Thursday Thriller

October 29, 2020

SHOUR OUT to Will Hammond for combining all the things staff and students were thankful for into an AWESOME GREETING on the front of our school!  #TrooperProud

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    Goals are due tomorrow in eval

2.    Have you signed up for your pre/ob/post formal with Armida?

3.    Coast for Kids -if you know of any or maybe you could ask students to message you privately if they are in need of a coat.  Please send names to Angie and Steve.  We will get them delivered.

4.    Virtual Teaching -Will has set up a make shift classroom that is pretty awesome!  Beth has used it.  If you are curious or interested talk to Will.

5.   Please complete Wade's survey

6.    Coffee with the Principal next week.  Are there any topics you would like Cesar and I to hit upon?

7.   NJHS Induction Ceremony tonight at 7:00 on Youtube

8.    Materials Pick  Up, Wednesday, Nov 4th 12:00-5:30

•         Library books that students have checked out
•         Springboard novels for Core 6th and 8th Grades
•         Honors 8th SST

9.  Beginning on Monday from 3:00-7:30 high school athletes will be using our gyms basketball.  WIAA has opened up to the 'free' season.  This is the season that usually takes place in the spring where there is no 'organized' practices but athletes show up and 'practice' on their own so to speak. 

10.  Here is the form to refer a student to the SSR team.  We will work to communicate back to teachers about progress on our end.  This was feedback we received..."Once we refer a student we don't ever hear back on the status of the referral.

Something to Ponder

How Teenagers are dealing in the Current Crisis

This summary was interesting because the findings were not what I expected to read. 

Some statistics from our own WW County are:  Walla Walla County has experienced 72 deaths by suicide from 2011 to the present. The suicide rate in Washington State from 2010-2014 was 14 per 100,000, 11% higher than the national rate. The suicide rate in Walla Walla County was 15 per 100,000 for this same range of years.

I tried to find specific data that related to mental health/depression related to COVID, youth and our county.  I'm not a very good researcher :0  

Below are a couple of graphs related to youth suicide.  Obviously not due to COVID due to the dates BUT I would be curious to see where we are at now vs four years ago.  In addition, would our county have some of the same findings as are within the article? Sparked my curiosity.

Little Humor

           Every once in a while you get a Doepker family photo.  Here you go!  Axcel is talking to Ambassador.  That's how we roll on the farm.😂                    

 Thursday Thriller

October 22, 2020

SHOUT OUT to BRENT!!!  He is like clock work when it comes to cleaning!  Each and every day, no less than 3x per day, does he come into the office and wipe down every door handle and cleaning surfaces.  THANK YOU, BRENT!!!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.    Angie, Steve and Cesar are working behind the scenes with schedules for our paras.  Beginning Monday, almost all of our paras have been bumped up to 7 hours per day!!!  They will be working with both students with IEPS and students identified for Title I and LAP support.  Some of the same identified students were teachers' list of concerns.  Steve is working mostly with special education and Angie with Title I/LAP.  Both may be reaching out to you, to let you know there has been a support change due to needs in other classrooms. 

2.  Looking forward to MULLET Friday!!!  Hope you participate.  We all need a good belly laugh every once in a while. :D

3.  Thank you for scheduling your 'formal' observation cycle, both Comprehensive and Focused peeps!! Please remember for the PRE observation come prepared to share:

        a.  What is it you want students to learn (what is that learning target)?

        b.  How will you know students learned it (what will your evidence be)?

        c.  How will you respond if they don't get it?

POST observation:

       a. Share evidence that students either got it or didn't get it.

       b.  What was/is the plan to reteach for those that didn't get it?

4.  Grading Timeline

        a. Monday, November 9th Skyward grading enabled

         b. Friday, November 13th, End of 1st Qrt

        c.  Wednesday, November 18th, grade confirmation to ASHLEY, Kim as back up.  

        d. Friday November 20th, Report cards issued

Being in the office last year, I was privy to overhear conversations of Sherry begging and pleading for teachers to get their grades in.  There will not be any begging nor pleading from Ashley or me.  The deadlines are what they are.  Ashley and I are in a training tomorrow regarding grades with the ESD.  Let me know if you have questions.

5.  The first week of November, not sure of the exact date, will be a materials pick up.  It will not be extensive like our tech and first round of materials pick up were.  If there are materials that you think your students will need for the month of November and into December, let me know.  We do not have the people power to put all the materials together so if it is something specific to your class, come see me because you may have to help handout the supplies.   Jami is working with Pioneer and WA HI so we are all doing similar, LOW KEY, materials pick up. 

