October 6, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Shout out to Trisha Pieper who went through every single one of the fundraiser slips for us.  I can not thank you enough!

• Our first SEL and Academic data meetings went well this week!  Thank you for your professional participation in these important meetings.

• Shout out to Bethany Turcotte, Reilly DuPruis, Brenda Caine, Mitch Wedel, Sue O'Toole and Patrick Schwoerer for helping cover for staff in a number of places around the school.  I truly appreciate your teamwork! 

• 5th grade students working together to create a jump rope routine in PE.  I love watching our natural leaders come out, but even more importantly is listening to them create together and letting everyone's voice be heard.  It was awesome to see some growth for this group today!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, October 9
• Bus Duty: CaineT, Riege, Juech, Vertz (3K/4K/5K playground)

• Tuesday, October 10
• SEL Data meeting for 1st grade in Elementary Conf. room 12:05-12:55pm
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Braunschweig, O'Toole, Mook

• Wednesday, October 11
• Seals on Wheels starts in the elementary conference room
• Jenny in a meeting 8:30-10am
• Book Fair Starts in the IMC
• P/T Conference from 4-7:30
• Pasta Showdown in Commons from 4-7pm, cost $4 for teachers

• Thursday, October 12
• 4th Grade Walking field trip from 11am-12:30pm
• John Schlender will be in the district for those working with him for EP

• Friday, October 13
• Picture Retake Day
• Reading corps meeting which will affect tutoring sessions 9:30-12:30pm
• XPD registration is due to Kimi

Nitty-Gritty

• Watson Wednesdays
• This year, Christina and her dog Watson, a registered therapy team, will be working in the school district to help support people's social and emotional health, cognitive health and general wellbeing.  You can find more information about how this might support your students/you or schedule time with Watson and Mrs. Rollins using the Staff Resource Page.  Click HERE to get to that page in the IMC Resources tab on the page.  I know that there have been many times where Watson was just what I needed for just a few minutes for a quick brain break!  I encourage you to use this resource if it fits with you or your students' needs.

• Cracked Screens on iPads
• We had our first (and hopefully last) cracked iPad screen from a desk lid.  Please remind students of where to store their iPads to avoid this type of situation.  If the iPad is destroyed, there is a cost for replacement, especially if it is from negligence or carelessness.  

• EmpowerU Family Engagement Option
• I am sharing with you a resource that we have access to for a limited number of families called EmpowerU Healthy emotions, Happy Families.  It is an online program with 11 lessons that can be done in 15 min. time periods as well as a journal with fun at-home activities and audio calming tools to use as well.  Click HERE to see a summary of the program. Do not introduce to families as that is something that I will do to make sure we have enough, but if you have a family that might benefit from it, please see me. Families that are searching for ideas to help their children with regulation, emotions, stress management and friendship skills, might be candidates for this type of thing.  It is free for parents as we have purchased the subscriptions and parents have access to the course throughout the school year after enrollment.

Behavior Specialist Information

Bucket Filling Clarification

Classes or individual students can earn poms for their class bucket. Specials teachers and paraeducators primarily give the students/class the poms when they notice bucket filling behaviors.

The main focus right now are:

• Level 0 voices and walking in the hall.

• Kind words/actions

• All of the lockers closed and clean floors outside of the entire class

• All students focused and engaged in learning.

• Other bucket filling behaviors can also be included as adults see fit.

The reason we didn’t give classroom teachers poms is because we know that most of you already have a classroom management/reward system and we didn’t want to override anything within your own classroom; however we will get classroom teachers some poms too so that you can recognize other classrooms for bucket filling.

Conferences

Please let Teresa know if there are any conferences you would like her to attend with you and/or if you need any resources for conferences.

Recess Information

Bus Duty Procedures

When you have bus duty, please grab the towels from between the 4k or 4th/5th grade doors and wipe down the swings, slide, and merry go round.

Please remind the students:

• In the morning, students are allowed to play on the playground, in the tag zone, or chat with their friends by the class cones.

• After school 5k-3rd MUST play on the playground, 4th and 5th MUST play basketball, 4 square, or gaga ball, 4k is walking/playing with the Junior Coach/teacher. As soon as staff see the buses come around the corner, blow the whistle and ALL students MUST line up in class lines to be dismissed to buses. Please remind 4th/5th grade they MUST put the balls away prior to lining up for the bus. 

