Thursday morning with 11 classrooms to go! Thank you to everyone for helping this week!

Week of May 18
Last Week of School! 

REMINDERS
* Zoom invite for our staff meeting Monday at 9 am is below.  All are welcome to attend!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86061692707?pwd=YTFzdzZmVUVUTGVWQW9ZZ2U2eStEQT09

Meeting ID: 860 6169 2707
Password: 4WLeT2

* Please send Jenny your end -of year Zoom link for Thursday.

* Please send the optional end-of-year celebration sign-up to parents.

* If you are helping with drop off and pick on May 19th-21st and/or you are scheduled to clean your classroom on the May 22nd or May 26th please remember the following:

-Make sure you report at the time you signed up for
-Have your temperature taken before you enter the building
-Wear a mask, gloves and social distance while in the building
-Use identified bathrooms only
-Bring water 

* CIPG will be hosting professional development sessions on google classroom May 27 -29. More information will come from the District. It is strongly encouraged that all teachers who have not used google classroom or have limited knowledge about this attend.

* Please only share I Ready data with parents if they ask for it.  Please do this over the phone or during a Zoom meeting versus sending a formal report.  Please share that our purpose was to practice testing remotely and not to get a definite assessment of student performance.  Please also note that there are questions regarding the validity of the measure.

* Students will be able to access IReady through July 24th.

* If you are a classroom teacher in grades K-4 please identify students who demonstrated minimal to no participation during remote learning by completing this survey by Wednesday, May 20.

* Click here for the end of year checklist.

* Click here to indicate your interest in serving on leadership team or a school science committee next year.  Please complete the survey by the end of the day Monday, May 18.

* We will have a car parade on May 22nd. Please meet in the parking lot at Gold Rush with your car decorated at 11:45. We will follow a parade route from 12:00-12:30. Thank you Anita for planning our route! One staff member per car please.

* Monday is field day! Staff are encouraged to participate too! We would love you to post your field day pictures.  Tag Gold Rush in your photos on Facebook @GoldRushElementary or on Instagram @GoldRushElementarySchool. If your account is private, DM Gold Rush on Instagram or Message us on Facebook. You can also link pictures to GRE's Album

* Click here for the 20-21 Master Schedule.

* The leadership team met regarding the calendar for the 20-21 school year.  The team traded our December 18 workday to August 3 so all certified staff will be Monday, August 3.  Please see the District Calendar and additional changes below.



* Email all ALPs and READ plans if you haven't done so already.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Fernando Arguello - May 18 Kathryn Kramer - July 1

Betsy Zankey - May 21       Libby Bergner - July 24        

Ashley Hagerty - May 22      Grace Furr - July 24

Elizabeth Meuli - May 22        Jenn Poli - July 27

Christina Kaufman - May 27 Diane Brown - July 30

Michelle Wright - May 27 Jacquie Carter - August 3

Meghan Hoff - June 3 Katie Schmidt - August 3

Sarah Wilson - June 4 Sherry Dowling - August 5

Lauren Mason - June 8

Stacey Baird - June 10

Karen Warner - June 17

Angel Zayas - June 18

Jan Francis - June 23

Kerry Dazzio - June 25

HEALTH BENEFITS:
Open Enrollment is an annual opportunity for staff to change, elect, or waive benefits coverage for the next benefit plan year (July 1 to June 30).  Employees may also add eligible dependents to their coverage, remove ineligible dependents, and enroll in or update a Flexible Spending Account.  Open Enrollment is May 15, 2020, through May 29, 2020. Open Enrollment for making changes to your benefits for 2020 begins Friday, May 15, 2020, and ends on Friday, May 29, 2020.  Questions? If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or your benefits, contact the Benefits team at (720) 433-0140 or benefits@dcsdk12.org

CELEBRATIONS
* Jenny, Kristi, Anita, Megan and Libby for organizing the pick up and drop off process!
* Anita for the parade route!
* Josh for organizing the gym and keeping our building clean!
* Classroom teachers for packing students' materials!
* Kerry for sorting 700 students' art work!
* Kristi for facilitating an incredible book study! Thank you for engaging us in meaningful work!
* To everyone for all that you have done this year!

