October 3 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!

Belief System:
Last Monday, our teaching staff engaged in some work around our beliefs and mindset.  Below is a few thoughts for ALL staff to think through our beliefs...

  

Do you believe all kids can learn?  Do you truly believe this?  Or, are you an educator who makes comments like "Oh, that kid" or "Man, it's only been a month with these kids!"  Your belief system determines so much of your daily experiences.  First, your beliefs will determine your outlook for the day.  If you are looking for negativity, you will find it.   If you are out seeking the positives, you will find many of those!   Secondly, your belief system can make or break a students' experience here at school.  This includes your thoughts and biases.  If you have already "painted a picture" of a learner in your room - and it's not positive - I challenge you to get to know that student more.  Find time and patience to learn more.  And, if you are biases are standing in the way of this work, walk to your bias.  Learn more about it... challenge it... decrease the way you think about it.  The quote below is from Jimmy Casas, a former principal and now author/presenter around school culture and all kids.   What legacy do you want to leave?

McKinley Building Goals:

Our 25-26 building goals have been completed.  A huge thank you to our Building Leadership Team for helping with this extensive process.  Linked are the goals.   Please take time to read through the action steps, as you are responsible for many of the action steps.  

Kiel Individual Goals:

I wanted you to be aware of two of my personal goals (and action steps) for the year.    The first is instructional leadership in which the bulk of this goal is around completing 2 walkthroughs per week (with feedback to the staff).  The second is around belonging and our theme "All In, All Welcome".  The bulk of this goal is around 1:1 interviews with students and staff (please sign up for next week!) to gather feedback around their experience and level of belonging.   

As you all hopefully know, I am a lifelong learner.  I'm excited to continue growth in these two areas.  

Holiday reminders: We have students from various backgrounds who hold various beliefs.  This is just the yearly reminder that celebrating holidays is not part of the curriculum and we need to be sure that we are honoring and/or educating, but not celebrating.  We want to be sure that if talking about a holiday, like Thanksgiving, we do so from a historically accurate perspective. Please keep any classroom celebrations fall related (vs. Halloween related).  If you have questions about specific activities, we can certainly chat more about them. 

Instructional Coaches Day - Monday:

This Monday is Instructional Coaches Day.  I can truly say we have the best coach - Katie Demmer.  Katie wears many, many hats in your building.  However, her primary role is support for us all to do our job better.  And, she rocks at that.  Please take some time on Monday to recognize Katie for all her gifts.  

National Chewing Gum Day:

A huge congrats to our winner Lynn Jensen!  I hope you all had fun with this!  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend!

-Justin

September 26 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!

Deep Thoughts....

Alright, I'm going to go deep and personal with you.  

These last few weeks have been difficult.  And, it isn't just one thing.  I think the new has worn off.  I have found myself stressed, short, overwhelmed, etc.  This "spot" of stress is somewhere I will visit, but I don't like to live in it.  I've been doing some deep reflection around why this is.  As much as it's hard to admit it, I think it truly comes down to my perspective.  Because I'm overwhelmed and stressed, I am seeking the negative things that are draining my energy.  The above picture (one of my favorites) is something I'm going to take to heart over the next few months.  I can't control what others do - what I can control is my perspective every day.   I get that power in EVERY interaction to decide my perspective.  

I only share this because I can feel it's heavy for many of you, as well.   After you read this, take some time to think about your perspective - what "seat" are you taking every day on the bus?  

Media Opt Out:

Please make sure you are checking your students who are "media opt out".   If you send students down with a Positive Office Referral, please put a post it note (or call) to let us know they are media opt out.  

Indigenous People's Day - Monday, October 13:

Indigenous Peoples Day falls on Monday, October 13 this year. All schools are required to do one hour of instruction related to Indigenous Peoples.  Below are two resources for you to use on this day:  

• Elementary Slideshow 
• Resources (developed 2 years ago w/new links)

Building Weekly Newsletter

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend!

-Justin

September 19 Update

Happy Homecoming!  Another great week at McKinley!
Just a reminder of today's Homecoming Picnic plan.  

Fire Drill/Raptor Feedback:
Thanks for your work around this week's fire drill.  Moving forward, we will be using Raptor for communication (reporting students with you, staff accounted for, and your location).  If you have feedback on your experience with Raptor Wednesday, please add it here before Monday at 8am. 

Collaboration Starts Next Week:
Just a reminder - we have collaboration Tuesday (SEL) and Friday (MTSS groups).  Linked is the plan for quarter 1's collaboration dates (subject to change if days 1-5 switch).  

Introducing... Book an Appointment with Demmer

Guest Blogger Katie Demmer, Teaching and Learning Coach

This week I learned how to create appointment slots on my Google Calendar.  This will allow anyone with the link to schedule an appointment to meet with me.  It already looks at my Google calendar for times I have available in my schedule, without having to wait for an email back from me about when we could meet!  Click the link below to check it out!

