May 28 Update

Happy May 28!

This is our last post for this blog.... 

What a crazy, yet fun year!  Think back to August when we were all thinking "what the heck?"  There were tears, questions, and lots of anxiety.  Look how far we've come!  We provided a great educational experience for our K-5 distance learners.  Kudos to each of you for taking this experience and making it a positive one!   It has been a huge pleasure to walk alongside you during this experience. 

Device Return:

Just a reminder that the device return is Thursday, June 3.  Please show up for your assigned times.  Please remind students to return the device, power cord, and any hotspots.  

We will need your help with calling families on Friday, June 4, who have not returned their equipment.  

Moving Stuff:

If you are moving to another site, please request boxes. Please box your stuff up and label with your last name, new site, and room number.  Once all your items, including your desk, are put together in the room, please let Wayne and your other site's custodian know you are moving.  

Drive Through:

Please consider joining us on Tuesday night for a "drive through" to say goodbye to our learners.   Please remember to make a sign with your grade level so families know where to pull up to.  Also, please help keep traffic moving through the drive through.

Have a great, long weekend - it's our kick off to summer!

-Justin

May 21 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning Team! 

I know we are tired.  It's been quite a year and we are ready for some summer relaxation and rejuvenation.  I completely get it.  We do need to keep "in check" these last two weeks.  You and your emotions control the space you are in.  Don't forget this.  Check your mindset and emotions every day.  Check where your energy is going - are you gaining it or draining it? 

Also, please remember that some students are not excited about school ending.   We are their only safety, security, and predictability.   We may need to re-teach many times over these last weeks.

Stay positive (make a positive communication home!) and in control of yourself.  Choose your energy wisely. 

Let's do this - let's finish strong.  

May 27 - National Sunscreen Day

Don't forget that next Thursday is a fun dress up day! Are you ready for shorts, sandals, and sunglasses?  Get your wardrobe ready and get your (work appropriate) summer gear on.  Prizes will be given to the most festive person. 

Last Day of Interventions:

Just a reminder that next Friday, May 28 is our last day for formal interventions (with Jennifer).

Moving Back to Your Site(s):

As we close out the year, you will be able to send your materials through school mail back to your site. You will want to request boxes (if you haven't). Also, mark the boxes with your name, the school to send to, and where they should go within the new school (example - "Justin Kiel to Wilson, room 5C). When you are all boxed up, please connect with Wayne Schultz (McKinley Custodian) and let the custodian know of the site you are returning to. The more communication, the more the items will return to their spot! :)

Teaching and Learning Summer Work:

Reserve the June dates for some summer work around literacy and Fountas and Pinnell. This is a great time to learn and develop our curriculum even more. Ann Mikkalson has sent out invites.

Upcoming Events:

May 26 - Staff COVID Testing in Health Office

May 26 - Character Day

May 27 - National Sunscreen Day!

May 28 - Last Day of Interventions 

May 28 - Happy Birthday, Suzanne Ross! 

May 31 - NO SCHOOL & Happy Birthday, Beth Filzen!

June 1- End of Year Drive Through, 5:30-6:30pm in drop off/pick up lane

June 2- Beach Day

June 2 - End of Year Drawing with Superintendent Elstad, 7:30am (link will be sent)

June 3 - DL Device Drop Off (students work on choice boards)

June 4 - Last Day of School (students work on choice boards)

June 7 - Teacher Workday & Staff Breakfast at 8am

It's going to be a warm one this weekend.  Stay cool - but find something to do for YOU!

-Justin

May 14 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning!

I think the picture says it all.... haha!

In all honesty, just a reminder to finish strong.   Our students only get their school year once - and many will be sad to see you (and their safe place) go away on June 4.  Let's remember to finish strong and stay focused on our scholars....

Teacher of the Year:

A huge congratulations to our 2021 Teacher of the Year, Mark Langlois.  Mark is a student-focused educator who is an expert at building community and making learning engaging.  Mark is also a wonderful colleague and leader at McKinley.  We are proud of you, Mark!  

Wilson Support:

Starting Monday, I will be helping support Wilson School as we close out the school year.  Please know that nothing changes here at McKinley because of this.  If you need me, you can still connect with me (or email me).  If you have discipline needs, please reach out to Steph or Selena.  We have Ann Mikkalson (Teaching and Learning Coordinator) and Justin Lang to assist.  This WILL be a great ending to a crazy year!  

Reminders:

Just a couple of end of the year reminders:

• Senior Walkthrough is June 2 at 9:10.  We will be outside in the drop off/pick up lane and they will walk through (if it rains, we will move inside).  
• 5th Grade Graduation (virtual) is Wednesday, June 2 at 1:00pm.  Please plan on watching from your classroom to support our learners. 
• End of the Year Drive Through is Tuesday, June 1 from 6-7pm.  If you are available, please join us.  This was a hit last year - many families (and staff!) felt like this was a great way to end the year.  This is for DL families only.  
• End of Year Activities (June 4) - a team is working on these activities and will share what our last day activities will look like.  

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great, relaxing weekend!

-Justin

May 7 Update

 Happy Friday, Distance Learning Team!

I hope you had a great week and felt the appreciation from all.  Each of you have the role of an educator - there is no role that is greater than this.  Please know that your time, energy, and passion does not go unnoticed.  You are amazing!   

