Make sure to send layers of warm clothes tomorrow (and moving forward)! Mask breaks are frequent and outside:)
The Last-ish Update
Hello!
I’d call this the last update, but I’m almost never right about that. We are incredibly near the end, though, so this is at least the last big one:)
The next two days are full of fun and closure. Tomorrow is the talent show and 2nd grade picnic. Many classrooms are doing fun things throughout the day. In our room, we’ll start cleaning up. Taking apart the room, especially individual student items is a concrete way to get some closure to the school year. This is important before the big transition to summer. We will also continue to talk about some of the changes for next year.
While we all spoke about some of the changes at least briefly, I’d like to share some more information here.
In August, there will be a new teacher in Room 125. After many years of commuting from Boulder, I have decided to teach closer to home. This was an incredibly difficult decision that still doesn’t totally seem real. I love Edison. I love the students. I love you families. I love my team in the classroom and in the school. I feel confident in our school community and their support for these students. While I am going to miss all of you–and especially your kiddos–more than I can imagine, I know you are in good hands at our school.
Many of you have asked what I will be doing. I will be teaching at Broomfield Heights Middle (!) School in an “Intensive Learning Center.” Here I will teach students with significant needs–including, but not limited to students autism. I am excited about this position because I think it has great potential to make me a stronger teacher, especially when it comes to inclusion. Middle school seems like quite a challenge and I am excited (and nervous) to learn and grow as a teacher and advocate for these older students with diverse needs.
I do not have much information on the new teacher yet. (I know everyone is eager to hear more!) A teacher was hired, and several people on the interview committee work with our kids and had good things to say. Right now, we are waiting for her paperwork to go through HR, then I will be able to talk to her and learn more. Rest assured that I am sharing all I can about our class! She and I have emailed a bit. I am also giving many resources and information to Ms Karin and Ms Paula, both of whom will be here next year and can help with the transition. I will also leave this website up which has some of our resources and pictures of the classroom and school. So, still going to have to leave you hanging a bit now, but more will be coming and I feel good about what is happening. I’m sorry I don’t have more now!
We also hired two new paraprofessionals for next year (one for Valerie’s position and one for Katherine, who will be student teaching at another school in her quest to becoming a teacher). I’m very excited about both! Cassandra has been the health para here for the past couple of years. She knew our kids from the position and for the past few weeks has been in our classroom several days to shadow and jump in. Stacy worked at Edison as a kindergarten para several years ago. She left to work in a classroom for students with affective needs and now is coming back to Edison! She also knows our school and of our classroom.
I know these are big changes. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about them. I have started to talk to the kids, showing them pictures of my new school and Katherine’s new school. We’re talking about who is still going to be at Edison, and who will be at new schools. I will send some of the materials I’m using to talk about this home! As with most concepts, categorizing, visuals, and labels can help with this transition. We’re answering “yes” and “no” for each student and teacher about coming back to Edison. We’re talking about the “new teacher.” We’re talking about the schools’ names and where they are. These kids are great! They have learned, practiced, and grown so much in “going with the flow” this year…this is just another expression of that.
I am excited for the new ideas, strategies, and viewpoints the new teacher will bring. I encourage you to be open to these changes while continuing to communicate what you know works well for your child. I will do my best to share structures, strategies, and supports with the new teacher, but do not hesitate to share your knowledge as well! Continue to be the amazing advocates you are!
I would love occasional updates if you’re willing to share. Feel free to reach out with stories, photos, or other updates with my personal email (kwaless@gmail.com) or find me on Facebook.
I already miss you all. Thank you for an incredible 5 years. I have learned so much for you and your children and my time at Edison has absolutely shaped me as a teacher. I could not have asked for a more supportive, knowledgeable, patient community. I am forever grateful for all I have learned from your children, you, and the remarkable people at this school. I wholeheartedly believe in your children. I know they are going to do incredible things in each of their unique, incredible ways. They will always be on my mind and my interest in and awe of them will always stay strong.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
-Ms Wales
Enrichment Day Today!
Remember to pack and dress your child accordingly for their Enrichment trip today.
