Madison Middle School

Hi Madison Staff,

Here we go! I try to stay away from sports analogies, but it is game time.   Students are coming in a few short hours. It’ll definitely be all hands on deck, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. We’re all here to support one another.

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 math or ELA 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.   

MADISON INFORMATION   

• Focus Slides 
  • Monday – Review hybrid schedule
  • Tuesday – Canvas Self Check
  • Thursday – SEL Lesson (Patience)
  • Friday – Team building (Two Truths and a Lie)    

• Hybrid Updates:  
  • Madison Hybrid Q&A Document                
  • Attendance & Contact Tracing: 

• Madison’s Full Time Guest Teacher: 
  • Paula Loftin has been hired to be Madison’s designated guest teacher for the remainder of the year.
  • She is being paid full time, every day, whether someone is out or not, so we will be assigning her key roles to assist with hybrid instruction whenever she’s not being utilized to cover for a teacher. For example, she’ll likely be helping with LIPI and office hours for the online-only kids.
  • If, for whatever reason, you’d prefer a different guest teacher, or Paula is already scheduled on a specific day, other subs may be accessed as well.

• • • In Person Learning: Students are only marked present if they attended in the building, just as we would in a regular school year.

• • In Person Health Screening: As students enter and sit down, teachers need to ask each student the following two questions.

• • • Are you feeling okay?
    • Have you felt anything that’s different for you in the last few days?

If a student’s answer indicates that might not be feeling well, or follow up questioning indicates they may be ill, they are escorted by an adult to “sick bay” in room 504. Call the office if you need assistance.        

• • Ventilation Info: If you’re interested, this email from Facilities gives details about how our HVAC system works.
         
• Evacuation Drill 2nd Tuesday & Friday of Hybrid: 
  • Tuesday, 4/20 @2:00 (Blue Cohort, 5th period)
  • Friday, 4/23 @2:00 (Blue Cohort, 5th period)
  • Updated map of field for fire drills
       
           
• 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: 

DISTRICT INFORMATION

• State Testing: ODE shared a tentative plan for testing this year. Each test will only be the multiple choice portion and that section has been shortened. Families will be offered the option to opt out and we wouldn’t be penalized for having lower than a 95% testing rate. We also wouldn’t be responsible then for tracking kids down to test, rescheduling missed tests, etc. Kids would have to test onsite, so SSO kids would only test if their parents wanted to bring them. One caveat is that families would be able to request that their child take the full battery of assessments they normally would. The district is working on their plan and I’ll share more as I learn it. Please do not reach out to families with information about testing at this time. District leaders are working on a district-wide statement with linked resources.
           
• Repeat: ACE Award Nominations: In a year like no other, consider recognizing a colleague for an ACE award. Nominations can be made in three categories: teachers and licensed specialists, administrators and supervisors, and classified staff. Nominations are due by April 15th. Linked here is the ACE Awards email and the ACE Awards Nomination webpage.    

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

•  Free Lecture – Ibram Kendi in Conversation about How to Be an Anti-Racist: OSU is offering a free lecture featuring Ibram X Kendi, a National Book Award Winner, historian, and leading anti-racist voice in America on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 from 506pm via Zoom. Register here.
• UO Professional Development RSVP: The UO and Washington Ethnic Students Now is offering a PD series on critical race theory, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and ethnic studies during three class sessions to be offered virtually via Zoom scheduled from 9-4pm June 22, 23, and 24. Teachers will be provided with PDUs and a $1,000 stipend upon completion of the course, and @200 in materials and books for the classroom. The goal will be to actively involve participants in the exploration of race and critical consciousness and to incorporate these new concepts into professional practice. See the linked email and flyerfor details.

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Peter and Gina

Hi Madison Staff,

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 unit. Complete the last 2 questions weekly for students on IEPs who are not engaging or are not on track. Many of you will be starting new units as we transition from Tri2 to Tri3, so please make sure to complete all questions as that happens.
• COVID Protocol Suggestion Box – Please add any suggestions or concerns here.
     

