September 1, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• There were so many smiling faces walking out of the building during Open House on Wednesday.  Parents were happy, kids were excited, and many were telling me how much they couldn't wait for school to start.

• Many of you completed my short survey relating to appreciation languages and shared comments with me.  Thank you again for this!

• Teams and individuals set up times to meet with me this week to share concerns, ask questions, and problem solve together.  I know that I seem to be running from meeting to meeting, but I really do want you to feel that you can ask me any questions, meet with me and share concerns so that we can have a school community that supports one another and succeeds together! 

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Mon, Sept 4
• Labor Day - No School

• Tues, Sept 5
• First Day of School! - Wear Jeans, tennis shoes and a Dodgeland or Purple shirt!  Be comfortable because you will be on your feet a lot that first day!
• Bus Duty this week: 
• Big Playground: Schweitzer, CaineB, O'Toole
• 4K/5K Playground/Circle Drive: Braunschweig
• Breakfast Duty for September: Lexi, Vicky (4K - Brittany)
• AM Circle Drive duty: Wagner
• PM Circle Drive duty: Peters, Amis

• Wed, Sept 6
• Social Media posts due to Jessica: Donovan, Juech

• Thurs, Sept 7

• Fri, Sept 8

Nitty-Gritty

• Parking Lot during School year
• Please do not park in the first row that faces the building (see picture below) on school days.  We reserve these spots for parents that are dropping off our littles so they can park nearby, but not block traffic in the circle drive. 
• 
  
  
  
  
• XPD Ideas
• If you would like to teach an XPD this school year, please email Mrs. Johnson as soon as you can.  This is a great way to share your expertise with colleagues and also earn an alt comp checkmark. Please email her by the end of next week.

• Significant 72
• If you remember Greg Wolcott's key note from last year, he talked a lot about the first 72 hours when we return together after summer, or longer breaks.  This time with our class is an opportunity to build relationships, reconnect with students that you have had before, and to enjoy getting to know each other as a learning community.  While you are planning for your first week, I encourage you to take time next week to do these things.  If you need any ideas or help, please let me know.

• Teresa's Role
• As you all know, Teresa's role this year is that of our Behavior Specialist.  She will be working on implementing procedures and systems for addressing behavior that is impeding their learning or that of others. She will continue to manage the recess procedures and will be notifying staff if an indoor recess procedure needs to be used.  She will check weather and air quality data daily.  Please know, the goal is always to have them outside playing whenever possible, as long as it is safe.  
• Teresa will also be in classrooms throughout the building often.  This will allow her to get to know the students that she does not know yet and also have a feel for routines in all parts of the building.  (She knows the 4th/5th grade routines well, now she gets to learn the other areas!) Teresa will respond to situations in the hallway, classrooms, etc as well.  She also will be a great brainstorming partner for you if you have a student that is struggling.

• Recess/Lunch Procedures
• Below are links for important Recess information
• Indoor Recess Procedures: Click HERE.  We have indoor recess if it is raining, Air quality is 150 or above, Heat index is 91 or above or Temp/Windchill is below 13 degrees.
• An adult should be pitching for kickball until Jr Coaches start for the younger grade recess.
• Students should not be outside without an adult.  This means they have to wait inside if no one is there.  Students only exit after an adult leads them out, not when they see them coming down the hall.
• LUNCH Routines
• Students in grades 5K-5th grade will enter the commons through the music / maintenance hallway for lunch.  They will exit the commons through the doors near the district office.
• Students in grades 2 and 3 should sit down at the lunch tables when they enter.  All other grades will get in line first.  
• Teachers should come to the lunch room to pick up their class in grades 4K, 5K, 1st, and 2nd.  
• 3rd Grade helpers will be asked to assist with washing tables for the 4K tables.
• Please have line spots for students that we will reinforce for students to be in at all times throughout the day.

• Fruit/Vegetable Grant
• This is a such a great opportunity for our students and I am excited to see what our students think of this! The grant provides financial support to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to our students during the week during their snack break for free.  Natalie and her staff will provide the snack twice per week (Mondays and Wednesdays).  The fruits and vegetables will be delivered to the classroom along with the milk cartons in the blue bags.  Each Monday and Wednesday, students will have an opportunity to choose a fruit or a vegetable from that day's options.  Any remaining fruits or vegetables, should be returned to the blue cooler to be picked up at 10:15 in the morning.  The staff must count any leftovers so they can keep track of how much is being consumed by students for the report that Natalie must submit. The first day of the fruits/vegetable snack will be Monday, September 11. Students do not have to participate, but I am hoping that with choice and a consistent routine that they will choose to participate every time.

