March 3

Shout-Outs & Celebrations

(Consider sharing your shout-out!)

• "Thank you to Judy for stepping in and helping me problem solve with quite a few of my students these past few weeks.  The extra hands and the moral support has been incredible!  I really appreciate it." (Kelly Gess)
• Thank you Karen, Matt, and Angi for your staff meeting presentation! And, thanks, Judy, for organizing The 12 Musketeers to present our next UN Council activity.

General Updates

~ (Repeat) Severe Weather Drill - In March, we will conduct a severe weather drill as part of the statewide awareness campaign. Please consult your classroom maps for relocation areas in the event of severe weather. If you have questions, please see Katie.

~ Spring Pictures - from Carol - In your boxes you'll find both SPRING PORTRAIT FLYERS and ORDER ENVELOPES for CLASS PICTURES. The individual photos do NOT need to be pre-ordered or pre-paid, BUT, the CLASS PICTURES do. You are receiving a RECORDING SHEET for the CLASS PICTURE orders. Please keep track on this form of who has returned order envelopes - this is important so that you know who to give the class photos to when they come in. You can then turn them into me or Ann (as you receive them) in the office to keep them safe. Again, the individual photos will not be pre-ordered. All children will have a photo taken on picture day, March 20th. The parents will decide after they receive them whether or not they want to order. If you have any questions you know where to find me.

~(Repeat) Single Subject Acceleration - Parent information sessions are upon us, starting February 13.  Please make sure to let parents know that the nomination window for parents to nominate their child to be tested is April 6-26.  I recommend they go to a session to learn more about it. Also, please share this flyer with parents on your next newsletter or using member hub. It will also be going home in Monday folders.

IRT/Literacy Updates

• March Vertical Team Meetings: We will meet on Friday, March 31st, during the times below. Topic of conversation will be follow-up from February planning day meetings, particularly around writing & reading.

4/5 - 10:45-11:45
2/3 - 12:40-1:40
K/1 - 2:00-3:00

Magnet Updates

• (Repeat) MONTHLY GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES: FOR March and April you have the choice of doing one of these 2 opportunities for both March and April-
• The Day the Crayons Quit Project -- Due March 31

1. To begin, you will read "The Day The Crayons Quit" or watch the video.
2. Then you will brainstorm with your students about what other classrooms items might wish to quit -- and why.
3. Next, choose a way to represent these stories with the other participating classrooms. Perhaps you might wish to make a imovie or a google slideshow. Your students might wish to illustrate their own stories and create a book using the app Book Creator. Your class might wish to write a reader's theatre and create a podcast. There is no "you need to do it this way" for your class to showcase their stories. Come up with the plan and tool that works best for your class.....and run with it.
4. Please have your stories posted -- or shared to Jennifer - by March 31, 2017.
5. Check out the link for more information.

• Picture It 2017 -- March-April

Celebrating our 5th year with Picture It, students around the world will be collaborating to create one unique piece of artwork in the form of a quilt. Registration opens late February 2017 more information will be posted soon. Click here for more information and/or to sign up.

Media & Technology

• MTAC Committee Meeting will be at 8:15 AM on Monday, March 20.  We would love for someone from grades 1, 2, 3, & 5 to join us.
• Book Fair! March 6-10.  Preview day is Tuesday.  Look here to see the schedule.  The media center will be closed all week.  Media Monday will still meet Mrs. Christiansen at the Media Center.  

PBIS Updates

Monday Meeting activity: We ask that you start each week with a team building activity during your Monday morning meeting. This is a positive way to start each week reconnecting with your class. This week's activity is:

What Are You Doing?  In this activity, one person goes to the center of the circle and mimes some simple action such as brushing one’s hair. The next person in the circle approaches the hair-brusher and asks, “What are you doing?” The hair brusher responds by saying something completely different, such as “I’m washing the floor,”. The person who asked, now pretends that s/he is washing the floor. The next person from the circle then comes to ask the floor-washer, “What are you doing?”. This goes on until everyone in the circle has had a chance to mime an action

PBIS Updates:

·      New Wiley Winner forms for March and April will be put in mailboxes. You may recycle the snowflakes. You may hang the flowers up yourself or put them in Laura O’Brien’s mailbox.

·      New medals will also be in mailboxes for the Wiley Winners to wear for the day.

·      Please be at your transition duties BEFORE the bell rings

·      Challenge yourself to give out Globetrotters in your classroom and throughout the building every day.

·      Use your buddy teacher if you and a student need a little time away from each other.

·      Don’t forget to take time to take care of yourself. We need you!!!

Lunchroom reminders:

As you have noticed the lunchroom staff has changed and they are also training new people. The lines are taking a little longer. Please have supervision in line.

Some reminders:

·      Students are not to come back in line for snacks after they have been through the line.

·      Students do not need to come in the line to see siblings or their friends. This is causing some delays.

·      Students are to be using the posted hand signals when they need something in the lunchroom.

·      Table washers need to be assigned. Please have them wash the tables and throw away all trash from the table. The table should not be so wet that the class afterwards cannot sit down.  Please check the table BEFORE you leave the lunchroom with your class. Students should not be left in the lunchroom to clean after you leave. Some table washers are playing in the lunchroom and on the ramp unsupervised.

                    

PBIS Club Update: will make announcements on Fridays. Please have your class listen for these announcements. Please submit information to be considered for announcements to Judy Williams.

New Learning: Motivation. It’s a long 5 weeks until our break. Hope this helps: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/affective/motivation.html

 

Important Dates

Happy Birthday - no staff birthdays this week

This Week:

Book Fair - March 7-10

Monday, 3/6:

Tuesday, 3/7:  

Wednesday, 3/8:  Intervention Meeting; Severe Weather Drill @ 9:30am; Late Night @ the Book Fair until 6:30; Pieces of Gold @ Memorial Auditorium @ 7

Thursday, 3/9:  Theme Team mtg in AG classroom @ 8

Friday, 3/10: K Letterland Parade @ 9:30am

Upcoming Dates:

Spring Pictures - March 20

Talent Show - March 23 - evening performance and “dress rehearsal” during the day for grade level performances

Vertical Team Meetings - March 31, throughout the day