August 20, 2010

Weekly Memo & Upcoming Events - Each Friday (rain, shine, or .... snow), I will post the Friday Weather Report.  This weekly bulletin includes information and recaps from the past week, news for the upcoming week and any information that will (hopefully) be helpful in keeping us all on the same page.  It is put in place to limit the number of emails from me during the week and a place of reference if you need to find something down the road.  The weekly/monthly calendar is always at the bottom and will be updated regularly.  If you'd like information included in the weekly bulletin, please let me know by Wednesday.  Dates for the calendar can be emailed to Paula to be added.

New staff orientation - It has been a busy week for our new-to-Waukee staff!  Over the past three days, 14 Maple Grove staff members have been involved in a variety of learning, collaboration and growing.  I appreciate your high level of engagement and thirst for new knowledge!  You all dove right in and I truly believe we have the right people in the right places to make it a very successful year!

Staff handbook goes online!  Attached to the FWR email was the updated Section 3 from our staff handbook (General Information).  The new staff was exposed to the handbook today and we will cover some key items Monday morning with all staff at our 10 am meeting.  Please take time to look through this section of the handbook. As mentioned Thursday morning, the entire Staff Handbook will be online by Monday morning and I will have the link and location for you. Placing this online and not updating new changes each year with hard copies will help us lower printing costs. Returning staff members may pick up hand book binders in the conference room and rip out the old pages if you wish but we will not be replacing the pages this fall. Ones not picked up will be emptied and reused for other purposes.

Volunteer Forms - We expect all teachers will use a volunteer form at Open House. If you do not have a volunteer form, I also attached an example to the FWR email. This was the one that was passed around at Thursday's new staff meeting. You do not have to use this form if you have an adequate one in place already. Please post a volunteer sheet outside your classroom door on Monday, August 23rd during Open House. You may want to make a sign to draw attention to it and verbally remind parents to sign up to volunteer. There will NOT be another volunteer form sent home so please communicate with families who were unable to attend Open House about the opportunity to sign up to volunteer. It will also be in the first building newsletter.

When you have your list of volunteers it will be your responsibility to make contacts and set up your classroom and at-home volunteer schedules. Also, by Friday, August 28th please make one copy of your volunteer spreadsheet and… 

• Place a copy in Pam Mefford’s mailbox so she can begin contacting Media Center volunteers.
• Please keep your original volunteer spreadsheet for your records.
• Let Doug or Lyndsay know if you do not have ANY parents sign up to volunteer in your classroom.
• Reminder: A district-wide decision was made that NO siblings are allowed to accompany parents when they volunteer at school. If you notice this happening, we ask that you politely discuss this policy with the parent. If necessary, Doug or Lyndsay will follow-up with that parent. Please remind your classroom parents of this rule in your first classroom newsletter.

Supplies - Please note that the supply room in the office should only be accessed by requests through Paula.  Once the year begins, we will have a system in place for staff to make requests for needed items.  Supplies from the office do not include sticky notes, markers, pencils and pens for students, etc.  Student supply lists include many of these items and teachers can place "wish lists" outside their rooms during Open House (Aug 23) and Curriculum Night (Sept 16). 

Monday Morning's Agenda - Enjoy your work day on Friday. Monday's all-staff agenda will be in your "email box" by Friday morning. For returning staff members and associates, the related arts schedule and other needed items will be in your physical mailbox in the office by Friday morning. Please bring that paperwork and your laptops to the meeting at 10 am on Monday!

Congratulations to Alison Costa for the birth of a healthy baby girl, Sofia Christine!  We wish you and your family the best during your time at home with Sofia.
Thank you - I appreciate your patience and ongoing support for Paula and I as we transition to Waukee CSD and Maple Grove Elementary.  My summer individual conferences were well worth the time and I continue to be impressed more and more each and every day I work alongside you.  May your patience for me continue well into......next week.  :)    Have a great weekend!