Thursday, August 31, 2017

Dear Teacher... Happy first day of school!

DEAR TEACHER . . .

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Dear Teacher,
Hi, you don’t know me yet, but I will be a student in your class this year.
For the next nine months, you will be one of the more important people in my life, though I will never say this to you or anyone else.
On some days, you will be the MOST important person.
Thank you for being my teacher.
Thank you for giving me and other children enough hope to continue struggling against the poverty, prejudice, abuse, alcoholism, hunger, and apathy that are a daily part of so many of our young lives.
Many of my fellow students, who come from homes where they are loved, will come to school ready to learn.
Others, like me, will come to school first to be loved.
I know you went into teaching to make a difference. I am here to tell you, I am that difference. I am a child who needs you. I promise, if you reach me, you will change my life. You might not see the difference today or tomorrow, but if you stick with me, you will make a difference in my life that no test can ever measure.
I must warn you. It will not be easy.
I will sometimes be hard to handle and I may take every ounce of patience you have. I have learned to push buttons well in order to get attention from adults. There will be times that I challenge you in ways that make you second guess what you are doing. But I need you. I need you to keep pushing me. I need you to set limits and help me understand them.
I will also pretend like I don’t like school to avoid admitting that I am not as book smart as some other kids. Yet school is the most stable part of my life. I don’t know how I would survive without it.
I know you don’t know me. If you did, we would get along a lot better. I look and sound like many of the other kids, but I am different in so many ways. To survive in my world, I will always portray myself as tough on the outside. It will take work to discover the softness inside me. I hope you can do it.
You might be the only one who can get to the real me. It will take time and patience. It might even take learning about something you know nothing about. But, teacher, I need you. I need you to give it your all to see me—the real me.
I will be bringing a lot of baggage to your classroom everyday. I am dealing with things someone my age should not be expected to handle. Yet, I will fight to keep my personal life a mystery to you because I have to learn to trust you first. I have to know that you won’t use this information to judge or embarrass me. I have made this mistake before.
I know you have 25 other kids in class. All of them will need you sometimes too. I will need you every day. I need you to find my good qualities because those other kids won’t see them. My teacher last year didn’t see them, and most days, if not all, I don’t even see them.
But, please, teacher, I need you to fight to get to know me. I can’t tell you with my words what I need you to know, so I might act out instead. Take that as my sign that I need you. You might be all I have.
I know I throw fits. I’ll talk when I am not supposed to. I will fidget because I cannot sit still for very long. I know I will occasionally disrupt your class and the lesson you had planned for that day. But teacher, I need you to believe in me. I need you to believe that my actions are a cry for help, not an act against you. Please don’t take it personally. I need you to believe that I want to fit in, but just don’t know how.
Finally, I want to thank you for consistently giving respect to children like me who don’t know what to do with it and don’t realize what a valuable gift you are offering.
And for caring about children whose own families don’t care — or don’t know how to show that they do.
Thank you for spending your own money on pens and pencils, erasers and chalk, paper, tissues, bandages, birthday gifts, treats, clothing, shoes, eyeglasses — and a hundred other things that your students need and don’t have.
Thank you for raiding your own children’s closet to find a pair of shoes or a jacket for a child who has none.
For spending sleepless nights worrying about children like me, wondering what else you might do to help overcome the obstacles that life has placed in our paths.
For putting your own family on hold while you meet with my family or that of another struggling student.
For believing in the life-changing power of education.
For maintaining your belief that I can learn if you are patient and learn how to teach me.
For risking your job to give me a much-needed hug instead of just a high-five.
For taking on one of the most difficult, challenging, frustrating, emotionally exhausting, mentally draining, satisfying, wonderful, important and precious jobs in the world.
Thank you for being YOU and for loving ME!
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Saturday, August 26, 2017

Back to School Kick Off

Welcome Back Concord

Dear Concord Family,


First I want to thank you for your positivism and professionalism as we navigate
through the change and construction. Check out the vacuuming skills by Kim. I appreciate your teamwork to get us ready for kiddos. We will get through this. The inspector came yesterday and we got the all clear for kids to be in the building so now we are legal:)

Remember to be patient with everyone working to get the building ready. Please know all requests will be prioritized. Please be patient


Technology Requests emailed to  support@edinaschools.org

Maintenance/ Building Requests for our Custodians
New Furniture/ Building Items/ Safety Requests can be added here- notice different tabs

Our theme for this school year is Try Everything from Zootopia. Some of you may have watched the movie, but here is a clip to familiarize yourself with the song.  Please take some time to listen to this song and think about how this message can be personalized for you as an educator and for your students.  Here are the  Lyrics for Try Everything as a reference.  I want to caution you it is not about trying everything because research shows if we focus on a few high impact initiatives we will have more success.  We will share what this song means to you and your students when we come together in August.  


