March 6, 2026

So sorry - This is a much smaller than normal weekly blog!  It's been a week!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, March 9
• PJ DAY!!
• Morning Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground: Schulte, Chambers, Fortmann
• 3K/4K playground: Braunschweig, O'Toole
• Breakfast: Schuett, Arnes
• Lunch Duties:
• 12:00 - Donovan
• 12:30 - Huso
• 1:00 - Bingen
• Afternoon Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground: Juech, Klink
• Circle Drive: Huelsman
• Brad and Sam out for the day

• Tuesday, March 10
• Happy Birthday Jen!
• Social Media Posts due to Jenny: Lucht, Cook
• Brad and Sam out for the Day

• Wednesday, March 11
• Workout Wednesday
• Lunch Detention Supervisors: Wagner, Westphal, Neis
• Staff meeting @3:15pm

• Thursday, March 12
• Jenny at Cesa - return around 1:15pm
• Musical preview for students from 1:30-3pm in elementary gym

• Friday, March 13
• National Earmuff Day! Wear a winter hat or earmuffs
• HS Musical performance at 7pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Gathering Area Cabinets
• Just a reminder that the cabinets that are in the gathering area near the Oasis contain supplies purchased with mostly the 4K budget. The items should not be used by other grades/departments. However, if there is something you need, please see me or that department in case there is a solution that we can come up with for you.

• Forward Schedule
• The Forward Schedule is on the Forward Resource Page. This will tell you when the tests are being proctored, the groups for all 3rd-5th graders and also the accommodations necessary. 
• Lastly, I will be working on a schedule for specials for these grades as well for testing days so that students/classes can still run for those days.  Thank you in advance for grades K-2 for being flexible for those days so that our students that are taking this important test are able to concentrate on that and still get to their specials as well. This will be added as a tab on the schedule as soon as possible.

• Only 4 half Days???
• Anyone willing to teach this summer in July for 4 half days?  Please see me!  Have I got a fun idea for you!  Looking for someone that is interested in the week of July 13 or the week of July 27.  From Mon-Thurs and only until noon! 

• Referendum Video
• Have you seen the referendum video that is playing on the digital signage?  It packs a lot of information in one minute.  Shout out to Todd and Brad who are working tirelessly on putting these messages out to our community and to us! 

ML Information

Empowering Every Voice: Peer Feedback for Multilingual Learners (MLs)

For Multilingual Learners, peer feedback is more than just a review process—it is a low-stakes "language lab." It provides a bridge between social and academic language, allowing students to practice new vocabulary in a supportive, 1-on-1 setting before sharing with the whole class.

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Why Peer Feedback Boosts Language Acquisition

• Increased Talk Time: MLs get more opportunities to speak in a peer pair than they do during whole-group instruction.

• Negotiation of Meaning: When a peer says, "I don't understand this part," the ML student must find new ways to explain their ideas, which is a key driver of language growth.

• Authentic Modeling: MLs hear how their peers structure sentences, picking up natural phrasing and academic tone.

Scaffolding the Process for MLs

To make feedback accessible regardless of English proficiency levels, try these high-leverage scaffolds:

1. Visual Rubrics: Use emojis or images alongside text so students can identify if a peer met a goal (e.g., a "🔍" icon for "Using Evidence").

2. Strategic Pairing: Pair MLs with "language partners" who have slightly higher proficiency or who share a home language. This allows them to clarify complex concepts in their L1 before translating them into English.

3. Sentence Frames with Word Banks: Don't just give a prompt; provide the specific vocabulary needed to answer it.

• Frame: "I like how you used the word [Word Bank: descriptive, vivid, powerful] to describe the setting."

Modified Feedback Strategies

Strategy	Adaptation for MLs
PQP (Praise, Question, Polish)	Use illustrated icons for each step. Let students circle the "Question" they want to ask from a pre-written list.
Color-Coded Feedback	Have students highlight specific parts of a peer's work (e.g., green for a strong claim, yellow for where they need more "why").
The "Silent" Review	For newcomers, have them use sticky notes with symbols (?, !, heart) to show their reaction to a text without the pressure of writing full sentences immediately.

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The "Golden Rule" for ML Feedback: Focus on Message before Mechanics. Encourage students to give feedback on the ideas first. Correcting every comma can discourage a language learner; responding to their thoughts builds their confidence.

Behavior Specialist Information

Trojan Tickets!

We will be doing a Trojan Ticket boost 3/9-3/27. Tickets will be in your mailbox. Please read here for more information and reach out with any questions.

Recess Information

Winter Gear
The start of the week looks great, but then the temperature falls into the teens again for lows. Please encourage students to bring and wear appropriate clothing to stay warm at recess. While we encourage them to wear the recommended gear, if they choose not to, they are choosing to be cold and that is ok (aside from 4k and 5k, please make them wear the appropriate clothing young kids are unable to regulate body temperature as well). Please do not send students back into the building to get gear they chose not to wear.

Friday Funny

This is how my week has been. :-)