April 25, 2025

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• The Project Energy performers stated that they had fun with our students and LOVED their energy.  Thank you for giving up your precious time on Wednesday.

• Shout out to the Sunshine Committee for organizing our celebrations to show love to our fellow colleagues.  Thank you all for contributing as well!

• Our students were excited to be back to school this week.  I love to hear about how much they missed us!

• Thank you to everyone that has stepped in throughout the week when we were short staffed.  I truly appreciate your time and help.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, April 28
• Bus Duty: Mosher, O'Toole, PE Teacher, Ellefson (meet buses by the stop sign please)
• Lunch Supervisors:
• 12:00 - Braunschweig
• 12:30 - Miller
• 1:00 - Klink
• Track meet at Dodgeland - will affect the parking lots
• School Board meeting @ 6:30pm

• Tuesday, April 29
• Happy Birthday Taylor!
• Jenny and Teresa in meeting from 8:15-10am
• Jenny in meeting from 10-11:30am
• 5th gr. Data Meeting (SEL only) from 12:35-1:25
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Wagner, Huso
• Lunch Detention Supervisor:
• T.Caine - 1:00

• Wednesday, April 30
• Workout Wednesday
• Petting Zoo (All day) Schedule is HERE
• Jr. Coach Field Trip from 8:45-3pm (Teresa and Blasia are gone for the day)
• 4th Grade Farm/City Field Trip from 8:40-11:45am
• 1st Gr. Data Meeting (SEL only) from 11:40-12:25pm

• Thursday, May 1
• 3rd Gr Data Mtg (SEL only) from 12:05-12:55pm
• Special 3rd Gr. activity in the IMC from 2:30-2:55pm

• Friday, May 2
• Jenny in meeting until 10am

• Saturday, May 3
• Happy Birthday Eneida!

Nitty-Gritty

• SETT program from UW-Eau Claire
• If you or someone you know is interested in the SETT program, the flyer of information is HERE.  The program is designed for working adults to take courses to transition to a teaching career. Just sharing if you are interested.

• Class Creator
• If you are a homeroom teacher you should have received an email from Class Creator that allows you to do the survey related to your students academic, behavior and special supports data for class list creation. The meetings for this task will not be until June 5, but please complete the surveys before May 30 so that I can have this ready by June 5. If you need any help, please let me know. For new teachers, you can check with your mentor/team as well.

• Spring Testing Windows
• The Aimsweb and FastBridge window for spring testing will open on Monday, May 5.  The intervention team will be coming to assess students starting that day.  Julie and Vanessa will also be in this month to do assessments with our students as well. On Monday, May 12, the i-Ready window will open for students as well. Please plan with interventionists if you need assistance for proctoring the tests. As we did in the winter, there will be no retakes. It is important that students do their best work the first time, as we do not have enough time for students to be given the test multiple times. 

• SRO joins our Staff
• As most of you know, the SRO position has been in the works for a long time and was first announced in October of this school year and now has come to fruition! The SRO is a Juneau Police Department officer that is in our school Mon-Fri and we share the cost of this position with the city of Juneau and is from the district's Community Programs and Services fund which is separate from our general fund that pays for staffing, instruction and operations. Officer Jake Borchardt (the 'ch' sounds like a k in his name) officially joined our school on Monday, April 21. He is looking forward to getting to know our students. To help with this, he would like to come into our classrooms in the next few weeks to read to your class and meet you all.  Watch for a sign in sheet email for him to come to your classrooms.  Help me welcome Officer Jake!

• Future Planning
• I know this past week was very difficult. The budget situation that we are in means that there are very difficult decisions to be made. It is painful to know that the positions that are affected will affect us all and especially our students. There have been many long hours put in studying this situation and discussing next steps. None of the plans were made hastily or without long thought. At this point, any elimination or reduction or modification in a position has been communicated with affected staff members.  The board meeting on Monday night will finalize the budgetary cuts and more details will be shared as soon as I am able.  In the meantime, please know that if you want to talk, share ideas with me, need something from me, etc, I am always here.  I can't promise anything, but know that I always want what is best for our students and staff within the parameters that I am able. 

