Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority. 
Vince Lombardi

Jan 27 to Jan 31

Mon 1/27  DIBELS

Individual Planning

SPIRIT WEEK – Pajama Day

Tues 1/28 DIBELS

GLAD Trainers in the building

                     Pizza with the principal

                     SPIRIT WEEK – Crazy Hat/Crazy Sock Day

Wed 1/29  DIBELS

Viking Support Team 1/2

SPIRIT WEEK – College Day

Thurs 1/30       3:30 CSIP Meeting

                     SPIRIT WEEK – Spinning Viking Day

Fri 1/31     1:30 Civil Rights Legacy Tour - Becoming Bridges

                     SPIRIT WEEK – Blue Friday – Seahawks

Feb 3 to Feb 7 (School Counselor Week)

Mon 2/3          Principal Directed

                     3:45 PTA General Membership Meeting Library

                     4:30 PTA Reflection Recognition Library

Tues 2/4         Student of the Month Luncheon

3:45 AVID Meeting

6:30 PM Incoming 7^th Gr. Parent Night KJH

Wed 2/5          Viking Support Team 3/4

                     PTA Bookfair

Thurs 2/6 Grandparent’s Day Lunch

                     PTA Bookfair

7:00 Orchestra Concert PHS

Fri 2/7            PTA Bookfair


Activities

Please make sure to provide a list of names to the office for any activities that you support (Leadership, Mile Club, Basketball, etc.) as soon as you have the activity begin.  If students

After-school Program

Students participating in the Kids-Club Program at Spinning will start meeting their leader in the foyer next to the display case.  The office will not be calling these students with reminders.  We will call for new participants.

BUSY!!!

We have a lot of activities happening the first week of February.  Please make sure to inform your parents via newsletters about all the great things happening here at Spinning.

Health and Wellness

MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall

Located at a kiosk in the South Hill Mall in Puyallup, this immunization clinic offers free and low-cost immunizations to children and adults.

No appointments are necessary.

The kiosk is open 5 days a week to provide convenient access to immunization services:

Adults:  Tuesday - Saturday, 12:30 - 5:00pm.

Children:  Please see the current Immunization Calendar for days and hours.

No appointments are necessary, but parents or guardians are asked to bring their child’s immunization record. MultiCare offers all the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are required for attending school.

Walk-in immunization services are also available at MultiCare Express Clinics in Tacoma and Lakewood. The Mary Bridge Mobile Immunization Clinic will continue to offer yearly vaccination clinics in rural areas of East Pierce County.

If you have any questions about the adult immunization services at the South Hill Mall, please call Lisa Norris at 253-697-1426.

For information about children immunization services throughout Pierce County, please call the Mary Bridge Mobile Immunization Clinic at 253-403-1767

 

 

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan 20 to Jan 21

Mon 1/20  No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tues 1/21 Safety Meeting

               Mt. View Comm. Center Afterschool program starts

Wed 1/22  Viking Support Team KG

               Open GLAD Lab 3:30-5:30 FIRGROVE

Thurs 1/23      

Fri 1/24

Jan 27 to Jan 31

Mon 1/27  DIBELS

                           Individual Planning

Tues 1/28 DIBELS

                          GLAD Trainers in the building
               Pizza with the principal

Wed 1/29  DIBELS

                           Viking Support Team 1/2

Thurs 1/30 3:30 CSIP Meeting

Fri 1/31     1:30 Civil Rights Legacy Tour - Becoming Bridges

Everyday Heroes

Beginning with the next issue of Connections in April and continuing in every issue thereafter, the Department of Communications and Information plans to present a new feature called “Everyday Heroes.”

This new feature, once published, will also appear on the school district website and on the district's Facebook and Twitter social media pages.

The department is seeking suggestions of students who go above and beyond to make their school or community a better place. These students exist throughout our 32 schools, and many of them never receive a recognition such as this. Here are a few thoughts to consider when thinking about potential candidates for this honor:

Ø  Students who help regularly with community service projects. This might be the student who is the first to sign up to help and the last to leave at an event. It’s not necessarily the event organizer, a Student Council member, the Key Club president, or a school leadership class officer. Again, think of those students in all grades who do so much but perhaps work behind the scenes simply because they are dedicated to helping their school or community.

