To Do:
We are convening work teams of teachers and administrators to review our current Comprehensive Distance Learning structure AND plan our Hybrid schedule. Juan will be working with our building administrators and Dean in facilitating these workgroups: CDL and Wednesday plan review: Lead: Michael Hicks and Dean Richards; Hybrid schedule for 4 comprehensive high schools: Lead: Chris Reese; PE in Hybrid: Lead: Dave Williams; Band and Choir in Hybrid: Reno Holler. Every principal was asked to send the names of your teacher reps for each of these committees to the leads for each work team by TODAY!
In conjunction with this review, we are developing a quick student, staff and parent survey AND a plan for phone calling at each of our schools as part of a more in-depth listening session. FOCUS: improving CDL! More to come on this next week.
Information:
Earlier today, I sent out an election message and an election guidance flier. I am including them here for your convenience.
Childcare… We’ve been working with Bend Park and Recreation Department to provide both a 2- and 3-day option during balanced/hybrid instruction, beginning October 26th (or later, if the district has not yet transitioned to balanced/hybrid instruction by that date). These options will be significantly less expensive than the full program.. BPRD hopes to be able to provide care for kindergarten students as well, if they are children of staff members or siblings of other program participants. Look for a survey coming out early next week to gauge staff interest in this option. I am still waiting to hear back from Park and Rec on the form I created.
New Webex features… Some new WebEx features were recently released. The biggest feature was the addition of breakout rooms – a great way to engage students in classroom discussions. If you are interested in offering an optional training for your staff please reach out to an instructional technology coach.
Observations and Evaluations… I mentioned briefly during our Horizontal meeting this week that a workgroup will be coming together to provide guidance on 20-21 observations and evaluations. We should have information to share from that group soon.
YouTube Information… Here is some helpful information from John Craft on YouTube and using video during instruction that has been communicated to teachers. YouTube has become so common that we sometimes forget that we need to venture carefully when using this site.
Something to pass on to staff… Each fall, SELCO awards grants of up to $1,000 to K-12 educators at accredited schools throughout Oregon. If you have a creative classroom idea we can help with, we’d love to hear it. To accommodate educator’s needs, this year’s application period is now open and runs through October 31. Visit selco.org/SPARK to learn more.
Safety Information from Paul Dean: New mask/shield language – The following language has been adopted by our district. See the CDC website for information that supports this decision
New Mask Requirement: A cloth, paper, or disposable face mask that covers the nose and the mouth is the requirement for all BLS students and staff with some exceptions. When exceptions apply, a face shield is permissible, but other safety practices should be implemented, such as more than 6 feet of social distancing and/or added ventilation of fresh air. The exceptions are described below:
1. For provisions applicable to staff/students protected by ADA or IDEA (details from RSSL referenced below).
2. For safety reasons, such as a bus driver whose glasses are fogging up when attempting to wear a mask under specific weather conditions;
3. For specific and time-limited instructional needs such as speech and language, LIPS reading group, ELL lessons or other examples when viewing a teacher’s or student’s mouth is essential to that portion of the lesson. As soon as possible within the lesson, masks should replace the shields;
4. For younger children moving into in-person education who exhibit severe emotional dysregulation when wearing a mask, staff should employ strategies to transition them from shields into mask wearing: mindfulness exercises, increase in the frequency of outdoor mask breaks, and other trauma-informed best practices.
5. People who are deaf or hard of hearing, or those who care for or interact with a person who is hearing impaired.
6. Other time-limited exceptions of short durations may be made with administrative knowledge.
A clear mask is an acceptable option, as is the use of a shield over a mask for added protection
- Visitors – New policy
Only BLS staff and essential visitors are allowed to enter buildings beyond the lobby. Examples of essential visitors are DHS, child protective services, law enforcement, student teachers and their supervisors, CASA advocates, Friends of Children mentors, cadet teachers and ESD service providers. When in doubt whether a visitor is ‘essential’, consult with your Level Leader.
- School Family Connections – Please add your school’s family connections team leader to this document so that the District Family Connections team can collaborate with your school on how best to serve students and families. See Paul if you have any questions.
- Level leaders will be coordinating with other district departments to send out weekly “All BLS Staff” emails regarding items in their blogs and other important reminders pertaining to the return to the school planning process.
- Band, Music/Choir, PE Standards of Practice – Juan Cuadros will be coordinating with elementary music, PE teachers, and interventionists to develop learning instructional practices that include safety measures aligned with the ODE blueprint. He will then do the same with MS/HS band, choir, PE teachers, and interventionists.
- Questions/Concerns about COVID-19 related matters. Please share this flowchart with your staff.
- Many thanks to the dynamic duo of Nole Kennedy and HDMS lead custodian, Tim Bennett, for creating this “How To” video instructing staff on the daily cleaning routines of desks/tables.
- Operation School Bell – The district has approved OSB’s plans to run their program outside with 2 tables and 4 people. We would go up to a car that drives up, ask them sizes needed for socks and underwear, and give them out. Here are the details from Susan Heberlein and Vicki Jenkins
We have determined specific sites and dates for our outdoor sock and underwear “pop ups.” That would be great if you want to give the principals a heads up, but I will be e-mailing all to get approval from them. Thanks for all your help!
October 19 Bear Creek 11:00-1:00
October 20 Bend High 11:00-1:00
October 21 Elk Meadow 11:00-1:00
October 22 Three Rivers 11:00-1:00
October 23 LaPine High 11:00-1:00
Calendar:
Attendance review WebEx: Tuesday, Oct. 6 @ 3:30pm
HS Admin WebEx: Wednesday, Oct 7 @ 8:00am
Leadership Team WebEx: Wednesday, Oct 7 @ 3:30pm