May 21, 2010

Open House for Mrs. Sims! We'd like to take the time next Wednesday to welcome Mrs. Sims to Washington Intermediate so we have planned an Open House for her and I want to invite all WIS staff.  We will have it in the media center beginning at 3:30 pm.  Come as you are and welcome Barb as we get ready to bring the 2009-10 school year to an end. 

Purpose, Planning & Communication!  With many special events and classroom parties over the next week, please communicate your schedule with those who need to know!  I also hope you continue to find ways to plan engaging lessons and remind (and model to!) the kids that our last day is not until May 28th. We will have year end assemblies on Friday, May 28th.  The 4th grade will be at 8:45 am and the 5th grade at 9:30 am.  These will not be as long as previous years!  :) 

The last day for teachers is Tuesday, June 1st, unless you've talked to me about other arrangements.  Check out sheets will be in your box today (Friday). Checkout for teachers may be scheduled during the day and staff who have checked out may leave after 1:00 P.M. You may schedule a 15 minute time via Outlook appointment and this time will include reviewing your ICD plan so you need to bring documentation/data with you.

Track Meet – Thank you to Karen for organizing the event and to the Optimist, Hy-Vee and Fareway for providing lunch. It was a wonderful day at the track!

Orders and Budget - Teams/teachers should begin putting together your orders for the 2010-11 school year as these need to be turned in prior to checking out. Due to budget concerns, I need teams/teachers to make requests for items needed for the 1st quarter only. Think about what you need to get started in the fall and use this to guide your orders. This includes all teachers outside the general classroom too. After registration in the fall, we will have more definite student numbers and be able to make orders for the remaining year.  This is a change in process so if you have questions, you or your team needs to talk to me ASAP.  All "bulk" items (markers, erasers, etc.) should be on a separate list and turned in to Stephanie for her to compile numbers for our central office.

Summer Lunch Program will be held at Washington and Inman this summer.  Lunch will be served to any children ages 3 through 18 at both buildings from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  This is free to any child in Red Oak and will begin June 5 and run through July 30 with July 5th being the only day the program will be closed.  This will make it even more important that you lock your classroom doors if you visit this summer as we will have a lot of traffic in the building this summer. 

Pandora.com'ing Education:  Students Choose Their Modality - We've all gotten used to the thrill of customization -- getting exactly what we want to make us smarter, richer, happier. Pandora Radio lets anyone customize the music he or she wants to hear. Could a New York City pilot program called School of One do the same thing for education?  Freakonomics Radio offers this very interesting podcast (click here) worth downloading and listening to over the weekend or summer.

It’s not about what happens. It’s about perspective.

I may not be able to change what takes place,

but I can always choose to change my thinking.

-- Michelle Sedas

One week and counting...

May 21 – 3rd Annual Reading on the Square
May 21 - Grade Cut-Off
May 25 - Grades due in office by 4 pm
May 26 – End of Year Picnic @ Fairgrounds
May 27 – Transition Day
May 28 – Assemblies; Last day 1:10 PM dismissal
May 29 – Work day for retiring staff (Mr. Barry not here)
June 1 – Work day/checkout for staff