Team,
I want to take a minute to remind you to be working on your “instructional problem of practice” with your staff/ICCL during the month of October. I would encourage you all to share your “theory of action” with each other. Making your learning model public will demonstrate your process and each of you may learn from one another.
Have a wonderful weekend! If you are going out to see the eclipse on Saturday, enjoy!! Let’s hope there are no clouds. ~Juan
To Do
From HR:
Building Leaders, please remind your teachers of INB-AR which is related to to discussions in class about controversial issues.
It is a requirement that parents/guardians are notified AND that teachers present topics in an unbiased manner. Here is relevant wording from the AR:
Responsibilities of the Teacher:
A teacher must be knowledgeable of the role of controversial issues in education and recognize their own potential for prejudices and biases. The teacher must recognize that their own opinions may serve to inadvertently indoctrinate students. Full knowledge of policies, the students, the school and community is essential.
Notice and Alternative Options:
Parents / guardians will be informed in advance regarding controversial issues discussed in courses either through a course syllabus or direct home communication and will be afforded the opportunity to withhold their student without penalty. Alternative activities must be made available to students who object or whose parent / guardian objects to the content.
From Dave VanLoo-(From the email he sent on Friday, 10-13)
Principals,
This is a really quick, simple, and important task.
By next Friday (10/20) look at this spreadsheet and designate a school test coordinator for the YouthTruth survey that will happen in January. Last year’s information is currently filled in. If it is correct there is nothing you need to do. If the cells are left blank it means that you will be your school’s YT coordinator.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18E3PKTyER0T4B_S1xN2ldmfOLy0ttFxgqWMDmftMUns/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks, and let me know if you have any questions.
From Leah Bibeau
We have identified some issues with how time is being submitted by teachers this month, in regards to training – we are working on a communication we would love to have you include in your blogs – it is being drafted now – what would be your cutoff in order to include this, this week?
appreciate your consideration
Leah Bibeau
From Human Resources
What to do in UKG when staff is out for training
If a staff member is not doing their regular job due to training, they MUST submit a Time-off Request for ‘School Business’ Leave. This will not affect their accruals in any way, but it does help the district track employees who are not in their regular position. This Time-Off Request should NOT be overridden in the timesheet with a Secondary Job if it is in their regular work day.
IF the employee works later than their regularly scheduled time, only then must they add an additional line to their timesheet in UKG, on the date of training, and add those hours, selecting the appropriate Secondary Job and include a GL code if necessary. Staff should not modify any existing lines on their timesheet.
For instructions on how to properly record this time in UKG see the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18HfaYzpt_IseySx-FE5fpl3XFUwQwMoyP4-KoVN-ABk/edit?usp=sharing
Additional Note: When subs are needed to cover a staff members job, while they are away for training, notations of where that sub needs to be charged must be noted in Red Rover, not UKG. Red Rover is a separate system which needs this information to ensure costs of subs are accurately tracked. Red Rover does not talk to UKG.
From Stephen & Dean
This a reminder about the ICCL work from last week. As your ICCL team works to create the lesson you will be delivering, please put your lesson in the appropriate folder here. As you work with your team, you could find other school’s work to guide your thinking.
This and That
From Dean Richards
We are again providing professional development supports for teachers who are seeking ways to accelerate the learning of students who are currently performing below expectations in mathematics. This day long professional development class is designed to support evidence-based instructional moves that teachers can give to accelerate learning. The main audience is the classroom teachers. Special Education teachers may also benefit from the professional learning. Ideally, a team is sent to the professional development day.
Substitute costs will be covered by buildings.
October 25th from 8:00 to 2:00 (This is a teacher directed SIW, teachers may stay and work with colleagues or return to buildings) at the East Side Library.
Topics to be discussed:
- The role of manipulatives in instruction
- Determining the content for math support
- Ways to deliver explicit and systematic instruction to increase conceptual understanding.
To attend this professional development, please email Dean Richards with a request to attend
From the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion:
Halloween costumes:
A reminder to be thoughtful as you prepare for any staff or team costume themes: avoid cultural appropriation or offensive caricatures or stereotypes. Some examples here. LEAD/Equity Coaches have shared with your school’s DEI-ICCL rep some resources for talking with students about this issue as well.
International events and increased awareness:
Please keep extra eyes and ears out for anti-Semitic comments or incidents right now. Our Jewish community is deeply impacted by recent international incidents and have indicated concern for increased bias incidents in this regard. Thank you for swiftly interrupting and reporting anything of this nature.
Upcoming Office of DEI events:
Thurs, Nov 16th:
Our annual district-wide Latino Family Night will be November 16th at Pilot Butte Middle School. Dinner 5:30pm, Opening 6:00pm, Sessions 6:30-7:45pm. Please join us to welcome and connect with your Latino families! Feel free to invite your staff and families directly.
Fri, Dec 1st:
Restorative Justice & Equity Town Hall for high school students. Just an FYI for high school calendars—RJ&E will invite additional adults/BLS staff as space and ideal student-to-adult ratios permit.
Mon, Dec 11th:
Spanish-language FAFSA Night. More details to follow.
From Sean Keating, PCMS
Here is what PCMS is using during the Halloween season. Use as you see best.
Calendar
October 19: MTSS Administrator Lead Professional Development @ 3:00-4:00 @ Ed Center Board Room
October 25: All Admin Professional Development 3:00-4:30 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
October 26: MS Horizontal @High Desert MS at 3:00-4:30 (New date) (Cancelled)
October 26 & 27: Juan out of the office. At PBIS national conference.
November 1, 2, & 3: Juan out office: At Synergy conference.
November 2: MS Horizontal @Pacific Crest MS at 3:00-4:30 (Cancelled)
November 9: MS Horizontal @PBMS at 3:00-4:30
November 16: Annual district-wide Latino Family Night at Pilot Butte Middle School at 5:30-7:45
November 28: Secondary principal and assistant principal meeting with Human Resources 8:00-9:30 at BSHS in Perseverance Hall
Fish On…
