Principal Notes 10-01-10

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, OCT. 8^TH! – Statewide Inservice Day

BUSY START TO THE YEAR! - This year began with a record high number of kids enrolled here, and a record low number of staff. We are currently at 348 students, with our highest numbers at 30 and 31 in 4^th and 5^th; we now have the brand new Half-Day K class, which keeps our numbers in the Kindergarten classes at an average of 17; children continue to register!  Budget cuts over the summer meant that we lost our Music Teacher, and one full-time Educational Assistant for Special Education students. The end of our Oregon grant for P.E. meant that we moved from Full-Time P.E. to Half-Time this year. 

 

GRANDPARENTS/SPECIAL FRIENDS - This year, we are not able to provide a specialized, separate event for these folks. The large numbers of students, and the loss of our music program, have meant we’ll shift our focus. We would like to continue our support for having Grandparents and Special Friends being involved with your children’s education; we’d therefore like to extend invitations to have them come and visit the school or be involved in many of the future activities. For example, we certainly would invite them to come during the Carnival Oct. 15, or Spirit Week, or volunteering in the classroom, etc. A more complete list of dates and activities will be sent to you as reminders soon.

 

REMINDERS FROM NUTRITION SERVICES - Families are reminded to send lunch money to pre-pay for meals or send a lunch from home unless students qualified for free meals in the 2009-10 school year. Students are permitted to carry-over prior year eligibility through October 12, 2010, but families must re-apply each school year to continue to receive free or reduced price meals and fee reductions for other programs. Families are encouraged to use MyLunchMoney.com for convenient online meal payments.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LIBRARIAN, ELIN KORDAHL! - who will receive her award October 8^th at a banquet downstate for Oregon Librarian of the Year!

 

CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL! - The last-minute budget cuts can’t hide my gratitude for the Annual Campaign; the funds you raised last spring helped save one half-time specialist; if we wouldn’t have had those funds, we would have lost three half-time positions. This fund-raising is so essential for our school.

LUNCH SCHEDULE NEEDED CHANGES - For several years, our lunchtime routine was to have students eat first, and then go out to lunch recess. There were suggestions that we should reverse that schedule, to make sure students didn’t rush through their lunch in order to get to recess. We set up that schedule this fall, and tried it for three weeks, but this past Monday I switched back the schedule; we don’t have enough staff to be able to adequately cover the intricate timing, and we had many students who didn’t get enough time to eat their lunch. So, at the present time, we’ll be on a schedule that has students eating, and then going out to recess. We will be able to let students stay to eat their lunch as long as they like. The staff will also watch the students closely, and make sure that they eat a healthy amount of food before they go out.

 

PARENT PLAYGROUND MONITORS - The PTA provided me with an initial list of parents willing to come help supervise on the playground at lunch-time. I’m now inviting more parents to volunteer to help us. In order to help supervise, you must take a 45 minute training session with me, and have a current background check. My next training dates will be on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and on Thursday, Oct. 14^th from 10:00 to 10:45. You can volunteer to come as often as you choose; we have a schedule of potential times; our recess supervision runs in 15 minute intervals from 11:15 to 12:15. Please email or phone John if you are interested.

 

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF - I appreciate the help PTA members gave us on directing traffic; there are new parents, though, who continue to think they should park their cars in the drop-off zone in the morning. Please remember that you can drop your children off by driving by school in either direction; if coming from the South, you can pull into the drop-off lane and then continue northbound with a right turn. If coming from the North, simply pull up to the crosswalk and let your child get out of the car at the cones, and the Safety Patrol and Mr. Blanck will help them cross. Please, no U-turns, as it creates traffic hazards for the people walking. 

 

SKILLS AND ASSETS OF OUR CHILDREN - Write your wishes for “What I’d Like Maplewood to Teach Our Children” on the giant poster in the main hall.

 

LATE CALLS/LATE ARRIVALS - Late calls in the day can be unsafe; please make your after-school plans as early as possible and send a note, or at least make a phone call early in the day. Also, please aim for early arrivals (“Ready at Eight” means children ready to begin instruction, not just walking in the door). E-mails about absences or pick-up arrangements are not good ways to notify us (in case computers are down, and because we don’t monitor emails on a minute to minute basis).

 

MUSIC PROGRAM - We’re going to convene people to give advice on what we can provide children, given the loss of our music program. We are looking at raising money for Performances, Assemblies, or Residencies that would benefit all our children.

 

LOST AND FOUND - The pile grows again! Write your name on the inside labels of clothing, so we can help your children recover clothing that they forgot somewhere.

 

THANK TO THE PTA for the New Parent Meeting - It was good to see this enthusiastic new group of parents!

 

DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS Policy - “Under Board Policy 3.30.35 and Administrative Directive, schools may distribute information from certain non-PPS groups. The groups providing this information are not endorsed or sponsored by Portland Public Schools. District policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. BP 1.80.020. Not all outside groups comply with the District’s non-discrimination policy. Families are strongly encouraged to review all materials closely.”

Upcoming Events:

Oct 1 -    Hearing Screening – K and 1^st grade

Oct 5 -    Picture Day!

Oct 7 -    Walk to School Day

Oct 7 -    TAG screening for all 2^nd graders

Oct 8 -    NO SCHOOL – Statewide Inservice Day

Oct 12 -  Playground Supervision Training – 10:00 - 10:45 am

Oct 13 - 2 Hour Late Opening

Oct 14-   Playground Supervision Training – 10:00 – 10:45 am

Oct 15 - CARNIVAL!!

