October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!!

Staff Kudos – We often overlook all the extra things our staff does outside of the school day. I’d like to congratulate and wish the best of luck to Mark and Angie! Mark, good luck to you and your cast this weekend!! Angie, me being a high school recipient of many losses to Manning and IKM combined, I’d LOVE to see you and the girls pull off the win Friday night! Good luck.

SmartBoard Training – I still have some openings Monday morning for staff interested taking some time to figure out how to use the mobile Smart Board. Sara Johnson will cover your room for 30-60 minutes while you work with me on setting up your computer and learning how to use the mobile board. Please see me FRIDAY to set up your time.

PD Nov 5th - We will be having PD from 2:00-4:00 P.M. in the IPS cafeteria. Our agenda will include the following items: composing a talk-a-loud, sharing the data from GATES (2-5), book count/access to print data, and sharing the writing prompts and scoring guide from some of the PWIM training participants.

Teacher Quality Committee next meets on Wednesday, November 5, at 4:00 P.M. This will be held in the Sue Wagaman Board Room at the central office.
PTO will have their second meeting of the school year on Thursday, November 6, at 7:00 P.M. This will be held in the IPS media center.

After School Math – We had 104 students stay for after school math this past week!! Thank you to Roger and Stephanie Ehmke & Tier One Bank for sponsoring the program. Our next after school math date is set for November 11th and Fareway will sponsor. We only have two more dates this semester (Nov 11 & Nov 25).

Coming up… November
4 Go Vote!
12 Two-Hour Early Dismissal/Building PLC Teams
17 School Board Meeting, 6:00 P.M.
19 Two-Hour Early Dismissal/Building PLC Teams
26 Two-Hour Early Dismissal/Individual PD
27-28 Thanksgiving Break – ENJOY!!

"In many instances, education is the tool that gives a child life choices." - Ruby Payne

*** REPEATED ***
***1st QUARTER FINAL ASSIGNMENT ***
If you’ve read this far, J please email, stop by or jot down on a note something positive you witnessed or heard that took place first quarter. It could be a compliment to a colleague or an inspiring story about a student. Get those to me as soon as you can as I will compile those to share out at the next staff meeting! GREAT 1st QUARTER!! Keep it up & STAY HEALTHY!!

He who laughs, lasts - DB

October 24, 2008

Thank You! – In case you didn’t read it last week J, thank you for the song, hat and Tiger t-shirt for bosses’ day. I appreciate all you do to make most days bosses’ day!

PLC – It seems like just yesterday, Sue, Sonia and I were in Denver learning about Professional Learning Communities and here we are 10 weeks into the school year living it. The teams’ work continues to head our building and district in the right direction. 4th grade is three weeks into math lab and 5th grade begins next week! Next week’s early out, will again allow curricular PLC teams to focus on essential skills and instruction within content teams. An email will be coming with locations for each teams’ meeting. Be watching for it. The K-5 PD was moved to November 5th and will take place at Inman.

Second Quarter started Monday and all 1st quarter grades were received on Tuesday! Thank you for your quick turnaround and Stephanie & I think it was the quickest and most efficient effort yet!

Observations for Teachers on Cycle – One week left in October. Do you have your second observation in yet? See me yesterday.

Classroom Cares – Rebecca Sterbick sent me an email about her 2nd grade class being involved in a character education reading program through Scholastic. Students in your class read books and Scholastic donates books to kids in needy communities. Rebecca’s email is posted in the lounge and to sign up your class, visit http://classroomscare.scholastic.com/

Webpage – several WIS staff members received a brief training to allow them to add information to their school webpage on http://www.redoakschooldistrict.com/. If you were not able to attend and would like to learn how to begin your classroom/teacher webpage, please let me know. Each classroom teacher received a 3 page handout with simple directions which Mrs. Sims put together. If you did not get a copy, but would like one, see me. Click here to start.


Red Ribbon Week is scheduled for the week of next week. Thanks to Jeannie for getting the schedule into everyone’s hands. With Wednesday being “Blue Day – Quit Singing the Blues,” staff may choose to wear blue jeans. Please post the schedule for students.


Coming up... Post & go over your Red Ribbon week schedule with kids today!!!
October 27
High school students visit classrooms: Drug Free Pledge (schedule coming!)
3:00 pm assembly in gym; PLC teams meet after school

28
School Board Meeting, 7:00 A.M. @ MS
IA Core Curriculum Mtg, 8:00-11:30 A.M. @ Shenandoah
After School Math – Tier One Bank Sponsor (Ehmkes)

29
5th Grade Math Interventions begin
2-hr Early Out/PD (Curriculum Mtgs – Locations TBA)

31
Red Ribbon Assembly, 2:30-3:00 in gym (no keyboarding)

(Reminder – we do not have students dress up nor have Halloween parties)

*** 1st QUARTER FINAL ASSIGNMENT ***
If you’ve read this far, please email, stop by or jot down on a note something positive you witnessed or heard that took place first quarter. It could be a compliment to a colleague or an inspiring story about a student. Get those to me as soon as you can as I will compile those to share out at the next staff meeting! GREAT 1st QUARTER

!! Keep it up & STAY HEALTHY!!

