Mid Week Update 10/19

Greetings Team,

Professional Development:

PD today will take place in room 204 at 3:45 for teachers. Please ensure your laptop is charged and that you have access to Focus/EL curricula and/or lessons for next week.

Academic Superintendent is visiting today. Below is a tentative schedule. No need to be nervous or anxious. Do not feel like we need to put on a show. We are going to do what we always do! And that's be the best EVER!

LAPS Academy Academic Supt. Site Visit

9:15-11:15

9:15-9:35 Check-in with Principal

9:35-9:40 Morning Announcements

9:40-9:55 Room 103 K0/K1

9:55-10:10 Room 105 K2

10:10-10:25 Room 202 Grade 3

10:25-10:40 Room 205 Grade 2

10:40-10:55 Room 108 Grade 1

10:55-11:15 Debrief with Principal

Subject to change.

Building Access/ID

If you still need an ID or if your badge does not work, please let me know immediately. My goal is together all requests and send them to facilities in hopes of getting all requests fulfilled at the same time.

Pink Day on Friday:

Lea Serena from the BTU will be here on Friday to take our photo. The goal is to have the picture taken around 8:55 in front of the building. Please be out there at 8:50 please. The picture/photos will be shared in the BTU newsletter/website and the district.  Thank you Ms. Jackie for your vision and putting this together. Thank you everyone for your support. 

Staff Newsletter: Week of October 17, 2022

The Hive

Breaking down barriers and building bridges.

“The best school in Boston”

Week of October 17, 2022

Dates 10/17 Academic Superintendent Visit (10-12) 10/18 Grade 2 Room 204 to MIT 10/19 PD @ 3:45 10/19 Governing Board Meeting 10/20 Field trip to Arnold Arboretum:  K0/K1: 101 102 103 10/20 Mr. Chery at Bolling Building 10/21 PINK DAY 10/25 Grade 2 Room 205 to MIT 10/28 Pajama Day 10/31 Halloween: No Costumes 11/3 Field trip to Arnold Arboretum: Grade 3: 203 202 11/9-11/10 Picture Day 11/14 Grade 3 Room 203 to MIT 11/17 Grade 3 Room 202 to MIT

Updates Attendance from Last Week Since the beginning of the year, attendance has been on a steady decline. Regardless of grade or age, every student’s absence at Lee Academy has an impact on this figure. If there are any concerns or information to share, please make Ms. Govi and Ms. Jasmine aware of it.  We Were Kids Once! Can you guess who this staff member is? Staff members are encouraged to bring a picture or portrait of when they were elementary school-aged. This is an opportunity for joy and helps build community. The small bulletin board outside of the main office will be transformed by Ms. Zoraida and will host pictures of when the staff was young. You can bring a picture in or email Ms. Zoraida a picture and we will print them.  Invite Families to Come In: Encourage parents to come into the classroom and volunteer. Parents in the building and classroom were a major aspect of the school culture and climate pre-pandemic.  Shared with families: Ask your child’s teacher about opportunities to come into the classroom and volunteer. In order to volunteer, you must complete this CORI formand bring in an ID with you to the main office in order to be copied, and then administration/secretary will inform the teacher once the process has been completed.   There are many ways families can volunteer to support the classroom and school: reading a book, sharing information with students relevant to their content/learning (ie., culture or occupation), copying papers/homework, bulletin board, organizing classroom libraries, working with a small group, etc.  Adult SEL Have you put in for a personal day? There are several staff members who have not scheduled a personal day since the beginning of the year through December. If you have not taken a day off yet, I strongly encourage you to schedule a personal day and put it in the system. Be sure to take care of yourself! Calling out sick or taking a day off because your child is not a personal day. Be intentional about taking a day for yourself and your mental health.    Assistive Technology Website: Email from Ms. Harley (SLP) I wanted to share this resource with you all. This is the link to our Assistive Technology Website:    https://sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/bps-assistive-technology/home?authuser=1   The website includes great information on assistive technology, adapted curriculum, core boards, core word strategies, resources for parents, and more!  PINK DAY on Friday My name is Jackie Stroud, and I am one of the many faces of a “Caregiver” for a Breast Cancer Survivor.   Why am I passionate about Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Unfortunately, breast cancer has stricken my family, NOT once but twice.  In 1996, my big sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.  Then twenty-five years later, in 2021 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and part of her treatment plan required a double mastectomy.   In 2020, I became my mother’s caregiver due to Covid.   In 2021, I once again became an instant caregiver for my mother due to breast cancer and I panicked. Why? The sound of my mother having breast cancer scared me. I was not prepared to take on this huge challenge.  I was determined to provide my mother with the love and care she deserved.   Being a caregiver is a tough and exhausting job.   There was no training for watching my mother struggle to survive breast cancer. My journey as a caregiver has not been easy.   It has been a learning experience and I tried to learn everything I could about the disease.   I hope one-day others will not have to experience the journey of caregiving for a breast cancer survivor…because one day there will be a cure.  In 2022, I became aware that I am a high-risk candidate for the disease.  I guess you cannot escape from your genetics.   Why do I advocate for breast cancer? Thanks to research, Breast Cancer Treatment has come a long way.  It is no longer an instant death sentence.  I advocate for the disease to raise awareness in communities, and ensure research continues to find a cure, not just a treatment, and so all families are provided the support and education needed to understand the disease.   Breast Cancer is not discriminatory, and it does not ask for permission to enter your body. It affects both women and men, rich or poor and it crosses all racial lines.    I encourage both women and men to get annual breast screening and conduct monthly self-breast exams at home.   Learn and know your body and don’t be afraid to say something should you find a change in your breast.  Learn and know the risk factors for breast cancer.   Thank you all for participating in our first Breast Cancer Event.  I’m looking forward to this becoming an annual event.    “WEAR PINK” in the month of October!

