Think about…
From Dave….Here https://t.co/RixMM69FtE?amp=1 is a new meta-analysis to add to the mountain of evidence that the statement “Students do too much testing in schools” is always completely wrong.
The best available evidence is that testing is a high impact strategy for increasing student learning and students do far too little of it. It is accurate to say that we do too much of the kind of testing that has little impact on student learning, and that few teachers have ever had the opportunity to learn how to use testing as a powerful lever to increase learning. That’s a shame because the impact is substantial, it works for everyone kindergarten through college, and it is basically free to implement. Something else worth thinking about is that better use of testing is quite easy to link to several of 5 strategies in Dylan Wiliam’s framework (e.g., feedback, eliciting evidence, peers as learning resources, metacognition and student ownership).
Unless you’re really interested in this topic, simply reading the abstract and the concluding remarks on p. 25 is a fully adequate 5-minute Cliff notes version.
To Do:
Required for Contact Tracing: Please reinforce the expectation that seating assignments/assigned seating will be developed and used with fidelity in all classes. Additionally, please emphasize the importance of taking accurate attendance every period.
These are key strategies in our ability to accurately contact trace.
Assigned seating and taking accurate, daily attendance, provides teachers with the ability to quickly provide contact tracers with the names of students who may have been in close contact with a COVID-19 peer and to isolate and slow the spread of the virus.
Particularly at the high school level, we have come across classroom teachers who are unable to quickly produce valuable assigned seating charts. While we hope this is an anomaly, it is an opportunity for a teachable moment and provides a chance to double-check procedures. In some instances, because we can not accurately identify the students closest to a student testing positive, the result can be more students being quarantined.
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Thank you for your interest in supporting summer learning and your patience with the process! We are continuing to look for teachers to help support our summer learning we are calling SPARKS. Please share this information with your teachers!
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And speaking of summer instruction, the grades 6 – 12 programming has a name, its SPARKS. Wendy has created a helpful and informative document that provides behind-the-scenes information regarding what this summer will look like for students and staff. Please share this document (and read through it yourself) with your staff.
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Information:
It was verified this week that iPads will not be turned in this June. Due to summer learning opportunities, we will ask our students to hold on to their iPads (just like they did last spring).
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Principals, please send your Leave Sheet to Stephanie Bent (instead of Amy Stafford).
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Last week of school: Some of you have wondered about what the last week of school schedule will look like this year. Now that we are all-in, and assuming we stay all-in for the remainder of this year, we will be following the original calendar during these last days of this school year. Specifically, during the last week of school, Monday and Tuesday are “regular” days, Wednesday is a “regular” (full-length) day, Thursday will be an “SIW release” day, and Friday is a work day for teachers and their last day.
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Update from PAUL on Secondary School Mandated Rapid Testing:
On Monday, the latest metrics were released and because Deschutes County was over 200 cases/100K, secondary schools (not elementary) are required to offer rapid COVID-19 tests to symptomatic students/staff.
Q14: My school is in a county that exceeds its metrics and is required to offer testing. How long does my school have to implement the BinaxNOW testing program?
A14: Schools required to offer access to this program will have two weeks to register, train for, and administer the program when or if metrics change in their county in a way that makes this program a requirement.
Our date to have this program up and running in our secondary schools is Monday, April 26th. If your school has not ordered rapid testing kits, this should be done ASAP (COVID-19 Testing K-12 Registration Form).
Here are some resources to assist you in implementing the Rapid Testing Program:
- Step-by-Step School Guide
- OHA FAQ
- Recorded Webex testing overview with MS admin and athletic directors
I’ll open up my WebEx room ( https://bls.webex.com/meet/paul.dean ) at 8 am on Friday, April 23rd, if you have any implementation questions.
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As you finish your staffing plans, we will review them together. Let me know when you are ready to post and email me those positions so HR can get them posted.
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Calendar:
Graduation WebEx Planning: Monday, April 19 @ 1:30
HS Admin WebEx: Wednesday, April 21@10:30 – Kinsey will be joining us to review/discuss our equity goals. Our next Excellence and Equity Training is April 28 3:00-4:30.
Save the Dates:
Interview HS Student Success Clinicians: Tuesday, May 4 11:30-3:30
Our BRYT team is coming to Bend! Courtney, Paul and maybe Katherine will be visiting us the week of May 24-28! So exciting. We will schedule in 45 min for every high school BRYT team to meet with them. Stay tuned.