TechKnow Tip

Looking for something to strengthen cooperative learning, problem solving, encourages persistence, and an outstanding alternative to movies?! Look no further than BreakoutEDU!! BreakoutEDU is an immersive learning game platform with both physical and digital puzzle elements to solve. A physical BreakoutEDU “room” can be time consuming to set up, so that’s where a digital BreakoutEDU “room” can come in handy. BreakoutEDU is provided to all classroom teachers through the IMC- that means you can use the pre-created materials from the site, you can create digital breakout “rooms” specific to your content, and you can create classes of students to view progress and statistics of any of the BreakoutEDU puzzles. Digital BreakoutEDU puzzles can be shared with students via link or QR code- what a fun way to keep them thinking at this time of year. Get logged into BreakoutEDU through Classlink. Try this BreakoutEDU - send Ms. Rollins a screenshot of a completed room (5 puzzles) for a fun prize!

Friday Funny

Living with 3 GoldenDoodles is quite the adventure. We have 1 ten year old doodle and 2 almost three year old doodles from the same litter in my house now. Usually we have spurts of just lots of noise and activity and then the laziest dogs ever. In fact, just yesterday, Mabel barked at a sound, but didn't even raise her head off of the couch to do it. Seriously?! But the picture below perfectly captures Molly's personality. I have no idea how she gets herself into these kinds of predicaments!

April 11, 2025

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Shout out to the Talent Show Committee and especially Sue!  Our kids looked so great, there were SOOO many people in the audience and the staff talent was wicked good!

• The PPS team was hopping this week.  Thank you to Ashley, Ashley, Sophie and Teresa for all the ways they support our students.  Your work is often behind the scenes, but it is definitely noticed and appreciated!

• The Forward Test is DONE for the year!  Thank you to all of you that supported our students to do their best.  This is everything from proctoring a group, helping with make-up tests, directing students to be quiet near testing rooms, organizing supplies and so much more.  Thank you all so much!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Spring Break from April 14-18

• Monday, April 14
• Happy Birthday Mary Jo!
• Special School Board Mtg @ 7pm

• Tuesday, April 15
• Happy Birthday Bethany D!
• Tax Day

• Thursday, April 17
• Happy Birthday Lexi!

• Sunday, April 20
• Happy Birthday Karissa!

• Monday, April 21
• Happy Birthday Jessica B!
• Bus Duty: Fortmann, Miller, Westphal, Jenkins (meet buses at end of sidewalk)
• Lunch Supervisors:
• 12:00 - Wagner
• 12:30 - Turcotte
• 1:00 - O'Toole
• Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10am
• Mentor/Mentee meeting in the IMC @ 3:15pm

• Tuesday, April 22
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Klink, Juech, Fortmann
• Lunch Detention Supervisors
• 12:00 - Westphal
• 12:30 - Westphal
• 1:00 - TCaine
• HS Track Meet and Softball game at Dodgeland (this will affect the parking lot)

• Wednesday, April 23
• Early Release
• Workout Wednesday
• Administrative Assistant Day!  (Let's celebrate Patti, Trisha, Kimi, Holly, & Danielle)
• Project Energy Assembly (4K-2) @ 9am in Elem. gym
• Project Energy Assembly (3-5, St. Johns students) @ 9:45am in Elem. gym
• NO STAFF meeting for Act 20 - work time only for Lessons 3-4 in Read Aloud Module
• Summer School Training for Math program in Elem. Conf. Rm from 1:15-3:15pm 

• Thursday, April 24
• Lunch Detention Supervisors
• 12:00 - Westphal
• 12:30 - O'Toole
• 1st Grade Assembly @2:15 in IMC for Community Banking Month

• Friday, April 25
• Baby Shower to celebrate Hailey and Taylor and their upcoming additions
• Here is the sign up if you want to contribute
• Pyramid Model Leadership meeting 1-2pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Career Week Celebration
• A reminder that Friday afternoon is the career day parade and dance party.  We will use the stage to walk across and loop back down the stairs so that the whole school can see all of the careers that our kids are interested in.  The last 10 minutes will be the dance party, with dismissal at 2:55pm.  Thank you again for the committee for providing a great week of activities for our students!

