May 24, 2013

No specials on Friday. Field day schedule has been handed out. Note changes in lunch schedule.

Books - Still missing several Walnut Hills' Love and Logic books. Please return those to me ASAP. If you have any other book study books, please drop those off in my office as well. I will need The Leader In Me books back as it appears we will have a number of staff/parents engaged in that book study in June.

Speaking of The Leader In Me...if you were not able to join the study in May, we'd love to have you take part in our June study. This would be open to any staff member (associate, teacher, nutrition, custodian, etc.) and I'd like to especially extend the offer to our returning staff at MGE. Please add your name by clicking here. I will send information to those interested early next week.

Speaking of the book study...we are going to offer a Leadership Breakfast for all teachers next Tuesday morning (work day). The office staff will begin serving a "waffle bar" at 7:45a. At 8:05am, a member of the book study group and I would like to present some information for about 10 minutes around our learning during The Leader In Me book study and talk about MGE's next steps. RaeAnn will share next steps for WDE as well. This breakfast is open to all teachers and any other staff member who'd like to hear more. See you Tuesday morning!

Dates to note for 2013-14 is already in the works. Please bookmark the site and add any dates your team already has planned for the upcoming year.

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

• K-4 students will sit in the hallways against the walls/lockers by 3:25 p
• At 3:25p, 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! 
• 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.
• Students/parents may take pictures by the sculpture area before heading to the bus/cars.
• Two 5th grade teachers should lead the bus students to the north sidewalk and stay with them. Two 5th grade teacher (and SPED staff should be at the parent pick-up area)
• When all the 5th graders have exited, we will dismiss students as we always do at 3:40p (walkers and bus by bus). Do not dismiss early!
• All teachers should be in hallways and then outside 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 or buses.

Final Thoughts for the Year

...please find time to read on. Even if its next week. :-) 

We have much to celebrate, but wanted to share out with the entire staff some of the data our teachers saw last week at our last PD and my commentary/beliefs on why we saw this data.

First, we met our academic goal of 80% of our students reaching 

the end of the year benchmark expectation! Way to go team!

Next, last year, our building was on the NCLB watch list, specifically

for the performance of our low-SES students in the area of reading.

This past year, we had a significant reduction in the percentage of

students not proficient within this same sub group in reading.

Maple Grove Students

This nearly 10% reduction at MGE was even more amazing considering

the district percentage for Low SES students did not change hardly at all.

All Waukee Students

We won't know whether our No Child Left Behind status will change due

to this data, but we should celebrate regardless!

We saw very similar results in math for our Low SES students! In math, we 

also noticed a large increase in "advanced" or high performing students at MGE. 

MATH SCORES - IA Assessment

So...what was the trick or the magic? I have thought a lot about this

and believe it has a lot to do with the people (you) and the focus we

had this year. Lots of work, learning and implementation of concepts

around Teaching with Love and Logic and the conversation, ideas and

implementation of activities with students around Growth Mindsets.

Is that too easy of an answer? I don't think so. I saw a quote during the book

study, The Leader In Me, that I have seen a ton of times before but it hit home

even more this spring:

You care. They notice. You "work" less. They work harder.

I've seen it over and over and truly believe this spring, you lived through it.

Some can say that Waukee is getting too big and what we do now won't work

as we continue to add kids, adults, families, buildings, etc. 

...but you showed it can work. We made it work with 770+ kids.

Each day.

Every day.

Until the end.

...because you cared. Because you noticed. Because you believe.

I cannot tell you how I excited I am to continue our work we've been doing

this year around mindsets, love and logic, leadership, feedback and engaging

students in assessing their own growth. It's good stuff and we will continue

to grow it (including outside the classroom walls) and making it our own.

Enjoy your summer and be ready to get fired up again this fall.

It will be another fun one.

I believe.

May 17, 2013

...in case you didn't get the SM-email Wednesday afternoon...

I have exciting news to share with all of you. Trina Graen has accepted an internal transfer from Shuler (reading lab) to Maple Grove for the 2013-14 school year as our ESL teacher! Trina brings a ton of knowledge and experience with how to effectively work with struggling readers. Before teaching at Shuler, she had taught "Title One" at MGE with intermediate level students. Take time to welcome Trina this spring or summer.

...we are also excited to announce Kim Wolf as our assistant principal for the upcoming school year. Kim is currently a 1st grade teacher in ADM and has had many leadership roles and responsibilities during her time there. She comes with wonderful recommendations and will hit the ground running this summer as she supports MGE and Shuler this fall. Kim will be visiting MGE on Monday so if you are able to stick around the building after school, I will be taking her around the building and introducing her to staff informally.

