September 2, 2011

SAY CHEESE!!  

Friday is Picture Day!

Sept 6 PD - Each of you should have received an invitation to view the PD planning calendar on Google.docs.  This would include the agendas for each PD as we approach them. When the agendas are set, you will be notified to view this planning document. If you did not receive access and need it, please let me know. For September 6th, we will begin with a light snack at 8:00 am. Please bring your laptops.


Cumulative Folders for all returning students are organized!  Please take time over the next week to review your students' folders.  We have had a lot of new students this year and they will be placed ASAP. As you review new files, if you note any information that needs to be shared (504, IEP, speech, counseling, etc.), please let the office know immediately.  This would apply to new students who move in during the year. Fifth grade teachers should also look for high math scores to screen for math placement. As students move in, Paula will always email the classroom teacher, principals and related arts staff when new kids start at Maple Grove and notify you when the cumulative file arrives. 


Phone Calls - I've been meaning to post this on the FWR since it was mentioned to me last June but keep forgetting. Phones in the classroom will not call out long distance and this is standard across the district. I did put in a tech request this week to get the conference rooms and office lounge phones updated so staff may call out long distance on those phones. I will let you know when they are ready to go.


Laminator - A service call was placed on Monday. The laminator had a roller replaced and it was serviced on Tuesday. Wednesday, the laminator was found with the cover off and not working properly again. No one notified the office.  This is too expensive of equipment not to use correctly and if issues arise, the office needs notified immediately. Some quick tips everyone needs to follow:

• Do not use the laminator if you don't know how to use it. Ask a friend to show you.
• Do not have parents use it if they have not been trained.
• If something 'breaks', stop and call the office. Do not take it apart or pull anything out.

Gym Project - A projector will be installed in the gym next Friday, September 9th. While they are installing it, we cannot have anyone in the gym.  If you have PE that day, please let your students know that it will take place outside unless we have rain. Mr. Harris will work with you as to where you will meet him for PE that day.


Classroom Newsletter - Thank you to staff members who have been including me on your e-communication home to parents. If you want to include me on your e-newsletter to parents (or share your link), that would be great!  FOR NOW, The link to the building newsletter, The Branch, will be emailed to teachers on Friday.  Please forward it on to your parent email list.  IF YOU NEED PAPER COPIES FOR FAMILIES who do not have access to email, you should have already notified Paula as to how many.

As a reminder...

Students should be returning the inclement weather transportation form and the field trip permission form. Both of these forms stay in your classroom, and it is your responsibility to track who has/has not returned them.  If you need additional copies, let Paula know.

Theory of Action Focus

Providing high quality customer service throughout the organization. 

I appreciate everything that each of you have done these first two weeks of school to make every child feel safe at school and every parent feel good about their child being a part of our Maple Grove family. Many staff have been going the extra mile to make our students and parents feel special and welcomed at Maple Grove.  Now that our first couple weeks have flown by, it might be easier to stay in your room after school, make less contacts, or become focused on all those things that need to get done.  Please continue to make that extra effort to reach out to parents, students and the community throughout the year to make Maple Grove THE place to learn, grow and work.

At-Bat Song Contest Begins This Month!I picked these three songs from Group A to get us started. It really told me quite a bit about these three staff members. It was nice to see some At-Bat songs from the 80's. Reminded me of junior high dances and socials...the scary thing is it was the decade when many of you were born. Ouch. 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper	Chicken Friend - Zac Brown Band
Whip It - DEVO	AT-BAT KICK OFF! September will includes At-Bat songs from Group A. Work as a team to correctly match as many songs to staff members as you can! Group A includes: Bebout, T.Broich, Crannell, Grote, Hedrick, Kirby, R.Miller, Ochoa, Robinson, Sheldon, Steenhoek. GOOD LUCK!