Friday February 19th, 2021

Please make sure students have all the learning materials that they need for their at home distance learning on Monday. 

The borders might be closed, but let's head to Canada with a video to hear some some tips about Covid fatigue. I really appreciate our staff, as well as students and families. It's been a hard year. We are hopefully on the home stretch, fingers crossed. Please continue the great diligence with safety practices. Here is a video with some tips, as we are almost one year into this situation. Mindfulness, mindset, all the good stuff that we talk about often:

Covid Fatigue

Enjoy the weekend. Thought for today:

Monday September 14th, 2020

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   September 14th, 2020- Monday- Eval team

   September 14th, 2020- Monday- Fall picture day

   September 14th, 2020- Monday- Student Lighthouse applications due

   September 15th 2020- Tuesday- Intervention meeting/MTSS

   September 16th, 2020- Wednesday- Staff Lighthouse- finalizing Title 1 school wide plan

   September 17th, 2020- Thursday- Constitution Day

Next week:

   September 25th- September Leadership Assembly

Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Lancaster- Habit 4: Think win win

Next week: Pauley- Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood

Pictures this week include students learning with technology, writing skills, readers of the month, leadership, STEM learning, and Friday Fun:

Pictures This Week

This is a great resource for establishing online learning routines and procedures. I've seen and heard everybody modeling similar items. This reinforces the importance of doing so, as well as possibly sharing an idea you might not have thought about:

Online Learning Routines

I love this video. It is very much relevant to our students and current events in the news. While the students are high school age, the reminder is the same for elementary age students. It is important to be open to the experiences and situations that are real for our students. Hearing their perspectives is important. Establishing a safe place is crucial. I really appreciate how our staff works really hard to ensure that every student feels safe and included at our school, that every student knows that they matter:

Culturally Responsive Teaching

This article is a bit longer. It provides some reflection topics about online teaching. The article focuses particularly on items like organization, communication, feedback- the behind the scenes items that can make a big difference when it comes to success with online learning:

Improving Online Learning

One more:

Live Video Learning Ideas

Thought for today:

Thursday March 12th, 2020

The big event today is our Spring Title 1 family night. We have yummy pizza, baskets with very generous community donations and people can purchase raffle tickets, fun learning activities in classrooms, and door prizes. Please help encourage families and students to attend.

We have our literacy coach on site today.

Please help remind students about Friday fun tomorrow, Dr. Seuss character dress up. Please also help remind students about student leaders selling Dr. Seuss tattoos.

This is a fun video. Toilet tissue has been difficult to keep on store shelves. This video shows how it is made and reminds that there is plenty for everybody:

Rolls


Thought for today:

Friday March 6th, 2020

We've been hearing students talk about the coronavirus for a few weeks now. Please continue squashing unkind comments. This post is a great resource for how to address the virus with children. There are also two great videos to share with students.

One video has students asking questions that are common questions we are hearing from students. The second video is great for illustrating how to wash hands:

Keep It Simple



Thought for today:

Monday January 27th, 2020

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   January 27th, 2020- Monday- eval team

   January 27th, 2020- Monday-Friday- Great Kindness Challenge

   January 27th, 2020- Monday- Hot Cocoa bar during morning recess

   January 27th, 2020- Monday- Kindergarten teaming

   January 28th, 2020- Tuesday- Intervention Meeting/MTSS

   January 28th, 2020- Tuesday- Leadership assembly- 8:05 in the gym

   January 28th, 2020- Tuesday- Grade level teaming 1st-5th

   January 28th, 2020- Tuesday- Student lighthouse delivering invitations in the community

   January 29th, 2020- Wednesday- Staff meeting

   January 31st, 2020- Friday- Dental services- room 17

   January 31st, 2020- Friday- January student leader of the month lunch with Principal


Next week:

  February 3rd-7th- Counselor appreciation week

  February 4th- Spring pictures

  February 5th- IRI/IStation Winter testing

  February 7th- Friday Fun- Super hero day

  February 7th- Student leaders selling writing notepads for .50 cents each


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Alexander- Habit 4: Think win win

