Good Monday Morning! 

I hope that everyone had an exceptionally restful Thanksgiving Break! I sure appreciated having some extra time with my family and friends. 

The next three weeks will shoot past us like a speeding train.  Think about how your daily routines and expectations can help slow down the train and provide focused learning time.  At the same time, we want to help prepare our students for their holiday break.  How can you create writing assignments and lessons that will give our students gifts they can share with others? 

Have a wonderful week.

Points to Ponder

Teachers are encouraged to be change agents as opposed to passive bystanders when they encounter race-based hate speech, jokes, and subtle prejudice-oriented references intended to insult and harm students. Ignoring and tolerating such behavior fosters a toxic classroom culture and dynamics that could have a long-term negative impact emotionally, academically, and socially. Aside from protecting students who are targets of race-based microaggressions and hate speech, teachers need to work with students who initiate the behavior and help them learn from their inappropriate behavior.  Read more at: Addressing Race-based Hate Speech and Microaggressive Behavi…

What Can I Do or Stop Doing as a Teacher? There are a number of ways educators can address hate speech/behaviors and microaggressions in the school setting.  Engage in self-reflection so you are aware of your own implicit bias and behaviors that may be perceived as harmful. Don't: Assume you cannot commit a microaggression or engage in racially harmful behaviors.  Understand that an intended message might get misunderstood and perceived by others as a microaggression. Don't: Dismiss the feelings of the student who is the recipient because the microaggression was unintentional.  Pay attention to classroom dynamics and intervene ASAP. Don't: Rely on students or colleagues of color to intervene or address the microaggression. Address the incident when it occurs. This may provide a teachable moment for others involved or observing. Don't: Wait to address the microaggression. Communicate that you are a safe ally for students and colleagues of color. Don't: Guess that people already know you are an ally. Educate yourself and participate in anti-bias/anti-racist (ABAR) trainings in your area or online. Don't: Assume that your required district, university, licensing, certification, or state trainings will explicitly cover antibias/anti-racist topics.

Points of Interest

Volunteer Paper Work

All volunteers helping in classrooms, on field trips, and with athletic practices must have their volunteer packet submitted to the district office. 

Tuesday's PLC - Action Needed

On this Tuesday's PLC, I will be meeting with 3rd-8th grade ELA and Math Teachers to review SBAC interim assessment and how they support teaching and learning throughout the year.  It is expected that all 3-8 grade math teachers will deliver one interim assessment prior to Christmas Break. 

Those not attending this meeting, will have the morning for PLC@Work planning. 

Normal Tuesday PLC Rotation Days

 (7:15 - 8:00 AM)

• 1st  – Committee Work for 2023-24

• 2nd – PLCs at Work

• 3rd – Staff Meeting

• 4th – PLCs at Work

• 5th – PLCs at Work 

• LID - PLC at Work

Friday LID

The agenda for LID days is being modified to help provide more team time to work on the PLC@Work Unit Planning.  As we continue to work towards providing all students with a guaranteed and viable curriculum, we know that tier-one instruction must be solid.  One of my favorite quotes from Richard Dufour is "The fundamental purpose of school is learning, not teaching." 

The unit plans are instrumental in outlining the essential standards, learning targets, formative assessments, and lesson segments.  The admin team is striving to provide more time for unit planning.  Please see the agenda for this week: 12.01 LID

Native American Heritage Month

It has been fun to see the various activities and lessons being taught to highlight Native American Heritage Month.  Please be sure to fold in an activity this week.  On Tuesday, the Cafeteria will be providing Indian Fry Bread and bison lentil chili for lunch! 

You will find some engaging activities and lessons at:

CommonSense Education

www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov

Blood Drive 

We are having a blood drive on December 13th from 10:15 to 1 PM. Vitalant is bringing a bus and will be parked out front. Please use the link below to sign up. Please share this with friends and family. Sign up Link 

Calendar

23-24 Calendar

Monday, 11.27

• WSU 8th Grade Mentorship @ 9 AM

• Office Standup Meeting @ 9 AM 

• Student Support Team @ 10:00 AM 

• Office Meeting @ 1 PM

• MS After School Leadership Club

• BLT Meeting @ 4:00 PM

Tuesday - 11.28

Wednesday - 11.29

• MS Assembly @ 8:15 AM

• Admin Meeting @ 9:30 AM

• Safety Drill @ 2:45PM

Thursday - 11.30

• MS Wrestling @ Inchelium, 1:20 Release

• MS ABC Field Trip

Friday - 12.01

• LID Day

UP and Coming Events:

• Dec 7, - K-5 Charger Assembly: 

• K-2 @ 2:00 - 2:30 

• 3-5 @ 2:30 - 3:00

• Dec 7th, Staff Christmas Dinner

• Dec. 13th, Blood Drive

• Dec. 16th, School Board Meeting