Mid-week bump...

Wow, what a day.  I appreciate everyone reaching out and helping with the student and parent issues today.  This last weekend, I stated that it feels like 5% of our learning community is taking up 95% of our time!  Today, it was 2.5%!

I know we have a lot on our plates, and I greatly appreciate the extra mile you are taking to provide more communication home.  

Sadly, I had two parents visit the school today, literally crying out for more communication.  Both had a great desire to be more informed of school and classroom events, of their student's behaviors and progress.  

It was wonderful to have several classroom memos and the middle school progress report readily available to share with these parents.

Please keep up the excellent work, and thank you for helping improve our family communication.

 

Brett

K8 Memo

 K8 Staff Memo

 

Weekly Class Memo (ACTION NEEDED)

Please be sure to share with me your weekly memo, newsletter, or family communication.  As we continue to work to develop routines, please help your students get into the habit of using their boomerang folders(k-5). 

 

Mid-Quarter Progress Report (ACTION NEEDED)

 

Student Access Day

This Friday is our next Student Access Day.  We are still looking for an elementary certificated teacher to help.  Please let me know if you are interested

 

ALE Support

The MWSD alternative learning program is looking for an elementary school teacher to help review written student learning plans.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping support this program.

 

MTSS 

A great resource for information and support for teaching reading can be found at Reading Rockets. It is practical and user-friendly.  Although it looks intended for elementary, there are suggestions and strategies completely applicable to mid-school as well.  https://www.readingrockets.org/

MTSS updates

• The book set spreadsheet was shared!

• Third grade has been tested, and we were able to solve several problems. Thank you, Darci and Jaymi, for helping us troubleshoot.

• Dani, Mandy, Bea, and I are ready to assist. Early Reading/Math and CBM reading are being done by us.  

• You should have test tickets and directions!

 

Academic Competitions 

We are looking for a staff member to help coordinate and implement a spelling bee program in our school.  The Valley School would like to have a friendly competition.  It is my hope that this will open the door to future competitions (geography bee, science fairs, etc.). 

 

Classroom Walkthroughs (ACTION NEEDED)

It has been great making instructional rounds through your classrooms.  I will be increasing my visits and will start collecting evidence for evaluations.  The following three items are best practices that I would like to see in every classroom:

1. Bell to Bell Teaching, we need to make every minute count in our 4-day school week.

2. Posted learning objective* (Standards), What do we want all students to know and be able to do?

3. Lesson Segments, Planning Book or Lesson Plans

 

Possible COVID Exposure

There is a staff member that tested positive for COVID last Friday that was on campus for our LID training. Quarantining is not necessary at this time, but please do the following : 

1. Continue to attend school and activities 

2. Monitor for symptoms for 10 days. 

3. Recommended testing as soon as possible 

4. Recommend wearing a mask for 10 days. 

5. If you become symptomatic, please stay home and isolate and contact the school nurse or COVID coordinator. 

Please see attached symptom flow sheet for symptoms. Make sure to keep your distance from staff when in shared areas, cover your cough/sneeze with your arm and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

 

Fire Drill (ACTION NEEDED)

This Wednesday will be our first fire drill. To prepare for the drill, please review the following evacuation plan with your classes. Additionally, print a class set of rosters to be placed in your 'Crisis Backpack.' You can review the fire drill expectations at K8 FIRE DRILL. 

 

Please let me know if you need a ‘Crisis Backpack in your room.

 

 ___________________________________________________________________________

 

K8 Calendar

Monday, 09.26

10:00 PM, Student Success Team

12:00 PM, Community in Schools Meeting

1:00 PM, K8 Office Meeting

4:00 PM, MS Volleyball @ home 

4:00 PM, MS Football @ Chewelah , Leave @ 2:30

 

Tuesday - 09.27

WASA PLC at Work, Workshop Day

10:00 AM, MTSS Planning Meeting

1:30 PM, MS Cross-Country @ Republic

3:30 PM, Union/Admin Meeting

 

Wednesday - 09.28

9:00 AM, Admin Team Meeting

1:30 PM, Emergency Fire Drill (See Specific Email)

4:00 PM, MS Volleyball @ Northport, Leave @ 1:15

 

Thursday - 09.29

Progress Reports Send Home (D’s and F’s Mailed)

WASA PLC at Work, Workshop Day

4:00 PM, MS Football @ NWC Leave @ 2:15

 

Friday - 09.30

Student Access Day

K8 Memo

 It was great getting into so many of your classrooms today. I enjoyed seeing your daily routines and teaching standards displayed. It was particularly enjoyable to see the mentoring and morning meeting underway. We all know the value of solid relationships with peers and teachers. Thank you for taking the time to connect with your students.

Today, the student support team identified several students who could use a little more support and encouragement in our school. Please keep a watchful eye on support staff as they connect with students and share supportive strategies with you. 