Here is our presentation for Monday and Tuesday. Please bring a chromebook or device as we will be working on Google Docs.


Please note updates in the schedule.



AUGUST 28
BUILDING IN-SERVICE/CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00-8:30
Continental Breakfast/Meet and Greet
Cafeteria
All Staff
8:30- 11:30
Welcome Back- Try Everything Theme
Please bring a device as we will be using Google Docs.

Cafeteria
All Staff
12:00
Lunch- Provided by PTO
Cafeteria
Licensed Staff
1- 4:00
Classroom Prep
Classrooms


Licensed Staff

AUGUST 29
BUILDING IN-SERVICE/CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00- 10:00
  1. School Improvement Plan Sharing
  2. Climate/ Culture- New Behavior Expectations- Overview, grade level PLC
Please bring a device.
Cafeteria
Licensed Staff Vertical PLC
10-11
Speed Dating/ Transition
What? Teachers will share information to support students in their transition.
How?  Teachers will have 5 minutes with each teacher to discuss student needs in a professional manner. Please bring class lists.
K-1   2-3   4-5
1-2  3-4
CafeteriaLicensed staff
11:00
Lunch- On Your Own

Licensed Staff
12:00- 4:00
Classroom Prep
Meghan Eberhart will be in the building for tech support from 12:30-4.
Classrooms
Licensed Staff

AUGUST 30
ALL DISTRICT STAFF IN-SERVICE- AM
There will be a bus leaving Concord at 7:15 am. This is the preferred method of trasportation as parking is limited. The bus will return immediately after out of Door 5.
PLC TIME- PM
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:00- 7:55
Social and Continental Breakfast (Optional)
There will be a photobooth:)
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
7:55
Edina High School Marching Band
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
8:00-10:00
Welcome and District Updates
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
10-12
Paraprofessional Kickoff
EPAC (EHS)
Paraprofessionals
10:15-1
5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Update- Lunch Provided
Edina High School Room TBD
5th Grade teachers and Principals
11- 4:00
Collaborative or Individual Planning
Lunch on your own
Concord
Licensed Staff

AUGUST 31 7:30-3:30
*** Day is adjusted due to open house
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30-9:30
Open House- Please make sure you are in your classrooms to greet people. if you are an itinerant staff, please post the hours you will be available.
Classrooms
Licensed Staff
9:30-3:30
PLC-
             1-5- Oral Fluency
             K-1, para, psych, reading, math- All
                      foundational subtests
  • Begin collaborative planning
Concord Collaborative Spaces
Licensed Staff
11:45
Awards Luncheon
Edina Community Center Room 350

September 1
CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00-4
Collaborative or Individual Planning
Lunch on your own
Concord
Licensed Staff

There is a considerable amount of time for us to move into our new spaces and collaborate in our PLC’s.  I know the importance of this so we will ensure our time together is focused and purposeful on building our strong Concord Family, focusing around our School Improvement Plan and sharing our work for our common school wide behavior expectations.  

Please COMMENT with a THANK YOU or SHOUT OUT for a colleague for helping you get moved in!!!!



Thursday, August 17, 2017

Welcome Back to Concord 2017-18


Welcome Back

Dear Concord Family,


I want to thank all of you for meeting with me and sharing with me the amazing learning opportunities that Concord offers our 754 students.  I was so energized by your commitment to our students, your strong professional knowledge, and your desire to develop a common vision for Concord’s future into personalized learning.


We have an exciting school year ahead of us with new learning spaces, new members of the Concord Family, and an opportunity to create an amazing school in Edina that will continue the high levels of student learning with personalized learning plans where students are owning their learning and are leaders in our school.


Our theme for this school year is Try Everything from Zootopia. Some of you may have watched the movie, but here is a clip to familiarize yourself with the song.  Please take some time to listen to this song and think about how this message can be personalized for you as an educator and for your students.  Here are the  Lyrics for Try Everything as a reference.  I want to caution you it is not about trying everything because research shows if we focus on a few high impact initiatives we will have more success.  We will share what this song means to you and your students when we come together in August.  