6.  Staff Meeting on Thursday at 3:00 via Zoom

7.  Unity Day virtually!!!  I didn't get around to all of you but here are three people I caught!  Babett, Shannon and Amber :D

SOMETHING to PONDER

Our Student Services Team met today.  The reoccurring theme and common denominator in all the students who were brought up was, "lack of engagement."  During DL 2.0 lack of student engagement for some, not all of course and not even the majority, but for a percentage of our students not being in school is an unsurmountable hurdle.  I'd like you to take this pocket of students and put them to the side for the moment (these are the students who are not showing up even after phone call, email, texts and multiple home visits).  I'm not discarding them.  Sometimes this pocket of students clouds our view to the point we can't see beyond to those students that are with us and mostly engaged me included! 

What do these 5 words have in common?  What do they mean to you?

Student engagement is beyond critical at this time.  It's all we have in DL 2.0, right?  How are we engaging students?  How do we measure student engagement? Yes, the strategies needed are different BUT I will argue that the 5 words listed above matter whether you are in school or DL.  

When you look at that list, which words describe you?  Which one of those words...only one...could you work at?

This is the full article The Five Key Beliefs:  More than Band-aids.  By no means am I saying having students physically in class and DL are the same.  I'm wondering what similarities there are and what strategies are interchangeable between the two settings.

Little Humor

I'm a true crime podcast junkie.  I also really like to read murder mysteries.  Patricia Cornwell books are my FAVORITE!  Maybe because she is BADASS and I would love to be as smart and cunning as she is.  :D  I digress.

 Anyway, this is the MORBID podcast.  Each week they do a 'Listener Tales.'  This is when listeners write in and share their own paranormal or brush with scary stuff; all in a fun, light hearted way.  This week's Listener Tales is from Jon Allen.  He is hilarious in his writing!!!  I laugh out loud.  NOW to warn you THERE IS CUSSING in this podcast.

Anyway, it's a good chuckle.  It is about 30 mins long.  Hope you find enjoyment from it. :D

 Thursday Thriller

Thursday, October 15, 2020

SHOUT OUT to Armida, Ashley, Maria and Rigo!  They were running from room to room translating up until 7:45 last night!  You guys are the BEST!!!

Some photos from last Friday.  It was fun and energizing to visit with teams about the work going on.  I wish we could see the work of our colleagues outside of our PLC's.  Your socks would be knocked off!! :D

Michelle Paine's students studied how to make butter and then made some in class!  The students loved it!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.    Steve and Angie have been working on conducting a virtual Unity Day.  Unity day will be on Wednesday, Oct 21st.  The PE teachers have graciously accepted to teach the lessons during PE.  Now, not all students will get the slides/lessons but I thought teaching the lessons through PE would be best since other content areas have had iReady, new curriculum, etc.   I think we may encourage students and staff to wear orange next Wednesday.

2.  SPIRIT DAY next FRIDAY the 23rd (I got this idea from Barb Casey at PPT) MULLET FRIDAY!  Business on top, party on the bottom😄

Instead of individual let's go by SECTIONS of the BUILDING

Upstairs:  Charlie, Marie, Kim R, Nate F, Jen, Donnetta, Amy K, Chad P, Tobi, Nathan D, Adam, Steve and Gonzalo 

"7th Grade Hallway" : Mike Bertram, Nick, Stephanie, Michelle P, Reggie, Babett, Cynthia, Rachelle, Brian C, Brent, Doug, Mark Stimmel, Rob and Will

 Extensions to the Hallways:  the Cooks, Sean, Mike Braddock, Amber, Chad H, Sam, Roger, Karen, Kara, Angie

"8th Grade Hallway:  Caleb, Beth, Agnes, Zoe, Heather, Nate C, Mary, Maria, Rigo, Conor, Shannon, Sue, Diane, Amy S, Jose, Jami and Stacey 

Which team will win?  

Armida, Ashley, Alicia, Sara, Katie and Alex will be our judges.  There will be prizes!!! Let's have some fun!!!!

3.  The school Board will be voting Tuesday evening on whether PK-2 students come back to school on the 26th.  OF COURSE the Covid levels are being monitored and we are guided by both the CDC, our Health Department and our WWVEA.  This is both exciting and raises anxiety for all involved.   The communication, flow charts, what ifs are all outlined on our web site.  If all goes well with PK-2 then we will be preparing for the upper grades to return.  Again, all of this outlined and will continue to be vetted as we draw nearer to Oct. 26th (all paras Pk-12th will be restored their hours if we go back on the 26th. :D).  On the morning of the 26th I will be helping at one of the elementary sites for "all-hands-on-deck."  We have to think of some of these little guys who have never been to school and how we can create a safe, welcoming environment while following strict guidelines.  This will also give me first hand experience for when we open back up in our half day/hybrid model. 

