May 15 week.at.a.glance #brave

Y'all are the bravest people I know! You have looked this crisis right in the eyes and have truly shined. No matter what the start of school brings I know that together we will be just fine. Thank you. I will keep you posted as I learn more. 

With this in mind, we are onward and forward and planning as if we will be back to normal knowing we may need to shift. We will cross that bridge when we get to it! I have been working on the bell schedule, the STEAM schedule and things like that - and finding some relief in planning for when life is normal! Next week is class building, packing up student work, report cards and closing out classrooms. It will be June before we know it. Please let me know if you need any help with any of this!

We will not have a regular staff meeting next Wednesday as next week is class building time. I have created a Google Doc and a Google Slide template for building classes that I hope will help you virtually. I know it's not the same as sorting cards on the table. Thanks for being willing to embrace the digital and try! Both templates will be available Monday, as will your grade level placement info. 

We will have a staff meeting on May 27th at 3:00 and will be inviting our new staff members to join and saying farewell to Agustin- we wish you the best!

Lots of May birthdays to celebrate!
1st Sandy Donaldson -- 2nd Jennifer Kloczko -- 11th Inez Sanchirico --12th Betsy Bryan -- 19th Shonda Childs --24th Jamie Hanna & Jaleea Paminsan -- 26th Tracy Murrin -- 30th Christina Peterson & Nicole Brace

May 15 Class Placement cards and PGC Reflections due (teachers) -- see Google Classroom for info and docs. Grade level zooms this week for class placements

May 15th 10:00 Staff Campfire on Zoom! Bring your cocoa and marshmallows! Think about your favorite thing to cook over a fire, and your favorite place to hike!

May 18th at 5:00 NAME THAT TUNE on Zoom- Staff Game Night! In vite is in your email :)

May 18-23 - WJUSD Classified Appreciation Week - thank you for ALL you do!

May 22nd Class Placement Cards due 4 PM

May 25 No School

May 26-27 K / TK Chromebook return and kid stuff distribution 9-11 and 12-2

May 27 Staff Meeting 3:00

May 28-29 1st/2nd Chromebook return and kid stuff distribution 9-11 and 12-2

May 27th Staff Meeting

Have a great week! 

week.at.a.glance May 10 #allkidsareourkids

On this Mother's Day, I would like to say thank you to all of you -- as teachers you also serve as parents to our students every day -- as mamas (and papas) to each child in your class and in our school. You have hopes and dreams and worries and fears, laughter and sometimes tears. Truly, all kids are OUR kids. And every adult in our school is a teacher! Our students are so lucky! Thank you for being the nurturing, loving, and caring people that you are. 

Lots of May birthdays to celebrate!
1st Sandy Donaldson -- 2nd Jennifer Kloczko -- 11th Inez Sanchirico --12th Betsy Bryan -- 19th Shonda Childs --24th Jamie Hanna & Jaleea Paminsan -- 26th Tracy Murrin -- 30th Christina Peterson & Nicole Brace

May 11-15th - WJUSD Classified Appreciation Week 
May 11 10 AM Second grade team Zoom

May 11 1 PM First grade team Zoom

May 12  2:30 TK / K team Zoom

*these are weekly standing meetings for your team - looking forward to joining you!

May 13 WJUSD Day of the Teacher

May 13 Staff Appreciation Virtual Event on Zoom! Invite coming soon!
May 15  Class Placement cards and PGC Reflections due (teachers) -- see Google Classroom for info and docs. 
May 15th 10:00 Staff Campfire on Zoom! Bring your cocoa and marshmallows! Think about your favorite thing to cook over a fire, and your favorite place to hike!

May 18th 5:00 Name that Tune! 

Staff Game Night on Zoom!

Sending you off with a song... I have been enjoying some inspiring music while at home and thought you might like this one! Que sera. 

WAG May 1 #virtualvacation

It was fun hanging out and dreaming about future vacation plans! Plans were shared for everywhere: the beach, Scotland, Cuba, Mexico and more! Flat Camille is already traveling far and wide :) Angela was planning a big trip to the copy machine and staff mailboxes! Lucy won the morning with the best drink-- a fresh fruit smoothie in a fancy glass! Above, you can take a virtual walk on the Wailea Beach Path in Maui!
Hope you can join next week from 10-10:30. I'm still thinking about the theme for next time! Cheers to May!

Dates & Details

Lots of May birthdays to celebrate!
1st Sandy Donaldson -- 2nd Jennifer Kloczko -- 11th Inez Sanchirico --12th Betsy Bryan -- 19th Shonda Childs --24th Jamie Hanna & Jaleea Paminsan -- 26th Tracy Murrin -- 30th Christina Peterson & Nicole Brace
May 4 10 AM Second grade team Zoom

May 4 1 PM First grade team Zoom

May 5  2:30 TK / K team Zoom

*these are weekly standing meetings for your team - looking forward to joining you!
May 8 Virtual Spirit Day-- pajama day! Fun Friday for May 8th will be Disney!

May 6 Teachers- staff meeting 1:30-3 (Zoom)
May 13 Staff Appreciation Virtual Event
May 15  Class Placement cards and PGC Reflections due (info coming Monday 5/4)
May 20 Teacher - staff meeting 1:30-3 (Zoom)

Potty Posts: Inspiration from the staff restroom #thanksconnie



A Bit of Encouragement
Lori SaboIssue #616

“I need help!”
The plea held a tinge of panic. I looked over to see my five-year-old friend perched halfway up the rope ladder. She had changed her mind mid-climb and was feeling insecure about the descent.
I walked to her side.
“I think you can do it. Just move your hands down a bit so you’ll be able to hold on while you lower yourself to the next rung.”
She scooted one hand down, then the next. Then she gingerly let her right foot search for the rung below. Her left foot followed.
“That’s it. Now do the same thing again.”
Hand. Hand. Foot. Foot.
She repeated the steps until she reached the bottom.
“See?” I said. “I knew you could do it by yourself.”
“I kind of needed some encouraging.”
And just like that, I thought, Don’t we all.
We are four weeks into online school, and the expectations for teachers and students are really ramping up this Monday. As the workload increases, we are asking questions like,

Are we supposed to teach new content or just review?
What do we do about the students who don’t have a device?
What about those who aren’t coming to the meetings?
What about my students who are used to having one-on-one support?
How do we grade fairly?
There are so many equity issues, how do we do all of this fairly?

And the panic begins to settle in. Like my little friend, I want to yell, “I need help!”

But if we don’t allow panic to reign, if we can slow our breath and still our heartbeat, we too can focus on the incremental steps to get us where we want to go. It doesn’t have to be fast, and it doesn’t have to be graceful. Just hand, hand, foot, foot. I’m not sure what that looks like for you, but a little encouragement can go a long way. So, consider yourself encouraged. We’ve got this! And don't forget about this resource that might provide welcome support.