March 27, 2009

ITBS Week is April 6th-9th!! As always, this week sneaks up on us! Below is some useful information about the week. If I am missing something, please let me know.

* Scheduling * - After working with the special education teachers, please email your grade level's schedule to all staff (wa@roschools.com). With no school on Friday that week, please begin testing on Monday. Even if it is one of the tests. We will need to use Thursday and the following Monday as make-up dates as we have to get all tests to the middle school by April 15th.

* Incentives * - I will be meeting with the March student advisory students next week to brainstorm incentives for reaching their individual goals and the goals set by the state for reading and math. If your team has ideas they want on the list of possibilities, get those to me soon. Also, spending time this Friday to brainstorm as a class would be great!!

* Goal Setting * - Next Thursday, I will spend 30 minutes with every class going over the data (both grade level and individual students). We will talk about goal setting and if time does not permit during the session, students will take their scores back to the room to set the goals. We will collect those goals from the teachers so they can be entered.

AEA Survey - If you have not done so already (or do not remember doing it), please fill out the AEA online survey right now by clicking on the link below. They have received only 1/2 the responses as last year. It only takes 5 minutes to complete! http://survey.aea267.k12.ia.us/survey/5520/1706/

Spring Carnival - The PTO will be meeting on the following dates for the school carnival planning purposes:
Monday, March 30, 5:30 P.M.
Monday, April 13, 5:30 P.M.
Monday, April 27, 5:30 P.M.
Your support and involvement with the carnival is critical to its’ success.

Reading on the Square - A tentative date has been set for Friday, April 17th, for our 2nd annual Reading on the Square. We plan on doing this in conjunction with National Library week and as a fundraiser for our local public library. We'd love to purchase a brick for Washington Intermediate to help the library reach their goal! Jan is working on the details so stay tuned...

My Absence - A reminder that I will be at the TESOL conference tomorrow through Sunday. Mike Eldridge will be here all day tomorrow to cover me. As always, Jeannie will be the go-to person in my absence. You may reach me by email, voicemail or text at 621.6630. On Monday, March 30th, I will be traveling with Mr. Sherman and a community member to visit a Virtual Technology program at East Marshall (article link found here).

Remaining PLC Dates - Below are the dates and content focus for our remaining early out dates. Questions, let me know.

March 25 - Building PLC
April 1 - Building PLC
April 15 - Curriculum & Instruction
April 24 - Individual Professional Development
April 29 - Curriculum & Instruction
May 6 - Building PLC
May 13 - Building PLC
May 20 - Building PLC; End of Year Assessment Analysis & Building & District Action Plan Development
May 27 - Individual Professional Development (Last day of school)
May 28 - Teachers’ Work Day & Check Out

Important 5th Grade Dates to Note (Thanks Sue!)

April 1 - 1:30-3:00 Team meet with Deb Karwal at Conservation Center to plan field trip
April 15 - Young Writers
April 21 - PM Deb Karwal to speak to classes about Oregon Trail Day
April 27 - Music program (7pm @ MS)
April 30 - Tentative- Mrs. Mann and some 5th graders to Senior Center over noon hour
May 1 - Oregon Trail Day (all day)
May 11 - Field Trip to Conservation Center (all day)

May 15 - Track & Field day

March 13, 2009

Schedule for Friday - First thing tomorrow morning, we will announce names (send out sheets to each teacher) of students who have completed all their work over the past three weeks. These students should report to the gym at 12:30 pm for a special Responsible Students Assembly. We will draw two students from each grade level to 'compete' against myself and a staff member in u-Dance (possibly Rock Band at the 4th grade?). I imagine the assembly will last 25-30 minutes so students will return to class before 1:00 pm. Teachers may use the classroom time for remaining students how you choose but please ensure it is academic (reading, writing, math facts, etc.). Prior to receiving this week's slips from teachers, we have 61 fourth graders and 35 fifth graders qualifying. If combining classes so a couple teachers can attend the assembly, please finalize after school today.

As for staff schedule tomorrow, all staff may leave after 2:30 pm (teachers must have grades done prior to leaving). Para educators who leave at 1:30 pm should reflect 1 hour deduct on your time sheet. If you stay until 2:30, you may document a full day. Questions - see me.

Spring Break - Although the weather outside does not indicate spring, a needed break has arrived. Please find the time to reconnect with family and friends and get the needed rest you deserve. We will come back to less than 9 weeks of instruction which we all know will fly by us in a blink of an eye!

PTO Carnival - Last week, I strongly encouraged staff to put the date (May 8th) on your calendar and plan on helping in some way. PTO and administration believes the success of the carnival is so important, we will be distributing PTO dollars next fall based on your assistance with the carnival. Last spring was a huge success and if we hope to maintain the level of PTO funding with declining general budget dollars, we need every one's help. A sign-up will be coming out after Spring Break and PTO will be looking for help before, during and after so there will be plenty of opportunity to help in some way or another.

Thank you!! - I really appreciate your patience with my schedule this week. You have been understanding with my hours and it is a good feeling knowing everyone steps up when another staff member is in need. I know there are several post observations needed to complete and we will get those done immediately following spring break!

