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Hello All,<\/p>\n
This year, I am attempting to put my weekly notes in a blog. Hopefully, it will be more efficient, easier for you to navigate and retrieve information and nicer to look at.\u00a0 I welcome any feedback you have re: this new format.<\/p>\n
Enrollment-<\/strong><\/span> Enrollment is up everywhere in BLP it seems. We are over projection as a district and up over 500 students from last October 1. We know we’ll get a few more in the next couple days, but we also know historically that we drop the first couple weeks as a district. Even with that, our numbers will be way up this year. I’d like to compliment you all for being so fluid, quick, flexible and responsive to the ever changing numbers at your school. It is certainly a challenging task, but you have all done an amazing job making tough, but good decisions. Thanks also to Shay, Brad and cabinet for also being quick and responsive to the hot spots. They’ve been incredibly supportive.<\/p>\n District Standards of Practice-<\/strong><\/span> Here are the district Standards of Practice for literacy<\/a>. The math copy that I have is in the middle of a revision. I will get the final copy and include it in next week’s notes. Let me know if you have any questions.<\/p>\n Attendance Question-<\/strong><\/span> I need your input re: when we turn tardies into an absence at the elementary level. Middle and high school will mark a student absent if they are more than 10 minutes late for a period. Obviously, we don’t meet for periods, so what makes sense to you? An hour? Two hours? Let me know your thoughts on this as Sal would like to know for synergy purposes. Thanks!<\/p>\n Math Teacher Leaders-<\/span><\/strong> Kerry Morton is still in need of math teacher leaders to attend trainings and lead district trainings. She is especially in need of people to lead grades 1 and 4. This might be a great opportunity for someone doing their admin or you might have someone with exceptional skills\/ interest in math. Please let me know of anyone you think might fit the bill and I will share with Kerry and we will contact that person if we are still in need. Thanks.<\/p>\n Mind Up-<\/span><\/strong> Deschutes County Mental Health has ordered Mind Up, a mental health curriculum, for all of our schools. At our September 12 Leadership meeting you will be provided with curriculum for your teachers (if you haven’t already received it). In addition, Deschutes County Mental Health will provide a 3.5 hour training\u00a0 on Sept. 22 at the Ed. Center for one person on your staff.\u00a0 You are under no obligation to use this curriculum.<\/span> <\/strong>Please read through this MindUP<\/a> document for an overview of the program and to help you decide, if you are interested, who from your staff should attend this training. A couple of highlights from the linked document include the fact that the County is going to pay for the half-day sub (have our office manager bill “Deschutes County”) if you send someone to the training, and the training will likely last 3.5 hours, not the 3 hours noted in the overview sheet. Please call me if you have any questions.<\/p>\n Site Visits-<\/strong><\/span> I’d like to visit each school to meet with you at least once in September. Please set up a time with me. I don’t think I’ll do a google doc this time around. Just give me a call or shoot me an email and we’ll try to nail down a time. At that meeting, I’d like to get an update on your school design, go over SBAC data for your school, discuss anything else that is on your mind, and take a walk around the building.<\/p>\n Handbooks-<\/strong><\/span> District calendar handbooks may be a little late this year. If you haven’t yet received these, don’t worry, they are coming. Please distribute as soon as you can once they arrive.<\/p>\n New Roles-<\/strong><\/span> I want to provide you with an update on some duties you will have need for this year that have been reassigned here at the Ed Center:<\/p>\n ID Badges-<\/span><\/strong> If you haven\u2019t already heard, we will be going to a standard district photo ID badge this year. \u00a0When your staff members have their picture taken by Life Touch, on student picture day in your building, a district badge will also be created for her\/him at that time. \u00a0Please have all of your staff wear these badges. \u00a0However, a different lanyard or clip can be worn with the badge. Thanks!<\/p>\n Hope-<\/strong><\/span> Thanks to Sunshine and Vanessa who invited me to some of their teacher meetings this week. As part of her presentation to staff, Sunshine shared the this video.<\/p>\n\n