Randolph School’s End of the Week Notes for November 9, 2007

Celebrations!

Happy Birthday to Jan Enstrom on Nov. 15!

Curriculum and Instruction

Dinner and A Book Night is Tuesday, Nov. 13! Valentino’s pizza and a breadstick with orange drink for $2 a serving will be available from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Families can build/write their own book in the gym for $6.50. Parents can attend a “how to grow young readers” session with our reading teacher Mrs. Rezac from 6:30-7:15, while their students listen to stories read aloud by Dr. B., Mrs. Hale, Ms. Rehn, and Mrs. Mahoney. Of course, everyone can shop our book fair from 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Meetings Held This Week

Dr. Bonaiuto attended the McREL (Mid-continent Regional Education Laboratory) Balanced Leadership workshops on Nov. 5and 6. The emphasis in these sessions was on building “purposeful communities”. A purposeful community is one with the collective efficacy and capability to develop and use assets to accomplish purposes and produce outcomes that matter to all community members through agreed upon processes. Hmmm-- a group of people who believe their efforts make a difference, working toward the goals they agree are important, using every resource available? Sounds exactly like a Professional Learning Community. Indeed, the research both McREL and the DuFours work is based on emphasizes these characteristics for effective groups. Our opportunities for PLC early dismissals, as well as the other times teachers work together, allow teacher team to analyze student achievement data, set attainable goals for students, and develop the best methods for teaching and reaching those goals. Purposeful Community or Professional Learning Community? The characteristics and effective results are the same.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 12 Great Expectations Team meets at 8:10 in Mrs. Mahoney’s room

Nov. 12-15 Randolph Book Fair in the Media Center

Nov. 13 Staff flu shots available at school

Chess club meets in staff room 113

Nov. 13 Staff meeting at 8:10 in media center

Agenda: speech referral process—Deb Eastman

Foundation for LPS fund drive—Kelly Johnson

SpEd processes—Dr. B. and Mrs. Hale

Nov. 13 “Dinner and A Book Night” at Randolph School

Valentino’s pizza available for dinner; Book Fair in the Media Center; Make your own book activity in the gym; celebrity readers around the school; other literacy events for the whole family!

Nov. 15 Technology Comm. Meets in Media at 8:10

Nov. 16 PICTURE RETAKE DAY!

Nov. 17 UNL Women’s Basketball game—Randolph families will get free “take five” tickets to attend!

Nov. 19 School Improvement Process committee meets to plan for PLC early dismissal on Nov. 27 at 2:18 as well as the PLC Sharing Fair presentation for Dec. 13.

Nov. 20 Staff meeting at 8:10 in the media center; chess club meets in staff room 113

Nov. 21 No School for Students; Teachers’ Plan Day

Nov. 22-23 No School

Nov. 26 SCIP committee meets in Mrs. Mahoney’s room

Nov. 27 Early dismissal for PLC at 2:18

Nov. 29 Randolph Night at the Lincoln Children’s Museum $2 plus tax, 5:00-7:30 p.m.