Team,
Have a wonderful weekend. ~Juan
To Do
From Kinsey Martin
Translation/Interpretation:
For any translation or interpretation requests that you’ll need completed/filled by the first week in January, please ensure you submit the request to Linguist Link before Friday, December 15th to avoid incurring additional costs you may be responsible for.
For example, if you plan to send a family newsletter or email between Jan 2-5, please submit that document to translation before winter break. Please share this reminder with your staff.
Black History Month Save-the-Date:
Our Black Family & Student Union is organizing a kick-off event to launch February’s Black History Month. The event will take place Wednesday, January 31st. Mark you calendar!
Also, please consider inviting the Equity Coaches to a staff meeting, SIW, ICCL meeting, or PLC gatherings in January to connect with your teachers about their plans for thoughtfully incorporating Black History Month themes into their instruction.
From Jennifer Hauth
Filing Guidance (DHS & Suicide Screens)
- There has been some confusion with building administrators and support staff on where to “hold” forms after a completed suicide risk screener or DHS report. Here are some reminders:
- Suicide Risk Screener with Safety Plan: Notification goes to principal, written form stays with the person who completed the screener and safety plan – typically counselor/psych/SSC. A copy should be sent by the staff member that completed the process to April Jorgenson via BLSend or district mail.
- DHS Reports: Written form goes to the working file of principal (or designee) and a copy is sent to April Jorgensen via BLSend or district mail.
- The written record of both the DHS form or Suicide Risk Screener/ Safety Plan should never be placed in the student’s cumulative folder
From Scott McDonald
Signing into Synergy-
This is the final reminder regarding a change of process for staff who sign into Synergy Mobile applications. From now on, be sure you choose “Sign In with BLS” whenever you are given the option.
The regular Username and Password fields will no longer provide access beginning this coming weekend.
Video streaming tips for classroom AV-
Now that all our schools have Apple TV’s available in their classrooms, there has been some confusion about how best to stream video. Apple TVs use “Apple Airplay” to share what is on your computer with your classroom projector or flat panel TV. It is a very handy service that allows teachers to project wirelessly. However, Apple Airplay does not support most video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime. It is important to note that this is a function of Apple Airplay that protects image quality and unintended buffering (delays). NO, this is not a district setting that can be enabled or changed 😊. On the rare occasion that video streaming is necessary in the classroom, teachers must use the HDMI cord and dongle that was originally provided with every classroom AV system.
Does your classroom have a ceiling mounted projector?
Be sure to unplug your HDMI cord from the wall plate and store it when not in use. Wall plates are easily damaged by feet and vacuums. Not to mention, they will cost your school $500 to replace if damaged!
This and That
Office Manager/Staff Meeting Change:
Office Managers have spoken and we have heard! After conversations the Level Leaders had with Janet and Marta regarding the feedback they have received about the monthly Office Manager meetings, the format will be changing, to include the whole office staff at your sites. There is so much information that really should be heard by the whole office and it will build the collaboration and support of one another to hear it together.
We all sat down to look at the calendar from now to the end of the year to plan out the dates, which we know are important, as it will be leaving your office needing to be covered by someone else in your building on these Wednsdays (timesheet someone, admin cover, etc.). We are giving you those new dates now, but know that Janet and Marta will share them out again in a future email. We just wanted you to be aware of the change that is coming and not to be caught off guard when it happens. While Office Managers get this blog, the rest of the office staff may not, so please let them know as well.
The new dates are as follows: 1/17, 3/6, 4/17, and May 22. The elementary teams will be meeting from 1:15-2:15 and the secondary teams will be meeting from 2:30-3:30. Locations will be determined at a later date and will be communicated.
From Heather Tang, MHA, CPS | Community Health Strategist
Upshift. Adolescent Substance Use Doc
From Jennifer Hauth
From Jennifer Hauth
From Dave VanLoo
Here is a “Cheat sheet” to help schools with survey implementation. Among the many things included in here are links to YouthTruth’s standard parental notification and opt-out form in English and Spanish.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RNfu8uaNWA9bkjRiqtU1gkVkH2k0Rk9-DQi1A_cnqRk/edit?usp=sharing
Calendar
December 12: MS Horizontal via Teams 9:45-11:00
December 18-January 1: Winter break
January 2: Classes Resume
January 11: MS Horizontal @HDMS at 3:00-4:30
January 25: MS Horizontal @PCMS at 3:00-4:30
January 31: All admin Professional Development @Perserverance Hall BSHS at 3:00-4:30
Fish On…
