March 30, 2012

Another short survey ... :-) ...we need all staff to complete can be accessed here. Nicole and I are looking for ideas to help us recognize and honor our volunteers here at MGE. Your input is important so please complete today or this weekend. THANK YOU!!


Portfolio and Summative Documents for Career Year 3 and Initial License Year 2/3 teachers are due next Monday, April 2nd. Everyone should refer to the email sent out March 16 regarding year end evaluation procedures. Annual Conference forms (ITPDPs) should be emailed to your evaluator by April 13th.


Evening Classroom Presentations - several of you have talked to me about hosting classroom presentations in the evening between now and the end of the year. That is awesome and I will try to make it when I can (between baseball games!) Please, please, get those times and dates to Paula and I so we can enter them on the calendar. Knowing who is in the building helps our custodial staff!


Classroom/Grade Level Projects and Field Trips - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....if you have a major project/student presentation or field trip coming up, please take pictures and email a short summary BEFORE or AFTER to Paula so she can get the information in to the Des Moines Register. I love to see the kids in action and its great to promote the hands-on, community or technology projects you're doing with kids!


Spring Assessment Window has been communicated with our BLT and we will finalize discussion next Friday during our BLT meeting before school. I will have Google.doc "spring tabs" updated with names/ID numbers sometime next week.


Spring weather brings bugs and spiders. :-) If you notice a large number of bugs, let me know instead of filling out a maintenance request. An occasional mean spider or one large spider does not necessitate 9-1-1 call but spiders traveling in a pack may prompt me to fill out a request. 


AEA Print - "Really? Again?" you ask. ...as your team begins to think about collecting AEA print request for 2012-13 (due by the last teacher contract day), please consider turning in all grade level sets of assessments, unit projects or any print that will be multiple pages for all students in your grade level. AEA print is just short of 1/3 the cost our district office charges us. Over the past few weeks, several times, I have signed off on central print copies totaling over 500 copies and one near 1000 copies. I've included some examples of cost savings as you think about print down the stretch...and remember the less print costs, the more money we have for items like iPads, books and document cameras! Thank you!

• 250 copies     AEA=$4.00     D.O.=$11.15   Savings=$7.15  
• 500 copies     AEA=$8.00     D.O.=$22.30   Savings=$14.30  
• 1000 copies   AEA=$16.00   D.O.=$44.60    Savings=$28.60  

Fundraiser Opportunity - Not required, but I strongly encourage you to attend a fundraiser for our building that will be this Sunday, April 1st. We will be doing a car wash at the Fareway store located near the bowling alley on Hickman. Sorry for the late notice, but the high school Lego Robotics team backed out and I thought it would be a great team builder and fundraiser for us. If everyone could show up at noon and we will only be there until 5pm. DRESS APPROPRIATELY please. I'm using the following site to advertise our fundraiser. Thank you in advance!!

March/April At-Bat Songs!

 Two more next week and then the contest ends!

Who will be singing to us all in May??

Mark Joye, Lorri Lynde, Toni Rand and Shelley Wagaman - custodians

Tasha Turner, kindergarten; Abby Masters, 2nd grade

Shanlyn Doll, counselor; Thresa Stone, associate

She's Country - Jason Alden

Count on Me - Bruno Mars

At-Bat Contest Update!

Going in to our bonus round, here are the results. Winning team gets a prize.  Losing team gets to sing to all of us at our May 9 PD! :-) Custodian songs are worth double this month. Good luck

March 16, 2012

Home Stretch - Coming back from spring break, we will have 8-1/2 weeks left of school! Wow. Coming in the form of memos soon :-) will be information about annual/summative conferences, class-list meetings  and related arts scheduling for 2012-13. This is an advance, THANK YOU, for putting up with (and completing!!!) many year-end nuts-and-bolts items while maintaining focus on what matters: student learning and achievement! I also appreciate you making a conscious effort to choose joy throughout the next 9 weeks! Those on the outside, don't realize how much more there is to teaching, counseling, being an associate, custodian, secretary or feeding our kids on a daily basis...I do...and I appreciate all you do to make Lyndsay and my job easier.


