Friday, March 22, 2019

Dear all,

Happy Spring Break! Woot woot! End of the third quarter of the year. Rest. Rejuvenate. Relax and recharge during this Spring break before our final, and hottest, quarter of the year. We’ve had a wonderful end of quarter with so many positive happenings in the ES.  SLC, art exhibitions, spring concerts, a book fair and a staff appreciation event to mention a few. Well done to all those involved in all of these things. 

Thank Yous

• Sarah, Finny, Fiona and Jane for all the did to prepare the Grade 3-5 students for their spring concert. It was phenomenal!
• Sarah would like to give special thanks to Fiona Babu for always being there to give a helping hand behind the scenes with the Singing Raptors
• Thanks to Jet for organising the Scholastic book fair and to Jet and Teena for chaperoning all classes through the book fair
• From Hilary - A big thank you to Seema, Jyotsna, Janna, Liza, Priya V. and Sai for all time and effort they have dedicated to the social studies project. It has been such a rich learning experience and working collaboratively has made it even more special.
• Keeley and Priya for all their hard work and thoughtful dedication with the staff appreciation event
• Thank you to the MSIS math cohort for their hard work learning proportions - and thank you to the EAL colleagues and TAs who covered for their PD absences.  
• Thank you to Grade 3 for their willingness to start a pilot of Prodigy math program, right before the break.  Way to make it happen!
• Morgen, Amanda, Jack, Marea, Elliot, Preetika, Linda, Hilary, Geetha, Tiffany, Jen, Calley, Mary Kelly and Kay for baking and delivering all the treats for staff appreciation day. This means so much to so many!
• Thank you to everyone who contributed to the curriculum guide, whether through revisions or editing. We appreciate your collaboration on this team project. 

Upcoming Week at a Glance

Monday 1st April	Gr 1 WIDA 1st - 12th April
Tuesday  2nd April
Wednesday 3rd April	Early Release / Professional Learning (STRAND & Q12)
Thursday 4th April	Inspiration Conversation on Environmental Responsibility - ES Students presenting!
Friday 5th April	STRAND survey due today - great opportunity to add your VOICE and CHOICE to the Professional Learning Process - please complete this survey!
Saturday 6th April	PCA Ball

Change of Personnel

As many of you are likely already aware, Clinton has moved his teacher assistant assignment to support Jen in the Design Studio. Vijaykumar is our new Art TA. Welcome Vijaykumar! After the break, we also welcome Seema, who will be working with Julia and Becky as a 5th Grade TA.

SAISA Track and Field

As you are aware we are hosting SAISA track and field the second week back after the break. During the afternoon of Tuesday 9th April, the field and the covered area will be roped off. This will restrict our recess areas to the plaza, playground, OLC and library. If you are on covered area or field duty on these days please help children to avoid trying to enter these areas, and then go to supervise the plaza and playground instead. 

For morning line up, we will ask Grades 2 and 4 to use the plaza for drop off and pick up meeting plots Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week.  

Covering Duties - repeat announcement

When there is unexpected absence such as when someone is sick, we are asking everyone’s support in covering recess and lunch duties. We are always striving to balance out coverage across the elementary section, but this is not a straight swap as we all support each other when unexpected situations arise.

If you have a known absence such a planned personal day or upcoming PD, then please swap your duty with a colleague prior to the day you will be absent.

Dismissing and Transitioning from Specials - repeat announcement

In clarifying dismissal procedures, students who have a specialist lesson during 7th period should be taken by that specialist teacher to the assigned area in which students are typically dismissed. Also, students should only begin transitioning to the next period at the end the period before. When students are moving to and from specials, they have 5 minutes in which to transition.

Professional Growth and Evaluation

After April 10, we will begin scheduling year end professional growth conferences as part of our professional growth cycle. The purpose of these conversations is for you to talk through growth and progress with the goals you set in your Professional Growth Plan and set a tentative pathway and goals for next year. The reflection section of your Professional Growth Plan should be completed in preparation for the conference and shared with your supervisor at least 3 days before the conversation.

There will be no faculty meeting on April 10; this time instead can be used for PGE reflections.

Please see pages 16-18 of the Professional Growth & Evaluation Handbook on the Raptor Way blog for more information.

Have a great spring break! See you all in 9 days!

Warmly,

Keryn, Dave and Calley