Last Week Info

UPDATED 5/31/11 @ 1:32 PM
Progress Reports - Per Darryl Down's email on May 25th, the progress report pdf will also need emailed to Paula so it can be burnt to a CD and stored for permanent record. Classroom teachers need to print a copy for the cum file.

Work Day - Deep breath. If you don't have labels today, I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do during prep time. Monday is a work day so what doesn't get done by Friday's Mickey's event shouldn't stop you from going and enjoying the evening! :-) No awards given to first one checked out.

UPDATED 5/31/11 @ 9:55 AM
Check-Out Sheets are in your mailboxes and sign-up sheet on my window. We now realize that the progress reports will print out 5 pages, not 3 pages. This is not ideal but it is what we will go with this spring. Hopefully summer conversation, planning and work will result in a more streamlined and efficient process next year.

Related Arts - Early Out schedule on Wednesday and NO related arts classes on Thursday and Friday. Related Arts teachers should be available to help classroom teachers if needed (ex: helping a classroom with an outdoor project that needs one more set of adult eyes/hands - teacher request help) and be a part of celebrations/events as we close the year.

Year End Assembly - Thursday at 2:30 pm in the gym. We will announce when to come.  Order of events: Rob welcome; band; chorus; Doug speaks; slide show (Dirksen introduce it)


Last Day Clap Out - 5th Graders will participate in a Clap-Out Parade at the end of Friday.  See the details below.

o   K-4 Students should have all their bags packed and ready to go by 3:25 pm.

o   K-4 students will sit in the hallways against the walls/lockers.

o   At 3:30 pm, 5th graders will begin to walk through the building starting by the 4th grade and progress all the way through the building to the kindergarten hallway.  Encourage K-4 students to clap! 

o   They will turn around (U-turn) in the K-pod so they can proceed by each other and the main office and out the front doors.

o   Two 5th grade teachers should lead the bus students to the north sidewalk and stay with them. One 5th grade teacher (and SPED staff should be at the parent pick-up area)

o   When all the 5th graders have exited, we will dismiss students as we always do (walkers and bus by bus).

o   All teachers should be in hallways/bus duty to help on last day! Grade level teachers should be out at the sidewalk to wave goodbye to students on buses. Related Arts/SPED at parent pick up.

May 27, 2011

Summer Kick-Off Survey - Whether you will be able to attend the summer learning kick-off event at MGE or not, please complete (another!) short survey today! http://bit.ly/lfrIGn 


Our last 2011-12 certified hire has been made! Please join in welcoming (back) Alice Hahn to MGE and our 3rd grade team! In addition to starting the year off with us as Allison Costa's long term sub this past fall, Alice has subbed in multiple buildings over the past couple years and completed two additional long term sub positions. We are excited to have her return to our MGE family this coming fall!


RA Schedule for 2011-12 is nearly complete. Our team had some great conversation and nobody broke any bones so mission accomplished! :-) Attempting to put together a schedule that ensures a couple days of common planning time, allows for collaborative teaching to take place in grades 2-5, and maintains the 8:00-8:40 morning PLC block is difficult, but our team has laid a solid foundation for a schedule! The final product should be viewable by June 6.


Associate Conferences - A floater sub has been hired for Wednesday, June 1st, to allow all our associates to meet with Lyndsay and I. Please see the schedule above the punch-in clock. We need you to add your location (the best you can) onto the sheet so the sub has a schedule for the day.  Questions - see one of us.


Check-Out Sign-Up - As mentioned in a previous FWR, the sign-up times for check-out will not be posted outside my office until May 31st. It does not matter if you check out with Lyndsay or I. Sorry - no early-bird sign-ups.  We're all at MGE until at least 2pm anyway. :-)  


Problem Solving Packets - In addition to the information in the checkout sheets, any teacher who has started a electronic problem solving packet should email those to me so I can get them to the appropriate teachers in the fall. If the packet was completed entirely electronically, you do not need to print it.

Survey for All Returning/New Staff - If you did not finish the survey at PD last week or you need to take it, please do so sometime soon!  Read carefully and take your time: http://bit.ly/mAHywk

Printers - 100's of sheets of paper have been printed to our printers and not picked up over the past couple weeks. Please ONLY print what is needed for school and your students. Personal items should be printed at home. As we close the year, classroom teachers will need to print over 1500 sheets of paper for progress reports (3 pages each) and data sheets. We cannot afford nor have the time for unnecessary items to be printed.