GOOD READS

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/teachers-are-ready-for-systemic-change-are-schools/2022/09

POINTS OF INTEREST

Classroom Cafeteria Slips

Tammy and Katt have been working to develop a clear and consistent breakfast/lunch tracking system for our k-5 students. Please use the daily sheets in your mailbox to report your classroom breakfast/lunch count.  

 

Family Contact

How are you doing with monitoring classroom issues and contacting parents? This week, several parents shared with me that they were unaware of classroom issues with their children. Please reach out to parents when you witness concerns or have behavioral issues.

 

Friday LID Day

This Friday is our first LID day. We will be focusing on FastBridge training and PLC’s. An agenda will be shared out later this week.

 

Student Access Days

We had an excellent Student Access Day last Friday. Twenty students attended tutoring, ten participated in the sports enrichment, and 39 attended the field trip to the fair. Thank you for everyone helping make these Fridays successful.  We are still looking for an elementary certificated teacher to help. 

 

Progress Report - ACTION NEEDED

This year we will be sending out progress reports to families halfway through the quarter. Please work with your collaboration team to develop a progress report that you will send home by September 29th. This is a district initiative that needs to go home with every student. We will discuss this at our LID day too.

Attendance - ACTION NEEDED

One goal of transitioning to a 4-day school week was to provide more family and personal time to staff and students. Please do your best to utilize your Fridays as much as possible for appointments. We understand that some appointments are not as flexible as others, and we trust that you will do your best to maintain good attendance. Please be sure to submit the new blue sheet for all absences.

Field Trips

Each class is budgeted for a field trip each semester. Please work with your team to identify activities that will enrich your student's learning. Then submit a field trip request at least two weeks before the field trip. All students must have a current health history form submitted to participate in field trips. Parent volunteers must also submit the volunteer packet to the district office.

 

Fall Testing

Our Fall Testing with FastBridge will take place the week of September 26th. This allows time for proctor training on our LID Day (September 23rd) and to make sure the necessary materials and system are ready to go. Teachers may begin DRA testing at any time. Diane is available to assist new staff members with training and can answer refresher questions for others.

 

Please establish your staff login for FastBridge by going to https://auth.fastbridge.org/login.do?errorCode=1 and clicking on the 'Request Passord' sign-on option. Email me if you are unable to establish a login.  

 

Technology Needs

How are your technology needs coming along? Are your classroom Chromebook, laptop, or iPad carts working well? Please email Mike and me with your technology needs.

Academic Competitions 

Please see me if you are interested in helping start-up an academic competition: Spelling Bee, Science/invention Fair, Junior National Honor Society, Geography Bee, etc.

Ann with Payroll 

Timesheets are for any extra hours worked not part of a contract or for those employees that do not have a contract.  They are month specific and have each day of the month in the DATE column for the detail of worked hours -  it is always helpful if you fill in the assignment/duty and reason, but not required.  These are paid through payroll the following month - (the last working day of that next month).   Over time is highly frowned upon, but in the rare event of it happening, that would need to be indicated and approved on the timesheet.   Please be sure to sign your sheet and also have it signed by the supervisor, before turning it in.  These can be turned in at the district office - or in my office in the library by the 9th day of the month following the month worked.

 

Also, an added note on the blue time off sheets  -  there is a line for total hours absent -  please fill that in,  I don't know everyone's contracted hours, and that takes more time for me to have to look it up.

 

MTSS Corner with Mrs. Ball

This summer, as I was looking for materials related to MTSS, I came across this video by Shelly Moore. She is a Vancouver, BC-based teacher, researcher, and consultant who speaks on special education and inclusion. In 2016, she gave a Ted Talk called “The Importance of Presuming Competence.” As we start a new year and get acquainted with a new bunch of kids, her talk is a great reminder to not jump to conclusions about them.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGptAXTV7m0&t=4s

MTSS updates

• Intervention materials and book sets are being organized in the staff workroom. I will be sharing the spreadsheet soon letting you know what is available and where to find it.

• MTSS information (a flip book) was prepared for open house and is available as needed.

• We are becoming familiar with the FastBridge system in order to train staff and facilitate the benchmark assessment process.

• We test-ran assessments with third grade to iron out potential speedbumps during our actual assessment week.

• Headphones are being ordered for testing use only.

• Test tickets and other materials are being prepared to make the process smoother for teachers.

THIS WEEK

K8 Calendar Link

Monday, 09.19 

Picture Day

10:00 Student Success Team

1:00 PM, K8 Office Meeting

 

Tuesday - 09.20

10:00  MTSS Planning Meeting

 

Wednesday - 09.21

MS Volleyball @ Valley L @ 3:00 - game time @ 4:00

Lake Roosevelt Field Trip - 3rd Grade

 

Thursday - 09.22

9:00 AM, Admin Team Meeting

Salish Field Trip - 4th Grade

 

Friday - 09.23

Learning Improvement Day

K8 Weekly Memo: Learning Targets, Fall Testing, Health Forms, etc...