Week of May 11

Monday:
9:00-12:00 Team Planning
12:30-1:30 4th Grade Connections Via Zoom
1:30-2:30 5th Grade Connections Via Zoom

Tuesday:
8:30-9:30 Kindie Connections Via Zoom
9:30-10:30 1st Grade Connections Via Zoom
10:30-11:30 2nd Grade Connections Via Zoom
11:30-12:30 3rd Grade Connections Via Zoom

Wednesday:
7:45 ESL Mtg

Thursday:

Friday:  
10:30-11:30 Sped Team Mtg

PREVIEW OF LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL - WEEK OF MAY 18



REMINDERS
* If you are entering the building to pack students' materials or if you are participating in drop off/pick up, please know a member of the core team (Jenny, Kristi, Libby or Anita) will take your temperature before you enter the building (or before help pass out materials).  Staff are welcome to bring their own thermometer, take their temperature and show us their reading.  Otherwise we will use GREs, which swipes across your head (it will be wiped with alcohol between uses).  Staff that have a temperature will be sent home.  Please text Anita (720-217-7790) when you are at the building and one of us will come outside of the building.

* If you are one of the staff members entering the building to pack up students' belongings you must wear a mask and gloves while in the building. Please practice social distancing while in the building. Tape to close your bags is available in the gym. Please make sure students' art work is in their bag before closing it.

* Please email a PDF of all ALP & plans to parents by May 15th.

* Please give Megan your clip of your team department clapping for our virtual clap out by the end of the day Monday, May 11 Please make your clip 20 seconds in length. 

HOW TO VIDEO

* Please make sure all ordering is in by the end of the day Monday, May 11.

* The specials teachers would love to join some of your Zoom meetings. Please invite them next week.

* We will have a car parade on May 22nd. Please meet in the parking lot at Gold Rush with your car decorated at 11:45. We will follow a parade route from 12:00-12:30. Thank you Anita for planning our route! One staff member per car please.

* The leadership team met regarding the calendar for the 20-21 school year.  The team traded our December 18 workday to August 3 so all certified staff will be Monday, August 3.  Please see the District Calendar and additional changes below.



First Week of School

• August 3: All Classified Staff Report Back (1 Hour Welcome - rest of day Teacher Workday)
• August 4: Teacher Workday
• August 5: PLC Day
• August 6: Meet Your Teacher AM, staff lunch?, PM Teacher Workday
• August 7: 1st Day of School

Other Changes

• November 3: AM only PLC Day/PM Teacher Workday (August 6 Meet Your Teacher - AM Only)
• January 4: AM only PLC Day/PM teacher workday (February 12 PLC Day AM Only / PM Teacher Workday)

* Please continue to update your grade level plans
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

* Click here to share teacher created videos across grades K-5.

HEALTH BENEFITS:
Open Enrollment is an annual opportunity for staff to change, elect, or waive benefits coverage for the next benefit plan year (July 1 to June 30).  Employees may also add eligible dependents to their coverage, remove ineligible dependents, and enroll in or update a Flexible Spending Account.  Open Enrollment is May 15, 2020, through May 29, 2020. Open Enrollment for making changes to your benefits for 2020 begins Friday, May 15, 2020, and ends on Friday, May 29, 2020.  Questions? If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or your benefits, contact the Benefits team at (720) 433-0140 or benefits@dcsdk12.org

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lisa Nejedlo - May 11th
Mel Berry - May 14th

CELEBRATIONS
* Anita for designing our incredible signs for our fifth graders!
* Jenny, Kristi, Anita, Megan and Libby for helping create our drop off and pick up plan!

READ PLANS
If you haven't done so already please make sure your read plans are updated prior to spring break and that your statement regarding opportunities provided during remote learning was added.

Please email a PDF of students' READ Plans to parents with the statement below by May 15th.

Language for Families Regarding Suspended READ Act Assessments and Plans:

During Spring 2020, students have engaged in a remote learning environment due to COVID 19. Students on READ Plans have been offered remote learning supports to continue their literacy growth.  READ Plans were updated and shared with families after the middle of the year checkpoint.

The Colorado Department of Education has suspended formal READ Act assessments and updates to READ Plans for Spring 2020.  The READ Plans that were shared with families at the middle of the school year for 2019-2020 will remain in place until Fall 2020. Families will not receive additional updates to READ plans this school year.