PTO Announced that we will generated over $4000 from our spring Spelling Challenge fundraiser!  Additional funds from this fundraiser and other fundraising from PTO this year will allow us to install one more projector per grade level and we hope to complete this in July or early August. BLT members should draw additional name and email it to me.  PTO also wanted to congratulate Mrs. Beyer's class for having the most receipts turned in from our Bang-Bang restaurant nights! Every student in Mrs. Beyer's class will receive a free dessert certificate.

Final Thoughts for the Week

...where I keep talking/typing and you 

don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading. 

This week, I was able to celebrate the life of my former colleague of mine in Red Oak. He passed away this past weekend after battling terminal illness for the past year. I wanted to share the poem his sister included on his memorial and hope you're able to use it to refocus like I will continue to try to do. :-)  "Things" can get busy and I can often lose the focus on the truly important things in life. I appreciate all the little things each of you do to help each other stay focused on living life the right way.

Living Life

Life is not a race - but indeed a journey.

Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy.

Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day.

Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.

Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental.

Search for your purpose and do it as best you can.

Dreaming does matter.

It allows you to become that which you inspire to be.

Laugh often.

Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.

Some of the best things really are free.

Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming.

Forgive. It frees the soul.

Take time for yourself - plan for longevity.

Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.

Live for today, enjoy the moment.

By: Bonnie Mohr

May 20, 2011

Survey for All Returning/New Staff - If you did not finish the survey yesterday or you need to take it, please do so sometime soon!  Read carefully and take your time: 

http://bit.ly/mAHywk

Related Arts Scheduling - The related arts team and one team member from each grade will meet from 8:00-8:35 and 1:45-4:00 pm in room 408 to work on our RA schedule for next year. Each team needs to notify Paula/Doug as to which teacher will be involved so we can direct the sub to the correct room. Subs are scheduled from 1:45-3:45 pm so I will need to make sure teams cover after school duties if needed.  Related arts teachers with after school duty should find coverage too.  


Early Out RA Schedules are set for the following days (according to my records!): May 26 and June 1. Kindergarten and 3rd grade teachers should let parents know for lunch time purposes. We will not have related arts classes on June 2-3.

Data Folder Information - Below is information regarding Data Folders.  Please refer additional questions to your BLT member TODAY so it can be discussed at Monday's BLT meeting.

• Data folders should include
• Data sheet form (printed from Excel file or hard copy) 
• K-2 DIBELS booklet
• Students in the problem solving process as recorded on the monthly PS summary
• Problem Solving Packet
• Current information on the bottom of PSP cover filled out/updated (exited, dates, additional notes, etc.)
• Make sure components on p.3 (supplemental/intensive) are included.  Does it pass the "stranger test"?
• Completed Data Folders will go in the office conference room:
• Boxes by 2011-12 grade will be available starting next week.
• Data folders put in alphabetical order by grade (not classroom!!)
• Students moving out of the district are placed in cum folders in office supply room
• Sticky notes attached to folders of students moving between buildings in district. Folders are placed in appropriately labeled box in the office conference room (all in one box).
• SPED students moving to MS: If you do not hand those to next year's teacher, please put student binder/information in my office and I will deliver those to the MS.

Other Assessment Data - All classroom teachers should keep running record data and benchmarking recording forms for at least one school year. This would allow a teacher to visit with a student's prior teacher and have a deeper conversation about the students progress or lack-thereof during the previous year.

Projectors - Edit from last week - we do not have the funds at this time to install a projector in every room, but are on our way! PTO will be supporting the installation of additional projectors this coming fall and our goal is have all installed over the next 2 years. We did walk-throughs in 11 rooms on Wednesday and projectors should be installed in those rooms by mid-June!

Phone PIN and Subs - [from Ray Coffey] This may apply more to traveling teachers who log in and out of their phones, but all teachers should take note of the following:  Since your voicemail PIN is not tied to your phone PIN and neither PIN is tied to your network account, you should just leave your phone User ID and PIN in your sub folder. As a reminder, you should NOT leave your network login credentials for a substitute teacher. 