4.  Several of you have asked about home visits.  Can you make a home visit?  The answer is yes.  If you want to make a home visit during school hours you need to have a second person with you.  Please ask Alex, Katie, Steve, Angie or me.  Safety is number one!   Also, masks and gloves while standing 6 feet away from the student and family.  NEVER go into the house.  AND it's best to always call before showing up out of respect for the family. 

5.  All sack lunch and breakfast meals are FREE to ALL students!!  Also, when there is a long weekend we are giving students/families food.  For example, yesterday students received three lunches and three breakfasts to get them through.  Our Food Service employees are amazing!  They not only pack up the lunches but they are so kind and happy with families when they come up to get their food; some by first name.  

6.  Monday I attended a Risk Management training.  This training is for both Admin AND Staff.  Attached are the Risk Management papers that go over Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying for both both staff and students.  PLEASE take time to read over.  Critical points:  It is the responsibility of the staff to report if there is wrong doing.  Reporting can be done several different ways or options.  The building principal or other admin, call, text, email.  HR at the District Office or even the Safe Schools Tip line to report any wrong doing if the staff member is the victim.  

*This really resonated with me :  Never tell a child/student that they have to tell the bully to stop. Rephrase wording to:  "HAVE you asked them to stop.  You have a right to tell them to stop."  NOT YOU HAVE tell them or YOU NEED to tell them.  

The papers are important to read.  I am documenting the date that I notified and informed staff of these handouts. October 15, 2020

Risk Management

Work Place Harassment

Title IX

HIB

Protecting Students

  4 Ways to Report Wrong Doing

SOMETHING to PONDER

Listening to podcasts, reading books and articles outside of education is valuable.  Seeing how businesses, groups, companies function and run can be applicable to schools.  In this podcast, The Learning Leader with Ryan Hawk, he interviews Arthur Blank the co-founder of The Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons.  Time stamps that resonated with me were 15:55 where Mr. Blank talks about culture and 35:00 where he discusses the long game/long term.  Definitely some gold nuggets.  Enjoy! :D

Something to make you Smile

Roger's wife, Maria, sent me this song, The Weight, the other morning.  It just put a huge smile on my face and made me feel happy!  May you dance, let loose and enjoy this long weekend. 

 Thursday Thriller

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Way to go ANGIE, STEVE and KARA!!!!  Whoop!! Whoop!!

SHOUT OUT to Beth and her 8th grade students!  WOW!  They did an AMAZING job on their debates.  I told Beth the proud look on her face watching her students said it all. :D

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  This is a resource that I didn't look at until yesterday.  I have shared it with our families during Coffee with the Principal.  Some good stuff for at home use for families.

2.  This came up two days ago.  A family was upset because they were using our track and was told, very politely and professionally that our campus was closed.  Information for you to know:  our staff was correct to let this family know our campus was closed.  Per the WA DOH guidance, school grounds should be closed to the public during school hours.  This info is outlined in our Reopening Schools Plan here:

https://www.wwps.org/safely-reopening-schools/frequently-asked-questions#Facilities

If there are no self contained students outside, nobody else is around then it might be fine if a dad is out throwing the ball with his son, for example. However, if self contained students are using outside facilities, or we begin to notice a congregation of students or community users, please address and ask them to disperse.   Furthermore,  we were one of the only districts who allowed community use of our facilities during the spring and summer months, when everyone else remained closed. Many are still not allowing after hours use currently.

Just food and information for thought. :D

3.  Attached in the TT email is an  iReady.  The break down is by grade level and numbers of students, not by name, into three categories.  I colored coded them green, yellow and red. It gives an overall view on how students did in the identified Promise Standards in both reading and math.  It's one data point to examine and can add to your discussions on Friday. 

4.  Mon-Wed next week I will be participating in the PNW Special Ed and the Law Conference.  I signed up pre COVID last year.  With that being said, I will be 'Zooming' these three days but if you need me I will make myself available.

5.  If there are any conferences you would like me to attend, please let both Armida and me know and we will get them on my calendar.

6. Armida has sent out a text to families to let them know to call our office if they need a translator.

7.  In thinking ahead, IF we are still DL 2.0, what types/kinds of materials will students need for 2nd quarter or second semester?  Please shoot me an email.

