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| More like Statler or Waldorf? Pick one. |
Hate to act curmudgeonly, but I've gotta say something about our current AM/PM recess situation.
I've noticed, and it's been brought to my attention by a few folks as well, that for some of our grade-level teams recess has stretched from the approved 15-minute recess periods to times well in excess of that on a regular basis.
Here's the thing: I think it's perfectly appropriate to use a one-shot extra "reward" recess now and then to incentivize positive, on-task behaviors in your classroom.
Now and then.
But to stretch recess times on a regular and consistent basis causes two concerns to grow in my mind. One: I've got to figure there's still much work to be done in the course of this school year, despite the late date. I'm certain you still have much to teach and, it stands to reason, I'm sure you will need every minute of available time to teach it. And two: by stretching your recess times past 15 minutes to 20 and even 30 minutes, you force us into contravention of the instructional minutes that we've officially reported to the state for our school, which we are honor-bound to follow as best we are able.
With that in mind, I'd like to provide this reminder of the expectations for recess schedules that we set at the beginning of the school year at our opening faculty meeting back in August, and I quote:
- Recess Schedules (unchanged from 2014-15)
- The recess times are included as part of your mandatory instructional minutes and are reported to the state as follows:
- K: two 15-min. recess periods, one AM & one PM; one 10-min. PM rest time
- 1-3 two 15-min. recess periods, one AM & one PM
- 4-5 one 15 min. recess period, AM or PM
- Recess times should be indicated in your daily/weekly plans
- The recess times are included as part of your mandatory instructional minutes and are reported to the state as follows:
2016-2017 Planning
We're going to begin the class-placement process during the first week of May. You should have your pink and blue cards in-hand already. Please have them completed when you come to your placement meeting.
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| Click image to download .pdf |
Here's our tentative 2016-2017 staffing arrangement. As always, this plan is subject to change on short notice, depending on what happens with enrollment between now and the beginning of the new school year.
As you look the plan over please keep in mind, this year we will be placing our students into classrooms for next year based on FUSD's 2016-2017 staffing allotment and per-grade-level projected enrollment for Marshall (and not on today's enrollment numbers as we have always done in the past), which were developed by the FUSD Business Office and forecast another 8-10% decline in enrollment for us.
Because of this forecast, FUSD has mandated a two-position reduction in our teaching staff (from 23 classroom teachers to 21) for next year. As last year, we're going to be be able to accomplish this required reduction through organic attrition: Ms. LeMoyne has notified us that she will not return from her leave of absence, so her position will not technically be rehired. And Mrs. Koenig has arranged to retire at the end of this school year, therefore her position likewise will not be refilled.
A one-year-only position in second grade is currently posted to fill Ms. Thompson's upcoming one-year leave of absence.
There are a few other resignations and reassignments that are currently pending (they're listed as NEW followed by the name of the individual who filled the role this year in parens on the staffing arrangement spreadsheet. Some of these are also folks on one-year and/or balance-of-year contracts who must reapply for their jobs if they wish to return) and when they become finalized we will, in most cases, post to hire replacements. Timing-wise, this will likely require us to conduct the hiring process during the summer. My thanks in advance to those of you willing to serve on hiring committees during your vacation when asked.
And ask I surely will.
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| Click image to download .pdf |
Last but not least, here's our 2016-2017 floor-plan map. Only a few moves will be required next year, which I hope comes as good news. If you're being asked to move, we've already talked about it. Thanks for being flexible.
Hallways
At the time of this writing (Thursday afternoon), no one has complained to me all week about anyone's behavior in the halls.
I guess that officially makes me "the happiest principal in town."
Thanks!
Calendar
Week A
- Wednesday 27 Apr
- Coe at Elementary Admin mtg, 9:30-11:00
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