State Assessments: These are back on! Dave just sent us a note today and we will provide a communication to parents in the newsletter today; please check it out so you see the same info going to families.
Lexia Celebrations: The following shows students in grade level material or above who are meeting usage. For all the students meeting the usage, only five students out of 221 in K-5 are not in grade level material or above. Check out all the dark blue for students accessing above grade level content!
Dreambox Celebrations:
- K-5 Students meeting the minimum recommended usage by completing 5 or more DreamBox lessons per week grew 1.32 grade levels since the beginning of the school year.
- K-5 Students completing 5 or more lessons per week grew 83% more than their peers who have been completing 2-5 lessons per week.
Next week:
- No meetings scheduled
NEW EBISS Dates: All meetings start at 2:45 and will be in the library. Sorry for the change but I am working around a number of shifting meeting schedules.
- 2/3 – 5/11
- 1st – 5/18
- K – 5/20
- 4/5 – 5/25
Picture Day: Thursday, April 29th (only one day now)
Safety Team; Next meeting is Thursday 5/6 at 2:45 (In person, Library); Safety Team Notes – Please input any safety concerns or questions on this document for the team to consider.
SEL Menus We have 10 SEL menus for you to choose from!
Pandemic-Inspired Classroom Practices That Should Continue
In this Edutopia article, California English teacher Samantha Pack says there may be a silver lining from this challenging year: a set of insights and ideas that can, when schools return to normal, improve instruction and increase student agency:
• A living agenda – Instead of writing the daily schedule and assignments on the board, Pack has been creating a digital agenda for the unit that includes an outline of the day’s lesson, the rationale for each activity, relevant hyperlinks, and homework. This constantly updated agenda, which provides access to all unit materials, lets students see how the unit is progressing, provides talking points for teacher-student conferences, and supports self-paced learning. With this agenda at their fingertips, students shouldn’t have any, “Wait, what did we do today?” moments at home.
• Orchestrating back-channel engagement – The way the chat function has been used in remote instruction – soliciting quick feedback, checking for understanding, engaging quieter students, doing one-on-one check-ins, and a space for “parking lot” ideas – can definitely be incorporated in regular classes. This can be done with high-tech tools like Mentimeter and Google Docs, or low-tech whiteboards and chart paper, providing nonverbal channels to get more students engaged with the content.
• Mindful breaks – “Remote learning has made breaks nonnegotiable,” says Pack, “and there’s no reason why we should abandon those benefits…” During longer blocks of in-person instruction, breaks are a must, with student input on when they take place. Pack recommends not taking breaks in the first 20 minutes of a class, and giving students accountability tasks to complete before and after breaks. Pauses in instruction are also good for teachers – to check work for misunderstandings, figure out student groupings, reflect on the lesson so far, and model screen-free mindfulness.
• Splitting whole-group discussions in half – Zoom classes have made it possible for teachers to have two simultaneous discussions, which gives each student more air-time and takes conversations to a deeper level. Pack suggests modifying this process with in-person classes by assigning half the class a quiet independent task (perhaps using headphones to avoid being distracted) while the other half has a discussion, then flipping the groups.
• Soliciting student feedback – “Remote learning has found many teachers eager to know what’s going on behind those small squares of students on their screens,” says Pack. Many teachers have used polls and surveys to check in with students on pacing, learning modalities, and homework load – and to get a sense of their morale and mental health. This practice certainly should continue with in-person instruction, she says, fostering mutual understanding and student voice and choice.
“Enduring Practices from Remote Learning” by Samantha Pack in Edutopia, April 2, 2021
NEWPORT CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT UPDATE
APRIL 22, 2021
THE NASHVILLE/HARMON BLVD INTERSECTION IS CLOSED
NEWPORT AVENUE FROM NW 7TH STREET TO NW 10TH STREET IS CLOSED
SAFETY FIRST: Time can be your ally if you take it. Please allow more time to get to your destination when traveling in and/or around Newport Avenue. Speeding is not the best option.
Continue to stay on designaated detour routes.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:
Week of April 22-April 28
Newport Corridor Improvements – Segment 1
The intersection at Nashville and Harmon Blvd is closed.
- Pipe removal of existing storm facilities along Nashville near Drake Park. Installation of new mainline and structures begins.
- Franchise utility relocations continue in support of new stormwater facilities.
- Installation of water mainline on Newport Avenue begins.
General Project Notes
- Daytime work hours are in effect from 7 am – 5:30 pm.
- Work zone areas are identified below.
- Access to all area businesses along the construction corridor will be maintained. New ‘business open’ signage will continue to be installed.
- Access to businesses between 9th and 11th Street can be found using rear alley and rear parking areas.
- Traffic near to Highland School continues to be impacted by Segment 1 construction. Now more than ever, awareness of pedestrian/student traffic becomes paramount.
CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS:
Below – Storm water works begins near Harmon Park
SEGMENT 1 ILLUSTRATION
PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS:
· Access to all businesses will be maintained.
· EMS, buses and many other delivery/service providers have been included on this distribution list.
· Please help us in spreading the word to your clients, customers, and delivery personnel regarding detouring and closures.
· Share the website information where others can also sign up for updates. https://www.bendoregon.gov/newportimprovements – Use the PROJECT UPDATES button.