5k Recess Expectations

The 5k transition to the large playground has been going well. Thank you for all your help to make that transition go smoothly. 5k students are allowed to be on any of the playground equipment that they can access by themselves. For example, if they are tall enough to go on the monkey bars they can use them, however if they can’t reach them on their own, they should not be lifted up to be able to go on them.

Now that the junior coach program is running, 5k students may join the junior coaches to play core games. We are also working on updated videos for each of the core games that can be used for reteaching game expectations for any student. Once they are ready, I will share them.

TechKnow Tip

As you prepare for Parent/Teacher conferences, keeping a student’s information confidential is required. Teachers should not show a live PowerSchool Gradebook with parents. It is recommended that parents log into their Parent access account to view their students’ progress and grades. If they do not have access to PowerSchool, another option is using PowerTeacher Grade book Reports. PowerSchool Reports can assist you with conversations with your students’ Parent/Guardians. To run an Individual Student Report, take a look at these directions.

• Individual Student Report
  Missing Assignment Report
  Standards Grades Report

PD Spotlight

Sue O'Toole shared this article with me and I thought it was VERY helpful.  First it was an easy read, and second, it had some practical pieces of advice.  The article is called "Tips for Calling Parents." It describes 8 specific tips that we can use when we call parents.  We know that parents are an important part of a child's educational journey, so having a strong parent/teacher relationship is only going to benefit our students.  Please read through this article and see if any of these tips would be helpful for your own practice.  I am going to make sure to remember to do number 4 each time. 

Friday Funny

Sometimes being vertically challenged is VERY hard and fairly embarrassing for my daughter.  Last night, Ella took me out for supper, (her treat!!) and we were seated in a booth on the far side of the restaurant.  As soon as I sat down, I realized I am going to have a problem.  I could not TOUCH the floor, and it was unbelievably far from my feet.  I couldn't even stretch!  So, I asked the server if we could move to a table where I knew I would be able to touch the floor.  She kindly found us a place, but Ella told me that I am so embarrassing and all I could say, was "At least I won't fall out of the seat when I leave!"  Now that would have been embarrassing!  :-)

Those pesky too high seats!  :-)

September 29, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Our literacy coach had wonderful things to say about the lessons they got to observe on Wednesday from MyView.  She ended up not arriving until 9:30 so she missed two of the rooms, but shout out to RaChelle, Stacey, Mary Jo, Jahra and Taylor for welcoming her so warmly to your classrooms!

• Rose, Teresa, Stephanie, Jill, Brittany, Amber, Ella, and Karissa have been working so hard to help our newest 4K students get acclimated to their first school experience.  Thank you so much for all you are doing for these two energetic boys!

• Shout out to Stephanie Plewa and Ashley Neis for working so hard to update our Oasis with a calm and peaceful decor as well as organization and routines for using the space.  Please help me thank them for their work!

• Teresa has been working so hard to help students and staff alike to determine routines and procedures so that learning and instruction can be the focus.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, October 2
• Bus Duty: Anderson, Miller, Huso, Mosher (3K/4K playground)
• October Support Staff duties begin:
• Breakfast 7:35-7:55am - Rose, Jessica
• Circle Drive AM - Brittany
• Circle Drive PM - Parent Pick up - Reilly, Bethany Turcotte
• Mentors/Mentee meeting in IMC 3:15-4pm for Teachers Year 1, 2 & 3 and their mentors
• Homecoming Dress up day: Movie/Book Character Day
• Fundraiser packets are due in the office

• Tuesday, October 3
• SEL meeting for Grade 2 in Elementary Conf. Rm 12:05-12:55pm
• ParaEducator meeting in IMC at 3:15pm
• Beach Day
• Home 5th-6th Grade Trojan Jr Football game @ 6pm

• Wednesday, October 4
• Jenny will be gone until 10:30am
• Color Day
• Academic Data meeting for Grade 5 in elem. confer room from 12:35-1:25pm

• Thursday, October 5
• 80's/Neon Day

• Friday, October 6
• Purple Pride Day
• Jenny at meeting in Oshkosh, will return at 12:00
• Homecoming Assembly in HS gym from 1:30-2:15
• Dismissal for all students at 2:30pm
• Homecoming Parade starting at 4pm
• Football Game at 7pm with a street dance/bonfire to follow

Nitty-Gritty

• Homecoming Information
• Thank you to the Homecoming committee for providing the information for dress up days and making the flyers, etc for us to use.  The HS student council will be selling beads and tattoos for students as well.  Watch for information from them.  The assembly will include pre-chosen students from grades 3-5 to participate in 2 relay games. Mrs. Modaff or myself will go over the rules before the assembly so they are prepared.  The Assembly will start promptly at 1:30pm in the HS gym.  Please have your students packed up before you bring your class in case it runs over.  Dismissal for students will be at 2:30 on Friday.  Staff can leave at 3pm on Friday.  The parade begins at 4pm and ends at the school.