PBIS posters should remain in the classroom even if you are "moving next door." If you arrive in the room and cannot find the posters, let me know.

TODAY - please return Love and Logic books to Doug if they belong to Walnut Hills. They need them by Monday. By checkout, those leaving MGE should please bring to Doug's office any other book-study books (except Leader in Me) you have been given through BLT, PBIS, etc. 

Related Arts progress statements will be done by no later than 4pm Wednesday. You may print your end of year reports for the cum folder when those are entered. Print a copy to send home on the last day if the family does not have internet access. This will not be done from the office so please do this for your own students.

Check list reminder from Perrigo...
1) Schedule a time with Leslie to check out materials if you are leaving the building. 

2) All benchmarking kits need to be returned to Leslie's office by Tuesday 5/21. 

Check list - not on the list, but you do need to move over your folders over to Google-mail (waukeeschools.org) before too long in to the summer. IT has provided a "how-to" video to help. 

Next week items to note...

• 5th Grade track and field is on Tuesday
• Associate reviews will take place on Wednesday. If you have not signed up, please do so today outside the appropriate office (Diann or Doug)
• Early out schedule on Wednesday with the all school assembly beginning at 2:45p. Kindergarten should begin heading to the gym at 2:35p and will will announce each grade following.
• Everyone, please be out in the hallways before and after school each day next week to help reteach expected behaviors and reinforce positive behaviors.
• Clap-out for our 5th graders will begin at 3:25pm on Friday. Please have all students sitting outside their classrooms by that time. Our 5th grade students will parade through the hallways starting from 4th grade down through the kindergarten hallway. When all 5th graders have left the west entrance, we will make an announcement that school is dismissed for the 2012-13 school year! 
• All staff should be in the hallways and walk out with the students on Friday. Your team should send two of your team members with students to parent pick-up and the rest should be with students waiting for and going to the buses. It is always fun to say good-bye outside! :-) 

Real Men Do Cry...

I didn't say it well enough during PD on Wednesday because it is challenging for
me to say good bye or good luck or see-you-later to so many staff members and 
students at the end of the school year. I joked that "real men do cry" and although
I consider myself a pretty emotionally-in-check person, it does sadden me to see
so many good kids, parents, teachers and staff move on this year. I truly wish each
of you the very best. Teachers and staff leaving - please know how much I appreciate
all you have done during your time at MGE to make it THE place to learn, grow,
laugh, love and live. Other buildings, colleagues, parents and kids are fortunate to have
you in their lives next year. May continued success and happiness find you each morning.

May 10, 2013

Check out the Dates to Remember

...missing anything?

Associate end-of-year reviews are scheduled for Wednesday, May 22. A schedule will be posted outside Diann and my office on Monday, May 20. The meetings will last 10-15 minutes. 

Our PTO rocks! You knew that, but they proved it again this week. What a treat! Make sure to say thank you to your parents and any PTO members when you see them.

PD next week will begin with a celebration of births/weddings. Building goals, celebrations and an introduction to next year's goals will take place before we use the remaining time to allow teams to share your celebrations. Please keep you songs, dances, skits, presentations to under 10 minutes. Always fun to hear/see how far we've come each year....I can't wait! :-) 

New principals will be in place in the coming days! Samara Galindo (Sheldon's) will be your assistant principal tomorrow afternoon and Noah Van Wyk (Costa's) will be the principal-for-the-day on Tuesday, May 14.

Check-out form will be in teacher's boxes by Monday morning. Please note several items must be initialed by other people than Diann and I. This should be done prior to checking-out with Diann or I.

Field Day - The schedule for lunch/recess is below. Please note there is NO specials that day as all related arts teachers are helping with field day.

AEA Print - When teams fill out the copy/print sheets for the AEA order, leave the account number blank and use "Maple Grove #0445" for the school. Requisitions may be emailed directly to Paula. These are due prior to checkout.

Last teacher day - Teachers may leave anytime after 2:00p if your check-out list has been approved. Diann will be working at MGE in the AM. Sign-ups for times will be posted the last week of school.

PLC Teams may choose to meet during the last cycle. If you do not plan on meeting, please contact the person who covers you class.

Blogs - Please refer to Nicole Lawrence's email about what to do with your blog. Copy and paste any information you want to ensure you keep to your computer. 

Maple Grove Field Day Lunch/ Recess Schedule (May 24)

3rd lunch 10:50-11:10 recess 11:15-11:35

2nd lunch 11:15-11:35 recess 11:40-12:00

1st lunch 11:40-12:00 recess 12:05-12:25

4th lunch 12:05-12:25 recess 12:30-12:50

K lunch 12:30-12:50 recess 12:55-1:15

5th lunch 12:50-1:10 recess 1:05-1:35

Session One:

K, 1st Grade 9:10-11:10

Session Two:

2nd, 3rd and 4th Grade 12:55-3:15

May 3, 2013

It's May?!?!? You want me to do what? Wow...