 

Week of May 4
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Monday:
9:00-12:00 Team Planning
12:30-1:30 4th Grade Connections Via Zoom
1:30-2:30 5th Grade Connections Via Zoom

Tuesday:
8:30-9:30 Kindie Connections Via Zoom
9:30-10:30 1st Grade Connections Via Zoom
10:30-11:30 2nd Grade Connections Via Zoom
11:30-12:30 3rd Grade Connections Via Zoom

Wednesday:
9:00 Office Mtg

Thursday:
1:00-2:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Friday:  * READ Plans Due
8:30 Staff Meeting Regarding End of Year Plans - All Are Welcome to Attend
10:30-11:30 Sped Team Mtg

Reminders
* The I Ready Benchmark for reading and math will be May 1-May 15.  As a building we will assess all students in both content areas.  Grade level teams will identify a date for each assessment on Monday and draft parent communication.

* Based on your survey data we have decided to postpone Lucy's virtual training in July.  We will definitely bring this opportunity back to GRE.  We know that when the time is right we will all enjoy this incredible opportunity!

* The specials teachers would love to join some of your Zoom meetings. Please invite them along with Jenny, Libby & Kristi.

* We would love more team pictures like the ones shown above. You can compile individual photos (like the one shown above) or take one while on Zoom. Please send them to Jenny and Christi Dismang. We would love pictures from classified staff too!

* Please continue to update your grade level plans
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

* Click here to share teacher created videos across grades K-5.

* Please share your department/grade level student sign (see above) to Jenny, Libby and Christi Dismang.

I READY & READ Plans - Please have READ plans updated by Friday, May 8th. 
* All progress monitoring data from iReady must be current through spring break. These progress checks are entered under Goal 2 in the READ Plan Goals section:

You should have about three progress checks for Jan. - March.

Please also cut and paste the blurb below in the comments section under Additional Reading Services in the 'Other' box.

Due to the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 reading support for students on READ plans will be done remotely through virtual reading groups. Our reading intervention team is providing support for readers three days weekly for 30 minutes each day. This is in addition to the one-one-one or small group instruction with the classroom teacher. 

If you have any questions, please ask Stephanie or Libby.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT* 
* Ongoing District PD

* Additional Education Technology Classes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Ashley Peterson - May 8th
Alex Van Drew - May 10th

CELEBRATIONS
* All teachers and staff for their incredible work! We appreciate you all!
* Megan for her incredible training videos and live trainings!
* Kristi and Jamie for facilitating our ESL class!
* Anita for our 5th grade signs!

Week of April 27th

Monday:
12:30-1:30 4th Grade Connections Via Zoom
1:30-2:30 5th Grade Connections Via Zoom

Tuesday:
8:30-9:30 Kindie Connections Via Zoom
9:30-10:30 1st Grade Connections Via Zoom
10:30-11:30 2nd Grade Connections Via Zoom
11:30-12:30 3rd Grade Connections Via Zoom

Wednesday:
7:45 ELL class
9:00 Office Mtg
9:45 EA 1 Mtg
1:00 SAC Mtg

Thursday:
1:00-2:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Friday: 
10:30-11:30 Sped Team Mtg

REMINDERS
* Certified teachers will be learning how to use Google Meets on Monday.  Please watch Megan's video and preview her power point before Monday.

* We are able to participate in Teachers' College Reading and Writing (Units of Study) training virtually this summer.   We are currently gauging teachers' interest in this training, which will be offered July 7-10.  Please complete this survey by Monday at 3.

* Click here for a draft of the master schedule for 2020-2021.  Grade level teams will fill in content blocks on Monday.

* We would love team pictures like the one the office created above. You can compile individual photos (like the one shown above) or take one while on Zoom. Please send them our way when your team creates one. We would love to post them for students and families to see!

* If you are taking the ELL class, the assignment for this week is to read strategies 1 - 11 and respond to the two reflection questions listed in Google Classroom.

* Please invite Jenny, Libby and Kristi to your Zoom classroom meetings.

READ Plans
* All progress monitoring data from iReady must be current through spring break. These progress checks are entered under Goal 2 in the READ Plan Goals section:

You should have about three progress checks for Jan. - March.

