December 13, 2019

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 5th graders celebrating their writing pieces in front of parents and other guests.  What great figurative language I read in so many pieces!
• Students singing their hearts out at the winter concert.  A huge shout-out to Ms. Hudson and Mr. Muenchow for their hard work to make the concert a success.
• 3rd graders writing informational text features in their writing.  How cool is that?!
• Staff members stepping in to help out colleagues when emergencies arise or students are struggling to regulate. This makes us all feel supported and encouraged.  Thank you!

What's Happening at Dodgeland

• Monday, Dec 16
• Cozy Christmas Day for Staff - Hot chocolate in the lounge
• 1st and 2nd graders - Field trip to Schauer Arts Center until noon
• Math Curriculum Analysis Committee meeting at 3:15-4pm in the District Office
• School Board Meeting @ 6:30
• Tuesday, Dec 17
• Wednesday, Dec 18
• Workout Wednesday
• 2nd grade - Field Trip to Milwaukee Public Museum (all day)
• 5K Data Level meeting at 12:05 in the D.O. conference
• Thursday, Dec 19
• Goodie Table Day
• Friday, Dec 20
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
• Break from December 23-Jan 1
• See you on Thursday, Jan 2!

Nitty Gritty

• Food Service Survey - As you finish the paper surveys for grades 4K-3, please place them in my mailbox.  Grades 4-5, I will send you and your students a link on Friday. Please plan a time for students to take the survey before next week Friday.
• Break is coming up - For some of our students, they do not look forward to winter break.  The uncertainty of their days, the stress of the holidays on family, and other adverse childhood experiences cause students to have more difficulty with regulation skills and focusing just before breaks start.  The best way to help our students is to continue to be the compassionate, kind and consistent educators we are every day.  The more we deviate from our normal schedule the harder it is for students already struggling to have successful days.
• Target Based Grading - Please watch for an email and/or video with some follow up information from concerns and questions brought up on Wed. night.  

PD Spotlight

Please check out the part of an article about how to find renewal during Winter Break. My greatest wish is that you all have a peaceful relaxing break doing the things that allow you to renew and come back in January ready to take on this exhilarating, but complex profession. The article is by a man named John Spencer, a former MS teacher, now college professor. He writes a blog (among other things) and emphasizes how to help students and teachers tap in to their creativity.  Please click here to read this VERY short piece about strategies to find renewal during winter break.

Spencer, John. “Finding Renewal on Your Winter Break.” John Spencer, 6 Mar. 2019, www.spencerauthor.com/seven-teacher-tested-strategies-for-finding-renewal-on-your-winter-break/.

Friday Funny

I was reading some meme's about dad jokes and came across the one below. This made me laugh out loud for two reasons.

1. Born in a car, so his name is Carson!  That's funny! 

and 

2. It reminded me of my late husband.  When Mason was born, Matt started telling people that we named him Mason because he was born in May and he's our son, so he's our Ma-son!  Then he laughed and laughed.  I groaned, and it became a running joke in our household ever since!