• Thank you to Mr. Bauer for rolling with a Kahoot during the staff meeting.  A reminder, staff meetings are open to anyone yet "required" if you are on duty at that time.  We try out best to start ASAP after parent pickup.  3:10-3:15 range.  In the Servery until we get the Makerspace and Art Room Cleaned up.

• Media Center: volunteers will be in this coming Monday.  We will inventory the books that came from East and start getting the Media Center ready to be checking out books again.  After picture day, please keep any student ID cards that come in. We will use at least one set in the Media Center.

• We have a few odor-absorbing containers available that may be used in classroom lockers to address strong smells like cigarette smoke or wood stoves. With the recent legalization of marijuana, we’ve also noticed a skunk-like odor on some students. Using an Arm & Hammer baking soda “bucket” can help in the short term. If this becomes an ongoing issue, please let me know so I can connect with families about keeping these odors outside and away from their children.

• I’ve decided to wait until Tuesday, October 15th, to send home the FastBridge parent reports. This will coincide with parent-teacher conference information going live that week, giving us a couple of weeks to get interventions rolling. This timing will also give parents the opportunity to review the reports and develop any questions they may have for their scheduled conferences. If you’re unfamiliar with these reports, please refer to the FastBridge Family Report Overview.  The office will run the color copies and have them to you on Monday, October 14th.

• PreK/K End of Day pickup, still three lines, but moved here (image). This will free up additional space in the front parking lot during the day.  Pickup Map: www.tinyurl.com/WestPickUp

• If you want to work ahead, the CAREIall module 3 is now open for all staff (as you finish module 2). 

  • CAREIALL timelines, scroll down this page. https://sites.google.com/isd318.org/isd318ela/318-read-act-pd

• Is your computer making odd reactions like thumbs up, balloons, or other odd images?  Although it's typically related to videoconferencing....  "Reactions" may have been enabled.

  • • Use Reactions, Presenter Overlay, and other effects when videoconferencing on Mac - Apple Support

    • https://support.apple.com/en-us/105117

• We are currently working on a draft of the conference schedule. Please do not share this information yet, but take a moment to check your sign-up for accuracy.  Due to larger class sizes, we have set conference slots to 20 minutes instead of 25. This adjustment ensures there are enough slots available, especially if any slots are blocked off.  For split households, we are not obligated to offer multiple conferences per child. Given the increase in class sizes, it is not feasible to provide multiple conference times for each student.

  • https://sites.google.com/isd318.org/fall-conferences-2024/home

  • Pictures, we can update them after picture day if they come back in time.

• If you know of any children that will never have or be able to afford any type of Grand Rapids orange shirts, let me know.  I have some extra soccer jerseys and shirts for little kids.

• We'll have the Starlab setup at the end of the month in the Hub.

• Thursday and Friday, September 26th and 27th

  • Lars the Little Polar Bear (video)

    • Explore the changing Arctic landscape with a curious little polar bear! (27 min.)

  • More information (text explanations)

• Signup Schedule (scroll forward to 9/26 or 9/27)

• Starlab Info

  • Cover expectations prior to coming.  You may need to adjust these directions for your age level.

Curricular Connections:

The show “Lars the Little Polar Bear” from Loch Ness Productions explores the changing Arctic landscape through the eyes of a young polar bear. This 27-minute fulldome show would fit well with several lessons in both Stemscopes and Mystery Science.

• • Stemscopes: Earth’s Resources and Weather Patterns

    • This show aligns with lessons on understanding different environments, such as the Arctic, and how animals adapt to their habitats. It can complement discussions on weather patterns, the impact of seasonal changes, and the importance of environmental conservation.

  • Mystery Science: “Why Do Animals Migrate?”

    • “Lars the Little Polar Bear” ties into lessons about animal behavior, specifically how and why animals move from one place to another. The show could be used to illustrate real-world examples of how animals like polar bears might adapt to environmental changes, fitting into the broader discussion of migration and survival.

Navigate360 EMS:

• Website: https://ems.navigate360.com/login

• App: https://help.navigate360.com/Getting_Started_Launching_EMS/ems-mobile-app

• • Flip Charts

    • In process of updating.

