Reminders:

I’m not sure if this is a reminder or not, but thought I would locate it here.  As you know, SLGGs have been a bit of a moving target this year, so I wanted to be sure I provided you with the most current and need-to-know information (click here for ODE Guidance).  Here are the highlights that I am aware of:

• Category 1 SLGG (see Student Growth Percentile document for additional info)
  • Those who teach ELA or math at the middle level are required to have a Category 1 (state assessment) goal.
  • This year, as part of the state’s ESA waver, Student Growth Percentiles (SGP) will be the Category 1 goal.
  • These SGPs will be provided to us by the state – teachers do not create these.
  • SGPs will not be available until after we receive SBAC testing results – which will be next fall.
  • So… our ELA and math teachers can complete a Category 2 goal now, but can only fill in demographic data for their Category 1 goal at this time.
  • Last year there were not Category 1 goal requirements – thus every teacher created two Category 2 goals.
  • ODE is now requiring that a teacher, if qualified, must have a Category 1 goal be a part of her/his SLGGs and evaluation.
    • This is a change to what we have communicated to teachers of ELA or math!  These teachers may now self select one of their three Category 2 goals to be a part of their evaluation, AND they must have their only Category 1 goal (which is actually their SGP coming from the state next fall) be the other goal that is included as part of their evaluation.  (What we had communicated – because it was true at the time – that teachers could choose two of their 4 SLGGs to be part of their evaluation.  ODE has changed this for ELA and math teachers in grades 4 – 8.)
    • What this also means is that you will not be able to complete the SLGG matrix portion of any ELA or math teacher’s evaluation until next fall, once we receive the teacher’s SGP.
• Certified SLGGs should be completed by the end of this month.  Non ELA and math teachers will have two complete goals, while ELA and math teachers will have one Category 2 goal and a partially completed (demographic data only) Category 1 goal.
• Your SLGGs… Please plan on having yours also completed by the end of this month.  You should have one Category 1 goal and your second can be Category 1 or Category 2.

Let me know if you need any clarification regarding SLGGs and I’ll find the answer for you!

• Don’t forget that the BrightBytes survey is now open.  See Skip’s email sent on Nov. 3 for additional information.

New Information:

• There is (already) a lack of substitute teachers available in our region.  It is not uncommon for there to be a lack of available subs in the spring, which makes me a bit uneasy looking down the road this year.  So, if you are aware of any forthcoming short or long-term sub needs, please plan early for filling these.

• It has recently come to my attention that there may be a new clothing fad amongst some of our students.  Namely, wearing animal tails (and maybe even ears) at school.  Although this is not tied to a specific religion, there is a “belief” amongst some that they are really “animals” internally and one way to express that in his/her clothing style is to wear a tail and/or ears represented by the animal they believe they are.  (I am happy to provide you with additional information on this if you’d like – but won’t in this space at this time.)  A question some of you have encountered is whether to allow students to wear these animal tails or ears while at school.  Here is district advice on this topic, taken from policies JFCA and JFCA-AR:
  • Students have the right to make individual choices in terms of clothing styles, as long as those choices do not present a health or safety hazard, or a distraction.
  • Specifically, #3 of JFCA-AR states that no clothing, article of clothing, or manner of wearing clothing that is distracting/disruptive to the educational program shall be worn on campus or at school activities.
  • At this point, I do not believe a student wearing a tail or ears is a health or safety hazard.
  • I have not heard of a tail being disruptive to the educational process.
  • You may have a hat policy that does not allow the wearing of them in class or in the building.  I would say this should include the wearing of animal ears.
  • The wearing of an animal costume (whether is be a cow costume or a tail with ears of an animal) could be deemed a distraction to the educational environment.
  • My best advice if you are having these questions come up at your school is this: I’d allow the wearing of a tail, unless there are complaints that are deemed as disruptive to the learning environment of any student.  In terms of animal ears, if you allow the wearing of hats then it would be more difficult to connect the ears to disrupting the educational environment, but it is certainly possible to do so.  If you do not allow the wearing of hats then the wearing of ears would also seem to be an item not allowed.

Let me know if you have any questions regarding this or if I can help clarify a situation at your school.

I apologize this was a bit longer than I hope these updates generally are, but trust this is a good way to communicate important updates to you.  (If not, let me know!)  Have a great weekend!

Jim