May 4 - 8

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

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May 4 - Brett & Lundy Learning Packet Distribution.  PreK PLC 2 -3 to Split Classes.
May 5 - Brett & Lundy Learning Packet Distribution.  Kinder PLC 2 - 3 to Split Classes.
May 6 - PreK Enrollment 9:30 - 12:30  Packet Pick Up at Coolidge.  1st PLC 2 - 3, 2nd 3 - 4 to split classes.
May 7 - PreK Enrollment 9:30 - 12:30  Packet Pick Up at Coolidge.  2:00 PBIS Meeting, 3rd Grade PLC meeting 3 - 4 to split classes.
May 9 - Official Teacher Appreciation Day.

Please be sure you check out the Goole Classroom and be sure you complete the assignment that is due tomorrow.


Dear Coolidge Faculty & Staff,
It has been my privilege to be your leader for the 2019-2020 school year, and what a year it has been.  I can't thank everyone enough for your endless hours of volunteering, chaperoning, reading, organizing, donating, and doing and doing whatever was necessary to support our students both at school and at home.   Together we welcomed new families into Coolidge as the Pathway to Greatness was implemented.  Many teams were changed to help strengthen our teaching teams.  Our grade bands have changed and we now serve students up to 4th grade and our 5th and 6th-grade Crocodiles found their way to middle school.  We added new faculty, new students, and a new STEAM lab to our learning community. Standards-based planning was the focus of our PLC meetings and we all grew and learned together.

We had a busy learning adventure in the fall and celebrated with our Fall Into a Good Book.  Fall quickly gave way to winter and the learning and events continued. a musical program performed by our Honor Choir.  We were able to our fantastic community volunteers and had our first Blue Scholar celebration for exceptional students.  I'm sure it will be even better next year.

No one knew that when we left the building for a week of Spring Break that it would be the last time we were together as a learning community for the 2019-2020 school year. Many of us had adventures planned.  We were all planning on returning refreshed and ready to begin the final quarter of the school year.  Covid 19 changed all our plans.  I want to thank each and every one of you who accepted the challenge of ensuring that our students continued to learn for the remainder of the school year.  Weekly learning packets were given to students and others continued their learning online.  Teachers and assistants called students to check on them and provide assistance.  Online learning games were hosted and the education of our students continued.

Thank you for a job well done to an incredible group of professionals.

Melissa

Happy Birthday

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April 27 - May 1

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

• Monday:  Brett & Lundy - packet distribution.  RSA & IEP meetings in the P.M.
• Tuesday - Lundy packet distribution in the 9:30 - 12:30.  Brett has principal meeting in A.M., Brett & Lundy in the p.m.
• Wednesday - RSA & IEP meetings
• Thursday- RSA & IEP meetings. 11:00 A.M. Faculty Meeting with updates from the Principal Meeting.
• Friday - RSA & IEP meetings.

Interviews for the 20-21 school year continue.  

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Happy Birthday
April 27 - Ms. S. Alvarez

April 20 - 24

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Stay Safe! You're Amazing. Have a Great Day!

• Monday, April 20  - Continuous Learning Packets & Meals @ Coolidge 9:30 - 12:30  Leadership Meeting @1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 21 -  Continuous Learning Packets & Meals @ Coolidge 9:30 - 12:30
• Wednesday, April 22 - IEP meetings, RSA meetings, Interviews
• Thursday, April 23 - PreK - 2nd Grade PLC Meeting 10:00 a.m. 3rd - 4th PLC Meeting 1:00 p.m. 
• Superintendent Message and preview of next weeks packets.  Please be sure you read your email and review the packets for your students.
• Friday, April 24 - Meetings & Follow-ups.  Summit Meeting

Be sure you are keeping your scheduled office hours with students.  Please be sure you are reaching out to your students.  You could be asked to sit in on an IEP for your students during our distant learning.  Everyone must be present during the IEP.  Your assistance is appreciated.

Stay Safe! You're Amazing. Have a Great Day!

Need some assistance:

587 - HELP

587 - FEEL (3225) - Community call center staffed by our counselors and social workers to provide emotional support and crisis interventions to OKCPS students & families. Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00

211 - Heartline's staff is working hard to collaborate with their partners to serve Oklahomans in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. https://heartlineoklahoma.org

Happy Birthday

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April 13 - 17

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

• Mon. April 13 - Continuous Learning Packets passed out 9:30 - 12:30
• Tues. April 14 - Continuous Learning Packets passed out 9:30 - 12:30 & Students who receive Friday Backpacks will receive their bags - but they must pick them up.
• Wed. April 15 - IEP meetings.  11:00 3rd and 4th RSA Meeting Google Hangouts
• Thurs. April 16 - IEPmeetings, 9:00 Kinder PLC Meeting on Hangouts
• Fri. April 17 -  IEP meetings, 10:00 1st & 2nd PLC Meeting on Hangouts.

