Sunday, August 29

 

September arrives this week and I think it is such a tease! In our dreams, September brings leaves changing color, crisp cool air and maybe even a drop of rain. However, our reality brings 100 degree weather, terrible air quality and zero drops of rain! Well, this calls for some lemonade! Let's focus on sharing something positive with one another this month. Before we say something that isn't great, can you share something that is great? Let me know if you accept the Stoneridge September Challenge! 

A couple of important changes:

1) PLC change: I have an admin meeting this Monday so we will change our curriculum meeting dates to 9/13 for K-2 and 9/20 for 3-5. This Monday, I encourage you to look at your student data and start creating your intervention groups. 

2) Staff Room Change: See the below message from the district. 

• Beginning on Monday, please know that staff rooms will be closed.

• This closure ensures that multiple staff members would not have to go home if exposed to COVID.

• Staff is welcome to eat together in other rooms, as long as they are at least 6 feet apart.

• Eating outside would be the best option, but we understand the constraints with lack of space and students out at the same time.

3) Ice Cream Social: Hold off on sharing information. Right now, we are working on a date as Thursday, 9/16, is Yom Kippur. Wait for an email from your grade level PTC rep.

Walk Up Songs!! Please add your information to this document (this will be shared with staff only): Staff Walk Up Song

Staff Birthdays: Add your birthday to this document. I am going to start including birthdays in the blog and want to make sure I include everyone's birthday: Happy Birthday

Snowie King: Snowie King will be parked in front of the office on Monday afternoons. They are cleared and good to go, so feel free to promote it! 

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday, 9/1, at 3:30pm~ PBIS Team Meeting

Thursday, 9/2, at 8:00am~ Safety Committee Meeting (I will let you know who you are:)) 

Birthdays This Week🎈🎉

August 28th: Sara Franco

September 2nd: Melissa Oxenham

Sunday, August 22nd

 

Smile!! Here we go, full week #3. Each week seems to be better and more crazy, all at the same time! Ha! Whatever comes our way, I have no doubt we will greet it with enthusiasm. Actually, now that I think about it, this is the last full week in August! Is that crazy, or what?? Honesty check: Is anyone already thinking about Thanksgiving break? 😂😂

Art Docent: You can officially start recruiting Art Docent volunteers. I think it is a good idea to have 2 volunteers per class. I will share more details about trainings, times, etc. But for now, find volunteers.

Ice Cream Social: I know your PLC Lead has already shared this, but we are good to go for outside PTC activities! Our PTC is planning like crazy. The first event we will have is an Ice Cream Social on Sept. 17. Many of our families are very excited about this event, so play it up. We will be sharing more details very soon! 

Staff Meeting: We have a staff meeting this Wednesday. Due to new guidelines and COVID numbers rising, we will be moving the meeting to Zoom. I know this is disappointing to many, but we have to be super careful. I think I say this every week, but this new variant is no joke. It spreads like wildfire! This is one step we can take to stay ahead of things. On that note, PLC meetings can be in person, but they need to be distanced. 

PE Corner: Christi realized that many of the things they are teaching in PE are transferrable to the classroom so she is going to add information to the blog in PE Corner. 

Your Timberwolves have been doing AMAZING work in PE this year! We wanted to share some skills we have been working on in PE that might give some language that you can use in the classroom, too.

We have been working with the students on SELF SPACE. This is where they find a space where they are not touching anyone OR anything. They have been doing a great job of finding their self space on their own!

We have also been working with the students on GENERAL SPACE. This is a space that has boundaries, kind of like a backyard may have a fence. We have been working on staying inside of the boundary and also how to move in general space without touching our peers.

One final skill that we have been working on is how to find a partner and/or group. We have taught the students how to ask politely, and when asked politely, the answer is ALWAYS yes. When finding a group, we have worked on the fact that we NEVER leave someone without having a conversation. Our focus is that when we form partners or groups, our intent is that no feelings are hurt.

I hope we have shared some language and skills that you can use and expect in the classroom, as well. Kindergarten, you are a WHOLE different story, we WILL get there!

On that note, I am considering coming up with some recurring topics in the blog. For example, I have no doubt I could provide content for a 'Brooks' Crazy/Funny Story of the Week' or maybe sharing a staff members favorite recipe each week or a picture of what one of you has done over the weekend. I know you are all doing amazing things. If you have ideas, please share. I think these would be fun to include. 