Next week: Jolovich- Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood


This is a video to kick off the great kindness challenge week. The fun part is that there are people jumping off a bridge. We have a bridge where people jump off as well, yet our kids may not have seen people jump off a bridge before:

Great Kindness Challenge


Pictures this week include learning how to jump rope in PE, the really useful new alphabet strips, Science learning, MLK Jr learning with inclusion, and kindness:

Pictures This Week


Totally out there, but a great video if you want to learn ideas for different ways to cook eggs:

Eggs



Thought for today:

Wednesday January 8th, 2020

I love the topic of inclusiveness and I love this video. When we hear the word 'disability'- do we think of negatives and challenges- or do we think of strengths? We are constantly striving to develop empathy and understanding with our kids. Often, they just haven't had experiences and opportunities to fully understand. That's where we come in- why you matter. We get to create change everyday with our students.

We need students to have experiences that allow them to develop deeper understanding of topics, to extend learning, and to have experiences that allow students to formulate opinions after learning from diverse perspectives. This video:

Inclusion Matters


One of the best parts of my day is observing kids who are being kind to others- when they don't know someone is watching. Thought for today:

Wednesday December 11th, 2019

We start the morning with our monthly breakfast with books in the lunchroom. We will also be recognizing our readers of the month. We have definitely had great growth with reading skills.

Tonight is our annual all school Christmas concert at Roper.

We have a staff meeting after school. I love the staff meetings in December. We have certified staff sharing something from domains 1 or 4, their evaluation form. This is a great time for them to shine and share; while we get to learn great ideas. Sharing today: K, 2nd, 3rd, special education K-5, music, ESL, and the Instructional Coach.

This is a nice positive video that has several possible conversation starters: diversity, sharpen the saw, finding something we are passionate about, being outside enjoying nature, etc...

Outdoors


Thought for today:

Monday December 9th, 2019

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   December 9th, 2019- Monday- eval team

   December 9th, 2019- Monday- Hour of Code all week

   December 10th, 2019- Tuesday- Intervention Meeting/MTSS

   December 11th, 2019- Wednesday- Breakfast with books and readers of the month

   December 11th, 2019- Wednesday- Staff meeting

   December 11th, 2019- Wednesday- Christmas Concert- Roper- 6:30 pm


Next week:

  December 17th- Leadership assembly

  December 17th- Second quarter sharpen the paw- AM

  December 18th- Last day of food drive

  December 18th- Christmas lunch

  December 20th, 2019- Friday- Early release at 12:45 pm


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Yarbrough- Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Next week: McCollum- Habit 8: Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs


We definitely do STEM/STEAM at our school all year long. Monday starts the annual Hour of Code. We definitely participate and all of our kids are engaged with coding throughout the school year. This video is short and recognizes the importance of creativity. I like that the video also has people speaking in other languages; which is good for kids to hear:

Hour of Code Video


The holiday season can be hard, especially if you have had loved ones pass away. You might have had a special pet pass away. Holidays are just not the same when special people/pets are gone. Loss could even be missing your home place, like our students who were born in foreign countries. All of my family lives out of state or out of country. If students aren't able to travel, the holiday season can be hard. This is a great website that has resources and personal stories that can be helpful so you know that you are not alone:

Loss


If you are striving to have a calmer holiday, more experiences than stuff, this is a nice check in:

A Calmer Holiday


The following links are like a la carte. You can pick the articles that interest you.


Expressing Emotions



This article matches perfectly with our literacy training this year:

Emergent Readers



Metacognitive skills


While this article is focused on second language classes at the secondary level, the ideas and resources listed would be great for any grade level and content area:

Google Resources/Language Resources



The pictures from this last week might be a bit of an overload. We go all out for the holiday season. Our kids need the positive experiences, the warm and fuzzy holiday music and decorations, the community and inclusive activities, and the great memories that they will definitely remember.

We have a picture of our November leaders of the month. The weather was yucky on Monday, but Domino's delivers. We also received a very kind donation of food and hygiene items from Sawtooth. We are working hard to collect our own food drive items as well.

Students were busy preparing for our annual Christmas dinner and we had several kind donations from area businesses such as Great Harvest Bread, Swensen's, Idaho Joe's, Ridley's, Chobani, Jaker's, Shari's, and Falls Brand. We had an awesome turn out for the dinner.

