February 24, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Teachers worked together on PD day to collaborate, plan and analyze data. Our students are very lucky to have you putting their needs at the forefront of your planning and thinking!

• Staff making a new 5K student feel welcome when he was so nervous on his first day!

• Staff helping to communicate with each other about plans for our weird weather this week.  Whether you helped get the word out, texted me with questions, or just answered emails, I appreciate your dedication!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, February 27
• Bus Duty: TCaine, Huso, Huelsman
• Week 1 of the Elem. Gym being closed for upgrades, PE will be in the MS gym this week and next
• Jenny in meeting from 7:15-8:15am
• Vocabulary Parade @ 8:40am for Read Across America Week!
• School Board Meeting @ 6:30pm

• Tuesday, February 28
• Social Media Posts due to Josh: Klink
• Wear Animal Print or Animal headband, or shirt with animal on it
• Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10am
• 5th Gr. SEL meeting 12:35-1:25pm

• Wednesday, March 1
• Workout Wednesday/Super Hero Day
• 2nd Gr. Academic meeting 12:05-12:55pm

• Thursday, March 2
• Hat Day

• Friday, March 3
• Buddy up classrooms to read together

Nitty-Gritty

• PE Location Change
• Starting Monday, 2/27, through Friday, March 10, all elementary PE classes will need to be in the MS gym due to the installation of sound and light systems going in for the stage upgrades.  When the work is finished, you will be notified.  They will also be testing sound, but hoping not to disturb classrooms.  But, in case you hear anything, you will know what that is about.

• 'Read Across America
• Next week we will be celebrating Read Across America all week beginning with the annual Vocabulary Parade on Monday at 8:40am.  The google doc with all of the details is HERE.  In addition, there are some books of the day that can be used in your classroom.  If you would like a guest reader in your classroom, please invite them to your classroom.  If you'd like me to read to your class, my calendar is HERE.  Enjoy the week celebrating literacy!

• ViewSonic Boards
• Please, please, please do not forget to shutdown your ViewSonic boards each night to conserve energy and protect the life of the board.  It is very important!

• Bright Arrow Text messages
• Some of you may not have received text messages from Bright Arrow about our weather announcements this week.  If you did not receive one, it might be because you have not opted in to receive text messages or the phone number is wrong.  If you need to opt in, please text YES to the short code 87569.

• 3K/4K Screening
• If you have any families or know of anyone that is interested in our 3K or 4K program, our screening dates are set for April 19th and April 20th.  There is a sign up genius link to sign up their child for a spot one of those two evenings.  Please direct them to me or a 3K/4K teacher for more information.

• New Nurse Begins
• Our new school nurse starts on Monday, 2/27/23.  Her name is Leah Neis and comes to us with many years in the nursing field, but this will be her first experience in a school.  She did shadow Lynnae a few weeks ago so you may have seen her in the building before.  Please help make her feel welcome!

• Talent Show/Art Show
• Our annual talent show will be held on Monday, May 1st.  Mrs. O'Toole is looking for staff to join the staff entry.  Please email her if you are interested in participating!  Also, we will hold the elementary art show that night as well from 5-6pm.  If you are on this committee, please connect with Courtney about anything that she may need assistance with for set up and take down of the items for the show.

• Summer School Registration
• Registration will be open starting on March 28 for this summer's courses.  Please consider recommending courses for students to continue working on literacy and math skills over the summer.  A recommendation sheet will be shared when it gets closer to the date.

• Mark your Calendars
• We will be holding an Elementary Math night for families on Tuesday, March 28 in the multipurpose room and PLTW lab and commons.  If you would like to assist Sue O and Mandy with the planning, I am certain they would be glad for the help!

• Feedback on Energy Endgame assembly
• Please take a few minutes to provide feedback to the performers of our assembly on Tuesday morning by clicking HERE.  You will need this code to complete the evaluation survey.  WPPIW23E

• Novel Effect and St. Patrick's Day
• We have a subscription through the IMC for Novel Effect.  They have some St. Patrick's day books and activities that can be accessed by using the code: UNLOCKMAGIC.  If you haven't used Novel Effect this year, please see Christina in the IMC.  (Or Andraya as I know that she uses it in her classroom as well.  Hope that's okay to mention here ladies!)

