To Do:

• If you haven’t already, please be sure to complete and return a copy of this form to Becca Scott ([email protected]) PRIOR to any of your certified staff needing a sub. If you are able to provide breaks (morning and afternoon) and lunch (mid-day) with one sub schedule then you only need to complete Step 1 on this form, as it will pertain to all of your teaching staff.  If you have more than one start/end time then please also complete Step 2 to indicate which teachers are on which start/end times.
• If your School Design Plan in Google Docs is not the most current version, please make sure to make any updates needed prior to your September meeting with me. More to come on the “why” behind this request next week – but I wanted to give you a little more time to make any updates prior to my visit with you.

This and That:

• Dr. VanLoo emailed you the 2017-18 Assessment calendar last Friday.  In addition to linking it here, you can also find it in the BLS Docs tab within the blog.
• In a recent Marshall Memo (700) there was an article entitled Criteria for Good Classroom STEM Problems. One of the suggested “criteria” included using an “engineering design process to solve the problem.” I suggest you consider (and communicate with your teachers) using the design process we spent time learning and utilizing on our August 10 training day.  As a review, here are the (non-linear) steps in that process: Empathy, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Feedback, Reflect.
• Please share this One Class at a Time grant opportunity with your teachers. The below information is from Kyle Frick, administrator with MidOregon Credit Union, the title sponsor of this grant.

This is the basic information for the superintendents to help by sending me nominations that we can select and award to classrooms beginning in Sept 2017. Some of the best projects have been supporting Camp Tamarack, Food backpacks, chemistry equipment, ukelales and a marimba for Bend High (they were using one borrowed from COCC).

 Here is a link to the page at KTVZ with the award stories. http://www.ktvz.com/community/one-class-at-a-time

One Class at a Time grant applications will be chosen on merit criteria. Criteria will be largely based upon imaginative, sustainable ideas that will have significant impact and ongoing relevance. Field trips and other similar short-term efforts will likely not be considered. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee represented by News Channel 21, and One Class at a Time sponsors. This committee will also select the ten winning nominations throughout the school year.

Reminders:

• There has been quite a bit of talk (rightfully so) about air quality lately! If you need talking points around this topic please refer to the information page on our district site that was sent to you earlier this week. To highlight one point, if there are concerns with air quality that warrant restrictions of outside activities you will be contacted by Scott Bojanowski via email (shortly after 6am, 9am, or 12pm) regarding this concern. If you do not hear from Scott but have a concern at your school please give me a call.
• Next Wednesday, our first day with students, is NOT a School Improvement Wednesday schedule day.  Rather, it is a full day release for students. (Just like the last Wednesday of the school year will be.)
• A goal of mine, again this year, is to make it to each of your buildings for a brief visit next Wednesday.  I will assume you will be busy and will not have time for a conversation – but if you have any questions or concerns know that I’ll be stopping by listen.