Sunday, October 18, 2015

Friday Focus - Week of Oct. 19th - Oct. 23rd

Bear and Good News!

A sweet picture of the bear we sent to our first grader who was in the car accident last week.  And great news.  I called St. Al's Friday afternoon to get an update and they couldn't connect me to the room because she had been discharged!  YEAH!  No further information, but hoping to hear from the family this week.







Becky Honored for 'Americanism and Patriotism'
On Saturday night Becky was honored by the local American Legion Auxiliary for the Memorial Day Hero's Program performed by our 3rd Grade Choir students each year.  This was a lovely surprise for Becky and it means a great deal to our local veterans.  Congratulations Becky!






Boss's Day Thank You
Thank you all for the great Starbucks basket, coffee, travel mug, gift card and goodies.  I'm afraid you know me too well!  I am grateful for the chance to work beside each of you!

Walk and Talk Group
In an effort to support staff wellness, the District Office folks are looking for ways to encourage us to walk and make connections,  Every Monday and Wednesday beginning Oct. 19th, folks will be getting together between 4:30 and 6:00 to walk.  They will start at the corner of 3rd and Lincoln (DO) and will make loops.  The cool thing is, you can join at any time and for any length of time.  You can arrive at 4:45 and stay for 30 mins.  Please contact Michelle Keller our school nurse if you have questions.  A flyer is on the counter in the office.  Look for more options (Yoga, Zumba, ect..) coming soon!

Gary Hogg and Two Days of Writing
Gary Hogg, a semi-local author and presenter will be back at Jefferson on Monday, November 23rd.  He will performing for an assembly and then doing grade level writing workshops throughout the day.  The Building Leadership Team also talked about making this Monday and Tuesday (short week before Thanksgiving) a fun couple of days with a focus on writing!  We will cancel interventions for those two days and will ask Jorma, Shawn, Chris, Becky, Misty, Emily and I (sshhh, don't tell them I haven't talked to them yet) to be possible quest readers and writers in your rooms.  Put it on your calendar and stay tuned for more details.  http://garyhoggbooks.com/

Jefferson Motto
Over the last year the Building Leadership and Culture Teams worked to create a new motto for Jefferson.  We interviewed staff, parents and business leaders for words they wanted to describe our students when they are grown.  We came up with this Wordle...

From the Wordle staff developed possible mottos.  To ensure everyone had a voice in the final selection we used Light Voting to narrow the choices down to 3 which were all within 1 vote.  After much discussion at BLT, the team felt that of the 3 choices, there was one that best fit what we are trying to communicate to families, the community and ourselves about what we are trying to accomplish at Jefferson.  So, after much time and discussion, we will be working with the motto...

"Cultivating successful students through the wonder of learning."

We'll talk about this more in the upcoming year.

Family Literacy Night
A Note from Emily Merritt:  
We’re gearing up for Family Literacy Night on Tuesday, November 17th. Our theme is “Curl Up with a Classic”. There are a few things I need from you. If you haven’t sent me your favorite childhood classic book, please send me an email with the title and author. I’m coming up with a fun activity for that night.

I need volunteers for who would like to be in charge of an activity for Literacy Night. Usually you choose between helping with Literacy Night in the Fall or STEM Night in the Spring. I’d like to have a meeting on Thursday, October 22nd to figure out who would like to help and discuss ideas!

Those that choose to help with Literacy Night, I would like you to be thinking about a classic book that you can base an activity on that will be held that night in your room. I’ve attached a link with ideas or you could definitely come up with your own ideas! We’ll discuss these at our meeting.

Chelsea had a great idea that we would like to incorporate for our Family Reading Week (which is held the week of Literacy Night). Each class and teacher chooses a favorite children’s book and they decorate the outside of their door to represent their book. The class can help as much as possible and we’d like these done and decorated by Friday November 13th. Then we will have some sort of voting that can be done the night of Literacy Night (when the kids bring their parents) and the class that wins the best decorated door will win a prize!


We are planning that since the theme is “Curl Up with a Classic” that this will be a PJ night, so get your most awesome pajamas ready for that evening!

Thank you Emily for taking the lead on this!

Problems with AESOP
If you every find yourself home sick, and for strange and unexplained reasons, you are unable to log on to AESOP through Skyweb, please make sure so call Tammy Cooley at (cellphone) 208-308-7327.  This is a district number that you can call or text anytime to request a sub if you are having trouble with the technology.  Please make sure to do this to ensure that you have a sub.

Halloween Details  

On Friday, October 30th we have a very busy day at Jefferson.  Here are the basics.  More details will be coming.  Notes will be sent out to families this week.  Here are the basics:
8:30 - DARE Concert in the Gym
10:15 - AM Kindergarten Halloween Parade
Parties and costumes after lunch
1:15 - K-3 Halloween Parade

Parents will be reminded: No Gore, No Weapons, No Masks

I do encourage grade level teams to come up with their own themes and costumes.  Join in the fun!

Collaboration with Melisa
Collaboration this Friday will be lead by Melisa.  She will be reviewing the Charlotte Danielson Model for evaluation, our school focus on engagement (selected last spring) and how to write your professional goals.  Because attendance court will be held in the library, we will be holding collaboration in a different location.  Stay tuned for that detail.

Reading A-Z
Reading A-Z has now expired.  Please let me know ASAP if your intervention team plans to continue using this program.

Leader in Me Habit #1 -  Be Proactive Activity
Some of you asked for cards that were on the table at the staff meeting.  Here is the link.  A black line master is on the whiteboard in the office.
http://theteachingthief.blogspot.com/2011/09/habit-1-being-proactive-with-freebie.html

Leader in Me Credit Option
If you would like to sign up for the 1 credit class for the Leader in Me, please link here at anytime.

City Construction on Fillmore
Staring Monday, November 2nd, the City of Jerome will be closing North Fillmore between 2nd and 3rd for a sewer improvement project.  Please plan accordingly if this impacts your direct route to school.  This detour will last for approximately 3 weeks.

Staff Meetings on October 22nd and 29th
We rarely have so many staff meetings in a row, but these are good ones.  This week, we have a guest from Imagine Learning.  Lori Piccolo will be sharing a TON of free resources staff can use with ALL kids, not just those logging in to the program.  On the 29th, there will be a short staff meeting with Beth Mower.  Beth is a PTO mom and local realtor.  She is a member of the Jerome School District Education Foundation.  She will be sharing about the foundation and their plans for the future.  This will likely include information on their vision for small teacher grants.

Upcoming Events

October – T-shirt Sales - PTO
Oct. 19th - Leader in Me Class #1 - Library, 3:30
Oct. 21st - MTSS Meeting
Oct. 22nd  - 2nd Grade Fieldtrip to Boise
Oct. 22nd  - Staff Meeting, Lori Piccolo, Library, 3:30
Oct. 23rd - Fat Friday &  Jefferson Spirit Day
Oct. 23rd - Tiger Award Luncheon - All Students - 11:30
Oct. 23rd - All Staff Collaboration with Melisa on professional goals
Weekend - One final push on the cookie dough sales
Oct. 30th - DARE Concert 8:30
Oct. 30t - Halloween Costume Parades - K AM 10:15, K-3 1:15, Parties in the afternoon
Nov. 13th – Jefferson Gives Day – Food Bank donations
Nov. 17th – Jefferson Literacy Night & Cookie Dough Pick Up

To Do
  • Turn in Professional Development Goals by Nov.2nd

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