August 23, 2021

Dear Yujin Gakuen staff:

I hope you are all enjoying the last week of summer break.

Staffing

Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher Interviews

Interviews were held last Thursday and Friday. We were able to agree on two candidates, and I was able to check references for each candidate. I forwarded the names of the candidates to HR. I am hopeful that I will be able to make an announcement about staffing on Monday afternoon. Stay tuned for more information.

Machiko to Support Japanese Classrooms during Inservice Week

This year, we will begin instruction in the building with all students attending 5 days a week, but we do not have a group of Japanese interns as we have done in the past. We will likely have the same amount of preparation required to get Japanese classrooms ready for students. Since we do not have a group of interns, I have asked Machiko to work 6 hours a day starting September 1st, the teacher planning day. She will be available to do the work that Japanese interns used to do. Let me know if you have any questions.

Inservice Week Schedule – Draft

There are a few adjustments to the Inservice Week Schedule. These Include:

• an optional KinderZone Meeting on Monday (in-person)
• A Heggery training for 2nd grade (and kinder and first grade since we will have new teachers) Tuesday via Zoom
• a Heggerty Training for New EAs (Michelle and Claryn) on Friday (Zoom)
• I don’t have all the Zoom links to the district-led PD sessions, but I will add them to the Staff Zimbra Calendar as they come in.

Here are some additional inservice week items of note:

Optional Q&A Session for New Staff, Wednesdays @9:00

I’ll be available Wednesday 9/1 at 1:00 in the library to check- in, answer questions, or provide any assistance for new staff.

Transition Day 9/9

Thursday, September 9th will be a day for kindergarten only to be in the building. All staff will be expected to help on this day. This item is also on the BTS meeting agenda. More information to come.

Care and Connection Week

The ODE wants schools to focus on Care and Connection the first week students return, and also for the first week when staff return. For your reference, here are some resources on the ODE Care and Connection Week Website.

Class List Email 9/3 @3:00

Laura and I will update Class Lists once we see who all is going to EOA or 4J K-5 Connect. I am expecting an updated list sometime this week, but the district class list notification process will be the same as last year, with all classroom teachers sending a welcome email at the same time, which will be on Friday, September 3rd at 3:00pm. I would suggest that you “schedule” your emails. Let me know if you’d like me to show you how to use the schedule feature in Zimbra.

COVID-Related Protocols and Updates

The latest RSSL was updated last Thursday, and 4J has worked out most of the COVID protocols. Many of them are the same since the spring. The biggest changes are:

• the 3-feet physical distance instead of 6-feet
• staff must wear masks at all times unless in a room by themselves (with a few exceptions)
• and masks are not required outside.

Open House Cancelled

Parent, volunteers, and other “non- essential” volunteers are not allowed inside schools, so that means no Open House or Meet the Teacher event. We will have time on Monday, August 30, to decide if we want to have a virtual event to replace the in-person Open House.

Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast will be done in the same way we did last spring. They will be the grab-and-go meals which students will eat in the classroom. Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria, but classrooms may have to have assigned tables and students will have spots 3-feet apart. Principals received the 4J Breakfast & Lunch Consideration Doc last Friday afternoon. There’s a meeting on Monday for principals to ask questions about serving breakfast and lunch. I am considering a change in the schedule with kindergarten eating at a separate time, so that we can limit the number of students in the cafeteria at one time. I’ll share the modified schedule on our first building meeting on Monday, August 30th.

Separate Supplies for Students

You may have already heard this. 4J is providing school supplies so each student should have their own supplies, using either desk cubbies or the book boxes from last year to store items.

Mask Lanyards for All Students

Downtown purchased mask lanyards for all students, which should help when students transition from indoors to recess or other outside activities.

SELCO’s Educator Grants, Due 9/30

SELCO’s SPARK! Creative Learning Grant Program is now accepting applications for projects up to $1,000 that inspire curiosity, make learning accessible, and spark something new. Applications are open August 15–September 30. Visit the above link for details and to apply.

Facilities Related Items

Classroom Casework Scheduled Week of Aug 30, 2021

Several classrooms were scheduled to have casework done. These were originally scheduled for the first week of August, but they have been pushed back to the last week. I know it’s not the most convenient time for casework to be done, but better to have it done before school starts.

Library    

Naoko and Michelle made some progress on weeding out books and unpacking the library materials. They will be back on Tuesday to finish unpacking. They will likely need to weed out books to make room. We are expecting another bookcase to be added so we can have additional space to put materials. With COVID, we are not going to have students visiting the library, but my goal is to have the library ready to go as soon as COVID restrictions are lifted.

Repeat – Report to Work Dates:

• Licensed Staff – Monday, August 30

• Education Assistants – Thursday, Sep 2, 2021

Calendar of Events

Date	Day	Time	Event/Activity	Comment
Aug 30	M	8:00-10:00 10:00-11:30 12:30-4:00 4:00-5:30	Building Welcome Back 4J Keynote – Keith Jones (zoom) 4J Learning for All Return to Work Updates KinderZone PD (Ed Center Auditorium)	Teachers report for duty
Aug 31	T	8:00-11:30 8:00-10:00 12:30-4:00	4J Instructional Tech 2nd Grade Heggerty Training w/Rebecca ELA + Math Acceleration PD Acceleration	Zoom Zoom Zoom
Sept 1	W	8:00 – 4:00 1:00 – 2:00	Teacher Planning Check In with New Staff (optional)	Protected
Sept 2	Th	9:00-11:0012:00-4:00	EAs Report to Work District Kick Off Literacy PD	Zoom Zoom
Sept 3	F	8:00-4:00 3:00PM	Building PD PLC, Instructional Strategies SEL Welcome and You’re in my class email sent by each teacher by 3PM	Times and locations TBA NEW!
Date	Day	Time	Event/Activity	Comment
Sept 6	M		Labor Day – No School
Sept 7	T	8:00-4:00	Building PD, Schedule	Schedule TBA
Sept 8	W	8:00 – 4:00	Teacher Planning	Protected
Sept 9	Th	8:30-3:00	Transition Day – Kinder
Sept 10	F		First Day of Instruction for Students