Early Out Schedules - March 28 is a professional development early out day. An agenda will be sent to all staff prior to March 26. That Friday (March 30), we run an early out schedule in order for our RA team to attend a PLC+ opportunity with Shuler's RA team. We appreciate everyone's flexibility to make this happen.

March 20 - Hopefully you'll be "unplugged" from work next Tuesday, March 20, but in case you are not, please know that the district will be without phone and internet service for a large portion of the day as the high school does some work. This would also affect district email through webmail/smart phones.

March 26 - I will be out of the district still on Monday, March 26. Lyndsay will be to Maple Grove by 9:30 am and be here the remainder of the day.

March 26 - Leslie returns!  ....and PLC+ dates are as follows: 3/29 is 2nd/4th; 4/3 is 3rd/5th; 4/5 is 1st/K. The schedule came out from Lyndsay today! Conflicts, let her know.

Speakers & Assemblies - Recent events at a school district in Iowa have lead to suggestions from SAI (School Administrators of Iowa) for all Iowa districts regarding bringing in guest speakers and/or assembly programs. It was suggested to provide all teachers with the understanding of four important points:

• Any speaker coming in to classrooms should be approved by the principal prior to speaking event. 
• Ask the speaker in advance if they will be showing any videos or clips. Preview those clips.
• If your guest violates expectations or a teacher feels uncomfortable about the presentation, you have the authority to end the presentation immediately.
• If your guest shares, says or does something inappropriate, write down all the facts and notified the building administration immediately.

...and in light of the recent events, I will be contacting our Magic Storyteller prior to our April 20th assembly! :-) 

Looking ahead...
* Mar 28 - Early out PD @ MGE
* Mar 29 - Instructional Rounds @ SMS
* Mar 30 - Early out schedule (RA @ SE)
* Apr 2 - 2nd gr field trip
* Apr 4 - Early out (math curriculum focus; RA district teams)
* Apr 4 - Tornado Drill
* Apr 6 - Barry in Iowa City (recruiting fair)
* Apr 9 - MAP begins!
* Apr 14 - PTO Carnival @ YMCA; 6:30-8:30p
* Apr 18 - Early out (MGE PLCs: math 'digestion'; MGE RA PLC)
* Apr 20 - 4th/5th AM HS music event;
* Apr 20 - PBIS Assemblies: Magic Storyteller in the PM (EO schedule)

March/April At-Bat Songs!

 This wild card bunch is just that - Wild!

Good luck guessing!

This month's contestants include:

Mark Joye, Lorri Lynde, Toni Rand and Shelley Wagaman - custodians

Tasha Turner, kindergarten; Abby Masters, 2nd grade

Shanlyn Doll, counselor; Thresa Stone, associate

Moonlight Sonta - Beethoven

Back in Black - AC/DC

Note: this person's 1st song was too inappropriate to even be on here!!

Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

March 9, 2012

With the sleepiness that comes from conference week, 
you may laugh at things like this today, too.

Wow...another great conference week (almost) over. As I walked around last night, it was fun to listen to parents talk about how much they love having their kids go to Maple Grove! I had several conversations with parents who could not stop saying positive things about their teachers, those on pick-up and drop-off duty, lunchroom, etc., etc...it is fun to listen and just reply, "They all make me look much better than I really am." ...and you all do! Thanks for making it a positive conference week and school year so far!


Please welcome Jessica Norton to our 1st grade team for the upcoming year! We are excited to add her to an already strong primary teaching team! Congratulations, Jess!


Kindergarten Registration Night is Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 pm. The online registration for incoming kindergarten students opened last week and will remain open until March 27. We hope to have a better idea of incoming enrollment at the end of the month!


Yearbook Order Forms are due today (March 9).

Building Temp - Keith Elmquist let us know that as the temp warms up outside, the temp in the rooms may rise until we get a string of warm days. The cooling towers will be filled later this spring (I'll pretend I know what that means). ;-)


E-Mail - Please refrain, if possible, from sending out emails to parents with PDF or Word.doc attachments. Sending your weekly newsletter with a link to your website with the update on your blog is the best method to use!


Annual AEA Survey - Please complete the AEA survey that comes your way via email. It is important to their reflection and future plans.


All Teachers are encouraged to create your own "preference" list on AESOP. If you do not know how to do this, please talk to a colleague. This will help with securing the subs from your classroom you feel work the best with your students!


