Here it the link to the new Weekly Update
Thank you!
This section of the Weekly Update is to recognize those in the ES who deserve an extra kudos for going above and beyond expectations. I realize that we will not be able to recognize everyone, so if we miss someone please, send me a message and I will be sure they are properly recognized.
- Michelle, for creating and sharing Responsive Classroom Notecards. These are a great reference tool.
- Mia, for translating this week at the "Athletics in the ES" & "JK/K Parents Welcome." Your attention to detail and precision ensures our parents community has a clear understanding.
- Kelly and the ELL team, for front loading Kyle before he took over for Kelly’s maternity leave. The extra supports and training you provided will make his transition to G2 ELL much easier.
- John K for putting in extra hours to get our iPads up and ready for students.
- Kevin for his flexibility and willingness to change duties several times to make our Duty Schedule work for everyone.
- Sohyun and Kat for leading the ES Yearbook for 2019-2020!
- All HRT and select specialist who ate lunch with classes in the Cafeteria this week. The routines you have helped solidify will make it much easier for our lunch duty teachers this year.
- Mareena, for being everywhere this week to ensure things ran smoothly.
DRAGON Voices
You may have noticed the new “DRAGON Voices” bulletin board in the 1st floor stairway. To align with Responsive Classroom, I have eliminated DRAGON Tickets and made a new way for students to come to my office for a snack and a story. DRAGON Voices is a way for our students to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Please play this video to your class on Monday so they know about the new way students can make their voices heard.
Celebrating Learning in the ES
Next week Mareena and I will begin coming to your classroom to celebrate the learning that is taking place. These informal walkthroughs will provide us an opportunity to see the great things our students are learning.
From the ES Suggestion Box
I am glad you all are using the suggestion box to share your thoughts. Of course my office door is always open (unless I’m in a meeting) to come have a chat. Here are this weeks suggestions.
“Can we please make requisition forms for furniture etc...electronic? We are so busy (running from place to place) handwriting out forms is challenging! The minutes add up.”
- Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I met with Mr. Kevin Han, the team leader of the Asset Management Team. There are several reasons why they like the paper form but they will look into this suggestion.
As a workaround, after you open the Classroom Equipment Moving/Repair Form simply click the download button near the top right of your screen. Then complete the form and email it to the ES Office. That will save the time of walking it down. (Thank you Cody, for this pro tip)
“Can we have jean day Fridays? Of course you either have to pair it with our school color or better yet must wear a KISJ Polo shirt to go with it.”
- I have looked in the faculty and staff guide and spoken with the principals and Mr. Vento. At this time, jeans do not align with our professional dress policy. I do like the idea of having Friday be a KISJ polo day though.
Q1 Parent Letter
Here is the letter that was sent to parents.
ES Faculty Direct Supervisor List 2019/2020
Here is a list of who will be responsible for your PGP this year.
Your PGP folder has been shared with you (all new and returning staff). New staff portfolios are in this folder already for 2019-2020.
Returning staff - please confirm with Mareena whether you want a NEW set of slides for this year’s portfolio, or if you want to add to the existing ones from last year.
Items that should be in your classroom
To meet the needs of all students, the school has identified these items as necessary to be in all classrooms. The goal is to have these up by September 24th.
Content and Language Objectives
Word Walls
Anchor Charts
Accountable Talk Sentence Stems
Environmental Print
ES KISJ Academic Calendar 2019-2020
This is an overview for the school year. There is also a Google Calendar version that I suggest you add to your personal Google Calendars.
Other Useful Links
The Month Ahead for August
August 23rd - Full Faculty Child Protection PD in ESPAC
August 30th - Aqua Day (no electives)
September 3rd - ES N&B 8-8:17
September 11th - All staff PD 8-4
September 26th - ES Adventure Day (shifted one week)
Updates From Mareena
Crosswalk
Please ensure that you are also using the crosswalk when entering and exiting campus. When our students see us at 8 am, we should be modeling safe crossing!
Seesaw
First post for all teachers should be shared by August 18th.
HR - intro/about the teacher, class schedule and weekly ahead for curriculum
Specialists - intro/about the teacher, share month ahead for curriculum
Student IDs
Please send all student IDs home for students. IDs are not needed for purchasing lunch. If students lose an ID, parents are responsible for the cost of replacing it. For this reason, we want to make sure responsibility for the ID rests with parents.
Links to Important Documents
Evacuation maps - pending updates, but you can view the exits for your floor
G1-5 Duty Schedule (Inclement weather duties on page 3)
ES Homepage - This is the landing page for the elementary school. It includes the weekly update, the ES calendar, as well as other links and resources specific to our division. Please bookmark this page!
Family communication
Weekly update - sent Friday afternoon through Seesaw
Parent text messages and updates - sent from the ES office during the week as reminders or brief updates
Updates From Ryk
We have a Responsive Classroom folder for resources (such as the great Responsive Classroom Notecards supplied by Michelle) in KISJ Drive / Elementary School / Divisionwide Resources / Responsive Classroom
In this folder you will also find video resources that show examples of:
- Teacher Discipline in the Classroom
- Teacher Language
- Songs Kids Love to Sing
Updates from Mr. Vento
From the Head of School:
We made it through our first full week of school! The positive energy, faculty and staff collaboration, and levels of student engagement have been phenomenal! Please take a few moments this weekend to reflect on our individual and team successes to start the school year. So many great things are already happening at KISJ!
As part of our commitment to child protection, KISJ will begin to use the newly installed biometric security scanners for anyone entering and exiting the HS campus (gate 2). The process is safe, efficient and completely non-invasive with persons being identified by the back of their hand (similar to a fingerprint). All students, teachers, staff, and family housing residents who use gate 2 will be receiving more information on how they can register for the system (it takes about 20 seconds). Your patience as we implement this process will be greatly appreciated.
When considering the expectations for professional dress, please be sure to refer to the 2019-20 KISJ Faculty & Staff Handbook (pg. 13)
Faculty are expected to dress in a professional manner that is culturally respectful. Please remember that KISJ is a prestigious school in a culture with conservative workplace expectations. On any given day we host a number of important guests on campus, including families of prospective students, and wish to promote a positive perception of our campus and faculty. We are also role models for our students: by observing our faculty, they learn what professional adults wear to work.
As a general guide, we should always be dressed at least as well as our students. Revealing clothing or shorts are not allowed for teachers unless these are appropriate to the activity being sponsored (e.g. sports). If a day is designated as a non-uniform day for students, faculty may dress in appropriate casual wear. Professional dress is otherwise expected every day, including Friday.
On the 2019-20 KISJ Academic Calendar the scheduled make-up day for inclement weather has been changed to April 18. This change was made to not interfere with our 4 day spring long weekend and allow faculty and staff to make advance travel arrangements for this vacation.
Communication in the ES
Your feedback is appreciated as the ES strives to improve communication. As always, submissions are confidential. I have posted the QR code on my office door for continued feedback as the year progresses.
Here is the ES Suggestion Box. This form is for ideas, solutions or comments about issues that matter to the ES community.
Sunshine Weekly
