to take a sick or personal day. You can still telework on Wednesdays and in the AM like you have all trimester 3.
  • Confidentiality: Students’ and staff’s quarantine or COVID status is confidential information protected by HIPAA. Please do not share students’ or staff member’s status to honor their privacy and right to share that information when/if THEY choose to share it.
     
• Kelly/YG Closure: Kelly and YG will be closed at least next week and possibly longer due to a split support beam in one of their gyms. 
      
  
• Repeat – State Testing: First round went well! Thanks to Christina and Gina for all the prep work and thanks to all our classified staff that helped.
  • Green Cohort = May 26
  • Make-Ups = June 2

•  Reminder – Spring easyCBM: Please check your completion rate and remind students to get those finished.
         
• Repeat: School Climate Survey:  
  • Math teachers, please assign this survey to all students, to be completed on or before June 11th.
  • It can be done either in person or asynchronously.
  • It can be completed on a Wednesday during class or during asynchronous time. This year the surveys have between 32 and 34 questions and combine four components: (1) a significantly reduced version of our annual climate survey, (2) a mental health screener, (3) questions related to the All Students Belong initiative, and (4) questions about student experiences with distance learning. 
                 
• 8th Grade Promotion: We are doing our drive through promotion from 5pm to 7pm on June 17th.  We hope staff will join us to celebrate our 8th grade students and send them off to high school. I might be wearing the new lion costume unless some else wants to wear it.  
      
• Next Year – Teleworking: The district is planning for as much of a “return to normal” as possible next year. With that information, please know that teleworking will most likely not be an option for any staff members next year. If you feel you may need to telework next year, please reach out to HR and work with them to make plans for next year.
       
• Staff Shout-Outs: The weekly check in is now a way to do staff shout out. If you need absolutely anything, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. We didn’t have any shout out this week.
  • The testing crew!  Awesome job.  It ran super smooth.
  • Teachers – you continue to impress me (Peter) with your engaging in-person lessons.
  • Audrey and Mary – for organizing and taking all of the student pictures and working on the yearbook.
  • Anne T – Fun working with her during the 5th grade visits and parent meetings.  It is going to be a fun year next year.

DISTRICT INFORMATION             

• iPad Collection: Students will likely be allowed to keep their iPads over the summer. If you know of students who are moving out of district, please remind them to return their devices and chargers before they go. If families do not want to keep their devices over the summer, they may have the opportunity to return the device, but I haven’t heard for certain yet.
         

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• 4H in the Classroom: Elizabeth Gangwer, from the local 4H club, is offering virtual classroom visits to classrooms to share with kids about 4-H and how to get involved. If you’re not familiar, you can check out the Lane County 4-H page here or read this flyer. If you’d like to schedule Elizabeth for a virtual visit, please email her at elizabeth.gangwer@oregonstate.edu. 

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Gina and Peter