TechKnow Tip

• If you are presenting a Google slidedeck and you want to direct attention off your slides momentarily, you can push the W key on your keyboard to bring up a white screen or push the B key to bring up a black screen. When ready, you can continue on with your slidedeck by pressing any key on the keyboard to jump back into your presentation or lesson.

Friday Funny

This is my 5K nephew's latest writing piece.  I love it!  Can you tell what he thinks about the most?!

February 17, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Teachers preparing for parent teacher conferences so that parents had an opportunity to hear information that is important for working together to help their student.  I love listening to teachers sharing strengths, but also things their child is struggling with in a respectful, yet compassionate way.  

• 4th graders saying goodbye to a classmate and making him feel cared about as he prepares to go to a new school.

• 3rd graders sharing a love of music with me when I got to be in music a couple of times this week!  I love their enthusiasm!

• Staff members coming to share with me questions, concerns and ideas they have about our system.  I always want you to come see me or share with me your thoughts.  We may not always agree on everything, but I always want to hear feedback and ideas.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, Feb 20
• PD Day - Agenda HERE.
• Bus Duty this week: Braunschweig, Klink, Zastrow

• Tuesday, Feb 21
• Social Media posts due to Josh: Palen, Zastrow, Koenings
• Energy Endgame Assembly 8:15am (4K-2nd) and 9am (3rd-5th)
• Recess for grades 3-5 will begin at the conclusion of the assembly.
• 5K SEL Data meeting at 12:05-12:55pm

• Wednesday, Feb 22
• Workout Wednesday
• Staff Meeting 3:10-3:55pm in the IMC

• Thursday, Feb 23
• Jenny in a meeting from 8:30-9:30am

• Friday, Feb 24
• Jenny at a Dr appt, arrive at 9 am.
• Pyramid Model Leadership mtg @ 1pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Personnel Update
• Alicia Hahn has resigned from her position at Dodgeland.  I wish Alicia all the best in her future endeavors, and I know that she will be missed by staff and students here! We will be working on a long term plan for her position.  In the meantime, if you can help out with supervision at lunch, recess, etc., it would be greatly appreciated.

• Energy Endgame Assembly
• There are 2 assembly presentations scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 21.  Each assembly is about 25 min. long.  The first assembly is scheduled for 8:15am for grades 4K-2.  The second assembly is at 9am for grades 3-5.  Recess for grades 3-5 will begin when the assembly ends.  (3rd grade will join grades 4-5 for this morning recess for the day.)

• This also affects 5th grade PE for the morning.  Look for an email regarding a plan for this group of students.

• Wireless Network Change
• Per Brad's email from earlier this week, please remember that all of our devices should automatically connect to the "DodgelandSD-S."  If it doesn't connect, please let the Tech Dept. ASAP.  The same is true of student iPads as well.

• Some of you have ViewSonic boards that run off of the wireless network.  If yours is not connecting, please submit a helpdesk ticket so that the Tech Dept knows so they can configure it as soon as they can.

• Technology Use Reminder
• While we are going through the changes in the wireless network, it is also a good opportunity to remind you that it is important that you do not use your school device for any personal tasks including banking, shopping, etc.  If you remember our cyber security training from earlier this year, schools are common targets.  You don't want your own personal information at risk if something horrible were to happen.  If you have questions about this, please let me know or refer to the technology use policy in the employee handbook.

• Safety & Security Reminders
• As a staff, it is important that we keep safety and security in the forefront of our minds.  It is one of the reasons why we have fobs for the doors, cameras for the "doorbells" in the office and a number of other procedures within our school.  Your teacher keys and fobs are also part of the security and safety plans.  Over the last couple of months, students have been observed walking through the hallways with teachers' keys.  Some are TA's and others are elementary students.  This comes with inherent risks.  If an emergency occurred and you needed to lock your classroom and a student was out of the room with them, your classroom would not be secured.  Please handle your keys and fobs as a professional responsibility to keep safe and secure at all times.  I understand that there are times that you may need something printed or copied, please see me so that we can problem solve this so that students do not have access to your keys and fobs.
  

