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