I know much is asked of you know - and this is in addition to the "much" that
is asked of you all year long. Please do me a favor. If you need to scream, yell,
complain, punch someone...come to my office. That may allow you to save your 
sweet smile, laugh, kind words, hugs and encouragement for the students and in your
classroom and your colleagues on your team who need it. 
So just take a number and stand in line...my door is now open.

Celebration Time! Our May 15 PD will be our last professional development day this year. Just like the previous two years, we will use that time to highlight growth and celebrate a successful school year. In addition to the BLT sharing results from our CSIP/Data day on May 6th, teams should plan a short presentation. Be creative, be simple, be funny, ...choose your venue....but celebrate your team's and your students' success.

MAP and Data - All 3rd-5th grade teachers were emailed your students' MAP reports. Iowa Assessment and MAP reports are in your box to be sent home with students today (Friday). Your BLT member was given some timelines for when benchmarking should be completed and data entered on the Google.doc.

Scheduling for 2013-14 - Related arts team started working on the schedule this week. Our hope is a draft is out to staff for input/edits so we can leave with a tentative* schedule for the fall. This will allow for team planning and classroom schedules to be developed. * We work in Waukee...sections can always be added or subtracted. :-)

Personal Leave Payment Forms for certified staff are located below on the counter below my mailbox. If you have personal day(s) left, fill out the form and place in the manilla envelop standing up to the left of the forms. You must do this by the check-out day.

Ugh - Looking at my week next week, please bear with me. I will be out of the building Monday AM, all day Tuesday, until 2pm on Thursday and in a meeting (at MGE though!) Friday PM. Melissa will be here Mon, Wed, Thurs and Diann here Tues, Wed and Fri so you are in good hands.

Sack lunch - If your team is ordering sack lunches for students, please use the form located on the nutrition website. Wouldn't hurt to bookmark it for future use too:  http://www.waukee.k12.ia.us/nutrition/forms/

Post from the past...

As I reflect upon the last few weeks at MGE, rereading this post from last 
year hit home with me even more. Please take time to read and reflect 
upon your own classroom and your students' finish to school year.
I'm also being serious about my offer above...our kids need your best each day.

It is about this time of the year where we may see students act out who for reasons we cannot always understand. Sometimes it is a kid just being a knuckle-head or a bit of the case of summer-fever. Other times there is a deeper cause. In my previous district, I had a student break down in my office after a rough few days in the classroom and tell me he was worried about summer because there wasn't going to be anyone home during the day nor breakfast or lunch everyday. His thinking might have been that if he acted out enough he'd "have to" stay longer at school. It was an "ah-ha" for me. The acting out as a reaction to the uncertainty of not having a routine and consistency that school provides was something I had a hard time understanding until the student just stated it. 

We do have students at Maple Grove that will be faced with uncertainty - whether it be not having a consistent meal, no adult attention, or having positive peers around him/her. Please take time these last couple weeks to recognize the cause of some of behaviors and seek supports from Nicole, Shanlyn and our office if needed. Reach out yourself. Plan activities that engage students minds. Be kind.I appreciate you being consistent but also patient and compassionate at the same time. Just like Calvin, our kids may need to be smothered with affection. :-) 

April 26, 2013

There is a lot of info below - please make sure you read the FWR each week

and make note of dates, changes and expectations. You can always refer back

but everyone being on the same page sure helps as we close the year. Thanks.

Please welcome Jodi Vogt to MGE as she will be our 1/2 time at-risk counselor next fall! Jodi is currently the guidance counselor at Walnut Hills and will transition to being shared between Shuler and MGE next school year. She will be on days opposite the assistant principal and we ARE THRILLED she is joining our family next fall. Update on the asst. principal process - we are currently in the screening stage and interviews will take place on May 7th.

Attendance - It is EXTREMELY important for teachers to correct attendance or call Paula if a student comes after attendance has been completed and does not have a pass. Calling home to report an absence when the student is present creates quite an emotional conversation on the phone with parents. Please help us not have to have those conversations.

Lunch Recess - Since it is warming up, classroom teachers should begin walking outside to meet their class as they line up for recess. This helps our recess staff with behaviors and get to the next group of students. This would be the expectation for the remainder of the year. Thank you!

Class list meetings start next week. Memos will be coming to teams soon. Support teachers (ESL, RA, SPED, ELP) will be in attendance as well. Although we will use the same process as last year, we will also be separating the Woodland Hills students in to sections.