8.  SST (Student Services Team) made up of Alex, Katie Henry, Rob Graham (school psych) Jennifer Matson (District SEL Team), Kristen Duede (District SEL Team) Angie, Steve, Cesar and me are beginning to meet each week regarding students of concern.  There will be a staff meeting the week after conferences to go over the form, process and answer questions you may have.  The goal of this team is to intervene and assist students who are struggling both academically, behaviorally, socially and emotionally. 

SOMETHING to PONDER

Sometimes it feels like we are playing whack-a-mole, and sometimes it feels like we are changing the world one student at a time.  Thank you for persevering through the hard days and waking up each morning expecting a great day.  If I wake up and tell myself that I am going to focus on WHO I need to be for the people around me rather than WHAT I need to accomplish, it always helps.  May not be easy but it helps frame my thinking.   If you are wondering, "What in the world am I doing???"  It's hard, your job is something totally different, the preparation takes longer and more difficult to connect with students BUT you are making a difference!!! If you need to revisit your calling, watch this video...5 minutes (it is one you could even listen to).  Quote from the video, "The ripple effect that you have on the lives of these students goes further than your eyes will ever see."

The Calling

LITTLE HUMOR

 Thursday Thriller

October 1, 2020

Gonzalo shared this AMAZING video with me.  It is full of hope and inspiration!!  THANK YOU, Gonzaalo!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  After delivering candy to PLC groups and having the opportunity to check in and talk with groups, I have a few thoughts.  First and foremost, I believe in you!  I believe in the work you are doing.  It is harder than anything you have ever done before.  Pushing hard on the people I work with is part of my MO. :D  Sometimes I push wayyyy toooo hard.  Several of you were honest and I am SO GLAD YOU WERE!!!  Here are the guardrails:

-Teach the full 53 mins. What students do not get done they finish in the afternoon
-During async time you  are asking students to return to either catch up, reteach or have them on the screen 'just being there' while they finish their work
-A 'lesson and a half' maybe too much right now.  Maybe my ideas are unrealistic.  
-You are calling, emailing and reaching out to families of students who are not following through, showing up or are failing.  If you can not reach a family, let me know. I need the name of the student, the times of the contacts, the times you invited them back to asyn time and they refused (basically your call log ) and I can include that in a letter to the families.
-We all agree the async time isn't just a 'Hey show up if you want.' Everyone should be working or trying to work with students during this time

A reality check is always good for me.  Thankyou for helping me understand more of all that you are trying to accomplish.  Didn't know you had to keep me in line did you?  LOL

2.  Steve will send out a list of students he will be working with to make up iReady assessments. 

3.  Please check with your 2nd period class to make sure they have all signed up for a Zoom account.

4.  The link for conferences goes 'live' on Friday.  There will be an option for families to let us know they need a translator.  It will be up to the parents to click on the teachers they need to have a conference with.  Some parents may try to get multiple teachers in a conference; that all takes place on the parents' end when they 'sign/click' up for conferences.  If this is different, I will let you know.

5. Thanks for completing the survey after your PLC time. Needing time, patience, grace, more chocolate, Keto and gluten free snacks would be great! :D  Every team is on the right track. Thank you for your work!

6.  As the email indicated this morning, attendance is not black and white.  Up until Oct 4th is the 'transitional time' to allow for troubleshooting, re-establishing routines and removing barriers.  As stated in the OSPI guidelines, we will work as a District to work through a clearer structure for what constitutes an absence.  That will be communicated to you.  For now, keep doing what you are doing.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

7.  The calendar links for conferences go 'live' tomorrow.  Each building will send out a call, email and text to families. If you do not have PART 2 established for Zoom links, please watch Carrie LaRoy's video and email.

SOMETHING to PONDER

I must confess because that's what Catholics do.  I was going to skip over this section because I wasn't feeling it and didn't want to burden you with more reading.  If I let myself do it this week, what's to stop me next week, the week after and so forth.  People have said to me, "You don't have to put out a weekly memo you know with all the added stuff."  I know I don't.  BUT I WANT TO.  Here's why:  

A. I feel a moral obligation as a leader to make sure I am helping you to grow professionally.  I like to share articles, podcasts, books, etc.
B.  You work hard!  You go the extra mile. You don't skip a lesson, skip grading, skip uploading a power point; I shouldn't either.  You may not reach every student in every class every day.  Same with my TT.  If a couple of you read past the Nuts-n-Bolts and get something out of  Something to Ponder it makes me happy and I have done my job.

While we are in DL 2.0, what can we find that might be a silver lining?  I think we are going to learn more, become more innovative and creative along the way.

Little Humor

I am so guilty of all of these words! I'm going to have to think of synonyms for them! LOL

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