Weekly Update - Friday, April 24, 2020

Happy Friday, everyone!

As you know, distance learning has been extended to the end of the year.  I can't imagine the tears and disappointment yesterday - from students and our staff.  As much as we'd love to return to "normalcy" and end our year (physically) together, it's not going to happen.  I knew this was coming - but it only slightly softened the blow when I heard the official word.  I immediately went to our 5th Graders - our teachers who are leaving/retiring - our seniors at OHS.  All of the experiences they will miss in May. 

However, will they miss experiences?  Or will the experiences change?  I came across this quote that made me think differently about this experience.  This "storm" is making our roots stronger.  We will become stronger people after all the learning and new challenges we have encountered.  Our "roots" will be deeper, stronger, and ready for new challenges.   Our students' roots will be the same. 

We've got this.  We will continue to support, love, and encourage our students - and each other!  We are a McKinley Family and nothing can stop that! 

Ramadan:
Don't forget, Ramadan starts today.  Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims all over the world. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, and is performed to learn compassion, self-restraint, and generosity.  The Muslim calendar is a lunar based calendar, so the dates of holidays change every year.  This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of April 23rd or 24th and ends with Eid al Fatir May 23rd (dates vary depending on location).   Here is a good article that answers some basic questions about this important holiday.  http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/06/18/ramadan-begins

Considerations for prayer times throughout the day should be taken into account with our distance learning adventures.  If you have a class that has a scheduled time to meet, please make appropriate accommodations for students if they need to be at prayers.  Prayer obligations differ by family and age of student, so don't make assumptions based on one or two students.  If you click HERE you will be taken to the prayer time calendar website.   Use this tool to help know when students and families will most likely be at prayer.

Many of our students and their families celebrate this holiday so it is important to be aware of the traditions and ceremonies that take place during Ramadan. 

Student Input:
This week, I came across a few tweets that reminded me of the power of getting student input on how distance learning is going.  Both of these below activities were led by a teacher on what students enjoyed about distance learning.   One of the teachers decided that any of the things students listed needed to become the changes he was making next year to his classroom.  What a powerful mindset shift - thinking of this as a learning experience and a way to grow as an educator! 

Building Weekly Newsletter:
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Have a great weekend!
-Justin

Weekly Update - Friday, April 17, 2020

Happy Friday, McKinley!
I hope you had a great "virtual" week!  I am, once again, reminded this week of how awesome each of you are.  We really do have the most amazing people working at McKinley!

Get Up and Stretch! 
We aren't use to this - sitting all day!  Please don't forget to get up and move around throughout the day.  Below are some stretches and movements to assist you.  Click the picture to enlarge it. 

Tips for Engagement During Google Meet & Other Video Sessions

• Make your space.  (clean space, shower curtain backgrounds, school type things, etc.)
• Every five minutes, students should have another problem to solve or a way that they must engage.
• Ask students to pick a side and type it into the chat.  Then you can call on students to explain why they chose what they did.
• Include interactive experiences like a teacher vs. students game.  Here are some free games that work well.  (Thanks Kate Seifert for sharing.)
• Engage students with relevant content and problems to solve.
• Mix information with stories.
• Use props when possible.  Things that might not be funny in the classroom, are online. 
• Hats, glasses, decorations, magnifying glass, a Husky stuffed animal, etc.
• Start and end with a burst of excitement!
• Fist bumps, virtual hugs, pom pom cheer, a kazoo, a noisemaker, a what’s in the box mystery, any realia, etc.   
• Think of the videos kids watch on youtube.  We become the content of their video; bring out your entertainer side! 

Sources: 

Sarah McGuire Special Services Supervisor and Virtual instructor, contracting with the largest global educational company since 2018

https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/how-to-get-people-students-to-actually-participate-in-virtual-meetings-classes

Privacy During Google Meet & Other Video Sessions

• Be cognizant of your students who “opted out” of media (especially if you are recording).
• If a student appears uncomfortable with video, you can let students know that it’s ok to turn off their webcam if they (or their family) would prefer.
• Know that families are also viewing these sessions.
• Talk to your students regularly about Digital Citizenship and review expectations.  