Dates to Note
March 23
- Return from Spring Break!
- 2:55 Assembly: Linn's class present PowerPoints
- PLC Team mtgs
- School Board mtg @ Webster (6 pm)
March 24
- After School Math
March 25
- Early Out; Building PLC work
- Barry leaves for TESOL Conference (4 pm)
March 26
- Smoking Kills presentations begin
- Barry at TESOL (Eldrigde covers at WIS all day)
March 27
- Smoking Kills presentations
- Barry at TESOL

Homework Assembly

We will have the homework award assembly at 12:30 pm on Friday for all students who completed their homework for the past three weeks. Teachers should turn in this week's names to the office Thursday after school so we can hand out the list of names Friday morning and draw the winners.

I'm guessing it will be around 60% of the student body, so we will need teams to discuss how they want to manage (reading, math fact work, make-up work time, study skills, educational video, etc.) the students not attending and which teachers will do this. If teachers want to keep their own students, we should have enough help in the gym to manage the kids there (we will have at least Bates, Sunquist, Subbert, Maurer, Gilliland, Barry, Black). I did tell the students they could challenge one teacher in a dance off too so we will see which students are drawn and who they want to challenge. :)

Did the 4th grade teachers want to challenge a group of 4th grade students in Rock Band? I didn't know if you were joking or really wanted to do it - see me.

March 6, 2009

(FYI - I often have items on the blog prior to sending out the email on Friday)

End of 3rd Quarter - Boy...time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?? The end of the 3rd quarter is Wednesday, March 11th. Grades will be due before you leave on Friday, March 13th. We have a two-hour early out on the 13th and the time will be given to you to complete and submit grades (i.e. no meetings!). We will print grades on Monday, March 23rd and send them home on Wednesday, March 25th.

PLC Time - Teams have been plugging along with your work and it has been fun to watch the growth and collaboration this year! This next week (hopefully), I will begin working on a 'rough draft' schedule for next fall and will need team's input on it when we return from Spring Break. It will take other pieces (IPS, MS & HS shared staff's schedules) to fall in place, but opportunity to collaborate two times a week during the day should be a reality! I have a couple other ideas but will wait until you're rested from Spring Break to show those to you! :)

Spring Carnival - The PTO meeting next Monday night is a planning meeting for the Spring Carnival. I would strongly encourage all staff to be a part of the Spring Carnival in some way or another. Last spring was a huge success and if had not been, our PTO dollars would likely have been half the amount this year. Please put the date (Friday, May 8th) on your calendar and plan to help!

State of Education in Iowa - Iowa Public Radio has some interesting interviews with Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey; Becky Schmitz, Democratic Senator and chair of the Senate Education Committee; and Mike May, retired teacher and ranking Republican on the House Education Committee. They discuss school consolidation, raising the mandatory attendance age to prevent dropouts, and other education related issues. Definitely worth your time to listen to it after school or at home!

Great Summer Opportunity - Jeannie passed this along, but it is worth repeating. The Belin-Blank Center provides a wonderful summer learning opportunity that is nearly free!! Applications are due March 13 and I would support any teacher interested in this awesome learning experience. All information about the Fellowship program is available online at http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/professional/belinfellowship/. All applications will be accepted online; each participant must have a school administrator submit a letter of recommendation online. Note that this experience is designed for those with no previous background in gifted education—this is a GREAT way to encourage a colleague in your building to join you in your support for gifted programs!

Remaining PLC Dates - The Teacher Quality Committee finalized our PLC schedule for the remainder of the school year.
March 25 - Building PLC
April 1 - Building PLC
April 15 - Curriculum/SPED
April 24 - Individual Professional Development
April 29 - Curriculum/SPED
May 6 - Building PLC
May 13 - Building PLC
May 20 - End of Year Assessment Analysis & Bldg/District Action Plan Development
May 27 - Individual Professional Development (Last day of school)
Mary 28 - Teachers’ Work Day & Check Out

Observations Nearly Complete - Thank you to many of you who have scheduled your observation! March 13 is the last day to have an observation scheduled and this is your responsibility (Standard 8).

My Absence - At the end of March (26-27), I will be at the national TESOL conference. The opportunity is provided by William Penn University as part of a statewide cohort of administrators and ELL supervisors I have been a part of over the past 2 years. In my absence, Michael Eldridge will be here one full day to provide support as part of his practicum hours.

Please Note Calendar Changes - An email went out on Monday regarding changes to the calendar. Please post those for students and/or make changes on your classroom calendar. We will include changes in a note home to parents.

March
Friday, March 13 – There is a 2 hour early dismissal before Spring Break (Individual Professional Development)

April
Wednesday, April 8 - NO early out (or any day this week as it is ITBS week and we have no school on Friday)
Wednesday, April 22 - NO early out
Friday, April 24 – 2 hour early dismissal for Prom (Individual Professional Development)

May
Tuesday, May 26 - NO early out (due to snow day in December)
Wednesday, May 27 – 2 hour early dismissal, LAST day of school (due to snow day in December)*

Dates to Note
March 9 - Board Meeting (6pm @ Webster);
March 9 - PTO Meeting - Spring Carnival Planning (IPS Media Center @ 7 pm)
March 11 - End of 1st Quarter
March 13 - 2 hr Early out - Indvidual PD Time
March 14 - Spring Break begins