• Fridge/Room Check
• Before you leave for spring break, please be sure to clean out the fridge in the lounge (or in your classroom) of anything that will not be good when we return. In addition, wash up any dishes in the sinks as well.  Finally, be sure that there are not food items left out and that students have cleaned out their lockers as well.  It would be great if we can keep any extra visitors from coming in while we are gone!

• Sheriff's training next week
• Please see Sam/Brad's emails regarding next week's training in our building during the week.  The Sheriff's department is still looking for volunteers to help out.  In addition, it is very important that you are not in the areas of the building that the training will take place between April 14-17 between the hours of 6am and 5pm.  See their emails for more details.

• Sub request for Frontline
• One of our guest teachers had some feedback for us that I think is good for us to know. When you put in for a sub in Frontline, there is a spot to leave notes for the substitute.  In this section, please leave notes there if there is a bus duty, lunch duty or recess duty for that day. This will help them plan for the day with outerwear and for more accurate ending times for their day. Thank you in advance for this!

• Recess Reboot
• When we return from break, Teresa will be coming to your classrooms to do a recess reboot to remind our students of the expectations for the playground.  If you haven't signed up for a time slot yet, please do so as soon as you can! 

TechKnow Tip

Don't forget over break to take a true break.  There will be minimal emails etc from me.  If I do send anything, you do not need to worry about responding until you return on 4/21/25!  In fact, even better, shut your laptop and iPad down at 3pm on Friday afternoon and walk out the door ready to relax!  :-)

Friday Funny

One of the best things about working in an elementary school is the joy that comes from such little things.  As I take the Trojan Cart to classrooms, I find it so heartwarming to see the smiles and joy from kids over the smallest of things.  When I saw the video below, I thought, "Wouldn't it be great to be cheered on like this at work?!"  Let me know if you want me to come cheer for you as your grading papers, using your Viewsonic, completing your attendance, or really any of the things you do each day!  :-)

April 4, 2025

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Shout out to Sandi and Jessica B for putting an authentic activity in place for students in their program as well as the rest of the school!  It was fun to listen to kids estimate the number of markers in the container! Thank you!

• Students were working hard on the state testing and just about everyone in the building is completely done with the tests!  Yippee!  Thank you all for your support on encouraging students to do their best, getting students prepared for the test, helping younger students understand how to respect their work, giving up time for make up testing (or proctoring them too).  Thank you for the teamwork!

• Shout out to Mandy for putting so much extra work into providing an experience for her 5K students, but also for her former students that missed it when they were in 5K. Part of learning at school includes the experiences we provide them as well.

• In addition to the tea party on Friday, Bethany T arranged for her 3K students to have an exciting day with special visitors from Animart.  This is their "field trip" for the year and it is a pretty awesome experience for them as well!  Nicely done 3K team!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, April 7
• Start of Career/College Week! Wear your favorite Super Hero shirt!
• Bus Duty: Klink, Caine-Arnes, Chambers, Wagner (meet buses at end of sidewalk)
• Lunch Supervisors:
• 12:00 - Ellefson
• 12:30 - Juech
• 1:00 - CaineB
• Jenny in a meeting from 1-2:30pm
• Talent Show practice 3:15-5pm on the stage

• Tuesday, April 8
• Wear a Work Hat Day!
• Lunch Detention Supervisors: Huso and CaineT
• Talent show in Elem. gym from 6:30-8pm

• Wednesday, April 9
• Wear a College shirt or Dodgeland Attire Day (Workout Wednesday too)
• Staff Meeting in IMC @ 3:10pm

• Thursday, April 10
• Wear your favorite sunglasses for your Bright Future!
• Run for State at 8:30am
• Jenny at Cesa until 1:15pm

• Friday, April 11
• Wear what you want to be when you grow up!
• Happy Birthday Melissa C-A!