• Building Use Form Reminder
• If you plan an event that will use any part of the building, please make sure that you use the building use form for staff that is by Kimi's desk.  This is how we are able to communicate across the building with all departments what is occurring within the building.  Think Biography fair, family nights, end of the year picnic, etc.

• Vocabulary Parade
• Did you see the Read Across America committee's email?  They are planning the Vocabulary parade for Monday, 2/27 at 8:40am.  If you have any concerns or questions about this, please contact Stacey.

TechKnow Tip

Remember to take a moment to look around your room before you leave for the day and be sure to turn off your ViewSonic board. For a touch ViewSonic board, long hold the power button until you receive a message regarding shutdown. For a display only ViewSonic board, use your remote control and aim it at the bottom right-hand corner of the TV. Not only does this save on our school’s electricity, but it helps our boards last longer too.

Friday Funny

Just putting this out there. :-)

February 10, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• A HUGE shoutout to everyone that stepped up to help all over the building while I was out sick this week!  I swear, this year, if it comes in the building, it enters my body.  I get to experience them all!

• I watched some excited 1st graders get to start the next lesson in their PLTW module.  There was a lot of excitement in that room!

• 1st graders were writing to their parents to convince them to get an unusual pet.  I'm certain they will be convinced.  I mean, who wouldn't want a pet leopard!

• The 4K students celebrated the 101st day today and their excitement was contagious. I missed the 100th day, but I bet many other students had a great day then too. Thank you for all the extra work that goes into these types of activities.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, Feb. 13
• Bus Duty: Bingen, Juech, Vertz
• Jenny in mtgs 7:15-8:30am and 10-11am
• Seals on Wheels may continue if there are students left, otherwise moving to the MS/HS side

• Tuesday, Feb 14
• Valentine's Day
• Jenny in mtg from 8:30-10am
• 1st Gr SEL Data mtg @ 12:05-12:55pm
• Social Media posts due to Josh: Miller, Braunschweig, Lucht

• Wednesday, Feb 15
• 4th Gr Academic Data mtg @ 12:35-1:25pm 
• PT Conferences from 4-7:30pm

• Thursday, Feb 16
• Workout Thursday??  (if you'd like)
• Jenny in mtg from 8:30-9:30am

• Friday, Feb 17

Nitty-Gritty

• Parent Teacher Conferences
• On Wednesday, if there are any conferences that you would like me to sit in on, please let me know so that I am sure to get them on the calendar.

• Email Catch up
• I was so ill this week that I could not read very many emails.  I will be working on getting caught up, but if there was an email that you did not get a response too, please feel free to reach out again if I am not responding quick enough.  It may take me awhile so if you need something sooner, I am okay with you reminding me that you need something from me.  I try never to get into this big of a unread email hole.

• Recess Consequence Process
• Early this week a number of staff members met to talk about recess behaviors.  Please see the process they created to be consistent with students.  Unfortunately we have some frequent fliers that seem to struggle following expectations with snow and/or peers.  Please make note of the grade level that you have recess with so that you can use these as well for any recess you supervise. If you have any questions, please see Teresa.
• Name calling, not taking turns, other minor things - conversation and coaching through an apology/repair, return to playing
• Snow throwing is an immediate time out
• Physical behavior is an immediate time out
• 4k-5k, 5 minutes 1st offense - 2nd offense done for remainder
• 1st-2nd, 5-10 minutes 1st offense, 2nd done for remainder
• 3rd - 5th, 10-15 minutes 1st offense, 2nd done for remainder
• Continuing issues (day after day - refer to Mrs. Chambers for additional recess planning) - send an email for documentation
• Physical fighting is an immediate office visit

• Energy Endgame assembly - Looking ahead
• Juneau Utilities again is sponsoring the presentation for energy conservation from The National Theatre for Children.  They plan to be here on Tuesday, Feb 21 there are 2 presentations.  It may affect recess and/or PE times. The assembly is about 30 min. long. Watch for an email with specific times for your grade.  Also, St. Johns' students may be joining us for the assembly as well.
• Included with the assembly are digital games and activities.  If you would like to use them for your classroom, go to NTCplayworks.com.  Select WI from the menu.  Then Click on the Energy Endgame logo.