TLC Demmer Appointment Calendar

So, if you'd like to find a time to connect on something or have me visit your classroom, click on the booking link above and select a time that works for our schedules.  You'll then have the option to select the location (my office, your classroom, virtual), and add any notes about what you'd like to meet about or anything you'd like me to have prepared for our meeting.  We'll both get it added to our calendar and get an email reminder a day before that we are meeting.  You can schedule same day appointments (2 hours prior) up to 30 days in advance.  Appointment times are set for 30 minutes, but if you feel like you need longer, you can book multiple appointments or we can cut the time shorter if it's a quick check-in.   I've added the link to the Virtual Office as well if you need to come back and find it later.  You can also find a new sign on my office door with where I am and a QR code you can scan to open my appointment calendar.  I'm hoping this helps streamline communication and make it easier for everyone to find times to connect when needed! 

Loving Those Porcupines:

Don't forget about loving those porcupines!

Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend - Go Huskies!  
-Justin

September 12 Update

Happy Friday!  We made it through our first five day week! 

If you haven't completed your welcome back list, please do so by Friday, September 19.  I am still missing things (impact statements, elementary school pictures, voicemails).  Please take care of this ASAP.  

Homecoming Next Week:

A couple things about Homecoming:

• Please start checking on family plans for early release (12:40) on Friday.  
• Linked is our plan for the picnic.  Please take a minute to read this closely.  All students must be checked out in the office if they are leaving early.  Also, it was great having teachers eat lunch with their class last year (and a great way to engage with families).  If you are able, I would greatly appreciate it.  
• Early Release is at 12:40pm; parade is at 1:30pm.  
• Teachers - normal work hours.  Two options - supervise at the parade or stay here at school and work. 
• EA's - clock out at 12:40pm
• Paras - Three options - supervise at parade, clock out at 12:40pm, or stay back and work on your required trainings.  Please let me know your choice.  

Go Huskies!  

Fire Drill - Wednesday:

We are having our first fire drill next Wednesday.  We will be using Raptor for this.  A few minutes before the alarm goes off, we will activate the drill on Raptor.  You will get an alert (it's a loud buzzer).  Once you are outside and safe, please go into Raptor and note the students you have/are missing.  This will be a learning expereince for us all, but please try and go in and mark you are safe.  

Collaboration: 

Collaboration starts on September 23.  Our first focus will be SEL.  Please note - because of the Homecoming early release/picnic, we do have two collaboration times the week of September 22.  This is because we follow a day 1-5 and not a M-F schedule.  This won't be a regular thing, as most times will be seperated by a week.  Please note - starting September 18, you do not attend library or Creation Station for that five day rotation.  

PD in your Pocket:

Each week, I will highlight a new tip for you as an educator (please note - I didn't say teacher.  This is applicable to all staff who support student learning).

Today's tip is around creating independence.  Linked below is a video (Cult of Pedagogy - she's fabulous).  Skip ahead to 1:44.  Jen provides some tips on how to create independence in your classroom by asking questions with questions.  Please, please, please - take the 4 minutes to listen to Jen's thoughts. 

“One of our main goals as teachers should be to build students’ independence,” says Jennifer Gonzalez in this Cult of Pedagogy article/podcast. “The more we do for our students and the less they do for themselves, the more we perpetuate a cycle where they become helpless and dependent on us.”  Gonzalez kicks herself for answering too many student questions when she was a teacher. “I used to think of them as baby birds in a nest, with all of their beaks open, waiting for the mother bird to feed them,” she says. “I remember feeling like I was constantly racing around trying to meet everyone’s needs.” It’s quicker to answer the question than to push students to do more of the work, but “that short-term efficiency comes at a long-term cost,” she says. “It keeps us working harder than we need to and prevents students from developing the habits that will make them more independent.”  Gonzalez’s suggestion to her former haggard self and many other overextended teachers: when students ask a certain kind of question, pause and answer them with questions that build self-sufficiency. And pose your questions with the right tone of voice and a smile, not in a way that embarrasses kids. 

Some examples: - 

Where might you find that information? 

Where on the handout could you look for that? 

What resource could help you answer that question? 

What is our task completion routine? (when students ask what to do when they’re finished). 

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building newsletter

Get outside this weekend and do something you love - it's going to be a beautiful weekend!

-Justin

September 5 Update

Happy Friday! 

What a great start to the year!  

Thank you for all your time, energy, and passion into making this the best start yet!  

Homecoming:

September 15-19 is our Owatonna Homecoming Week!  Below are dress up days for the week. 

Additionally, we have an early release on Friday, September 19 (12:40pm).   Additionally, we have our yearly Family Picnic on that day.  More info to come.  

For early release, please plan -

Teaching Staff - supervision at the parade or working back here at school.  If you are supervising, please plan to be present and helping enforce that students are doing what's expected and staying off the road.  

Paras - supervision at the parade, work back at school, or clock out (please see my email and let me know your plan)

EA's - clock out at 12:40pm

Please let me know if you have questions!  

Movement Pods:

A reminder from Dr. Dokken -

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building newsletter

As you enter this Friday, remember - you WILL have impact.  We don't get to decide that.  What you do get to decide is what kind of impact you want to have - positive or negative.  :)

Have a great weekend!

-Justin

Welcome Back 2025-2026!

Welcome Back! 

Thank you for all the time and energy you have put into making the first Clasroom Connection day a hit!  It was great to see families back in the building.  

Don't forget to get some team/individual pictures in front of the balloon display and text/email it to me.  A huge thanks to Steph for organizing this!  

Your Impact:

As we ended Tuesday's time together, we focused on that idea of IMPACT.  Below is one of my favorite quotes.  Every day, we get to decide what kind of impact we will have.  Every.single.day.  

Don't ask, "Will I make an impact today?"

We don't get that choice.

We WILL make an impact on the kids and adults we interact with.

Instead ask, "What kind of impact will I make?"

We can be the reason they want to come to school or the reason they don't.

That's the choice. 

New Kids on the Block:

Each year, we honor our newest teammates with a New Kids on the Block bar!  Linked is the sign up sheet.  We need enough of their favorite treats for around 80 people, so multiple people can sign up.  If you are interested, please sign up and bring your treat in by next Wednesday.  

Homecoming Week - Dress Up & Picnic!

Just a reminder - Homecoming is early this year (September 15-19)  Below are the dress up days planned for that week.  Just a reminder - we have an early release that Friday (12:40pm) for the parade.  

Additionally, we will have our Family Picnic on this day, too.  Linked is a general plan for that.  Please note - the early release is very early this year.  I will be sharing the RSVP with families next Wednesday.  More to come!  

Raptor:

We will be utilizing Raptor for our safety drills this year.  Please either download the app or have a laptop you will use in the event of a crisis.  This will be the process we use for initating a drill/event, reporting which kids are with you, and other communication in the event of a drill or crisis.  

If you are having trouble logging into Raptor, please contact Paige Olson at the DO.  

EduClimber (formerly Viewpoint):

One of the new platforms we are using is EduClimber (this has replaced Viewpoint).   I am looking forward to using this as there are way more perks.  The site is way more user-friendly, you can dig down deeper into root causes, we can use it triangulate data (attendance, behavior, etc), and we can track interventions.   This will be a slow rollout to implement all these things.

As you are preparing for PLCs, goals, and instruction, you will need to access student data.  For now, Kenneth has made a screen recording of how to access the data, being mindful that you have a lot of new this year.  The video is linked here - Informational Video from Kenneth.  More to come on training and implementation!  

MESPA Roles:

I wanted to share with you that I am taking some leadership roles on within MESPA (Minnesota Elementary Principal's Association).  This year, I am serving as a the SE President, a principal mentor, as well as a Principal Fellow.  All of these roles will should not impact my role here other than a few times during the year when I'm out of the building.  One of my passions is leadership development and I'm thrilled to be able to support this statewide.   Just sharing with you! 

Toot Your Horn Nominees:

Each week, we honor different staff members through a "Toot Your Horn Award!"  Linked is the nominiaton form.  This is for those moments when you appreicate someone.   After they are chosen, they receive a horn and their picture is shared with staff along with your write-up.  Consider nominating a colleague today! 

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the  building weekly newsletter

Monthly Family Newsletter (shared on today with families)

https://secure.smore.com/n/nfra4

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

-Justin

May 30 Update

Happy Friday!

5 more days!  Let's finish the year strong!

Monday & Tuesday:

Just a reminder - I am out of the building on Monday and Tuesday.  Please try and handle as many situation as you can.  Amanda is available to support those issues that need office attention.  

Staffing Updates:

We have a couple people leaving McKinley this year...

Anna Stocker has accepted a music position in Sauk Rapids at the secondary level.  Anna went to college in that area and is excited to return.  She has been a great addition to our team and will continue to do great things! 

Jill Schweisthal is retiring at the end of this year.  Jill has been our Head Cook for 8 years and was the Head Cook at Willow Creek for many years before this.  Jill has worked hard to make our McKinley Kitchen one of the best.  She will be greatly missed!  

Please join me in congratulating both Anna and Jill on their next chapter! 

End of Year Checklists:

Linked below are checklists to help you with is expected at the end of the year.  Please note - certified staff will need to schedule a checkout time this year to ensure we are on the same page.  

Certified Staff Checklist (please note the request to sign up for a checkout time)

Para/EA Checklist

End of Year Stations:
Linked are our end of the year stations for Friday, June 6.

Also, here is a reminder of some upcoming events..

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend!

-Justin