Peek at the Week

Davison's Early Learning programs will be represented at this Monday evening's Davison School Board Meeting in the AMR room at DHS. Thanks to all of you that are attending and have nominated students from your classroom to attend and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Remember to plan on being at the high school by 6:50 p.m. I am looking forward to seeing you all there and having a great representation of our staff and littlest Cardinal's!

Just a reminder that if you plan on taking time off you must use all of your vacation, personal day, or sick day accruals before you can request dock time. If you have any questions regarding your accruals, you can email Tracy Wheeler in the personnel office.

Staff, please keep Heather Williamson in your thoughts/prayers as she recovers from a recent surgery. We are expecting Heather to return after Winter Break. I met with Angie Moore this past week and she is arranging for Tosca Trowt to return and fill in for Heather in room 1 as the ECS and special education consultant. Angie will be letting us know who the sub for Heather will be at the Cardinal's Nest/GSRP site.

Last week, I was able to meet with Kevin Rushlo, DM Burr's new supervisor for Davison DM Burr staff. I communicated to Mr. Rushlo the importance of our floors being cleaned due to our littlest Cardinal's eating in the classroom and also our full day students napping on low to the ground cots on our classroom floors. Many of you shared concerns with classroom rugs not being vacuumed along with other concerns and I passed those along as well. Mr. Rushlo assured me that he will address our concerns and we should be seeing improvement in classroom cleaning. Please continue to let me know if your have concerns. Thank you for your help with keeping the environment safe and clean for our students.

Also, remember that we are responsible as licensed latchkey or preschool sites for the 3 step cleaning process required for our tables and classroom supplies/manipulatives. I think you all do a great job with this. Just a reminder to be extra diligent during the cold and flu season.

There are a few more ornaments left on our tree in the staff lounge. Once you purchase your item, please wrap it and tape the ornament to your wrapped package so the item can be identified by the family. The gifts are due on December 9th. Maida and I will be delivering these gifts to our Central and GSRP family. Thank you for your generosity!

This past week, Lori Peppin, on-site program director at the Cardinal's Nest announced her resignation. Lori has been with us for the past year and a half and has worked with our District during a time of transition in our Early Childhood programming. We appreciate Lori's service and dedication to the District. However, Lori has a higher calling with family at this time that will no longer allow her to work her current schedule. We wish Lori the best and hope we can welcome her back in some capacity in the near future. Please join me in wishing Lori well before her last day on Thursday, December 12th. The Cardinal's Nest program director's position is posted and interviews will be held in the near future.

Monday, December 2nd- Cool to Care ends, Early Learning group says the Pledge of Allegiance at the school board meeting 6:50 p.m., Meeting with Sara S. 8:00 (Susan), Meeting with Naomi V. 3:30 (Susan)

Tuesday, December 3rd- 8:45 Mtg w/ Holly, Shea, Sara S., and Jen Seal. District Improvement meeting 4:15 (Susan, Lori, Lindsey T. and Rachel M.) Intake appointments 10:00-1:00.

Wednesday, December 4th- Brief staff meeting after school for Central/GSRP to discuss Winter Wonderland. Seussical the Musical at DHS, final intake appointment, BMO statement due (Susan).

Thursday, December 5th- Pajama and popcorn day at Central/GSRP, Seussical the Musical at DHS, Hill licensing renewal application (Susan)

Friday, December 6th- Pajama and popcorn day at the Cardinal's Nest

Looking Ahead...

Wednesday, December 11th- Early Release Day, No p.m. preschool, extended day latchkey, and PD for Cardinal's Nest classroom preschool staff and Central/GSRP staff 1:00-4:00 @ Central/GSRP. Staff luncheon to be held at 12:00 prior to PD.

Friday, December 12th- Grinch reading at Hill (Susan)

Friday, December 13th- Melissa and Sara S. CPR training at GISD.

Friday, December 20th- CPR training with Melanie Berry @ Central GSRP 9:00-1:00.

Round one of classroom observations for certified staff and preschool lead teaching staff will take place in the next couple of weeks. You should have received a Google document via email with a schedule of dates and times that you can sign up for your visit. I would like to observe during large group time for this first round of observations. A different part of your teaching schedule will be observed each time. I look forward to visiting and seeing all the great things that you are doing with your students.

Mid-year evaluations for latchkey site supervisors, program directors, lunch time caregivers, GSRP associate teachers, classroom caregivers at Cardinal's Nest and child care providers at GSRP will also take place after we return from winter break. You will receive a self-evaluation form to fill out prior to our scheduled meeting time.

As we begin the Holiday season, just a reminder that our students may be extra excited and their parents may be extra stressed and/or anxious about upcoming expectations, financial stresses, lack of sleep and added on obligations. As a result, our students may exhibit challenging behaviors. Here is your reminder to review the Big and Little Rules of the Cardinal's Code for our youngest Cardinals. Making expectations clear can go a long way toward getting the behavior we desire. Take a minute to review some of the reasons that students may be misbehaving.

Why Students Misbehave:

• Awareness (literally unaware they were doing it, i.e. The Pen Tapper)

• Seeking Attention (either gets tons of attention at home or no attention at home)…

• Lack of feeling Power/Control (always being told what to do. Eventually becomes frustrated)

• Lack of feeling Competence (does not do well academically in school).

• Lack of Belonging (either does not belong to any group or belonging is defined through disruptive behavior)

The Cardinal's Nest and Early Learning offices have been busy getting certificates to our preschool and latchkey staff so that everyone can get their required hours and documentation uploaded on the MiRegistry site by December 31st. GSRP staff have until June 30th to have their PD uploaded on the MiRegistry site. I believe everyone is either finished or will be finishing up this week when they receive their final certificates to be uploaded. For staff that are using the four hours of PD from the CPR training on Friday, December 20th, you hours will automatically be recorded on the MiRegistry site without a need to print and upload a certificate. Melanie Berry is creating the course as a MiRegistry course. This will be very convenient for our staff using these hours for required licensing PD. If you have any questions, please let me know

We have 5 intake appointments scheduled for this upcoming week to fill GSRP slots. Dec 3rd we have 10:00, 10:45, 11:30 and 1:00. Dec 4th we have a 10:00. One of these will be for our last PM spot in room 4 at Central/GSRP and the other 4 will be Rachel Meinburgs PM slots.

Just a reminder to our GECS employees that this Monday, December 2nd is payroll signing day. Please sign at your designated payroll signing office before 3:00 p.m. Thank you!

Cardinal's Nest and Central/GSRP celebrated with Friendship Feasts in our classrooms last Wednesday. However, with the sick bugs going around we were missing quite a few little turkeys. Here's to everyone returning this week feeling healthy and renewed!