I want to thank you all for a great 4 days of Inservice. I know you all worked hard--physically in your rooms to prepare for Open House and mentally in all of our meetings and trainings. Your positive, enthusiastic energy has me SO excited for this new school year! As I sit here in a quiet building today reading your PLC norms and continuum checklists, I am amazed by the thoughtful discussions that produced these documents. It is your collaborative teamwork that will continue to lead us on the "Road to a better tomorrow."
As you start the first week with students, I hope you all remember that you are a difference maker! The small things you do to welcome students and show an interest in their lives will have an impact. You will have opportunities this year to build confidence in a child where it hasn't existed--develop connections that have never been present. We have students with diverse needs and it's up to each of US to make sure they are successful this school year. How can we be sure that this happens? By building a connection with each of our students. When we truly know them as individuals, we can understand them as learners. Events this Week:
Tuesday: 5K Recess Orientation 10:15, 5th Grade Recess Orientation 11:15, 1st Grade Recess Orientation 12:30
Wednesday: 4th Grade Recess Orientation 9:30, 3rd Grade Recess Orientation 10:15, 2nd Grade Recess Orientation 12:30
-Elementary PD Meeting 3:05 Agenda is HERE I would love to see someone sign up for a tech talk! :)
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes
- For the "Video, Image, and Audio Release" forms: I am putting a stack of slips in the mailroom to let parents know of the miscommunication on these. If you had told parents to sign them and they get returned, please just staple this note on top of that form and send it home. If it does come back to you after that, then you can turn it in to the office. Again, I apologize for the miscommunication on this one.
- I'm hoping to eliminate our old fashioned calling tree by using the app Remind101 which will send you a text a message instead. I will send you an email with the details. If you do NOT have texting on your phone you will still need to make sure Marie has the correct number for you in the event of a delayed start or school closing. If you want to know how Remind101 could easily be used for your classroom, here's a short video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gME_zwLeRV8
- I added a sign-up sheet in the mail room for each grade level/department to sign up for when you will be submitting an article to the District Newsletter. Every grade level/department must sign up for at least one article to highlight the great things your students are doing. I will send out email reminders for the due dates on articles.
- I learned about some really awesome online tools for Math Expressions at the Think Central site. Once I get all of the students loaded it will be an incredible source for WIN! I also learned that last year many of you struggled with the SMARTBoard tools there, because the files were made for Promethean boards, but now you have the option to download them for the SMARTBoard--either by unit or by lesson. I'm not sure if your accounts from last year will still work. I know mine didn't so I will be spending time today updated it and making sure that all of your accounts work. If it changes I will email that information. Thank you for your patience!
- Just a reminder that you receive my Friday Focus and Monday Musings via email, but you can always go to johnsonmemo.blogspot.com where all the posts are stored, along with the google calendar of staff events. If you're looking back and can't remember which post something was in, but do recall the month, it should be fairly easy to use the "blog archive" feature on the right side to find links to each post instead of having to continuously scroll down the page and click "older posts." Here's what the archive looks like:
iPad Notes:
- Do not allow students to change the background (or "lock screen") image on their iPads. Right now they have the iPad # on them, which would be lost if they change the background.
- You may be short on student iPads the first couple of days. Brad and Mark will be checking the classroom #'s on Thursday (after all new 1st day enrollments are added) to see if you need additional iPads in your classroom cases.
- If there's ever a time that you're nervous about trying something new on the iPads with your students in these first few weeks and want an extra hand in your room "just in case," please let me know. If I'm available I'm happy to help.
