September 25 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!

I hope you've had a great week!  I love seeing the relationships, routines, and happiness that has filled the building again.  

Walkie Talkies:
If you are going outside (outdoor learning and recess), please contact the office and bring a walkie talkie with you.  We are seeing more and more of trying to get a hold of a teacher and they are outside. Please get the walkie and return immediately when you come back in.  Thank you!  

Birthday Books:
Don't forget to send students down for a birthday book on the day they celebrate their birthday! 

Mindset:

Please don't forget about the power of your mindset.  I recently came across the below quote - "deficit mindset is like an oil spill - it coats every organism, it obscures beauty, it does great harm to the environment, and it's tedious to clean up."  Please remember this as we enter into the 20-21 school year.  If your mindset looks for deficits, you will find it.  But, your thinking also impacts the environment and "beauty" of McKinley.   You are responsible for the mindset you bring to McKinley each day!  :)

Google Meets - Virtual Whiteboard:
Below is a tweet from our Technology Department regarding a virtual whiteboard that is built into Google Meet.  If you need assistance with this, feel free to connect with Brent or Libby.  Also, if you aren't on Twitter yet, now is your time!  Twitter is an amazing spot to learn new ideas, share resources, and collaborate. It's free- join today! 

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

I hope you are able to relax and recharge this weekend!  Go do something for YOU!

Have a great weekend!  Justin

September 18 Update

 Happy Friday, McKinley!  I hope you had a great week of learning and relationships! 

Just a reminder - complete your Benchmark Assessments by Friday, September 25th.  They should be entered into Infinite Campus by 9/30.  Please see your Reading Leadership Team rep or Libby with questions.

Staff Daily Health Check:

Please make sure you are checking your conditions each morning.  If you are not feeling well, or showing symptoms of illness, please connect with myself or Judy.  

Twitter Challenge:

Congrats to Katie Demmer's class for winning the Twitter Challenge.  This was a hard decision as there were so many great entries.  Below is 2A's submission:

Face Coverings:

It is imperative that we are monitoring masks and face shields in the building - with staff and students.  Masks or face coverings are required.  If you are wearing a shield, you must have a mask when you leave your instructional area.  Also, please be monitoring masks in your classroom, too.  Students need to be wearing masks unless you have built in a mask break.  Please watch this!  

Badges:

Also, don't forget about your badge.  You must be wearing your badge at all times.  

Power Hour: 

We had a great PowerHour this week - thank you for your passion and learner-mindset!  A few reminders- 

Don't forget about positive communication - including Positive Office Referrals.  The more we can build relationships and communicate, the better! 

What's your Call to Action (CTA) from Monday?  Check in with your accountability buddy!  

Slideshow from Monday's Power Hour

Devices:

We need your help with device assignment.  Each device has a barcode and has been issued to an individual student.   When Brent goes in to look at these, the names on the device and the barcode "assignment" don't always match.  This is an issue as the family will be billed if the device is not returned.  This is where we need your help - 

First, make sure the name (if you put a tag on the device) and the barcode “assignment” match up.  If you have questions, see Brent.   

Second, if you have students leave (or join) your classroom, please connect with Brent.  The device needs to be checked in and reissued to the new student.  

Please help with this - thanks! 

Instructional Routines by Model:

Below is a document that with instructional routines and what the MDH guidelines are.  This has been developed through Teaching and Learning - our Reading Leadership Team looked at it yesterday.  Please remember a few things - first, we are "in person" now.  If we move to hybrid, we will need to change a few routines and approaches.  Secondly, please do not stress out about these.  Everyone is working hard to create routines that are in compliance with what is being asked.  If we move to a new model, we will assist you.  This document is just something to start thinking "what if..."... Click here to access the document

Social Emotional Supports At McKinley

Following are some of the social emotional supports we have for students at McKinley and how to access them.  If you have any questions or need clarification please contact Annette Warner (8215), School Social Worker at McKinley.

Relaxation Room

• Purpose:  To provide a “safe space” for eligible students to regulate their feelings using music, tools, and possibly sensory needs.  This is built into the student’s schedule and is meant to be a proactive measure.  

• Process:  complete the  SEL Referral Form

Safe Base:

• Purpose:  To provide an extra relationship for students to have a positive, supportive, one-on-one relationship with a staff member.  This includes a student who does not appear to be connected with supports/staff/peers at school or a student who comes in dysregulated needing support to  “set up” their day, or a student who just needs consistent time to “chat”. 

• Process:  complete the  SEL Referral Form

Mindful Art

• Purpose: To provide a weekly opportunity for students to use art to identify & regulate feelings, as well as feel successful through their strengths.   This is once a week for 30 minutes

•  Process: complete the  SEL Referral Form

Small Group/individual Support

• Purpose: To provide support for students struggling with emotional regulation, peer interactions, social skills and/or family concerns.  Groups meet once per week for 20 - 30 min.

•  Process: complete the  SEL Referral Form

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great, relaxing weekend!

-Justin

September 11, 2020 Update

Happy Friday!

Don't forget, Impact Statements are due today!  We need them for Monday's Staff Power Hour.  Get them to Justin today.  

Students Switching Models:

A huge thank to you everyone for your flexibility in the switches that are occurring between distance learning to in-person.  A HUGE thank you to Steph & Selena for organizing these switches.  I know there has been some frustration around "well, families had to choose until January".   We did ask families to make a decision; however, because we provide an education to students AND know that many of our scholars need to be at McKinley, we need to allow these changes.  We are hoping this minimizes as the weeks continue.  Please know, we will continue to communicate the changes to you (if any) and appreciate your flexibility!  

COVID & Communication:

We are already experiencing families who are coming into contact with COVID and are making decisions on programming based on the MN Dept of Health Decision Tree.  Please know this is a process that we follow that is in accordance with the state.  

One request - please limit the conversations we are having about students and COVID.  We have to remember that this is a health privacy issue that we need to be respectful of.  I'm hearing more and more conversations among staff of whether or not a student has COVID.   This conversation really should not be happening.   Just like if a student had any other medical need, the office will communicate that the student is going home to the classroom teacher.  Really, no one else should need to know this.  Please, please, please do not engage in these conversations moving forward.  

Social Media & CDC Guidelines:

First, don't forget to "tweet" out all those awesome things you are doing in your classroom.  McKinley has always done a great job of using social media- please continue this!

When you are posting pictures on social media (or sharing pictures with families), please make sure we are following CDC and MDH guidelines (socially distanced, masks, etc).  The community - and society- are watching for this.  It's another way for us to show our commitment to keeping students safe and healthy.  

Copy Code Limits:

We are aligning to the other buildings and starting to monitor copy codes.  Each of you now has a 2,000 copy limit on your account.  If you go over this, you will need to talk to Steph.  Please, please, please make sure that you are sending away large quantities of copies AND doing more work virtual and through Google Classroom.  We are WAY over on our copy budget each year and this will help.  Also, please make sure you are only using your account.  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

I hope you find some time to get outside and enjoy your weekend! 

-Justin

September 3, 2020 Update

Happy September, McKinley! 

It's exciting to have you - and students - back in the building!  Even with the crazy start, I can tell it's going to be a great year!  

A huge thank you to everyone for your time, energy, and passion to making this year great.  It's been a different start for sure.  One thing that has not changed is YOU.   Keep your head held high and know you are ENOUGH and you are making a DIFFERENCE!  

AM Arrival:

Please see the PDF of the tentative arrangement of classes outside for morning arrival.   In this, you will see the area your grade level should meet at.  We will have a sign with your class and name on the first day.  This is tentative - we are going to see how the first few days go.  Also, please distance your class away from others at this time.  

Also, you will notice my beautiful coloring and artwork in this map.  Google Map still does not have a new aerial shot of McKinley, so you get Art by Justin. :)

Re-Entry Plan:

As we know, students have been gone from school for almost 6 months.  Coming back to school will be an adjustment for us all - learning to be back in a room, building our stamina around learning, etc.  We had a team come together to create some ideas to help transition students back into our new normal.  Please build in times to do some of these activities - we really need them.  

Re-Entry Plan

Also, don't forget to regularly teach and re-teach expectations.  I have created a basic sheet to remind you of the things we need students to know and practice  - use this or customize it for your classroom.  

Speech Para:

Amanda Wood will be working remotely this year; however, she is still servicing our students until the babies come.   There will be a paraprofessional here each day from 8-11am to help get students set up to do a virtual session with her.  The paraprofessional will help students find a spot, get set up, and get started with Amanda.

COVID Symptoms & Reporting:

I've had a few questions about COVID - what to do look for, who to report to, etc.  First, we have to remember that we cannot know and/or share if a family has COVID.  We have our District Nurse, Amy Jo Havelka, who gets involved and works with Steele County on tracing.  If a student is suspected of COVID or tests positive, we cannot share any of this with colleagues or students.  It's very similar to lice or other health conditions - we can't share information.

If a student is suspected of COVID, please let Selena, Steph, and Judy know.   

Volunteer Coordinator:

Steph and Selena are our Volunteer Coordinators for the year.  If you need background checks, or other things you went to Amy with, please connect with Steph and Selena. 