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday, August 25 at 3:30pm: Staff Meeting on Zoom

Saturday, August 14th

 

We did it! We made it through an entire week! This will be the week we really dive in and get going. I want to give you permission to meet your students where they are. These students are in a different place. Take the time to slow down and invest in building the foundation before pushing forward. It will benefit everyone in the long run. Thank you for all you are doing!

Recommendation: I highly encourage you to get OTUS up and running. It is true that for Independent Study you can give work OR use OTUS. That being said, in preparation of all things possible, I would become familiar with OTUS again and post some work on it. 

Also, masks covering mouth and nose at all times in the classroom is not an option. It is mandatory for both you and the students. This is an essential measure to help keep all of us safe. Students are testing positive for COVID and we have to stay on top if it. I am aware that some of you have students that are struggling to follow this. We will get it figured out. 

Parking Lot Duty: The gift of having morning and afternoon parking lot duty covered has come to an end. They plan to do it at various times throughout the year. I will let you know when. Here are the awesome members:

PLC Leadership:

Kinder- Maria Larsen

1st- Abby Wilkinson/Christina Cerutti

2nd- Ally Simmons

3rd- Erin Roberts

4th- Cathy Wallace

5th- Sara Franco

PLC Leads, you win a meeting this week!! Yay!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Sunday, August 8

 

We can do hard things! How do I know, because we do them everyday! And one of those things is making it through the first two days of school. Especially, this year! I don't know how you feel, but there was a whole new dynamic this year. Some kids have been on distance learning for almost two years. For young kids, that is a huge amount of time!! It is also very important time. As I know you are, keep that in mind as you teach your students the expectations of the classroom and school. We got this! 

Lunch: Lunch is going well. One of the biggest things kids learn at school is that they have to eat FAST!! Get your lunch basket systems worked out with your classes. Fourth and Fifth grade classes, thank you for reminding your kids to line up after recess. Things are not perfect yet, but we are working in the right direction. 

Recess Duty: I have to apologize but I blew it. We have many more kids on campus this year, so we have more kids out at recess in each grade level. We also cannot count on Jen, Rori and I to be out at recess. We are often pulled in several directions. So, we will need at least three teachers -total- out at recess for 2/3 and 4/5. You can work it out however you want but please make sure there are at least three teachers out at recess. I am sorry for the confusion. 

Evaluation Year: If you are up for evaluation this year, which is many of you, I will be sending an email to let you know. We will need to get the F1 signed by Friday. Stay tuned for more info. 

Snowie King on Mondays: A huge thank you to Robin Santos for coordinating Snowie King to be out in front of the school on Mondays. I will share information in the parent blog, but you can also share the information with your classes. 

Stipend Positions: I will be reaching out this week to those of you that volunteered to take on a stipend role. I will also be asking for some to fill in open spots. 

Coming up this Week:

Wednesday, August 10 @3:30pm- We will have a PBIS Team meeting. I will be reaching out to members. 

Sunday, August 1st

 

Hello All!! Can you believe it is August 1st? I am actually struggling between 'already' and 'only.' Already because it is ALREADY August! Only because we are already starting school and it is ONLY August 1st!! My son's birthday is September 2nd. That used to be at the beginning of the school year. Now, it is a whole month away! Ok, now that we have that out of the way...moving on to this coming week! 

PD Tomorrow:

We are going to meet from 8:30-11:30am in the staff room. The MP is not available because Adventure Club is there. That is ok, the staff room is more comfortable anyway! Breakfast and coffee will be provided by the PTC. Lunch will be provided by Chik-fil-A!! Winner winner chicken dinner!!

Reminders:

1) Wear something that represents you. You will be sharing the 'why.'

2) Bring your laptop.

3) If you are not verified as vaccinated, please wear your mask. 

4) Sit with your PLC. 

Staff Meeting: We will be meeting Wednesday from 8:30-11:30am in the staff room. I will be going over what coming back to school looks like in regard to masks, quarantines, etc. I will also talk about the first day of school and much more! We will also get duties, stipend roles and site contributions squared away. 

Dates to Know: Please see this document for important dates of meetings. I have put them all on the staff calendar or the school calendar. 

'21/'22 Stoneridge Dates to Know

Educator Blog: Please read the Educator Blog. There is A LOT of information, but it is all very helpful information!! It has answers to many questions you may have. 

I think that is all for now. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. It is going to be awesome!!

Have a great evening!