Please take some time today - or this weekend - to watch the video below.  It's well worth the watch!  

Happy Mothers's Day:

Happy Mother's Day to all the present and future mother's in the building!  You wear many "hats" during our day - teacher, wife, friend, mother.   I am always in admiration of the way you balance this - all while staying focused on others.  

Take some time this weekend to focus on YOU and enjoy those around you.  

May 11 - National “Eat What YOU Want To” Day!

Just a reminder of an event next week!

Today’s the day to forget about the scale and getting into those summer clothes!  We will have El Ray Del Taco food truck here over the lunch hour.  You will need to place your orders (that day) with the food truck as there are so many options for meals and/or toppings.

Intervention End Date:

Virtual interventions will end on Friday, May 28 for all of our scholars.  

EID:

Just a reminder that EID is next Thursday and Friday.  We will have many of our scholars not at school, as they will be celebrating with their family and friends.  

We will be having some community members on our north soccer field during EID.   The group will be be there from 6-10am, as the mosque is under construction.  

Upcoming Events: 

May 10 - 3rd -5th Grade Climate Survey should be given 

May 11 - Staff Meeting, 2:35pm (CANCELLED) 

May 11 - "Eat What You Want To" Day - food truck here! 

May 12 - EID (we may have students absent who are celebrating)

May 12 - Happy Birthday, Jill Hukee! 

May 14 - CCT, 7:25am

May 19 - Wacky Day! 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Justin

April 30 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning Team!

Another great week of learning with our distance learners!  Don't forget to complete your classroom's "Learning Challenge" scoreboard today so I can calculate who is entered into the drawing next week.  After Friday at 5pm, I will not take any additional new scores.   

Closing out the School Year:

We are nearing that point - May.  Plants start to come alive, the sun and warmth are out, and we are ready for summer break.  I get it.  It's been a long year and you are counting down the time until you can "check out" and recharge your battery.  Even though we are entering May, we still have a solid month left of school -  24 days.  That doesn't sound like much.  When you think of what else is 24 hours - 132 hours, 7,920 minutes, etc.  you realize that we have a lot of instructional time left in our year.  Please make sure we are taking advantage of this - all while building relationships and creating memories for our learners.  Check your mindset every day, schedule more happy hours, go for a walk after work... whatever you need to do to make this an amazing ending for our learners!

Educator Appreciation Week:

Next week is a week to celebrate YOU!  Thank you for all that you do for our scholars.  Linked are some ways we plan to celebrate you next week! 

Upcoming Events:

May 3 - Red Carpet Event as you arrive for work! 

May 3 - Professional Learning Communities, 2:35pm

May 5 - Charcuterie Board Lunch 

May 7 - CCT, 7:25am

May 11 - Staff Meeting, 2:35pm

May 12 - EID (we may have students absent who are celebrating)

May 12 - Happy Birthday, Jill Hukee! 

May 13 & 14 - Justin out at the U of MN

May 14 - CCT, 7:25am

Have a GREAT, relaxing weekend!

-Justin

April 23 Update

 Hello, DL Staff! 

I know - you're tired.   We are tired and stressed.  We saw this above picture from a presenter - it speaks SO TRUE now.  Please continue to take care of YOU.  We need this - now more than ever.  

Jeffers Training:

Please see the note below from Tom Meagher.  Jeffers is a great resource with awesome PD - consider joining them! 

Upcoming Events:

April 27 - Staff Meeting, 2:35pm

May 3- Professional Learning Communities, 2:35pm

May 7 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

Have a great weekend!
-Justin

April 16 Update

Happy Friday!

Absences:

I am starting to see an increase in staff absences.  I understand things come up and you need to take time off.  However, please be on top of those planned absences that you know about.  I'm seeing those appear into AESOP a day before.  Please plan ahead for those absences.  Thank you! 

Last Day Countdown:

As we close out the year, please be aware of the "last day countdown" with students.  I understand students - and you - can be excited for the end of the year.  However, this isn't the case for all learners.  Some are fearful of losing the consistency, safety, and relationships of school.  Also, the countdown sends the message that we have to "serve" the time before summer.  I'm asking you not to engage in this, but instead focus on the instructional time we do have together.  

COVID Numbers - McKinley: 

I have heard from a few of you in regards to the COVID % at McKinley.  Please know that we are doing everything we can to help with social distancing and mitigating COVID.  You are doing great work - please keep this up!  The percentage is a weekly percentage (that can drastically change) that includes those who are positive, but also those at home with symptoms or those in quarantine for a close contact.  This week alone, we had many students who were home (getting tested) for symptoms that were similar to allergies.  To be preventative, we are asking those families to get tested.  Those numbers can skew our data.  Also, please know that we had reached almost 18% before we moved to distance learning.   We are in a great place  - because you are doing great things to help keep McKinley safe.  

Upcoming Events:

April 19 - Professional Learning Communities, 2:35pm

April 21 - Admin Professionals Day (Thank you Steph and Selena!)

April 23 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

April 27 - Staff Meeting, 2:35pm

May 3- Professional Learning Communities, 2:35pm

May 7 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

Have a GREAT weekend!

-Justin