Sunday, Sept. 26

 

Hello All! I just want to say thank you for being so understanding as I have been out so long. I hate every minute but sure do appreciate how everyone has made it so painless. Thank you to Rori for doing all the fun jobs while I am out. Thank you to Shelli and Luisa for simply being the most amazing! And thank you to all of your for messages, support and constant hard work. I will be back in person for the PD day on Friday. 

Ice Cream Social: The new date will be October, 7th from 5:30-7:30🍦

PD on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1: I will be sharing a schedule with specifics. Thursday will be our DTM's. I will be attending via Zoom. The rest of that day should be used to work on your Essential Standard Binder: Essential Standard, Tier 1 Assessment, Tier 2 Assessment. Here is the DTM Document that contains a TON of helpful information: DTM Checklist Protocol

Oct. 1 will be some whole group information and then more time to work on Essential Standards. I am envisioning this in the MP. I will let you know if that changes. 

Balls: We have your classroom balls ready to go. Here is some information about the balls:

Each grade level has 2 basketballs, 2 playground balls and 1 soccer ball.  

All balls are labeled by room# 's and in bags/baskets.

1st -3rd are in baskets with room numbers

4th-5th are in mesh bags

Color Coded-

1st graders - Yellow balls

2nd graders - Green Balls

3rd graders - Red Balls

4th graders - Blue balls

5th graders - Orange Balls

Your class should only have 1 of each ball (total of 3 balls) in use at a time.

After these initial balls are gone, you will have to rely on classroom donations for more balls.

We will be sharing expectations for you share with your class before using the balls. 

DO NOT use the balls before Monday, Oct. 4 and before you have taught your classes the expectations. 

PLC Update re/ 3-5th PLC time: I will be sharing a google doc for you to fill out with your grade level. We will do this as the first step before we meet together as a group. I am hoping we will be able to get some time together on Oct. 1. 

Snowie King will be in front of the office on Monday after school. 

TOSA Tidbit

Check out this math video from Graham Fletcher demonstrating how mathematical content grows across grade levels. It's a great visual reminder of the progression of content.

Graham Fletcher Progression Videos

BrainBreak: try this "simple" brain break with your students where they will be crossing the midline of their brain. Well...maybe it's not so simple. :) Oh. my! I need practice with crossing my midline!

Midline BrainBreak Video

Last Week's Walk Up Song was..... Jen Boyd! 

Here is her song again: Jen's Walk Up Song

This is why she chose that song:

When I hear this song it always just makes me laugh. I find it so true, haha! When something happens or I see something crazy I think of this song!

Here is this week's Walk Up Song: 

Mystery Walk Up Song

Let me know who you think it is! Send me your guesses.

If you haven't added your song, here is the form: Walk Up Song

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday, Sept. 29 @ 3:30pm- PBIS meeting 

Thursday and Friday: PD

Birthdays This Week🎈🎉

September 27th: Shannon Nelson

September 28th: Kathi Williams

Sunday, September 19

 

I needed this reminder this week and thought maybe you could use the reminder as well! You are all doing the best you can and that is enough! Remember to take actions each day toward your biggest goals and each day will be a success. All I know is that we need to continue to focus on the positive because we are heading into a long haul. We got this! 

PLC Change: I am going to be out Monday and Tuesday this week, so we will need to push the upper grade PLC meeting to the following Monday, 9/27. 

TOSA Time: Here is the schedule that Rori shared to sign up for support in your classroom. Please sign up and take advantage of this incredible opportunity: Support Schedule

Upcoming opportunities for 4th and 5th graders

We will be sending a message to families with the following information:

Candi is starting the Pokemon Club. It will be Wednesday's at 4th and 5th grade morning recess. (You will get a flier to send home)

Our music ensemble is starting, too! It will meet Mondays and Fridays from 7:50-8:35am

Safety Patrol: I would love to bring back Safety Patrol. Please let me know if you would like to help start it up again.

Ice Cream Social: The Ice Cream Social is this Thursday from 5:30-7:30. You do not have to do anything. If you can stop by for a bit, the students would be over the moon! We are hoping for a fun, community building event! 

Last Week's Walk Up Song was..... Rani Martin! I thought it would be fun to start including the song with the person so you can play it again, if you want. Here is her song: Rani's Walk Up Song This is why she chose that song:

It always hypes me up! My bridal party walked out to it LOL

Here is this week's Walk Up Song: Mystery Walk Up Song

Let me know who you think it is! Send me your guesses.

If you haven't added your song, here is the form: Walk Up Song

Coming Up This Week:

Monday (9/20) and Tuesday (9/21): Brooks out. 

Thursday, Sept. 23 @ 9:45am: Shelter in Place Drill (We make an announcement and you just make sure everyone stays in the classroom. My favorite kind of drill!)

Anyone else want to be the person in this picture?? Have a wonderful week!

Sunday, September 12

 

More rain please!! What a surprise to have rain this week! And another reminder that we can handle whatever comes our way. 

Reminder: Picture Day is Tomorrow! Here is ordering information in case your families have questions: 

Stoneridge Elementary School
Picture Day: Monday, September 13
Picture Day ID: EVT3SSHXN

Tomorrow is Picture Day! If you haven’t already, there’s still time to order school pictures on mylifetouch.com. Please submit your order before Monday, September 13.

Tuesday this week: Stoneridge will be a polling center on Tuesday. It will be held in the MP. Kids will be eating outside as long as Mother Nature does not have other plans for us. 

PLC Tomorrow: Tomorrow grades K-2 will be meeting together during PLC time. We will either meet in the MP or maybe 35 & 36. I will let you know where it will be. I think it is important we meet in person. As a reminder, we will be talking about curriculums used for Guided reading, phonics instruction, balanced literacy, high frequency word list, etc. The goal is that we can create consistency in what we are teaching from room to room and grade to grade. 

Last Week's Walk Up Song was..... Christina DeCuir. This is why she chose that song:

I lived in the west indies (Antigua) for a few years as a child and grew up listening to reggae music. Three Little Birds happily reminds me of my dad and I love the message that EVERY LITTLE THING is GONNA BE ALRIGHT!

I love getting to know a little bit about each of you with these songs. I also appreciate those of you who guessed!! 

Here is this week's Walk Up Song: Mystery Walk Up Song

Let me know who you think it is! Send me your guesses.

If you haven't added your song, here is the form: Walk Up Song

Coming Up This Week:

Monday- Picture Day and PLC together for K-2

Wednesday at 3:30pm- Staff Meeting (Zoom)

Birthdays This Week🎈🎉

September 18th: Ally Simmons

Monday, Sept. 6

 

Happy Labor Day to all of you. Please enjoy this day to relax and unwind. It was so wonderful to have a bonus weekend day! I am going to keep it short and sweet today.

Evening Event Dates: We had a PTC meeting and came up with the dates of all evening events for the rest of the year. 

Ice Cream Social - 9/23

Trunk or treat -10/21

Winter wonderland -12/2

Green event - 3/16 (This one may be tied into Open House)

Open House- 3/23

End of year event - 5/12

Lunch Menu Change:  Tomorrow, Tuesday, is now Taquitos or Bean and Cheese Burrito

Walk Up Song of the Week: Mystery Walk Up Song

Who Is It? Send me your guesses!

I will reveal who it is and why next week in the blog. I will also include another mystery walk up song. 

If you haven't added your song, here is the form: Walk Up Song

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday, 9/8, at 3:30pm- PLC Leadership

Birthdays:

No Birthdays this week

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!