Tech Tip - [This is one I need to start doing too] I.T. recommends you not only have your laptop plugged in to your purple cord as often as you can, but to also shut down each day and do so while plugged in to your purple cord. Updates are pushed out throughout the year and by shutting down each day and logging back in, you will receive those updates in an ongoing fashion.

Speaking of tech tips, the Google mail conversion email from Mark Toland will come from me tomorrow. Although this is a process you will do on your own next week, district I.T. will be here on Wednesday and Thursday from 7:45-8:45am in the computer lab (rm 431) to assist staff who have issues or questions. If you don't have it done by Wednesday, please go to lab one of those mornings to ensure it gets done.

Upcoming classroom of grade level presentation or gathering? If you or your team is planning an upcoming event where multiple parents are invited in to your classroom, please let Paula know the date/time so she can prepare sign-in's if needed and have name tags ready. You should also add those dates to the "Dates to Remember" document. Thanks!

Store Room - We have had a number of items come up missing, last of certain items taken without Paula being notified and trash (discarded wrapping, boxes, etc.) left in the store room the past week or so and throughout this year. Unfortunately, the door will be locked and you will need to have Paula, Diann or I let you in when something is needed. Thank you for understanding.

Quote of the Week "So then you decide, 'Well, I'm sick of myself.

I'm going to think of how other people can be happy. I'm going to get up in the morning and think, what can I do for even one other person, even a dog, my dog, my cat, my pet, my butterfly?' And the first person who gets happy when you do that ... you..." An excerpt from Bob Thurman during a TED talk

April 19, 2013

Benchmarking starts next week. Your BLT member has the schedule. We will send the sub(s) to the BLT room each day to be "distributed" appropriately. Please begin to enter those results in the grade level Google doc (SPRING tab) as you do them.

Summative/Annual Conferences start taking place next week. If you have not signed up, please do so today! Please mark your time as we will not send out reminders. If you need coverage, we'd need to know that soon as we do not have subs in place. Associates will have their review the last week of school.

Fine Arts Panera Night is Tuesday from 5-7pm. Please join us as 10% of proceeds come back to MGE. We raised $1700 from our Pizza Ranch Nights and over $3000 from the basket raffle (Family Fun Night) - wow!!  

Google mail is coming soon. You will be sent an email on Monday, April 29th, with directions to update to "@waukeeschools.org" address if you have not already. You will be able to do this on your own, but district IT staff will be available to support the transition during two mornings that week. Right now...just check to see if your email (the @waukee.k12.ia.us) is correctly listed on our staff page. If it is not, complete an IT ticket. More info to come. :-) 

Parent Email - Paula needs current parent emails. She will put a copy in each staff mailbox of what is currently on PowerSchool. Teachers need to mark any changes, and return to Paula. We need current emails because fall registration will be sent out to parents this summer based on what we have on PowerSchool.

Inquiry Learning - I appreciate the conversations, sharing and collaboration that took place this past Wednesday. Some great ideas/plans were shared and I look forward to the sharing out on May 1st, but I feel even better about the effect your conversations and practices that will take place within the classroom because of your learning together this spring. Teams will have 30 minutes to collaborate during our May 1st PD before you share for 5 minutes each. If you have time, I'd like to get some quick feedback on your thoughts so far.

Final Thoughts for the Week....

(...and you thought I was done with this segment)

My brother sent me this video last Friday as a "laugher" (he's a counselor and knows I am in need of counselor...I think), and as I watched it the first time, I did just that --- laugh. Of course, knowing he's a counselor, I also assumed there was a deeper meaning to the video (he's been analyzing me since he started his counseling program 10+ years ago). I think what the video is telling me is that I sometimes get so focused on what I think is "right" or "good" for me or others (family, admin team, building, etc.) that  I am not open to other ideas...even my own (i.e. biting my own foot sometimes to save or protect my ideas or plan). 

I will let you make your own self-analysis and application to self...not to me, please. ;-)

Now, I could be completely off on my own psycho-analysis, but either way, I'm sure my brother will chart my behavior and send me another video next week. :-)

April 12, 2013

Project Warm Fuzzy

A warm fuzzy is any person or thing that gives others comfort, reassurance, or a friendly feeling.   

Take a minute to share a friendly feeling with MGE staff and post it on our warm fuzzy wall in the lounge OR put it in your colleagues box as a warm fuzzy surprise.  :)  The first Warm Fuzzy slip will be in your mailbox and  additional copies of these slips will be located near the copy machine. Please take time to complete and pass on throughout the month of April and May.

...not real warm and fuzzy, but Annual Conference forms are due today (April 12) - Certified staff only. I do get all warm-and-fuzzy reading them though!

