Sunday, October 25

Happy Sunday!

Holy Cow! I cannot believe it is the 25th of October already. I also cannot believe our dreams of having students in their seats is coming true so soon! 

This is a picture from Magic School Bus when the bus landed on Mars and is particularly fitting right now. The reason I say that is because we need to think of the school these children are coming back to as if it were a school on Mars. It is a completely different school than any school anyone has been to before. We have to keep this in mind as we welcome the students back. No matter what grade, they will need to be taught rituals and routines as though it is their first year of school ever. 

I must admit, personally I feel better as we learn the processes and procedures that will be put in place. I think it is because it makes me feel like I know where we are headed versus existing in the unknown. As always, there is more information coming this week. I will keep the updates coming your way. 

I will continue to remind you to focus on what you can control versus what you cannot. We have already spent a lot of time stressing about things that changed or never happened. 

I love this quote:

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened,” renowned American author Mark Twain.

That being said, we are experiencing a lot of troubles we could have never imagined!! But within that, there is room to worry about even more. Focus on what we can control. 

Now for the information! Otherwise known as 'Updates and Changes.'

Schedule: I have only received votes for the Schedule B that I proposed. I would like to move forward with that schedule. You can view it here: Recess Schedule

I will be sharing a document next week for you to work out a duty schedule. You will only be covering the AM recesses. I will work to get the afternoon recesses covered.

Information about teacher changes: The district is meeting on Monday to create a timeline for the release of information. I will share that information with you as soon as I get it. I know you want to share the information and parents want to know, but it is what it is. We just have to roll with it! 

November 2nd, Staff Meeting: Speaking of updates and changes... school sites are not allowed to meet in person on November 2nd. We have breakfast for you and then will have our meeting on Zoom.

As we move forward, please be mindful when your PLC's meet. And by mindful, I mean either meet socially distanced with masks, or on Zoom. When students come back into the classroom, each of our exposure increases. If one teacher is unknowingly exposed and then meets in their PLC, all teachers in that PLC will have to quarantine. That puts us in an extremely difficult position of trying to find multiple subs, not to mention many other issues! 

Wednesday, Oct. 28-Meeting: As of right now, I am going to keep in a PLC Leadership meeting. If I decide to change it to a Staff Meeting, I will let you know!

Question Document: I know there are a lot of questions and I will work to get you answers. 

Please put your questions on this document: School Opening Question Document

Data Discussions: I will be sending invites to your PLC's for days that I will be joining your PLC to look at data together. After report cards are done, it is a great time to update your original data sheets and take a look at student progress. 

Have a great week!

And a much needed funny!

Sunday, Oct. 18

 Happy Sunday!

I was hoping you could stop and remember this image right now. 

How are you feeling? 

I know we all have a lot to take in and process. We are all witnesses to the crazy normal of things changing so quickly! At this moment, we are processing having the kids in our classrooms five days a week for 5 hours. 

First of all, this is what we have wanted: Our students in our classrooms, learning and growing. From what I have heard, many are worried about some of the details, like engaging the kids for 5 hours, not having lunch, and more. I have spoken to people in neighboring districts from El Dorado County to Placer County. I want you to know that every educator I spoke to felt excited, concerned, and honestly overwhelmed with stepping back onto campus with students.

I ask that you picture yourself with a "Can Do" attitude. A positive attitude allows us to design what we want something to be. For example, having our students with us, in-person, for five hours is a gift. What does that look like if we design it? 

Other feedback I have received from educators back in schools that the students' behavior has been amazing and they are so highly engaged. Students are so thankful to be with teachers and friends and do not want to compromise their chance of being in-person. How can we capitalize on their positive energy? With five hours, what fun activities to build community can your PLC's plan for your classrooms?

Try to think of not having lunch on campus as a gift. Lunches in classrooms and the multi-purpose room with masks off, shared MDS staff floating between rooms can potentially spread the virus and add quite a bit of cleaning to students and staff. Having worked in other districts, it is not unusual for kids to have a long time span without lunch. I have also witnessed students at our site eat their entire lunch at recess, and not uncommon for students to have 6 minutes to eat lunch in the lunchroom. 

I recognize that this is a significant change from our traditional model, but we will work together to get you breaks during the day, and you will have much more time after the students go home. 

Educators are planners and over-thinkers. It is why we are good at our craft. Today I remind you of a quote from Theodore Roosevelt:

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Together we will stay safe and be successful. We need to take our planning one day at a time.

With the news, come some updates:

1) I will be sharing our schedule soon! We may move our start time up so kids can get home sooner. 

2) There will be two- 15min snack break/recesses a day. I will create a schedule and guidelines for recess that will be shared soon. I am working to get extra hands on deck to help with recess so I can give more of you a break. At a minimum, my goal is that each of you have one of the 15 minute breaks completely off. 

Request: 

In your PLC's, please create school supply list for each student in the classroom. They will have a set at school and a set at home. 

Also, determine what sort of caddy you would like the students to have for their things and let me know what it is. Please find one at the Dollar Tree. We will be getting them for you and would like to order as soon as possible. 

iReady News:

Your iReady rosters will be updated with new students on Nov. 4th. They have moved the next diagnostic window to Jan. 5-29. That way, students are taking it at school (without help) and it is with any new students you may have. 

