December 19th-21st

'Twas the Last Three Days Before Winter!

Monday

 Tuesday

 Wednesday

Dec 20 Star Holiday Party at The Waffle Experience!

Dec 21 Pajama Day students- Annual staff bling it on day! No meeting-- the NCS holiday breakfast is at Star this year starting at 8:00 :)

Dec 21 First day of Winter

Dec 22 through January 2 Winter break

Jan 3 Back to School
Jan 4 Staff Meeting Agenda

Jan 13 Winter Festival 6-8 PM Please add your theme to the Class Basket doc

Jan 16 No School- Martin Luther King Day

Jan 20 End of First Semester

Jan 23 No Students- All staff PD

Jan 23-27 Great Kindness Challenge
Jan 24-27 GLAD demo in Erica's class

Jan 27 Report Cards go home

Feb 1 Global School Play Day

Reading Is Our Superpower! WIN Update -- yay for round one!

1. WIN Groups:
1. Week of January 4- wrap up last group if needed, assess for your measurable goal (some groups may have already done this-- and you may take that week off if you have finished your unit/goal for the first round.) Please coordinate with your grade level and let me and Jan know)
2. January 11 grade level meeting- record results of measurable goals for round one , regroup and establish new groups and measurable goals (record in grade level doc)
3. Next round begins January 15th with new groups- the second week of January (week of January 8) there will be no groups so that you can plan, and Jan and Olga can help assess if you need help (the last week of round two will be the week of March 2)

December 12th-16th #eightdaysbeforewinter

'Twas The Eight Days Before Winter!

We hope you will enjoy a fun filled week and a half celebrating you and counting down to the first day of Winter. Below you will find the themes for the next five days! Be on the lookout for an awesomely ugly sweater to wear with your favorite pair of jeans on Thursday!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

 Thursday

 Friday

Dec 14 Grade level meeting- no agenda, just notes in the grade level doc

Dec 21 Pajama Day students- Annual staff bling it on day! No meeting-- the NCS holiday breakfast is at Star this year starting at 8:00 :)

Dec 21 First day of Winter

Dec 22 through January 2 Winter break

Jan 3 Back to School

Jan 13 Winter Festival 6-8 PM Please add your theme to the Class Basket doc

Jan 16 No School- Martin Luther King Day

Jan 20 End of First Semester

Jan 23 No Students- All staff PD

Jan 23-27 Great Kindness Challenge

Jan 27 Report Cards go home

Feb 1 Global School Play Day

December 5th-December 12th #winteriscoming

Baby, it's cold outside--or it feels cooler anyways! Time for sweaters and scarves and mittens! Winter begins on December 21st this year and Amy and I are planning something we hope you enjoy... Twas the 8 days before Winter begins December 12th! We are looking forward to celebrating you and having some winter fun! Have a great week!

Dates & Details
Dec 7 goal setting at staff meeting (doc for non-portfolio teachers here)

Dec 8 Family Writing Night & Star parent night 5:00

December 14 Grade level meeting - no agenda, just notes in the grade level doc

Dec 21 Pajama Day students -Annual staff bling it on day! No meeting-- the NCS holiday breakfast is at Star this year starting at 8:00 :)

December 21st- First day of winter :)

December 22 through January 2 Winter break

January 3 Back to School

January 13 Winter Festival 6-8  Please add your theme to the Class Basket doc

January 16- No School- Martin Luther King Day

January 23- No Students- All staff PD

January 23-27 Great Kindness Challenge

February 1 Global School Play Day

November 28-December 5 #almostwinter

No blog post! Just a warm & cozy fire!

Here is the Project Lead the Way schedule wish list - please add your first and second choices to the doc- schedule to start in January :)

Dates & Details
November 30 Cadre at Star

Dec 7 goal setting at staff meeting

Dec 8 Family Writing Night & Star parent night 5:30

December 14 Grade level meeting - no agenda, just notes in the grade level doc

Dec 21 Pajama Day students -Annual staff bling it on day!

December 21 Grade level- no agenda, just notes in the grade level doc
December 21st- First day of winter :)

December 22 through January 2 Winter break

January 3 Back to School

January 13 Winter Festival 6-8  Class Basket doc

January 16- No School- Martin Luther King Day

January 23- No Students- All staff PD

January 23-27 Great Kindness Challenge

February 1 Global School Play Day

Reading Is Our Super Power!

So, we haven't gotten around to read to classes yet and we would love to start next week with reading Last Stop On Market Street. We've linked the doc here with the times you indicated in case you want to see the time you had or need to make a change!

November 14th-18th #edufreeze #frozen #letitgo

#EDUFREEZE
EDUFREEZE? What's that you say? It's a fun challenge based on mannequin challenges sweeping the country! This past week, schools across the country have been taking the #EDUFREEZE challenge and filming kids frozen in time. Check out this blog post by Brad Gustafson about the #edufreeze at his school and a few videos below. This coming week we would love to capture you, our students, and staff -- frozen still. There are two ways to take the challenge... you can set up your own #edufreeze video indoors or outside and have your students help with the filming and production. Or, Amy and I can come and capture you #edufrozen! Either way, take a look and join the #edufreeze challenge! The first video is an entire school :) Post your video to Twitter and add the #edufreeze hashtag along with #ncsstar #ncsinnovate. Have FUN!