Literacy Heggerty email was sent out expectation 7 minutes a day share data Most staff members and classroom teachers should have received an email for the Heggerty portal/online resource. If you did not, please let Mr. Chery know as soon as possible.  Early Childhood Literacy Liaison Jocelyn Lumley will be our Early Childhood Literacy Liaison this school year. Jocelyn has worked extensively for the district over many years. She has experience as a paraprofessional, a teacher, a literacy coach, and was also involved in the district’s rollout of some early childhood initiatives such as OWL and Building Blocks. She will be joining Keri on a learning walk through classrooms on the morning of Tuesday October 18th. Jocelyn is hoping to get a sense of the literacy structures and routines we have up and running and will collaborate with Keri to establish support and learning opportunities to put in place this year as we embrace the Focus and Fundations curricula.

Math ST Math Our weekly goal as a school is 8,500 puzzles. We have about 20 students that did not get on at all last week. Below we have the break up by grade level. Please be aware that Kindergarten (K) includes both K0/K1 and K2 combined. Please address the alerts this week. We strongly encourage productive struggle but we do not want students to get frustrated and discouraged.  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/Support/CBHM Reinforce students are to ask for permission to give adults hug; Safe Bodies Unit Special Education iPads We recently received two additional iPads dedicated for special education assessments, such as the WIAT. All of the iPads are now housed in a tech tub in Ms. Zoraida’s office near the radiator and staff attendance board. Please use them as needed and return them in a timely manner for others. Thank you.

Operations New Staff: The new additions to Lee Academy has been cleared to start today. Paraeducators Ms. Serena and Mr. Pomare in the ABA classroom. Welcome! Field Trips: Many field trips on the calendars. If you are not a classroom teacher/staff and are interested in supporting a field trip as a chaperone, please let me know as soon as possible. We are in need of volunteers.

Shoutouts No Shoutouts ☹️Please click on the link above to shoutout a staff member.

Later Picture Days: Cafeteria B will be off-limits and students will eat in the classroom and dance will take place in the classroom.

What’s Happening At LAPS

Links/Forms Incident Report IEP Acknowledgement ShoutOuts

Reminders Food/Snack Remind students not to share food products SWARM:  When you are in need of support in the classroom due to behavioral challenges, please text the SWARM. The group message should include, the classroom teacher, paraeducator, Ms. Jen (617-775-8748), Ms. Jamsin (617-286-4081) Ms. Maude (857-829-1787) and Mr. Chery (857-308-8836).  SWARM may be used for bathroom support as well.

Staff Newsletter: Week Of October 10, 2022

The Hive

Breaking down barriers and building bridges.

“The best school in Boston”

Week of 

Dates 9/15-10/15 National Hispanic Heritage Month 10/10 Indigenous People’s Day (No School) 10/11 Open House 5-6:30 (Food will be provided) 10/13- ILT (canceled- Region Meeting at Lee K-8 School) 10/14- SST  10/19 Governing Board Meeting 10/20 Field trip to Arnold Arboretum:  K0/K1: 101 102 103 11/3 Field trip to Arnold Arboretum: Grade 3: 203 202 11/9-11/10 Picture Day

