Week 33 - Teacher Appreciation Week!!

Great Things We Noticed:

• Clarissa holding down the fort and running the Kindergarten Kickoff AND hosting Inspiring Leaders from across the district!  
• Lorenzo for working hard to get our cafeteria ready to show off to the district - it looked great!
• Office staff holding down the fort while Cindy was away - you rock!
• The Kinder Team starting a new tradition at Hawthorne - Kindergarten Kickoff!  Thank you for your ideas, participation and planning!
• The 6th grade team being open to new and exciting ways to honor our 6th graders at promotion - Arlington here we come!!
• 40 families participating in out PIQE classes!  Get ready for some engaged parents!
• AWESOME Game Truck on Friday for our top fundraising students!
• Irene Duncan and her years of support, caring, hard work and service to the staff and families of Hawthorne and Poly!  Best wishes on your new adventure Irene!! 

Nuts and Bolts:

CAASPP:

• Testing starts on TUESDAY!  Thank you for all of your prep and work with our students!  
• Grades 3-6 testing starts at 9:00 SHARP on Tuesday (ELA)
• EVERYONE were the SWAG shirt on Tuesday!
• Grades 3-6 use this form to track you students that need to make up any testing
• Read 180 schedule for our testing window:  
• Week of 5/7
  Monday—Read 180
  Tuesday-Thursday—No Read 180
  Friday—Read 180
  
  
  Week of 5/14
  Monday—Read 180
  Tuesday-Thursday—No Read 180
  Friday—Read 180
  
  
  Week of 5/21
  Monday-Wednesday—No Read 180
  Thursday-Friday—Read 180
• Clarissa and I will be walking through all 3-6 grades to check walls on Monday afternoon
• Remember that the RSP schedule and Recess duty schedule will be tweaked to accomodate our testing window - thank you in advance for being flexible! Please read the email from Natalie regarding 

 

• Coffee with the Principal is Wednesday - grades 3-6 please bring work to showcase Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning (before 8:00) 
• We have a new Assistant Principal!  Longi Summers has been the Resource/Special Projects teacher at Magnolia Elementary and will now be the new AP at Hawthorne!  She well versed in student intervention and classroom technology integration and will be  a perfect fit for Hawthorne!  She will be attending one of our final Staff meetings to introduce herself and meet all of you - 
• We have also hired a new AP Secretary and Attendance Clerk - Paulina Tang will be joining our team, coming from Arlington!  She has been working as the office assistant and filling in as AP/Guidance Secretary for our neighbors - She will start ASAP (hopefully later this week!) 
• Celebrations:

• Teacher Appreciation Lunch - Wednesday (hosted by PTA)
• Teacher Appreciation Breakfast - Friday (hosted by Carrie and Clarissa)
• Retirement Celebration for Irene - Friday - Yard House
• The District assessment team will be here Monday to begin testing our K-1 EL students for the ELPAC.  
• Please attach the following information to your classroom newsletters (you can adjust the length as necessary - the links are what are important) - 
• Community Feedback Survey - The community feedback survey is the survey that you will use as you as you complete your needs assessment for your 18-19 school plan. Here are the direct links to the surveys (English and Spanish) that you can send to your parents. English http://bit.ly/2FuNWnp Spanish http://bit.ly/2oS05Jm 
• Art Float Art and Photography Contest 
• The concept of the contest is for you to experience ART FLOAT-Riverside and to interpret this spectacular event in your own artistic way. Take a moment to see the spheres in a truly beautiful setting, then create something special. You could win one of several wonderful prizes or awards, and see your creation hanging in the Riverside Art Museum. The contest is open to everyone! Just check the appropriate category, whether you are a student or adult. All entries must be original work. Submissions due 6/30/18. Click here for more info. 
• Personalized Learning Open House at Poly - 
• If you are on the PL Team please communicate with Kristi F. about how you can support our PL Booth at the open house May 10th.  
• All Teachers:  Please promote this event to our community members and parents

FOCUS:

 This is the week for us to show our appreciation for all you do for the students of Hawthorne Elementary School.  Although I try to say it as much as possible, WE APPRECIATE YOU!! Thank you for your passion, dedication, expertise and talent.  Thank you for your leadership, collaboration and willingness to "lead up" when necessary.  And thank you for the joy you bring to your classrooms, the relationships your have with your students, and the community you have created at Hawthorne.  

Ironically (or maybe not),  Teacher Appreciation week takes place during one of the most stressful times of the year.  Take some time over the next week and month to "Treat 'Yo Self" and show some appreciation and self care to yourself and your colleagues - you deserve it!  

Eat Lunch, For Real

Forget that soggy sandwich, or hurriedly eating a granola bar over the copy machine. This week, take a real break. You’ve earned it. Order out, go out, get delivery, or pack something special for lunch. The point is to eat a real meal, to sit down and talk with your friends, and to enjoy even just a half hour of calm in your busy day. Feel like being extra good to yourself? Plan for yummy and relaxing lunch breaks all week.

Organize a Teacher’s Night Out

Teacher fatigue is real and Netflix nights are so easy, but this week treat yourself to a proper night out. Gather your teacher friends, or your non-teacher friends, and do something fun together. Have dinner, take a walk through town, catch a movie, or just catch up and laugh. It doesn’t matter if it’s an early night or if it costs nothing at all, just get out there! You’ll be glad you did.

Plan an Evening to Truly Disconnect

Leave the grading at work, even for just one night. Give yourself a work-free, stress-free, and distraction-free night off. No housecleaning, no grading, no planning. Take a bath or a long shower. Do a face mask, have a glass of wine, read a book for fun, and turn off your phone. You’ll be amazed at just how revitalizing an unplugged night can be.

Get Outside

As teachers, we often get into a strict weekday routine to get everything done. Get out of the classroom (and out of the house) to breathe in some fresh, spring air. Instead of heading home to grade, change your routine and get a healthy dose of nature. Errands and work can wait this week. Talk a walk, hit the park, stare up at the sky, and take a big cleansing breath.  We have a great patio - eat your lunch outside this week! 

Treat Your Colleagues

This Teacher Appreciation Week, remind the educators in your life just how much they mean to you. Teaching Channel has curated a Pinterest board of affordable gifts that teachers can truly use and enjoy.

Upcoming Events:

• May 7-11  Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 8   PIQE Parent Mtg.  
• May 8  "Celebration Student Excellence" Awards Ceremony - Steve C. and Carrie
• May 8  Day 1 of CAASPP Testing
• May 9  Day 2 of CAASPP Testing
• May 9  Coffee With The Principal - 3-6 showcase/CAASPP information for parents
• May 10  Day 3 of CAASPP Testing 
• May 10  2nd Grade Eureka Testing
• May 10  PL Open House Poly (1/2 subs for teachers participating)
• May 10  SSC in library (3:10)
• May 11  Teacher Appreciation Breakfast - 8:00 in lounge
• May 11  Principals Collaborative Meeting - Carrie out 1/2 day
• May 15  1st Grade to Eureka Training
• May 15 Day 4 of CAASPP Testing
• May 15 PIQE at 8:30 and 6:30
• May 15 PTA Brunch with Principals (10:30-12:30)
• May 16 Day 5 of CAASPP Testing
• May 16  "Making a Difference for Student Future" Awards Ceremony - Carol honored!! 
• May 16 - TEAM MEETING (date change)
• May 17 - Principals Taskforce
• May 17 - District Leadership Meeting (Carrie and Clarissa)
• May 18   6th grade - Fiesta Village
• May 18   Carrie and Clarissa OUT
• May 23   STAFF MEETING (date change)