Ø  Students who go above and beyond to help their fellow peers be successful.

Ø  Students who have overcome great obstacles and persevered in their learning.

Ø  Students who regularly invite others to play at recess, befriend a new student on campus, or do other acts of kindness to make their peers feel welcome.

This is our opportunity to do more to spotlight student heroes around the district, and we trust our community will enjoy hearing their inspiring stories.

Please send names for consideration to Communications Specialist Susan Gifford at gifforsg@puyallup.k12.wa.us. Include the name of the student, school, grade, and a brief description of why the student should be considered as one of our "Everyday Heroes."

Send ideas by February 1, 2014 to be considered for the April 2014 Connections.

Laptops

Next week, ITC and Student Learning will be asking staff to complete a survey on laptops replacement and professional development.  Results of the survey (due Jan 27th at 3pm) will impact the laptop replacement initiative and professional development decisions in our district.

EdLine

Did you know if you are signed in to EdLine and click on My Edline, click under My Content on Combined calendar and you will see all of the happenings that are on the school district calendar?

 

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.  Oprah Winfrey 

Jan 6 to Jan 10 

Mon 1/6          Principal Directed. Welcome BACK!!!

Tues 1/7         3:45 AVID Meeting

Wed 1/8          Viking Support Team 3/4

Thurs 1/9 Spinning Volleyball starts

Fri 1/10           BLUE FRIDAY “GO HAWKS”

 

Jan 13 to Jan 17 

Mon 1/13  Grade Level Meetings

                Open House Mt. View Community Afterschool Program

Tues 1/14 Glad Trainers will be in the building

Student of the Month Luncheon

Wed 1/15  Viking Support Team 5/6

Thurs 1/16       Staff Meeting

Fri 1/17           12:46 Dismissal (Student Learning Day)

 Jan 20 to Jan 21

Mon 1/20  No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tues 1/21 Safety Meeting

Wed 1/22  Viking Support Team KG

                     Open GLAD Lab is scheduled for January 22nd from 3:30-5:30!

Thurs 1/23      

Fri 1/24

New this month for Student of the Month

Trying to add a little to the parent luncheon, so starting this month, the pencils and certificates will be handed out during the luncheon so parents can hear and see child getting this recognition.  Please continue to on with whatever you typically do in the classroom to celebrate this achievement.  In addition, please feel free to come by and greet parents when they are in the gym for lunch.  Parents love to make that connection with you.

Friday, January 17th

Teachers, we have an Instruction and Learning Day in the commons on this day.  Since we did not have the opportunity to have our DIBELS discussions today we have worked it into the agenda for Friday.  Start time will be at 1:15 pm and we will provide lunch for you.  What do you need?  Yourself and your laptop for the latter portion of the day. Don’t forget to sign up on the PRODEV website beforehand.

 

News from ITC

In response to many of your suggestions for improvements to TAC, the Information Technology Center installed an update to Teacher Access Center this past Friday 1/3/14 which introduces some of the following new features and functions:

 1.   Option to automatically save changes in gradebook entry

2.   Option to import scores from a CSV or text file to your gradebook

3.   Edit all mode to quickly update all or a group of assignments in your gradebook

4.   Save your custom views for class roster and gradebook pages

5.   Change to access to Show/Hide columns and Add Empty Columns on the class roster

6.   Display all prior marks when entering marks for report card competencies

7.   Create seating charts for non-attendance classes

8.   Improvements to seating chart functionality

9.   Changes to attendance by photo functionality

 

To access the full description of how to use these new features, please follow this link (you must logon to Edline to access this document).

https://www.edline.net/files/_wGLwS_/22c6dc4f9a67c7db3745a49013852ec4/TAC_Updates_Jan_2014.pdf

 In addition to these new features, the following issue has been corrected:

 

Duplicate emails are no longer sent from TAC when more than one person in the household has the same email address

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ITC Helpdesk at 8600, extension 3 or Select Tools > Need Help? in TAC and open a HelpCenter request under Software > Teacher Access Center.

