Monday Message

Well, we knew this week would be dicey...we'll just have to stay on our toes and be flexible. I won't add a lot here because I imagine increased communications throughout the week from me and at the district level.

• Everyone Belongs Here Cafe Lessons: Focus on Dignity - I started last week with an introduction to Dignity and the book, "Same, Same, but Different." Not sure if we will stay on track this week or not...
• Skating unit in Wellness February 23-March 11: Hopefully you saw Alyssa's newsletter last week about our upcoming skating unit. Many families will choose to bring their own helmet and will therefore need to know when Wellness is during this 3-week window. Pretty much everyone already does this, but please be sure your classroom newsletters clearly state which days you have Wellness during the skating unit so that families can be prepared.
• Staff Skating: Use the button below to share your interest (and shoe size) for a staff skating experience after school...perhaps in place of a staff meeting.
• ZEF Grants due FEB 10

Have a great week!

Andrew

This year our CU team discussed the idea of focusing on Black Excellence in STEM! Callie and Jennifer have organized a Belonging OneNote with resources. We thought some of these discussions could specifically take place during your math block this year and we recognize mathematicians and scientists.

Eagle Elementary staff and students are excited to celebrate friendship and kindness on Friday, February 13th ! Classroom teachers will be working on plans that include notes of encouragement, crafts, community service, and games for the days leading up to, and the week of Valentine’s Day. As a school, we are excited to continue celebrating the day in a meaningful and intentional manner that aligns with our Guidelines for Success, specifically the one that encourages us to Take Care of Others.

We ask that store-bought Valentine’s, trinkets, and candy not be sent from home. Students will have ample opportunities in class to share a note or message of care, kindness, and friendship with peers. We believe that our inclusive, in class activities help guide more meaningful conversations about kindness, reduce waste and expenses from store bought items, and help reduce the negative experience for kiddos who are unable to bring in items from home to pass out.

Teachers will be communicating more specific classroom plans in their newsletters.

Mapping out the Plan, Do, Study, Act phases: Please note that the guidelines I provide are the minimum to keep us all moving through the process. Some folks are looking to go faster and look at student work sooner and plan ahead faster, etc. As long as we are all working with in the same structure we can adjust as needed.

We've hit a nice stride with team agendas and planning! Many teams are now in the phase of looking ahead at opportunities for skills assessment, calibrating proficiency with student work samples, and now moving into a phase of how we respond when students do or do not demonstrate understanding.

We will be back on track this week Thursday and Friday.

🥳The Power of January

Kindergarten teachers around the world have hoped and sometimes counted on The Power of January. I know I hope for it each year! Routines become familiar, content starts to stick, and social interactions begin to flourish. 🙂 Reviewing procedures and expectations are always a productive use of time after a long break, but January can also be a good time to layer in new expectations. Maybe take a moment to think about what parts of your day could use a little power shuffle or reach out, and we can think through it together.

❤️Literacy

Helping Readers Access Complex Texts This article felt affirming to read as we enter Quarter 3 in addition to being a good instructional reminder as we start Module 3.

📣 Professional Learning

Book Club revisit

Over the last few years, K-2 and 3-4 have read Shifting the Balance. Let's plan to crack those books back open and discuss instructional opportunities our students could be ready for (and maybe we are, too!)

Save the Date! Tuesday, January 27th in our PLC room at 3:00.

Explicit Instruction introduction

Anita Archer, an educational consultant focusing on instructional delivery, explicit instruction, and literacy instruction, has many online resources for educators. I had the opportunity to listen to one of her presentations back in 2024- a very engaging speaker! Anita Archer videos How could we use some of her thinking in our own practice? Our K-2 teachers use explicit instruction techniques daily when teaching OG, but are there other places in our day where students could benefit from explicit instruction?

🪴PLCS

See Andrew's update.

🙌Literacy Committee

The Literacy Committee noticed differences in our writing organizers, especially in the upper grades. Members left with a copy of The Writing Revolution to peruse its basic components along with checking out TWR's standard writing organizers. We also attempted an engaging game, Guess My Word. Ask your member about the details! ​Guess the Word consonant blends.pptx​

​Guess the Word-EE.pptx​

🔢Data Spreadsheets

Our data spreadsheets will be a great tool for PLCS during the 3rd quarter. As a team, please update as you see fit so we can look at our students across the grade level to plan next steps.

🎯MTSS

Thank you for taking the time to meet with the MTSS team this week to discuss our striving students. We've seen some great growth this year- thank you! As always, their updated plans are on the Q/share drive under MTSS, EAG.

🙌Let's Connect!

There are so many ways we can connect this year to deepen our understanding together. ZMEG goals, unpacking Module 3, looking at FQTs, etc. Click the Book time to meet with me link below to get started!

