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Lunch Menu # 4 (Week of November 10-14)
Dear Elementary School Parents,
Tomorrow night is our first ES Movie Night of the school year, and you and your children are invited! Starting at 6:00 pm, we will show the movies Lilo & Stitch (Live Action Version) in the EEC area and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules in the main ES Auditorium. Kids are welcome to bring plushies, blankets, pillows, and snacks. In addition, the PTA will sell snacks, pizza, and beverages. This is a free community event, and I hope to see you all here!
Universal Design for Learning Professional Development at Nova
Starting today, seven of our elementary teachers will be attending a workshop facilitated by educator April Remfrey as part of a professional learning event hosted by Nova under the auspices of CEESA. At the heart of the workshop is the framework known as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a research-based approach that aims to optimize teaching and learning so that all students can succeed. CAST+1
What is UDL?
UDL is a way of thinking and planning so that instruction is designed from the start to reach the diverse learners in our classrooms. Rather than adapting after the fact, UDL encourages educators to build in flexibility from the beginning. It has three interconnected principles:
What is UDL?
UDL is a way of thinking and planning so that instruction is designed from the start to reach the diverse learners in our classrooms. Rather than adapting after the fact, UDL encourages educators to build in flexibility from the beginning. It has three interconnected principles:
Engagement – the “why” of learning: building interest, motivation, and persistence. CAST+1
Representation – the “what” of learning: offering information in multiple formats so students can access content in ways that suit them.
Action & Expression – the “how” of learning: giving students flexible ways to show what they know and to learn using different methods.
What will our teachers walk away with?
By participating in this UDL workshop, our teachers will develop concrete skills and actionable strategies to enhance classroom instruction. Specifically, they will:
Understand how to identify and reduce barriers in lesson design so that students don’t get stuck because of the way the lesson is structured. (UDL emphasises proactively designing for variability rather than reacting to individual student needs later.)
Build capacity to provide multiple pathways for students to engage in the lesson, to access content, and to demonstrate their learning. This means offering more choice and flexibility in activities, tools, and assessments.
Create or redesign lesson materials and assessments that reflect the UDL guiding questions (for example: Are there options for students to access content? Are there options for students to express their understanding? Are there options for students to engage differently?).
Develop skills in monitoring student progress and supporting self-regulation, helping students to become more independent learners—knowing how to set goals, monitor their own understanding, and reflect on their work.
Collaborate with colleagues (and April Remfrey) to plan lessons with UDL embedded, review student work through the lens of variability, and iterate—so this becomes part of our school culture, not just a one-off event.
Upcoming Dates
ES Movie Night - Friday, November 7, 6:00-8:00 pm
Nova Open Day (Perspective Families) - November 13
ES Spirit Day "Decades Day" - Friday, November 14
PTA Social 7:00-9:00 pm - November 18
ASA Trimester I Clubs End - November 21
I wish you a great week ahead.
Warm regards,
Julie A. Cox
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