• FFA Petting Zoo is coming
• The FFA will be hosting the annual petting zoo at school on October 18.  They are also posting posters about the events with QR codes to sign up, or sign up HERE for a time to take your class to the event.

• Dodgeland School Counseling Needs Assessment
• If you haven't completed the survey for the SEL needs of your classroom or for the grades you work with, please do so as soon as you can.  If you teach multiple grades, please fill it out multiple times for each grade and the needs you are noticing for each group.  Click HERE to get to the survey.

• Seals on Wheels
• The Seals on Wheels program is coming to Dodgeland Starting on October 11 and will be here until October 20.  There are more than 100 students in EL/MS/HS participating.  Click HERE to see if anyone in your classroom is on the list.  The dental hygienist or a staff member will come to the rooms to pick up students.  If you have questions, please let me know.

TechKnow Tip

Next month is cyber security month! The tech department has plans to help us continue to build our awareness and skills in this area. This includes the following:

• Weekly Cyber Security Announcements / tips

• Common Threats Training (17min) - Watch for an email from KnowB4

• Digital Signage

• Advisory Group Lesson

Recess Information

Please remember if equipment is not out for a game, that means the game is closed. Please do not set-up or get out recess equipment that is not already out.

Friday Funny

I am really hoping this is not your experience, especially during Homecoming Week!  :-)

September 22, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Interventions are getting started with a number of students.  Our Reading Corps tutors have also been working very hard to get assessments done, testing with their leaders and are getting ready to make a schedule so that kids can be seen and work on their deficit areas.  Thank you in advance for working with them so that kids can get this opportunity.

• Huge shout out to the many people that stepped in this week to help out when Ella and I had to leave unexpectedly.  I truly appreciate it.

• Teachers advocating for a different procedure for students at the end of the day to help keep them busy while waiting and so they don't get into trouble.

• Teachers communicating and problem solving with Teresa to come up with proactive ideas to help students with regulation or implement procedures to avoid repeat issues.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, September 25
• Rapid Cycle Feedback Planning Form due for EP
• Bus Duty: Arnes, Chambers, Zastrow, Koenings (4K/5K playground)
• EP Meeting on SLO's in IMC at 3:15pm
• Rapid Cycle Feedback Planning Sheet is due for certified staff
• School Board Meeting at 6:30pm

• Tuesday, September 26
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Klink, Schuett

• Wednesday, September 27
• Early Release - No morning Recess, dismissal at 12:20pm, lunch is between 11-12pm for students
• Mailbox Buddy Pizza party is on Wednesday (See Sue's email for the list of participants)
• Workout Wednesday
• MyView Literacy Coach visit
• STAFF MEETING CANCELED - If anyone needs to see me, please sign up on my calendly Link HERE.

• Thursday, September 28
• Jenny will be gone from school until noon

• Friday, September 29
• Is i-Ready or fall assessments done in your classroom?

• Saturday, September 30
• Trojan Athletic Booster Club Golf Outing - 11:30 registration, 1pm start time, Registration is HERE.

Nitty-Gritty

• Early Release Schedule
• The goal of the Early Releases this school year is to provide time for staff to collaborate as teams more regularly than might be possible in an average week.  For 2 of these sessions, we will also have the opportunity to work with our literacy coach from MyView to help us plan and to answer questions while planning and collaborating.  For specials teachers, please join a group that fits with your work, or connect with your colleagues in similar departments or grades to collaborate.
• All Paras will work their regular hours on the Early Release Days.  Once I know for certain which students will be in attendance that afternoon, I will let you know your exact schedule for that day.  For many of you, your lunch period will move to a different part of the day.  In addition, you will have some time to meet with your special ed team or with grade levels to collaborate and plan as well.
• There are mini-sessions offered and open to all staff in the IMC on Wednesday afternoon.  See the flyer below for more details.
  
