Staff Weekly Newsletter: Week of December 19, 2022

Week of December 19, 2022

Dates   12/20 Fire Drill @ 9:50 and Staff Challenge in Cafe B 12/22- MAPS completed 12/23-1/3 Winter Vacation 1/3 Let Mr. Chery know if you would like to come to the building 1/4 Students return back to school 1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School 1/20 Winter Showcase and Potluck at Unity 1/27 Updated subfolders in the main office

Updates “Here's the thing about beliefs; we all have them and they drive our actions. We experience our beliefs as truths, and we can usually find evidence to support them. Subsequently, they create boundaries around what we think we can and can't do, what can and can't be done in the world. Some of our beliefs are tucked into our subconscious, where they operate without our awareness. Sometimes our beliefs contradict each other or our core values. Some of our beliefs make us strong, powerful people; some do not serve us. The good news is that beliefs can be updated or changed.” ― Elena Aguilar, The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies for School Transformation   During the last PD led by Ms. Purple, we engaged in some unlearning that many of us thought we knew about reading instruction; in particular the key words on the sound cards. Speaking for myself, the process was both painful and enlightening because I taught Fundations in grade 2. Then someone said, “know better and do better.” As educators, we simply need to continue learning, take the feedback and pivot. Not long after that PD, someone recommended this podcast to me: https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/. I encourage all folks to listen intently to the following podcast and consider how we know what we know about teaching and learning (across content)? What do we need to unlearn? Where do we find answers? Listening to the podcast will require you to be vulnerable and possibly admit some mistakes and misconceptions that we were taught and held as beliefs. Some of us are still in the process of unlearning, and that is okay; as long as we continue to LEARN and GROW. Para check-in with Mr. Chery on Thursday This will be an opportunity to meet with paras and check in and discuss changes/ideas regarding recess after the break. 10-10:30 am: grade 1-3 science room 2:15-2:45 K2-K0/K1 cafeteria B Progress Reports Last week, Ms. Zoraida printed out all progress reports and placed them in envelopes, and handed them to teachers and/or in mailboxes. Please make sure they go home today if not already.  Furthermore, please make sure your mailbox is checked and empty. We do not often use it but please be sure to check in periodically.  Vacation Testing Message that will be sent this week. Teacher Preference Sheet: It is time to think about and plan for staffing and budget decisions for the next school year. To inform those decisions, please complete this form as soon as possible, but no later than January 01/13/2023.  Please be advised that the Staff Preference sheet does not constitute any guarantee of classroom or grade assignment. Your responses will be taken into consideration, along with licensure requirements and decisions about school-wide priorities and budget. *Paras if questions do not apply to you, answer with "Not applicable." If you would like to be part of the interview committee this year, please let me know. Most of the interviews will take place in person after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in my office. Virtual interviews may take place if necessary. At this time, I am anticipating about 4-5 interviews. Before and Afterschool Stipend Opportunities for teachers: For the last couple of years, we have been struggling to find intervention opportunities for students in need of more support. We will be providing stipend opportunities for teachers who like to work with students either before school or after school for 30-60 minutes at the union rate. Please let me know if you are interested. We have several students who are in need of academic support for when we come back after the break.  Staff Challenge: From Ms. Hart: Hello LAPS Family,   Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for the November Jumping Jacks challenge.  It was awesome! Results are posted on Principal Chery's Office door. For those of you who missed it, here is another opportunity to join the fun.   The December Staff Challenge is coming!   Let's bring December in with SKATERS.  Use the link below for practice and a review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LbgYYRCrBk   OBJECTIVE:  Complete as many skaters as possible in 30 seconds   DATE:  Tuesday, December 20, 2022  TIME:    8:45 a.m. -9:00 a.m.    PLACE: Cafeteria B   AND at the request of staff members a 2nd-time slot during the lunch period   DATE:  Tuesday, December 20, 2022  TIME:    12:45 - 1:00 p.m.   PLACE: To Be Determined   Happy Skating!

Data

Literacy Decodable Texts: The district-provided decodables have arrived. Mr. Bill bring them up to room 201. We will try to get them organized as soon as possible for your use with students.

Math Reminder: If you’re unsure of the content of your students’ puzzle you can get details about the puzzle by clicking the arrow to the right of the puzzle completion bar at the top of the student screen. Week of 12/12 - 12/16 Grade Average # of minutes played per student  Average # of puzzles completed per student # of students with unresolved “High-Tries” Alerts Average % completion K0/K1 27 21 9    28 % K2 42 44               3 31% 1st 114 71             7           32  % 2nd 70 52 2           17 % 3rd 96 38 5           18 % ST Math Goals For the Week Goal for the Year K0/K1 30 mins 20 puzzles   80% Progress completion  K2-Grade 1 60 minutes 40 puzzles Grade 2-Grade 3 90 minutes 60 puzzles

Special Education (IEP meeting)/Support/CBHM Reports and Goals: Please remember that goals need to be ready before/at IEP meetings.