Have a great week with your students and may the Power of January be on your side.

Marissa

Measures for your arrival:

• Please dress comfortably and warm on extremely cold days (layers are optimal – our building temperatures can vary from area to area).
• Please consider your footwear choices – our parking lots and sidewalks may be a bit messy or slippery if we’ve had snow, ice, or rain.
• Drive Safely – You are precious cargo, please give yourself time so you are not rushing. Let us know if you’re running a bit late and need coverage.

Preventive Measures for our Facility During Extreme Cold (below 20 degrees):

• Please leave your classroom/office door OPEN when you leave the next couple of days so that IF anything inside fails, our system can help alleviate heating need within the space.
• Please CLOSE your window blinds each evening to help keep heat within your room. Open Blinds introduce unnecessary cold (in this case) air into the room.
• Our custodial staff will be making sure Interior Entry door/s are propped OPEN so as to alleviate concern for heating unit failure.
• Note: During AM period when staff & students are entering these doors can be closed to keep external cold from sneaking into the building, noting that once this high traffic period is over (student arrival) then they will be propped open again.
• If you notice any areas that could be hazardous, please notify the office staff as soon as possible.

Cold Weather Guidelines for Outdoors

Please see the paragraph below taken from the ZCS Elementary Handbook:

• “Each child is expected to be suitably dressed for play outdoors. As the weather turns colder, each child needs a winter coat, hat, and gloves. Snow pants, waterproof boots, warm gloves/mittens are required to be able to play in the snow. All children play outside except on rainy, icy, or very cold days (wind chill below 10-20 degree range). Inside recess will be held on those exceptional days. A child who is well enough to come to school is well enough to go outside and play. Exceptions will be made if parent/guardians send in a note from the doctor stating that the child needs to stay inside."
• We will always prefer outdoor recess, but we want to ensure all students and teachers are safe!

How do we know what the wind chill is?

• It is very important that we all use the same source for determining wind chill, since there was up to a 5 degree discrepancy with different weather apps/websites. Therefore, we will all use the National Weather Service website to determine the wind chill: www.weather.gov
• When you put in the Zionsville zip code 46077 it shows Indianapolis; however, this is extended to Zionsville.

What does the Handbook say to do?

• Classroom teachers can determine using the above website whether or not they are able go out to recess under the following conditions (During cold days, please always check for wind chill before you go out to recess.)
• If the “Wind Chill” is BELOW 10 degrees, ALL classrooms will have INDOOR RECESS
• If the “Wind Chill” is ABOVE 20 degrees and conditions permit, ALL classrooms will have OUTDOOR RECESS
• If the “Wind Chill” is between 10 and 20 degrees you will need to decide as a classroom teacher whether or not to go out to recess. Please make sure all students are adequately dressed for the conditions and temperatures before you make a definitive decision or some have found success with providing an indoor and outdoor option when working with your team

• One last thing - Please remind students to not eat or touch the salt that is used to melt the ice.

Hopefully we start on time each day, but our 2 hour delay schedule seemed to work out well from the fog earlier this year.

January 19: MLK Jr Day (No School)

January 20: CogAT Testing (K & 2) Window Opens, Andrew LT 9:20-12:30 @ ESC, Staff PD Session at 2:45

January 21: Science Fair

January 22: 1st-4th PLC

January 23: Kindy PLC

January 27: Elementary Principals' mtg at EE in PD room 8:30-10:30

January 29: 1st-4th PLC

January 30: Kindy PLC, Webs of Support for 4th grade parents 8:30-9:30

February 3 - Staff meeting at 2:45

February 4: 4th grade ZMS Visit

February 5: 1st-4th PLC

February 6 - Global School Play Day!

February 10 - Lit, Wellness, CU teams at 2:45

February 12: 1st -4th PLC, PTO mtg @ 1:00

February 13: Friendship/Valentines Parties, Kindy PLC

February 16-20: February Break (No School)

February 24 - Andrew LT 9:30-12:30 at ESC, Staff PD at 2:45

February 26: 1st-4th PLC

February 27: Kindy PLC

March 2- March 13: IREAD Testing Window (2nd & 3rd grades)

March 16: March 26: ILEARN Checkpoint #3 (3rd & 4th grades)

March 17: End of Q3

March 24: Kindy Roundup

March 27 -April 3: - Spring Break

April 6: Return to school from Spring Break

April 7: Report cards posted in PS

April 13- May 8: ILEARN testing - 3rd/4th grades

May 4 - May 12: NWEA (K-2 only)

May 14: Showcase 6:00-7:45

May 25: Memorial Day (No School)

May 28: Last Day of School w/ students

May 29: Teacher Workday