  
  
• The Recess and Lunch schedule is changed for the early release days.  We will be eating first that day and the first group has 4 grades going through the lines so we will need to be as efficient as possible.  3K's schedule will remain exactly the same.  Click here to see the time schedule for the other grades for recess and lunch times.  For this first day, if you are available during Lunch, please join the regular staff in the commons.

• MyView Literacy Coach visit
• Our literacy coach this year is Nancy Christman.  She will be joining us on Wednesday from 9-3pm.  She will be visiting classrooms to get a visual of our classroom and meet some of our students.  She also will observe some literacy lessons. Do not worry about planning something specific for her, just whatever you normally would do. Since it is an early release day, I am asking if you have literacy in the afternoon normally, can you adjust your schedule if she is scheduled in your room so that she can see a bit of the literacy instruction.  Click HERE to see the schedule for observations.  For teachers in 4/5, please let me know if anyone is interested in meeting with her individually about this specific to your classroom or students at 11.
• In addition to the observations, she will be meeting with grade levels in the elementary conference room in the afternoon, 5K-2 and 3-5.  To help make this time useful, please add your questions, concerns, etc to this google survey so that I can send them to her to help her prep for us and make the best use of this information.

• Dodgeland Den on Sept 27
• There will be a list of students that are going to Dodgeland Den sent on Tuesday afternoon that is as up-to-date as possible.  This will also state where these students should report after school.  If you are a para in the building, you will also get a schedule of where you will be for the afternoon as well.  Please watch for that email to come out soon.

• Gum and Candy
• We are finding gum, candy and wrappers in places that it shouldn't be including on furniture, on the turf in the playground, and even just stuck on our books and materials.  I recognize that sometimes students need gum as a regulation technique, however, if it isn't used appropriate, a new strategy may need to be used.  Gum and candy are never allowed at recess on the blacktop or playground or in the library.

• EdCamp coming to Watertown
• Click HERE to see the flyer for a FREE Edcamp in Watertown in November.  It can be used for an alt comp checkmark as well.

• HS TA's in the Elementary
• I absolutely love that we have students in our High School that want to come down and work with us and our students.  Please remember though, that this a class for them that they are earning grades in as well as elective credit towards graduation.  This means that they can and should be held to a high standard, but also remembering that they are still students.  They will benefit from our guidance and feedback so that they can be the best TA's they can be.  This means that if you see them in a situation that is disrupting the routines or procedures, please calmly tell them what you need them to do or the rationale for why we do the things we do.  While giving high fives to students seems harmless, as we found out this past week, it causes a large disturbance to the flow and energy level of our student body when it is done at an inappropriate time.  Also, just like the rule in the High School, cell phones should not be used or seen when they are in the elementary wing.  Finally, remember that while the TA's are really patient and kind and helpful with some of our neediest students, this does not negate the need for an adult to be within close proximity or still closely supervised.  A TA should not be expected to intervene in discipline situations, or left alone with students at any time.  If you have any questions about this, please see me.

• Whole Class Bucket Filling
• The bucket filling challenge has started.  We are on the look out for students and classes that are filling buckets around the school.  Poms will be handed out to individuals or groups when they are showing kindness, helping others and being respectful and responsible.  Please continue to give feedback to our students when they are doing exactly what we want them to do so that they continue to do these things.

• WIN Intervention
• Our interventionists did a lot of the assessing so that they can get started with intervention as soon as they could.  As grade levels, if you haven't already, please collaborate so that the intervention blocks can get up and running as soon as possible.  This means that every student is geting "What I (they) Need."  Please make sure that you are making the most of this time so that students can work on reading, math and/or SEL during the week.  This may be something that you use your time on Wednesday to meet about as well.

TechKnow Tip

As we all get back into the swing of things, encourage your students to exercise great problem solving skills with their school device. Here are some trouble-shooting solutions you can suggest:

• If the iPad is generally slow or a system isn’t working well: complete a hard restart by holding down the screen lock and home button until the white apple appears.

• If an app is not working as usual: Completely close out of the app by double tapping the home button and swipe up on the troubled app. If that does not work, head to self-service to reinstall an app. 