The last pictures include first grade students and fourth grade students synergizing together as they get ready for the holiday season.

Pictures This Week


Thought for today:

Tuesday May 14th, 2019

Please help remind families that our end of the year school picnic lunch is on Friday.

This is a nice video that includes social-emotional learning at the preschool level, including language so students can learn to verbalize, and nice modeling of adults being calm when speaking with students. Applicable for all ages:

Building Emotional Literacy in Preschoolers


One more video:

STEM and Preschoolers



Thought for today:

Monday February 11th, 2019

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   Monday-Friday: Be a Buddy, Not a Bully week

   February 11th, 2019- Monday- Eval team

   February 11th, 2019- Monday- Leadership check in meeting- 3:10, room #10

   February 12th, 2019- Tuesday- Intervention meeting/MTSS
 
   February 12th, 2019- Tuesday- Spring Pictures

   February 13th, 2019- Wednesday- Breakfast with Books and Readers of the month- 7:30 am

   February 13th, 2019- Wednesday- Staff Meeting- Levy Presentation

   February 14th, 2019- Thursday- Valentine's Day parties- PM


Next week:

   February 21st, 2019- Box Tops due

   February 21st, 2019- Boys Activity- Buckles and Bows- 5:45-6:45 pm


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Pauley- Habit 6: Synergize

Next week: Spencer- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw


Pictures this week include younger students reading with older students during tutoring/after school program, our new security aide, and first grade students learning about fractions. There is also a picture from the very kind donation that 208 Real Estate gave to our school. The tissues and cleaning wipes were perfect timing:


Pictures This Week


This video clip is a great reminder. As a comment in the video states: Validating their presence in the building:

The Power of Relationships in Schools



Thought to start the week:

Wednesday January 16th, 2019

We have a great staff meeting after school, in the library. Everybody is welcome to attend. The topic is about assisting second language learners.

These are two great videos. The first one is about the importance of greeting students. Most classrooms have student leaders that do this every morning. We see a difference when students have a positive person, peer or adult, greeting and recognizing them by name. The second video is about mindfulness. We're always striving to help assist students with regulating their emotions. Social and emotional learning:

Greetings at the Door

Mindfulness


Thought for today:

Monday December 17th, 2018

   December 17th, 2018- Monday- Eval team

   December 17th, 2018- Monday- Principal lunch with December leaders

   December 18th, 2018- Tuesday- Intervention meeting/MTSS

   December 18th, 2018- Tuesday- December leadership assembly- 8:05 am in gym

   December 18th, 2018- Tuesday- Grade level teaming for 1st-5th, with ESL and Resource

   December 19th, 2018- Wednesday- Classified staff meeting- 9:40 am in room 5

   December 19th, 2018- Wednesday- Christmas lunch

   December 19th, 2018- Wednesday- Certified Staff meeting

   December 20th, 2018- Thursday- Christmas Fun- Pajama day

   December 20th, 2018- Thursday- 2nd quarter sharpen the paw- AM

   December 20th, 2018- Thursday- Monthly Leader in Me parent/family class-
                                                               Christmas Dinner in the lunchroom- 6-7 pm

   December 21st, 2018- Friday- Kindergarten teaming with ESL and Resource

   December 21st, 2018- Friday- Christmas Fun- Dress like a North Pole character

   December 21st, 2018- Friday- End of the 2nd quarter, no Kinders, and early release at 12:45 pm


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   McCollum- Habit 8: Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs

Next week: Lancaster- Habit 1: Be proactive


Here is the list for party times:

Classroom Christmas Parties


Here is the list of activities for sharpen the paw:

Sharpen the Paw Activities


For the staff meeting this week, these are the certified staff members who will be sharing from domains 1 and 4 on the teacher evaluation:
1st, 3rd, 5th, PRC, Counselor, Preschool, PE, and Instructional Coach


The school website wasn't working so pictures from this past week will come next week.



