New Faces in Pendleton SD – Beckylyn Jenco-Bellando
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
Using Monday Late-Starts for Effective Professional Development
Sherwood Heights Elementary Principal Ronda Smith is thankful for several things this November, but one of the biggest is late-start Mondays in the district. With that time on Monday mornings, Sherwood teachers and paraprofessionals are participating in robust Professional Development that is supporting strong teaching and learning.
“I really want to share with the public how powerful our PLCs on Monday mornings are and how grateful we are for this dedicated time to work on important instructional strategies,” Smith said.
PLC stands for Professional Learning Community, which is a grade-level team that works collaboratively to achieve better results for the students they teach. PLCs operate on the premise that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for educators.
On some Monday mornings, Sherwood has all-staff meetings, which include 10 minutes of instructional strategies that can be used by all staff in the building. These focus on topics like learning targets or guiding student discussion in the classroom. On other Mondays, PLCs meet to discuss curriculum, and sometimes all grade-level teachers from different schools gather to collaborate.
In addition to Monday mornings, on Tuesday through Friday, all of Sherwood’s paraprofessionals engage in 15 minutes of Brain Smart Start activities led by Jolene Hudson, Intervention Specialist. These activities use current brain research methods and strategies to support students who are struggling with behavior that may impede learning. “The learning that happens in these morning sessions is so targeted and specific that our paraprofessionals walk out of the room and use it,” Principal Smith said.
Cami Carlisle, Paraprofessional at Sherwood, said the Brain Smart Starts have helped her this year. She has been using the Q-TIP motto, “quit taking it personally,” which has helped her manage difficult interactions with students. “I have learned to take a breath, step back, and get back to the executive brain function in myself to help the student who is in survival brain mode,” Carlisle said.
Reminders about the strategies they are using are posted in the Staff Room. The entire staff also works on being connected as a team, like sharing wishes and shout outs on bulletin boards.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Janice Zaugg
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
1st Grade Pumpkin Patch at Washington
First graders at Washington Elementary were treated to their own Pumpkin Patch at their school on Friday, October 27, 2023. Pendleton Walmart donated pumpkins to all the first graders, which is four classes of about 80 total students. The pumpkins were set out in the grassy field behind the school.
On that day, first grade teachers told their students they were going on a “walking field trip,” but they didn’t reveal why. The students walked through the school’s front doors and around the building to be greeted by pumpkins just for them.
Makenna Watkins, First Grade Teacher, said when the students arrived in the area, they stood in a big circle and were told what the expectations of the event were. Then on the signal word of “Pumpkin!” they went to choose their own pumpkin to take home at the end of the day. Photos of each class were taken, too.
“The students had such a great time, and they are still talking about it!” Watkins said. She also shared that although students were encouraged to choose a pumpkin they could actually carry themselves, there were still a few who struggled with very large pumpkins.
With the extra pumpkins from the day, the students are going to do some pumpkin investigations, like counting the seeds from the pumpkins, seeing if the seeds float or sink, and tasting pumpkin puree.
Washington Elementary thanks Pendleton Walmart for their generous donation of the pumpkins.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Dianna Dowell
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
Monday Mugs in 4th Grade at Washington
Mondays are sometimes hard, so what if someone told you to take 30 minutes every Monday, have a hot beverage, and read a book? Well, for fourth graders at Washington Elementary, that is exactly what is happening.
The fourth-grade teaching team at the school started Monday Mugs at the beginning of October. After lunch, fourth graders return to their classroom, get their mug of hot chocolate, tea, or apple cider, and quietly read a book from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. According to teacher Hunter Erwin, the intention of the time is to inspire a love of reading in students. “The students can read whatever they choose, and that’s part of the beauty of this time is to embrace the sheer joy of reading,” Erwin said.
The idea for Monday Mugs came from teacher Josh McGraw, who enjoyed the activity when he was in fourth grade at McKay Creek Elementary.
Once a month, fourth graders are allowed to have a family member or loved one join them for Monday Mugs so they can read a book together.
Keep reading, Washington Wildcats!
TAPP Dinner at Washington
Washington Elementary held its first TAPP (Tribal Attendance Promising Practices) Dinner on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Lindsee Hancock
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Deb Airoldi
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Crystal Umbarger
The Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.