Operations No updates.

Shoutouts Ms. Mendez, Ms. Denise and Mr. Anthony:I had to be at the conference Thursday earlier than Hailey had to be at school. The one person who I depended on is no longer here, therefore I found myself in a place of grief and anxiety. Asking for help was not normalized in my upbringing and I am not used to receiving support. As I hesitated to ask this team for childcare that morning, they did not hesitate to support me, made me feel as if I have a support system and I am forever grateful!!! - Govi

Photos

Later/Reminders ETWA Want to update the election to work agreement? Do you have a great idea you would like to share? Here is your opportunityThe Election to Work Agreement has not been updated in years and this could be an opportunity for us to make some meaningful changes. Think about how we can truly make an impact and move the work and when thinking of suggestions, put our students at the center of those suggestions; is this what our students need? Will this move the work in the right direction? Your voice is important! Please see Ms. Aviles with any questions or concerns.  Child Care Weather Watch How we will determine indoor recess. Food In Classrooms/Fridge Please begin to start getting rid of all food items in the classrooms in preparation for the winter break. Over Thanksgiving break, we had a lot of activity due to food being left out. Please make sure nothing is on shelves, tables, and in student desks (especially fruits). Furthermore, please take a moment to check the fridge for any expired items or food items you will not be eating. Maybe put a sticky note for items that are up for grabs.

Links/Forms Incident Report IEP Acknowledgement ShoutOuts Child Care Weather Watch

I AM WISHING EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Staff Newsletter: Week of December 12, 2022

Week of December 12, 2022

Dates 12/5-12/22 Parent-Teacher Conferences 12/12-16 Administer MAPS Assessments Deadline (12/22) 12/12-12/16 Report Cards and Progress Reports are Distributed 12/13 Mr. Chery @ Bolling for All Leader PD until 2 maybe earlier? 12/14 Picture Day Makeup/Retake 12/15 Bio Bus and Mr. Chery @ the Rossovelt for Region Meeting 12/16 Holiday Party! 12/23-1/3 Winter Vacation 1/4 Students return back to school 1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School 1/20 Winter Showcase Location TBA

Updates ETWA Want to update the election to work agreement? Do you have a great idea you would like to share? Here is your opportunity. The Election to Work Agreement has not been updated in years and this could be an opportunity for us to make some meaningful changes. Think about how we can truly make an impact and move the work and when thinking of suggestions, put our students at the center of those suggestions; is this what our students need? Will this move the work in the right direction? Your voice is important! Please see Ms. Aviles with any questions or concerns.  Nurse Passes All classroom and specialist teachers will receive a bundle of blue nurse passes that students must have with them when sent to the nurse’s office for care. The pass should have the student's first and last name, date, time, teacher/homeroom, and reason for being sent to the office (the reason does not need to be descriptive). After being assessed, if appropriate, students will return to their classroom with the same pass and Nurse Marthe will write a brief note on the back of the pass indicating whether or not the student is cleared and/or if there are any restrictions for the rest of the day. Due to HIPAA, Nurse Marthe cannot provide any more information than that.  When students need to be dismissed due to an illness/injury, they will not be sent back to the classroom. K0/K1 students will remain in the nurse’s office until they are picked up. K2-3rd grade students will sit in a chair in the hallway outside the main office unless they need to lie down in the nurse’s office. If there is more than one student that needs to lie down, the other student may lie down in Mr. Chery’s on a mat. Ms. Nurse or an identified adult will be stationed in Mr. Chery’s office to monitor until pick up. Ms. Zoraida will page into the classroom of the student being dismissed and simply inform the classroom teacher that the student is being dismissed and that the student’s personal items such as coat, backpack, and home folder/homework be sent to the main office. Items should be brought down by a paraeducator or student.   Holiday Party Friday, December the 16th The Holiday Party will take place at Blarney Stone at 1505 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02122 at about 4 pm (and don’t stop til 8 in the morning, not really) this Friday. We know that not everyone lives in Boston or close by, so hopefully starting after school will be more convenient. LAPS will provide the food items/appetizers. This will be a great opportunity to unwind, engage in conversations (not about work), hopefully, dance, and simply chill or TURN UP! Be sure to check in with one another and ask who’s going and check in about rides, if needed. Hope to see you all there. Any questions or concerns, please ask.  Bio Bus Iterniary and Schedule From Mr. Abelson: -2nd-grade students will be using compound microscopes to investigate rocks and minerals- exact lessons to be developed -3rd-grade students will be using the microscopes to view the inside and outside of the crayfish.   Timing still needs to be worked out but we were thinking: 9:45-10:45- Gebo 10:45-11:45- Rousseau 11:45-12:45- Frank 1:45-2:45- Martin Any questions or concerns, please see Mr. Abelson. I strongly encourage staff members to stop by the Bio Bus and see our students in that setting. It is truly a great experience. Send me pics! Facilities Condition Assessment visit on Wednesday, December 14 Bureau Veritas Facilities and scanners will be at our school on Wednesday to conduct a 3D scan of all classrooms and spaces between 7 am -5 pm. This is a window. We have no idea when they will arrive and when they will leave. However, when they enter the classrooms/spaces, it should not be more than a couple of minutes. Please note that the assessments should not impact the school schedules in any way. The individuals may have large devices on their backs holding a device/screen in their hands.

