Tuesday, June 27, 2017

2016/17 - That's A Wrap (thanks, renovation news, survey, dates)

Wiley Families - 
Can you believe we've been out of school for over two weeks, already?! As I "officially" wrap up the 2016/17 school year by checking off my final deadlines, I certainly didn't want to miss the opportunity to close out the year with each of you! 
There are a few phrases that I can say in all five of the foreign languages that we offer at Wiley. Fortunately, thanks to the pressures of my informal tutoring by our language teachers, 'thank you' happens to be one of them!  
Xie Xie
Your contributions and support of our Wiley PTA have been felt in so many wonderful ways.  Teacher grants (from local professional conferences to supporting the summer international travel of a teacher team to the Galapagos Islands), Winter Thanks, Early Release Lunches, school-wide events, emergency cafeteria lunch funds, technology support, after-school & before school clubs, Book Fairs, and seriously, the BEST Teacher Appreciation week EVER ... just to name a few. Wow.
Merci
Your support of our classroom efforts, small & large, help enhance the excitement of learning ... the 'wish list' can appear a bit random every now and then, but trust me, those snacks, novels, noodles, and yes, even those boxes of soft tissues really do rock our world!  
Arigatou
Maybe chaperoning the recent field trip wasn't exactly how you envisioned spending a day off work ... but truly, can you imagine our teachers having to do THAT alone? Whether it be sharing your parenting expertise as a Wiley Pal, reading partner, Monday folder filer, class parent, or even sharing a smile as you drive through carpool, we LOVE knowing you're behind the scenes supporting our work.  
Gracias
Most importantly, thank you for sharing your precious children with us. We realize they are your greatest treasures, and we appreciate the trust and confidence you place in us each day to provide a loving, meaningful, fun, and worthwhile educational experience for them.  They bring us so much joy!
Danke
In a few weeks, our precious (former) fifth graders will enter the doors of seventeen different middle schools, and we wish them well on their journeys!  Likewise, we will welcome the high school graduating Class of 2030 to fill their shoes!  We can't wait for the adventures that await in 2017/18!  
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." I can't sum it up any better than Helen Keller. 
With heartfelt gratitude,
Leslie Taylor, Principal

Odd & Ends
Survey:  As we close one chapter and look to begin a new one, we want feedback from you! Please take a few minutes to take this SURVEY. Many questions relate to our magnet theme, but the survey also allows you to give constructive feedback in other ways that will guide our work!  (survey - https://goo.gl/forms/j9iClfzLzKJ4FzyM2)
International Adventure:  Via Twitter, join our Wiley team (Ms. Brandt, Ms. Blum, Ms. Gess, Ms. Murdick, Ms. Womack, and Mr. Perlanski) as they travel to The Galapagos Islands with Teacher2Teacher International. #WileyTravels will allow you to join their adventures in travel and teaching. 
Renovation:  Last week, the second of a series of meetings with various WCPSS entities (child nutrition, security, transportation, HVAC, media & technology, etc.) was held at Wiley to review the most recent design narrative. You will find the full presentation here -> Wiley Design Narrative. This week, I will meet with the design team to begin reviewing transitions necessary for the Garner School Site in anticipation of our temporary move next school year.  And, in July, I will loop back with the WCPSS Transportation team to revisit possible solutions that will hopefully accommodate some of the challenges that you have shared with me; the transportation team has been wonderfully committed to working with us! As more of "the pieces" begin falling into place, we will schedule another parent information session (likely late August) to relay the latest & greatest about this exciting project!  
2017/18 Important Dates
Thursday, August 24:  Meet the Teacher for 1st-5th Graders from 4:00-6:00pm 
Monday, August 28: First Day of School for all 1st-5th Graders
Monday, August 28 - Thursday, August 31: Staggered Entry for K students (come only on assigned day)
Friday, September 1: Kindergarten "Pop In" to 'Meet the Teacher' from 2:00-3:00pm
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Friday, June 2, 2017

June 2

Shout-Outs & Celebrations
(Consider sharing your shout-out!)
  • Mary wishes to share a shout-out to Challie & Matt for assisting her in the midst of Friday afternoon car trouble, and Eman for the moral support!  
  • Hooray to Eman & Kristin for a successful week of testing! You make it look so easy! ;)  AND, thanks to all for keeping our kids rolling, despite the craziness of our week!  
  • Thank you, Angi, for sharing ‘my story’ at this week’s staff meeting.  
  •  Shout out to Eman, Kristin, and Leigh Ann for the humorous EOG videos! (Katie D)
General Updates
  • Field Day:  Keep an eye on email for updates regarding field day as the weather doesn’t look so promising.
  • mClass: Window closes June 5. Please remember to include Home Connect letters with report cards.
  • 2017/18 Class Lists:  6/6 in lounge during planning block - Bring your data cards and begin thinking about individual student dynamics & personalities. Non-classroom staff are invited to preview the lists on the media center stage on Wednesday, 6/7 … all input and suggestions are welcome. The administrative team will finalize lists over the summer.
  • Staff Social:  Please join the crew for a fun evening to celebrate the 2016/17 school year!  We’ll be gathering around 4:45pm at Players Retreat (Hillsborough/Oberlin). PTA is sponsoring the purchase of appetizers.  
  • UN Council Meetings: It was requested that individual councils create their own fun for the final council meeting of the year.  Grab your council members and head outside for a fun activity/game, facilitate a neat inside activity, create an art project, share stories about the year … your choice! You’re welcome to borrow the ‘Tribes Learning Community’ book in Leslie’s office for ideas. Regardless of the activity, council groups should stay together and there should be some level structure to the activity.  Looking Ahead … Council groups will remain the same, for the most part, next year.  Fifth graders will be replaced by incoming K students and new-to-Wiley students will be assigned a group.
  • End of Year Checklist:  Please reference your end-of-year checklist for looming deadlines!  
EOG Updates (Please read carefully!)
  • REMEMBER: Testing continues this week with some multiple day students testing as well as make-up testing.  Please be mindful of any testing signs in the building.  We will try to mainly use the media center and rooms in the media center.  However, we might have to use other rooms around the building depending on how many students need make-ups.  
  • TEST PICK-UP: Test pick-up will be out of Katie Ware’s office so that the copy machine in the teacher’s lounge is available for teachers to use again.
  • EOG ADMINISTRATOR GUIDES: Please return your guide to Eman or Kristin. You will need to sign the guide back in with us. Thank you!


