**Please check the Meeting Schedules (in the sidebar) and the calendar at the bottom for information regarding this week's meetings and events. Laptops are not required unless requested. Thank you for leaving them in your classrooms.
***Please bookmark the Mindset link so you can access it easily.
February
2- Faculty Conversation
5- ES ASA Teacher sign-up begins (Session 3)
9- Faculty Conversation
12- ES ASA Teacher sign-ups close (Session 3)
15-19- Mother Tongue Week
19- Farsang (Carnival)
22-26 Ski Break
~from the ES BBE
~Krista Zavits
Thank You and Welcome Back
As our music department would say, the big switcharoo is about to happen. This fall, we provided an exceptional opportunity for our faculty members to develop their skills and expertise while supporting a maternity leave in the High School.
Thank you, Kathy, for bringing your passion for books alive. Your creativity and commitment to learning the library position and instilling passion and excitement in our teachers, assistants, and students.
Thank you, Elif. You transferred seamlessly back into the EAL in the Upper Grades. Your support of students, teachers, and assistants ensured our second/third/ fourth language learners continued to grow.
Thank you, Vince, for supporting our youngest learners. You have built deep and lasting relationships with all the students in Early Childhood. Our English language learners have benefitted from the trusting and supportive learning environment you have created for them.
Each of you, Kathy, Elif, Vince, has made a difference in the lives of our community members. We are thankful this opportunity was made possible.
Karen, if it were not for your willingness to take on Amy's maternity leave, these opportunities would never have been realized. I thank you for your openness to the idea. We look forward to welcoming you back into your Elementary Blazer family.
Update on Recruitment
ES DTL Position
The ES DTL interviews were completed on Tuesday. The process was intense. We congratulate all five candidates on making it to this level. We also thank all of you who participated in the process through formal interviews, drop-ins, and coaching sessions. The Search Committee is currently reviewing the feedback of all stakeholders. Brett will make a final decision in the coming days.
Maternity and EAL
We also have two maternity leave positions (Kindy and Gr. 1) and an EAL. We are currently in the process of collecting applications and interviewing candidates. We hope to complete the search for these three positions by the end of February.
Position Changes
Back in the fall, Gabi Pitz sent out a form asking about your intention to return. On that form, teachers were invited to share if they would be interested in changes. As we move into March and have a better idea of class numbers for 2021-2022, we will also be looking at possible moves. Teachers are asked to please confirm with Krista (next week, via email) if you continue to be interested in the possibility of a change or if your interests have evolved since the fall.
Learning Walks
We miss being in the classroom and learning and growing with you. With semester two now in full swing, hybrid learning on solid footing, and COVID-19 protocols well established, our goal is to get back into the classrooms and engage in conversation about our craft and student learning.
Learning walks build relationships and connections with students and faculty, deepen our understanding and promote conversation about teaching and learning, and increase our effectiveness as leaders. We have divided teachers and assistants into three rotations. Each of us will be visiting 23 elementary team members over a three week period. We will rotate groups every three weeks. The first three-week rotation begins on Monday, February 1st.
Within a three week period, you should expect to be visited twice by the leadership team member who has your rotation group. At the end of the nine weeks, you will have been visited six times (two times by each administrator). If you have an assistant, LS, or EAL teachers scheduled to be in your classrooms, we will be observing both of you, meaning our observations may be longer during these learning walks.
In order to build connection and understanding, our objective is to engage in a minimum of one learning conversation with each individual on our rotation. The purpose of the coaching conversation is to deepen our understanding of teaching and learning in your context and gain further insight into your own practice.
~from Tomaz and Josh
In PE, we are running a Parkour/Ninja warrior unit where students from Gr1 to Gr5 are currently showing how to be agents of their own learning by seeking 'just right' challenges as they inquiry into how they can develop their body control skills. Students have been enthusiastic and engaged throughout the unit. We are excited to be able to expand their excitement by making authentic connections.
We are thrilled that we have been able to connect with the local Parkour community and provide our students with a true Parkour experience. Next Thursday morning, February 4th, we will have three Parkour experts on campus running a series of Parkour workshops in the ES gym. Students will be able to see Dominik Balogh (a professional parkour athlete) doing a demonstration, will ask questions and receive growth tips from 2 accredited parkour teachers:
Extensive protocols have been put in place to ensure high standards of safety. Teachers and assistants are invited to pop down and engage in the experience. We hope to see you there.
~from Kathy Cromartie
Come see our new books and share them with your students on World Read Aloud Day, Wednesday.
New titles include the recently chosen 2021 Caldecott Award Winner, We Are Water Protectors. Melissa Goade is the first Native American illustrator to receive this award. The book is beautiful!
We also have some Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre and Asian Pacific American Award winners that were just announced Monday. Click here for a list of all 2021 Youth Media Awards from the American Library Association
Your teacher recommended books have been popular. Thanks so much for taking the time to highlight a great book.
We welcome Karen back this week. She left big shoes to fill and we are glad to have her back.
as I explored the role of ES Librarian. It has been wonderful working with you and your students from this angle. I am hoping you will take a quick minute to give me some feedback here. I appreciate your time and comments very much.
On Tuesday, February 2 we will have our next core-focused integration conversation. Please check the schedule here for further information. These conversations will take place in the grade level Instructional Lead's classroom and the focus is planning for authentic integration opportunities across core and encore learning. If follow-up planning sessions are required for specific teachers, please reach out to Maribeth (Integration Lead) or one of the members of the ES SLT.