Technology Survey:  Shout out to EVERYONE who worked so hard to get those surveys completed on our students.  I know it was last minute and a rush item but I truly appreciate your assistance.  We still have 16 students that we have not been able to reach yet.  If those students are in your classroom, please continue to try and reach them.  Through these contacts,  parents are being reminded about picking up food and work for their children.

Continuous Learning Packets - Week 2.  Please be sure you have gone into Google Drive and looked at the work for your students so that when you reach out to families next week you will be able to answer questions, provide guidance, etc.


Ms. Lundy, Ms. O'Shields, Ms. Briggs, Mr. Frederick (US Grant HS Principal) will be at Coolidge on Monday giving out packets.  Last Monday was extremely busy so if you need something from Ms. Lundy or me understand that we can't answer you till after 1:00 p.m.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-meet-grid-view/bjkegbgpfgpikgkfidhcihhiflbjgfic

Install the extension.

Brady Bunch for Google Hangouts

Using Technology in classroom with Digital Devises

https://sites.google.com/okcps.org/managingthedigitalclassroom/home

The Educational Technology Services team has developed a special Continuous Learning 2020 webpage full of resources for administrators and teachers to use during this unique experience.

Our sessions for the week of April 13th  are listed below. All sessions will be facilitated by ETS team members. Our goal is to answer any questions you may have regarding the tools available for continuous learning. ETS Sessions 4-13-20

• Tuesday (1:00pm) - Google Forms & Calendar
• Wednesday (1:00 pm)  - Google Hangouts
• Thursday (10:00 am) - Google Classroom

Please share the session calendar with your staff and have them sign up here for any sessions that interest them.

ETS is here to provide support during this unprecedented time. Please be advised that the district is not requiring the use of digital tools, these sessions are for teachers and administrators who are interested in using digital tools to continue instruction and connect with their students. 

In addition, your ETS representative is available during regular office hours (7:30am-4:30pm), via email or video meeting. Please find your representative here to access email addresses and calendly links for appointments.

Please share this information with your staff, we are here to support you at this time. 

Melisa DubbsINSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRAINER

Happy Birthday

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April 6 - April 10

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

Distance Learning begins.
Contacting Students:  Please be in contact with your students at least twice a week.  If you do not want them to have your phone number *67 will hide your phone number.

Please do not use ZOOM with students.  To video conference with students please use Google Hangouts.

Flexibility continues to be an important part of our role as educators.  We are in unchartered waters for everyone - and we will be practicing that skill of Lifelong Learners together that are flexible and able to adapt to the changing needs of our students.  Everyone is going to need grace.  Everyone is going to have days where they handle this better than others. Your students still need you and so do I. 

I.E.P. Meetings

I.E.P. meetings can’t happen without EVERYONE present that should be in attendance.  Attendance includes the Special Education Teacher, the Classroom Teacher, an Administrator, and a Parent.  If the parent needs an interpreter that means that we have an interpreter on the call as well.

We are having Distance Learning.  Distance Learning is going to include IEP meetings.  It is the expectation that you participate in these meetings.  You can use your phone or your computer.  Ms. Alvarez will still be assigning interpreters to the meetings.  Ms. Knott let me know that she has been asked to get all her IEP's up to date to September 15th.  For reference she has 55 students on her caseload - so this could mean a lot of meetings.  Ms. Hunt, Ms. Cappellero, Mr. Christian, and Ms. Peake will also be scheduling meetings.  It is going to be busy.

For step by step on using Google Hangouts you can use OKCPS online training, Hoonuit  and type in Google Hangouts.  In about 30 minutes you can learn what you need to get you started.

Thank you Ms. Gorman for sharing this information:

Math

Kindergarten:  https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-kindergarten-math

1st:  https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-1st-grade-math

2nd:  https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-2nd-grade-math

3rd:  https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-third-grade-math

4th:  https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math

Reading and Vocabulary

2nd: https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/cc-2nd-reading-vocab

3rd:  https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/cc-3rd-reading-vocab

4th:  https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/cc-4th-reading-vocab

If you have families that have more than one student in the household you can send them the mail page that shows all the grade levels.