• If Safari is not allowing a website: go to settings, select Safari along the left menu, select “Clear History and Website Data” from the right menu. 

• If Safari is not remembering Google login credentials: double check the student is not in a private browser. This can be checked by clicking the square menu button in the far left, top corner. 

• Students should know how to log into their applications & sites. If they do not please refer them to the beginning of the school year presentation. This presentation should be accessible in their Advisory Schoology course.

Behavior Specialist Information

Please continue to reinforce expectations taught this week and be generous in handing out bucket filling poms/your classroom management system. Some highlights from our expectations talk are:

*Level 0 (no talking) anytime we are in the hall (except for before and after school, then level 1 voice chatting with friends is ok).

*Walking feet on the right side of the hall always.

*1 pump of soap and 2 paper towels always.

*Level 1 (talking so only the person right next to you can hear) in the lunch line and at the lunch tables.

Recess Information

PLEASE make sure you are on time to your recess duty. Likely you will need to end your class a couple of minutes early on your duty day to have students lined up and ready to go. We realize that at times you need to use the bathroom. Please call the office or have a colleague stand in the hall so that you can use the bathroom outside of your 15 minute recess duty. It is ESSENTIAL that we have adults on the playground when students are at recess.

Friday Funny

This is my nemesis!  It is a fairly new lawn mower that I finally used for the first time last weekend.  I have had a few different people that have used this very machine to mow my yard.  It always took them about 45 to 60 min. to finish.  So last Sunday, I decided I can totally do this.  I don't need a High School teenager to show me how to do this. I'm smart. I'm independent. I. was. wrong.  I do need them.  I began mowing and an hour and half later, I ran out of gas at the VERY back of the yard and had not finished yet.  (See below). I had SO MUCH left to do. (I didn't even touch the section to the west of my driveway at all!)  How on earth did they get this all done in less than an hour?  I had failed and I had to be rescued by Lexi who was oh so kind about it. (Insert eye roll).  Ella keeps asking me, "What were you doing for that hour and a half?  Mowing the same section over and over?"  I don't even know what to say to her because it does seem illogical that I can be this far behind their rate of completion.

This machine will not defeat me though.  I will win.  I may need to start over this weekend, but I will get this done and it will look amazing. It was humbling and I did look pathetic and the neighbors probably think I'm crazy, but I'm determined.  This mower and it's weird "steering wheel handles" and the buttons I don't understand will be mastered.  Just in time for winter.  :-)

September 15, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Staff worked together to improve procedures for transitions and different parts of students' days.

• Teachers worked hard to help students have the best pictures possible for their families.  The funny faces and jokes behind the photographer was all in the name of cute smiles!  :-)

• Number Corner is off to a great start. It is so great to see kids jumping right in to math.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, September 18
• Fundraiser starts
• Blasting is supposed to start across the street today
• Bus Duty: Klink, Lucht, Wedel, Schuett (4K/5K Playground)
• EP meeting on Rapid Cycle Feedback in IMC @ 3:15pm
• Library Lessons start this week

• Tuesday, September 19
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Miller, Lucht, Schweitzer, Mosher

• Wednesday, September 20
• Workout Wednesday

• Thursday, September 21

• Friday, September 22
• Purple Friday
• Pyramid Model Leadership mtg @1pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Fundraiser Begins
• On Monday, Sept 18, our annual Elementary fundraiser begins.  There will be fundraiser packets in your mailbox to send home with students on Monday.  Also, there will be a short video to introduce the fundraiser in the announcements on Monday morning.  Please play this in each classroom at a time that is convenient for you.

• Health Room Pass
• Please use the electronic Health/Nurse Form.  It is a quick link on your iPad with the First Aid symbol, or on the staff resource page. Click on the Health Services tab.  This will help Leah tremendously with keeping records of students that she sees during the day.

• Alt Comp Option
• PBS Kids is offering a free online EdCamp in November at the Watertown Public Library.  Click HERE to see the details of this event.  Registration closes on October 28.

• Nutrition Lessons by Kim Laffler for grades 5K-3rd grade
• Kim will be returning to Dodgeland again this year for nutrition lessons.  She absolutely loves working with the staff and students here.  She will be reaching out to teachers individually to set up the nutrition lesson times for your classroom.  Please respond to her email to schedule these lessons.

