Our annual Picnic/Open House will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24th.
5:30 (or when you want to come): Picnic on lawn (or gym if raining)
5:30 Rose City Bluegrass Band plays for your entertainment
6:30 Doors to school open and you can go in to see classrooms, meet teacher, and meet other classmates. See the Maplewood website http://159.191.14.135/.docs/pg/11619 for a flyer and more information
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Important Upcoming Dates
Mark your calendars for some important dates coming up:
Fri Sept. 11 - First Day for Kindergartners (half and full-day)
Fri Sept. 11 - 8:15 = New Parent Information Meeting in cafeteria
Weds Sept. 16 - Two Hour Late Opening - school starts at 10:00!
Weds Sept. 16 - 6:15 is the first PTA Meeting
Thurs Sept. 24 - Open House/Back to School Picnic 5:30 is optional picnic and Bluegrass Band on the lawn (or in gym if raining) and 6:30 to 7:30 doors open to come into school to see classrooms and meet teachers/friends
Fri. Oct 2 - School Carnival
Mon. Oct. 5 - Picture Day
Weds Oct. 7 - International Walk/Bike to School Day
Fri Oct. 9 - NO SCHOOL - State In-Service Day
Weds. Oct 21 - Two Hour Late Opening - school starts at 10:00!
Weds Oct 28 - Special Friends/Grandparents Day 12:30
Thurs Oct 29 - Picture Make-Up Day
Fri Oct 30 - Costume Parade in afternoon
Fri Sept. 11 - First Day for Kindergartners (half and full-day)
Fri Sept. 11 - 8:15 = New Parent Information Meeting in cafeteria
Weds Sept. 16 - Two Hour Late Opening - school starts at 10:00!
Weds Sept. 16 - 6:15 is the first PTA Meeting
Thurs Sept. 24 - Open House/Back to School Picnic 5:30 is optional picnic and Bluegrass Band on the lawn (or in gym if raining) and 6:30 to 7:30 doors open to come into school to see classrooms and meet teachers/friends
Fri. Oct 2 - School Carnival
Mon. Oct. 5 - Picture Day
Weds Oct. 7 - International Walk/Bike to School Day
Fri Oct. 9 - NO SCHOOL - State In-Service Day
Weds. Oct 21 - Two Hour Late Opening - school starts at 10:00!
Weds Oct 28 - Special Friends/Grandparents Day 12:30
Thurs Oct 29 - Picture Make-Up Day
Fri Oct 30 - Costume Parade in afternoon
Swine Flu Plans
Maplewood follows the health directives and suggestions from authorities closely, including those from the Multnomah Health Department and the Multnomah Education Service District. If you go to this link from Portland Public Schools: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/families/1180.htm , you will find links to information in several languages talking about suggestions for families.
At this point, the link refers to common sense actions about preventing it through handwashing with soap or alcohol sanitizers; it also give very clear indications that if a child is sick, they should stay home. We will be very cautious this year at Maplewood about this, and "when in doubt, we'll call" to have a child stay home or to be taken home to make sure we help us all from spreading any flu or sickness. Your cooperation and support on this will help a great deal!
At this point, the link refers to common sense actions about preventing it through handwashing with soap or alcohol sanitizers; it also give very clear indications that if a child is sick, they should stay home. We will be very cautious this year at Maplewood about this, and "when in doubt, we'll call" to have a child stay home or to be taken home to make sure we help us all from spreading any flu or sickness. Your cooperation and support on this will help a great deal!
Friday, September 04, 2009
Patience during our "Opening
Our have to tell you how proud I am of our staff for their heroic efforts to be ready for school on Tuesday! Even as I type this, there are still electricians and other workers still around, working right over the desks of several teachers who have had to wait til the last minute to even be able to get to their rooms.
Most noticeably affected are Liberty Looney and Patty Stanich, who have been such strong professionals as they have waited to even be able to walk into their classrooms until 2 days ago! And all our teachers have had construction in the main building to work around.
So, when you come and see the changes and see the rooms at the beginning of this year (you'll be amazed), please give our teachers a pat on the back, and especially give them your patience and support as they work with the children in these new surroundings! We're excited about getting started with this New Year!
Most noticeably affected are Liberty Looney and Patty Stanich, who have been such strong professionals as they have waited to even be able to walk into their classrooms until 2 days ago! And all our teachers have had construction in the main building to work around.
So, when you come and see the changes and see the rooms at the beginning of this year (you'll be amazed), please give our teachers a pat on the back, and especially give them your patience and support as they work with the children in these new surroundings! We're excited about getting started with this New Year!
Kindergarten Programming News
This last week has been extremely busy! During the last two weeks we have met more and more new kindergartners coming to register. In fact, I just confirmed with the district that we do need to add some resources to our Kindergarten program.
Here is what we have as of today: We have a total of 29 students in one class, and 30 in another, and within those classes, we have a grand total of 12 students who are enrolled for Half-Time. That total number is higher than what we want here, and high enough that we earn an additional half-time teacher.
In looking at the recent enrollments, our total numbers, and at the best configuration for these students, here is what is being planned:
1. We will be moving the 12 half-time students into their own separate classroom with a half-time Kindergarten teacher, which will leave 22 to 25 students in the two Full-Time Classrooms. The teachers will be: Paula Sauvageau teaching a Full-Time Class in 110, Beth Hawes teaching the other Full-Time Class in 108, and I will be hiring a teacher for the Half-Time Class which will be in 112. This new teacher will be hired and announced as soon as possible; even though it is late notice, my goal is to have a person hired and ready to begin school for students on the first day of Kindergarten, Sept. 11th.
2. School hours for full-time and half-time students will be the same as before.
3. The Full-Time students and parents will be meeting their teachers at their appointed times.
4. Assessment Appointments: The Half-Time Students and parents will very possibly get an assessment and talk with someone who is NOT going to be their actual teacher (I'm still working as quickly as I can on this). But until you hear otherwise from me, plan on coming in at the times for which you already have an appointment.
5. Changes in full vs. half K : This new set-up will mean that after the school year starts, if a student has to change from full-time to half-time, or from half-time to full-time, it also means that they will have to change teachers/classrooms. If any of you are considering that there might be a change, keep this in mind, and call the school office right away to discuss it with John.
I am sure that his Kindergarten Program will make for a wonderful year for all our students.
Here is what we have as of today: We have a total of 29 students in one class, and 30 in another, and within those classes, we have a grand total of 12 students who are enrolled for Half-Time. That total number is higher than what we want here, and high enough that we earn an additional half-time teacher.
In looking at the recent enrollments, our total numbers, and at the best configuration for these students, here is what is being planned:
1. We will be moving the 12 half-time students into their own separate classroom with a half-time Kindergarten teacher, which will leave 22 to 25 students in the two Full-Time Classrooms. The teachers will be: Paula Sauvageau teaching a Full-Time Class in 110, Beth Hawes teaching the other Full-Time Class in 108, and I will be hiring a teacher for the Half-Time Class which will be in 112. This new teacher will be hired and announced as soon as possible; even though it is late notice, my goal is to have a person hired and ready to begin school for students on the first day of Kindergarten, Sept. 11th.
2. School hours for full-time and half-time students will be the same as before.
3. The Full-Time students and parents will be meeting their teachers at their appointed times.
4. Assessment Appointments: The Half-Time Students and parents will very possibly get an assessment and talk with someone who is NOT going to be their actual teacher (I'm still working as quickly as I can on this). But until you hear otherwise from me, plan on coming in at the times for which you already have an appointment.
5. Changes in full vs. half K : This new set-up will mean that after the school year starts, if a student has to change from full-time to half-time, or from half-time to full-time, it also means that they will have to change teachers/classrooms. If any of you are considering that there might be a change, keep this in mind, and call the school office right away to discuss it with John.
I am sure that his Kindergarten Program will make for a wonderful year for all our students.
PE - New Teacher and Full-Time
News about our Physical Education Program at Maplewood: I am hapy to announce that we ARE going to be able to have a second year of a Full-Time P.E. Teacher for our children!
As you may remember, we were the only school in the Portland Public Schools to apply for, and receive, a grant from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) a year ago. This grant paid for the salary for a full-time P.E. Teacher all last year, with the additional help of some Maplewood funds. But at the end of the year, we were given the disappointing news that the state was not going to fund it for our second year due to budget limits. Therefore, last spring, Mr. Schalk was transferred to work at Creston Scho0ol - we were sorry to see him go. At that point, though, we were then able to hire Jane Eggert for half-time PE. teaching here.
The most recent news, however, brought positive results for us: two weeks ago, a phone call to me from ODE stated that on their last legislative day, some funding was added at the last minute to fund some salary money for this PE program for one more year, and I was invited to write an application for it. I did that over a weekend, turned it in, and was just told that we will be one of 29 schools in the state to get this grant for one year! So as it stands now, Jane Eggert just yesterday was given the official o.k. to teach here full time, and she is delighted!
Ms. Eggert lives close by, has children who attended Wilson Cluster Schools, and brings energy, passion, and years of experience to this important part of the education of our children! Please join me in welcoming her when you see her!
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