Daisy Daily for the Week of March 26, 2018

Thanks to all the Daisy Folks who came to "Light on Westbrook" on Saturday evening.  What an awesome turnout!!!

A few notes about this week:

• Kindergarten Registration takes place this week and will be ongoing.  I'm inviting each family to come in with their kindergarten child for an individual meeting to register so that we get to know our new students.
• Report Cards are scheduled to go home with students this Wednesday.  Due to staff members putting finishing touches on these Reports and assessing students, there were be no grade-level meetings in the office this week.
• We've rescheduled Science Specialist Clare Wurm's visit to Daisy for this Tuesday, March 27.  She will modeling Science lessons in classrooms and debriefing with teachers during the day on Tuesday.  A specific schedule will follow.
• Thanks so much to Lesley Harrington, who organized a fabulous Math night and to all staff members who came out to help last week!  We had record numbers of students and families attending : )

• Thanks, too, to all our Daisy staff members and families who came out on Saturday night to support "Light on Westbrook" at Oxford Academy.  It was a fabulous turnout and a great way to support the food program for Westbrook youth.
• Our district's "Community Conversation" has been rescheduled for Wed., April 4, from 6:00-7:30 pm at Westbrook High School.  Please consider joining this important conversation.
• The District Health and Wellness Fair will take place on Thursday, April 5, from 1-5 pm at Westbrook High School.  This important health/wellness fair is sponsored by our district Wellness Committee Committee.  Please join us at WHS after school on that day for an opportunity to visit with lots of exhibitors; view demonstrations; and have a chance to win health-related door prizes!

As always, please check our Daisy Staff Calendar for all the events/times/etc. of the weeks ahead:

DAISY STAFF CALENDAR

We've got a four day week this week, with the Good Friday holiday on Friday.  Let's make it a great one!

Warmly,

Ruth

Thanks to all who "rocked their socks" 

for Down Syndrome Awareness last week!

P.S......Please remember this is an interactive blog for staff members.  If you have any comments or concerns, you can leave comments.  Also, it's a living, breathing document, which we can update at any time.  Please let me know if there's anything we need to add to the calendar or otherwise for the good of all!

Daisy Daily for the Week of March 19, 2018

One of our Daisy Families was instrumental

in helping to plan our Down Syndrome Awareness Day,

set for this Wednesday, March 21.

Daisy Friends,

I'm hoping that everyone enjoyed a wonderful weekend.

We have lots to look forward to in the week ahead.  

Here are a few highlights:

• Author/Illustrator David Biedrzycki will join us on Monday morning with two assemblies for our students, as follows:
• 9:00-9:45 am---Grades Pre-K, K, 1 and 2 in Cafe.
• 10:00-10:45 am--Grades 3 and 4 in Cafe.
• (Please read my previous e-mail for all the details.)

• "Rock Your Socks" for Down Syndrome Awareness, Wed., March 21.  (Please see my former e-mail for all the details.) Electronic notices have been sent out to families and staff regarding this awareness day for students and adults.  Please note that this is NOT a fundraising effort; solely an awareness activity.

• "Read and Write" Training will be featured at this Wednesday afternoon's School-based PLC, from 3:15-4:15 pm.
• Family Math Night will take place this Thursday, from 5-7 pm in various locations throughout the building.  Pizza will be served in the cafe.  Thanks to all who have volunteered to help Math Specialist Lesley Harrington pull off another successful Math Night!
• The PTO's Family Rock Climbing Event will take place this Friday evening.  As forms are returned by families, please send these to the office.
• "Light on Westbrook" Photographic Art Show/Reception takes place Saturday evening, March 24, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Oxford Academy.  This event, co-sponsored by Westbrook Public Schools and Oxford Academy provides seed money for our Summer Meal Program for Students.  Please help support this important event.  Tickets are available in the office.

As always, please continue to check our Google Staff Calendar for all events, times, locations, which is updated on a daily basis:

DAISY STAFF CALENDAR

If you have any concerns, please let me know.

Let's make it a great week!

Warmly,

Ruth

Thanks so much to our fabulous Sunshine Team,

Lynda and Laura, for providing such fun, green treats

in the Staff Lunch Room last Friday.

Your thoughtfulness and clever work are so appreciated!!!

Our Second-Graders have been very busy researching and learning about "Important People."

Their culminating project included sharing this information in digital presentations with families and staff last Friday.

Here are a few of these Important People......

Daisy Daily for Week of March 12, 2018

Daisy Friends,

I know it was a rough stretch last week with so many of us without power during this most recent Nor'easter.  So sorry we missed time with our students last week but thanks to all who came in on Friday, ready to work with vigor during our PD day, whether you were at Daisy or at Regional Professional Development.  All that we do, especially together, ensures better outcomes for our students.

On Friday, staff members warmed up and de-stressed with some Yoga and relaxation exercises, led by Dr. Sue Shuster.

At the end of the day, we came back to a circle to discuss, synthesize and share data regarding scheduling for next year.

Our previously planned model Science lessons with Clare Wurm, along with debriefing sessions, will be rescheduled on a regular day of school as soon as is physically possible for all.

As of right now (not withstanding any other surprises this coming week), our last day of school for students will be June 25 and the last day of school for certified staff will be June 26.  I have updated the rotation days on our Google Staff Calendar (Days A, B, C, D) to reflect that.

On a positive note, special education teacher Erica Hocking has accepted a full-time position with our district.  Her new schedule, which will start on Monday, March 12, will feature her with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at Westbrook High School on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Many thanks to Madeline and our special education team who worked on coverage needs for our students so that the needs of students that Erica services will be met in an appropriate fashion.

