TO DO:

• I am hearing that a handful of our middle schools have spoken with Scott McDonald regarding offering a new “coding” elective class next year. I also know that I have worked with CMS to call this class “Computer Science 1” (NCES code is: 10012). Because ODE audits every class a teacher is teaching (matching course code with teaching endorsement), the name of the course/NCES code is quite important.  In doing the crosswalk of course code with endorsement needed to teach this class, there is a lot of flexibility (thankfully).  If you are thinking of offering this course next year please use this course title/code.  If you’d like the list of endorsements that a teacher must have in order to teach this course please let me know and I’ll send it to you.
• Our district’s annual Safety Training Day will be on August 9, 2018. Scott Bojanowski is beginning to work on an agenda for that day. If you have any topics that you would like presented or discussed, please let Scott know in the coming few weeks.

THIS AND THAT:

• Thank you again for the planning and time you spent with your incoming 5th graders earlier this week.  I am sure they appreciated being on your campus for the first time as a class and are eager to return in September!
• Hot off of the presses from Alandra: As of June 1, all schools will use SchoolMessenger to send home emails and phone calls to families (goodbye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out SynerVoice). Office staff at our schools have trained on this. We also want to empower our building admin to be able to use this new and, I would say, MUCH easier and more intuitive, tool in order to communicate directly with families as needs arise.With that in mind, Deby Bryson and I will host two upcoming SchoolMessenger trainings aimed exclusively at principals and APs. We will tailor the training to our principals’ needs and talk about examples of how the tool might be used. Both of these trainings will be in the Wall St. Lab: Tuesday, June 19 (2:30 – 4:00) and Tuesday, Aug. 7 (9:00 – 10:30).  Please email Alandra Johnson if you plan to attend either of these trainings. These sessions are identical, so you only need to attend one to be fully trained!
• The article A Look at How Principals Really Drive School Improvement asks (and answers) the question of which is more important to student learning: curriculum or culture? Any guesses what the author postulates is the more important of the two? Here is a quote from this article that will hopefully wet your appetite to read more: “A lot of times people think school climate is something you work on and take care of so you can get to the real work of teaching and learning…”
• I think there is real money to be made in legally selling things to youth that look like items that are illegal for youth to possess or use. Also seem pretty exploitative.  Like this new item: https://monq.com/  (Thanks to Lisa for sharing this opportunity for us to learn about this new e-cigarette look-alike!) This new option for “aromatherapy anywhere” essential oil diffuser does not belong at school.  Policy JFCG-AP states (in part) “Student possession, use, distribution, or sale of tobacco, including any smoking device (italics added), is prohibited on district premises, at school-sponsored activities…” Let me know if you have any questions regarding this.
• You are likely aware of the KTVZ/MidOregon Credit Union school needs project established for regional schools called One Class at a Time. If not, click on the link to learn more, including some short video segments for previous winners.  One school winner is selected each month (for 10 months) and receives $500.  If you have a proposal you’d like considered, please email Kyle Frick at: [email protected]

REMINDERS:

• As I mentioned at our Horizontal meeting this week, if you have a SS teacher that you believe would be a good mentor to a teacher candidate, please let me know.  Again, the ask is for 120 hours in the fall, and a return placement in the spring term. (Winter term is at a HS.)