Thought for the day:

Monday October 22nd, 2018

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   October 22nd, 2018- Monday- Eval team

   October 22nd, 2018- Monday- Book Fair in the library starts

   October 22nd-24th- Monday-Wednesday- American Fidelity is at our school

   October 22nd-25th, 2018- Monday-Thursday- Student led conferences

   October 23rd, 2018- Tuesday- Intervention meeting/MTSS

   October 23rd, 2018- Tuesday- Red Ribbon Week starts

   October 23rd, 2018- Tuesday- Fire Department visits with second grade- 8:30 am

   October 23rd, 2018- Tuesday- Box Tops due- bring to the office

   October 23rd, 2018- Tuesday- Staff October birthdays- Potato Bar lunch 10:30-12, in room #5

   October 24th, 2018- Wednesday- No school for Kindergarten

   October 24th, 2018- Wednesday- Pizza dinner for staff- starts at 4:30 pm

   October 25th-26th, 2018- Thursday and Friday- No school for all students


next week:

   November 1st, 2018- Thursday- Parent/family class about internet and media safety, 6-7 pm


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Brand- Habit 1: Be Proactive

Next week: Thomason- Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind


Here is information about Red Ribbon Week. This includes learning about different cultures and a food drive for our school pantry:

Red Ribbon Week Themes for each day


Pictures from this past week include Kindergarten and Third grade classroom leadership partners, our monthly parent/family class that taught about habit 1, and preschool students attending their weekly STEM class as they experienced being archaeologists. Several students are learning to tie their shoes and we have very kind friends who love to stop and help.

The big event was the first quarter sharpen the paw, and one of our custodians even jumped in when he noticed students needed more expertise with learning how to make paper airplanes. You can click on the pictures to see them in a larger size. Working in diverse groups, mixed abilities and ages, such kind peers, and great learning experiences. We love happy kids:

Sharpen the Paw Video

Pictures This Week


Thought for today:

Monday October 8th, 2018

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   October 8th, 2018- Monday- Eval team

   October 9th, 2018- Tuesday- Intervention meeting/MTSS

   October 9th, 2018- Tuesday- SIPPS training for Title 1 paras- 9:30 am, room #19

   October 10th, 2018- Wednesday- Walk to School event

   October 10th, 2018- Wednesday- Breakfast with Books and Readers of the Month

   October 10th, 2018- Wednesday- District first year teacher training

   October 10th, 2018- Wednesday- First Grade visits the pumpkin patch

   October 10th, 2018- Wednesday- Staff meeting

next week:

   October 18th, 2018- Thursday- 1st Quarter Sharpen the Paw- 1:00-2:50


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Wilkins- Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Next week: Day- Habit 8: Find your voice, and inspire others to find theirs


We start the staff meeting on Wednesday with TFEA visiting for a few minutes. Then we start a fun gallery walk through classrooms. I think it's going to be a really fun afternoon. It's a field trip for teachers. We'll start with preschool in Mrs. Popa's classroom, visit Mrs. Rose's classroom, and then visit every classroom first grade through fifth grade. We will also visit Ms. Bradley's classroom, Mrs. Kenyon's two classrooms, STEAM, PE, Music, and Mrs. Turpin's classroom. It's important to see the rooms that your students attend every day. You can ask questions and get ideas for your own classroom. If you are not a teacher, such as a para, you are definitely welcome to attend. We'll look at items such as:

1. objectives posted
2. number corner set up
3. We have been adding new desks and tables every year and almost every classroom has been updated.  You'll get to see different classroom arrangements for student learning.
4. flexible seating in some classrooms
5. classroom management/behavior charts/posted visuals and reminders
6. leadership notebooks for student led conferences


Pictures this week include a picture from the annual Scratch for Schools that three of our staff members attended. Third grade also had a really fun event at the end of the day on Friday to recognize student growth with Istation, and the happy faces are awesome. We might just see red capes, but there were several girls who really wanted the princess capes and they are going to try really hard to earn them next month.

Here is a video clip from the third grade Istation celebration event:

Video

Pictures also include service leaders, the after school program, bubbles and nice weather during recess, student lighthouse interviews, and our monthly Tie Tuesday. There is also an awesome picture of another classroom that had very generous donations so every student could receive a free book every month during the school year. Students were so excited to write their name on their very own book:

Pictures This Week


Thought for today:

Thursday September 27th, 2018

The big activity today is the girls activity with their favorite guy, from 5:45-6:45 pm. The weather is cooperating nicely for this outside event.

This is a nice video from the training I was at on Wednesday. Even though it references high school, the reminders about increasing speaking opportunities and active engagement apply to all students. The first video that plays for project based learning:

English Language Learner Support


Thought for today:

Friday May 11th, 2018

We end the week with a yummy taco bar. Please stop by during the lunch hour.

Please help remind students and families about the Spring music concert on Monday at Roper.

The big event today is the Google virtual reality. This is going to be really fun.

This is a great video with two of our awesome teachers, Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Schroeder. We have Sharpen the Paw coming up, and this video helps to explain the importance for this fun learning activity we have at the end of every quarter. One activity this time will be pool noodle people with Mrs. Sorensen. You know the wind storm and rain that arrived Thursday afternoon? Yes, I was chasing the pool noodles in a skirt and with heeled shoes across the Fred Meyer parking lot. Sharpen the Paw is important:


Sharpen the Paw


Have a great Friday:

Friday March 16th, 2018

A big thank you to everybody who helped plan and assist with our family night. It was a great turn out and there was something for everybody. From yummy food, to fun games to play as a family, and even families watching the big screen tv to see pictures of their children. Thank you!


Thought for today:

Friday March 9th, 2018

Thank you to everybody for planning, leading, and assisting with super fun activities on Thursday. My favorite in my group has to be the first grade boy smiling happily as he shared his pastel painted robot, yes a robot, with everybody else making tulips and Easter eggs. We're in the business of happy kids.

School is out at 12:45 today.

This video clip is a great positive as we end the week. There are two well known leaders featured. The first person talks about mindfulness, knowing your purpose at work and having a purpose, and the importance of a positive workplace. Then there is Nadia Lopez, who is always inspiring. She talks about the importance for kids to know and be life long learners, the importance of investing in kids, having hope with our kids even when life just keeps throwing obstacles, the importance for kids to know that they matter and that they belong, and more. Inspiring change and finding meaning:

2 People Working for Social Change


Have a great Friday:

Wednesday February 21st, 2018

Please help remind students and families about Spring picture day tomorrow.

First grade has their Birds of Prey presentation at 2:00 in the gym today. Thank you to everybody who helped move things around, like block classes, so they could use the gym.

We have a building leadership/staff lighthouse team meeting today after school. Please let a rep know if you would like something added to the agenda.

This is a great video from Mrs. Schroeder. It illustrates the importance of grit and high expectations, while also being kind:

Austin's Butterfly


Students really do hear what we say. Thought for today:

Monday February 19th, 2018

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   February 19th and 20th, 2018- Monday and Tuesday- No School

   February 21st, 2018- Wednesday- First grade Birds of Prey presentation- 2:00 pm in gym

   February 21st, 2018- Wednesday- Building leadership/staff lighthouse team- 3:10 rm. #10

   February 22nd, 2018- Thursday- Spring picture day- gym

   February 22nd, 2018- Thursday- Robert Stuart middle school choir performing for 5th grade-
                                                         10 am in the music room


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Rodriguez- Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

next week: Lancaster- Habit 8: Find your voice, and inspire others to find theirs


We have phone, email, and text reminders going out this week to help remind about picture day and no school days this week.


This video clip is a great reminder of self care and working as a team. A big thank you to everybody who just jumps in to help give both students and staff a time out to breath:

Self Care


These videos are a great overview of strategies that matches skills we are trying with our students. We have to teach and practice behavior expectations, just like we teach academics. Just impressive to watch our students change and have a calm conversation in the midst of conflict and struggles, growth. Addressing social-emotional needs is important. We have to have that before we can address academics. Empathy and empowering students to own their behavior are included as well in these videos:

De-Escalation, Safe Spaces, and Conflict Resolution


Restorative Circles and Restorative Practices


School Culture, Community, and Learning



Pictures from this last week include our readers of the month, leadership roles, and Valentines Day. Please continue to talk with students about bus behavior. It was a great idea to thank our bus drivers:

Pictures This Week


Every child: