Friday Focus - Week of September 8th-September 11th

Thanks for another great week!  You guys amaze me at how well you are already picking up on the talents and quirks of your kiddos!

New Logo
Did you check out the new logo to the right?  My brother-in-law Tony put that together for us for our theme this year.  I love that all of the power for growth and fruit is in the branches.  I didn't even give him the idea.  I love it and I hope if will remind you that we are all growing into something amazing!

How Kids Learn to Read
An interesting article form the New Yorker Magazine about How Children Learn to Read.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hopes and Dreams
This one is about helping kids set goals for the new school year.  I thought it had some good ideas, especially for those of you who are working on leadership notebooks.  This blog is from the Responsive Classroom group. There are great ideas about classroom management.  Kayleigh also has other resources from this group.  Ask her if it captures your interest.

What do you do after late breakfast?
Please be proactive with your little ones and help them understand what to do if they go to breakfast late or if they use the restroom and go out the back door instead of the one that leads to the hallway.  We want to make sure they know how to pound on a window or outside door, and necessary, come around to the front door.  Please let me know if this becomes a pattern for one student.

New computer tables - Please look for Damage
1st and 2nd grade teachers: all of you received a new smaller computer table.  A few may have a nick or small piece of laminate missing.  For most of these pieces, it is no big deal.  But, in the long run, this can cause points of weakness and wear.  Please give your table a quick inspection and let me know if you have any issues.  The company has asked me to report these.

Plan on Data Team meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Next Week
Please plan to look over data and plan with me during your "team time" next week.  I will have a better schedule to you over the weekend.  There will be a few minor changes to the specials schedules.  We will get these changes to you next week.  Please plan on these Specials changes and Interventions to begin on September 14th.

She is an Old Girl
Our school is in great shape, but she's got a few years on her.  Sometimes her doors look closed, but they still need to "latch."  Please help us by getting in the habit of closing the doors and then pulling them tight behind you.  Please make sure, if you are on AM or PM duty, that you have decided who will check that the outside bathroom doors are locked and pulled tight as well.

ODR in Spanish
We are working to get you a Spanish translation for the Office Discipline Referral.  I will also make sure to add some language for the next round of printing.  Thank you for the idea, though I can't remember who gave it to me at this point!

Safe Schools Certificate
When you finish the Safe Schools Courses (Don't panic.  There is still time.) please make sure to print the certificates and send them in a district envelope to Lorri Prescott.  These are going into your files.

Bus Numbers
From Dale:  Make sure students and adults are aware to watch the front right numbers on the bus.  If a bus is out of service for any reason, a temporary number (magnetic sign) will be used on the FRONT-RIGHT side of the bus that is used on a temporary basis for that route.
Please ignore numbers at the back or left of the bus.

New logo

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Data Teams

Thursday, September 10th - Staff Meeting

Friday, September 11th - All School Collaboration

Friday, Sept. 18th - Homecoming Parade and Walking Field Trip (Details to come)

Friday, Sept. 25th - Spirit Day

Tuesday, September 29th - Muffins for Mom (PTO Event/Details to come)

Due

Classroom Management Plans - Sept. 9th

Artifact Bags - Sept. 9th

Friday Focus - Week of August 31st-September 4th

Thank you! It's been a busy, but great week back!
You all are doing an amazing job.  I know how exhausting it is, but I've noticed you practicing expectations with your students around the school and I've seen you getting to know them one-by-one.  Thank you for the ways that you are adjusting to new routines and construction.  Things are beginning to settle in and I'm so appreciative of your hard work, flexibility, and the way you work together.  Thank you for being the leaders we want our kids to be.

Construction Fun
To have a little fun with the construction, please come to the office and sign up for a date that you think will be the first day we get to use the new bus lanes.  No money required!  This is just a fun estimate.  The winner will receive a gift card for 2 movie tickets.

Black Top and Line Up Spots
Please work with your BLT member and make a plan as a team for where your students will line up on the new and improved asphalt next week.  Please chalk in your numbers.  We are working with the Lowe's employees (as part of our grant) to use the volunteer day to get the asphalt repainted.  In the meantime, please chalk the numbers until we ca get them down permanently.

