Friday Focus, April 27, 2018

Just a quick staff memo with the need-to-knows!

Upcoming Events:
Today - Lockdown Drill this morning, grandparents day in the afternoon and after school all staff Lockdown debrief meeting (this gives us the opportunity to reflect/share what worked/what didn't work)

Wednesday, May 2nd - Elementary Staff meeting may potentially go until 4:00. I would like support staff to attend this meeting too.

Friday, May 4th - Crazy Socks Day/Inflatable Party (the crazy socks day is so they all have socks on for the inflatables!) The party is put on by our fundraiser company, but I selected the date to be a great conclusion to our 3-5th graders taking the Forward test. 2 Grade levels at a time will come to the elementary gym during their scheduled time:

10:25-11:25 4/5

12:30-1:30 K/1

1:45-2:45 2/3

Friday Focus - Friday, April 20th

The Talent Show was AMAZING last night! A HUGE thank you to everyone on the Talent Show committee, extra staff that came to help or just watch to support our students and all of the extra staff that participated in the teacher act...once again it was quite a hit!  I was so proud of our students who worked hard to get up on the stage and amazed by how big of an event that this has grown in to. We packed the gym this year and I have to share with you that I saw several families that rarely come to school events.  Dodgeland is the place to be!!

If you want to share the teacher act with your class, you can view it at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eqt5YNoGZM


Upcoming Events:
Monday - Thursday - Forward testing throughout the morning for grades 3-5. Please keep hallways quiet

Wednesday/Thursday -  I will be gone with Dr. Thompson in Washington DC for a national trauma-informed care training

Friday - Lockdown/Active Shooter drill (you MUST watch the video sent out by Mr. Modaff that is in place of the meeting)
Friday afternoon-Grandparents Day *Please make sure to dress professionally for Grandparents Day.

Wednesday, May 2nd - Elementary Staff meeting may potentially go until 4:00. I would like support staff to attend this meeting too.
Friday, May 4th - We will be having an Inflatable Party in the gym (Schedule yet to come, but we will have 2 grade levels at a time for 45 minutes).

Thought to Ponder...

I know many of you have your countdown going in your head, but we still have time to have an impact on our students. The best way to make sure students do not act like the school year is over is to make sure that we do not act like the school year is over. Please keep this in mind with your daily countdown and not slipping in to planning "fluff." Kids notice and then share at home and then parents notice too.  And as you already know...if you get off the routine, then your students will get off routine and then you'll have other issues.

Friday Focus - April 13, 2018

Upcoming Events:
Today - Dodgeland Pride Assembly starting at 2:30 -we have a LOT for today's assembly so we have to start on time! : )

Next week: 3-5th graders are taking the Forward Test Monday - Thursday at different times each day. Please keep hallways quiet!

Wednesday, April 18, from 3:20 to 4:00 PM, we are convening an all-staff meeting to review protocol for the lockdown and evacuation drill

Thursday/Friday April 19/20 - 4K Screening

Friday, April 27 Lockdown/Evacuation Drill and  3:20 to 4:00 PM, we are again convening an all-staff meeting to debrief from the lockdown and evacuation drill

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*Repeat from Dr. Thompson's email regarding the Dodgeland Summit:

Mark your calendars for Monday, August 20, 2018!  The purpose of the Summit is to provide self-directed professional learning experiences and to allow time for your new learning to impact your instruction in the new school year.

A second reason for the Dodgeland Summit is to offer early access to Extra Professional Development (XPD) opportunities.  With XPDs a primary professional growth activity required for advancement on our Alternative Compensation system, it makes sense to launch this professional learning prior to the onset of the school year.  Similar to how XPDs work during the school year, attendance at four one-hour sessions will garner one “checkmark” for the Alternative Compensation system.  Leading a one-hour session will also yield one “checkmark”.

  

I ask that you complete the short survey below so that plans may begin for this great learning opportunity.  Please complete the survey by Friday, May 4.  You are highly encouraged to nominate a peer to lead a Summit session.  The final Dodgeland Summit schedule will be released in early August.  Please check your district email throughout the summer for updates.  

 https://goo.gl/forms/L2mTKLNGCqxnTdef2

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!

*No Student is Unreachable

*Mindful Mantras for Teachers

Friday Focus - April 6, 2018

Great Things I Noticed:

• It was great to see many of you greeting students at your doors to welcome them back from break, along with activities in your classroom to build connections! 
• Students writing 3rd quarter reflections, along with final quarter goals to go home with their report cards.
• 1st graders engaged in writing opinion statements that they formed about their favorite collections.

Upcoming Events: 
Today - I will be out of the building in the morning at a meeting for the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation
-High School FBLA State Run at 2:30 (No other Friday celebrations)

Monday - I will announce students of the month in the morning
-after school: Talent Show tryouts
Tuesday - Thursday -4th graders begin state Forward Testing. Please emphasize quiet hallways!!
Friday - 2:30 Dodgeland Pride Assembly

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:

• FYI: If you see me with my cell phone around the building, I promise it's not for Twitter and chatting with friends! With Forward testing in 3-8th grades I've been using it as the "bat line" for test issues. Just felt you all should know since I've been glued to it almost as much as a teenager. 

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!
*How We Grow -great reminder for following up on student survey feedback