Weekly Update - Friday, November 11, 2016

Happy Veteran's Day!
A huge thank you to all of our McKinley Veteran's!

PLC Notes & ESC:
When you turn in PLC notes and your Essential Standards Chart, please email them.  It's way too hard to manage paper copies.  Also, please remember to get your sign-in sheet into Lorri. 

LTS Positions:
We have two upcoming long-term substitute positions to be aware of:

• 1st Grade:  Julia Arnold, currently student teaching in Dani Rypka's room, will be filling in for Jess Zupansic during the month of December.
• Kindergarten:  Jaci Heath, currently long-term subbing in 3rd grade at Washington, will be filling in for Courtney Hugs from January until the end of the school year.

A huge McKinley welcome to both Julia & Jaci!

Teacher Clarity of Learning:
I apologize up front... I'm going to be making a blanket statement to all.  You know this is one of my personal growth goals, but I do think this is something we should all hear.  

As I'm getting around to classrooms, I'm noticing that teachers are doing a great job of stating the Enduring Understanding or Learning Target for the day/week.   It's posted and stated to students very clearly.  What I am noticing is that the clarity of that EU or LT is missing- students don't know exactly what mastery will look like by the end of the lesson?   What should they walk away being able to do?  From John Hattie's research around what is effective, you can see that learning clarity has an extremely high impact on learning.  Students, as well as teachers, need to be crystal clear about the "end result" - mastery.  This is why the Essential Standards Charts work well with this process - your team determines the EU, but also mastery way before you start teaching any lesson/unit.  When students know what mastery looks like, they rise to the occasion. 

 

Reading Night Slumber Party:
We had our first reading night this week - "Reading Night Slumber Party!"  We decided to change our focus this year to building excitement around reading, rather than teaching strategies to parents.  Families came in for a pizza dinner and then enjoyed some "reading time" together.  We had over 300 people last night!!  A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make this night possible - Dani Rypka, Jess Zupansic, Jen Schlauderaff, Michelle Simon, Rachel Peterson, Julia Arnold, Krystal O'Connor, Sonya David, Libby Zeman, Jen Koziolek, Greg Leuch, & John Dale.  Also, a huge thank you to Lorri Harrison for all the coordinating of food and supplies!

A SnapShot of Learning:

Students participated in voting on Tuesday.  It was a great learning experience for them!

 

Kindergarten did some outdoor learning this week with Dr. Meagher.

 

 

Weekly Building Newsletter:

Click here to access the weekly building newsletter.

Valet Parking of the Week:
The Valet Parking for the Week goes to PE Teacher, Brent Yule!  Brent has been a wonderful addition to our McKinley team this past year.  Brent has a passion for physical education, fitness, and learning in general.  Brent has worked extremely hard to help integrate our reading and math curriculum into the PE setting.  Also, Brent does a great job of communicating with families via Twitter.  You've been a great addition to our staff, Brent - Keep up the great work!


Have a relaxing weekend- sharpen your saw!
-Justin

Weekly Update- Friday, September 23, 2016

Happy Friday, September 23rd! 
It's been a great week of learning and growth at McKinley! 

Building Goals, 16-17:
Our Site Team spent some analyzing data to determine our building goals for the 16-17 school year.  Click here to access those building goals.  We will go over these at our first Power Hour - however, please use these goals when setting your team PLC goal on Monday. 

GRIT:
Just a friendly reminder to continue to acknowledge "grit" as you see it.  If you see a student showing grit, complete a leadership slip and turn this in.  Also, spend some time acknowledging to the student, too.  We will continue our focus on building grit in students as we continue our journey this year. 

Staff Power Hour:
For those of you new to McKinley, our staff meetings are called "Staff Power Hour".   Next Wednesday, 9/28, we have our first meeting in Rachael Eickhoff's room (we have outgrown the library). 

Certified Teaching staff, plan on attending.  Please be there and ready to go at 2:45pm.   For those who are not in a certified teaching role, your attendance is optional.  Feel free to attend if you'd like. 

Homecoming Early Release:
Just a reminder that next Friday, 9/30 we release at 12:30 for the Homecoming Parade.  Teaching Staff, please remember you need to continue to work at school or supervise at the parade. 