MADISON INFORMATION          

• Hybrid Planning Documents
  • Letter sent to families regarding transition
  • Madison Canvas Transition Support Doc

• Focus Slides – Focus slides will be made available by Monday afternoon, in advance of Tuesday’s zoom meeting. Rechelle will be working over the break to create several Loom videos on topics such as: Cleaning up your Canvas dashboard, Clearing your cache, and Modeling the Canvas Self-Check form. The slides will also contain several fun activities. The following week, there will be content regarding safety protocols for hybrid for you to preview with students.

•      
  • Routine Cleaning by Teachers: As has been shared, teachers will be responsible for spot cleaning areas throughout the day as needed, especially shared objects and high touch areas. Desks will need to be cleaned after each class as well. Please let Jim know if you need more cleaning supplies.
            
  • Contact Tracing and Attestation Google Forms: We’ll go over this at Monday’s staff meeting, but downtown is going to reactivate staff badges to work at all entrances. Swiping your badge at a school entry point will take the place of the paper sign in sheets we’ve been using. Staff will swipe their badges at any entry, even if the door is already open. That’s what signs you in. Staff won’t need to sign out. Before they’ll turn on our card readers, 100% of staff members will need to complete two Google forms. The first is the COVID-10 Attestation: Daily Screening and Reporting Requirements for Reporting to the Worksite form. This one walks staff through all the agreements and rules for working onsite. The second is the Eugene School District Contact Tracing Form. This one asks you to detail your daily schedule so they can better determine if people have crossed paths should there be a positive COVID case.  You can be very general on this questions, it is just to help narrow down the people to contract trace.  For example, I put 8-4 even though that is rarely my hours.  Once everyone has completed these forms, I can ask downtown to turn on our badge readers and toss those paper sign in sheets!
          
  • Food Box Deliveries: Food boxes will be available on Wednesdays beginning March 30 at Madison Middle School. My understanding is after March 19, there won’t be daily food distribution. Instead families can pick up a week’s worth of food at Madison. There will be delivery available. Please connect families with Rebecca if they reach out about food.
        
     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 celebrate Peter for his remarkable vision with the Master Schedule for Tri 3, and for steadfastly encouraging me to keep moving forward even though every one else in the district was doing something different! His leadership kept me going & really paid off in limiting per student contact #s and balancing between so many requirements!
    • Appreciating all the open, struggle in working through the tough stuff I see in our staff.

DISTRICT INFORMATION

• ACE Award Nominations: In a year like no other, consider recognizing a colleague for an ACE award. Nominations can be made in three categories: teachers and licensed specialists, administrators and supervisors, and classified staff. Nominations are due by April 15th. Linked here is the ACE Awards email and the ACE Awards Nomination webpage.    

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• NASA Names Rocks and Soils on Mars in Navajo Language: The Perseverance Rover’s team has been collaborating with members of the Navajo nation to  name different features on Mars. 
      
• What’s Coming Next Week:
  • March 22-26 = SPRING BREAK!!!! 

Enjoy you well earned break!

Peter and Gina

Hi Madison Staff,

This year it seems the only thing we can count on is change.

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 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.
     

MADISON INFORMATION     

• 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:
• FOCUS Slides: 
  • Monday: Please Announce Wednesday’s Talent Show Assembly! Also, this week, there’s a special Canvas check reflection in order to FOCUS kids on one or two particular classes in which they need to improve before end of term. 
  • Tuesday: Discussion question – What was your favorite childhood toy, and why? and 
  • Wednesday: FLEX DAY – 1:00 Talent Show Assembly Zoom Link
  • Thursday: SEL Lesson – Video-based Leadership Quiz
  • Friday Fun: Scattergories and “Pass the Object”

DISTRICT INFORMATION

• Superintendent’s Update: Linked here is the email that was sent to families last Friday with updated information about elementary, middle, and high school’s return to onsite learning.
• Safety Protocols for Hybrid: Here is an informational video put together by district leadership. It’s about 20 minutes long, so please don’t feel the need to watch it now. We’ll be viewing it together as a staff during our next staff meeting, but we wanted you to have the link, in case you’d like to preview it and generate questions ahead of time, or reference it at a later date.  
• Child Care Resources: Below is from Cydney’s email on Friday afternoon:
  If you need childcare for when you return to working on-site for the hybrid model, now is the time to make those arrangements. Thanks to staff who responded to the district survey in January, we know this is a challenge for some of our team. Full-day childcare will not be available at school sites. However, before- and after-school care options with community providers are being arranged at elementary school sites; check with your school if this is a need for your children. For other local childcare options including full-day care, we’ve compiled some options in this Google doc. The Employment-Related Day Care program (ERDC) helps eligible families pay for childcare while they are working. We are also actively developing a program to provide partial subsidies for certified childcare costs for 4J staff using federal funds, and will share more information if this becomes available to help our team members with school-age children.  
      