Go Tigers!!
He who laughs, lasts - DB

October 17, 2008

Thank You! – The bosses’ day song and polo were wonderful. The food was great and Lewis enjoyed each of the 13 desserts that were available! I’m very appreciative of everything each of you do day in and day out to make Washington a great place to work, learn, grow and laugh!

District PD – I have read through four of the curriculum team’s minutes so far and am impressed by the conversation. We are also getting some good feedback through the online survey and it appears several of the teams are not only excited for the October 29th curriculum meetings, but have set agenda outcomes already. As Mark stated in his email, next Wednesday’s PD will be building/grade level PLC time. Teams should set their own agendas and let me know what support you need. The K-5 professional development was moved to November 5th.

First Quarter ends today with grades due Tuesday, October 21. Report cards are to be sent home with students on Thursday, October 23. A reminder to classroom teachers: if a student has earned a ‘D’ or ‘F’, comments should be included on the grade card.

Observations for Teachers on Cycle – Two weeks left in October. Do you have your second observation in yet? J See me soon.

Webpage – several WIS staff members received a brief training to allow them to add information to their school webpage on http://www.redoakschooldistrict.com/. If you were not able to attend and would like to learn how to begin your classroom/teacher webpage, please let me know. If you were part of the training and need assistance, stop in and I will try to help you!

Red Ribbon Week is scheduled for the week of October 27. Jeannie and Bev have worked on the activities for the week and Jeannie will give us information of the planned activities soon.

Coming up...

October 20 Second Quarter Begins

22 2-hr Early Out/PD (Building PLC)

23 Grade Cards Sent Home

28 School Board Meeting, 7:00 A.M. @ MS

IA Core Curriculum Mtg, 8:00-11:30 A.M. @ Shenandoah

29 2-hr Early Out/PD (K-2, 3-6, 7-12 Curriculum Mtgs)

Website of the Week

Wednesday, I talked about the stress level and the tough work you all do each day.
If you need a stress reliever and it is before 8am and after 4pm, J, try this site
very non-educational website! Enjoy
http://www.therightfoot.net/mystuff/whatever/swf/bubblewrap.swf

He who laughs, lasts
DB

October 10, 2008

District PD – I continue to be amazed at the collaboration and work teams have done so far this year! The conversation has been rich and the focus on student learning is evident. The amount of new learning for staff has been enormous and you have met the challenge and continue to work harder and smarter to accomplish the goals and tests. I’ve truly seen the definition of PLCs met during the first quarter: Collaborative teams whose members work interdependently to achieve common goals linked to the purpose of learning for all. I also want to thank the para-educators who have been flexible, open to ideas and remained positive through the changes we have had this school year. It has been noticed!

Picture retakes - Thursday, October 16, in the media center. You need to notify the office of any retakes in your classroom. This would also include students absent that day or new students that came to WIS after picture day. Any staff members that were absent that day also need to have their picture taken for an ID badge.

Leadership Team - will be meeting next Thursday, October 16, at IPS. Meet in 12:15 in room #107.

First Quarter - ends next Friday, October 17. Grades are due Tuesday, October 21. Report cards are to be sent home with students on Thursday, October 23. A reminder to classroom teachers: if a student has earned a ‘D’ or ‘F’, comments should be included on the grade card.

Webpage – several WIS staff members received a brief training to allow them to add information to their school webpage on www.redoakschooldistrict.com. If you were not able to attend and would like to learn how to begin your classroom/teacher webpage, please let me know. If you were part of the training and need assistance, stop in and I will try to help you! Brenda has added the Y.E.S. Mentoring page to the main district website – check it out!

Red Ribbon Week is scheduled for the week of October 27. Jeannie and Bev have worked on the activities for the week and Jeannie will give us information of the planned activities soon.

Coming up...October Dates
15 2-hr Early Out/PD (Curriculum Teams – locations TBA)
16 Leadership Team Mtg, Linn & Haufle, 12:15 P.M. @ IPS
20 Second Quarter Begins
22 2-hr Early Out/PD (K-5 PD at IPS)
23 Grade Cards Sent Home
28 School Board Meeting, 7:00 A.M. @ MS
IA Core Curriculum Mtg, 8:00-11:30 A.M. @ Shenandoah
29 2-hr Early Out/PD (K-2, 3-6, 7-12 Curriculum Mtgs)

Website of the Week
http://photosynth.net/ -

Possible classroom use: Art, ELO, SmartBoard, Writing, or for Home!

Imagine being able to share the places and things you love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world. With nothing more than a bunch of photos, Photosynth creates an amazing new experience.

He who laughs, lasts
DB