Lockdown Procedures

 

This Friday, Nov. 3, we will be having a building Lockdown Drill at 2:00.  Here are some updates, so everyone understands the process:

For the 2023-2024 school year, Lockdown Drill #1, staff should assume the lockdown is taking place during a designated lunch time. The time Willow has "designated" is 12:15, but the drill will occur at 2:00. Assume the following:

• 2nd grade - at recess (if there were students, noon duty staff would evacuate to our off-site location)
• 4th grade - in the lunchroom
• 5th grade - still in classrooms
• 3rd grade - at specials

During Lunch: Individuals in the cafeteria will move to neighboring rooms that can be locked.

Recess or Offsite: Individuals on the playground or outside the building should evacuate to Willow's off-site location.

Specialists: students would stay with specialist, and classroom teacher would stay where they are (i.e. classroom, workroom, etc.)

During Staff Lockdown (11/3):

Staff should follow all crisis plan protocols.

1. Students and staff behind lock doors, turn off lights, move to the “safe zone” that is least visible from the hallway.
2. Take attendance, note the time.
3. If unable to get behind a locked door, it is appropriate to self-evacuate away from the threat.
4. Do not respond to fire alarms.
5. Remain in lockdown until released by law enforcement. Do not respond to knocks or calls at the door. (In a drill, you will remain in your locked space until the all clear is given over the PA system).
6. Hallway checks will be done to ensure classroom doors are locked.

Student Drill Review (11/6):

Separately, a date is scheduled for reviewing safety protocols with students. This will be Monday, November 6th, anytime during the day. This review includes:

1. Depending on grade level, explain that there are times when the school needs to go into an emergency secure the building, hold in place, or lockdown. There may be a medical emergency in the building and we need students to stay in the classroom until everything is cleared, there may be a situation going on in the community where we secure the building and continue to hold classes as usual. 

2. When an emergency is announced, students need to be quiet, listen carefully, and follow their teacher’s instructions. 

3. Additionally, if a student is in the hallway, open area, or restroom, they should move quickly to a classroom or get behind a locked door. 

4. Check in with students who are absent on the review day to make sure they also have the information on what is expected during an emergency drill. 

5. Monitor the impact of the drill review on students. Seek additional support from your school administrator or school counselor(s) if needed. 

Staff Meeting - Nov. 3, 2:30-2:45

• We will meet immediately following the lockdown for any questions/clarifications.
• Outside procedures will be reviewed with noon duty supervisors on Tuesday, 10/31.

For a full review of the district Lockdown Procedures, please see:  Lockdown Drill Procedures, and/or the Willow River Crisis Plan (Lockdown Procedures on p. 11)

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Sue

Goal Setting

 

The Purpose of Setting Goals:

Goals can help align your focus and promote a sense of self-mastery.  In the end, you can't manage what you don't measure, and you can't improve upon something that you don't properly manage.  Setting goals can help you do all of that and more.

Our SLOs are designed to help us align our focus to the building goals, and to establish strategic action plans to help staff and students reach the goals.

Our Building ELA goal for this year is: 59% of 3-5 students will be proficient or advanced on the Forward ELA.  (Note: last year we had 56.8%)

FastBridge Benchmarks:

• Achievement: 65% K-5 students will demonstrate minimal or low risk on FastBridge ELA. (Note: last year we had 61%)
• Growth: 65% K-5 students will demonstrate typical or aggressive growth on FastBridge ELA.  (Note: last year we had 62%)

SLO flexibility has greatly increased this year.  In my conversations with teams, ideas are ranging from phonics curriculum assessments, the spelling screener, Fastbridge, or other curriculum related ideas.  As long as the goals follow the SMART process/reflections, and your work supports the ELA goal (or something related to student learning for those that don't teach ELA), you are in business!

Specific - easy to identify, assess, and measure

Measurable - identifiable tool to measure progress, preferably something you already have or are using

Achievable - a goal that is rigorous, but still something you can reasonably accomplish by the end of the year

Relevant - align with building goals, grade level standards, and curriculum

Time-based - realistic but ambitious, identifying task prioritization between now and the end of the year

Please set a time to meet with me if you have any questions - SLO goals are due October 31st.