• 5K recess Change Reminder
• 5K students' recess will move to the big playground for recess for the morning and lunchtime recess. They will have recess at the same time as 1st and 2nd grade and will be joining them along with the current assigned supervisors (meaning if you have 5K duty, you will still have 5K duty, it will just be on the big playground instead of the fenced in area). They will be allowed to play core games or play on the equipment.
• Bus duty before and after school will remain the same and the 5K will play on the small playground in the morning before school.

• Bright Arrow Test
• On Thursday, 9/14, a text message from our school messenging system, Bright Arrow came through.  If you did not get a text message wishing you a Happy Friday Eve, please email Jessica Johnson.  You will want to make sure you are getting messages from our system as this is how we communicate important messages including weather cancellations, etc.

• Parking Permits
• Please be sure that you have your parking permit easily visible in your car.  If you do not have one, please ask Kimi for one.  There are periodic checks for parking permits in the lots and so it's important that your permit is easily seen when this happens.

• Milk Payments for Snack
• Starting Monday, please check the milk calendar when completing the milk count for those that have payments made for semester 1 milk payments.  Any student without a date listed by their name under the Sem 1 column is not eligible for milk.  See Natalie's email with a copy of the letter to parents regarding milk payments.

TechKnow Tip

What’s up with Google Chrome?

Frequently throughout the year Chrome releases updates to fix current issues and security vulnerabilities within their software. To ensure the safety and security of district devices and data we have access to, we implement auto updates. For example, earlier this week Google released a new version of Chrome. When Google releases a new update, Chrome grabs the update and updates based on the user’s settings. Since the district has auto updates enabled, the update can occur at any point during the day. If the update fails, chrome will try again until a successful install and a software verification occurs. We understand that this can be inconvenient at times, but the risk of users never updating their software is much higher than an issue with a failed update. 

The Technology Department understands that this may cause frustration at times. It is never our goal to create more issues for you as a user, but we are limited on when we can ensure your technology is safe, secure, and protected. We make every effort to force all updates to technology components after school hours, and in some cases, we can not wait until that time. We thank you for your continued support as we ensure high quality instruction occurs here at Dodgeland.

Just as a reminder, there are other browsers available on your device in case of an emergency. The other browsers are Safari and Microsoft Edge. These can be used in a pinch until Chrome is up and running again. 

 

What you can do:

• If Chrome no longer appears in your dock or applications list, go to self service and install it. Once installed and opened, right click on the icon, select ‘Options’, and click ‘Keep in dock’.

• Utilize bookmarks instead of keeping tabs open or pinning tabs. HERE is a great resource walking you through how to create bookmarks, organize them into folders, and even how to utilize a bookmarks bar. 

• Think about putting your most frequented websites into a bookmarks bar which is located under your opened tabs and the address bar.

Behavior Specialist Information

The Pupil Services team will pop in tomorrow around snack time with the Bucket Filler Friday treat!

Thanks for all of your hard work getting procedures in place to build routines with your class!

A couple points of clarification:

-If a student needs to be removed from class, please call the office in addition to filling out the brief “help me, help me” form so we can get you assistance as soon as possible.

-Please email me if you would like to set up a time to meet regarding problem solving student behaviors or a classroom routine you are stuck on. My office is room 104 right next to Ms. Mosher. Stop in any time for a quick breather, chat, and chocolate!

Routine Sign-up

Please use this link: here to sign up for Ms. Mosher and I come in and teach/reteach bathroom, hallway, and lunch room routines. Please plan to stay in your classroom during these lessons so we are all on the same page about expectations. You should sign-up during one of your grade level “WIN” times on the schedule. So you will still have “regular guidance” and additionally one “WIN” time next week will be routines. 

Recess Information

Please remind students NO gum or candy should be on the playground.

Mrs. Chambers plans on reviewing Junior Coach applications today (Friday). If you want to help review applications, please let her know. We are hoping to get going with Junior Coaching next week.

PD Spotlight

This week we talked about procedures and routines and how this helps us with classroom management as well as behavior with students.  By having a predictable routine, it provides students something they can depend on.  To help each other with ideas, I am sharing the results from the survey that I sent out earlier this week for ideas for your own classrooms or reaffirm your own procedures.  Please remember, if you need help brainstorming ideas for your classroom, Teresa or myself are always available and willing to plan with you.

Friday Funny

September 8, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 4K students are getting the hang off traveling through the hallway in line.  It's exciting to meet our new students start their school journey!

