Important Docs:
Here is the BEA CBA.
Here is the OSEA CBA. This is currently an internal document. Please do not distribute.
To Do:
Part Time teacher schedules: Prior to school beginning, be sure you have met with each of your part time staff to review their schedule and SIW commitments for the year. HERE are the guidelines around schedules which includes the MOU guiding the use of admin discretion time.
Each teacher should be given their schedule on a google doc. Those schedules need to be in your school’s folder and shared with me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Administrator responsibilities: Please let me know when you have updated the names for the HS Teams and Leads and your UpShift Team.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your Front Office should be open for business: Currently, the Ed Center is receiving an over abundance of calls from families stating “I tried calling the schools, but no one is answering their phones.” The ask is that you work with your office staff to make sure that the phones are covered and messages are answered. We would like to help, but so many of the calls are school specific.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Update staffing plans to reflect your staff names and positions accurately (certified and classified tabs). April and I will schedule a time to review your plan with you in the coming weeks.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PD Structure and Feedback : Please remember to use the theme of thriving throughout the year. A big piece of this is how we conduct our professional development. An ask of you is to make sure you use the three signature practices for adults when leading our staff.
Additionally, we are asking you to collect feedback from staff after you conduct professional development. Here is the beta form we will use until there is a better collection tool.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Input into Professional Learning: Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey regarding some on-going professional learning opportunities we want to put on for all admin throughout this year. We will use your input to design professional learning for administrators this year.
Information:
District Athletic Director: We have contracted with Dave Hood, Retired BLPS educator and current Executive Director of OADA to support our middle and high schools and strengthen our athletic systems.
Dave will be partnering with us in several capacities including organizing and facilitating monthly athletic director meetings, revising our district athletic and coaches handbooks, facilitating identified work groups to improve processes and trainings, reviewing the evaluation systems for athletic directors and coaches and improving communication between athletes, coaches and families.
Please welcome Dave to your schools and events, as he plans to be out often!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Paul Dean Chief Operations Officer: Paul sends a weekly BLOG to his operations team. There are several topics relevant to building leaders, so I will share the link with all of you.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Sean Reinhart in Student Services:
Thank you to those of you who have become CPI trainers to assist with the implementation of SB 283! We appreciate you! We want to ensure we help kick you all off on the right foot to feel successful in these trainings, so we have prepared some tools, tips, and tricks to get you started!
Please join us on Friday, August 23rd, from 9-12 in the Education Center Board Room 314 to connect and plan for trainings. Here is the agenda of the meeting:
- Review the grant training requirements
- Go over prepared slide decks for your staff trainings
- Review Visuals
- Review Information on what to send out prior to trainings
- Create a plan how you can complete these trainings – with a buddy!
- Answer questions
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Jennifer Hauth in Social Emotional and Mental Well Being: Please check out this great back to school resource for families from Care Solace. Sharing this in your next newsletter or a quick email is a great way to build that family and school connection by providing families with some resources to support a smooth transition to school!
Also, the Culture of Care with the HDESD has some amazing trainings to support staff and school culture throughout the year. Here is a flier of what is available.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Kinsey in Policy, Advocacy, and Equity:
Upcoming dates to note: Rosh Hashanah is coming up (evening of Wed Oct 2 to evening of Fri Oct 4—learn more here). Please check your school calendar and do not schedule Curriculum Night or other special student/family events during those evenings.
More dates to come, just wanted to get you this one now since it’s coming up fast. Thank you for your commitment to the dignity and belonging of all our families!
2024 Elections: I would encourage you to plug this topic into an SIW or staff meeting early in the fall: Here is our policy around staff engaging in political activities. Teachers should know they may not “promote or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate,” and if they engage in discussion on an election topic they must “consider all candidates for a particular office or any side of a particular political or civil issue.”
Conversations about the election will come up this fall, whether through planned lessons or unplanned student dialogue. Teachers should prepare for either situation. Here are 10 steps for teachers to prepare, navigate, and respond to sensitive discourse.
Additionally, here and here are two great resources for teaching about the election and online news sources. Our district Equity Coaches can support teachers with these conversations—just reach out.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Eric Powell in Student Services. This is a reminder about the SIRC & STAS refresher that we will now be hosting each year in partnership with the High Desert ESD. Only the Administrator lead for your school site needs to attend this meeting each year, so please forward this invite to a different administrator at your school if you are not the threat assessment (SIRC and STAS) lead for your site.
This 2-hour training will serve as our annual touchpoint for threat assessment. For those who have not attended the full SIRC and/or STAS training, you would also need to attend that training with Misty or Lillah at some point as well (That is the link that was in the blog 2 weeks ago).
Calendar:
Inservice Week Certified work calendar for the week of August 26.
- August 19: BLS SIRC & STAS Administrator Refresher Training 8:30-12:30 @ Ed Center: Board Room – this is for administrators who have already had the full training. Administrators who have not yet been trained should register for a training with Misty Groom
- August 19: HS Training: Managing Performance–Investigations, 12:30-4:30
- August 26: New Teacher training – one admin rep needs to attend to welcome your new staff (but of course all are welcome!). @Pacific Crest Middle School, breakfast service begins at 7:00, and the program begins at 8:00 with welcome remarks from Dr. Cook.
- August 26: optional Wayfinder admin training on at PCMS at 2 pm in the Cornice room
- August 27: District Welcome Back! An interactive whole school event. 8:30-10:00 – Prepare your staff for a quick shout out in front of the camera!
- August 27: Inclusion EA’s report to work
- August 28: District Training Day – 12:30-4:30 virtual and district led with classroom teachers. Counselors, Student Success Coordinators and Instructors and Special Education Teachers will be in ALL DAY trainings at Caldera HS.
- August 29 and 30: Training for inclusion educational assistants new to the district 8-11am; other EA’s report to buildings.