Have a great week -

Sue

Professional Learning Day - October 23 and SLO Updates

 

October 23 is a professional learning day with the following things planned:

• October 23rd: Professional Development (link to schedule)
• 8-11:00 K-2 Phonics Training @ HP
• K-2 Classroom teachers, and Special Ed staff that teach phonics
• 9-11:00 EC training @ RC
• 12:00-2:00 - HSD 4K Training (Heggerty phonics) @ Willow River Elementary (Learning Lab)
• Specialists may want to set aside PLC time - work with your team on getting this set up
• 1:00-3:00 - Adaptive PE meeting (ASC Conf. Rm. 2)
• 2:30-4:00 pm Virtual PBIS Meeting with Kent and Milaney (principals/counselors)
• Don't forget to sign up here! for boxed lunches from Barkers for Oct. 23

• Time to Work on SLOs - EE Presentation

• SLO - certified staff have more flexibility on what assessment to use for SLOs this year; see Sue with questions or to check your idea
• Some SLO options for classroom teachers 
• Sample SLO: FastBridge Growth
• Sample SLO: FastBridge Achievement
• Spelling Screener (draft)
• A screencast on how to determine whether to have a FastBridge growth or achievement goal can be found within the EE Presentation. This will guide you through a review of your FastBridge data.
• Growth Measures from FastBridge - how to find this info on FastBridge

SLOs are designed to support the building goals when at all possible.  Here are our building ELA goals:

Forward Exam
59% 3-5 students will be proficient or advanced on the Forward ELA.
FastBridge:
Growth
65% K-5 students will demonstrate typical or aggressive growth on FastBridge ELA.
Achievement

65% K-5 students will demonstrate minimal or low risk on FastBridge ELA.

Reteaching

 Reteacing Begins!

This week marks the beginning of reteaching/coaching cards for our students at Willow.  Here are a few reminders as we begin (and for the entire year!).  Remember - the important part of reteaching is modeling and practicing the behavior expectations.  Let Sue or Sarah know if you have any questions!

Reteaching vs. Redirection

• Redirection: in the moment reminder - physical touch, proximity, spot change, "the look", use of name with reminder
• Reteaching:  specific, intentional reteaching of the expectation with an explanation and practice within a timely fashion and in the correct setting.

Reteaching Steps can look like...

1. Respectfully ask the student to stop.
2. Define what the student is doing:  "You are _____.  This is unexpected."
3. Ask the child to define what is expected.
4. If the child doesn't answer, say "The expectation is _________."
5. Practice the expected behavior.
6. Reinforce the expected behavior (praise, thumbs up, high five, etc.)  

Have a good week -

Sue

Focus on Your Strengths

 

October's mindset is Passion First, and this week's topic is Focus on Your Strengths.  As I was thinking about this, I came upon something that tied in the research on the link of asset-based thinking leading to happiness, and the positive impact of happiness - bringing together Thursday's conversation about laughter, and this week's 7 Mindset focus on strengths.

Success and Happiness Come from Positivity

When you dwell on the negative, you don't give yourself a chance to shine.  By focusing on maximizing your talents, not ony will you be more successful, but you'll be a lot happier, too! Some say "happiness is the new productivity", and that being in a state of flow has a positive impact on everything you do.  The goal is to be happy in the now.  Do what makes you happy, and you will create a state of flow which will add to your success.  Spend some time figuring out what your strengths are, and what creates "flow" for you.  When you know what it is, focus on it and do it to the best of your ability, helping you to be more efficient, creative, and productive - and happier!

Recognizing and leveraging your strengths can boost your psychological well-being, and can increase positive emotions and overall happiness.  Things to think about:

• Reflect on using your strengths to overcome challenges.
• Engage in strengths-based conversations with friends, family, and colleagues to support each other's well-being.
• Set personal and professional goals that align with your strengths and focus on using them to achieve your desired outcomes.
• Recognize the strength of hope, and humor.

We have so many individual and collective strengths at Willow!  Take time to reflect on your own, as well as recognize the strengths in those around you.

Have a great week -

Sue