Updates SWARM:  When you are need in of support in the classroom due to behavioral challenges, please text the SWARM. The group message should include, the classroom teacher, paraeducator, Ms. Jen (617-775-8748), Ms. Jamsin (617-286-4081) Ms. Maude (857-829-1787) and Mr. Chery (857-308-8836).  SWARM may be used for bathroom support as well.  Peanut Free School Due to several students at the school with life-threatening reactions to peanuts and other tree nuts, my communication to families is that we are a peanut-free school. This is standard practice amongst most schools/childcare facilities in Massachusetts. Any lunches containing peanut butter or other nut products should be discarded if opened. Products stating the food “is/may be made in a facility that processed peanuts and other tree nuts” is fine. However, please remind students they should not be sharing,  giving, or receiving food from/to other students.  You can direct parents to me if there are any questions or concerns regarding this policy. School P&D Schedule Please make note of the addition of Room 206 (K0/K1 ABA Classroom) to the schedule below. Room 206 will split their class and push into specialists with rooms 103 and 104 at 10:30 on Mondays & Fridays (starting at 9:45) and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, they will have separate specialist opportunities. Thank you, Ms. Sonia, Mr. Abelson, and Ms. Denise for being flexible and willing to support room 206.  So far, one student (who goes by TJ) has started. There are currently 3 other students pending.  Picture Day: Wednesday, November 9th, and Thursday, November 10th is picture day. We will send more information as we approach the date.

Literacy Grade 3: Grade 3 books and resources for Expendiaionry Learning have arrived and have been delivered to the third floor outside of room 202. Heggerty: Grades K0/K1-3, ESL staff, and coaches have been signed up to access the online content/curriculum.  The new ABA class will get the physical copy but everyone else will just receive the online access. If printing is an absolute necessity, we can discuss getting them printed.

Math 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/Support/CBHM EdPlan Alerts Please do not ignore alerts for meetings and or tasks on EdPlan. Mr. Lopez relies on the EdPlan system and its functions to streamline communication to families and staff. You are responsible for reading the messages and alerts. If you have any questions or concerns regarding a student, please reach out to Mr. Lopez. He is more than willing to support.  Testing/Evaluations/Meetings We are doing our best to secure substitutes. The district on average has about 200 teachers out on a daily basis and has about 60 substitutes that come consistently; that is what we are battling. We are very grateful to have Mr. Lee this year to provide support. So long as no one is out, Mr. Lee will be used to provide classroom support for IEP meetings, SST, and WIAT  testing and other evaluations.  Honey Money: I have two more rolls in my office. Please leave the rolls in my office and take what you need.  Honey Money Store The store has been restocked. We may have to create a schedule for when classes can go down on Fridays. We will continue to monitor and make sure classes do not consistently overlap. We may also share the list of products with classrooms so students have an idea of what they might want before going down there.

Operations Sign-In and Sign-Out: Starting this week, teachers will start being docked for tardiness and/or not signing in. All staff members should be signed in by 9:05. Please do not sign out as well in the morning. Several staff members have been coming in late without notification or ducking out of school early. This is not conducive to the culture we are trying to build here at Lee Academy. If you are going to be late, please let me, Ms. Zoraida and your team know in a text message. If I am not informed, I assume everyone is where they are supposed to be. It makes it difficult when another adult tells me and we are left scrambling.  Staff dismissal is at 3:35 but I will not be a stickler about the end of the day when all your children or gone. However, please be sure to check in with the staff and people around before leaving just in case.  ESS/Request Please put in all time requests in on ESS unless you have spoken to me. If you are unable to do so, please ask Ms. Zoraida for support. However, please know that you are responsible fo entering your own time. Many staff members inform when they will be sick but do not formally request the time on ESS.  When requesting partial days, please indicate whether you are arriving late or leaving early to help support coverage.  Technology Library  Every classroom will get 3 borrowing library Chromebooks to support student learning at home access to technology. More information coming soon.

Shoutouts Ms. Lizbeth, Ms.Mendes, Ms. Cortes, and Ms. Zoraida: All of these ladies have been helping me with Spanish, And today I was so excited I was able to show them my work. I was clapping so loud I was so proud of myself thank you so much again, ladies. - Ms. Jackie   Thank you to Ms. Maude and Ms. Jen for their quick responses to the supportive swarm. - Ms. Lawlor   Purple for taking on a new role like a champ -Ms. Lividini   K0/K1 team - thanks for being such good teammates - Ms. Kelley   Priscilla Casna for keeping up with current technology trends and sharing them -Ms. Anderson   Keri Purple for creating amazing CLT and PD learning opportunities! - Ms. Frank   SHOUT OUT to Keri for creating this amazing doc for Student Learning and Professional Goals. -Ms. Aviles   Ms. Maude- For printing out many many icons and social stories for our friends in need. -Ms. Chase   S/o to Keri for an AMAZING pd Session -Ms. Martin Williams   Ms. Purple- Thank you for helping me with my goals and self assessment! And for entering student data in one organized spot for me (: -Ms. Cassie

Later Progress Monitor IEP goal Progress reports are due in December. Please ensure you are actively working towards students’ goals.

Links/Forms Incident Report IEP Acknowledgement ShoutOuts