October 2, 2020

Being Real

• Some of you may have noticed that my mood has been a little off.
• I am struggling with my feelings about the lack of support and understanding of the work of schools on almost all fronts
• Thank you to Sam and Jen for jumping in today when I needed you. 
• I apologize for my less than joyful attitude because you need (and deserve) me to be relentlessly optimistic and show my pride and admiration for who you are as people and as professionals all of the time regardless of what I am struggling with.  
• I know you are all peddling as fast as you can too. I need to be there for you and I am. 
• I just wanted you to know that it is not you, it is me if I seem a little short-tempered.  
• I appreciate the grace that you always provide to me.

Honey-Do List- October

10/6/20        Review MAP Documents linked below

10/8/20        Special Education Learning Plans Completed

10/9/20        School Facing Schedules to be uploaded into Lee Academy 20-21 Folder

10/15/20      Goals entered into TeachPoint

Buzzing Along- Important Upcoming Dates

10/5/20.                       High Priority in-person learners Group A-First Day in person

10/7/20     3:00 PM    Staff Meeting (Link below)

10/15/20                      Hybrid B in-person learners K0-K2-First Day

10/19/20.                     Hybrid A in-person learners K0-K2 First day

10/22/20.                     Hybrid B in-person learners 1-3 First Day

10/26/20.                     Hybrid A in-person learners 1-3 First Day

10/5-10/19                  Assessment window open for MAP Reading Fluency Screener (K2-2)

10/5-10/19                  Assessment window open for MAP Reading Growth (3)

Staff Meeting

• We need to have a staff meeting on Wednesday so we can be all in one place for some important topics:
• After Action Review on First 4 Days of School with Students
• MAP Assessments
• We will work together to create a predictable schedule of staff meetings and professional learning moving forward now that we are getting opening under our belts

MAP Testing

• Map Testing is going to be a heavy lift, heavier than anticipated both for teachers and families
• Please take time to review these documents prior to our meeting on Wednesday
• Keri and I attended office hours and are working on a plan to have in school times for students to take the assessment in the building if wanted by families and they feel safe to do so. 
• We will be looking for volunteers to supervise at least 3 classrooms to make this happen. 

K2-2

Map Fluency Testing Overview with Embedded Links

Grade 3

Map Growth Remote Testing Slide Deck with Embedded Links

Special Education Learning Plans

• Earlier this week, Ellen Blackburn, our new COSE, shared the following information with you about Special Education Learning Plans last week
• These Plans are a DESE mandate for all students that have an IEP. 
• Ellen began the plans for us but needs your input to complete the following portions
• Page 1: Document the dates and times when the school  obtained parent/guardian input regarding the proposed differences in the provision of special education services in a remote and/or hybrid model
• Page 1: What should the parent expect in the way of regular, ongoing communication from their child’s special education team members?
• The last entry on the document: Please describe how accommodations and modifications may be different in the settings described above
• Please complete these plans by 10/8 (district deadline)
• Contact Ellen directly with any questions

Staples Discount Cards

• If you were in the building today you have received an envelope with the Staples Gift Cards and letters in your families home languages 
• Each card has been individually registered to a student. (Check out the tiny numbers. It was not my favorite task of the week!)
• The rest of you will receive these on Monday when you are here 
• They must be used in a store before 11/30 and the $50 must be spent all at one time
• There is not a good distribution plan. 
• Ideally, I would distribute with supplies but we do not have those yet 
• I am asking you to reach out to your families and determine how they would like to receive these cards and help to get them in their hands. 
• If you give me an individual envelope with a student's name on it and the letter in the proper language. I will keep it in my office for parents to pick up if that works for them.  

Cameras

• Most of you received a really cool camera in your classroom to help with in-person and remote instruction if that is a choice you make. 
• This will allow you to show things like your whiteboard etc. 
• It provides you with a greater range of motion while teaching making you less attached to your laptop. 
• It is a pretty easy and intuitive set up but here is a link for the video on how to set the camera up and connect to Zoom 

Optimistic Closing

It has been AMAZING having kids back. 

• LJ is here with us and feeling loved. What we do is important for kids. Sometimes we are their happy place. 
• DJ, feet firmly planted, in the hall steadfastly refusing to leave the building after picking up his supplies from Lividini. He wanted to stay in school. We create a fun and exciting place to be
• HR finally spoke to me. She sings Elsa songs sometimes when she washes her hands. Sometimes we have to learn to be patient to find the joy (this took a year)
• Govi saying every time the boys are in the bathroom "pull up your pants in the stall". We are teaching important life lessons. 
• There are not a lot of kids here but the hallways are echoing with laughter. We and our students are small but mighty.

THANK YOU! I see you. I hear you. I believe in you even when sometimes it is hard to believe in yourself.