October 15, 2021

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 3rd graders discussing and noticing patterns that are similar between counting by 3's, 6's and 9's.  I love to hear their thinking!

• 1st graders sharing with partners and whole class about their plan for writing a story with a beginning, middle and end. This is the beginning stages of the strong writers that we help grow at Dodgeland.

• Mrs. Johnson shared about a 6th grader that came to lunch with a notebook.  When she asked her why she brought it, the student said that she never used to like writing, but after 5th grade, she loves it and carries her notebook with her everywhere.  She shared that she told her teacher that she hated writing and her teacher said, "By the end of the year, you will love it!"  The student said to Mrs. Johnson, "She was right!  I do love it!"  Never doubt your influence!

• A 5K student walked into school on Monday, and said, "I'm so glad to be here today!"  I missed school.  Her joy was contagious and I couldn't help but smile!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, October 18
• Bus duty for the week: Stanton, Hughes, Wedel
• Newsletter articles due to Marie (4K/EC and 4th gr)

• Tuesday, October 19
• Social Media Posts due (Braunschweig, Schwoerer, Crane)

• Wednesday, October 20
• Workout Wednesday
• Jenny's in a meeting from 9:45-10:45am
• Academic Grade level meeting 12:05-12:55 (1st grade-meet in a classroom please?)

• Thursday, October 21
• SEL Grade Level meeting 12:35-1:25 (4th grade - meet in a classroom please?)
• Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7:30pm

• Friday, October 22

Nitty-Gritty

• New Staff Member
• Please help us welcome a new staff member in the special education department working with Teresa Chambers and Alicia Hahn.  Her name is Blasia Riege.  Some may remember that she student taught with Marlene in the spring of 2020 when we were all virtual.  So while we got to work with her before, this is the first time we get to work with her in person!  :-). Please help me welcome her to our team.

• Fast Bridge
• You know what they say about good intentions!  I want to try a mysaebrs assessment with a student before I send it out for all of our students to complete.  Thank you for your patience.  When I am ready, I will send a how-to video that you can show your students so that they know what to do.  They will need headphones for it.

• Herb Kohl Fellowship/Scholarship Program evaluators
• CESA 6 is recruiting volunteers to assist in reading and scoring the applications for this program. Anyone can be a reader.  The reading/scoring is online and takes approximately 20-30 minutes per application (generally each reader has 5-10 applications). Scoring must be done within the 3 week time frame and will start in mid-November.  If you are interested in reading or know of someone interested, please fill out the New Reader Registration Form HERE.  (Choose CESA 6 on the form.). More information and orientation videos can be found HERE.

• Reading Corps Tutor
• Exciting news!!!  A full-time tutor has been hired by Reading Corps and will start the training on October 25 with a start date with kids in mid-November.  Her name is Charlotte-Ann Schwark and she is from Juneau.  She will be working in Susan O'Toole's classroom with students in primary grades.  When a schedule has been developed, it will be shared with all. Please help me welcome her to our team!

• EP - SLO/PPG/Rapid Cycle forms
• If you have any questions about this, please let me know. In addition, there is optional support/work time on October 25 after school.  This might help to dedicate time in your schedule to work on these forms and I will be there to help in whatever way I can!

• Supporting our Team
• Thank you for remembering to put your garbage/recycle bins in the hallway at the end of the day.  It really helps out the custodial crew.  In addition, having the kids (or yourself) wiping/sanitizing desks/tables at the end of the day and putting up chairs allows them to have time to get their long list completed each night.  Thanks for the teamwork!

PD Spotlight

I have been learning a TON this week.  Unfortunately, that also meant I didn't get to be in the building as much this week.  One of the sessions that I was in today was titled, "Making Every Minute Matter: One School's Journey from 68.3 to 97.4" and as I listened to the classroom teachers describe their system, I couldn't help but hear Dodgeland Elementary teachers' voices in my head.  Their dedication and competence just shined through, just like a Dodgeland teacher's does.  In addition, they described the hard work that they collectively put in, but that they needed each other to support one another, to collaborate with each other, to learn from each other and reflect with one another.  It made me think of all of you.  I am aware that you all work so hard, but it is important work and the pride you will feel in your students' achievements will be worth the effort and time that you are putting in.  As the year goes on, let's remember our purpose, our short and long term goals, and to lean on our colleagues as we go.  AND get ready, you will all get to hear much more about my new learning in the coming weeks as well!!  :-)

Friday Funny

My friend sent this to me and it made me laugh out loud.