  • NOISE in Hallway and Playground: Please be mindful of hallway noise.  Thank you!
  • Morning Duty:  If you do not have a morning duty or finish your morning duty early, can you please take some time to check in on Breakfast Duty and Carpool Duty to see if they need any help, since both Kristin and Eman will be getting testing materials ready, especially on both Monday and Tuesday, after that we should be fine.  THANK YOU!
IRT/Literacy Updates
  • (Repeat) Materials for Shredding: Please bring all Case21, Read to Achieve Instructional Passages (3rd grade) and old PEP/IEPs down to my office to be shredded.
  • NEW!! Read to Achieve Camp Invitations:
    • 1st and 2nd grade: You will receive a list of students who have not yet responded. Please take the time to call these families. We will be contacting your Spanish speaking families for  you. Let me know as soon as possible the responses you receive back. Thank you!
    • 3rd Grade: Letters will be going home Friday. Please put the response slips in my mailbox daily. Thank you!
  • THANK YOU to all PLTs: The Tier III intervention team appreciates how hard you all worked to complete the spreadsheet and review your Tier II plans. We will be meeting as a team on Wednesday to review the Tier III plans. We will get copies to you as soon as they are complete.
Magnet Updates
  • ELECTIVE REPORT CARDS-
    • Please make sure all 4/5 elective report cards are complete by Tuesday 6/6/2017 afternoon.
    • Please make sure all K-3 elective report cards are complete by Wednesday 6/7/2017 afternoon.
    • This helps allow time for teachers to print and stuff their report cards.
  • (Repeat) Hallway Display’s - Please make sure hallway display’s that are reading, writing, math or science related are covered or removed for the EOG’s. Otherwise please remove all other hallway display’s by the end of the school year.  Thank you!
Media & Technology
  • ALL STUDENT BOOKS ARE OVERDUE! - You will receive overdue notices in your boxes on Monday.  Please send them home in Monday folders.
  • Teacher books are due 6/9!
  • Return Your Library Cards!
  • New BrainPop Password - Our BrainPop password was shared online so we had to be issued a new one.  The new password is 620wiley.  Please make sure your students know not to share any passwords online.
  • Equipment Issues (last chance) - If you have any issues with any technology items please let Lynn know ASAP.
PBIS UPDATES
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Important Dates
Happy Birthday: Heather, Ryan, Angi, Kellie, KJ, Zandra, Matt, Judy, Leslie, Karen, Jenny, Elizabeth, Michelle, Mike, Thelma, Julie … our summer birthdays!
This Week
Grade level/classroom celebrations listed in the chart below.
Monday, 6/5: Volunteer Breakfast, Field Day
Tuesday, 6/6: Class List Meeting during electives/language block; Staff Social @ Players Retreat at 4:45pm
Wednesday, 6/7:
Thursday, 6/8: Retirement Breakfast Celebration in Media Center @ 8; UN Council Mtgs @ 3
Friday, 6/9:  Last Day of School; Report Cards sent home
     
End of Year Activities
Date
Time
Grade Level
Event / Location
June 5
12:30 - 1:30
K
Picnic & Kona Ice - in classrooms & patio area
June 5
During day
all
Field Day - school grounds
June 6

5th
Wax Museum in Media Center
June 6

5th
speakers
June 7
12:30
2nd & 3rd grade Spanish
Great Kapok Tree presentation in Media Center
June 7
2:30 - 3:30
Kurtz/O’Brien
EOY Celebration & Award Ceremony
June 7
9:30-10:30
4th
Grade level auction
June 7
12:30 - 1:30
4th
Pizza party w/ parents
June 7
10:30  - 12:30
1st
Blum & Fogleman 10:30
Abel & Wierman 11:00
All classes go outside at 11:30 for popsicles
June 8
10:30
3rd grade enrichment students
First Lego League Junior Showcase - Media Center
June 8
11:15 - 12:25
3rd
Picnic - courtyard & front lawn
June 8
9:30 -2
5th
Ceremony practice & trip to Pullen Park
June 8
3:00
all
UN Council Mtgs
June 9
9:30
5th
Promotion ceremony




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