• Multipurpose Audio Installation is coming up
• For your planning purposes, the next (and I think final) round of installation for the audio for the stage upgrades in the multipurpose room will start on Monday, February 27 through Friday, March 10.  During this period, elementary gym will again move the MS/HS gym for those two weeks.  If they finish early, they will let us know.  More details will come soon, but just wanted you to have a heads up on this.  (This will also affect indoor recess.)

• DHS Ag Dept Kid Cam (message from Mr. Van Egtern)
• For the next few weeks, the Large Animal Science class has a visitor - a pregnant goat.  She will be having her baby(ies) over the next few days to a week.  The tech department set up a livestream of her pen and it can be viewed HERE.  If this fits into your class curriculum or would just like to check-up on her, please feel free to check it out.  (Maybe a snack time thing to watch even??)

TechKnow Tip

Google Earth (an app on all district devices) is a great tool to help students become aware of the world outside Wisconsin. You can use it throughout your curriculum to help put concrete awareness to abstract places mentioned in readings, news articles, and cultural references. An extension of Google Earth is a site called Wonders of Street View. The site randomly selects street views from Google Earth to show. From there, you can see the name and location and proceed to walk-through the location the same as Google Earth. You can change the view using the brown “Random” button in the top right corner. This tool could be a cool bell ringer activity, writing prompt, brain break discussion, compare and contrast, or a great tool to demonstrate an “I notice, I wonder, I now know” activity.

Friday Funny

My nephew's 100th day of school was Thurs, Feb 9.  He and my sister made his shirt with 100 polka dots painted on with fabric paint.  After school, she sent us this picture telling us that Johnny had a great 100th day.  Of course my brother has to chime in with his own sarcastic understanding of 100 days smarter!  Either way, it made me chuckle. 

February 3, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• World Read Aloud Day was so awesome!  There were so many readers in classrooms on Wednesday!  I even got to listen to a 2nd grader reading one of my favorite stories to her class!

• 1st graders making 100 with a given number.  It was impressive listening to them easily telling their teacher how many more she needs to make 100!

• 5K students measuring with their feet (mostly accurate! ;-)) to find out if the rabbit or the squirrel had a longer trip!

• 5th graders enjoying their PLTW unit by "spreading" germs or at least locating the "germs" they spread for the unit.  I love listening to excited voices learning!

• 4K students using math skills to sing a new song in their music class!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, Feb 6
• Bus Duty: Chambers, Schweitzer, Johnson
• Start of the "Souper" Bowl Challenge
• National School Counselor Week
• Jenny in a meeting from 7:15am-8:30am
• Neon/Bright Color Day: School counselors are a bright light for those in need.
• Seals on Wheels will be here all week  (Putting on Sealants for those that signed up.)

• Tuesday, Feb 7
• Social Media Posts due to Josh: Juech, Mosher, CaineT
• Last day to order Autism Awareness T-shirt
• SEL Data Meeting - 2nd Gr, 12:05pm-12:55pm
• Paraeducator Staff Mtg in Elementary Conf Room - 3:15pm-3:45pm
• Crazy Hat Day: School counselors wear many different hats to help all students be successful.

• Wednesday, Feb 8
• PJ/Comfy Day: School counselors help you feel warm and fuzzy.
• Happy 100th Day of School!
• Academic Data Meeting - 5th gr, 12:35pm-1:25pm
• Staff meeting - 3:10pm-3:55pm

• Thursday, Feb 9
• 101st Day of school celebration in 4K
• Be a Friend Day: School counselors help you make and keep friends. Wear yellow to brighten someone's day.

• Friday, Feb 10
• Last Day for Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser
• The Dodgeland Difference: School counselors make a world of a different to students' academic, social/emotional, and career development. Wear Dodgeland Gear.

