December 11th

Feel the Bern

Our students did you proud last week when talking with Senator Sanders (and Leahy - see below). Many people in the room, including the senator and his staff, were thankful and impressed with the opportunity. The Secretary of Education, in particular, wants to reconnect and learn with staff and students about things she heard about PA. I'm sorry that you could not all be there.


This week's Link

Thanks again for your super attitudes, energy, and thoughtfulness during the ALiCE training last week. We learned a lot and I was impressed with your openness and willingness to listen & trust the process.

This article on the ALiCE website does a nice job of articulating why this work is so important and empowering. You can scroll past the top portion to 2 paragraphs above the part labeled 'Takeaways from the Texas Church Shooting'. This seems most pertinent to what we just learned.

Speaking of what we just learned. As a result of our training, we are now thinking differently about how to respond in an emergency and ways to start training students. First, in the unlikely incidence of a true emergency, listen carefully to the announcement (if there is one) and the other clues around you. DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN with the information that you have and your new understandings about being proactive. When we have a drill, proceed as we have in the past - we are not ready to practice or communicate our new strategies with students. There is a a drill coming up soon, do as you have always done during THE DRILL. Please do not yet discuss in detail what you learned in the training with students. We first need a comprehensive and consistent plan for communication with students and families before we start sharing the details.

Tracy, Karen and I will be meeting ASAP to review your feedback and begin planning the next steps. Until then,  among yourselves keep talking about your experience, things that you've learned, and your ideas. We will soon be asking for more help in deciding how to move forward with practice, communication and decision. So feel free to keep the conversation going. Thank you!



Upcoming Events:

Super successful dinner fundraiser - thanks Jen and Sheila. 

12/11 & 18 - Best Practice
12/ - Staff Holiday Gathering; Lesley's house (3:30-6)
12/19 - Community Meeting
12/19 - Parent PBL info meeting 6:00-7:30pm
12/25-29 - 1st Winter Break
1/8-12 - Assessment Week (Link to SCHEDULE)
1/15 - In-service LSSU
2/1 - early release
2/2 - In- Service TBD








Schoolwide Happenings: 

Check out the newest item at the school store (Derrick Shackett Design). 

Great work by the CSR group on Friday during Flex. 

Celebrations

Senator times 2 this week! In these photos you can see students in Kate and Jen's classes speaking with Senator Leahy. Our students impressed out statewide leaders in several ways this week.

Great to see many PA basketball players helping out with the youth program EARLY Saturday.