  • Rapid Alarm (emergency notifications)

    • Fire

    • Biological

    • Intruder

    • Weather

    • Medical

• Friday:
  Safety Practice – We will have a fire drill this day. We will not be exiting the building this time. This will be announced in advance, so it won't be a surprise. You are asked to start gathering and lining your students up to leave as if it's a real event, regardless of where you are. Our general practice is to immediately prepare to evacuate or leave the site but only actually leave if you are informed or can gather enough information to ensure that's the best decision at the time.  *One of our alarms has a voice that automatically says, "leave the building." While this may seem counterintuitive, please do not immediately leave unless you are instructed to do so or can gather enough information to make that decision. Unfortunately, that alarm is automated and does not account for whether leaving the building is actually safe.

A few items for the remainder of the week:

Wednesday:
Early Out – It may be more efficient to start with your teams as soon as you can in your wings or flex spaces. I'll come around as soon as I can, but please note that pickup is still taking a bit of time on some ends. Please read the Early Out document and focus on Orton Gillingham as noted. Tightening up and refining our OG practices will have significant positive impacts on our children.

Thursday:
Staff Meeting ASAP after parent pickup. Let's meet in the Servery so I can walk right in and get us started. I'm hopeful for a 3:15 PM start. I may need to begin with those who are there by that time. We've got to get rolling. At a minimum, I want to cover some safety practices again.

Friday:
Safety Practice – We will have a fire drill this day. We will not be exiting the building this time. This will be announced in advance, so it won't be a surprise. You are asked to start gathering and lining your students up to leave as if it's a real event, regardless of where you are. Our general practice is to immediately prepare to evacuate or leave the site but only actually leave if you are informed or can gather enough information to ensure that's the best decision at the time.  *One of our alarms has a voice that automatically says, "leave the building." While this may seem counterintuitive, please do not immediately leave unless you are instructed to do so or can gather enough information to make that decision. Unfortunately, that alarm is automated and does not account for whether leaving the building is actually safe.

Emergency Management:
This is our emergency management app and website:

• App: Navigate360 EMS Mobile App

• Website: Navigate360 EMS Login

Both systems rely on you being set up as a staff member in Infinite Campus. Please try logging in to the website. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link.  If you can not get in, you'll need to email me directly (Sean).

Lunchroom Seating Charts:
Finally, if you have not already done so, please complete your classroom lunchroom seating charts so the Servery staff knows where each student is seated. Turn it in to Geraldene.

Together at West, We Shine,
Sean

PS.  New page on this website.

Early Out:

• I am not optimistic that we will have much time today. Once we have completed parent pickup, I will make an all-call with a 5-minute warning, and then we will get started as soon as possible with the planned early out. This will take place in the Makerspace and Learning Lab (the two rooms next to the Library).By end of the day:

PM PICKUP (by end of day)

• A seating map for 1st and 2nd grade classes will be available for use in the Servery during pickup.

• Even if your radio is turned off during pickup, please bring it with you. Once all your students have been picked up and you're not in the Servery or K wing, turn your radio back on so we can contact you if there's an issue locating a child. You can turn it off once the pickup process is complete for the day.

• I will manually update the student bus number list again.

• We post daily changes to dismissal online, left hand column of this page.

By end of the week:

• We will have table labels for the Servery tables, so we know which classes are seated where. This will eliminate the need to keep the projector on the entire time.

• For after lunch, we are working on creating a lineup area in front of the library for classroom teachers to pick up their students. This will help line students up and move them out of the Servery, reducing congestion. The last groups may continue to be picked up at their tables.

• Please complete your classroom lunchroom seating charts so the Servery staff knows where each student is seated.

Together at West, We Shine,
Sean

First day quick links, also on the main page of this website:

• Lunch Menus

• PM Dismissal Changes & Absences (Red Tab)

• Sub Shorage List (to cover)

• Dismissal website: https://app.idismiss.org/

• Schedule Document

• Copy of Open House Slideshow

• Schedule, AM Duty and Dismissal tabs are updated.