Please also cut and paste the blurb below in the comments section under Additional Reading Services in the 'Other' box.

Due to the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 reading support for students on READ plans will be done remotely through virtual reading groups. Our reading intervention team is providing support for readers three days weekly for 30 minutes each day. This is in addition to the one-one-one or small group instruction with the classroom teacher. 

If you have any questions, please ask Stephanie or Libby.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
*Here are optional EdTech Tool PD opportunities for Monday 4/27. A few of the topics include:

• Google Forms w/ Google Classroom
• Flipgrid
• Creating Video / Screencasts
• Google Meet
• Google Jamboard
• Raz-Plus w/ Google Classroom
• STEMscopes Q&A

In addition to attending in person, if you are unable to attend live, you can view the recorded links that will be available after sessions. Relicensure opportunities are available for live and recorded attendance submitted through Sunday May 3rd.

* Here are APRIL 20th RECORDED PD. Attendance for recorded sessions should be completed by May 15th for credit.

Grade Level Plans for Remote Learning
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

Grade Level Remote Learning Parent Sites
Kindie
First
Second

ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Sarah Wilson will be attending graduate school for counseling full time next year!  We are excited for her, but will miss her at Gold Rush.  Congratulations Sarah!
* Mackenzie Villani will be working full time at South Ridge Elementary next year. We will miss you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kyla Jung - April 27th
Stacie Martino - May 2nd
Kim Cohn - May 2nd
Vicki Munson - May 3rd
CELEBRATIONS
* Thank you everyone for a great staff meeting!

* Thank you Jessalyn for putting together the tp video!

* Thank you Kristi Barta for putting together Quarantine Bingo!
* Thank you EAs for learning Zoom and meeting with individual students!
* Thank you teachers for creating a draft of placement lists!
* Thank you Megan for creating training tools for Google Meets!
* Happy Administrative Assistant day to our amazing office ladies!

* Click here to share teacher created videos across grades K-5.

Week of April 20

Monday:
* 9:00-9:15 Staff Meeting - Please bring a picture/drawing of a heart

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93107747208?pwd=QVNMbi9Kakp2TEE4ZnBxckRjQVcvQT09

Meeting ID: 931 0774 7208
Password: 4sCupu


* PLC Day: Planning & Class Placement

Tuesday:
8:30-9:30 Kindie Connections Via Zoom
9:30-10:30 1st Grade Connections Via Zoom
10:30-11:30 2nd Grade Connections Via Zoom
11:30-12:30 3rd Grade Connections Via Zoom
12:30-1:30 4th Grade Connections Via Zoom
1:30-2:30 5th Grade Connections Via Zoom

2:30-3:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Wednesday:
9:00 Office Mtg

Thursday:
1:00-2:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Friday: 

9:00  EA 1 Training with Megan Fleet

REMINDERS:
* We are looking forward to our staff meeting on Monday at 9:00-9:15.  Please bring a drawing/picture of a heart that you can show on the screen.  Great as creative as you would like!

* During our PLC day we will start the class placement process.  Jessalyn made a digital copy of the pink and blue forms.  THANK YOU Jessalyn!  Please fill out a pink and blue form for each student.  Don't forget to make a copy of the power point!  We will ask you to print them and place them in your blue folders when we are back in school.  If you are not returning to Gold Rush next year, please share your pink and blue forms with Jenny and Libby.   

* Please continue to informally track students' participation in class meetings and reading groups. 

* If you have ALP students, please think about a goal for them. Stephanie will be reaching out to you next week to write these together. 

Here are a few additional reminders:

* On Monday you will have time to color code your students on your class list at the bottom of your page (below the class grid).  Please double check that all of your students are on your class list.  If you notice someone missing, just add him/her.

* Please also write what you think the student's most current INDEPENDENT DRA level is at this point in the year next to his/her name.  You should be able to cut and paste each students' color coded name into the different classes on Monday.

* On Monday please cluster ALP/ high students and ESL students across the grade level.

* Please email Christi Dismang if you know of any students that will not be returning to GRE next year.

* Please do not post pictures of your students on digital tools (Zoom, Flip Grid, Hangout etc) on social media.

* Please invite Jenny and Libby to your classroom ZOOM meetings each week. We love seeing the students!

