Check out this video of The Hawks during a recent away game: La Pine High Volleyball Team stepping in to save the National Anthem.
Think abouts…
Check out our Secondary Blog post: We continue to build community and safety into our day-to-day interactions with and between students. This week’s blog is written by BLS partners at BRYT, a group that has helped us create spaces for our most vulnerable students with mental health needs. They provide some classroom ideas that can help support all students to regulate themselves and SEL strategies for adults.
This week’s post: MANY OF YOU ARE TELLING US: THIS YEAR IS – somehow – bizarrely – WORSE THAN THE LAST. (How can it even be possible, you wonder? And is there anything you can do?)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our work as equity leaders: Here is a thought provoking episode from Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead Podcast on Inclusivity at Work: The Heart of Hard Conversations
Here is a great read from Dave:
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/college-gender-gap-begins-kindergarten
“Teachers systematically underestimated little boys’ reading abilities—both at kindergarten entry and as they made their way through elementary school. Previous studies indicate that this might be because of the “good girls” theory: Teachers think little girls are better readers because they tend to behave better, and think squirrely little boys are poor readers, even when they aren’t. Furthermore, teachers tended to believe that their best readers were disproportionately girls, even when the literacy assessments themselves did not show that to be the case.
As the authors explain, that perception gap could have serious real-world repercussions for boys, as they are placed in lower reading groups than they qualify for, and are handed less challenging books than they can handle.
Indeed, we know from a growing literature that teacher expectations can have a big impact on student outcomes—and that when expectations vary by race, it can contribute to the racial achievement gap. So it is with gender.”
To Do:
Collective Efficacy work for cert and classified staff: Next week is our first Educator Network Day (formerly know as District SIW.) The goal of these meetings if for teachers and some classified staff to connect and discuss topics related to their disciplines and job alike responsibilities. Each HS Administrator is assigned to one of these meetings (some in person and some virtual.) Your role is:
- Be there for the leaders and provide them supports as needed. This includes keeping the conversations on track and intervening, as needed, with anyone stuck in a non-helpful spiral. The expectations are that teachers/classified staff engage in productive conversations and not be grading papers etc. Cameras should remain on during virtual meetings.
- You will be asked to track attendance at the Educator Network and submit that information to Dean. This is so that we can track PDUs for teachers. Next week Dean will send you a list of possible attendees. We realize that some teachers would fit in several of the available meetings. Hopefully anyone who is unsure about where to go can work through that with their department and admin for guidance.
If you have other questions please reach out to Dean or me.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Information:
TikTok challenges: We are experiencing the unfortunate impact of the “Devious Licks Challenges” posted on TikTok. Our School Resource Officers pulled together this document correlating the “challenges” to criminal violations. While this document highlights the serious ramifications for students if they choose to engage, we know that when students land in the juvenile justice system, that can dictate their future trajectory, which can include incarceration.
In our positions and our daily work with students, our mission includes helping our students to learn prosocial behaviors. Our Culture of Care Team put together some amazing resources to help us think about how we can respond to students using a restorative lens.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Updates from the COVID response team:
Parent Conferences will be virtual this year (K-12) with a focus on our students from multilingual families. Kinsey and I will meet with principals this Tuesday at 7:15am to talk about the process.
Essential volunteers (defined as people from organizations with which we have contracts) are allowed to be in our buildings as long as they have completed our background check process (check with Scott if you a question about this). Some examples include: Herff Jones representation and Reps with Avanza and Juntos. Let me know if you have a question about whether a person is an essential volunteer.
Indoor music concerts and drama performances: we will allow indoor music concerts and drama performances and will be sharing specific guidelines in the coming days. One required addition is for students to submit a completed COVID Activities Participation Agreement. This is the same document athletes must submit prior to being allowed to participate in their sport. I shared this information with Keith Chaiet and Luke MacSween who are leading on this. They intend to share this with their counterparts during the Educator Network Day October 13. Please work with your music/drama teachers to ensure this doc is submitted by each student and kept at the school.
Field Trips – we would begin allowing outdoor field trips during the school day if the following conditions are met:
- The field trip should not involve the use of school bus drivers.
- The field trip should be directly related to curriculum standards.
- Students must wear masks.
- Students must keep 3 ft apart to the extent possible.
- Management and instruction of students has to be done by school staff – no parent volunteers can be utilized.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Lora re: Student Teachers – I recognize we’re all desperate for substitute teachers, but TSPC has sent a directive to all teacher prep programs in the state reminding them of their liability if they allow their student teachers without substitute licenses to sub in schools. As a result, at least one of our program partners has directed their student teachers to LEAVE THE BUILDING if they are asked to cover a class without a certified teacher present in the room. Student teachers CAN be asked to present a lesson if there is a certified teacher in the room, as well.
After we finish the intense process of verifying vaccinations, HR can move forward on requesting emergency sub licenses for all our student teachers. Once that process is complete, (and we will notify you when that is done), student teachers CAN sub in their cooperating teachers’ classes without anyone else present. They should not be asked to sub in other classrooms.
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 12 – HS Principal Mtg with Kinsey 7:15-7:45 @ BSHS in Perseverance Hall (new building by Tech Facility)
October 12 – HS Admin Work Session 8:00-9:30@ BSHS in Perseverance Hall (new building by Tech Facility)
October 14 – Learning Walk (Math and Science) at SHS 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 – Standard Response Protocol 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.