January 7, 2016
Hello Winter Meeting Participants!
We are looking forward to seeing you next week in Miami, January 14-16, with Pre-Conferences on January 13. The information below will help you determine what materials to bring to WM and how to prepare for a rich and full two and a half day meeting. When you pack for Miami, please don’t forget to bring:
- 7 copies of the student or adult work you will present for feedback in your small group (see Small Groups and Bringing Work below).
- Your electronics: smartphone, tablet, laptop, and/or digital camera!
- If you have a copy of version 3.0 of the SRI Resource and Protocol Book, please bring it! Those without one will receive a copy at registration check in.
You will find information about preparing for Winter Meeting at schoolreforminitiative.org/winter-meeting/
Program Agenda
The Winter Meeting planning team has developed multiple sessions – the opening, the closing, small groups and learning experiences – that thread together an overall experience intended to leave you feeling challenged, inspired, and rejuvenated. Our theme of Transformational Journeys will challenge us to think about our own journeys and those of our students. Your full participation is expected and appreciated.
We will begin promptly at 8:30am each morning. Breakfast will be available at 7am on Thursday and at 7:30am on Friday and Saturday. We will end at 4:30pm on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday we will adjourn at noon. Lunch and dinner on Thursday and Friday are on your own. Click here for the full Winter Meeting Agenda. No need to print this out, you will receive one in your conference materials.
You will need to check in at the conference registration desk either Wednesday the 13th between 5:00 and 7:00pm or between 7:00 and 8:30am the morning of Thursday the 14th to receive your conference materials.
There will be various opportunities to connect with colleagues and members of the board of directors scheduled throughout our time in Miami. Please check the program agenda to learn more about: Breakfast with the Board on Saturday morning and the Annual Meeting of the Organization on Saturday afternoon, and the Reception on Friday night!
Small Groups and Bringing Work
During our two and a half days together we will spend time in small groups using the tools and practices of SRI critical friendship by looking at student and educator work, giving and receiving feedback, facilitating, asking tough questions, and gathering multiple perspectives.
You will be assigned your small group when you check in at the conference registration desk.
Each participant is asked to bring 7 copies of their student or adult work to share in their small group. For suggestions and guidelines on bringing work, please visit schoolreforminitiative.org/winter-meeting/winter-meeting-participant-information/#work
Social Media
We are eager to document our reflections and time together using a variety of social media. There will be multiple opportunities and outlets for tweeting, blogging, and photo sharing throughout the Winter Meeting. We hope you will be among the participants to give social media a try and to share your Winter Meeting experiences in new ways.
Our official Twitter hashtag for Winter Meeting will be #sriwm16. Facebook posts and Instagram and Flickr photos should be tagged with #sriwm16. There will be a live feed of all tweets, photographs, and blog entries onto the SRI website. More instructions on how to use various social media will be available in registration folders.
In addition, we are providing a Winter Meeting Cyber Cafe. Computers with internet access along with a printer will be available for your use during the meeting. All meeting rooms and hotel guest rooms will have free wireless internet access.
Is this your first Winter Meeting?
We are offering orientation to Winter Meeting sessions as an opportunity for first time attendees to learn more about the School Reform Initiative, our guiding principles, the structure and set-up of Winter Meeting, and to have some time to talk with others about how you might prepare and what you are hoping to learn.
We designed these sessions so that first time attendees had a smaller venue to ask questions and learn more about what they might experience when they participate in small groups. We will share some commonly used terms, talk about the origination and evolution of our work, and spend time helping you think about how to get the most out of your Winter Meeting experience.
Please join us for one of the following sessions:
Webinar Orientations
Monday – January 11th at 4:00pm, virtual – sign up here
On-Site Orientations – at Deauville Beach Resort Miami
Wednesday – January 13th at 5:00pm, Richelieu Ballroom, Lobby Level of Hotel
Wednesday – January 13th at 8:00pm, Richelieu Ballroom, Lobby Level of Hotel
Learning Experiences
Winter Meeting learning experiences are 3 and a half hour sessions that offer an opportunity to focus in depth on a particular aspect of our work. These sessions will take place Friday morning. You can review the session offerings and select your learning experience when you check in at the conference registration desk.
Silent Auction
Thanks to our amazing Winter Meeting planning team, there will be several items available in our silent auction fundraiser. All proceeds will go to SRI’s Dream Big Fundraising Campaign that will provide scholarships and learning grants for educators in the SRI community. The auction will open Thursday morning and close Friday at 6:30pm at the Reception. Come prepared to win some great items and support a fabulous cause!
Annual Meeting of the Organization
Each year, following the Winter Meeting, we hold an Annual Meeting of the Organization. This meeting provides an opportunity for the SRI community to learn what is happening in the ongoing development of SRI as a nonprofit organization, and a chance to provide feedback and support to help SRI continue to grow. The Annual Meeting of the Organization will begin at 1:00 and end at 3:00 on Saturday the 16th, with lunch provided beginning at 12:30pm. This is a great opportunity for you to be a part of the continued growth and sustainability of SRI.
Travel, Lodging, and Weather
Airports
Without traffic, Miami International Airport is about 20 minutes and Ft. Lauderdale Airport is about 40 minutes from the Deauville, so be sure to check both airports for flight times and prices that work best for you.
Travel from the Airports
Unfortunately, the hotel does not provide shuttle transfers to either FLL or MIA airports.
Taxi service to MIA from our hotel is $38.00
Taxi service to FLL from our hotel is between $70-$80.00
If traveling alone and you want to save money there are shared ride shuttle services such as SUPERSHUTTLE (305)871-2000 in which it services MIA at $23.00 per person. They make several pick-ups prior to arriving to the airport.
GO SHUTTLE (954)561-8888 is a shared ride shuttle that services FLL at $21.00, they also make several stops prior to arriving to the airport.
Deauville Beach Resort
On site/nearby activities include: THE BEACH!, Beach Games (Volleyball, Corn hole, etc.), Pool Games, and Fitness/Zumba!/Aerobic Classes, wellness spa. Golf Courses and a Rowing Club are nearby. More can be found at deauvillebeachresortmiami.com/resort-amenities/
Weather and Dress
Be sure to check the weather as you pack for next week. It looks like Miami temperatures are going to be in the mid-70s with rain in the forecast.
Meeting rooms are air conditioned, so be sure to bring appropriate clothing.
We can’t wait to see you next week! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Kari.
Kari Thierer, Heidi Vosekas, Chris Jones
On behalf of School Reform Initiative
Beth Graham, Susan Adams, Jen Benkovitz, Pedro Bermudez, Raquel Diaz, Michael Soguero
On behalf of the 2016 Winter Meeting Planning team