Classified Staff - end of year evaluations will take place over the last two weeks of school. More info to come.

Welcome to Amanda Robinson who will be Becky Goerend's long term sub (Congrats Becky!). As I told someone on Monday, "1 down, and 3 to go!"...I heard Baugh is running the pool for when (and who) our next MGE Baby will arrive.

Professional Development - If your Personal Learning Network (PLN) has not added your inquiry learning focus and team members to the Danielson 3rd Inquiry Groups Google.doc, please do so today. All teachers may access next week's agenda on the document (below the team list). More information will come to teams next Monday.

PBIS Core Team will meet again on Friday, April 19th. The goal for the team that day will be to draft a 2013-14 PBIS Goal for the BLT's May 6th CSIP meeting. Those team members who cannot attend, please pass along your ideas/information to another core team member before the meeting.

Leader In Me Book Study - The books are in! I am looking to get past annual conferences and assessment before we begin. I have set up three times so staff members can choose any of the three book study teams to be a part of in May. Please make your choice here and there is still available slots if you want to join us! As you sign up, please attempt to even out the teams but also make sure they are dates/times you can attend. Once you sign up, I will get you your book. I would like to set up one time (2hrs) in June to get as many from the teams together to wrap up the book study and thought process together. We will set that date as we proceed with the book study. If you cannot join us, but are interested in the learning, I hope to post the book study questions and conversation summary on a Google.doc so you can follow along.

Tired of me saying, "Please check out/edit/add dates to the Dates to Remember?" :-) I have appreciated several of you catching conflicts, keeping your team posted and helping make sure our last 6-8 weeks goes as calendar-conflict-free as possible! Keep it up.

If you can't beat them, Love and Logic Them...

First, since there are multiple definitions of the term, "beat," let me clarify the definition

I am using within the above sentence:

Beat - to defeat or subdue, as in a contest.

Now that it is clarified, :-) I wanted to share a resource from the Love and Logic website

that may be helpful during the last month of school when you may feel you've run out

of gas or patience on certain days. The Love in the Loo resources our Related Arts team

has been sharing all year have been great and appreciated! Another way to continue to 

receive wonderful tips, ideas and resources this summer without visiting the MGE Loo, is

to sign up for the Love and Logic "Insiders' Club" on their website. You will then get 

delivered a newsletter to your email box each month with similar tips. I've enjoyed it over

the past few months and I hope you will too:

http://www.loveandlogic.com 

(top right corner - enter your email)

April 5, 2013

Family Fun Night is Saturday, April 13, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Please consider helping our PTO by volunteering for an hour that evening. The kids LOVE to see you there and we had a great turn-out last year despite the torrential down-pour that evening! To sign up, please visit www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0D4FACAE2BA75-20131/3288348

Change in schedule next week as PBIS/PSC will meet on Day 4 (Wed, 4/10) at 8am in the library. 4th grade PLC will be on Day 5 (Thur 4/11) so if you cover a 4th grade classroom during PLCs, please  note the change in date!

Materials movement and MGE map for the 2013-14 year has been finalized and there was one change since the last draft was emailed out. Please note on the 2nd page of the map and memo <---click here=""> that teachers taking materials should also take WTW student print. Likewise, teachers leaving materials in their room should leave WTW student print. Questions - let me know.

Class List Dates are set and on the "Dates to Remember" list (all are 8:00-8:35am). Please get those on your own calendar. The "prep" sheets will be in your box a few days prior to your meeting. Related arts team should designate one member to be present and help at each meeting.

Waukee University - There were some minor errors in the document emailed to you. The link has been updated and can be found here. There are some GREAT classes being offered! Hopefully you can find time this summer to join in the learning.

Technology Grant - Last week I mentioned the Centurylink Technology grant but provided no link :-) so here it is http://www.ia-sb.org/centurylink.aspx

Next week highlights from Dates to Remember:
4/8-4/12.  MON - Resident Art Week (No assembly this week!)  Schedule here 
4/9    TUES - MAP testing begins
4/10  WED - Square One Art (fundraiser ENDS)
4/12 FRI - Annual Conference forms due to Barry/Williamson
4/13 SAT - PTO Carnival - YMCA (6:30-8:00pm)  (Sign up to help here)

Our PTO has been wonderful support for our building since it has opened. Many parents have been instrumental in providing over $50,000 for our students and staff. Here in the next two weeks, I will be ordering document cameras for every classroom, an additional iPad cart with iPads and finish out installing the projectors in a few of the smaller classrooms. The last PTO meeting of the year will be on Monday, April 15, at 7:00p in the library. We have several parents, including current VP Allison Hamiling and past VP Heather Doocy, who will be moving to Woodland Hills next fall. If you can make it to show your support and appreciate, please do. If you cannot make it, we will have a poster in the lounge next week for all staff to sign.