* Please consider developing class norms for zoom meetings.  You might include sitting up, not hiding under the covers or hoodies, not distracting others with backgrounds and stuffed animals etc.

* Please continue to update and refer to grade level planning documents on Mondays.  

Grade Level Plans for Remote Learning

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade    

Grade Level Remote Learning Parent Sites
Kindie
First 
Second

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Maren Bell - April 19th
Shawna Redler - April 20th
Kyla Jung - April 27th

CELEBRATIONS
* Thank you teachers and Instructional Assistants for taking a risk and reading live with students this week!

* Thank you Kristi and Jamie for leading the ESL book study!

* Jenn, Kyla, Mandy and Stacie shared videos across their grade levels!  Click here to share teacher created videos across grades K-5.

TECH TIP FROM STACIE MARTINO!
Here is a way that you or parents can scan a document (student writing or a math page) and email it.  Open the notes section of your I Phone and start a new note.  The camera option pops up. Press it the option to scan and it comes up.  Follow the prompts from there.  If you don't have an iPhone try the Genius Scan App.


GRE DIGITAL LIBRARY:

Jamie Marchese - Removing Your IP Address on Zoom

Megan Fleet - Scheduling Zoom Meetings

Michelle Wright - Disabling the Chat Feature in Zoom Stephanie Brown - How to Access Razkids in Zoom Stephanie Brown - Individual Reading Conference Bree Roon - Video for Kids on How to See RazKids  RtI Schedule

Sending love from Ketchum, Idaho

Week of April 13, 2020

Monday

12:30-1:30 4th Grade Connections Via Zoom

1:30-2:30 5th Grade Connections Via Zoom

    

Tuesday: 
8:30-9:30 Kindie Connections Via Zoom
9:30-10:30 1st Grade Connections Via Zoom

10:30-11:30 2nd Grade Connections Via Zoom
11:30-12:30 3rd Grade Connections Via Zoom

1:00-2:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Wednesday:
7:45 ELD Book Study

9:00 Office Mtg
9:45  EA 1 Mtg

10:15 EA 4 Mtg

Thursday
1:00-2:00 Leadership Team Mtg

Friday: No School Comp Day

REMINDERS:
* April 20th is our PLC day. 

* Please do not post pictures of your students on digital tools (Zoom, Flip Grid, Hangout etc) on social media.

* Please invite Jenny and Libby to your classroom ZOOM meetings. We love seeing the students!

* Please consider developing class norms for zoom meetings.  You might include sitting up, not hiding under the covers or hoodies, not distracting others with backgrounds and stuffed animals etc.

* Please continue to update and refer to grade level planning documents on Mondays.  

Grade Level Plans for Remote Learning

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade    

Grade Level Remote Learning Parent Sites
Kindie
First 
Second

RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL/SMALL GROUP READING:

Jamie Marchese - Removing Your IP Address on Zoom

Megan Fleet - Scheduling Zoom Meetings

Michelle Wright - Disabling the Chat Feature in Zoom Stephanie Brown - How to Access Razkids in Zoom Stephanie Brown - Individual Reading Conference Bree Roon - Video for Kids on How to See RazKids  RtI Schedule

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
Christy Irwin - April 17th

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* Maya will be teaching 5th grade next year!  

* Becky Fuller will be supporting different schools next school year.  We are sad to see her go!  We have really appreciated her work at Gold Rush over the years!

GO FOR THE GOLD
* Thank you Jenny Brown for your continued leadership and support! We appreciate you!!
* Thank you Stephanie Brown for teaching us how to access RazKids and virtually conference with kids!
* Thank you Michelle Wright and Jamie Marchese for teaching us different safety features!
* Thank you Bree Roon for the RazKids video!
* Thank you leadership team for the countless hours and collaboration to make this all work!
* Thank you all teachers for demonstrating a growth mindset and trying to read with individual and small groups of students!

STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

* Link to GRE staff development: Videos for Digital Tools

* Click here for a list of District pd for certified staff. 
* Click here for a list of District pd for classified staff. 

* Videos that Support Digital Resources

* Google Tools to Support Virtual Learning
* GRE Remote Learning Idea Bank

* Videos that Support Digital Resources

* Google Tools to Support Virtual Learning