Auteur : lead4xlnc

Bits & Pieces

  • Maplewood has been converted to Edsembli SIS for office staff, but the teachers’ version will not change before the end of the year.
  • Since so many teachers had significant learning at the Teachers’ Convention, we will tweak our regular meeting schedule to have a common sharing time.
  • All staff is invited to a voluntary discussion meeting with the Board at 3:30 on February 10th (virtual) to discuss items brought up in the online survey organized by our communications department. The invitation has been sent by email so please let me know if you haven’t received it.
  • On February 11th, the Moose Hide Campaign will be recognized with a video in the morning and by students distributing moose-hide patches afterwards for those who would like to display their commitment to addressing the issue of violence against women and children.
  • Reminder: cell phone policy returns full force but starts over on our shared tracking sheet.
  • Reminder: only one student per class out of the room at a time, and hopefully once per class.
  • Reminder to all staff: please remember to pay for any goods and services you have received. That includes fundraising items you have taken home, for canteen lunches, for IA projects and services, for Fashion projects and services, and for Cosmo products.
  • Term ends April 1st.
  • Family Day on February 15th.
  • Next bi-weekly collaborative team meeting on February 22nd after school for CRM teams.

Events This Week

  • Monday, February 8th: Hall passes are still light purple this week.
  • Monday, February 8th: Regular biweekly meeting for teachers at 3:40 (all teachers together, sharing learning from convention).
  • Monday, February 8th: Hot lunch is Donair and fries.
  • Tuesday, February 9th: Administrators’ PD in morning.
  • Tuesday, February 9th: Secretary’s training for PASI in morning.
  • Tuesday, February 9th: Hot Lunch is Salisbury steak and roast potatoes.
  • Wednesday, February 10th: Hot Lunch is Chili and a roll.
  • Wednesday, February 10th: EV at UofL career fair in afternoon.
  • Wednesday, February 10th: Virtual meeting with Board for all interested staff at 3:30 PM.
  • Thursday, February 11th: Secondary Principals’ meeting in morning.
  • Thursday, February 11th: Moose Hide Campaign (video in morning, see Bits & Pieces).
  • Thursday, February 11th: Hot Lunch is Pasta and meat sauce.
  • Thursday, February 11th: Grade 9 Transition planning meeting at 1:00 PM.
  • Friday, February 12th: Hot Lunch is Chef’s salad.

Great Things Seen & Heard

  • Way to go, Team! ALL marks were in at the office on time and things went remarkably smoothly!
  • Got to love it: so many staff members take initiative and pitch in to help all the time!
  • Someone noticed our board’s calendar magnet has another February 29th this year!
  • Overhead: discussion of toilet etiquette suggestions for staff bathroom, including cleaning smears, spraying methods, and the use of a courtesy flush. We can’t wait to see the poster…
  • Overheard: singing “you got to mauve it, mauve it” regarding hall passes this coming week.
  • An Edmonton Oiler’s face covering mask has been ordered in case we need to cover a Calgary Flames nose!
  • Overheard: stop stirring the pot, the recipe’s done!
  • Overhead: can’t find the meeting? Look at the right month on your calendar!
  • Overheard: the cold and the flu don’t exist anymore!

Clips & Tips

Many digital resources are available on the Common Sense website. You can browse a variety of teaching resources and current issues for your personal interest. Resources include informational videos and activities, and it’s possible to sign up for weekly updates. These examples touch on subjects that interest many of your students, such as online tracking, sacrificing privacy for safety’s sake, top tech for ELA, putting a new spin on students’ group work or collaboration, and virtual parent-teacher interviews:

Bits & Pieces

  • Reminder: cell phone policy returns full force but starts over on our shared tracking sheet.
  • Reminder: only one student per class out of the room at a time, and hopefully once per class.
  • Further tweaks to student timetables will take place this week; please remain flexible.
  • Reminder to all staff: please remember to pay for any goods and services you have received. That includes fundraising items you have taken home, for canteen lunches, for IA projects and services, for Fashion projects and services, and for Cosmo products.
  • Term ends April 1st.
  • Next bi-weekly collaborative team meeting on February 8th after school in team locations.
  • All staff invited to a voluntary Discussion with the Board at 3:30 on February 10th (virtual) to discuss items brought up in the online survey. Invitation to be sent by email.
  • Family Day on February 15th.

Events This Week

  • Monday, February 1st: Students return this week to begin Semester Two.
  • Monday, February 1st: Hall passes are light purple this week.
  • Monday, February 1st: Assembly on Staff Google Meet at 9:00 AM.
  • Monday, February 1st: Hot lunch is Chicken Caesar Salad.
  • Tuesday, February 2nd: Hot Lunch is Stew and Biscuits.
  • Wednesday, February 3rd: Morning teachers’ meeting at 9:00 AM for discussing new Ministerial Order and a few final reporting tweaks.
  • Wednesday, February 3rd: Indigenous training online at 10:00 AM.
  • Wednesday, February 3rd: Winter Wellness Walk at 11:30 AM (snowshoes on track out back).
  • Wednesday, February 3rd: HPSD division-wide collaboration starts at 1:00 PM.
  • Wednesday, February 3rd: CTS / CTR / ADLC Planning Meeting with HPSD (EV & TR).
  • Thursday, February 4th: Teachers’ Convention (from home if internet sufficient).
  • Friday, February 5th: Teachers’ Convention (from home if internet sufficient).

Great Things Seen & Heard

  • We have a new Math-Sciences teacher joining us for Semester Two. Welcome, KE!
  • Received compliments from parents for our SS teacher that finds creative ways to engage his students beyond wearing a tin hat. Way to go, BB!
  • We could be offering some kind of coding classes through CTS next semester. That’s exciting!
  • Learned a new expression: lower than a rock (such as student grades).
  • Heard: we have spousal support to prevent overspending in the food lab. Thanks for doing all that shopping, JN!
  • Overheard suggestion: get on the bus or you’ll be under it!

Clips & Tips

Since introspection is a good professional practice for every teacher, the questions raised by the author could be extremely helpful while the options presented could be useful. In addition, this article will serve to kick off our discussion on Friday. We need to adopt a common practice for whether or not to accept Term One assignments after the Term One report card, especially since we need to focus on measuring learning. Find the article here: