To Do:
School Design Plans: On Tuesday, September 28, we met with Lora & Dave about school design plans. They shared the link with the docs. Here is the link. At our October 26 Professional Development meeting, we will ask each school to share their DRAFT of their plan.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are noticing Synergy gradebooks without grades and Canvas gradebooks without the nightly sync enabled. Please remind your teachers they need to enable this feature. Here is the video tutorial. Nightly Sync for Canvas Gradepassback
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Paul and Steve in HR: Thanks to your efforts reaching out to staff, we now have over 68% of our employees who have successfully completed their document uploads into Frontline. We have 700 more to go. On Monday, we’ll send you an update list.
Vaccine Requirements in Spanish. Today, Paul sent you vaccine emails/information in Spanish including OHA Exception Forms. We’ve have added a Spanish Upload form into everyone’s “My Forms” section within Frontline. People who want to fill that out can go to “Forms I Can Start” and “Start this Form”
Please continue to urge EVERY staff member to download documentation (either their vaccination card or an exemption doc) into Frontline. We really need 100%.
We are hosting a WebEx vaccination Q and A Monday at 4:00. Please encourage folks with questions to join the WebEx. See information below
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Information:
From Alandra: Quick heads up that we shared information in our staff newsletter today about a vaccine Q&A Monday at 4 p.m. This event is aimed specifically at individuals with questions about state mandate and the upcoming Oct. 18 deadline.
We are directing people with questions to use google form, linked below, to share their question in advance. We will try to address as many questions/topics as we can during the event Monday, likely to last about 30 minutes.
Here’s language we shared today:
Vaccine status deadline nearing for staff
Oregon Health Authority released its Administrative Rule requiring all educators and volunteers in Oregon K-12 schools to provide either proof of vaccination or documentation of medical or religious exception on or before Oct. 18, 2021. Read about the rule.
Bend-La Pine Schools’ employees are requested to upload proof of vaccination, religious exception form, or medical exception form to the Vaccine Status Upload page.
Questions about the vaccine mandate and the upcoming deadline? Supt. Steven Cook and the Director of Human Resources Steve Herron will answer questions during a live Webex Monday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m.
Submit a question to be addressed during the meeting using this form.
Log on to the Webex Q&A Monday: Vaccine Q&A
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Educator Network Days: Building Teacher Efficacy across schools: The schedule for the October 13th Educator Network Day is attached here. We are waiting on a few teacher facilitators to give us the last bits of information. When the Draft across the top is removed you will know that it is ready to share. You will notice we are assigning an administrator to each PLC. We will ask you to take role and, in some cases you will facilitate the PLC. If that is expected, Dean or Katie will reach out to you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Dean: On Friday TLC sent out an email to recruit District Level ICCLs in areas where we do not currently have teacher leadership. We hope to continue to support teachers to support other teachers by creating a collective efficacy mindset. The positions include: Band, Orchestra, Choir, Fine Arts, MS Social Studies, HS Social Studies, CTE, and Health/PE. We hope to continue to have more opportunities to include teachers’ voice in our curricular and instructional supports. Reach out to Dean with questions.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Secondary BLOG from Dean: Like all good publishing efforts, it took us a bit to figure out how best to utilize the blog as a support for classroom teachers. You may not have received one post or several. As this new school year gets well underway, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with a “Best Of” Table of Contents, listing a select variety of last year’s posts that are still timely and worth considering.
Curious About What You Missed Last Year? Check Out the Best Post of 2020/2021
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For your upcoming/recent Civil Rights training:
Here is an important addition to this training (you’ll see this referenced on the last slide):
We are asking all staff district-wide (cert, class, admin) to complete a brief survey about their experiences as employees in our organization. Here is some language you can use when you introduce this at the end of your Civil Rights training, and via email or staff memo/blog as a reminder the week after.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here’s an update from ODE concerning the Essential Skills waiver:
Assessment of Essential Skills Waiver: The Oregon Legislative Assembly passed SB 744 which directs the Oregon Department of Education to review state requirements for high school diploma options, as well as to review state requirements related to demonstrations of proficiency in Essential Skills. Allowing for this review, students will not be required to show proficiency in Essential Skills as a condition of receiving a high school diploma during the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 school years.
