Week of Sept. 9

September 16 Collaboration day:  Please read Onward ch. 4  by Sept.16  and, for Sept. 23 please read Creating Cultures of Thinking pages 15 - 35.  Reading two books over a year rather than one book per semester is something we have never done before. The books are very different with messages worth exploring over the course of the year.  Creating Cultures of Thinking is meaty enough that it could provide material for two full years of study and implementation.  We will read it slowly and thoroughly to give ourselves time to explore the concepts.  

Visitors:  Because of our commitment to transitioning to student-centered, rigorous and relevant instruction, we will have visitors in the building throughout the year.  Dr. Cook, Dr. Caudle, a consultant from PEBC and others will be going into classrooms with me and offering feedback to help us hone our efforts.  When we are visiting, please ignore us as much as possible and continue teaching. This isn't evaluative, but rather intended to help us improve our collective instructional practices.  

Chromebooks:  Accountability with the Chromebook has been a challenge.  Marita has been numbering and trying to rearrange them so you have enough to check out to every class every period.    Please don't borrow or loan them from other classrooms.  Instead, talk to Marita so she can assign more to your cart.  Thank you for your patience as we hammer out a process that works.

Lutherhaven Field Trip

• Each teacher will be responsible for their own advisory students.  Please make sure that you have the permission slips for every advisory student on your roster.  Before you leave Friday, please email me the names of any students without a permission slip so I know who is staying behind.
• Christy and Diana are staying behind with any kids who don't go. Probably, anyone not going with us will not come to school at all, but we are ready if they show up :)
• Please take attendance for kids getting on the bus both ways using your advisory roster.  We don't want to lose anyone!  We may have a couple of kids who are not in advisories going with us.  If we do, I'll assign them to somebody on Monday morning.
• One or two adults need to be on each of the three buses.  Please email me if you're willing to ride a bus.  If we don't get volunteers, I'll draw names.  How much room there is will depend on how many kids don't show up.
• Participate in activities to your level of comfort
• Lutherhaven is giving us a significant discount, please talk to the kids about being polite, and gracious guests.  My hope is that the staff at Lutherhaven will be thoroughly impressed with our amazing students!
• Can you think of any details that I haven't thought of?  If so, please email me right away.  Thank you!!!

Bus/Parking lot duty: Smith and Cooley

Monday 9/9: Lutherhaven Team-building

Tuesday 9/10: Kaiser @ admin meeting am
Wednesday 9/11:  
Thursday 9/12: 

Friday 9/13: 

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gonzalez and Fehling

Monday 9/16: PD day schedule coming soon

Tuesday 9/17: 
Wednesday 9/18:  
Thursday 9/19:

Friday 9/20: Picture day  Kaiser & Smotherman out in the am