• Staff uses the East parking lot, save the back parking lot for buses and parent pickup.

• Please also consider entering the building from the side doors, SPED or Playground. If you come directly through the main doors I think you will have families trying to drop their child off early to walk in with you.

• CAREIALL TEST CODE: GrandRapids840

• Dismissal Duties, this is the editable document.  Mainly as a reminder to myself, we must make sure that those checking in students are setup in the correct line.

• Finally, this went out to parents this morning 9/2/24:

Dear Parents and Students,

As we prepare for our first day of school tomorrow, I wanted to offer one last opportunity to come in and do a final walkthrough of the building. I’ll be at school tonight from 4-6 PM, and while there won’t be other staff on site, I’ll have the doors unlocked and be working in the office.

Feel free to stop by if you’d like to walk through the halls, find your classroom, or practice your morning routine one more time. It’s a great way to help everyone feel a bit more comfortable before the big day.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Together at West, We Shine!

Sean Martinson

Reminder on this website: https://www.tinyurl.com/WestRapids2425

• Schedule, dimissal tab, we will need to find and assign who is covering where.

• THIS WEEK

  • Tuesday, August 27th

    • Move in day, no meetings.

  • Wednesday, August 28th

    • 7:30 Pancake Breakfast (optional)

    • 8:00-11:00 Back to School Staff Meeting.

      • Here is a copy of the planned topics.  I will be working on this right up until that morning but it gives you an idea.  Still working on this between a few other things.  ~ Sean

  • Thursday, August 29th

    • 8:00-10:00am In-Person CAREIALL Module 1 Meeting

      • This meeting is online but really in person.  Everyone needs to be signed in to the zoom meeting with their cameras on (for attendance).   Groups will physically meet at the assigned location on this document.

    • 3:00-5:00pm Open House

• This website, some additions and tweaks since last time.

• Schedule

• There are multiple District working groups that met last year.  We will talk about these groups and highlight specifics at the welcome back meeting but I wanted to share some items from the Communications group now as they have implications on start up.   It is bullet point on that page highlighted in yellow.

• Wit & Wisdom, feeling so much better after the initial training.  A separate email was sent.  Open invite to come Monday still if you originally couldn't.

• Opening Week:

  • Tuesday, August 27th

    • Move in day, no meetings.

  • Wednesday, August 28th

    • 7:30 Pancake Breakfast (optional)

    • 8:00-11:00 Back to School Staff Meeting.

  • Thursday, August 29st

    • 8:00-10:00am In-Person CAREIALL Module 1 Meeting

    • Wit & Wisdom for those that don't go in August. *not sure on time.

    • 3:00-5:00pm Open House

We will cover the following at the opening staff meeting.  We will be tight on time so I can't guarantee the depth that we will get to as a large group.  Here are a few logistical items I know we'll be covering.  Are there areas for new or returning staff that you think I should be highlighting?

• Logistics

  • Staff Parking

  • Staff Communication

  • Drop Off

    • Seat Work, identifying meaningful activities for that 8:05-8:35 time in classes.

  • Lunch

    • Seating Charts

  • Recess

  • Pickup

  • Crisis Planning

  • Safety Items

  • Sub Plans

    • KISS Method.  For our guest staff, we need to keep it simple. 

More items are falling into place:

• Class lists: are viewable to staff.  Go to parents tomorrow 8/1.  Please do NOT share yet.  I still may have to make changes prior to lists going out. 

  • Remember, K lists are JUST for the first day they come.  New, final lists., come out that first Friday.

• CAREIALL: I believe an email reminder is coming out with more information, if not I'll send one later.  For now,  a reminder to keep plugging away.  https://canvas.umn.edu/

• Wit and Wisdom: Materials are on site, please do not dig through anything in the Servery, materials will be brought to classrooms when they are ready.  Ease in, it's a marathon not a sprint.

• Parking:

  • On student contact days, we will not be able to use the back parking lot.  The west lot where the buses load.  After Kinder Camp, with a smaller group, it became clear we will need to run three rows of cars so we don't back out into the city streets and county road during parent pickup.