Free Resources to Help You Cover Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

This month, focus part of your social studies curriculum on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We are pleased to offer you time-saving resources to help you bring this important lesson into your classroom.

Through the partnership between Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and HISTORY®, This Month in History provides you with standards-aligned Lesson Plans, Teacher's Guides, and Study Guides.

Special Presentation: King

Monday, January 20 at 8 AM (ET) on HISTORY®

King is a moving two-hour documentary that explores the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and examines the indelible mark he left on the world. With veteran journalist Tom Brokaw, this program retraces the journey of Dr. King, focusing on his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.

For the latest news and journal articles, check out

hmhinthenews.com (elementary current events) and
hmhcurrentevents.com (secondary current events).

The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest.  Seneca (4 BC - 65 AD)

Dec 16 to Dec 20

Mon 12/16 Individual Planning

Tues 12/17   Safety Meeting

Music Program K-3 7:00 MPR

PTA Book fair 5:30 – 8:30

Wed 12/18     PTA Book fair 6:00 – 8:00

8:15 Viking Support Team GR 1/2 Rm. 4

                     PTA Make-It Take-It 6:00 – 8:00

Thurs 12/19   Staff Meeting – Library (Special Guests)

Music Program 4 – 6 and room 17 7:00 MPR

                     PTA Book Fair 3:00 to 6:30

Fri 12/20        

Dec 23 to Jan 3

Mon         Sleep in, rest, and relax

Tues        Eat, rest, relax, enjoy

Wed        Rest, relax, enjoy

Thurs      Recharge, rest, relax, and stay up late

Fri          Enjoy, rest, and relax,

Jan 6 to Jan 10

Mon 1/6          Principal Directed. Welcome BACK!!!

Tues 1/7         3:45 AVID Meeting

Wed 1/8          Viking Support Team 3/4

Thurs 1/9 Spinning Volleyball starts

Fri 1/10          

Music Program

Our students have been practicing for our upcoming music programs and we want to make sure that parents are aware of the events.  12/17 7:00 for K-3 and 12/19 7:00 for 4-6 and room 17.  Students need to arrive in the Multi-purpose room by 6:50.

Book Fair

It will be located in the foyer and available at the following times:

Dec. 17^th Tuesday, 5:30 to 8:30

Dec. 18^th Wednesday, 6:00 to 8:00

Dec. 19^th Thursday, 3:00 to 6:30

Survey

Please return the survey we sent home this week asking parents about interest in an afterschool program as soon as possible.  It would be great if you could provide some incentive for them to be returned.  The opportunity is based on outcome of survey so we’d like as many responses as possible.  We will continue to accept the surveys all next week, but the official deadline is Monday, Dec. 16^th.

Student of the Month

Please provide your SOM names and reasons to me by Friday, Dec. 20^th so I can have letters ready upon our return to school in January.

Crosswalk isn’t just for kids…

Please continue to set an example for our students by using the crosswalk all the time.

Top 100 Inspirational Quotes

If you are looking for a good quote to add to your Edline postings, take a look at the link listed on Edline. Kevin Kruse, the author of 4 Keys to Happiness and Fulfillment at Work recently shared his list of inspirational quotes in a Forbes blog. (Edline, Departments, Communications and Information, News and Information.)

Lunch Cards

Please remember that all students that are receiving a hot school lunch are required to take a lunch card with them in line and show our lunchroom staff.  Too many students change their mind when they see what is being served resulting in a shortage.  Students will be sent back for their cards if they come without.  More cards are available in the office.

Lost and Found

Please traipse your students past the Lost and Found so we can get items returned to their rightful owner before break.  Our student volunteers are looking for names in jackets/coats, so a reminder in your newsletters to parents about labeling clothing would be helpful.  The plan is to roll the Lost and Found out to parent pick-up at the end of the day so they can also take a peak.