McKinley "Cruise Through":
We are doing a McKinley Cruise Through on Tuesday, April 21 from 6-6:30pm.  Please park in the bus lane and be here around 5:50pm.  We will hold up signs, cheer, give distance hugs, etc.  This invite is for ALL staff - the kids would love to see you.  Please consider joining us! 

Please make a sign - or let us know if you need one.  Your sign can say anything - "I Miss You!", "Mr. Kiel Loves His Students!", "Honk if you miss McKinley", "You are amazing!". 

Building Weekly Newsletter:
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Have a great weekend - enjoy the beautiful weather!
Stay healthy! - Justin

Weekly Update - Friday, April 8, 2020

Good morning, everyone!   Happy "Friday"! 

You will have to drive through McKinley and check out our main office windows.  Steph and Selena spent some time sending our students and staff a "we miss you!" message.  It turned out great - drive through and check it out!

Staffing & Sections, 2020-2021:
I know more about sections and staffing for next year. Overall, we are losing two classroom sections at McKinley due to enrollment. Below are the sections & staffing for 2020-2021:

Kdg - down 1			3rd Grade - down 1
K1	Hugs		3A	Davis
K2	Koziolek		3B	Wilke
K3	Larson		3C	Eickhoff
K4	Anderson		3D	Thurnau
1st Grade - up 1			4th Grade - same
1A	Wencl		4A	Van Roekel
1B	Zupansic		4B	Rypka
1C	Schlauderaff		4C	Conley
1D	Gonzalez		4D	Feltes
1E	Simon
			5th Grade - down 1
2nd Grade - same			5A	Oppegard
2A	Demmer		5B	Gilligan
2B	Huisenga		5C	Langlois
2C	Seath
2D	Seifert

Special Education - We are losing a Special Education position for next year.  Our Special Education team has been working hard to create a solid plan to keep components of our current model with one teacher per grade level.  This has been something we have appreciated and would like to continue components of this.  More information to come!  

Because of the section changes, we have some staffing changes for next year.  

• Sadly, we will lose Taylor Gritz in Kindergarten.  We are going down a section.  Taylor has been a great addition to our team who will be greatly missed.  
• With the addition to 1st Grade and decrease in 5th Grade, Amy Wencl will be moving to 1st Grade in room 1A.  Amy has 13 years experience in 1st Grade in Austin and will be a great addition to this team.
• Catie Stephani has accepted a position with the Apple Valley-Eagan-Rosemount School District.  Catie has done amazing work in 2nd and 3rd Grade - we are sad to see her leave, but excited for her future in ISD 196! 
• Brianna Luhman has accepted a position with the Forest Lake Schools.  Brianna has done amazing work in Special Education - we are sad to see her leave, but excited for her future in Forest Lake! 
• Makayla Kunkel will be joining our EL team as a 4th & 5th Grade EL Teacher.  Makayla is currently teaching 5th Grade at Wilson; she did her student teaching with Katie Demmer last year.  Makayla will be a great addition to McKinley!  

 

GoGuardian for Teachers

If you're ready to Maximize learning while minimizing technology distractions in your classroom then Go Guardian is for you. GoGuardian Teacher allows you to do all of the following right from your laptop:

• View student screens in real-time including any tabs that are open.
• View every student's current tab and all previous browsing on a single page.
• Easily define the sites you want accessible to students for a test or class period to maximize learning and minimize distractions.
• Open tabs to any website for a single student, groups of students, or the entire class.
• Lock the screens of specific students or the entire class to bring their attention back to you.
• Chat with students and engage directly with individual students.
• Receive an email report of all your student's activity after the session is completed.

If you're interested in using GoGuardian in your class, please send Libby an email and she will invite you to an optional Google Hangout for Thursday from 8:00-9:00.  Our own Eric Oppegard will be sharing some tips and Brent Lothert (IT Specialist) will be there to provide support as well!  We will offer additional sessions in the future if requested.

