DAISY DAILY FOR WEEK OF MAY 28, 2018

Happy Memorial Day 2018

Daisy Staff,

Hope that everyone is enjoying the long holiday weekend with weather ranging from hot and humid to chilly and wet!

Thanks to ALL, especially to Ryan Percival, for putting together yet another fabulous Field Day for our students!  It was a perfect day, all around---beautiful weather with safe, fun activities for our students and adults---and I so appreciate all the planning and work that goes into this.  Having staff members manage the stations is key to such a well-run event and a multitude of thanks goes out to Ryan and our team!!!

Field Day Opening

Daisy's Dance Team!

Here's the link to the staff/student Tug of War:
https://www.facebook.com/daisyingrahamelementary/videos/1844833838902068/
Do you think you could take it a little easier on our students 
next time, LOL?

We have a very busy last few weeks of school ahead, of course.  Please continue to consult our Daisy Staff Google Calendar daily for updates re: special events, field trips, concerts, etc., etc.

As always, here's the link:

DAISY STAFF CALENDAR

Here a few highlights about the week ahead:

• We will meet in grade-level team meetings this week, as regularly scheduled, to discuss the schedule for next year as well as to begin class placement.
• Third-grade concert is this Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm!
• Some staff members will be involved in Restorative Practice Training on May 30 and 31.
• Please check the daily e-mail from the office for the latest on coverage and absences.
• Please be sure to notify our school nurse and our cafeteria staff about upcoming field trips so that we can plan accordingly.
• Please always remember to take a Walkie Talkie with you when taking classes outside; to the town library; etc.

Let's make it a super week!  As always, please let me know your concerns and updates for our calendar.

Thanks for all you do!
Ruth

DAISY DAILY FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 21, 2018

Daisy Staff,

As we heard the very sad news of another school shooting last Friday, please know that our Superintendent, Pat Ciccone, reached out to district families and staff once again, offering resources to help students and adults cope with this and other tragedies.  Pat sent out letters via School Messenger with links to approved resources, all of which are posted on our district web page. 

First graders in concert,

directed by Michele Hammond,

and assisted by student teacher Julia Tackett.

Second graders in concert,

directed by Jen Bellizzi.

As we approach the week ahead, we have much to look forward to, including:

• An in-school choral concert featuring our first- and second-graders on Monday, May 21, at 9 am in the gym.
• SBAC make-ups for third- and fourth-graders will take place right after this concert, beginning at 9:45 am on Monday. Make-ups will also take place on Tuesday morning from 9-11 am.
• A Cultural Arts presentation on Afro-Puerto Rican/Caribbean Music and Dance (aka "Boomba") will be offered to all students and staff on Thursday, from 1:30-2:30 pm in the gym.
• Field Day will take place this Friday, all day long, as per the schedule that Ryan Percival distributed last week.  Fingers crossed for great weather!

Other meetings this week include:

• 8 am, Mon., May 21:  Daisy Leadership Team in Office.
• 3:15 pm, Mon., May 21: Scheduling Committee Mtg. in Room 3.
• 3:15-4:15 pm, Wed., May 23: School-Based PLC. (During this meeting, a group of staff members who worked on the SAAP Curriculum will meet with representatives from the middle and high schools in Room 7.  This meeting actually starts at 2:30 pm and coverage will be provided for those requiring it.)

As always, please consult our Daisy Staff Google Calendar for all events and times:

DAISY STAFF GOOGLE CALENDAR

During Grade-Level Meetings this week, I'm asking that classroom teachers, special education teachers and specialists please use this time to complete placement cards on each student.  We will begin the process of placement for next year's classes during grade-level meetings during the week of May 28.

If all goes according to plan, all SBAC Assessment Make-ups will be completed by Tuesday, May 22.

Please let me know your concerns and let's make it a great week!

Thanks so much for all you do!!!

Ruth

Grandparents Day took place in Lori Freeman's kindergarten classroom last week and we welcomed a record number of guests!