Data

Math Week of 12/05 - 12/09 Grade Average # of minutes played per student  Average # of puzzles completed per student # of students with unresolved “High-Tries” Alerts Average % completion K0/K1 35 28 8    25 % K2 25 18             6  28 % 1st 66 46             6         29% 2nd 85 47 7           14 % 3rd 55 26 5         16% Reminder: Please have students log out of ST Math when they’re finished using the program so they’re not accumulating minutes while not actively solving puzzles. ST Math Goals For the Week Goal for the Year K0/K1 30 mins 20 puzzles   80% Progress completion  K2-Grade 1 60 minutes 40 puzzles Grade 2-Grade 3 90 minutes 60 puzzles

Special Education (IEP meeeting)/Support/CBHM Meetings Many meetings are being scheduled for the month of January. You may get an email from Boonie. Please do not ignore that email. I will share that by the end of the week.

Operations   Child Care Weather Watch How we will determine indoor recess. Moving forward, I will consult the nurse and I will make the final determination. I will make the decision by 10:45/11 whether or not there will be outside recess or what the restrictions are. I will talk to Ms. Zorida, we will have a sign in the office on the whiteboard so it is not disruptive to classrooms like yesterday. Once I make the determination, it will NOT be negotiable. I understand the need for students to be out and indicated to families in the monthly newsletter and to staff during a huddle. However, it is my job and responsibility to make that determination if the conditions are not safe. I will be using the chart above, consultation with the nurse and I will take a walk the schoolyard and the park to make my decision. In my absence, the Teacher In Charge will make the decision in coordination with the nurse.      Food In Classrooms/Fridge Please begin to start getting rid of all food items in the classrooms in preparation for the winter break. Over Thanksgiving break, we had a lot of activity due to food being left out. Please make sure nothing is on shelves, tables, and in student desks (especially fruits). Furthermore, please take a moment to check the fridge for any expired items or food items you will not be eating. Maybe put a sticky note for items that are up for grabs.    Cleanliness/Upkeep If your floors are not being swept and the carpet is not being vacuumed, please let me know immediately and/or take photos and send them to me.    Subfolders/Absence Now that we are about halfway through the year, the expectation is that ALL subfolders are updated with 3 days of relevant and grade-level work and should be handed to Ms. Zoriada in the main office in a binder and/or folder. Your name, grade-level and room number should be on the front cover. The due date for your update subfolder is January 27th.

Shoutouts Mr. LoBue: Than you for organizing the Holiday Party at Blarney Stone. -Chery Ms. Centeio: Thank you for organizing the Secret Snowflake and running with it. -Chery   Wellness Committee: Conducted their first monthly meeting last Friday!- Chery Nurse Marthe: Thanks for being my Snowflake. -Chery Ms. Maude: You are truly a team player! I sincerely appreciate your willingness to help whenever you can. -Chery Ms. Morgado: Teacher In Charge! - Chery ILT/Culture: I appreciate how teachers truly look out for one another at LAPS -Chery  Ms. Jen: Teddie is back and the students are responding to him. Maybe Bowtie should make an appearance.

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Later/Reminders MAPS Assessments: I have shared that the window assessment opens up on the 19th, however, ODA has confirmed we can begin assessing students and recommended we begin after the 10th at the earliest. I highly suggest getting as much done as possible BEFORE the break. Our goal will be to get at least a 95% participation rate overall this time around. This data will be used to make adjustments to the 90 Day Plan/QSP. Share your ideas for $10k unrestricted grant: https://jamboard.google.com/d/15CgBl4Cq_ImC6fqwKeF_ZO1SQx4zOl0U2O_T-kKsoVI/viewer?pli=1&f=0 After-School Club  OpporunityFor about 3 years in a row now, Ms. Frank and Mr. LoBue have run a very successful after-school program inthe fall and spring. I know many of you have interests and talents you would like to share with our students. We have allocated $10,000 this year for stipends for staff members to run an after-school club. Staff members will be paid the BTU rate. If interested, please share your idea here.

Links/Forms Incident Report IEP Acknowledgement ShoutOuts