Oct 27 - Parent Meetings:  ELL Parents 5:30-6:00 pm;

               TAG Parents 7-8:00 pm (both meetings at Wilson HS)

Brief News for Start of 10-11 School Year

These are the bulleted topics I presented at the PTA Meeting tonight:

• Elin Kordahl will receive her award October 8th at a banquet downstate for Oregon Librarian of the Year!

• Record High Number of kids enrolled here this fall – currently at 348; highest numbers at 30 and 31 in 4th and 5th; we now have the brand new Half-Day K class; children continue to register!

• Record Low Number of staff working here – budget cuts meant that we lost Half-Time Music, Half-Time P.E., and one full-time Educational Assistant

• Campaign Successful! – The last-minute budget cuts can’t hide my gratitude for the Annual Campaign results from last spring, which helped save one half-time specialist; if we wouldn’t have had those funds, we would have lost three half-time positions.

• Lunch Schedule needs changes – I’ve been watching our lunchtime closely, and I will be making changes in it very soon to allow students more time to eat. I may have to revert to “Eat first, then Recess”.

• Lunch Supervision – I am asking PTA to provide me a list of parents willing to come help supervise on the playground at lunch-time. We’ll be asking the parents and the staff to do the supervision, and have the Conflict Managers concentrate on conflict management. Once I get the names of the volunteers, we’ll invite them to a training with me at 10:00 to 11:00 on Monday, Sept. 27th; trainees get their own volunteer badge!

• Pick-Up and Drop-Off – I appreciate the help PTA members gave us on directing traffic; there are new parents, though, who continue to think they should park their cars in the drop-off zone in the morning.

• Skills and Assets of our children - Write your wishes for “What I’d Like Maplewood to Teach Our Children” on the giant poster in the main hall.

• Late Calls/Late Arrivals –Late calls in the day can be unsafe; please make your after-school plans as early as possible and send a note, or at least make a phone call early in the day. Also, please aim for early arrivals (“Ready at Eight” means children ready to begin instruction, not just walking in the door).

• Music Program – We’re going to convene people to give advice on what we can provide children, given the loss of our music program. We are looking at music lessons that could be provided after school for a fee, with subsidies available.

• Lost and Found – The pile grows again! Write your name on the inside labels of clothing, so we can help your children recover clothing that they forgot somewhere.

• Thanks to the PTA for helping host the New Parent Meeting – It was good to see that enthusiastic new group of parents!

• Thank you for Everything! We can’t adequately express our gratitude for your kind words, patience, offers to help, money donations, and volunteer time!

• Dates -

o Next Tuesday 9/22 - Two Hour Late Opening; school will open doors at 9:50.

o Thursday 9/23 – Back to School Night : Used Book Sale opens at 4:00;Field will be available for picnics if you like; Open House begins at 6:30

o Mon 10/4 - Hearing Screenings for K and 1st graders

o Tues 10/5 - Picture Day

o Thurs 10/7 - Walk to School Day, and next PTA meeting

o Thurs 10/7 - TAG Screening of all 2nd graders

o Fri 10/8 - NO SCHOOL- Statewide In-Service Day

o Weds 10/13 – Two Hour Late Opening

o Fri 10/15 – Carnival

o Weds 10/27 – Grandparents Day in afternoon (Gray M.S. is in a.m.); activities are to be determined. We have traditionally done a music performance, but this year, we have no music teacher!

o Tues 11/2 – Picture Retake Day

o Weds 11/3 – PTA Meeting

o Fri 11/5 – NO SCHOOL – Planning Day

o Mon 11/22 thru 11/24 – Parent Teacher Conferences

half day update

Dear Parents of Maplewood Kindergartners,
This is an update from my email message yesterday: I have good news for all of you; our enrollment held at high enough levels to earn an additional half-time teacher from the district! As you may remember, the Portland District made a commitment to keeping class size in Kindergarten at 25 or less, and if we exceed that, we are directed to open another class. This means that we'll be shifting the half-day students out of their Full Day classrooms into that half-day class, giving everyone lower class sizes. I know that Ms. Patterson and Ms. Hawes became attached to ALL their students, and vice versa, but in the long run, everyone will benefit by the lower class size.

I am happy to announce that the teacher for Half-Day will be Mrs. Mag Savage. She taught Kindergarten here the last 6 months of the last school year, but we were not able to retain her due to the way that Kindergarten allocations are made. She is a fantastic addition to our Kindergarten team, and is anxious to get started. In fact, she was here in school within 10 minutes of the time that I received official approval Monday morning. Mrs. Savage has many years of experience in Kindergarten and in the primary grades, lives very close by, and has children in the Wilson Cluster Schools, and is really looking forward to working here this year!

SO WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? :
1. Mrs. Savage is currently busy gathering and rearranging room 110, which was one of our kindergarten rooms last year. She'll be making sure she has the materials, furniture, and equipment needed to get off to a good start with the students.

2. I'll be talking with Ms. Patterson and Ms. Hawes about how to transition the children to this new class (how to talk to them about it, and how to make arrangements in the next couple of days to have the students visit their new teacher and their new classroom). AT THIS POINT, THE STAFF IS NOT TALKING WITH THE STUDENTS ABOUT THIS UNTIL WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN SET. DETAILS WITH THE KIDS (AT SCHOOL) UNTIL WE KNOW MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE TIMING.

3. Mrs. Savage wants to get started with her class as soon as possible; at this point, it will probably be Thursday morning, so that the kids can have a day with her prior to their weekend. But the exact time will depend on how quickly the room can be arranged and materials ready. We’ll likely do a “meet and greet” activity on Wednesday to have the children identify their new class.

4. I'll send out more information to you as soon as we know more! - Thanks so much for your patience and faith in our school staff!

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

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!