Glendale Elementary

Five Fantastic Days

Innovation Weeks Bring Us to Spring Break

The Glendale Innovation Weeks are moving forward. The 3rd grade students presented their Wax Museum to families on Friday and classrooms on Thursday. They also performed their music concert with Becky Gillette directing. Students created their own instruments to play in the concert and followed the engineering/design process. The 4th grade students were creating new circuits using the squishy circuit materials. 5th grade students continued to build and create for the Math Carnival that will be held this week.

I had an opportunity to observe Kindergarten students evaluating and testing their marble run designs. The 1st grade students were using materials from home and recycled materials to design Egg Drop containers. Our 2nd grade classrooms are designing toys and will be busy this week in the afternoon. The student engagement is high and some students are asking to stay in from recess to complete work!

Conferences are not here yet, but please get any special requests for scheduling to Dawn and Heather this week. When we return on March 20th, the link will be made live for parents to sign-up. Conferences are April 13, 18 (2 hour) and 20th.

MCA preparations are in full swing for 3rd-5th grade teams. The required steps to be prepared as a proctor have been sent out. The MCA training will be on March 27th in the morning. Testing schedules will be shared soon.

I hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break with your friends and family. It is important to recharge and have some time for a change of pace. The next five days will go quickly and we will make the week a success for our students! Thank you for all of your work to support our students!

Wax Museum Success

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Summer School

The Summer School session at Glendale and three other PLSAS elementary schools will be held July 10-August 4th. The posting for Summer School positions is on the district website and is currently open. If you are interested in teaching this summer, please contact me if you plan to apply. Kids Company will be held at Glendale as well this summer.

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Small Group Instruction

Students working in small groups received additional support in math, reading and writing last week. Teachers are impressive with their knowledge of where students are at and what they need to move forward.

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Writing Conferences

On classroom days during the past two weeks, I was able to observe several writing lessons. The teachers were able to conference with a large number of students in a short time, providing compliments, nudges and the support to move their writing forward.

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Book Club with Cool Kids

4th graders are insightful! The book clubs in Mrs. Donohue's room were holding lively discussions about their book chapter last week. Students worked to identify key details for the main characters' development.

I Love to Read Month Wraps Up

Staff Collage for Yearbook

Where were you in 1997?

Instead of a staff collage this year on page 3 of the yearbook, I am asking all staff members to submit to me a photo of you from 20 years ago (or around 20 years ago). You can either email me, text me or bring me a photo. Photos due Wednesday, March 8.

Tom Deris

Cell: 763.913.7779

tderis@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us

PTC Meeting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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Math Carnival Planning

The 5th grade students are preparing for the Math Carnival by creating games and videos to promote the event. The grade level is raising money for clean water for Africa. The students from our school will visit on Wednesday and Thursday. Pennies are important to be able to play the games.

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Glenmark Store Open

These talented 5th graders were opening up Glenmart last Friday. It is exciting to see them take on the important roles of marketing, sales and accounting. They did a great job in all areas on Friday!

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Periodic Table of Apps

On Twitter, a creative infographic shows many apps for elementary students (primary focus). The periodic table format shares the main purpose of the app with a color coded format. This is from Mark Anderson: https://ictevangelist.com/periodic-table-ipad-apps-vol-2/ and is a great reminder of the multiple ways apps are a part of the learning process.

Stakeholder Feedback Survey: Growth Task Force

Please note the message being shared to encourage feedback on growth task force long-term facilities plans. A community input session was held March 2nd and the next meeting will be March 28th.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) can expect more than 2,100 additional students over the next ten years spread across all grade levels (2017/18 - 2026/27).

As a result, a long-term facilities planning process is underway, led by a community Task Force that is providing input to address our needs. The first round of draft options related to facilities planning in PLSAS is now being presented for public feedback.

Your input will be used to help revise the draft options. The revised options will be shared with the community again March 28 for another round of feedback.

Take the survey.

Where do I find...? Staff Resources for Quick Access

The BILT identified documents that are needed for quick reference that are difficult to locate in Google Drive. Here are important documents from Staff Meeting Minutes to Committee Assignments and Handbooks. The committee assignments are also posted on the whiteboard across from the mailboxes in the office.

Staff Meeting Agenda Folder

Looking for Past Smores?

Here are the quick links to previous weeks' Smores and information.

February 27-March 3

February 20-24

January 30-February 3

January 16-20

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