Updates -- 09 May 2014

Hello everyone,

Pay-day Friday before a three-day weekend.  You know what that means!

Way back when, back when I was a teacher I always started counting down the days-remaining in the school year shortly after we returned from Spring Break.  As a principal I don't do that anymore.  Truth is, I'd take another week of school if I could get it.  I know you feel differently.  And frankly, I'm glad you do.

For the record: we've got just one more Friday (16 May) and one more Monday (19 May) with students.  

Dang, this year went by fast.

All-school, Year-end BBQ
Yep, we've still got to endure the all-school BBQ before we're done with this school year.  It's scheduled for Monday, 19 May, and we'll hope that the weather is nice so we can encourage our parents to bring blankets and sit on the grassy field to eat with their children.   We did this last year and it seemed to work out nicely.  Please remind your students that soccer will be restricted to just one game on the east-side of the field during the all-school BBQ.  A notice was set out earlier in the week and a reminder will go out in the Marshall Magnet newsletter and by robo-call next week, too.

Our bell schedule will be the same as always on the Monday of the BBQ, but our start-times will differ from the norm some in order to accommodate longer lines and such.  There will be overlap of recesses, so please instruct your students to listen for their bell and to line up quickly when it rings.  Duty aides will be outside on the playground throughout this event to watch your students.

Please bring your classes down at the following times:
  • K-1: 11:15
  • 2-3: 11:45
  • 4-5: 12:15

Bike To School Day
Yep, we've also still got to endure Bike To School day before we're done with this school year.  BTSD is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 May.  As Holly said in her email to all of you this morning, 
"We would really like to win the GOLDEN SPROCKET award back from DeMiguel. For the last two years we've only been a couple dozen riders short. 
PTO has arranged for the crabby-bike from the Alpine Pedaler to accompany Marshall riders from Wheeler Park to school and they have 2 seats to raffle off!  If you are interested in one of these two seats let me know and I will put your name in for the drawing. We will announce the winners next Friday with the Blue Ticket awards. 
On Tuesday morning we will also need volunteers to help organize riders out in front of school. We are trying to be able to offer snacks and raffle prizes.  If anyone has a relationship with any of the bike shops and would be willing to ask them for some swag (stickers, waterbottles, patch kits, ...) to raffle off that would be a great help.  
A flyer to go home will be in your mailboxes next week.  Please make sure your students know about bike to school day!"

Magnet Monday Showcase
Don't forget, we will give our third, fourth, and fifth grade students a chance to show-off all that they've learned during their second semester Magnet Monday electives at our Spring Showcase on Monday, May 19, beginning at 1:30, right after the school BBQ, in the former FMS gym.

 All Marshall classes are invited to attend.  Students will celebrate the activities and projects they created in their Lego League, Band, Choir, Chess, Heritage Garden, Team Mastermind, Suzuki Violin, Creative Writing, Digital Photography, Painting, Digital Media, Dance, and Mentoring  electives from 1:30-2:30.


301 Survey
At least 70% of eligible staff must respond to a survey about 301 money and how it is to be allocated next year in order for the plan to go into effect.  If this doesn't happen, it's back to the drawing board.  Thus far, only about 25% of eligible staff have completed the survey.  Please do so ASAP via this link.

RAK "Big Event" Wine Wall
Instead of creating elaborate gift baskets to donate to the Random Acts Of Kindness committee's annual Big Event dinner and silent auction, this year the church has asked that Marshall faculty contribute bottles of wine "bagged in brown bags, tied with a ribbon" to their Wine Wall auction.  

If you're willing to chip-in and participate in this effort, thank you!  Please deliver your donation to RAK committee member, Kelley Ingols.  Absolutely DO NOT bring wine into the school building; make arrangements to take the bottles to her house or make a subtle brown-bag exchange in the parking lot before or after school.

The wine can be of any vintage or expense.

Tickets to the "Big Event" dinner are still available.  Shaw, Perkins, and Ingols have them.

Please keep in mind, the RAK Fund is an invaluable asset to our school. Thanks to RAK this year: 

  • every student at Marshall has a daily planner-agenda in which they are encouraged to write their homework assignments daily
  • our school was able to purchase a new lamination machine to replace the old one that melted down
  • we were able to print two large series of posters to permanently display our corporate values within the school
  • we were able to assist a grandmother to fly from Washington state to retrieve her grandson who was in crisis
  • we were able to purchase a table for our medically-fragile teacher to use to work more optimally alongside her students
  • we were able to purchase a class-sized set of 25 booster/safety-seats for our kindergarten students to use when the attend fieldtrips on district vans

RTI & AIMSWEB Schedule
There will be NO RTI during the week of 12-16 May due to PARCC end-of-year field-testing and AIMSWEB benchmark testing.  Please consult the testing schedule to ensure you're prepared when our evaluators arrive.

Report Cards
McFall corresponded with you this morning regarding the upcoming schedule for report cards.  For the record, her email is reprinted below:

Friday, May 23rd: If you are a Special Area Teacher please have your grades entered by 12:00 noon.  Malinda will do an initial attendance rollover (this will not be official until the last day).  Please do not transfer grades until the announcement has been made Friday afternoon.  Regular classroom teachers will have the afternoon and weekend to work on report cards.

It is important to remember to indicate in the "Comments" box that "Student attendance is accurate as of May 23, 2014.  Actual days membership through May 29, 2014, will be entered in student cum folder."

Thursday, May 29th: Last Day of School: Report Cards will be sent home with students at the end of the day.  Melinda will do the FINAL attendance rollover after all teachers have taken attendance.

Friday, May 30th: Teacher Work Day: Melinda and Erin will print final report cards for teachers to place in Student Cum Folders this will indicate accurate attendance).


Dodgeball!
It's still not too late to sign up online at www.marshalldodgeball.com or in person with Reasor. The registration deadline has been extended through 14 May.  Thirty bucks per player, $150 per five-person team... with extra-special deals for any/all Marshall staff members who want to play!  

 Don't forget, it's all for a good cause.  The Dodgeball fund is one of the primary ways we support and sustain our magnet programs at Marshall. 

Calendar
Week A

  • Monday, 12 May
    • NO SCHOOL - snow-day make-up day
  • Tuesday, 13 May
    • Site Council CANCELED
    • Science Council CANCELED
  • Wednesday, 14, May
    • Coe @ Elementary Admin mtg, 7:30-10:00
    • Coe @ ADE mtg, 10:30-11:30
  • Thursday, 15 May
    • Faculty Meeting CANCELED
  • Friday, 16 May
    • RAK "Big Event" at Doubletree Hilton, 6:00
  • Saturday, 17 May
    • MS. McFALL'S GETTIN' MARRIED!!!  GONNA BE MRS. OVERTON NOW!!!
  • Sunday, 18 May
    • DODGEBALL!

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