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

April 9 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning Team!

Just a friendly reminder that I see you.  I see all the energy, time, and passion you bring to this year of change.  Keep trying.... we've got this. 

Office Coverage Next Week:

Steph and Selena are out next week; below is the coverage of our Main Office:

Monday - Justin Kiel

Tuesday - Theresa Caswell

Wednesday - Cheryl Summer

Thursday - Taylor Ethen (& Michelle Krell)

Friday - Steph is back

Please know that we will not be able to support all requests during this week, as we will be short-staffed.  Please be flexible during this time.   Also, please email Justin Kiel with any office-related requests (Steph is in Arizona and I want her to RELAX!). 

Also, I am out at the U of MN on Thursday and Friday.  Thursday, we have Michelle Krell covering.  Friday, Steph will be back and will work with Justin Lang and Libby Zeman for coverage.  

Thanks for your flexibility! 

Upcoming Events:

April 9 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

April 12 - Reading MCAs - 3rd Grade (AM) and 5th Grade (PM)

April 13 - Reading MCAs - 3rd Grade (AM and 5th Grade (PM)

April 13 - Staff Meeting, 2:30pm

April 15 & 16 - Justin out at U of MN Principals' Academy 

April 15 - Reading MCAs - 4th Grade (AM) 

April 16 - Reading MCAs - 4th Grade (AM)

April 16 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

April 19 - PLCs, 2:30pm

Have a great, relaxing weekend!

-Justin

April 1 Update

Happy "Friday"! And, happy April!  

The "Depth" of Positive Relationships:

This is an area teachers are always proud of - we build relationships with students.  I think teachers are naturals at getting to know (and love) students.  

Linked is an article on building relationships and what brain science says.  I know, I lost you when I said "brain science".  This article is written in a very practitioner-friendly way - very easy to read. 

Here's my challenge for you - to read the article and truly reflect on the depth of relationship(s) and the ways you build these relationships.  The more I am reading around this area (and work at the U of MN), the more I am realizing the different levels of relationships.  We can do morning meetings and have smiles, high fives, and happiness in a classroom.  And, those things are great!  When you look at the "depth", is that a deep connection? Or, are students truly feeling safe (especially intellectually safe), valued, and feeling they can question/comment/provide feedback honestly?  That's a whole new level of relationship.  Take some time to read the below article and think on relationships in your classroom.....

Virtual Engagement Isn't Impossible:

Linked is an article on ways to increase engagement in a virtual setting - well worth a skim!  

Upcoming Events:

April 2- NO SCHOOL! 

April 5 - Lockdown Practice - 1:00pm (you do not need to participate)

April 5 - DL MCA Testing Discussion, 2:00pm (rescheduled)

April 5 - PLCs, 2:30pm

April 8 & 9 - Justin out at Principal's Academy

April 9 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

April 12 - Reading MCAs - 3rd Grade (AM) and 5th Grade (PM)

April 13 - Reading MCAs - 3rd Grade (AM and 5th Grade (PM)

April 13 - Staff Meeting, 2:30pm

April 15 - Reading MCAs - 4th Grade (AM) 

April 16 - Reading MCAs - 4th Grade (AM)

April 16 - Child Collaboration Team, 7:25am

April 19 - PLCs, 2:30pm

Have a great weekend - it's going to be BEAUTIFUL out! 

-Justin