Child Collaboration Team: 

This summer, the elementary buildings came together to create one unified process on our child study and/or Problem Solving Teams.  The elementary team moved away from the word "problem" to "Child Collaboration Team".  This team is an assistance team if a student is struggling with academics, behavior, engagement, and/or other needs.  Basically, if you have exhausted your options and still need help, you would complete a form to meet with this team.  This is NOT the gatekeeper for Special Education.  This team is open and available for ANY student who has needs - not just those who are in need of special education services.  More information will be shared on the form.  Below is the process outlined, which follows the other elementary schools.  Our contact for this team is Libby Zeman.  

CCT Process Outlined

Plan Ahead: 

Please remember to be planning ahead in your needs and scheduling.  If you have something coming up, please plan ahead.  If you need time off, please plan ahead.  I am getting a lot of last minute requests that should be communicated earlier.  I understand emergencies come up - however, if you need to leave early or be gone for a planned event, please plan ahead and communicate this a few days before.  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Don't forget, EVERY interaction that we have is either a culture BUILDER or a culture KILLER.  Which do you to do?  

Enjoy your long weekend - rest up and enjoy your last weekend of summer!

-Justin

Summer Update - August 14, 2020

I hope you are all healthy, happy, and enjoying summer!  Continue to soak up this time... we will be back at it soon!  

Distance Learning:

Overall, we have around 150 of our students doing distance learning!  As an elementary, we have around 350 students doing the distance option.  The distance learning will be programmed out of McKinley - with teachers reporting to McKinley.  As of today, we will have K-2 distance learning teachers set up in Taylor Gritz's old Kindergarten room and 3-5th grade distance learning teachers set up in Meiners/Nelson's classroom by 2nd grade.  This is considered a district-wide program with teachers and students from across the district.  I'm very excited to see this new program grow - with some awesome teacher leadership to support this!  

Staffing & Sections:

Due to the need to reduce class sizes to meet CDC requirements, we had to make some changes to teaching assignments.  Overall, we are losing a 1st Grade section and adding a 4th Grade section.  A HUGE thank you to the below people for their flexibility, focus on kids, and professionalism.    

• Kayla Davis will be teaching 5th Grade Distance Learning, district-wide
• Karen Thurnau will be teaching 3rd Grade Distance Learning, district-wide
• Dani Rypka will be teaching 4th Grade Distance Learning, district-wide
• Julie Bauer will be teaching 5th Grade Distance Learning, district-wide

• Jess Zupansic will be teaching 3rd Grade - 3A.  We cut a section of 1st Grade.  
• Michelle Meiners will be teaching 3rd Grade - 3D.  
• Sami Nelson will be teaching 4th Grade - 4B.
• Gia Davison will be teaching 4th Grade - 4E.  This was an added section and will be located in 5th Grade (Paige Gilligan's old room).

As you can see, we will not be programming any tier 2 or 3 interventions this year.  We will want to be creative in how we can intervene with students for the year.  

Again, these are still not final.  I wanted you to be aware at this point.  

Staff Update Meeting:

I will be offering another update meeting next Thursday, August 20.  This is an optional Google Meet to hear about updates and ask questions. 

Class Lists:

With the changes to staffing & decrease in students to distance learning, we are re-working class lists today.  A huge thank you to our Special Education and EL team for helping with this process.  Our goal is to get out placement letters mid-next week.  At that point, your roster will be updated in Campus - but still not final.  We are still getting move in/move out requests.   I'm so thankful for Steph!  

Welcome Back & Before School Interview Information:

We are finalizing your welcome back week - you should receive an email next week with this information.  Please know this week has lots of preparation time - to get you ready for another successful year.  

Before School Interview Dates:

Thursday, August 27 - 7:40-3:10pm

Wednesday, September 2 - 11:40-7:10pm

Thursday, September 3- 7:40-3:10pm

Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 are NO SCHOOL Days.  As I look at the calendar, it must be in honor of Kathy Feltes & Gia Davison's birthdays?  :)

We start school on Tuesday, September 8 (Kindergarten will do half classes on Tuesday & Wednesday of this week).  

Writing a New Chapter:

This quote will summarize my year - and hopefully yours, too.   We know there is uncertainty - all the logistical stuff, how will staff and students do with these changes, etc.  There is lots that is "unknown".  However, all of these "unknowns" are writing a beautiful chapter for us.  Some day, we will look back and think about each of these experiences & opportunities and smile.  I can't think of a group of educators I'd rather write this chapter with.... our talent, dedication, and energy will carry us through the next few months! 

I hope you are all doing well and are gearing up for another great year!   Let me know if you have questions or concerns - my "door' is always open!  

Enjoy your last few weeks!

-Justin

Summer Update - August 11, 2020

Happy August, McKinley! 

Can you believe that school is right around the corner?  This year is sure to bring many new challenges to our team.  When I think of these challenges, I take a deep breath and feel the stress in my body.  Then, I take another deep breath and look at pictures of our team... and remember how strong we are as a united team.  Our team has taken on challenges in the past and come out better - and stronger - than before.  I know I've said this before.  We've got this.  

What's Going on at McKinley This Week? 

Just to update you on where we are at with the beginning of the year.   We just closed up our enrollment form where families indicated distance learning or in-person learning.  A huge thank you to Steph, Selena, Nura, and Sylvia for their countless hours of working with families.

Today and tomorrow, we will be calling those who indicated distance learning to talk through the expectations.  They will look differently than spring, so we want families to know this before committing to distance learning.  

The rest of the week, we will look at who indicated "in person" learning and balance class lists.  I will, more than likely, need help from staff in the building with this.  I'm hoping all the changes just magically work out by taking a few students per classroom.  If not (sigh!), we will go back through to balance classes.  

It's a crazy week with lots of moving parts.  Thank goodness for our awesome office staff who have this handled.   We've got this!  

Family Update - August:

This video was sent home today to families:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ6WA4bdJ4s&feature=youtu.be

School Theme for 20-21 - "What's Your Story?"

Our theme for the year is "What's Your Story?"  This theme really focuses around two things - knowing about others' stories and using our backgrounds/stories as assets to learning.  There is so much power in understanding others - both students and staff. 

Article - 7 Ways to Cope with Uncertainty:

This time of year (on a normal year) can bring excitement, energy, and also stress.  Add COVID-19 to the mix to leave many of us with uncertainty, stress, and fear of the unknown.  I completely understand this and feel it myself.  I recently came across an article on dealing with this uncertainty- well worth the read!  

Scope & Sequence:

With two different forms of programming (distance learning and in person learning) occurring, it is critical we follow the scope and sequence this year.  With families health and the differences between programming, we will more than likely see more mobility this year.  It is critical we follow the scope and sequence provided.  More information will be coming on this.  

I hope you enjoy your last few weeks of summer - rest up and enjoy the beautiful weather!

-Justin

Summer Update - July 2020

Happy July, McKinley!  I hope this email finds you relaxed, healthy, and happy!

Fall Plan for Return:
I know there has been a lot on social media about returning to school.  With this, I'm sure there is a lot of stress, anxiety, and "how will we manage this?"  Please rest assured - we have been working countless hours to make this work for both students and staff.  As you probably know, we need to be prepared for three models, in the event we need one of them.  We spent some time in June looking at these and getting feedback from stakeholders (representing McKinley was Justin Lang and Jen Koziolek).

Next week, Governor Walz will be releasing more information on our fall return.   After that point, I will be meeting with Building Leadership Team (August 3) to discuss our plan and gather feedback.  Then, I will start to communicate what the year will look like.   Please know, you and our students' safety has been at the heart of all decision-making.

This year will be a great one -  we are surrounded by great people, great students, and great families.  It will be GREAT!

2020-2021 Important Dates:
Attached is a link to our tentative 2020-2021 important dates.  These dates are still subject to change - especially if something changes with programming and/or attending school.  Please plan on these dates unless you hear differently!

Caring School Communities - Rebuilding Kit:
Caring School Communities has done some work around restarting the year and rebuilding community.  Check out the resources:  https://www.collaborativeclassroom.org/professional-learning/reconnecting-and-rebuilding-toolkit-k-6/

Open Positions:
We have a few open positions at McKinley for the 2020-2021 school year.  If you know of anyone who would be a great addition to our team, please encourage them to apply online.  Also, if you highly recommend them, please let me know!

• 4th Grade Long-Term Sub (for Chelsea Van Roekel & Dani Rypka) - position is late October end of year.  This position is posted online.  
• Educational Assistants - 3 positions open (positions will be posted in early August)
• Principal - just kidding! 

This summer, Libby and I are leading a book study on "Personal and Authentic" by Thomas Murray (he is scheduled to be our keynote in September).   There is a quote in there that I think will help ground us in our real purpose - and how much our language/beliefs matter:

You don't teach math.  You teach kids math.

You don't teach science.  You teach kids science.

You don't teach music.  You teach kids music. 

You don't teach social studies.  You teach kids social studies.

You don't teach writing.  You teach kids writing.  

Keep this in mind as we start to plan (and stress) - we teach kids.  And, you are damn good at it!  

Don't forget to continue to recharge your "battery" - and do whatever you love to do!  

If you have any questions, please reach out.  I'm here for you! 

-Justin