October 9th, 2009

Budget Concerns - Through either Mr. Schmidt's email or the news, you've likely heard by now that Governor Chet Culver has announced a 10 percent across-the-board cut to state general fund appropriations effective immediately.  As of this morning, I ask that all non-essential expenditures be put on hold.  After more guidance from the state department and Mr. Schmidt, we will work together to plan appropriate 2009-10 expenditures (building & PTO). As we did last year, additional cost-savings ideas and suggestions are always welcome (things like GoodSearch.com and DonorsChoose.org become even more important to us!).  Although concerning and serious, we must continue to focus on the reason we all gather together each day - the kids.  I have 100% confidence in the staff at Washington Intermediate and believe our building and district can work together to get through these rough financial times.

PTO Trash Bag pick-up is tonight (Friday) and tomorrow morning.  Please check as to what time you signed up and thank you for helping!!

October Observation - Are you on cycle?  Do you have your October observation scheduled?  If not - do so today please.

End of Quarter - Grade cutoff for 1st quarter is Friday, October 16th.  Grades will be due in the office by the end of the day on Monday, October 19th.  Grades will be printed out for teacher review by Wednesday morning and sent home Thursday, October 22nd.  A reminder that any student earning a D or F should have a comment in place on the report card and parents should be contacted early next week to give them a heads-up.   

Science Literacy Grant - The general decision was to not pursue the science-literacy grant.  I fully understand the concern about time commitment and said that the mass majority had to be on board.  I do want to reinforce my position that we need to continue to look for ways to infuse our science and social studies essential concepts (Iowa Core) into our literacy and use technology and student inquiry as necessary instructional tools.  In addition to technology and literacy, Iowa Core Curriculum for Science stresses student inquiry. The depth of understanding required of our students is not possible with lectures, readings, cookbook labs, and plug-and-chug problem solving. Students must be actively investigating: designing experiments, observing, questioning, exploring, making and testing hypotheses, making and comparing predictions, evaluating data, and communicating and defending conclusions. A district's science curriculum cannot align to the Iowa Core Curriculum for Science without including inquiry as a guaranteed and viable, testable component in every science course."

Building Behavior Plan - We will be moving forward with the RtI behavior plan I presented to the staff during the same meeting.  I will work on some common forms and finalize the plan early next week.  I would like to meet with the staff from 1:30-2:00 on Wednesday, October 14th (prior to building PLC meetings) to share my final draft and forms.  If all looks good - presenting it to students the first week of 2nd quarter is my goal.  I have included a design I'd like to share with the kids to go along with the plan - maybe creating some shirts with the logo to be given away as prizes.  For both the plan and the logo/shirt, I'd love feedback!! 

Building PLC - The next two early out days are for building PLC time.  During the October 14th early out, we will have a 1:30-2:00 staff meeting to cover the behavior plan and Mrs. Crouch is having a SPED meeting at 3:00 pm.  October 28th's PLC time will be curriculum centered with a short presentation by the ICC team followed by time for teachers to meet within curriculum teams.  More information to come!

Dates to note next week and beyond...

Tuesday - Language Acquistion Team (ELL) training @ Webster (Barry, Kunze & Sorensen)

Wednesday - Early Out/Building PLC; 1:30 WIS mtg; 3:00 SPED mtg @ HS MC

Thursday - SAT Meeting (Do you have kids data ready???  Talk to Jeannie TODAY)

Friday - End of 1st Quarter

He who laughs, lasts - More important than ever, we sometimes need to find a way to distract us from the stressors that come with educating kids, constantly looking at the data, learning new technology and skills, our budget woes and life in general.  I wanted to thank you for helping me do this during my time at Washington each day.  In addition to my HABD (Having A Bad Day) file I keep in my desk drawer and my friend's blog, I found another way to laugh and this one hangs on my office wall.  I thought I'd share it with you as I hope it helps you smile and laugh.  Hang in there...keep laughing and keep lasting.