ODE is in the process of reviewing the Essential Skills requirements. The legislature is requiring a final report, with recommendations, by September of 2022. Pending this review of the state requirements for high diploma options, ODE will provide additional information of Essential Skills to Oregon districts and educators.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The YouthTruth Survey is coming in January! Yes, we will be asking you to push out this survey to your families, staff and students again this year. Be thinking about how we can incentivize folks to take these surveys.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Jackie Wilson, our Sustainability Coordinator:
- October 6th- Walk and Roll to school day. This is a great way to gather baseline data on students walking and biking to school. Details Here: commuteoptions.org/walkroll_day
STEP 1:Encourage your students to walk or roll to school or walk to the bus on October 6th. Provide the link for them to register their trip on our Walk + Roll Google Form and they will receive Walk+Roll prizes (Deadline to register: 5pm on October 8, 2021).
Google Form_English AND Google Form_Spanish
STEP 2:On October 6th, complete the Walk+Roll Student Tally in each class. Ask your students how they got to school the day before and on October 6th. Print the form and return the completed form to the main office for Safe Routes to School Coordinator to pick up or fill in the google doc and email to [email protected].
Walk + Roll Student Tally [Word]Walk + Roll Student Tally [PDF] - The Peoples Ecochallenge – Starts on October 6th – The People’s Ecochallenge is a 21-day challenge to take action for a better-shared future. From October 6 – 27, 2021, you commit to trying and doing new things. Fun actions encourage new habits. Small steps lead to big change. Together, we build a sustainable world and a healthy planet. If your school has a sustainability advisor – they will get a school team together and share it with the rest of the school staff. If you do not have a sustainability advisor on staff, please see if there is a staff member who would like to be the captain of the team and reach out to [email protected] for details. There will be great prizes for schools with the most points and participation
- October 14th, Celebrate Farm to School Month with the main menu item, Chicken pot pie with 70 pounds of local potatoes from Sakari farms.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Tina Bandy in Transportation: It is time for bus evacuation drills at your school. To keep things as simple as possible, we will use the same format as last year. Please have teachers play the video below for their students. Students who ride the bus will receive extra training from their driver; you may see a small delay in the morning as they exit the bus.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/bus/transportation-videos
After all students at your school have viewed the video, please complete and return this form by October 15th.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What can the Culture of Care Team do for you? Here is a link from the HDESD Culture of Care Team, letting you know of all the amazing topics that they can present to your staff. Reach out to them with any questions.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Lora: surveys and prior notice: Please remind your faculty that prior notice to parents/guardians is required before conducting student surveys. I know that some schools through their counselors might have already given student surveys, but in the future please give parents/guardians prior notice. I am attaching the board policy.
Calendar:
HERE is the calendar for meetings for the year: You will notice we will be in schools on Thursday afternoons for learning walks. Lora and Dean, as well as our secondary TOSA’s may be joining us on those days. The goal is to get into schools/classrooms most Tuesdays and Thursdays. Here is a sample Learning Walk schedule you can use as a guide to plan that visit.
October 1 – Open Period Letters collected from parents/filed with their counselor
October 7 – Learning Walk at MVHS 12:45-2:45
October 13 – Educator Network Day – required for all certificated staff and admin
October 18 – Mandatory Vaccination Due Date – need 100% of staff to submit a doc.
October 31 – Civil Rights Training completed with staff and recorded here
October 31 – SRP videos viewed by staff and students.
Reminder: complete your work calendars. If you need assistance please contact April Jorgenson.
Mark your calendars for June 20 and 21, 2022 for our Leadership Training Academy.