Survey

Survey (do not take until end of PD) ·      Read carefully and take your time! ·      http://bit.ly/mAHywk

May 13, 2011

Welcome New Staff (Part II) - We filled two additional positions over the past two weeks and I'm excited to share it with you. Both are talented educators who come to us with great skills and high recommendations from their previous colleagues and supervisors. At the current moment, we have one position yet to fill (3rd grade).

• Michelle Crannell will be joining the kindergarten team this fall.  Michelle will be bringing a wealth of early childhood literacy knowledge and skills with her to Maple Grove. Currently, she is an educational therapist who provides reading interventions for students in the Denver, Colorado, area. She has also spent several years as a 1st grade classroom teacher.
• Ashley Coulter will be the "new" Kristen Richer in our Level II/III program. Currently, Ashley is a Title I teacher in Independence and has a solid foundation in many of our Waukee beliefs and practices.  We are not sure whether she sealed the deal after she expressed her passion around Richard Allington's work or the fact that she's an Iowa State University educational colleague of Lydia's. Either way, we are glad she's joining us this coming fall.

Personal Days - A teacher told me six or seven years ago that April showers bring May personal days. A protocol reminder on personal days: (1) you must contact Lyndsay at least 2 days in advance; (2) we can only have 3 personal days on any given day; and (3) the staff member is responsible for tracking personal days usage, not Lyndsay or I (i.e. Lyndsay will say okay to the day but you may not have personal days left).  Hope that helps!

May 20th Celebration - Early Out this coming Wednesday is devoted to celebrating our year-end successes. Each team should be working on their 5-7 minute 'presentation.' We will also be sharing building successes and getting a jump start for summer and the 2011-12 school year.  We hope to make it a fun afternoon of sharing and celebrating!

Spelling Challenge – Allison Hamling notified me yesterday that our Spelling Challenge raised around $4500 for Maple Grove!!  Wow!  We will be announcing that to students, but please congratulate them in the meantime and let them know that their support will help us provide every classroom with an installed projector!

Year End Items – Teams should compile AEA orders and have those ready to go before June 6^th. I will have more information to BLT members on the requisition process for this soon. The check-out list should be to all teachers by next Wednesday.  A sign-up for checking out will not be posted until May 31^st.

Scheduling for 2011-12 – A couple items worth sharing with everyone about scheduling for next year. First, we are finalizing a schedule for 2nd through 5th grade that will allow our SPED and ESL teachers (possibly our ELP too!) to push in to the classroom during math, reading and writing for students who can be successful in that setting. “How will this affect me?” you ask. Literacy (including writing) and math will be at set times during the day for 2nd-5th grade teachers.  Also, SPED/ESL students may be moving from a homeroom classroom to a co-taught classroom during those blocks of time. That schedule should be ready to go by May 31!  Questions – talk to Lindsey, Kristen R or myself.

Secondly:  Related Arts Scheduling – Meggan Bebout and I set our related arts scheduling day for Thursday, May 26. The team will meet from 8:00-8:35 AM and from 1:45-4:00 PM in room 408. We will run an early out schedule. This team will be working around the lunch and collaborative teaching schedule already in place. Our hope is everyone walks out June 3^rd with a 2011-12 schedule that everyone agrees on AND it's what is best for kids!! But hey…I’m a dreamer.

Final Thoughts for the Week

...where I keep talking/typing and you 

don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading. 

I am excited for our building's Identity Day (info here) on June 2nd! Instead of trying to inspire you with my own thoughts or words about what we're trying to do and how it will build upon the great community culture we've created as a building, I'll steer you to a great article (When Ideas Go Viral) I read about Identity Day!  I hope it motivates you like it did me!

May 6, 2011 - Staff Mtg Follow-Up!

Below are the embedded links and parent email I mentioned at this morning's meeting...

1.  One schools experience with Identity Day. Also, another school's experience with the day and a GREAT video they created to showcase the event to their parents/community!  I'm excited for students to take pride in who they are and why they belong!  