Here are our plans for the Back to School Professional Learning.  

AUGUST 21-24
NEW (TO) EDINA TEACHER TRAINING
Click here for a link to all District New Teacher and workshop week activities
AUGUST 21
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30- 4:00
New Teacher Technology Training
ECC 350-351
New Teachers

AUGUST 22
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30- 11:50
New Teacher Training
ECC 350-351
New Teachers
12:00- 1
Superintendent Luncheon (Principals and New Teachers)
ECC 351
New Teachers
1:30 - 4:00
New Teacher Training
ECC 350-351
New Teachers

AUGUST 23
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30- 11:00
New Teacher Training
ECC 350, 351
New Teachers
11:15  - 12:30
Education MN/Edina New Teacher Luncheon
Edina Country Club
New Teachers
12:30- 4:00
New Teacher Training
ECC 350, 351
New Teachers

AUGUST 24- BUILDING IS OPEN 7am-7pm
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30- 11:45
New Teacher Training
ECC 350, 351
New Teachers
12-1
Lunch with your principal and mentor (provided by Teaching & Learning Department )
ECC 351
New Teachers
1:00 - 4:00
Meeting with your principal
ECC 351/Building Sites
New Teachers

August 25- 7am-7pm
CLERICAL DAY
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00- 4:00
Staff members may EITHER work 8 hours on Friday, August 25, OR they may work 8 hours between August 24 and August 25 (provided the building is open)  Document time on this Google Doc and submit to Danielle
Classrooms
Licensed staff

August 26- 9am-2pm
School Available to work


AUGUST 28
BUILDING IN-SERVICE/CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00
Continental Breakfast/Meet and Greet
Gym
All Staff
8:30- 11:30
Gym
All Staff
12:00
Lunch- Provided by PTO
Gym
Licensed Staff
1- 4:00
Classroom Prep
Classrooms


Licensed Staff

AUGUST 29
BUILDING IN-SERVICE/CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00- 10:00
  1. School Improvement Plan Sharing
  2. Climate/ Culture- New Behavior Expectations- Overview, grade level PLC
Gym
Licensed Staff Vertical PLC
10-11
Speed Dating/ Transition
What? Teachers will share information to support students in their transition.
How?  Teachers will have 5 minutes with each teacher to discuss student needs.
Please remain professional and speak to teachers as if it were your child.
K-1   2-3   4-5
1-2  3-4
Gym
11:00
Lunch- On Your Own

Licensed Staff
12:00- 4:00
Classroom Prep
Meghan Eberhart will be in the building for tech support from 12:30-4.
Classrooms
Licensed Staff

AUGUST 30
ALL DISTRICT STAFF IN-SERVICE- AM
PLC TIME- PM
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:00- 7:55
Social and Continental Breakfast (Optional)
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
7:55
Edina High School Marching Band
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
8:00-10:00
Welcome and District Updates
Fick Auditorium (EHS)
All Staff
10-12
Paraprofessional Kickoff
EPAC (EHS)
Paraprofessionals
10:15-1
5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Update- Lunch Provided
Edina High School Room TBD
5th Grade teachers and Principals
11- 4:00
Collaborative or Individual Planning
Lunch on your own
Concord
Licensed Staff

AUGUST 31
*** Day is adjusted due to open house
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
7:30-9:30
Open House
Classrooms
Licensed Staff
9:30-3:30
PLC-
             1-5- Oral Fluency
             K-1, para, psych, reading, math- All  
                      foundational subtests
  • Begin collaborative planning
Concord Collaborative Spaces
Licensed Staff
11:45
Awards Luncheon
Edina Community Center Room 350

September 1
CLASSROOM PREP
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
WHO
8:00-4
Collaborative or Individual Planning
Lunch on your own
Concord
Licensed Staff

There is a considerable amount of time for us to move into our new spaces and collaborate in our PLC’s.  I know the importance of this so we will ensure our time together is focused and purposeful on building our strong Concord Family, focusing around our School Improvement Plan and sharing our work for our common school wide behavior expectations.  


I am looking forward to getting to know each of you and please let me know if I can support you in any way.  Enjoy the last week of summer.

Susie

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