CPJMA Monday Morning Memo

8/27/17

I am excited for the first day of school and feel we are ready as much as possible.  As we move forward, please do not hesitate to let me know of any processes or procedures that I am not aware of.  

Ultimately, I appreciate your leadership as we begin the first day and look forward to a wonderful year.

Site Visit- Jim Solo and Kimie Lotchefeld will at some point be stopping by to check in.  Please be aware that they may come in to visit classrooms as well.  

Heat- The weather forecasts call for mid-80s-low 90s tomorrow and for much of the week.  Below is the link to our district's hot weather procedures. Please review the procedures and allow for frequent breaks and opportunities for students to get drinks to keep hydrated.

Operation of Schools During Hot Weather Link

Pre-school- As some of you may have heard, there was a possibility that the licensing for our pre-school would not be ready for the start of school.  After working with the district, we are now good to go and pre-school will be starting on Monday.   

Kinder Orientation- Monday, 8/28/17 with teachers 7:40-8:40 in respective teacher's classrooms.  Principal Kinder Orientation from 8:40-9:40 in the auditorium.  We will have PTO parents to help with our beginning Kinder friends if they have challenges watching their parents leave.

Music/Play PE- From my understanding, a schedule for violin with Mr. Luchs and music with Mrs. Hradsky is usually ready for the first week.  We recently just connected with Play PE and we will create a schedule. We are working together in hopes to create a schedule to be ready for the second week of school.  We appreciate your patience and be assured we are working as fast as we can.

Duty- All hands on deck during the recesses for the first week of school.  I will be working with Ms. Macker to finalize by the end of this week.

School Governance Team-  We met on Friday and discussed the importance of creating clear behavioral expectations for students.   As school-wide expectations are being created, please continue to teach your classroom rules and expectations and any common rules for the school you have done in the past.  

Parent classroom requests- As a reminder, any parent request to change classrooms will be reviewed after two weeks.  It is important that we are all clear and we share the same message to parents.

Assessments- As I work with ILT to come to a consensus on common initial assessments, please continue to use the assessments you have done in the past to learn about your students.  Please consider the following areas for initial assessments:

• Narrative writing on-demand sample
• Reading comprehension
• Comprehensive math inventory

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

8/21/17

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year.  If I have not met you yet, I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Armando Lopez and I am the new principal at CPJMA.  I have been fortunate enough to meet some of the staff and parents but not all.  My understanding is that we have incredible students, parents, and staff and I look forward to working along side everyone in an effort to make this a tremendous school year.

The Monday Morning Memo-  This blog serves as a bulletin for all staff to be updated on current events, instructional focus or resources.  It even serves as a medium to share images of the great things staff, parents, and students are doing on a daily basis.  

Kinder Assessing- Kinder teachers will be assessing incoming Kinders Friday, 8/18, Monday, 8/21Tuesday, 8/22. Tra Viecia will continue to call and schedule appointments.  Please assess any students in your classroom if they did not make the assessment window before school.

Prep Days- Please note that I am asking for specific committees/groups/individuals to meet with me on Thursday and Friday.  This is voluntary.  I will communicate with the people and committees at some point in the week.

• Wednesday, 8/23- 7:30 checkin to your classrooms.  Please report to room 9 at 7:30 with your staff handbook binder, laptop, and anything to take notes.  This will be the day of introductions, team building, PD and nuts and bolts. Lunch will be provided by the PTO.
• Thursday, 8/24- Teachers prep in classrooms from 7:30-2:30.  Coffee and bagels provided by the principal in the lounge. Ongoing meetings with staff and committees throughout the day.
• Friday, 8/25- Teachers prep in classrooms from 7:30-2:30.  Ongoing meetings with staff and committees throughout the day.  Teacher Potluck in room 9.

Resource Fair- Thursday, 8/24 from 4:00-6:00 pm

• As in the past, this is the time for families to check out the resources and programs at our school before, during and after school
• Student classroom placements will be shared this day for parents to view
• If for any reason a parent has a question or concern about their child's placement, please refer them to office staff to fill out a request form.  The rule of thumb is that the students will stay in their current classroom at least one week then the principal and office will review the request.

Yokohama Sister Society Visit- Wednesday, 8/30/17 time TBA.  

• I am learning more about this partnership and not fully aware of what time they will be coming or what they expect to see.  
• I would be prepared to minimally for classroom observations of instruction and some of your students to be pulled to perform music for them.  
• I will share more information as I get it.

Departing Staff-The following staff members have moved on, retired, working at different locations,  or working in a different career path.

• Maggie Bower
• Debbie Burton
• Margie Orem
• Tom Evans
• Lou Grande
• Christina Magiary
• Sergio Porras
• James Ruland
• Halley Stocks

New Staff- Please welcome the new staff members to CPJMA!

• Clare Modiano (Kinder Teacher)
• Cathy Valenzuela (ESA)
• Heather Jessee (4th Grade)
• Jessie Padilla (BSS1)

Recess Duty Schedule-TBD