Also, a volunteer and sub from this week sent pictures from horseback riding and the Recess Buddies party. I’m updating both websites. Check them out!
Recess Buddy Party Help
Is anyone planning on driving to the party tomorrow? If so, would you be willing to drive the food over? We’re getting several pizzas, drinks, cups etc and it will be tricky to carry!
Let me know if you can help! Thanks!
Wanted: Missing Library Books
We are missing several library books. Can you please check to see if any accidentally came home with your child? Thanks!
The books:
READ Plans and Recess Buddy Party
All K-3 students below grade level in reading are required to have a READ Plan to address an area of focus, create interventions, and share supports with parents to work on this focus as well. DPS has been developing what this will look like in center-based programs. As of now, all students in grades K-3 are required to have them, whether or not they have literacy IEP goals. I am sending home these plans for the end of the year today. Please sign and return to me as notice that you have received them. For the most part, the plans include reading goals that are on your child’s IEP. You can think of it as another support toward these goals. If your child’s IEP does not contain reading goals, it will look a little different. I can talk to you about this. Please let me know if you have any questions and thanks for baring with us with the new and still growing process!
Please see the Recess Buddies website for information about the party on Thursday. Let me know by tomorrow whether you will be able to join us! https://recessbuddies.wordpress.com/2016/05/23/recess-buddy-end-of-the-year-party-please-rsvp/
End of the Year Fun!
It’s that time of year again…where it feels like one of my main jobs is creating and maintaining a social calendar with all the end of the year school events. I admit, I’m not always the most on top of all it, try though I may. I am trying to hear back from all grade levels about what’s going on. Below is what I know.
Also, we will be having a Recess Buddy party next Thursday from 11-1. Please join us! We’ll walk to the park for pizza and desserts to close out the year. This will serve as our classroom party as well.
Let me know if you have questions or if I’m forgetting something!
End of the Year Social Calendar!
Monday, May 23
1st grade Argyle trip
4th grade Field trip
Tuesday, May 24
1st grade Argyle trip
Wednesday, May 25
1st grade Argyle trip
3rd grade field trip
Thursday, May 26
Recess Buddy Party, 11-1
Friday, May 27
Horseback riding, 9-1
Monday, May 30
NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 31
Enrichment Day–field trips for all students
Wednesday, June 1
3rd grade movies and pizza
1st grade picnic, 11:45-1:30
4th grade picnic, 10:10-2:30
Thursday, June 2
Talent Show
Friday, June 3
Early dismissal, 12:30
Field Day TOMORROW
Woohoo! Field Day is (almost) here!
We are going to be down a few adults in our classroom (including me for half the day), but this school community in incredible and our class has plenty of support for a fun day for everyone!
Ms Karin will be in our classroom in the morning, so touch base with her when you drop off. I should be back around lunchtime and can chat at the end of the day.
I hope many of you can make it to enjoy the day as well! If you haven’t already, please let me know if you’re planning on joining us tomorrow.
Schedule Reminder:
9:15 K, 2nd 4th.
1:15 1st ,3rd, 5th
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your immense support this week. I am grateful for each of you.
-Ms Wales
Update on Ms Wales
I apologize for my absence thus far this week, including a surprise goodbye today, and would like to fill you in a bit about where I am.
On Saturday night after leaving our performance, two of my close friends were hit by another car after dropping off another member of our tribe. One died that same day, the other is being taken off life support tomorrow morning.
This is a very tough time for me and my community. As I try to support myself and my friends, as well as attend memorial services, I will need to miss some more school this week. As of now, I have requested for a sub all day tomorrow and Friday morning.
I am very sorry to miss this time with the kiddos, especially given the end of the year fun that is all around us. I am grateful for our incredible school community which continues to support our classroom. I am confident our paras and the others in our school will do what is best for our students.
Feel free to email me if you have questions or concerns. I may not reply right away, but will try to connect with you when I’m able.
Thank you for your support and understanding. I will try to keep you updated on my absences via this website.
I am grateful for all of you.
-Ms Wales
PS-Please let me know your field day plans so that I can help our team plan accordingly, especially when I’m not there!
whatsuproom125 