 

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”  Nelson Mandela

Dec 9 to Dec 13

Mon 12/9  Grade Level Meetings

Tues 12/10      PBIS Meeting

Wed 12/11 8:15 Viking Support Team GR KG Rm. 4

Thurs 12/12     6:30 PTA General Membership meeting

Fri 12/13        

Dec 16 to Dec 20

Mon 12/16 Individual Planning

Tues 12/17      Safety Meeting

Music Program K-3 7:00 MPR

Wed 12/18 PTA Book fair begins

8:15 Viking Support Team GR 1/2 Rm. 4

                     PTA Make-It Take-It 6:00 – 8:00

Thurs 12/19     Staff Meeting – Library (Special Guests)

Music Program 4 – 6 7:00 MPR

Fri 12/20         PTA Book fair ends

Guest Principal

Collette will be out on December 12 and 13 for a WERA Conference along with a few of our staff members.  Please welcome Karrie Osborne as her substitute.

Music Program

Our students have been practicing for our upcoming music programs and we want to make sure that parents are aware of the events.  Please make sure to announce in your newsletters, Edline, and announcements.  12/17 7:00 for K-3 and 12/19 7:00 for 4-6.  Students need to arrive in the Multi-purpose room by 6:50.

DIBELS transition update

Director of Instructional Leadership Lisa Nolan, Assistant Director of Title 1/LAP Liz Knox, and Executive Director of Assessment, Accountability and Student Success Glenn Malone have created an informational video about transitions taking place with DIBELS administration.  Take a look at the Literacy website.

Edline assistance

Director John Parker has posted a list of links to training videos for teachers needing assistance with their Edline website.  Find the list on the Technology Services website.

Classroom Activities

With all the happenings at an elementary school, it’s really important to communicate with the office so they can provide that information to students, parents and community members when they call or inquire. 

"When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts."  Dalai Lama

 Dec 2 to Dec 6

Mon 12/2  Individual Planning

               Report Cards Due to Administrator in the morning

Tues 12/3 Student of the Month Luncheon

                3:45 AVID Meeting

Wed 12/4  8:15 Viking Support Team GR 5/6 Rm. 4

                Food Drive Ends

Thurs 12/5      

Fri 12/6    Report Cards sent home with students

Dec 9 to Dec 13

Mon 12/9  Grade Level Meetings

Tues 12/10      PBIS Meeting

Wed 12/11 8:15 Viking Support Team GR KG Rm. 4

Thurs 12/12     6:30 PTA General Membership meeting

Fri 12/13        

Dec 16 to Dec 20

Mon 12/16 Individual Planning

Tues 12/17   Safety Meeting

Music Program K-3 7:00 MPR

Wed 12/18     PTA Book fair begins

8:15 Viking Support Team GR 1/2 Rm. 4

                     PTA Make-It Take-It 6:00 – 8:00

Thurs 12/19   Staff Meeting - Library

Music Program 4 – 6 7:00 MPR

Fri 12/20         PTA Book fair ends

 

Edline help

Captions help communicate more clearly.  Take a look at the Edgerton website and the way they use captions to describe each of the homepage photos.  Need help with this?  Contact the district webmaster at 840-8925.

Take a peek

Have you taken a look at some of the Spinning Edline sites?  Nice to see such detail on some of the sites. 

Guest Principal

Collette will be out on December 12 and 13 for a WERA Conference along with a few of our staff members.  Please welcome Karrie Osborne as her substitute.

Have you responded?

In order for us to update/replenish our safety backpacks please take a moment to inventory your classroom backpack and email Dawn Utti the following information: 

1. Condition of backpack

2. Flashlight with working batteries yes or no

3. # of vests

4. qty. of water (Expiration date of water?)

5. qty. of cups

PTA Book fair

It’s coming soon and will be on the stage.  It is shorter this year, 3 days.  More info to come!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

Inform the office of special events happening in your classroom or at school.  Parents call for info and it really helps for us to know.