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION  

• It’s Time to Talk About Dr. Seuss: If we had been in-person this week, many schools would’ve been celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday in conjunction with Read Across America. In this article from Teaching for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), author Gabriel Smith discusses a study done 2 years ago that analyzed Dr Seuss’s writing from an anti-racist lens. The findings highlighted a number of concerns in Dr Seuss’s work, especially in how people of color are depicted. The author does not suggest abandoning Seuss’s work entirely, although there have been serious calls in the last few years to pull Seuss back from the relative idol status he currently holds in education.  The author instead recommends we closely analyze the materials we provide students to determine if a) it should be presented at all given the students’ age and b) if it is presented, what kind of critical conversation students should engage in around the text.
      
• Anti-Racism Over “Tradition”: Alternatives to Dr. Seuss and Racism: This article from Kaitlin Kamalei Brandon at Colorful Pages elevates anti-racist texts that fill the same needs people have when they turn to Dr Seuss books – namely rhyming patterns, ease of reading, and illustrations. Included are texts like Ada Twist, Scientist and No Kimchi for Me along with many more suggestions.

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. We’re here for you.

Gina and Peter

Hi Madison Staff,

It’s four weeks until Spring Break…I’m thinking of making one of those linking chains to count it down 🙂

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 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.
• This Week’s Focus Lessons:
  • Monday: Self Check and Ms. T videos
  • Tuesday: Reflection around compassion
  • Wednesday: Bring your pet to school assembly
    • Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93057533803?pwd=N2ZqMmx3bkgxZzgxT2xjV1h4L0FhUT09
    • Meeting ID: 930 5753 3803
    • Passcode: 820937
  • Thursday: SEL Lesson – Helpfulness
  • Friday: Team Building – 10 Strikes

Madison INFORMATION      

• Staffing: Alan Carr is rejoining Madison as the Learning Center EA starting on Monday.  He will be taking over Jeremy’s job of supporting the LC class and some 6th grade support.  If you know Alan, please send him a welcome back email.
• Wednesday PD: We will start talking about hybrid and what it can look like.
• Hybrid Planning Updates: 
  • Master Schedule: Rechelle has been working very hard to create the smallest cohorts possible for trimester 3.  The students will be cohorted based on electives with special consideration that all advanced math students or students receiving IEP support will not be traveling together.  Some of your prep periods might change but none of your classes are changing unless we have already talked.
        
  • Safety Drills: We did 2 fire drills this week, one for the A-Day students and one for the B-day students.  I have to say, they were super fast 🙂
        
  • Questions?: If you have any more questions about this transition, please send them to me. Middle School administrators will start talking about hybrid soon.
     
• Madison Book Group: This week, we will be talking about chapter 5 – Intersectionality.
            
• 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 is the shout-out from last week: Jim Colton shows up day in and day out, and always has a good attitude even when he is called upon for icky jobs.
   

    

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Learning with other Educators: This is an ODE opportunity that was sent to Gina and I which we thought was pretty cool.
• Coping with Change and Uncertainty: In this article, originally published in Mental Health for Educators, author Phyllis L. Fagell offers 6 suggestions for educators to regain a sense of control during this tumultuous times.
   
  • Reframe your personal narrative
  • Prune and preserve relationships
  • Build community and foster collegiality
  • Be specific when naming emotions
  • Exercise agency
  • If you can’t fix it, aim for acceptance
      
• A Simple Way to Self-Monitor for Bias: Teachers concerned that they might be showing bias against students in marginalized groups can use a short checklist for self-assessment. Those five areas are discipline, calling on raised hands, cold calling, “This kid is in the wrong class”, and good times. See this article from Edutopia for more information.
       
• Mars Landing: Linked here is a toolkit for teaching students about the Mars landing, happen on February 18.

What’s Coming Next Week: 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Peter and Gina

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:

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
  • Monday – Help 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: 

Here’s to hope on the horizon!

Peter and Gina