• Start of Day:

  • 8:05 am doors open.

  • 8:05 kids can start going to class.

  • 8:05 Breakfast is served each morning.

  • 8:15 Breakfast lines stop, kids in line or already eating can still finish.

  • 8:25 first bell rings.

  • 8:35 The day starts "cheeks in seats".

• Educational Benefits passes are in.  Still need to fill out the form.

General Notes

• The move in date is still on for August 1st.  Custodians are still cleaning and moving. 

• This site is being prepared for families, share any feedback directly with me: https://sites.google.com/isd318.org/west2425/home

• New literacy curriculum items have arrived.  Classrooms will have the needed tools for the switch.  If you still have Journey's items that need to go, Bill is putting boxes in the wings.  Box them up and place them in the hall. 

• The elevator landings are getting waxed.  You may have to adjust your plans or path if you can't get through.

• The SPED wing halls are going to be getting waxed, tomorrow I believe.

• KinderCamp starts next week.  M-Th, 8-12.

• There are free items in the main entry.

• There is a secondary set of free items by the lost and found outside of the main office.  If these are still here next week they will go out front for anyone to take including the community (pictured at left).

Staffing

• Karyn Surface moved over to East.  Britney Funnell was interviewed and hired as her replacement.

• The ESP Realignment was held on 7/15, I believe this is correct:

  • Akre Lori Spec Ed EBD

  • Brenda Keske Spec Ed & Supervision DCD

  • Deutsch Michelle Spec Ed & Supervision DCD

  • Fiala Debbie Retired

  • Gemmill Deb Spec Ed & Supervision DCD

  • Jodi Broking Spec Ed & Supervision EBD

  • Karnes Jessica Intervention & Supervision

  • Lessin Kristi Intervention & Supervision

  • Lessman Tracy NurseRN

  • McNamar Tracy Spec Ed EBD

  • Nancy Rollins Spec Ed EBD

  • Olson Holli Spec Ed & Supervision DCD

  • Porter Lauri Spec Ed DCD

  • Powers Paul Move to RJEMS.

  • Prochazka Tania Spec Ed EBD

  • Sandra Gram Spec Ed DCD

  • Stacey Steele Spec Ed & Supervision EBD

  • Steel Stacey Spec Ed & Supervision & Transp Supervision LD

  • Stinar Tanya Spec Ed EBD

  • Sutherland Constance Retired

  • Taylor Cristina Spec Ed DCD

  • Temple Bonnie Spec Ed DCD

  • Tracy Forrest Spec Ed DCD

  • Wagner Sarah Spec Ed & Supervision DCD

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP SCROLLING IN CASE YOU MISSED PAST MESSAGES.

General Notes

• Move in date is still on for August 1st.  Custodians are still cleaning and moving.  Many items are still @ summer learning academy.

• Kinder wing will be ready first in preparation for KinderCamp.

• 2024-2025 Schedule: there are still some minor tweaks to be made, for example, reflecting an 8:35 start time.

• Updated start times:

  • Doors open at 8:05, School starts at 8:35.

• End of day

  • 2:15 on Wednesdays, 2:50 MTThF.  End of day we realease on the bell with K/PreK leaving just prior to the bell.

Items that may be new to staff:

• Drop off map: www.tinyurl.com/WestDropOff

• Pickup Map: www.tinyurl.com/WestPickUp (we will need all of the back lot for buses and end of day cars, staff will need to part in the east, front parking lot).

  • Pickup, we'll do a practice run at KinderCamp but plan on parking only in the east parking lot.  We will need the west parking lot for multiple rows of parent pickup cars and buses.

• Birthday's, please remind families of "non-food items".

• Supply Lists: www.tinyurl.com/WestSupplyList24 There is one overall list for the site. For individual needs, please check in at the office first and limit requests to families as much as possible. Due to continued reductions, we will unfortunately have to rely more on families directly.

• We will be using Campus Messenger next year, we will not be using Seesaw.

Staffing

• Karyn Surface moved over to East.  We'll be interviewing for her replacement over the next week.

• ESP Realignments are next week. 7/15.