Friday, January 12, 2018

Weekly Update - January 12, 2018

Happy Friday!
We're back to below zero... yuck!  I'm still not use to this weather - or the wind at this new building!

Just a reminder- International Fun Day at Work is coming soon (January 26) - if you haven't found your team's "theme-dress", start brainstorming!

Good reminders:
Just a couple of good reminders as we continue into January...

First, what is your #oneword for the year?  How is that going?  Remember, this is the word we chose at our welcome back session in August.

Second, ...



Thank you for all you do for our kids - I know they are a priority to you all.


Follow-Up from Staff Power Hour:
Thank you for the conversations and learning on Wednesday around biases and literacy.  A couple of "call to actions" from our last staff Power Hour:

Biases:  Start deeply listening to people (start to create multiple perspective stories) & acknowledge your biases when you are around people (remember, your body language and words will show your biases).  Please remember- biases are not a bad thing.  We just need to be aware of them and start to reconstruct our experiences.

Literacy: Pay attention to the characteristics of selecting and analyzing text as you find text for your readers.

Engagement Strategy- Quick Draw:
I will be sharing strategies with you from our work around engagement last year.  One of the strategies, a Quick Draw, has students take any topic/concept/learning and turn it into a visual.   Then, students share through a gallery walk their representations.  See link below for deeper directions:

Click here to access the Quick Draw directions

Student Support Specialist- Update:
Isabel Mendoza, our new Student Support Specialist, has been working all week to learn the position.  Isabel will take over things like the Relaxation Room, Check & Connect, the backpack program, and will run some social groups for our students.   Isabel will be starting her schedule next week.

MLK Professional Learning - Monday:
Just a reminder- we have our MLK Professional Learning Day this Monday.   Superintendent Elstad will start promptly at 7:40 (please be on time).  I challenge you to participate in the Twitter challenge for this day.   Our staff has always had a strong presence on Twitter - let's blast our learning all over Twitter!

Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the newsletter

McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:
Our McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week goes to Marie Sjulstad!  Marie is a paraprofessional at McKinley, with today being her last day before retirement.  Marie has been a valuable member of our SPED team for the last 17 years . Marie amazes me with her compassion, dedication to our kids, and the way she builds relationships.   As I stated, today is Marie's last day.   We are thankful for all of her service to our McKinley students.  Marie, you will always be a Monkey with us!


Have a great weekend, everyone!
-Justin

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