Link Sharing

There have been some questions about privacy settings when documents are shared by turning on links.  This document gives a brief overview of which settings are more public than we might think.  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

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Please take some time this weekend to relax, rejuvenate, and appreciate those around you. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup. Turn the computer & email off and appreciate those around you! -Justin

Weekly Update - Friday, April 3

Happy Friday!
I hope you had a great week of distance learning!  I know it's a week of changes and lots of learning.



Social Media-
When you are posting to social media, just a reminder to not post students' last names and faces of those who opted out of techology.  With Google Hangout/Meets, it's almost impossible to show a student without their first and last name appearing in the corner.

Also, one other thing that Mike Halverson reminded me of - be aware of where kids are at (in their house) when we take a picture.  You don't want to post pictures of students in their bedrooms.

Distance Learning (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!)

There have been so many amazing things happening this week; here are a few of the things I’ve noticed:

• staff reaching out to offer to help others with new technologies or structures
• a whole new level of collaboration
• so much positivity
• trying new things
• Everywhere we look there’s a ton of evidence of the love McKinley staff has for students, families and one another!

I wanted to take a moment to share a few reminders from our various virtual meetings to be sure we all have the information.

One Pager

The purpose of the one pager is really to simplify things for families and care providing centers across the district.  When families know that for each student, all of their links are on one page, it is simple to navigate. 

A few reminders and tips about the one pager:

• Add it daily in your Google Classroom under a date heading.
• The one pager should be only one page or slide, and we should only post one day at a time (so as to not overwhelm families).
• Please include a reminder for students to check specialists’ topics (music, art and PE).
• Here is the folder where we are sharing samples.
• If you’d like to see how to have this open for students larger (in present mode), check out this 2 minute video from Kacie Clauson.  It’s also located in our McKinley Staff Classroom
• If it makes sense in your grade level, you could divide and conquer the one pager.
• You can link to assignments in google classroom (but not until they are posted) by clicking on the three dots and copying the link.  
• The goal was to have this consistent in classrooms by Monday; please reach out if this is feeling overwhelming.  I am more than happy to help! Mark Langlois and Jen Koziolek also offered to support or talk through anything also.  

Distance Learning Instruction

I have had a few people reach out to let us know that some of their students are spending many hours on screens to complete their learning.  This is a challenge for families sharing devices, but we also know that we don’t want kids in front of a computer all day. Here are some ideas for how to reduce screen time:

• Streamline what students need to “complete” online
• Justin said this best when he said we can offer several opportunities to practice before we do a check for understanding and collect evidence.  
• Provide directions online, but have activities be offline things that they can do.
• Some grade levels chose to provide 2 minute videos for how to do a math game or activity, but then have kids leaving their device to go and complete those things.
• Encourage them to go outside and/or get moving when possible (chalk the math work, find a sit spot outside to observe or read, do a scavenger hunt, etc.).
• Kids can do some of their responding in writing/drawing (on paper) or to another person in the house orally too.  Some of our students take a long time to type.  

Thank you for all you have invested into our students.  While there have been bumps in the road, the successes far outweigh the challenges thanks to all of you! I am here to support you; please reach out anytime.

Libby & Justin

Building Weekly Newsletter:

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Have a GREAT weekend! Find some time to unwind and be around those you love!

-Justin

Weekly Update - Saturday, March 28, 2020

Hello, McKinley!

Virtual Learning - HERE WE COME! 

Just a few reminders regarding our new adventure:

• We've got this!  And, if you need help, we are all here to support you!  
• Communication Tool - please update this multiple times throughout the day.  This will become our weekly attendance "recording" to Selena.  Also, please check this before you make any contact with students/families.  I am making the changes that were requested on Friday in regards to phone calls - it will be finalized tomorrow.  
• Distance Learning Plan - take some time to read through this.  Lots of good information here!   Also, check out the Distance Learning Website!  
• Our Main Office is open and willing to serve!  We are open 7:15-3:45pm daily.  Steph, Selena, and I will be there - call, email, or text if you need anything! 