Seeing Struggling Math Learners As Sense Makers Not Mistake Makers
A great article about the way we see learners and build on what they know.

Listening Centers for iPads
We will be ordering headphone splitters for the iPads.  If you plan to use an iPad as a listening center, please let your team leader know.  BLT members, please bring me your grade level count sometime next week.

BoxTops
Jefferson was very successful with BoxTops last year.  We earned a money that bought books for the library and went back into classrooms.  It was teachers and an amazing PTO family who kept this going and organized.  Walt and Sandra Cooley have asked to come and explain how BoxTops work to your students next Thursday afternoon.  They will take just a couple of minutes and leave you with the container for collecting.  I will get you more specific times as I have them.

The great thing for staff is that you benefit as well.  Last yer, if you turned in your classes BoxTops on Friday morning, your name was entered into a drawing.  Each week (or close to it) someone one a small gift card to Jamba Juice, Cold Stone, iTunes, ect.  If you didn't have any BoxTops that week, you just had to notify the office to also be put into the drawing.  At the end of the year, teachers could also win prizes for being a top class.  Last year's big winners were:  Val Whitby, Vickie Quinley, and Lisa Henderson.  Ladies, you have not yet seen those prizes, but you have $25 to spend.  Please come see me to collect your prize!

AFLAC Interest?
Please let me know if you are interested in more information about AFLAC.  The representative is requesting a meeting with staff, but I will only schedule a voluntary meeting after school if a number of folks are interested in learning more.

St. Luke's Jerome - Generous Gift
The employees of St. Luke's Jerome donated $100 Gift Card to our school to support students with school supplies.  If you have a student with a specific need to meet, please let Miss Debbie know.  If you know someone who works for St. Luke's Jerome, please thank them for their generous contribution.

Idaho Power Gift
We are a lucky school this week.  Idaho Power Employee Community Funds also donated two boxes of supplies to Jefferson.  We will use this for new students, but please also let us know if you have a student missing something they need.  It's pretty incredible what a generous community we have!

Upcoming Events
IRI Testing - All Week
Friday, Sept. 18th - Homecoming Parade and Walking Field Trip (Details to come)
Friday, Sept. 25th - Spirit Day

Due
Classroom Management Plans - Sept. 9th
Artifact Bags - Sept. 9th

Have a great first day back!!

Angie

Building and Setting Expectations

Building a Positive Learning Environment

Great ideas from Edutopia! Click Here.

Modeling: Ideas to Consider for the Daily 5...and all Instruction and Classroom Management

Excellent ideas from the Stenhouse Newsletter....

Every time I ask students to do something, I model it first. 

—Lindsay Young 

Lindsay Young reflects on teaching and modeling in "I Do, We Do, You Do" onTeaching Channel. Consider your own practice as you observe Young's classroom: 

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/modeling-strategy-getty 

Modeling goes beyond skills. It's important to model behaviors and attitudes too. Ruth Charney writes about modeling as a means for teaching classroom rules. Read "The Importance of Modeling" at Education World to see how she does it: 

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/charney/charney003.shtml

Math Manipulatives for the Interactive Projectors

A fun website that has some possibilities for use with the interactive projectors.  Let me know if you try one out!

http://classtechtips.com/2015/06/19/virtual-base-10-blocks-endless-manipulatives-and-annotation/

Kids in Need of a Little Love
I hope you have a lot of fun with your kids this Friday.  Please let us know if you have any students who may need Valentines to give to their class.  We have had donations made that we can share.

Secret Valentine
Please make sure to check in with Elise if you are participating in the Secret Valentine with other staff members this week.  We want to make sure we didn't miss anyone.

Fire Drill
There were a few doors that were left unlocked during the last fire drill.  It really speeds up our building sweep if doors are locked and lights are off in classrooms.  We are working on the issue of door keys for subs.  Otherwise, not too shabby.  We will be doing another drill in the next few weeks.