Math

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/k-8-grades

ELA

https://www.khanacademy.org/ela

Happy Birthday
April 6 - Ms. Navarro 2nd Grade
April 10 - Ms. D. Jackson 2nd grade

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March 23 - 27

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

• March 23 - Brett, Wendling, Layman out for Summit Training
• March 24 - Brett, Wendling, Layman out for Summit Training
• March 25 - Grades DUE.  PLC Meetings for EVERYONE including Assistants. 
• March 26 - Report Cards Printed and Sent Home. Kona Ice
• March 27 - Math in Focus Training Kinder P.M. @ Van Buren Elementary

Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark

Rachel Ehmke

• Don’t be afraid to discuss the coronavirus. Most children will have already heard about the virus or seen people wearing face masks, so parents shouldn’t avoid talking about it. Not talking about something can actually make kids worry more. Look at the conversation as an opportunity to convey the facts and set the emotional tone. “You take on the news and you’re the person who filters the news to your kid,” explains Janine Domingues, PhD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. Your goal is to help your children feel informed and get fact-based information that is likely more reassuring than whatever they’re hearing from their friends or on the news.
• Be developmentally appropriate. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It’s okay if you can’t answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.
• Take your cues from your child. Invite your child to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus, and how they feel. Give them ample opportunity to ask questions. You want to be prepared to answer (but not prompt) questions. Your goal is to avoid encouraging frightening fantasies.
• Deal with your own anxiety. “When you’re feeling most anxious or panicked, that isn’t the time to talk to your kids about what’s happening with the coronavirus,” warns Dr. Domingues. If you notice that you are feeling anxious, take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.
• Be reassuring. Children are very egocentric, so hearing about the coronavirus on the news may be enough to make them seriously worry that they’ll catch it. It’s helpful to reassure your child about how rare the coronavirus actually is (the flu is much more common) and that kids actually seem to have milder symptoms.
• Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure kids is to emphasize the safety precautions that you are taking. Jamie Howard, PhD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, notes, “Kids feel empowered when they know what to do to keep themselves safe.” We know that the coronavirus is transmitted mostly by coughing and touching surfaces. The CDC recommends thoroughly washing your hands as the primary means of staying healthy. So remind kids that they are taking care of themselves by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or the length of two “Happy Birthday” songs) when they come in from outside, before they eat, and after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom. If kids ask about face masks, explain that the experts at the CDC say they aren’t necessary for most people. If kids see people wearing face masks, explain that those people are being extra cautious.
• Stick to routine. “We don’t like uncertainty, so staying rooted in routines and predictability is going to be helpful right now,” advises Dr. Domingues. This is particularly important if your child’s school or daycare shuts down. Make sure you are taking care of the basics just like you would during a spring break or summer vacation. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.
• Keep talking. Tell kids that you will continue to keep them updated as you learn more. “Let them know that the lines of communication are going to be open,” says Dr. Domingues. “You can say, ‘Even though we don’t have the answers to everything right now, know that once we know more, mom or dad will let you know, too.’”

Shout Out to Ms. Wiskus, Ms. Stout, Ms. Peck, Ms. L. Watford, Ms. Clements, and Ms. Baringer and Ms. Caldwell!  They took their students to the ABL lab EVERY time they were on the schedule, Ms. Baringer and Ms. Caldwell even used it additional times when it was open!

Taking students to the ABL lab is an expectation at Coolidge.  I will be checking usage again at the end of March and expect have more teachers who have meet the expectation 100%.

Happy Birthday
March 23 - Ms. Jimenez, EL

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March 9 - 17

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

• Monday, March 9th - Brett & Lundy at ATSI Training MetroTech all day. Cat in the Hat.  Wear your favorite hat.
• Tuesday, March 10th - 4th PLC, Kinder PLC, 1st PLC.  Niblett Out for Training. Reading Rocks.  Wear your favorite socks. Brett Out AM Principal Meeting.  Faculty Meeting Required.  1 Hour.
• Wednesday, March 11th - Job Fair Douglass High School 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Celebrate biographies.  Dress as your favorite book character.  
• Thursday, March 12th - Brett out Principal Meeting.  4th Grade training. Thunder Thursday,  Weark OKC Thunder Shirt. 
• Friday, March 13th - Happy Birthday Ms. Lundy. The Sleep Book - wear pajamas or sweatpants.

Don't Forget to Complete you Safe School Training!  

Please join us in celebrating reading and Dr. Seuss' birthday by participating in the school-wide spirit days.

Monday:  Cat in the Hat.  Wear your favorite hat.

Tuesday:  Reading Rocks!  Wear crazy socks.

Wednesday:  Celebrate Biographies -Dress as your favorite book character or any book character

Thursday:  Thunder Thursday.  Wear OKC Thunder shirt.