Nitty-Gritty

• "Souper" Bowl Challenge
• Thank you to Sue for organizing this again this year!  Sue's message said that she will come around to classrooms each morning to collect the cans for the drive.  Please label the cans for the team they are going towards, Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles.  Sue will let us all know the score throughout the week!  I don't know who will win the Super Bowl, but I do know that the big winner of the "Souper" Bowl will be The Gathering Source!  Thanks again Sue!

• Saying Goodbye
• Lynnae's last day with us will be Wednesday, Feb 8. She has taken a position that is closer to her home. Please help me wish her well in her future endeavors. Interviews for a school nurse will be very soon.  In the interim, there will be a plan for addressing the many things that are done through the nurse's office.  If you have any questions, please let me know.   Best Wishes Lynnae!

• Data Meetings Resume
• This week the grade level meetings will resume for second semester.  The meetings will be slightly restructured to make sure that we have enough time to discuss the universal strategies and the data trends we are seeing.

• College Teacher Prep students
• Next week, you may see some visitors in the building observing in classrooms.  There are 2 people that are working on observation hours for their college courses.  One will be with Ms. Juech in 3rd grade named Alexa Moser.  The other is a parent of three Dodgeland students, Courtney Barlow.  Courtney will be here most Fridays putting in her observation hours and needs to observe a variety of grade levels and subjects. Please make them feel at home as they work towards their own degree.

• Effectiveness Project / Observations
• As part of the Rapid Cycle Feedback process, I will be writing notes into the feedback form in Frontline.  When I do this, it will send an email to you to notify that I completed a section.  Following this, each observation has a section for you to write your reflection above my notes in the Rapid Cycle Feedback Form.  For some of you, I will include the link to my calendar for you to set up a post observation conference as well.  If you do not get the link, but would like to see me, please set up a meeting on my calendar.  My goal is to meet with each staff member after every other observation.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  For those that are working with John Schlender, we will meet for your summative at the end of the year, but I am always open to conversations as well!

• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Conferences are coming up on Wednesday, Feb 15 from 4-7:30pm.  If there are any conferences that you would like me to sit in on, please let me know so that I can have them on my calendar and don't miss any of them. 

• PD Day Agenda
• Our next professional development day is on Monday, Feb 20.  The Dodgeland Den is open for students that need childcare for the day.  The agenda for the day will be out soon.  Please watch for it in the coming days.

• Autism Awareness T-shirt
• Lisa Knueppel sent out an email last Friday describing the T-shirts that are being sold to staff, students and families for Autism Awareness Month which is April.  Below is a picture of the design.  If you would like to purchase a shirt to wear to school on March 31, please tell Lisa or Jessica Johnson the size and make checks payable to Dodgeland by Tuesday, Feb 7.

• 

TechKnow Tip

Last week Friday, all district devices needed to be updated to the latest software.  The tech department sent out numerous reminders, as well as instructions to do this.  If you have not taken care of this important task yet, the grace period ends this weekend.  Next week, the update will have to be pushed out from the system and it may come at a time that you are in the middle of working on something or at an inconvenient teaching time.  In order to avoid this situation, please make sure that it is taken care of before Monday morning.  Both items will take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to complete. 

PD Spotlight

This week's PD Spotlight is from Daniel Pink and his latest Pinkcast video.  It is less than two minutes long, but I have already used this one word with a student this week.  In fact, as I said the word should, this video came to my mind.  I immediately changed the phrase and it was amazing how different the conversation became.  I truly found it helpful.  Now I wonder where else I can use this tip and in what situations.  Hmmm.

Friday Funny

This week my Friday Funny comes from Ella and Lexi from Dodgeland Den.  Last week, their were 2 4K students in the Den that were playing "Miss Michelle."  They made a little laptop computer out of paper for themselves and then put pencils and pens out like they were sitting at a desk. They even had a sign in sheet for students! Then they told one of the HS student workers that he was making red choices and said, "We are sending you to Miss Michelle in the office!"  SO Darn CUTE!!!