2. The quote I was trying to relay this morning from a recent parent email to Lyndsay & I about your recent work with PBIS/Morning Meetings (...and how it relates now to Identity Day):  

The recent Professional Development on morning meetings excited me! I love this concept. I recently attended two separate trainings on reducing the effects of trauma in children and in each training two main concepts were highlighted. They included the importance of children having a sense of belonging and a purpose in the world. I am hopeful the morning meetings can provide this to the Maple Grove students. I haven't read Roxann Kriete's book but I'm going to pick up a copy! ~ Abby

3. ITBS results that I shared: http://bit.ly/l7ZqQz (two tabs)

4. Social Studies Curriculum wiki link - http://wcssocialstudieswiki.pbworks.com 

5. My plans to give each of you a drink voucher for teacher appreciation week was thwarted after I viewed this news from CBPS. ;-)  http://bit.ly/lPzrjL   Sometimes you just have to laugh...

Have a great weekend!

He who laughs, lasts

DB

May 6, 2011

Staff Meeting Tomorrow!  First grade will graciously bring treats and kindergarten is planning the team builder activity! Agenda items include more information about Identity Day and ITBS results.  Please be in the library by 8:00 am.


Assessment - Last day to enter DIBELS scores is Wednesday, May 11th. Benchmarking must be completed by May 20th. Teachers should send final data to Lyndsay, Leslie and I. If you owe reflections (ITPDP tied to May data), please get those to Lyndsay and I prior to June 3rd.

Technology Integration - Thanks to Carrie and Leslie for providing some great learning on Wednesday. It was fun to watch all of you in the lab learning like your students would! Either of them would (and I would too!) be willing to help you and/or your team continue your leaning. If you take one of Carrie's lessons and implement it with your students over the next two weeks, let me know. Some ideas mentioned yesterday worth reviewing...

• Skype In the Classroom (https://twitter.com/SkypeClassroom) or Skype Education (http://education.skype.com) - Find guest speakers, collaborate with classrooms across the country or have individual students read with other students across the web.
• Projectors in the Classroom - There are tons of ideas out there and you may want to begin thinking as a team about how you will use you classroom projector starting next fall!
• Liked using the Voki site? There is a Teacher's Corner with questions and answers galore!

Meetings Next Week - May is a busy month! Please continue to check and add items to the calendar in the copy room. Communication is the goal this month! :-)  A couple meetings/events to note for next week:

• Monday: PBIS Core
• Wednesday: 1st Gr Roster Mtg; 5th Grade @ Biztown; Waukee Library visit
• Thursday: Kindergarten Roster Mtg
• Friday: PS Core (bring an Allington idea/learning with you!)

Recess Follow-Up - Please refer to the email I sent last Friday regarding "extra recesses" for your students and the safety concerns. If extra outside time is earned by your class, please be aware that you cannot use the main playground at the same time another grade level has a scheduled recess. A teacher may choose another area outside the building as long as it does not 'double up' the playground. I hope that clears up some of the confusion. 

Final Thoughts for the Week

...where I keep talking/typing and you 

don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading. 

"This is okay, but I know you're capable of doing much better, Doug." 

Although it is true that those words could be said by my supervisor, Dr. Buck, or by my wife, Jen, on occasion....the words were first uttered (or maybe first heard) during my 5th grade year in school. Ms. Guge was a 'rookie' teacher who decided that my "okay" effort that usually resulted in sufficient work and teacher praise, was not okay anymore. 

"What?!?!" I thought, "You just started this teaching-gig and you think you know me and know what you're doing?? You want me to put more effort into my school day? I liked the way things were going when 'okay' was 'okay!'" 

Not only did she want me to put more effort into everything I did, but she showed me why it was important to do my best work, motivated me to not be settled with being 'good' at something like math or writing, taught me how to learn from my mistakes and from others, and she did a very simple thing...praised me when I gave the extra effort. Ms. Guge collaborated with my parents (behind my back I think) and continued to push me and my classmates that entire year - although we didn't really think it was 'work' as we wrote a newspaper, did a newscast, explored science outside the school building and I wrote my first book (which has traveled with me to 5 houses in a box Jen has labeled "Doug's Childhood Crap"...seriously! I'm sure there might be some items I can get rid of in that box, but not my book). 

I can tell you that 75% of what I remember from elementary school (K-6) was during Ms. Guge's first year of teaching and, to be honest with you, my first year of learning. Thank you, Ms. Guge (now Mrs. Nunez) for turning me on to learning.  I'm still doing it and there are still days I know I'm capable of much more!