November 12, 2021

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 3rd Graders could not wait to tell me all about the state that they are researching.  I learned about state flowers and flags and bordering states from so many of them.  I love to hear students excited about their learning.

• Multiple teachers respectfully, honestly and passionately asking follow up questions when they are concerned about something going on in their classrooms or DES.  I always want you to feel like you can share anything with me.  We may not always agree on things, but I can promise that I will listen and work with you to find the best solution possible. I encourage you to make an appointment to see me (or stop me when you see me) about anything.  We are a team and together we will provide a school that all of our students and us will thrive in!

• How about those 5th grade writers/readers this week, huh?  I was so proud of them all today I actually had tears in my eyes.  They were poised and clear and hopefully they felt proud at the end of the assembly.  I know I was proud of them!

• Our Playworks Recess Coach had very positive things to share about our recesses and students (including our Jr Coaches).  Although, we know we can always get better and better, it was nice to hear the affirmation about your hard work, especially our internal recess coach!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, November 15
• Newsletter articles Due (5K and Speech)
• Reading Corps Tutoring begins
• Bus Duty this week (Bingen, Crane, Miller)
• GG SEL skills this week: Listening with Attention for 4/5, Using Self-Talk for gr 3, Focus Attention 5K-2

• Tuesday, November 16
• Social Media Posts due to Josh (Lisiecki, BCaine, Crane, Vertz)

• Wednesday, November 17
• Workout Wednesday
• Special Surprise for DES students 8:30am (see below)
• Jenny is in a meeting from 9:45-10:45am
• Academic Grade level data meetings (3rd gr 12:05-12:55pm - Rm 133)

• Thursday, November 18
• SEL Data Meeting (5K, 11:35-12:25pm - Rm 108)

• Friday, November 19
• The Energized Guy Online Assembly
• 4K-2 - Live Stream assembly 9am
• 3-5 - Live Stream assembly 10am
• Alternate Recess schedule for the day, Teresa's email was sent Friday.
• 4k/5k - 8:30-8:45
  1st and 2nd grade - 9:45-10:00
  3rd - 5th grade - 9:30-9:45
• XPD registration due to Kimi

Nitty-Gritty

• Shout Out Board
• I've noticed some new shout out tickets on the board already.  Keep them coming.  Showing our gratefulness for our fellow staff members is rewarding for both the givers and receivers!  And.  Don't forget, at the end of the month, I will be drawing names tickets for gift cards.  There is A LOT to recognize and celebrate at school, so let's get them publicly shared!

• Surprise for our DES Students!
• I had an unexpected phone call this week from the executive director of the United Way of Dodge county.  It appears that a number of college students at Moraine Park organized and completed a community project to fund children's books for elementary students in the area.  They were VERY successful and they are coming on Wednesday, November 17 at 8:30am to begin the book drive.  Every student in our elementary school will receive a free book to keep.  Watch for an email on Monday to find out details about how students will be getting and choosing their book.

• Assembly on Friday
• In classroom teachers mailboxes, you will find a card from the National Theatre for Children with some information regarding the online assembly next Friday, 11/19.  In the past, Juneau Utilities has sponsored the spring live performances that our children have really enjoyed.  Due to COVID, they moved the performances to the Fall and have a narrator that is introducing pre-recorded skits.  I really appreciate our communities support for our students' learning.  You should receive an email from the National Theatre for Children prior to the performance on Friday.
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• Arrival at School
• As many of you know, I am NOT a morning person.  I often tell people if there was ever a time where a 2nd shift school would be open, I would be first in line to work there.  However, I'm afraid this is just an outlandish dream!  So, in the meantime, I will have to put up with the snooze button and the morning people around me. :-). In all seriousness though, we do need to make sure that we have adequate supervision of students and having the opportunity to have a smooth start to the day starts the day off on the right foot. Please make sure that you are arriving at school and in the building by 7:30 (or 7:45 for some paras) ready to enjoy your day!

PD Spotlight

Christina shared this article with me this week and I've been reflecting on it all week.  As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to share it with you this week too.  I found it so affirming to read about the things we do at Dodgeland to build relationships, to offer instruction and the structures to provide a safe place for students to avoid shutdown modes.  I believe one of the most rewarding parts of our jobs is to build strong relationships with children.  I want our students to know that I care what happens to them, but I also have expectations for how they conduct themselves in the school as well.  I believe when I show them that I mean what I say, and I follow through with my words, I still show them that I care about them at the same time.  It is also the reason I work to make sure I know every student's name and get to know them all.  The part of the article that spoke to me most is the end where it lists the practices to consider using in a school system.  Do you see these practices in your classroom and in our school?  I do! What resonates in this article for you?  

Friday Funny

So I read this to Lexi and she said, "No, that is not funny. Find a new Friday Funny."  But, she was laughing as she said it, so I thought, Dodgeland teachers need to see this.  I wonder what fraction of DES staff will find it funny.  (You can tell me if you agree with Lexi. lol).  :-)