Friday:  The Sleep Book - wear pajamas or sweatpants.

Happy Birthday
March 13 - Ms. Lundy A.P.

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March 2 - March 6

Opportunity Statement:   Coolidge Elementary will continue to provide all students with academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities through great teaching and the utilization of our community resources.  We will maintain high expectations for all students, as well as expand our efforts to cultivate a positive school culture that encourages intellectual and social growth.”

Coolidge Vision and Mission

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

• Monday, March 2nd - Kinder, 1st PLC  Dr. Morris here.1:40 NED Show.  School in the gym for assembly.   Leadership Meeting.
• Tuesday, March 3rd - Go Vote, No Faculty Meeting.  4th PLC, PreK PLC,.  Dr. Morris here.
• Wednesday, March 4th -Papa John's Pizza
• Thursday, March 5th.  Brett Principal Meeting P.M.  
• Friday, March 6th - Guided Reading Training 2nd A.M., 3rd P.M. at Walnut Square.  Please bring your Next Steps In Guided Reading Book.  

Fast spelled crocodiles last week, and this week, Christian, Ferguson, Peake, and Keys all spelled crocodiles this week!  Keep up the Perfect Attendance.

Formal observations continue.

LUCKY DUCK DRAW

March 2 – March 13

We are lucky to work with such talented and dedicated colleagues!  As we swim into Spring Break, as a small token of thanks, each day these weeks we will draw a Lucky Duck.

Pick up your LUCKY DUCK in your mailbox and check the number on the bottom.  IF your number is called at the end of the day, claim your prize in the Front Office.  Please put your duck in the tub to be redistributed for the next day.

Thanks for ALL you do to strengthen our learning community.

Melissa & Jocelyn

b-Resilient
Today I am happy and healthy.
I am blessed to be a teacher.
I can deal with this day.
My thoughts and words are positive.
I am confident.
I am thankful for the new day.
I value my fellow teachers.

I am good at what I do.

February Teacher Perfect Attendance
Hensley, Keys, M. Watford, Wiskus, Goforth, Stout, Rey, Lundy, Niblett, Simmons, Clements, Harris, Wendling, Layman, M. Alvarez, V. Briggs, Peake, K. Jackson, Barton, Moreno.

Retrain your brain to stop complaining.

Carol Moehrle

Is there a complainer in your life—perhaps someone at work who complains about everything? If you are a positive person, it’s hard to be in the same space as a chronic complainer.

It’s easy to complain. In fact, some people enjoy complaining, because it makes them the center of attention. Whether they are portraying the persecutor or poor-me syndrome, some people seem to complain about everything.
Complaining brings everyone down. The person who is the Eeyore in the group, who is always the negative one, brings everyone else down to that level as well. Even if you are a positive person, being around a complainer is exhausting, and soon you too may slip into negative mode.

If you are faced with a complaining person, you have an obligation to help them recognize that they are complaining. You have the ability to remove yourself from their negative circle and not share or be a part of their complaining.
If you find that you tend to complain and be negative toward life, it’s time to do a self-check. It’s time to retrain your brain to be more positive, which starts with adopting positive self-talk.

Positive self-talk is the pep talk we give ourselves to keep our attitude and spirits positive. We need a daily reminder to focus on the positive, because it’s easy to slip back into complaining mode.
What we really need is to retrain our brains to think positive. Being positive even during troubling, difficult times will help you be mentally and physically healthier.

Turning yourself around from being a complainer takes practice, but you will be healthier, and your friends will appreciate being with you more.

Here’s one tip to help you refocus and stay positive.
Write out daily affirmations (your self-talk) on note cards or sticky notes, and place them where you will see them. Put a positive note on your bathroom mirror to see while you are getting ready in the morning. Put one on the refrigerator door. Put a positive note on the counter by your keys so you’ll see it before you leave the house. Place a note on the dashboard of your car. Change your phone screen to say something positive. Write a different positive statement to include in your lesson plans each day.

If you can’t think of anything positive to write on your notes, consider some of these statements:
Today I am happy and healthy.
I am blessed to be a teacher.
I can deal with this day.
My thoughts and words are positive.
I am confident.
I am thankful for the new day.
I value my fellow teachers.
I am good at what I do.

Focus on changing your thoughts and words into positive statements. Catch yourself when you are thinking negative thoughts. Take a deep breath and tell yourself something positive. Repeat it over and over, if necessary.

Changing your attitude takes practice. Practice being more positive and complaining less often. Your family and coworkers will appreciate being around a more positive person.

b-Resilient

              

Happy Birthday

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