Weekly Updates for week of 4/26/21

 

Team, 

• Click here for the weekly message!

• Please see the peer-assessment protocol ideas below that goes along with the weekly message. 

Just a reminder that the schedule changes for Monday! 

Weekly Reminders

 Team,

Please be sure you check out Dr. K's message. Given the length of it, I will not post a video this week so you can focus on his message. 

Anyone else feel tired? Is exhausted a better word? This year has thrown so many changes at us, and in a way it is really testing our grit and ability to think flexibly. When the year is over, I hope to be able to drive away from the school knowing that I left it all on the table...that I gave this year my absolute best.  

If I can be vulnerable for a moment, this week has been a challenging one for me as well: between the recent news I learned regarding a colleague, to reopening...it has been hard. Yet despite the fatigue and stress, I am left feeling like I could not be any luckier than to be at QUEST in this moment in time. I am finishing this week with the feeling of being part of a team, or the feeling of being part of something that is much larger than any one of us. You all inspire me.

Thank you for your ownership over your work. Thank you for being so open-,minded about this school year. Thank you for allowing our kids to feel great excitement in returning by simply showing up and bringing your A-game! Thank you!

Some reminders this week: 

• If you are a classroom teacher, please work with Derek and your monitor if you are experiencing any lunch issues.  Please let me know if there is anything specific your classroom needs to support the students during their, and your, lunch. 
• Thanks for your patience with pick-up. Yesterday we rocked it, and the extra five minutes seems to be the perfect amount of time to get kids to their cars safely. I am working on transportation regarding our two late buses. Please make sure any student getting picked up is walking down right at the 3:15 announcement. 
• If you have music with Mrs. Kohler, please remember that you will be going one minute later--and picking up a minute later. This is helping with hallway congestion down that hallway. 
• With the protocol and such, students may be at their seats longer than normal. If you do not already, consider adding or increasing movement breaks and time outside. 
• Be sure to keep windows open as much as possible. 
• Pick a colleague next week and try to do one thing each day to be there for them. Challenge by choice. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Respectfully,

Derek 

Fire Safety Videos

These videos were created in lieu of the "in person" Hilton Fire Prevention training.  Please share with your kids as time allows.

 

Hazard House:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erVWEDaaF07kY-D8TNRLo9LQguv6Aer2/view?usp=sharing

 

Safety Trailer: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XmkmhswGC7pN-dVFkuBXfWK3Rw0eKcIA/view?usp=sharing

Who is fired up?

 

Weekly update

 Team,

This week was heavy, and life never promises us perfect days, weeks, or even months. Yet despite everything our district is going through, our school continues to demonstrate its character through our ability to rally together. We keep kids first and we take great care of one another. I hope that you recognize this and that we always, no matter what, keep our values at our core. This is what it means when we say WE are QUEST. I'm proud of you and am grateful to work alongside you.

Some business items to get us through next week: 

1. Testing is next week! Specifically, it is on Thursday (ELA). Here is the link for the modified scheduled. The Erin's Law presentations are also included. CLICK HERE FOR TESTING SCHEDULE! 
2. Northwood is getting a concentrated amount of supports right now. If you find yourself needing support, it is available. Come chat with Val or your principal.  
3. Next week, we will start dismissal at 3:15. On the first day we will call kids down at 3:05. The only reason for that is we are assigning each child a seat and want them to learn their assigned seat. So Monday, 3:05 for dismissal, then we will shift it to 3:15 for Tuesday. We have about 48-50 cars coming through the loop, so if we are able to crank those out, I hope to begin pushing the pickup dismissal time back. 
4. Please stand outside your room on Monday when kids arrive and make it an awesome welcome back. Kids deserve to be greeted, and that becomes the first assessment of the day as we notice how they are entering the school. 

5. Melissa Allen will be starting at QUEST on Tuesday. Melissa is an admin. intern and will be working out of my office. 

6. For testing, all additional spaces will be used for modifications. Testing should be quicker this year. 

7. A few things I want you to be aware of with lunches.

   ·         Mike (isolation room supervisor) has been hired to serve in the place of Mrs. Guest.

   ·         I was able to receive permission from CO for a 4^th monitor. This allows us to have one person per room during lunches versus the few scenarios where we have people split between two rooms.

   ·         I’ve chatted with a handful of you and I noticed you have widened the time you have lunch to allow additional eating—this is most helpful for kids needing extra time. Thank you. I respect and know this requires flexibility…it is appreciated.

   ·         Our first default will be to take kids outside for lunch, but will use a staggered approach when we are unable to.

   ·         K-2 will have lunches delivered, all else will go through the line for a grab-and-go style pick-up. Breakfast will be grab-and-go for 1-6.

Weekly Message

 Team,

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEEKLY MESSAGE!

Also:

• Please join me in congratulating Theresa Weed on a new position that she is accepted in Brockport. She will be leaving us in the near future. We appreciate you, Mrs. Weed!