Family Weekly Update:

Starting this week, I will be providing families with a weekly newsletter to communicate updates and information to them.  I am thinking this will probably be a blog, but I am still not 100%.  I will share the information with you when it's released (probably Thursdays).  

Virtual Dress Up Days:

As an elementary team, we have decided on some virtual dress up days for students and staff.  Encourage kids to participate - and join if you'd like!

April 2- Husky Pride Day

April 9 - Bring Your Pet to School Day (stuffed animals count, too!)

April 16 - Pajama Day

April 23 - Hat Day

April 30 - Flannel Day

This will be communicated by the office on social media and our new weekly update.  Please share in your classrooms on Monday.  

Teaching with Empathy & Care:

Just a reminder - this COVID is challenging on many people.  People are stressed with the virus, isolation, and the loss of income.  Please keep this in mind as you are navigating this week.  I mentioned in our Hangout on Friday that I'm already hearing the challenges that some of our families are facing.  Please continue to relay that we are here to support & we do NOT expect them to be a teacher.  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

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Keep smiling, being amazing & focused on all kids.  

You are the best! 

-Justin

Principal's Update - Friday, March 20

Happy Spring Break, everyone!
I truly hope you take some time next week to relax and unwind.  I know many of you had trips that are now not happening.   Make sure you still take some time to still turn school off and focus on YOU!

This blog will be short, as you've been on information overload all week. 

Video Pictures:
If you are interested in being in our student video, please send your pic (email or text) to Justin by 3:00pm today.  You should send a pic of you and a note that says something positive - "I miss you!", "I believe in YOU!", "I CARE about you!"

Perspective & Connecting:
As we talked about Tuesday, please check in on this picture below and think two things:

Check in on Each Other - We don't know what each other are going through, so check in on each other.  This includes an email, text, virtual happy hour, etc!

Perspective - I appreciate your positive energy and perspective around this situation.  Keep that going as we return from break.  You are the best! 

Facebook Group:
I have created a Facebook group for our staff - it's private and should be shared with each of you.  Join us if you haven't!

Communication Next Week:
I will try and leave you alone next week.  If I know any updates about school closure and/or our plan, I will send an email.  I will also post in our Facebook group when I emailed. 


We've got this.  I can't think of a better staff to go through something like this.  You are truly amazing educators and people!
-Justin

Weekly Update - Friday, March 13, 2020

Good morning- happy Friday! 

Update on COVID-19:
Since we met yesterday afternoon, a few things have changed per advice from the MN Dept of Health and MDE. 

First, we are discontinuing field trips until further notice.  I have already communicated with 4th Grade about next week's Mill City trip.  If you have an upcoming field trip in early to mid April, it will more than likely be cancelled. 

Secondly, we are discontinuing assemblies and large gatherings at school (not including lunch).  Until further notice, our assemblies are cancelled, including today's band performance.  Also, if you have any upcoming events that families are invited to, please come see me.  Again, this is all based on advice from MDH & MDE. 

Summer Curriculum Writing:
We are beginning to plan for summer curriculum writing and are now accepting requests. Available funds will dictate how much curriculum writing can be done so please review the preferences below and submit accordingly.  

  

Preferences will be given to:

1. Curriculum areas, teams, or grade levels where curriculum writing is deemed necessary due to new state standards and/or new courses. (6th grade Science, K-12 Art & Music, PE, new courses at OMS/OHS, 11th Grade Social Studies)
2. Courses needing revision, updating, or further alignment.

Requests must be submitted by March 31 using the 2020 Summer Work Request Form.

Teachers will be notified by April 17 if their request(s) have been accepted or denied based on available monies.

As teams/departments plan for potential summer work please note the general time allotment guidelines for curriculum writing below:

*New Courses = 6-12 hours

*Existing Courses = 3-6 hours

Dates available for summer curriculum writing are June 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and August 12, 13.

Please contact Ann Mikkalson or Wendy Eggermont if you have any additional questions.

F &P Goals:

Just a reminder - Fountas and Pinnell goals should be entered into Campus by next Friday!  

Building Weekly Newsletter:
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Have a great weekend, everyone!
-Justin