A note from PTO...

March 29, 2013

Potluck is next week. Sign up here.

Resident Artist Week - PTO will be sponsoring a wonderful opportunity for our students coming up in April. The schedule for your art class that cycle can be found here. Please note the scheduled time is your art class for that Day 1-6 cycle.

Professional Development - Hopefully you've had the chance to read the follow-up email from Leslie yesterday. We appreciate the feedback and desire to dig deeper into your learning as a team on April 17. After reading/checking out the resources on Leslie's blog, let us know what else your team might need to support your next steps as you work toward your team goals. Next week, RA and grade level teams (math focus) will report to your regular locations.

Budget Items - Teams/teachers were emailed their remaining 2012-13 budget. You have until April 12 to turn in your requisitions to Paula. Your team will receive information next week regarding ordering paper products and instructional materials for 2013-14. The AEA print orders are not due until teams check out in May.

Please review the Dates to Remember on a weekly basis and keep it updated as we finish out the year.

Technology Grant Opportunity - Check out the Century Link technology grant opportunity. Individual grant awards up to $5,000 are available. If you or your team is interested in completing it, I'd be happy to help support your grant proposal.

PBIS Survey - Staff who took the PBIS survey in the library on Thursday will need to retake the survey. I apologize the for inconvenience, but there was an error and the survey only contained a 1/4 of the questions it should have. Please start the survey here and complete no later than Monday.

Office Refrigerator Rescue Program - A smart fridge, we do not have. When it is too full, the air does not circulate and it will be just a matter of time before it "goes out" (I'm not going to pretend to know what will go out -just believing what I've been told) So...we need to be smart or we will lose our office lounge fridge sooner than later. Please, please, please only put items in the fridge that need to be cooled. If you have a lunch bag with an ice pack in it already, not putting it in the fridge may help save us from having to buy a new one. This is not an April Fool's joke...but rather a public service announcement so thanks for helping rescue our fridge.

Resource of the Week

I LOVE the "Love and Logic in the Loo" our related arts team has been providing us this year. As I reviewed materials we received during a workshop some of us attended in January, I ran across this resource a teacher could post in the classroom. It follows a piece about not having to be specific about consequences (i.e. Student Action A = Consequence B) but rather focus on being consistent. Thought it was worth sharing. 

March 14, 2013

Please welcome Jennifer Ploeger and Jason Lawry to our Maple Grove family! Jennifer began this week in Jennifer Latcham's room as an associate and Jason will begin after spring break in the pre-school room in the mornings.

Spring Evaluation Process Reminder - Please review the spring evaluation memo and timelines found on the Professional Growth / Evaluation tab on the FWR. Some of the dates come up right after Spring Break.

At-Risk Counselor - Following break, Shanlyn returns to work in her 1/2 time roll and Melissa will stay on 1/2 time as well. To help with consistency, Melissa will serve Maple Grove on Monday, Thursday and every other Wednesday; and Shanlyn will serve Waukee Elementary in a similar capacity. Both ladies will be at MGE on Tuesday, March 26, to share notes so you can catch Shanlyn to wish her luck and say "see you later" that day.

Next PD is March 27th. An agenda will be provided following break.

MAP Assessment begins April 1st. A schedule will be out following spring break. For your planners, benchmarking begins April 22nd.

Help needed - if you haven't checked the Dates to Remember list, please do so. Update, add, edit dates so we are all on the same.

Class list meetings will be set for late April and early May. Schedule to come.

OUR KIDS ESL Conference will be hosted at Waukee HS this summer! The flyer can be found here. We hope to have many Waukee teachers sign up for this wonderful learning experience! I have attended several times before and it is great learning and the learning is applicable to use with and for all kids.

Have a wonderful Spring Break and a 

very happy St. Patrick's Day!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

March 8, 2013

Staff social after school today. Join the MGE crew at Mickey's for appetizers, laughter and decompressing. 

Thank you for planning, preparing and facilitating another successful round of student-involved conferences! If you have parents who did not make it, please reschedule. If you run in to challenges, please let Diann and I know and we will try to help get it scheduled or do a home visit with you if needed.

Thank you for hosting our Instructional Rounds. The team was very impressed with what they heard and observed. The team spent the morning engaged in inquiry based learning around mindsets, feedback and student involvement. Your input, point of view and your work was important to the learning of our team members.

Thank you Amanda Robinson! She will be closing her long term subbing position for Allison Costa today. We appreciate the time and work you put in and we will see you in April. :-) 

Lost & Found - If you want to have some extra items in your classroom, please come down to the Lost and Found today. We will be sorting, stocking the nurse's closet and getting rid of remaining items soon!

