Building It Together
A short week, a flannel finish, and something new we're building honestly, together. Read it during your work day and confirm at the bottom.
Team Reflection
Building something new means being honest about where we are. Our Strategy Cards are new. Clinicians and educators are learning together, card by card and conversation by conversation. Some things are working beautifully, and some we're still figuring out.
That's not a weakness. That's what it looks like to build something that has never existed here before, and you're the ones building it.
This week's reflection: What's one thing you've learned this fall, about a child, a strategy, or a teammate, that you didn't know in August?
Updates & Announcements
Each item is labeled so you can see what applies to you: Everyone or Educators.
The Community Model Launch on Saturday, January 23 at noon is where our community sees the Integrated Care Model you built, and the right people need to be in the room. Which pediatricians, therapists, and partners should see it? Send their names to Mitch by Friday, November 20.
A quick correction from last week: nominations now close this Friday, November 13, and please don’t mention this to the family yet. We’ll reach out once the final group is chosen, so no family is disappointed.
We're partnering with Target and Dublin Police for a Heroes & Helpers shopping event on Thursday, December 17, 2:00–3:00 PM. Ten of our kids will each get a $200 Target gift card and shop with local officers. If you work with a family who'd benefit, nominate them here, and leave medical details out of the “why.”
Our year-end letter to supporters shares the model we've started building, honestly, including where we are today: Strategy Cards are new, and we're learning as we go. It also shares where we're headed, including the idea that one day cards could go home to families, and how our community's support helps us get there.
That's a direction, not a new task. Nothing changes in your work right now, and when we're ready, we'll plan it together with you first.
We're hiring an Early Intervention Specialist and a Lead Educator. When someone you refer is hired, you earn our $750 referral bonus. Our best team members often come from people who already know what makes SOI special: you.
Early Intervention Specialist: leads our toddler classroom (18 months to 3 years) and partners closely with families. Looking for a bachelor's in child development, special education, or a related field, 12+ ECE units, and 2+ years with infants and toddlers with special needs.
Lead Educator: leads one of our inclusive preschool classrooms. Looking for 12+ ECE units and lead teacher experience.
Have them complete our short form and list your name as their referral, or email hr@schoolofimagination.org with their name. Think of former classmates, colleagues from past programs, or friends finishing a degree.
Weekly Duties are posted here in the Team Update each week, and they’re what keep our program running smoothly. Right now they aren’t being completed consistently, or aren’t always being completed the way they’re meant to be. Please take a few minutes to review the Weekly Duties section in Trainual so you know exactly what each one involves. The refrigerator signs have also been updated to match. Thank you for your focus on this. It makes a real difference for everyone.
Several Calming Space items are missing right now, including magnetic cubes, alphabet puzzles, cylinder sorters, blocks, and books. If any of these have ended up in your classroom or elsewhere, please return them to the Calming Space this week.
Going forward, when you use items during transitions, please bring them back before you leave. Leave the space orderly, and wipe down the items you used and the table with the disinfecting wipes on the tall cabinet. Thank you for helping keep the Calming Space full of fun, quiet, and engaging toys for every child who needs it. For a refresher, see the Calming Space section in Trainual.
Please follow best practices when taking kiddos’ temperatures. The full walkthrough is in Trainual.
- Bring the child indoors and let them cool down for 10 minutes if they've been playing outside. Remove hats and hoods, and dry the forehead.
- Take a forehead reading only (do not temp the neck), then wait 3–5 minutes.
- Take a second reading the same way.
- If the two readings differ by more than 0.3°F, take a third after another 3–5 minutes. Use the highest reading.
Our new 401(k) plan with Empower is officially open, including everything you contributed through 7/31 via Insperity. We're now working on adding contributions from 8/1 forward. Log in anytime at empowermyretirement.com to check your balance, update your elections, or request a loan or distribution if you're eligible. Questions? Call Empower at 1-800-338-4015 (Mon–Fri 6 AM–8 PM MT, Sat 7 AM–3:30 PM MT).
Observations: we've resumed logging one observation per educator, per student, each week. Please keep entering them in Brightwheel. They'll make all the difference for our DRDP conferences in February and keep parents up to date on their children's progress.
Certifications: three weeks left to meet our goal of everyone's Trainual certifications complete by the end of November! Schedule a time here. We suggest C1 and M1 together, then M4 and M5 on their own. Leads: schedule Lead certification conversations at least a full day in advance so Christina can confirm Megan is available.
Classroom Coordinators will record their individual observations in class this week. Please complete the Pre-Observation Form before recording. Directions for recording are here.
Please turn off the lights in your classroom or office before you leave for the day.
| Day | Step 1 · CR 6 | Step 2/3 · CR 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Miranda | Melissa |
| Tuesday | Natalie | Melissa |
| Wednesday | SOI closed (Veterans Day) | |
| Thursday | Ruchi | Rebecca |
| Friday | Miranda | Rebecca |
View the Early Bird / Late Bird list of kiddos.
Important Dates
Avatars · Step 3
Buttercups · Step 2
Sunflowers · Step 1
Wed, 11/11: School of Imagination closed for Veterans Day.
Thu 11/12 & Fri 11/13: Spirit Days: wear flannel!
Fri, 11/13: Heroes & Helpers nominations close.
Fri, 11/20: Community Model Launch invite names to Mitch.
Thu 11/26 & Fri 11/27: School of Imagination closed for Thanksgiving.
Mon, 11/30: Then and Now forms due.
Tue, 12/1: Giving Tuesday.
Thu, 12/17: Heroes & Helpers, 2:00–3:00 PM.
Fri 1/22 & Sat 1/23: All In for Kids: Stephen Vogt Celebrity Benefit Weekend.
Planned Outs
Celebrations
Recognition Spotlight
Want to celebrate someone? Share a recognition
Read it? Let us know.
Select your name from the list, check the box, and tap Confirm by Monday at 5:00 PM. Please read the update during your paid work time, not on your own time. If something is getting in the way, Shari is happy to help.
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