• Saturday, April 12
• It's true...Spring Break is FINALLY here!  :-)
• Wheelchair basketball event in HS gym from 9am-1pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Building Use Form
• Friendly reminder: If you need to use any part of the building for an event, practice, activity during or after school hours, please fill out a building use form. They are located by Kimi and can be handed directly to her.  This is important because there are many groups vying for the same spaces within the building especially this time of year with the unpredictability of the weather. Thank you in advance for the communication and teamwork!

• PE classes on Thursday, April 10
• This week, Mr. McKay, will be using the elementary gym for rehearsals on the stage.  This means that there may be some PE classes that will be moved for the day.  Please watch for communication from Lexi regarding your class.

• College and Career Readiness Week
• There are a number of activities that are planned for the week for our students. The green screen will be set up in the gathering area outside of the gym if you want to use it.  There are dress up days set for the week and the committee has shared with you the Game of Life Game Board (along with the resource links for your level) and ways for families to share their careers with students as well.  Thank you to the committee for their hard work on this!

• Attendance Activity outside the office
• Please continue to add to your class's word until it is full.  When your class fills it, please let me know and I will bring the Trojan Cart to your classroom.  The goal is for you all to get a visit.  At the end of the week, I will be coming with more attendance awards for students.  If you already filled it, but haven't had a Trojan Cart visit yet, please let me know.

• Survey
• Please see Jessica's survey email from this weekend and complete this as soon as possible. It is an opportunity to share your thoughts.  Thank you in advance.  https://forms.gle/EQe7iNDKsQyPE6AKA

• Calendaring
• I know I sound like a broken record, but the school year is flying by. If you are planning field trips, special events (especially that includes families), please be sure to get those forms or dates to me as soon as possible. Below are the ones I know about at this time. (Please let me know if I missed anything.)
• April 23 - Early Release
• April 23 - Assembly on energy, 4K-2 @ 9am
• April 23 - Assembly on energy, 3-5 @9:45am
• April 29 - Data meetings start 
• April 30 - Jr. Coach Field trip (all day)
• April 30 - 4th gr. field trip (half day/morning)
• May 5 - Seals on Wheels starts for sealants (will be with us in the elem. conf room until May14)
• May 8 - 4K Concert at 2:30pm
• May 14 - 4th/5th gr field trip (all day)
• May 15 - 4K Field Trip
• May 19 - Art Show and Spring Concert (5K-2)
• May 20 - Art Show and Spring Concert (3-5)
• May 22 - Book Fair starts
• May 29 - 5K Graduation at 6pm
• May 30 - 5th grade field trip (all day)
• June 3 - Field Day (all day)
• June 4 - Last Day of School

TechKnow Tip

What’s that cool, new icon on the top menu bar of your laptop?! The open book and wrench icon is a new information shortcut to essential information on your laptop. You will find information such as when your last restart was, if you are required to update your software, and when your password will expire. You will notice red or orange notification dots on anything that needs your immediate attention. At the bottom you will also find a shortcut to our tech ticket system, self service, and our staff resource site. To get started, click on the new tool in the menu bar (open book and wrench) and select continue.

Recess Information

Recess Reboot

Please sign up for a time for Mrs. Chambers to come in to talk about recess and school expectations.

Shed/recess equipment

When you are on bus duty, please open the shed when you blow the whistle for students to line up so the JCs can set up recess.

Friday Funny (Or whatever day it is...)

Here is a comedian that I like to listen to as well. Enjoy!