Thursday, August 31st

Paul Harvey would say, "And now, the rest of the story...."

The EL Education 2017 National Conference will be held from October 27th to October 29th in Chicago.  We will send six fully funded staff members.  All staff received an e-mail to complete a google form to indicate interest and availability.

I want to share my observations about some of our school-wide processes;

• Arrival 
• Engage positively with students
• Engage parents about time
• between 7:50 and 8:20
• NOT before 7:50
• NOT after 8:20 
• Dismissal 
• Demand that backpacks stay closed 
• Silence is not the goal 
• Silent Sustained Reading is part of the goal along with Safety, Efficiency and Community
• Lunch 
• Booths are for adult visitors(do not assign student groups to booths)
• 4 to a booth PERIOD 
• Recess 
• Honor the beginning - your kids need you to teach the NORMS
•  Assume nothing and demonstrate engaged supervision
• Schedule 
• Time is visible - Students learn quickly if you are hypocritical about this valuable resource - provide and excellent model of what you expect from them 

OUTSTANDING FIRE DRILL!!! (If you need a red / green sheet for safety folders, please see Laurie )

On Friday, look in the Cafeteria to spot "The Golden Plate Award."   

• Each week, the Kindergarten class that best exemplifies the Habits of Character in the cafeteria  will be presented with the Golden Plate Award
• It will be brought to the classroom by Mrs Pate at 2:30 each Friday
• The decision is collaborative with input from Kindergarten Teachers, Instructional Assistants and Cafeteria staff

Professional Learning Team (PLT) meetings begin Tuesday, September 5th

• All teams meet from 2:00-3:15
• Meetings are in room 13 
• Classroom specials on PLT day will shift from the regular time to 2:00
• Exception for Kindergarten who maintains their special time
• IA's teach during PLT while the specialists work with 2nd grade
• During your PLT, the specialist is responsible until 3:20 and needs clear written directions about the role you serve at dismissal

From Janet Shepard

• There are BOXES of books for classroom use that need homes
• PLEASE see her in the media center for access to this resource 

From Susana and Kathy… Look for an e-mail about selection for supplemental classroom EL ELA texts

From Nelva and Laurie... Please communicate with your parents that ALL transportation changes must be called in before 2:00.  Calls after 2pm are not able to be clearly communicated and therefore will not be passed on.  I will communicate this shift with families  in a Tuesday newsletter and robo-call on September 5th.