To Do:

• As you are well aware, SBAC Opt-Out letters need to be “sent” to parents every year… and the deadline for doing so is next week, or as soon as you can after. You may send these letters in whatever format you typically use to communicate with parents. (If you typically send an electronic communication to parents, you may also send this Opt-Out letter in that format. If you are planning a parent communication prior to the holiday break, you do not need to send a separate communication just for this Opt-Out letter, you may include it in your scheduled memo to parents.) When you send the Opt-Out form (Spanish, English), please also include this district created cover letter along with it. (The Spanish version of this letter will be provided to you as soon as it is available next week.) NOTE: this cover letter is currently signed “Your Principal” at the end. I recommend replacing this with your name to make it more personal.
• Here is a reminder from an email I sent to you late Friday prior to Thanksgiving:“Due to the changes to student start times in the coming school year, it is likely that many employees will see  changes in their regular work day start and end times.  The District Lead Together (DLT) team discussed the issue and is seeking to listen broadly to employee preferences and related suggestions.  This team is made up of teachers, classified staff and administrators.  This group focuses on issues that impact student learning and employees as a team.  Please take a few minutes to share your thinking with this group by completing the 2-question survey below.  The student start and end times for the 19-20 school year are:

*Elementary – 8:00 – 2:30

*Middle – 8:45 – 3:40

*High – 8:45 – 3:45

 A bit more detail is included in the survey introduction.  Thanks for your help.”

 Here is the link to the middle school survey.

This and that:

• I wanted to give you a heads-up on my crazy schedule next week. On Monday (Dec. 3) I will be in Salem all day for an AdvancED Advisory Board meeting. If you need to reach me, please send a text and I will get back to you as soon as I have a break. Also, Wednesday – Friday I’ll be at the Law Conference in Eugene. I will be more likely able to take a call or get back to you quicker from a text during these days.
• And speaking of parents opting their child out of SBAC, the state is clear that this Opt-Out form only applies to the math and ELA assessments. This form does not exempt a student from taking the science SBAC. The only way for a parent to opt their child out of science is for them to write you a letter stating that for “religious” or “student disability” reasons, they do not want their child to take the science assessment. I would suggest you plan on having all students take the science assessment; providing the opt-out option if asked for it.
• You likely have had a few conversations by now regarding next year’s change in start time. Regardless of where you stand on this change, I appreciate your support for the move when talking with your stakeholders. Last month there was an article in Education Week around this topic that I’d like to share with you – just so you have some additional talking points (or simply to share the article with those you come into contact with) when you get pressed as to why we would consider such a change.
• You may have received an email on this, but if not, here is some info on a School Safety Training you may be interested in attending – or sending others from your school:

What: One day workshop on School Safety presented by national expert Dr. Jeffrey Sprague.

When: Monday, December 10th, in Redmond, OR

Duration: 8:30 am – 2:30pm

Workshop Goals and Agenda

The goal of this workshop is to present state-of-the-art information and empirically supported practices to the process of making schools safer, and to discuss questions and possible solutions in the local schools and communities. The following topics will be addressed within this workshop:

• History and Overview of Approaches to School Discipline, Safety, and Mental Health
• Screening and Identifying Behaviorally At-Risk Students, including Threat Assessment.
• Improving School Climate, Safety, and Student Health via Universal Prevention.
• Preventing and Responding to Bullying and Peer Harassment in the School Setting.
• Supporting Antisocial and Potentially Violent Youth.
• Evaluating School Safety Efforts and a view to the Future

Reminders:

• Next Monday, Dec. 3, we’ll be having a short Leadership meeting, starting at 3:15, followed by our holiday gathering immediately after. (Jay sent out an email to all yesterday with the Leadership agenda.)
• Here is a reminder from the previous TRIBE post: Have you ever thought of utilizing a Co Teaching model of instruction at your school? Would you like to know more about how you might get started or what is necessary to make this happen?  If you are wanting to learn more, here is some information regarding a PD opportunity for you and/or teams of teachers from your building to attend. (The initial meeting/informational session will be held on Dec. 11.)