Books Are Fun is set up in the staff lounge. Some of you may be familiar with this program in other buildings/districts. Order forms are on the rack and money/checks/order forms can be given to Paula. Orders are due March 14th and items will be delivered the following day. Yellow "tagged" items can be paid for an taken. They will be coming back every 6-8 weeks this year and following.


Welcome to student teachers Mallory Kern (Bode) and Morgan Krause (Umphress). Both join us from Drake and will be with us the next 8 weeks.

The "over-time" edition of our monthly at-bat contest includes the following people:

Mark Joye, custodian

Lorri Lynde, custodian

Toni Rand, custodian,

Tasha Turner, kindergarten

Abby Masters, 2nd grade

Shanlyn Doll, counselor

Thresa Stone, associate

I'll tease you with only one this week...followed by 3 songs each week for the next two weeks!

Our custodian songs are worth 2 points each so study up and good luck!

...hint, first one is not Mark's! Although he believes in the message.

March 2, 2011

Welcome to Liz Goode as she begins her long-term sub position for Sarah Allison!

FIRST... please make sure you "untape" me at the end of the assembly today. I'd like to go home this weekend. ;-)


Progress Reports - The parent portal will be opened Friday afternoon so parents have access to progress reports. I'll 'flip the switch' at 4pm and send an email out to parents. You're welcome to send any conference / progress report reminders out via email if you wish.


Conferences - Enjoy them. Seriously! It is a great time for students to shine and celebrate the wonderful learning we have all done this year. Our students and YOU do wonderful things and the parent feedback is always extremely positive. If you have a conference that you want Lyndsay or I to attend, do not hesitate to let us know so we can get it on the schedule.


Pizza Ranch Night - THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered at the Ranch this past week. It was standing room only attendance! I'll let you know what we earned when PTO lets me know.


Laminator - As mentioned last week, we have two volunteers (a parent and RaeAnn) to do lamination. Please leave your items in the box below the laminator with a note identifying you. These will be completed within a couple days and put back in your box. The laminator was down again on Thursday so we only want our volunteers using the laminator at this point. We really hope this helps!! Provide feedback to me or BLT member.


Orchard Place Therapist - The decision was made this week to wait until at least next fall to house a part-time therapist here at MGE. We will explore the need, other options and pros/cons this spring and decide what needs we have for the fall. All families who have worked with the therapist here at MGE have been notified of the decision by Orchard Place. If a student of yours needs support, please continue to work with Nicole and Shanlyn to find appropriate resources for the child and/or family.


Upcoming important dates can be found on our shared "Dates-to-Note" document. PLEASE add any field trips or other grade or building level events to the calendar if it is not already listed. ONE TO NOTE...Kindergarten Registration is Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30 pm.


Staffing update - 1st grade interviews will take place Monday. No other updates.


At-Bat Song Contest - If your team has not turned in your score card, please do so ASAP!! Because I want to give those behind a chance to catch up - we will do a bonus month! :-) We have several staff members who were not with in the fall or did not turn in a song so March/beginning of April will be our last group. It will start next week and be the final round...I promise. Remember - the winning team gets the grand prize (???) and the losing lowest scoring team gets to sing for us at our May 16 Data Celebration early out!

...with no At-Bat songs this week, a filler is my always popular (LOL)...

Final Thoughts for the Week

...where I keep talking/typing and you 

don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading. 

With spring break thoughts creeping into your dreams (and your instructional thoughts) and conferences next week, it is easy to lose focus and get stressed out...and that is understandable! I appreciate you keeping focus on student learning, reinforcing PBIS expectations and maintaining positive learning environments for all kids as we approach our needed break. Smile. Laugh. Share a compliment with a colleague. With a student. With a parent. No matter what your role is, each of you provide a wonderful service to students, parents and our community...we are almost through the 'dark days' of January-February-March. Thanks for hanging in there and being that positive energy each of your students needs. 

...and I couldn't finish a post without some reference to an "at-bat" song from someone who can't help but smile when you're around her (or having to listen to her stories from the adjoining office to the staff lounge. ;-)

Enjoy the weekend.

PS22 & Journey...

Don't Stop Believing