Thursday, September 6, 2018

September 10th to 14th

TED Talk of the Week
The video for this week was created by John Chin.  It highlights how amazing Aqua Day was!

Welcome to the ES, Hyde!
Please join me in welcoming Hyde Lee, he will be joining John in E206 to help with ES Tech issues at these times: MWF 1:30 - 4:30, TTh 8:30 - 12:00.

Thank you
  • ELL Department, for the bathroom briefs.  These are a great way for a quick reminder of best practices. 
  • Dan H. and John C, for presenting twice at the Cre8 Space DRAGON Dialogue.  It was great to see our parents engage and learn about this new part of our ES.
  • Ryk, for running our Friday PD and creating a common understanding of what a 1-4 looks like in each grade level.
  • Jessica and our StuCo students for our "Dress Like an Animal Day!" The video they created is a great way to let everyone know what the money will be used for.
Communication in the ES
This week we had our 1st DRAGON Dialogue “Design Thinking in the ES.” We had 100 parents come in, watch a class, learn about what Design Thinking looks like in the ES, then they used what they learned and created a shoe.

 Parent Information Night
Here is the list of translators for September 11th Please share your individual slides with your translator by September 7th
Timelines for September 11th:
-Parents meet in the MSPAC: 4:30 - 5:15
-Parents go to classrooms for 1st session: 5:25 - 5:55
-Parents go to classrooms for 2nd session: 6:00 - 6:30

In preparation for next week's Parent Evening on Tuesday, September 11th, please ensure your classrooms are ready to welcome visitors. This includes bulletin boards, which should be filled with student work, class units, or anchor charts. Please move any clutter from desks and shelves, so the room looks inviting and welcome for guests.
Expectations for Tuesday
All homeroom teachers should be in classrooms by 5:00. (If you choose to leave campus, please note that parents will be coming in starting at 4:20.)
All staff will be expected to stay through the conclusion of the event at 6:30 PM on Tuesday.
Staff should be dressed professionally - men should wear a tie and women should be in semi-formal attire.
TAs should be in the classrooms by 5:10 for translation. Specialists included in the opening should be in the MS PAC by 4:20.
Student supervision schedule will be sent separately to those involved.

Professional Growth Plan Collaboration
School wide evaluators are collaborating with Rick Odum, Director of Teaching and Learning to calibrate our feedback on lesson observations. Teachers, we need your help with this.  I would like to welcome anyone interested in providing a 20min video snapshot of a lesson to please communicate with me directly. Your willingness to offer a lesson for us to calibrate our feedback on would be greatly appreciated in respect to the continued growth and development of our division and school.

 ES Potluck
The ES deserves a moment to connect and enjoy a morning together.  On September 14th from 8:00 to 8:50 we will have our first ES Potluck.  Here is a sign-up sheet.  Feel free to make or buy something to share.  Starbucks Coffee will be provided by the school.  If you can not make or buy something that is fine too :)  
Updates From Mareena
Quarter 1: Focus on Communication!
Scientifically proven - perhaps not, but is there any harm in trying?

 Quarter 1 Electives
No electives on Thursday, September 20th (Adventure Day)
Quarter 1 electives will go until Tuesday, October 9th (This is a change)
Quarter 2 electives will begin October 11th. Timelines adjusted on electives document.
I will be confirming elective details for Quarter 2 next week. Be sure you’ve signed up!

 Snack
Choco Pies are not appropriate for snacks. Review the policy and this item in particular with your class.
Student gifts/Items of value
Talk with your class about the what they should and should not bring to school. In the School and Dorm Life Guide, birthday gifts are mentioned as items not allowed in school. This includes gifts of any kind for other students, as it could lead to hurt feelings and larger problems between students. Students should also not bring items of value (including large amounts of money) to school.

Meal Preferences
Please help us better prepare for special events and activities involving food, by indicating what your dietary preferences/needs are here. This information is shared with the ES office team only. If you do not have any specific preferences, there is no need to fill this out.

 Uniform
Please begin to record uniform infractions and contact parents of students not in correct uniform starting Monday, September 10th.

 HS Students
Please note that HS students should not use our morning gate or walk through the elementary school in the morning. The only exception is to visit the nurse. If you are on a duty or observe the students coming in, please ask them to go back outside and around.

Dorm Commitments
Here are the materials from Caitlin’s session Monday. If you have questions, please contact her at cwampler@kis.ac
Dorm commitments spreadsheet - for registering your participation
Friday PD Follow up
Hello teachers. Thank you for the excellent discussions we had this morning about math assessment. From this morning's PD, I have collated data from:
  • Open discussions.
  • Discussion at individual tables I heard.
  • Responses on the online docs
This is how I summarize the 'unpacking' of the descriptors I heard with regards to math assessment and reporting.
Please go to slide 5 of the Presentation to see these examples and feel free to give me any feedback.
Note: Many groups felt that the rubrics supplied by Eureka were quite in line with our expectations.
Also, note how much of the language of the unpacking aligns with the expectations of Mathematical Practice Standards.
Also note . -This is not an exhaustive list. Different discussions may need to be had about other math assessments, e.g. GRASP assessment tasks.

 Just Learning 2 Conference Information
The JL2 conference is quickly approaching, please refer to our Academic Head’s blog for specific information about the weekend and how to get involved. The conference is scheduled September 15th and 16th.

 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.  

 PD Schedule
9/14 - ES Team Building Breakfast
9/21 - Professional Growth Plan Workshop with Rick O
9/26 - Full Day PD (Child Protection &
9/28 - PS Training

Upcoming DRAGON Dialogue
September 4th - Design Thinking
September 18th - Understanding MAP
October 2nd - Grading in the ES
November 13th - How we support students in the ES
December 4th - ELL in the ES
March 19th - Parent Choice
May 8th - Class Placement

Useful Information
  • Here is the ES Suggestion Box.  This form is for ideas, solutions or comments about issues that matter to the ES community.
  • Here is the agenda for the ES Leadership team.  This is a good document to read weekly so you have an overview of what was discusses.  If you have any questions, speak to your TL for more information.
Important Documents and Links
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