April 8, 2022

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• The tornado drill went well today and everyone I was able to connect with seemed confident in their procedure.  Great job!

• 4K students are learning to recognize their last names now by using it to find their free play spot!  What a great way to help them continue independence and literacy skills at the same time!

• Teachers working together to determine strategies and procedures/routines to help students that are struggling with SEL within the school day.  From older student mentors, to rearranging schedules, to thinking outside the box with other ideas to try to help them succeed.

• Staff communicating concerns and questions with me and others.  When we work for the best solutions as a team, our students benefit.  Thank you for showing how much you care about our kids, their learning and our school.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, April 11
• Forward Testing starts for grades 3-5 (Quiet hallways from 8:15-11:30 all week please)
• Bus Duty: Stampfl, Chambers, Ganser
• Jenny in Meeting from 9-10am
• EP work time meeting in IMC @ 3:15pm on Doc. Log (Optional)

• Tuesday, April 12
• Social Media posts due to Josh: Braunschweig, Crane, Koenings

• Wednesday, April 13
• Workout Wednesday
• 3rd grade data meeting in El conf. room 12:05-12:55pm
• Staff meeting @3:05-3:45pm in IMC

• Thursday, April 14
• 5K SEL meeting in El conf room 11:35am-12:25pm

• Friday, April 15
• NO SCHOOL

Nitty-Gritty

• Forward Testing
• One last reminder that our students will be testing in the elementary wing, in offices, in extra rooms and just about anywhere we can find space for a group to test next week for the majority of the morning.  Please emphasize for your classes how important it is for them to be respectful to the students trying to do their best.  The hallways should be VERY quiet and help students remember to avoid classrooms with testing signs on them.  In addition, as adults, please limit conversations in the hallways outside of testing rooms whenever possible. When it is so quiet inside rooms, our voices carry much more clearly through the doors.  As a team, we can support our students and encourage them to do their best!!!
• If you were unable to attend Jessica's Forward test training last Wednesday, HERE is the link to the slides.  Please look through this before Monday.

• Flocabulary Update
• If you did not receive the email, please note that we will all receive preview access to the upgraded features in Flocabulary starting April 18.  These features include new comprehension activities for students.

• Recess Updates
• Did you get a chance to read Mrs. Chambers recess update this week.  Please do so, as it has quite a few important details to note about recess.  Some highlights are:
• Boots are required for the playground until the end of the year.  It is very muddy and since it will be dug up after school ends, no more wood chips are being added to cover the mud.
• As recess supervisors, please spread out and scan at all times.  There should be a supervisor at Gaga and Kickball at all times to help settle any conflicts if they should arise.  Please help enforce the rules for these core games that are described in detail in Teresa's email from April 6.
• Kindness is expected between all students at all time.  If you see unkind words or actions, please step in to help them settle any conflicts and deter from any further unkindness.

• Talent Show
• We get to hold an in-person Talent Show this year!  If you would like to participate in the staff act, please let Mrs. O'Toole know!  She always has something exciting and fun to do and our students love to see their teachers' other talents!  The date of this year's show is Tuesday, May 17.

PD Spotlight

As we enter the second week of April, many of you may have had the same thought as me.  "The weeks are going so FAST!  How will I get everything done!"  Then, we add on a week of testing for our students with a totally different schedule (that can be very upsetting to some students) and even other extra plans to make for the end of the year.  All this is to say, that while the testing week is stressful, and we do our best to set up the kids to do their very best work, don't forget to take time to breathe, practice a positive mindset and ask for help if you need it.  Many, many times over the past year, I have had shared many articles about how to care for yourself.  With a potentially stressful week coming up, what is your plan to care for yourself?  

Friday Funny

I tell my kids all the time, that I thought that I used to be "smart."  They disagree, but then things like this happen to me, and it just proves them right!!   (Okay, I don't have a Ph.D, but you know what I mean!)