Also, we will have some additional special events on this day:
*1st Grade Teddy Bear Parade
*Fall Pumpkin Decorating Contest
*Picnic Lunch
*Huskies Pride Dress-Up Awards

More will come on this!

Kindness in Chalk Day - October 3
October 3rd is Kindness in Chalk Day.  As a building, we will be participating.  Click here to read more about it.  If you have any extra chalk at home, please send it my way!

After School Program
I have posted teacher and educational assistant positions for the After School Program. If you are interested in teaching, please apply online.   Hiring will be flexible this year and based on student enrollment.  Please get your application completed by Friday, October 7th. 

Principal Walkthroughs
I will officially be staring my walkthrough rounds next week.  I'm excited to get in and see all the learning happening around our wonderful building.  Please remind your students that I want to sneak in and sneak out when I join you- kids don't need to stop and acknowledge me.

I saw the below picture on Twitter and think it represents what is happening in today's classrooms.  Don't forget about these 8 important components as your students are learning. 

A SnapShot of Learning:

Zero the Hero visited Kindergarten this week and left glow sticks!

 

2nd Grade engineering "perches" to stay high and dry in the flood waters!

 

 

Welcome, Bernie!
A huge McKinley welcome to our new Special Education Paraprofessional, Bernie Jensen.  Bernie comes to us from the ALC where she has spent a number of years in a similar role.  We are very excited to have Bernie join us!  Please join me in welcoming her! 

Weekly Building Newsletter

Click here to access the weekly building newsletter 

 

Valet Parking for the Week:

The Valet Parking for the Week goes to Michelle Simon.   When I think of Michelle, three words come to mind- compassionate, relationships, and focused on doing what is right.  Michelle truly cares for her students.  She works to build and maintain strong relationships with the students, families, as well as colleagues.  Michelle is always focused on doing what is right for kids - even if it isn't easy.  Michelle knows her students and what they need, academically, socially, and emotionally.  Thank you for all you do, Michelle! 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Justin



 

Principal's Update- Friday, March 10, 2016

Happy Friday, everyone!  With the warm weather, spring fever is hitting.  We've got two weeks before break- let's make sure it's meaningful!

Also, don't forget to complete the Comprehensive Needs Assessment survey (email from me) and my principal survey (email from Sarah Hoffman).

Student Data
Please remember that student data is considered confidential.  As I am doing walkthroughs, I am noticing data sheets, report cards, and grade books open/lying around.  We have to make sure this information is stored in an area where others cannot see. 

STEM Night- Tuesday, March 15
Our first STEM Night is this Tuesday, March 15.  Our theme for this is "Night of Creativity".  Families will visit three stations that will support and build creativity.  We are looking forward to a night of fun- join us if you can! 

Our Culture of Kids and Learning
As I have been doing walkthroughs and participating in integration subouts, it's been amazing to hear our focus on kids and learning.  The thing I admire the most about our staff is our collective commitment to putting students and learning first.  According to Marzano, "highly effective schools produce results that almost entirely overcome the effects of student backgrounds."  This is so true about McKinley - we will do whatever it takes for students to learn at high levels, regardless of student backgrounds.   Keep up the great work! 

Next Year's Sections
I met with Site Team this week to talk through some physical changes to rooms next year.  We are increasing sections (which is a good thing!) for the 16-17 school year.  Below is a breakdown of the sections as of today (we are watching "hot spots" to add additional sections):
K- 5 sections
1- 4 sections
2- 5 sections
3- 4 sections
4- 3 sections
5- 3 sections

Because of this, I am working to reconfigure a few rooms next year.  This will mostly impact Special Education and ELL.  When I finish this, I will share with staff.  Please be flexible- we will be tight on space next year! 

Weekly Building Newsletter
Click here to access the weekly building newsletter

Valet Parking for the Week
The Valet Parking for the Week goes to Erin Hagen.  Erin brings so much warmth and compassion to our Kindergarten learners.  Erin understands how to build strong relationships with students and staff.  Erin is extremely dedicated to the success of our earliest learners.   Thank you for all you do, Erin!