• Sub Plans
• Do not forget to put emergency plans into your sub folder in the shared drive folder before September 15.  This should include an updated class list and any other important notes for subs to know as they are in your classroom. (Where are certain supplies, emergency drill info, medical alerts, etc.)

• Milk/Lunch Calendar
• Homeroom teachers: Please watch your emails for a link to your calendar for this school year.  It is important that this is done daily at the same time as attendance.  Natalie and her staff use it as they prepare meals for lunch and especially how many cartons of milk they need to send to your classroom.

• Viewsonic Shutdown
• It is very important that we are shutting down our boards each night.  It saves energy and also makes sure that we can extend the life of the board. In addition, you should know that there are some safeguards in place where the boards will automatically shutdown around 4:30 each night.  If you are using the board, it will shut off at that time.  Please keep in mind in case you are presenting, working with it at that time.  This is to help protect our investments in technology.

• KnowBe4 Trainings
• Just a friendly reminder:  Did you finish the online trainings for this year?  If not, please get them done as soon as possible.

• Calendly Link
• Here is the link to my calendar if you need to meet with me.  I will check it often, but if you make an appointment on the same day, I might miss the addition.  Please try to schedule at last 24 hours ahead of time, but I do understand that it is not always possible.  

• Beg. of the year Survey
• If you didn't complete the beginning of the year survey, please do so today.  This is to help me for planning for this school year and especially to make sure that I am showing my appreciation in a way that you are most comfortable.  In addition, it is an opportunity to share with me any questions, comments, etc that I need to know as we start another school year together.

• Digital Citizenship
• For as long as we have given district devices to students, we have been thoughtful in teaching them how to be a great digital citizen. Digital citizenship is defined as the responsible use of technology to learn, create, and participate. Never before has this been more important in what we do here at school and what students do wit their devices at home. For many years, we have used the Common Sense Education digital citizenship curriculum. They encourage teachers to "use lesson plans to address timely topics and prepare students to take ownership of their digital lives." As always, the free lessons can be found HERE. These lessons are a great way to discuss each topic as a class, give a chance for students to practice their skills, and even assess their skills if you so choose.  As we continue to make digital citizenship important in our classrooms, our students will follow suit and demonstrate great digital citizenship skills in return. Please plan for these lessons where you feel it fits best in your schedule and planning.  Then periodically review the skills as it fits with your projects and lessons throughout the school year so they have the opportunity to apply them in authentic situations.

• Financial Planning Meeting
• If you wanted to attend, but missed Thursday's session, Shobi recorded it.  Go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/205723453226187096. Once you submit your info, the recording will be sent to you. 

Library Notes from Christina

• Library lessons will start the week of September 18th. Watch for a Google Calendar invite from me - once you accept it, it will be added to your Google Calendar. 

• Even though the library won’t be ready for students on day one, you are welcome to request books! We have some great read-aloud books about bucket filling you may want for your first week. You can browse our books using the Destiny Discover app (dark blue with orange lightbulb) or check out a digital book on Sora (these work great on our display boards).

• You’ll be busy day one with all those awesome procedures and relationship building, so iPad orientation can begin Wednesday 6th. Remember that just as you go through specific expectations with the hallways, bathrooms, and at recess, clear expectations should be addressed with iPads before they are used. Please keep your iPad lockers locked until you or I share those expectations with your class.

• Grades 4K-5K: Connect with me when you’re ready- absolutely no rush :o)

• Grades 1-2: Here are some resources I’ve used in the past. With your invitation, I’d love to come present to your room, just let me know which resource you’d like me to use and sign up here for a time here.

• Grade 3: I will come present to your room, so please sign up here. Here are the documents we used last year. Let me know if you’d like anything changed.

• Grades 4-5: I will come present to your room, so please sign up here. Here are the documents we used last year. Let me know if you’d like anything changed. Remember to hold onto this completed document (once completed at home) and use it to facilitate conversations with students if issues arise throughout the year.

Friday Funny

If you know, you know.  :-)