CAASPP Window:

For planning purposes, the CAASPP window is from March 15- May 21. (I know, we don't even want to think about that right now!) 

Meeting Changes:

Wednesday, 10/21: Staff Meeting @ 2:30pm

Wednesday, 10/28: PLC Leadership Meeting @ 2:30pm

Sunday, October 11

 Happy Sunday!

If this image doesn't capture what we are working through, I don't know what does. This image comes up when you search for 'The calm before the storm." In my opinion, we are definitely living in 'the calm before the storm,' but I also feel like we are walking a path between two worlds. Which side is which? I will leave that up to you, but I am going to guess that it waffles back and forth between the two.  

Input Needed:

Carrie Vincent has requested that you add comments about students that are going into Champions. This is not necessary for every student, but those that struggle or may have an interesting situation. Your comment can be as simple as 'reach out to teacher.' The student's Champions teacher will be then reach out to you. Many of our Stoneridge students will have one of our teachers, but some will not. 

Please add you comments for Champions students here:

Teachers-Stoneridge: Hybrid Placement 2020-2021

Speaking of AM/PM placement, we are just about set. We will be making some final changes Monday morning and then will be sharing with Eich. 

Staff Meeting Change:

As I mentioned at our last staff meeting, I would like to schedule staff meetings sooner than usual so I can share updates. I have a leadership meeting both this Tuesday and next, and the board meeting is this Thursday. I am going to schedule a staff meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2:30pm. Fingers crossed it is full of updates, information and all the answers we have been waiting for!! 

Report Card Information and PD:

I highly suggest attending the report card PD this Monday. 

Here is the document with Monday PD Zoom links: Monday PD

Please make your nominations for the TOMMY APOSTOLOS FUND:

Nomination Form

We need your help! Teachers and staff, it is time to nominate any Kindergarten through 5^th grade child you feel would benefit from the Tommy Apostolos Shopping experience. Nominate any underprivileged, low income, or struggling child you feel needs that boost of self-esteem.

The Tommy Apostolos Fund (TAF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise funds to purchase clothing and other necessities for children in Roseville. TAF was established in 1988 in memory of Tommy Apostolos, a lifelong Roseville resident whose passion was helping children. Based on available funds, TAF coordinates the shopping event directly with the parent/guardian. Our goal is to never leave a child without adequate clothing. 

 

PLEASE CHECK ADDRESSES CAREFULLY. These are used to send applications to the families. The nomination deadline is Monday, October 19^th. Late nominations will only be accepted if space is available.

 

THESE REFERRALS ARE CONFIDENTIAL. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS WITH FAMILIES OR STUDENTS! Invitations are sent directly to the families.

 

Due to COVID, this year our shopping will be a bit different.  The applications going to nominees are very detailed.  Volunteers will be given a child’s application to make selections for that child. Final decisions on child involvement are being determined now. However, we will still be able to help hundreds of families have a better holiday.

 

If you would like to help, please sign up online at TommyAFund.com to shop at Kohl’s on Saturday, December 5^th or 12^th, starting at 6:00 a.m. and going throughout the day. More details will be available by November 1, 2020.

 

If you have any questions about the nomination process, feel free to contact Tommyafund@gmail.com

Tommy Apostolos Fund Nomination Form

Coming up this week:

PBIS Team Meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2:30pm. 

I think that is all for now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Sunday, Oct. 4

 Happy Sunday!

Thank you for all you are doing. I don't think there is anyway I can possibly express how much I appreciate all you are doing. I am hoping you have gotten to a point where you can finally breath, I know there was not a lot of that happening for quite awhile. The parents and students are also so thankful for all of your work. If you haven't watched the Friday edition of Timberwolf TV yet, please do. I received our first two videos of students thanking their teachers and they were so awesome! The girls sharing are new to our school and I think it is so great how they are jumping right in. So cute! 

PLC this Monday:

I will be dropping into PLC's again this Monday via Zoom. Please share your link with me. We will take a look at the data sheets you worked on last week. I will also be sharing our new data tracking sheet. 

You can take a peek at the data sheet here: Stoneridge Data Wall

I am SO excited about this!! When you enter the scores, it automatically color codes according to their performance. This makes our data so easy to see and discuss. 

Meeting Changes:

I changed a few of the upcoming meetings. Things have gotten a bit out of whack and I tried to line things up again. The new dates are:

10/7 - Staff meeting at 2:30pm

10/14 - PBIS Meeting at 2:30pm

10/21 - PLC Leadership at 2:30pm

10/28 - Staff Meeting at 2:30pm

Brainstorming Staff Morale Ideas:

I imagine you already are, but please start thinking of ideas to share to support our staff culture. Maybe you have seen things done at other sites, maybe you have some unique ideas-- Please share them with your PLC Lead. Also, if there is anything that is bothering you and you think to yourself, 'This particular thing would be better if....' I want to know what the 'If' is! Please share. Let's work together to find solutions. 

AM/PM Lists

We are working on creating rosters for AM and PM. We will pull you in for your feedback when we get it all cleaned up. 

Thank you for all you are doing! Please let me know what I can do to support you.