Week of September 17-21

Drills Week: We had three drills originally scheduled for this week. Since we had a false alarm Friday afternoon, we have found that not all of the codes have made it to all the district parties (including Carson). Knowing this we will move our drill safety week to the following week-we will have to adjust the days. In the meantime please take a look at the emergency procedures that you received at our staff meeting on September 4th. Please review behavior expectations and procedures with students so that we are a well oiled machine when we actually run the drills. There isn't an ideal time for scheduling drills, so we will have our drills begin at approx. 8:40 am. Please see Miles or Arturo for more info if needed.

Lunch Wednesdays: Miles and I will be connecting with everyone (we have most grade levels so far) of a different lunch schedule we would like to try. Benefits include cutting down on the lunch schedule and bodies in the commons on Wednesdays and moving to only two lunches. Drawbacks would be that not all the students would have an opportunity to each lunch in their classrooms. We will be trying this and anticipate that adjustments will be made.

Collaboration & Teaming: Our CT day will begin at 1:00 pm. We'll be meeting in the cafeteria. Our work day will be until 3:45 pm.

Den Mom or Dad? As we begin to work on those additional coordination pieces with the PTA, volunteer program, school sponsored events, etc. it is becoming a great reminder that it always help to have a designated room parent. If you have a designated person already, please let Karen in the office know. We will also forword this name to the PTA so that they can have a contact by classroom. If you don't have a designated room parent then information will be sent directly your way. Thank you.

Bus Lanes Open Monday

We will have the bus lanes open this Monday. This means that we need to empahsize that much more the importance of walkers not arriving or leaving through the front of the building to avoid the crossing onto Gem Heights Drive. All walkers are to exit the building onto the blacktop (if unsure about the route, please check with Miles or Arturo). The fix is crushed rock and is temprorary until the Gem Heights road widening is made. We are limiting access to buses and larger licensed daycare shuttles. We're Progressing !!! What doesn't seem to be progressing as fast is our dismissal procedures, especially with the buses. We will get more info to you on Monday now that we know the bus lanes will be open.

Crossing Guards and Paras: We have had our supervision and crossing guard positions posted on the web. We will continue with subs until these positions have been filled. I will also connect with classroom teachers about overload para time no later than Monday of this week.

Bicycle Riders: Please be sure to take some time to emphasize that the following is not negotiable for those intermediate students who are bicycle riding: helmet must be worn and strapped on appropriately, each rider must have their own lock, bicycles are to be walked at crosswalks and school grounds.

Art Docent Program: Darla, a parent, is our Art Docent Coordinator this year. Carson's Art Docent Program will officially begin in November. However, there most likely will be some parents who will be too excited to wait until then, so you may have volunteers before our official start date-which is great. You will soon notice that one of the closed shelves in the work room will be labeled "Art Docent". It isn't that we they don't want to share, but we want to be sure that the supplies and materials are available for those scheduled projects that the Art Docent has a commitment to in the classroom. If you have questions, please connect with Darla, Miles, or Arturo.

Will on Monday: Nina Williams will be coming to all the rooms that have Microphones. Please expect her and if you can just give her the cliff notes version of the problems you are experiencing.

New Classrooms: We will be adding an additional kindgerten section and another fourth grade classroom. Students will be selected next week. We don't know if the positions will be filled by displaced personnel or if they will be hires from the outside. More to come.

Have a Great Weekend!!