Daisy Daily for the Week of May 14, 2018

What a fabulous week of Staff Appreciation it was last week!

Our very generous Daisy PTO recognized all staff members each day throughout last week in so many clever, thoughtful ways.

Please know that each one of you is appreciated beyond words!

Superintendent Pat Ciccone also sent gifts for all staff members, which certainly added to the festivity!

By the end of the week, we probably all felt like

we had walked the Red Carpet on Daisy's "Walk of Fame," complete with our own glittery star and shiny Oscar.

Perhaps the most precious of all of these gifts were the hand-written letters of thanks from our students, which ALL staff members received.

If you're wondering who you might thank for organizing all of these special treats on behalf of the Daisy PTO, please know that one of our parents, Laura Furcolo, spearheaded these efforts.

I'm certain that gestures of thanks to her and to PTO officers in general would be very welcomed.

As we prepare for the week ahead, here are a few highlights:

• Monday---SBAC Make-ups
• Monday, 8 am: Daisy Leadership Team Mtg. in Office
• Monday, 3:15 pm: Schedule Committee Mtg. in Rm. 3
• Tuesday, 6:00-6:45 pm: Grades 1 & 2 Concert in Gym
• Tuesday, 7:00 pm: Annual Town Meeting/Vote re: Budget in WHS Auditorium
• Tuesday through Friday: SBAC Testing (Please see exact schedule on Daisy Google Calendar.)
• Wednesday, 3:15 pm, PDEC Meeting in WMS Library

As always, please refer to our Daisy Staff Google Calendar for all the details of the weeks ahead at:

DAISY STAFF GOOGLE CALENDAR

A few more notes about this week:

• During Grade-Level Meeting times, classroom and special education teachers are asked to work on completing placements cards for each of your student.  These cards will be available in the office.  Placement will begin in Team Meetings during the week of May 28.
• Please welcome two new staff members, who have officially joined our Daisy family after serving with us as Kelly substitutes: John "Jack" Benson (fulltime) and Amie Lauria (4 days/week).

Let's make it a great week!

As always, please let me know your concerns and needs,

Ruth

Daisy Daily for Week of May 7, 2018

Thanks to staff members who joined the "Bottle It Up" Walk 
from the Westbrook Town Hall to the Town Beach (and back) 
on Saturday.

It was a lovely day for a walk and a great way to help raise funds for Smilow Cancer Hospital.

This event was organized by the Scotella Family

and they want you to know how much they appreciate 

the support from our Daisy family and friends!!!

Daisy Staff,

As always we have a busy week ahead, featuring the beginning of SBAC Assessments as well as Staff Appreciation Week.

• Please check our Daisy Staff Google Calendar for the specific dates/times of SBAC Assessments.  Our third- and fourth-graders will be working on English Language Arts Assessments this week and all testing takes place between 9:00-10:30 am.
• Our Daisy PTO has planned some very creative ways to show appreciation for all staff members throughout the week and these are noted in our Staff Calendar.  Of special note:
• Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Monday in Staff Room
• Staff Appreciation "Red Carpet" Luncheon on Tuesday in Staff Room

• PLEASE SEE OUR STAFF GOOGLE CALENDAR FOR ALL THE SPECIFICS:

DAISY STAFF GOOGLE CALENDAR

Other notes about this week:

• The next Scheduling Committee Meeting will take place on Monday from 3:15-4:15 pm in Room 3.
• First "Stepping Up" after-school event for 3rd/4th graders, organized by Jill Enerson, will take place on Tuesday from 3:00-4:15 pm.
• Westbrook Board of Education Meeting will take place on Tuesday at 7 pm in the Westbrook High School Library.  The Board will revisit next year's calendar, specifically regarding options re: February break.

As always, if you have concerns, please let me know.

Thanks,

Ruth

Our students showed appreciation for our school nurse, 

Bianca Dito, RN, by writing her a book of thanks!

Our Book Swap was a great success last week.

Thanks so much to Early Childhood Coordinator Alyssa Lindquist

for organizing this important event!