Also effective on Monday, March 12, will be a newly revised coverage and duty schedule as it was necessary to re-work our schedule with the resignation of two of our valued paraprofessionals.  Felicia Harris has left the district and Sarah Gomes is expected to leave at the end of the month.  These updates have been made to our Google doc Schedules and were also distributed in hard copies to staff members' mailboxes.

Now that we are using the Delta-T service for paraprofessional substitutes, it is more important than ever for ALL staff members to report to the office when they will be absent.  The notification system is different than through Kelly and not all staff members require a substitute.  So, the best way to report your upcoming absence (as soon as you know it) is to e-mail Alicia, Jackie and me.  It is important to e-mail all three of us as there may be office absences as well.  Thanks so much for your help with this : )

As always, please read through the Daisy Google Calendar for all important dates and events, but I'd like to highlight a few here:

• "Community Conversation" on Tuesday, March 13 at 6 pm, prior to the Board of Education Meeting at Westbrook High School.  Our superintendent will host this conversation, intended for parents/guardians, staff members and community members.  Please consider joining this conversation as we consider the stressors impacting our schools, staff and families around the topic of school safety and security.
• Author/Illustrator David Biedrzycki will visit Daisy on Monday, March 19.  This cultural arts presentation is sponsored by the PTO and will feature two assemblies throughout the day.  Please consult our calendar for specifics.
• "Light on Westbrook," a collaborative with Oxford Academy and Westbrook Public Schools will take place on Saturday, March 24, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Oxford.  This photographic art show/raffle will help to provide seed money for Westbrook's summer feeding program.  Please consider coming---and entering your own photography---and join in the fun.  Tickets are available in the office and entry forms can be found in the Staff Lunch Room as well as on our school and district web sites.
• Health/Wellness Fair will take place on Thursday, April 5, from 1-5 pm at Westbrook High School.  This event is sponsored by our District Wellness Committee.  The theme is "Stress Reduction" and all staff members and community members are invited to attend.

Our preschoolers enjoyed a visit with the

"Cat in the Hat" last week.

As always, the link to our Staff Google Calendar is:

DAISY STAFF GOOGLE CALENDAR

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Ruth

Daisy Daily for Week of March 5, 2018

It was a banner week for reading at Daisy!

From our "Paws for Reading" Book Fair

to Read Across America/Dr. Seuss's Birthday,

it was a celebration of reading!!!

Thanks to all who made it so worthwhile, memorable and fun for our students, families and staff.  Huge kudos and much gratefulness go to Helen Sweet and Diane Lewis

and all those supporting these efforts!!!

Our Superintendent, Pat Ciccone, shared one of her all-time favorite Dr. Seuss books with our first graders:  "The Sneetches."

Diane Lewis gathered our students in the "Pit" with their Book Buddies and gave them an inside look behind Dr. Seuss's books.

Students gathered in comfy PJs and held their favorite stuffed animals as they enjoyed stories.

The "Paws for Reading" Theme of our Book Fair was greatly enjoyed by many pet lovers.  Family Night on Wednesday was well-attended and, once again, Mrs. Sweet did not disappoint, whether it was in book selection or  fun and witty costumes!!!

Mrs. Sweet makes books and the library
SO MUCH FUN!!!

A Few Notes About This Week:

• The "Cat in the Hat" will visit in Pre-School classrooms on Monday, both in the morning and afternoon.
• At our Staff Meeting after school on Wednesday, Abby Fredrickson will join us to give an overview of "Read & Write" for Google Docs, a useful Google Chrome Web App.
• Thursday will feature an early dismissal at 1 pm, followed by afternoon Professional Development.
• We will have a full day of PD on Friday, both at Daisy as well as Regional PD.  
• Please refer to the separate e-mail already sent with the specific schedules for both days.

A Few Reminders:

• We are using a new substitute service for Paraprofessionals now called Delta-T, in order to increase our pools of candidates and to fulfill our needs more completely.
• It is more important than ever, that ALL staff members notify the office when you will be absent (whether you request a substitute or not) as the notification system is different.  To ensure that we can plan accordingly for absences, please e-mail Jackie, Alicia and me re: your absence or call the office ASAP.
• Please remember to copy me on any notices and newsletters (hard copy or e-mail) that you send to families so that I can respond appropriately when contacted by parents.
• Please, please assume that you are the last class exiting the building when loading buses and close the outside door in the K wing.  The next class can always open the door and then it will not be left ajar at the end of the day.

As always, please consult our Staff Google Calendar frequently for updates, times and dates by clicking or bookmarking our calendar:

DAISY STAFF CALENDAR

As you know, Pat Ciccone sent out letters to all staff members and families regarding school security and an invitation  to a "Community Conversation" on Tuesday, March 13th, at 6 pm at Westbrook High School.  Please peruse the resources that she has uploaded to the district website and let me know, as well as Pat, if you have any concerns.  We always stand ready to help.

Thanks so much for all you do, every day, and let's make it a great week!

Warmly,

Ruth

Our first-graders enjoyed a walking field trip to Oxford Academy's Sugar House, where they saw first-hand how maple sap is transformed into maple syrup.  They even got to taste the finished product on homemade pancakes.

Our neighbors at Oxford (and families of our students) are the best!

P.S.  We have tickets to "Light on Westbrook," a collaborative between Oxford Academy and the Westbrook School District available in our office.
This fun, adult evening, planned for March 24, features a cocktail party and viewing of photographic artwork.  Please consider entering some of your own photography as well.  Entry forms and all the details are available in the staff lunch room, as well as on our website.
Please join us on March 24 between 6:30-8:30 pm at the Oxford Academy!