K8 Weekly Memo

September 12-16

Thank you for the great start to the school year. I appreciate everyone's dedication and commitment to helping our students have a solid foundation for this school year. It was great seeing staff support each other with some of our challenging students, witnessing the Character Strong lessons, and seeing some great teaching! Thank you for being so committed to our students.

 

As we start the third week of the school year, please focus on providing clear learning goals and scales in your teaching.    Marzano states that "a learning goal is a statement of what students will know or be able to do." What do you do to establish and communicate learning goals in your classroom?  

 

Reviewing the daily learning target is a good classroom routine that promotes high expectations. I look forward to seeing your targets and scales. 

 

WINS FOR THE WEEK

• Kindergarten and Pre-School had a great first week.

• Students are settling into the daily routines and procedures well.  

• Our middle school students are developing more respectful language skills.

• Third-grade students started to learn that 'set of' numbers equal multiplication. Many students were excited to learn how easy "times another number" really is. Great job, Darci, for using your math manipulatives!

• Several staff members shared excitement as they learned more about our new assessment tool…screening, intervention, and data nicely nestle together with FastBridge. 

• Friday after school, Addi helped rescue the bunnies from the burrow in the middle school playground. Kim and Chris demonstrated exceptional roping/netting skills to wrangle the mother. I am pleased to share that the bunnies are being hand nursed and doing well. 

 

 

GOOD READS

https://eleducation.org/resources/chapter-1-learning-targets

https://achievethecore.org/page/3267/priority-instructional-content-in-english-language-arts-literacy-and-mathematics

 

 

POINTS OF INTEREST

Student Student Picture

Monday, September 19th is our school picture day. Please swing by the gym first thing in the morning to get your staff pictures taken. Cameras will be ready by 7:30 for staff. These pictures are needed for staff identification badges. 

 

Fall Testing

Our Fall Testing with FastBridge will take place the week of September 26th. This allows time for proctor training on our LID Day (September 23rd) and to make sure the necessary materials and system are ready to go. Teachers may begin DRA testing at any time. Diane is available to assist new staff members with training and can answer refresher questions for others.

 

Please establish your staff login for FastBridge by going to https://auth.fastbridge.org/login.do?errorCode=1 and clicking on the 'Request Passord' sign-on option. Email me if you are unable to establish a login.  

 

 

Consistency is Key

Please stay focused on reinforcing our PBIS matrix and expectations.  Our students will adapt their behavior and become more engaged as we collaboratively share the same expectations.

 

Health History Forms

The first class to turn them all in gets an Ice Cream party with Nurse Sherri.

 

Student Drop off and Pickup for Prep 

Elementary teachers, please be sure to drop your kids off at their daily specialist time each day. It would be good for you to transition there three to five minutes prior to the specialty class starting. The classes that start the prep with recess will be delivered to the specialist by the recess monitor.  

 

Additionally, please pick your students up from recess or the specialist room at the end of your prep. Your total prep period is 45 minutes. 

 

Team Collaboration Time

Thank you for sharing your PLC's collaboration time. 

Primary Team: Thursday @ 7:30 AM

Intermediate Team: Thursday @ 7:30 AM

Middle School Team: Tuesday @ 7:30 AM

 

As your team meets this next week, please discuss the behaviors and expectations that your team has and how you can better support and reinforce positive student behavior. 

 

PBIS Program

I am still looking for a few volunteers to help establish our PBIS incentives and assembly schedule.  Please let me know if you would like to join our team. 

 

Our September PBIS class incentive is an outside ice cream party!  

 

Technology Needs

How are your technology needs coming along? Are your classroom Chromebook, laptop, or iPad carts working well? Please email Mike and me with your technology needs. 

 

"If we tolerate vulgarity, our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so.

We have the brains and the heart to face our futures bravely. Taking responsibility for the time

we take up and the space we occupy."

― Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

Thank you, Middle School Team, for your help this week!

THIS WEEK

Monday 

9:00 AM, Parent Meeting

10:00 AM, K8 Student Support Team

1:00 PM, K8 Office Meeting

1:30 PM, WISe Team Meeting

Tuesday

8:30 AM, ESD 101 Principal Breakfast

Wednesday

9:00 AM, Admin Team Meeting

 

Thursday

3:30 PM, Building Leadership Team Meeting

6:00 PM, School Board Meeting

Friday

8 AM -11:30 AM, Student Access Day

Middle School Spokane Fair Field Trip

Saturday

10AM, MS Volleyball @ Home

MS ATHLETICS

 

Will Share MS Cross-Country Schedule Soon