Awesome 5th grade mannequins! #washingtonsps5 pic.twitter.com/9hLx6lKjAl

— Martie O'Brien (@BrienMartie) November 9, 2016

Good news #StarStaff contact info-- please take a moment to complete this quick form so we know where to share good news about you!

Dates & Details
November 16 PLTW staff meeting (info coming)
Nov 21-25 Thanksgiving break
Nov 30-- rescheduled cadre / PIP Wednesday
December 7 -- whole staff PD
December 8 Family Writing Night & Stars Parent Night 5:30
December 19th or 20th Pajama Reading Day? 
Dec 21st 4th Annual Staff Bling It On Day!!!
Dec 22-January 3 Winter Break

Star PD Schedule 2016-17 (I have been updating with changes)

Want to visit your colleagues to check out their classrooms? Here is the doc with the daily schedules. Also, in November we plan to hold assemblies where Amy and I can take a grade level or two at at a time to free you up to do some classroom visits and collaborate with your team. We were thinking we could show the #edufreeze video

Reading is our Super Power!
We are excited to be starting our Five Love Languages of Children this week!
Check out the Google doc for structure and schedule here-- and add your name :)

November 7-10 #fourdayweek #who'sready

For adults and kids, life can be stressful! Everyone on our campus, from students to staff can feel stressed out and overwhelmed. And sometimes those feelings don't have anything to do with school - it might be related to something at home, a family member, a life change like a new baby or moving homes. We thought we would share this video with some helpful tips for grownups and kids for managing stress. If you are noticing kids with a shorter fuse, or kids that are feeling emotional, or if you or a colleague are feeling stressed, we hope these strategies are helpful for you. And we know that parent conferences just add to your plate. Please let us know if you anticipate a challenging conference or would just like some support - Amy and I would be happy to join you or talk to you before hand if you are worrying about navigating a hard conversation. We are also here if you just need a hug! Or candy. Have a great week and weekend!

Dates & Details
Ed Camp with Stoneridge  slides from Tuesday
Nov 7-10 Parent conferences (minimum days)
*Star In Motion at regular time M/T/Th/F, Walking Wednesday at the first recess around the track
Nov 9- no staff meeting, no late start (conferences)
Nov 11 Veteran’s day- no school
November 16 PLTW staff meeting (info coming)
Nov 21-25 Thanksgiving break
Nov 30-- rescheduled cadre / PIP Wednesday
December 7 -- whole staff PD
December 8 Family Writing Night & Stars Parent Night
December 19th or 20th Pajama Reading Day? 
Dec 21st 4th Annual Staff Bling It On Day!!!
Dec 22-January 3 Winter Break

Star PD Schedule 2016-17 (I have been updating with changes)

Want to visit your colleagues to check out their classrooms? Here is the doc with the daily schedules. Also, in November I hope to hold some assemblies where Amy and I can take a grade level or two at at a time to free you up to do some classroom visits and collaborate with your team. Stay tuned after conferences :)

Reading is our SUPER POWER!

Our Five Love Languages of Children Book Club starts on Voxer November 14th. It's not too late to join! Check out the Google doc for structure and schedule here-- and add your name :)

October 31-November 7

Next week, our teachers will be meeting with each family in our school to connect and share information and progress about our students. It is definitely a stressful time for teachers as they complete progress reports for a whole class of students, and parents may also be nervous to hear about their child from the teacher's point of view. Nerves aside, conferences are a great time to connect and learn about each other, to be empathetic, and to celebrate our students-- each has a unique and special gift inside! I think too that considering the perspective from both sides of the table is so important. One of the teachers who went through the Area 3 Writing Project with me in 2015 wrote this post about her experience from both sides of the table, and I shared it on my blog. I hope you all enjoy! Have a great week!

The Dreaded Parent Teacher Conference By Autumn Ernest

Dates & Details
Oct 31 Halloween dress up day- no masks, weapons or face makeup
Nov 1 minimum day- Ed Camp with Stoneridge (at Star-
PLTW & Workshop) 1:00-3:30 in the library 
Nov 2  Grade level meeting - open agenda-- enjoy!
Nov 2 & 3 Two day GLAD training in library
Nov 7-10 Parent conferences (minimum days)
Nov 9- no staff meeting, no late start (conferences)
Nov 11 Veteran’s day- no school
Nov 21-25 Thanksgiving break
Nov 30-- rescheduled cadre / PIP Wednesday
December 7 -- whole staff PD
December 8 Family Writing Night & Stars Parent Night
December 19th or 20th Pajama Reading Day? 
Dec 21st 4th Annual Staff Bling It On Day!!!
Dec 22-January 3 Winter Break

Star PD Schedule 2016-17 (I have been updating with changes)

Want to visit your colleagues to check out their classrooms? Here is the doc with the daily schedules. Also, in November I hope to hold some assemblies where Amy and I can take a grade level or two at at a time to free you up to do some classroom visits and collaborate with your team. Stay tuned after conferences :)

Literacy O'Lanterns
I know it's too late for this year and Halloween, but I learned about Literacy O' Lanterns from some principals across the country. They did their staffs as a PD-- so fun! Others called them Storybook Pumpkins. Do you think it would be too weird to do in November before Thanksgiving? Check out the blog posts by Brad Gustafson :)

Literacy O' Lanterns
Introducing a New Crop of Literacy O'Lanterns