• 3K students were sharing about their favorite part of the day and more than a couple said they loved "EVERYTHING". It is awesome to see them enjoy their day at school too!

• Students in every grade are learning and responding well to redirection for lunch room routines.  From which tables are theirs, to standing in line, to learning those numbers to punch in. Thank you to all the teachers that have helped instill those routines this week!

• Nurse Leah has been working so hard getting everyone's medical plans updated, new forms signed, plus being helpful to all of us as the kids returned this week.  If you see her this week, please thank her for the MANY hours she has been spending getting everything organized.

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, September 11
• Picture Day 
• Bus Duty This week:
• Big Playground: Bingen, Lisiecki, Stampfl
• 4K/5K Playground/Circle Drive: Donovan
• Blasting across the street begins
• Last day of the Story Walk for classes
• Fruits and Vegetable Snack starts

• Tuesday, September 12
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Zastrow, Chambers
• Paraprofessional staff meeting in IMC - 3:15-3:45pm
• 5th/6th grade Home Trojan Football game @ 6pm

• Wednesday, September 13
• Workout Wednesday
• Jenny in a meeting from 8:30-10am
• Staff meeting in IMC from 3:10-3:55pm
• Fruit and Vegetable Snack provided

• Thursday, September 14

• Friday, September 15
• Purple Pride Friday!
• Jenny in a meeting from 10-11am

Nitty-Gritty

• Blasts Starting Monday
• We have been notified that starting Monday, there will be blasting on the land across from the school while they clear the area and prepare it for the housing development coming there.  There will be 3 horns prior to the blast and 1 horn when it is completed.  Please help your students to prevent any panicking/fright related to these noises.

• Copiers/Printer Reminders
• If there is an issue with a copy machine, please notify the Tech Dept at extension 1040 during school hours, or a help desk ticket after school hours.  This includes if it is out of staples, needs toner, or has a jam that can not be easily fixed.
• Please note the labels for each drawer of the copy machine so that it is consistent for all users.
• Construction paper should never be used in the copy machines.
• All TA's that are doing copying for teachers, should be using the machine in the office. If you need a printing fob for them, please contact Christina in the IMC to get one for your TA to use.

• Laminating Services
• Reminder that the High School's SkillsUSA group is able to complete most of your laminating needs for you.  Contact Anna Vitale with questions or to get things laminated. Click HERE to read their flyer.
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• District Assessment Windows Open
• i-Ready and FastBridge testing windows open starting on Monday, 9-11 for all students in grades 5K-5.  The intervention team will also be coming around to do individual probes with students.  In addition, Mrs. O'Toole will be helping to facilitate an automaticity screener for all students in grades 1-5.  This will provide us with information on students that would benefit math fact intervention.  This assessment itself is 4 min. long.
• In grades 2-5, if you'd like F&P assessments done, you will need to complete them in your classrooms yourself.  If you need a refresher on how to give this assessment, please contact a reading teacher or myself.  If you need a Benchmark kit, please see Brenda or Mitch to borrow one. Near the end of the month and in November, they will be assisting with assessing Grades 5K and 1 with the F& P Benchmark assessment.

• Picture Day for All
• On Monday, Sept 11, it will be picture day for all students and staff.  We use the pictures for staff badges as well as for the yearbook. The cameras and photographers will be ready before school for staff, or it is possible for classroom teachers to get their picture taken when they bring the class down as well.  The photographers will be set up on the stage.  We will start with our youngest students and work our way through the grades until everyone has gone.  Trisha P. will be contacting you when it is your class's turn to come to the stage.  Depending on the line, they may be waiting awhile for everyone to get through.  Perhaps bringing a book to read while waiting in line will be helpful??  Other ideas?

• Doors 26, 27, and 29 Reminders
• The doors have schedules for when they are locked and unlocked during the school day according to our recess schedule.  In order to activate the unlock mode when exiting for bus/parking lot duty or recess duty one time and it will remained unlock until school starts, recesses end, or 3:15 at the end of the day.  If no one swipes the fob at the beginning of these time periods, the doors will remain locked. If you have any questions, please let me know.

• Flocabulary
• We have a school wide subscription to Flocabulary to supplement your instruction, as well as provide additional lessons and practice for our students.  If you have not used it before, click HERE for some implementation videos for ideas of how to use this resource.  If you need help logging into the system or setting up classes, let me know or I know that Lindsey, Patrick and Trisha C have used it quite often in the past few years.

