November 22, 2019

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 5K students practicing their skills with quickly and quietly transition from lockers to the classroom. 
• 4K students enjoying their teacher reading the book called "The Book with No Pictures." They were so engaged in the literacy activity.
• 3rd graders writing equations for 2-step story problems.  Listening to them explain how they got the equation was so insightful!
• I can't wait to see Dodgeland's version of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Students during library have been hard at work making their own "floats" for the parade!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, November 25
• Coach Jena will be here for recess from 11-1:30pm to watch our playworks activities in action
• School Board meeting @ 6:30
• Tuesday, November 26
• Winners of the Attendance challenge will be announced at the end of the day
• Last day of school before Thanksgiving break
• November 27-November 29
• No School.  Enjoy your break with your family and friends!

Nitty-Gritty

• IMC- The IMC is a busy, busy place!  Almost all of our 330 Elementary students enter this location weekly. (Not to mention how many of the 400+ MS/HS students enter the library every week.) 
• The goal of the IMC is to be a resource for students, a place to learn new skills, share a love of books, ask questions, create new things, and get help with technology.  It is also a place for staff to find professional resources, help with planning or organizing resources for upcoming lessons, and learning from peers. 
• Click here to see a weekly schedule of the predictable events that take place in the library.  Use this calendar when planning to use the IMC for projects, research, book checkout, etc.  

To accomplish these IMC goals, it is important to have a system that allows all of them to be met, in some cases simultaneously.

• First, when students come to the IMC, they should be aware of their purpose before arriving.  To help with this and to aid in clear communication, there will be copies of IMC passes put in mailboxes by next Tuesday, Nov 26.  The pass will be similar to the nurse and Oasis passes. It will help adults assist students, and also to keep them accountable for their time in the IMC.  This would include students that need assistance with technology/devices.

• Second, our tech integrationists (Kay and Christina) strive to be helpful when planning lessons, units or projects that utilize technology.  In order to support the learning objectives, they need time to research and gather materials, plan alongside teachers, and help teach the skills needed to complete the activity.  Please utilize their expertise while keeping in mind that the more time devoted to planning, the more successful the project will be.  A week's notice prior to teaching the lesson is usually adequate.

• Lunch Procedures: After the break, I'd like to have a refresh of lunch procedures on Monday, Dec 2 in the morning.  Students have been getting louder and forgetting manners more often in the past couple of weeks.  I will be putting together another video to help our students see and understand the expectations of the lunch period.  Just giving you a heads up.

• Reminder:  If you need tech assistance right away, please call ext. 1222.  If there is no answer, you can call ext 1000 and ask Marie if she can radio for help. 

• Hallway Door entrance - FYI: The doorstop to the door by the elementary office has been removed.  There is a time setting on the locks so that the door is unlocked at the following times: 


• 6:30am - 8:00am
• 12:00pm - 1:05 pm
• 3:00pm - 6:00pm 

PD Spotlight

I don't know if it is because I am more aware of it, or if it is because Thanksgiving is around the corner, but I seem to notice so many students and adults interacting positively and thanking others.  Below is a link to a very short blog post from George Couros.  As a mom, I tell my children that even if others are not always kind, it will always feel good to be kind to others.  Respecting yourself and being kind and positive is more important than responding to unkindness with negativity.  That interaction might feel good in the moment, but it won't last.  I like how Mr. Couros adds another layer to that here, by adding in, that you will never know which kind word or action will have an impact on another.  Wouldn't you rather that impact be a positive one?

https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/tag/the-importance-of-kindness-in-education

Friday Funny

I am okay with not doing this for awhile though... :-)