The Mad Dash begins (...you're thinking, "When did it ever stop?") after Spring Break. Communication is always important but it becomes even more vital as we close the school year with field trips, classroom events, activities, etc. Please visit the "Dates_to_Remember" document to review the calendar of events and more importantly add any events not listed.

Parking lot changes - A recent change is all Beyond the Bell pick-up and drop-off cars have been asked to park in the lot when they pick up their child instead of parking along the fire lane. This has lead to more in-and-out traffic in our parking lot and I'm going to ask staff to either be VERY careful when they pull in the lot from the south OR drive through the parent drop-off lane to enter from the north. We've had some near accidents recently. If you want the long story for the changes...catch me at the staff social and I'll share. :-) 

Book Study Opportunity - REPEAT from last week: After some interest in learning more about Brookview's engagement in learning around The Leader in Me, I am offering a book study opportunity for any staff member (certified, classified, nutrition, etc) to learn more about the process. Please sign up here (we'd start after spring break). To learn more about The Leader in Me, visit their home page at http://www.theleaderinme.org

The Book Fair profits will go toward a grade level set of books for each section next fall. Those will be ordered by Pam and delivered in the fall. The Pizza Ranch nights raised nearly $1600 in all ($1200 for MGE and $400 for WDE). I appreciate your help in promoting both events and for volunteer time at Pizza Ranch!

Dates to Note

• Please review/edit/update Dates to Remember document!
• 3/11 - Costa returns! Student teachers begin in Huisman and Bode
• 3/12 - Barry @ Cognitive Coaching class (all day)
• 3/12 - Kindergarten Parent Night (6:30-7:30p)
• 3/14 - An old woman in the office gets a year older ;-)
• 3.15 - Spring Break begins!

You gotta laugh...

After a week of conferences, day long class and Instructional Rounds, this

could have been me this morning. :-) Hope you find it as humorous as I did.

I think Paula would put me in a time-out prior to me taking over

the intercom, though. Don't mess with my Camry though... ;-)

March 1, 2013 (WHAT?!?!? It's March already??)

Thank you to staff who helped out at our Pizza Ranch 

events over the past month. Totals raised will be shared once

I have them from PTO. Last night was a HUGE success!

Assemblies today so we are running an early out schedule. K-2 at 2:00p and 3-5 at 2:45p. Students who have met their reading goal will get to throw a cup of water at a staff member...guess I need to bring a towel today. 

ALL STAFF - PLEASE, PLEASE, please...make sure when you're coming or going from the building, you ensure the door closes/locks behind you. During the extremes (hot/cold), the doors tend to stick a bit more. We are finding doors open way too often. Thank you for your help.

Book Study Opportunity - After some interest in learning more about Brookview's engagement in learning around The Leader in Me, I am offering a book study opportunity for any staff member (certified, classified, nutrition, etc) to learn more about the process. Please sign up here (we'd start after spring break). To learn more about The Leader in Me, visit their home page at http://www.theleaderinme.org

Teachers:

Conferences begin tomorrow! I will be in an out tomorrow as I have my own boys' conference at Eason. I will be present until 6pm on Wednesday and 8pm on Thursday. If you have conferences you'd like me to be present at or "in the area" during, please let me know today. We have 43 students left unscheduled. Please let me know if cannot reach parents as conferences are mandatory. Diann and I would be happy to help by reaching out to parents too.

AESOP item to note for certified staff: When entering quarter day leave for appointments (self or family), you must select the 1/4 day option. If you do not, your leave will be counted as 1/2 day. If AESOP does not allow you to select 1/4 day, it means you're out of them and would have to use the 1/2 day or reschedule. 

Recess and Illness - There are often times when parents ask you to have their child stay in for recess. I've included our policy from our handbook below. Please be consistent in following it as you communicate with parents. Students should come to the office with something QUIET to do. You also need to communicate with Paula and Kary if you send a student down as sometimes we have multiple students in the office. These are times they will let you know whether it is okay to bring a friend or not. 

When students return after being absent, make-up work will be given at the discretion of the teacher. If your child is recovering from an illness, we request a note from you indicating your desire for them to stay in from recess and/or PE under these special circumstances. WE CAN HONOR A NOTE FROM YOU FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO DAYS FOLLOWING AN ILLNESS. IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO STAY INSIDE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD FOLLOWING AN ILLNESS (THREE OR MORE DAYS) YOU WILL NEED TO SEND A DOCTOR’S EXCUSE TO COVER THIS EXTENDED LENGTH OF TIME.  (p.7 handbook)

Rescheduled Rounds - Are this coming Thursday. Visitors will be out-and-about between 9:15a and 10:45a. REMINDER: The focus is on the learners (the visiting team) and not you. If you still have questions or concerns, I can stop in during your lunch to put you at ease. 