• MyView Padlet
• Click HERE to see the padlet full of resources and information for implementing MyView.  Keep track of questions as they come as the coach for MyView is coming to our building on Wednesday, Sept 27 to observe classrooms, and meet with teachers to answer questions and provide feedback.

• Mystery Science
• We have a Mystery Science membership school account.  If you do not have an account yet, please click HERE to sign up.  All staff at Dodgeland can sign up and use the lessons, videos, etc.

• Fruits/Vegetable Snack Reminders
• There will be a fruit and vegetable snack choice in your milk cooler on Monday for each class.  Offer to each student to choose one option for the day for snack.  Left over snack should be returned to the cooler and placed in the hallway.  Natalie and her staff must count the snacks each time to report on for the grant.  Remember this will happen each Monday and Wednesday of the school year.  If you have questions, please let me know.

Behavior Specialist Information

Support Response Plan (link)

When a student is in need of additional support (is having a meltdown in the hall, major classroom disruptions that are not redirectable or physical behavior)  please follow this plan.

Special Education Students

1. Call the case manager first on their classroom phone. If they don’t answer,

call the office and Trisha will page them.

1. Ms. Vertz for K-1st and some 2nd

2. Mrs. Arnes for most 2nd-3rd

3. Ms. Riege for 4th-5th 

1. Trisha - If the case manager is not available, call Mrs. Heun or Mrs. Chambers

2. If a student is in crisis and physical holds are required due to imminent danger

or the responding person needs help or a break, the person on the scene should call for

backup (NVCI trained staff). 

Regular Education Students

1. Call the office and Trisha will page Mrs. Chambers or Ms. Mosher 

2. If Mrs. Chambers or Ms. Mosher aren’t available, Trisha, call Mrs. Huelsman 

3. The first person responding will reach out to Ms. Ashley and/or Ms. Plewa for additional support.

4. If a student is in crisis and physical holds are required due to imminent danger

or the responding person needs help or a break, the person on the scene should call for

backup (NVCI trained staff).

Recess Information

Here are the indoor recess expectations and coverage information.

Please show this indoor recess video to your students prior to the first indoor recess. 

Here is the presentation with video links embedded in case anyone missed the recess presentation or you need to do any reteaching.

TechKnow Tip

Your advertisement here! 
We know you and your students have really enjoyed all the information provided through our new digital signage. This year’s digital signage is found in the halls, on classroom boards, and even as screensavers. The goal of our digital signage is to inform students and staff of all the amazing things happening here at Dodgeland. Here’s what we need from you: any and all information about clubs, organizations, sports, celebrations, and upcoming events you’d like to advertise. Information shared should include a PDF digital poster (Canva is a great tool), pictures, and specific information such as dates and times, can be shared to Sam Santana via email. Be sure to include what school areas you want it advertised in and the time period in which you’d like it visible. The more information you include, the better an advertisement we can provide. If you are creating your own or using Canva, please share as a PNG or JPG format and use dimensions 1024x576 px (landscape) or 835x1080 px (portrait)

PD Spotlight

As I was reflecting on this first week of school, it occurred to me that I am surrounded by the hardest working people on the planet.  The classrooms are inviting, there are conversations about students and their needs, and many proactive measures being implemented to start the school year strong.  The team that we get to work with are highly professional and skilled and it is evident by the way you interact with your students and the lessons you provide.  That being said, one of the things we talked about at the beginning of inservice was how do we show appreciation to others in the workplace.  While I asked you to share with me your preferred method, I thought you might like to know at a high level the summary of our team so that you can show appreciation to others as well.  See the chart below to see that half of us prefer words of affirmation, and another 15% of us like multiple methods.  I encourage you to share your appreciation for your colleagues throughout the school year.  Also, remember our goal this year of acknowledging every staff member (and student) that you meet as you move through the hall, or interact within the building by using the person's name and a greeting of some sort if verbal when possible, or nonverbal smile/wave/etc when you are unable to speak to one another.  This helps us all feel connected to our team and our mission.  While I love summer too, I'm so glad we are back together at school.  The building really is very BORING when you are not here! :-)

Friday Funny

This is my kind of joke and the delivery is SPOT ON!