January 21, 2018

We are at such an important part of the academic year.  The point that we have established our protocols and expectations, completed a full trimester and we are RUNNING.  We are engaging our students in the work that it takes to make growth.  I was listening to a student read last week and I asked them what they were thinking and the response was clear...."I don't know."  I asked another question about the main idea and once again...I don't know...this made me think of a teacher who shared with me the power of the two reading voices; the reading voice and the thinking voice.  I ask as we are providing our quality first instruction are we modeling our thinking?

Please take a moment to watch this and read the article:

The Reading Voices 

The power of the Think Aloud is something we should all think about and ask ourselves how often are we modeling our thinking across content areas:

Think Alouds

Let's SHARE OUR THOUGHTS!

Kirsten

The Week Ahead

Monday, Jan 21 - No School - MLK Jr Holiday

Tuesday, Jan.22 - Kirsten Off-Campus - Leadership 8-12:00

                             Lockdown/Fire Drill 1:45 pm

Wednesday, Jan. 23 - Kindergarten Off-Campus - DO PD

                                   First Grade Field Trip

                                   Staff Meeting - PD Focus - ELD Module 3:15-4:30 pm

                                   Medical Fieldtrip Training 4:30 pm

Thursday, Jan. 24 -    Third Grade Field Trip

Friday, Jan. 25 - Problem Solving 

Lockdown/Fire Drill

We will be having a lockdown/fire drill tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 pm.  Please take time to review the lockdown protocol with your students.

What is a Lockdown? (highest level of alert)

Used in imminent danger, situations such as when there is a potentially dangerous stranger with or without a weapon on campus, violent criminal activity or a dangerous incident on the immediate perimeter of the school, etc. Lockdown orders will be made in plain language so all persons on campus understand the lockdown is not a drill.

Principal or Designee will announce LOCKDOWN.

• Make sure you have your keys at all times.
• You will be notified that we are going into lockdown by an intercom announcement.
• Teachers who have students out on the field or blacktop gather all the students. A building administrator or designee will advise students and staff of lock-in (enter the closest classroom) or will be instructed of the appropriate procedures to follow.
• When you hear the lockdown announcement, DO NOT call the office for information.  Do not allow students to use telephones or cell phones the signals may interfere with radio frequencies, bombs, &/or emergency radios.
• Teachers should quickly check halls and get students into classrooms – even if they aren’t in your class.
• Students who are transitioning, in hallways during lockdown should move to the nearest classroom, if there is not a teacher in the classroom or the door is locked the student is to move to the nearest open classroom.
• If students are on the Playground they are to walk quickly to their own classroom or to the nearest room (to be determined by supervising personnel).
• Secure your room:  Lock all doors, close blinds, turn off lights, and keep students down and away from the windows and door. (Stay out of sight.)
• Cover all exposed windows.
• After securing room:
• Take roll and be able to account for all students, not in the room; know which students are absent and which students may be out of the room; be prepared to indicate the intended location of students (i.e, restroom, Resource, ELL Support, Speech)
• COMPLETE LOCKDOWN FORM
• Account for any extra people/volunteers in the room with you
• Place a green card in the window of your door ( if applicable) or in the window of BOTH sides of your room of the room is safe and all students and staff are accounted for.
• Place a red card in the window of your door (if applicable) or in the window of BOTH sides of your room of the room if something is wrong or you are missing students or staff members who are supposed to be in your room.:
• Complete the LOCKDOWN form:
• If all students/adults are present
• Any missing students with the possible location; if unknown indicate ‘unknown’
• Any personnel or volunteers in the room
• Any emergency situation near your room

• If you are unable to complete the form WAIT FOR A PHONE CALL FROM THE OFFICE.

• During the lockdown, no one should be in the halls except Administrators, Security, and Police.  
• Staff without students, who are not in their room, should report to the nearest classroom.
• Staff should remain in their room and follow the above procedures.
• The lockdown is maintained until an “all clear” code is called.
• An email explanation will be sent to teachers as soon as possible.

When you have conducted the lockdown attendance for your students and staff please complete the following form: LOCKDOWN FORM.  Please BOOKMARK the form on your computer. There is a dropdown menu with your name.  Please select your name and then complete the rest of the form.

Once we have accounted for all present students we will move into a fire evacuation drill.  Please follow that protocol and leave the doors LOCKED.

Please bookmark the Assessment Calendar:

2028-2019 Assessment Calendar

NOW that we have completed our progress reports, please take time at the next PLC to write your grade-levels next SMART Goal.

Can I Safely Use this App? Infographic

Here is an infographic that outlines what RCSD staff needs to know to vet third-party applications prior to use. With new laws around Digital Accessibility compliance and existing laws around Student Data Privacy, it is important to know what sites and apps staff can safely use.  This information will also be shared at our next business staff meeting.

Can I Safely Use this App? Infographic