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Hi All, 

I hope that you're out enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps today! Rowan and I had a great morning at Cochrans and I found myself feeling extra thankful for the place we live. This weekend I have been reflecting on the language that we use with each other and the language that we use with students. I'm sharing the graphic above as a thought provoking piece to think about how we connect with students on a regular basis. 

What's one phrase you can commit to utilizing this week? 

Shoutout

• Lisa Wilson for her support in ODR's in 1st grade 
• Addie Wheeler for offering to sub for P.E. 
• Megan Keys thank you for your positive attitude and honesty. 
• Robin Gannon thank you for continuing to find ways to support all learners. Your expertise and collaboration are noticed and appreciated. 
• Becky Sue and Amber B for staying with the late U2 riders
• Rick thanks for stopping by and sharing your "Witness to the good" moment of the week on Friday.   

**Don't forget to shoutout your colleagues!*** Drop me a note 

News and Announcements

• If you have a moment take a peek back at this document Supporting Students document from Joelle. It's got a wealth of simple resources to think about how to support students who are experiencing anxiety. As we think about the screening last week the anxiety that students may be dealing with could very well be beyond their control.   
  
• Similarly to the graphic above I wanted to share this other graphic with you all from Center for Creative Leadership about engaging in more challenging conversations with colleagues. We are bound to have challenging topics come up and we need to treat each other with the same curiosity and calm that we do with students. We always assume best intentions and get curious about someone else's persepctive.    
• Staff Meeting this week
• 20-30 Minutes with Union Representation 
• Act 139 Information Sharing/Group Data Work 
• PBIS---If we have time 

• Options Based Drill will happen Thursday---we will determine time on Wednesday.

• Options Based Drill #2: Lockdown Drill (year 2)

  Vermont schools are required to practice our Options-Based Response procedures once per semester.  Our second drill will occur on January and this protocol was developed after reviewing feedback from each building about Drill #1. We will let everybody know the exact day and approximate time with at least two days notice.  Please see below for the details about this drill.  We believe that the next natural step for students is still a lockdown drill, but with less discussion at the time of the drill.

  
  

  Drill Outline and procedure:

  • An administrator will make an announcement to school, 

  • “Hello, this is _______.  Earlier this year we discussed what to do if you hear the word “Lockdown” over the intercom. Practicing this helps us all stay safe if something unexpected is happening at the school. We are going to practice that again now. In a moment you will hear the lockdown command and then you will practice doing it. Then, I will get on the intercom to let everybody know that the practice is over, using the words, “This is (admin name), ALL CLEAR”. 

  • This letter will be sent home to families prior to the drill (the law requires notice at least one day in advance, but schools may choose to send it earlier): Parent Letter: Options Based Drill #2 year 2.

  • After the practice, a feedback document will be shared with staff.

  • The District Safety Team is working on a protocol for the remaining drills and will share in advance.

  
  

  Thank you for your participation in this important practice. Please contact your principal or a member of your local safety team with any questions / concerns.

  	Teacher Talking Points:
  PreK-6	“Remember, our first job is to get quiet and keep voices off” (voice level zero) “The second part of your job is to look at me and listen carefully for my directions.” “Remember, sometimes we will go to a special place in the classroom, shut the door and turn off the lights” “Other times, I might tell you that we are leaving the classroom.” Now we will practice going to our indoor location and staying there with our voices off for a few minutes, until we hear _______ tell us that the practice is over by saying, ALL CLEAR”
  7-12	“Remember, when we hear “Lockdown” our first job is to get and stay quiet including making sure that all cell phones are off or silenced. In an emergency, a ringing cellphone could put us all at risk.” “The second part of your job is to listen carefully and follow my directions.” “Who can remind us what your next step is when we hear “Lockdown”? - answer should include moving quickly and quietly to a space in the classroom that is less visible from the hallway door. “There may be a time where I might tell you that we are leaving the classroom/space.  If that happens, we need to do it quickly and quietly.  You would also leave everything behind so that you are not slowed down by carrying anything.” Teacher should then lead a short discussion on how they would leave the classroom/space/building in the fastest/shortest way.  This is just a discussion and does not need to include going to see that route. Group should be able to identify at least 1 way to get out of the building WITHOUT going through the atrium.  Our next drills will include more discussion and graduated practice regarding how to ‘run’, go to a rally point (similar to our fire drill locations), and how to ‘reunify’ with your TA once out of the building. “For today, when we hear the “Lockdown” call over the PA, we will practice making sure that cellphones are silenced, quickly and quietly finding a less visible space in the room and staying there silently for a few minutes, until we hear Becca tell us that the practice is over by saying, ALL CLEAR”

What's Happening at Berlin?

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday	Staff Meeting
Thursday	January Safety Drill
Friday	Data Meetings: K, 1, 3

Where is Celia?

Monday	Student Meeting 9:15  Celia leaves at 2:45---CO Meeting  Curriculum Council 4:00-5:30
Tuesday	WCLT---Celia Out until 1:45
Wednesday	Meeting 9:15  Meeting 10:15  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
Thursday	Student Meeting 11:00-11:30  Steven at School 11:15-1:15  District Safety Meeting 3:00-4:00**Celia out at 2:40
Friday	Data Meetings at Berlin 12:00-3:00