Dates to Note

• Sat   - Conferences begin
• Tues - Barry @ Cognitive Coaching class (all day)
• Wed - Early out (conferences)
• Thurs - Instructional Rounds / Conferences PM
• Fri   - SPED PLC 
• 3/11 - Student teachers begin in Huisman and Bode
• 3/12 - Barry @ Cognitive Coaching class (all day)
• 3/12 - Kindergarten Parent Night (6:30-7:30p)
• 3.15 - Spring Break begins!

Final Thoughts for the Week

Where I keep typing/talking and you

don't necessarily have to keep reading/listening.

I have been thinking a lot about priorities and focus the past couple weeks. Over the past 2 1/2 years, I've come to realize that individually and collectively, Waukee staff members are just an extremely focused bunch of people. Whether it is sitting in PLC meetings, the classroom or just talking with you, there is a constant thinking, wondering, collaborating and planning for how to improve your practice....and this goes beyond instruction and the classroom teacher. These conversations take place with associates, office staff, etc. My thoughts the past week though have also made me realize that your priorities and focus are in the right place. Don't get me wrong, all the above statements, beliefs and practices are a great (and needed) focus, but the reason I love being where I'm at is even with all the focus on being better professionals, educators and employees, each of you still focus on your own family, your students' families and your colleagues' needs first. We've had a rough few weeks with deaths and illnesses within our colleagues and students' families and each time I see others step up and help out...and you do this without skipping a beat in your professional responsibilities. I appreciate all you do and hope you're able to use our upcoming spring break to refresh, relax, rejuvenate and "reload" as we close out the year. Thank you for focusing on the right things and making MGE a great place to be for everyone who walks through the door.

February 22, 2013

Bo Bishop of Horace Mann will be in the teachers' lounge by 10am

with treats and be giving away prizes. Come visit and hang out!

Rescheduled Rounds - Some of you may believe I control the weather, but I don't (would be handy though). I've talked to a few of you who have questions about Rounds being rescheduled on the Thursday of conference week. This has happened before. It is great learning experience for the visiting team. Instruction in the classroom on conference day is business as usual. It will be a great day!! The focus is on the learners (the visiting team) and not you. If you still have questions or concerns, I can stop in during your lunch to put you at ease. 

Indoor Recess [TEACHERS] - Do not lock your doors when you go to lunch if we have inside recess. Our associates do not have room keys.

Evaluation Process - Reviewed the April process yet? If not - please see the memo on the FWR-Professional Growth tab today!

Woodland Hills FYI - Parents of students attending Woodland Hills next fall will receive a letter from our district office by early next week. You can read the letter here.

Two Student Teachers start next week. Jolyssa Ginkens with Lindsey Millsap and Justin Gutknecht with Jennifer Latcham. Many of you have already met Jami Thompson with Mrs. White. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself to all three!

Our last Pizza Ranch Night is next Thursday from 5-8p. Pre-school and kindergarten start the evening and 3rd grade will be closing the night.

Updated Progress Reports/Conference - 89% of conferences have been scheduled online! The parent window closes Sunday night so one last push to get parents to sign up online! 

• Feb 25 – Parent window closed; teachers contact/schedule parents who have not scheduled
• Feb 25 - Related Arts complete progress reports by 4pm 
• Feb 26-Mar 1 – All remaining conferences scheduled by classroom teacher and parents notified
• March 1 - Progress Reports completed by teachers; PS Parent portal opens at 4pm 
• March 2 - Conferences begin!

Did you know...I learned this new bus riding tidbit this week and thought I'd pass it along: A student can ride home on the bus with another student if he/she (1) already ride another bus and (2) he/she have a note from the school or parents. First Student does ask parents call the dispatch office and set it up prior to the student needing to ride. 

Next week is Dr. Seuss Reading Celebration Week. A parent email was sent out this week and it was posted on our website yesterday. We will have assemblies on Friday (K-2 at 2:00p and 3-5 at 2:45p). Students who have met their reading goal will get to throw a cup of water at a staff member...just the water, not the cup. 

• Marvelous Monday: Everyone reads in the hall from 10:00 - 10:30 am
• Topsy Turvy Tuesday: Wear mismatched clothes
• Wacky Wednesday: Wear a crazy hat
• Theatrical Thursday: Dress up as your favorite Dr. Seuss character or favorite book character
• Fun in the Sun Friday: Beach Day - wear your favorite beach clothes (no swim suits please!), and bring a beach towel.