To Do:
From Jenn: Please share this document with teachers on how to mark a lesson/activity complete in Wayfinder. Checking it off is part of a successful implementation to the program. In doing this, you will be able to see how the implementation is going in your schools as well.
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Here is a great one-pager on Family Engagement (ideas and measures) that Steve C. shared with us this week.
Information:
From Stephen and Dean: Here are the slides from the ICCL/Admin training this last week.
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From the Office of DEI:
Upcoming Dates:
Mon, Dec 11th:
Spanish-language FAFSA Night (focused on 8th-12th graders). Invitation here—thanks for helping distribute/promote as applicable!
Tues, Dec 12th:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day. This is a holiday celebrated by many within the Latino/Hispanic Catholic community in particular. For your awareness and scheduling, this includes evening church activities that many of our families attend.
Family Liaison Team:
Here is the updated information about our team of linguistically- and/or culturally-specific Family Liaisons: English version, Spanish version.
DEI ICCL Representatives:
Don’t forget to connect with your school’s DEI representative about presenting to your ICCL team between now and January sometime. See Kinsey’s email for details or reach out if you’d like to connect!
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.
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From Jenn: Filing Guidance (DHS & Suicide Screens)
o 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:
o 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.
o DHS Reports: Written form goes to the working file of principal (or designee) and a copy is sent to April Jorgenson via BLSend or district mail.
o The written record of both the DHS form or Suicide Risk Screener/ Safety Plan should never be placed in the student’s cumulative folder
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Office Manager/Staff Meeting Change: Beginning with the January meeting, the format for the Office Managers will be changing to include the entire office staff at your sites. Since cross training is so important in our schools, participation in these meetings is helpful for all of your office staff.
Another key purpose for this time together is the importance of building community and collaboration across schools so we can support each other. Thank you for prioritizing these meetings with your school office staff.
Janet and Marta will send an email outlining this change in the near future. They will continue to send out the agendas prior to each meeting. As needed, principals will work with office managers to determine if any office team members need to stay in the office.
Here are the dates for upcoming meetings: Jan 17, March 6, April 17, and May 22. The secondary office teams will be meeting from 2:30-3:30. Locations TBD. Reach out to me if you have questions about anything related to this.
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From Heather Tang: Here are some important notifications and reminders as we near the Winter Break: Upshift. Adolescent Substance Use Doc
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From Scott in IT: Greetings! We have a couple of items to share as we look toward winter break.
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!
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From Dave 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.
Calendar:
Here is LINK to the SIW Calendar and HS administrator work sessions and agendas for 23-24.
December 11 and 13: KT in all day bargaining
December 12: HS Principal Planning Session 7:30-12:00 @ Caldera room 105; breakfast and lunch provided
December 18-January 1: Winter Break
January 2: Classes Resume
January 9: HS Admin Work Session 8:00-9:30 @ Realms HS
January 10: Educator Network Day
January 15: No School in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 17: Secondary Office Staff meeting (all office staff at your site attends) 2:30-3:30 @ Ed Center Board Room.
January 23: HS Administrator Work Session
January 31: All Admin PD @ Perseverance Hall, 3:00-4:30