Roger White support: At our HS administrator work session this week, we spoke of how best to support Roger and his family. Patrick Flanagan, is a long time friend and neighbor of the Worthington-White family. He shared information with our admin team about how best we can support Roger and his family. Roger is currently in the hardest fight of his life to recover and he and his family needs our care. While it is a Meal Train link, it is also a place to send gift cards and donate money as well. What to help? Click this link.
Also, I am grateful for the support you have already shown Zach and the Realms staff. Zach is stepping into new challenges as Interim Principal. I appreciate the kindness and care you are showing him. A special shout out to Chris B. and Michael M who are assisting Zach with the accreditation report – it is a monumental task!
To Do:
From Dean: The first round of curriculum requests (tools that are not specific to the content of a course) will begin on Wednesday, April 10th. Teachers will receive an email from “BLS Instructional Technology.” This first phase is for tools that are used for instructional engagement, productivity, and collaboration, e.g.. Kahoot, Padlet. Schedules do not need to be known for this phase of the curriculum request process as these tools are not specifically tied to a course. Our second phase of the process (course specific curriculum tool requests) is scheduled to open in early May. Access to this FAQ will be included in the email.
Please let your staff to be on the lookout for this email.
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From Dave Van Loo:
Just a heads up that some new information and resources have been added to this Important OSAS Testing Information document. New content includes updates to the TIDE user guide, tracking resources related to accessibility, and the SEED survey.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mOiq0TreI7wihCJL3c8XWl1DicngbXM4LuTQ46H4fyk/edit?usp=sharing
Please reach out with any questions or support you need.
Information:
Graduation Meeting follow up: We reviewed the set up logistics with our facilities team as well as relevant administrative regs (AR and AP) and interpretation expectations with Kinsey. Here are the expectations and cost responsibilities associated with the ceremony.
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From Lora: You should all have received information about our April 10th leadership team meetings, where school teams will dive into Youth Truth data. A couple of important reminders:
- Both meetings are in the board room, NOT Perseverance Hall.
- Elementary will meet from 1:00-3:00 PM, and Secondary will meet from 3:15-5:15 PM
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From Paul in HR: HR has been working to better understand what staff may or may not do during their lunch periods and here is what we’ve learned:
- For certified staff: We cannot enter into any agreement that infringes on their 30-minute duty free lunch. Here is the relevant ORS 342.608
- For classified staff: The district consulted with BOLI as to whether classified employees can voluntarily waive their meal period. The answer we received was to refer to our CBA to see if it includes language allowing classified staff to forgo the meal period and work through it. The BLS/OSEA CBA states the following:
16.5.2: With the supervisor’s approval, employees may work through break
and/or meal period, work a regular schedule, and receive pay for the extra time.
In unusual circumstances, supervisors may require employees to work during break and/or meal periods, provided employees will be granted compensatory time off, for the time worked, or paid time and one-half for the break and/or meal time actually worked.
In summary, certified licensed staff cannot work during their 30-minute duty free lunch period. Classified staff may agree to work through breaks or meal periods, with prior supervisor approval, and receive pay for this extra time.
Performance Evaluation Reminders
All goals, formal observations and most mini’s should be finalized in UKG by the end of April. We are asking Level Leaders to review your progress during their next one-on-one site visit.
In addition, please initiate Self-Reflections (SRs) for your staff this week. You may ‘skip’ instead of ‘initiate’ SRs those who are not on a full evaluation cycle this year. Staff are instructed to complete their SRs by May 1.
- Here is an instruction video to share with your staff on how to complete self-reflections
- Here is an instructional video for admin on how to review, submit and finalize self-reflections
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From Kinsey:
Day of Silence:
2024’s Day of Silence will be Friday, April 12th. You will likely have students observing this day in school sometime around that date. Students have the right to express themselves (including through silence, in this case) as long as it is done in an orderly and nondisruptive manner—see related policy.
Ensure your teachers accommodate participating students by:
– Planning nonverbal or written options for class participation that day
– Learning about the day and its significance to your students
Reminders/Action Items:
- E-bikes and E-scooters: Please send this letter to families at your earliest convenience..
- Student Services Survey: One administrator per school needs to take this- Survey Link
- Culture of Care: Check out the Wellness Activities for Families!
- Tentative BEA Agreement can be found HERE
- Be sure to schedule your interpreters for parent conferences!
- Secure your vendors for graduation
- If you plan to require your certified staff to attend graduation, you must notify them in writing ASAP
- Projecting Val and Sal for the class of 2024! Our protocol for all high schools is to project/calculate the semester 2 grades, and, therefore, the cumulative GPA for the top 20 seniors a week or so prior to the Friday before Memorial Day (this year, that is May 24th).
- All high schools announce (specifically, notify each student (Val and Sal) and their families, staff and students) by the end of the day on Friday, May 24th.
- Additionally, plan to send a photo of the Val and Sal, as well as a brief bio, to our communications team (Scott Maben and Becca Burda) which they send to the media and include in our family newsletter.
From Becca in Communications:
With the partial solar eclipse approaching this Monday, April 8th in Central Oregon, it’s crucial to prioritize the safety of our students’ eyes. While we will only experience a 26% coverage and may not noticeably observe the eclipse, direct viewing of the sun without proper protection can still cause eye damage. The whole event will be less than 2 hours with a peak around 11:30. Here are some essential safety measures to implement during the event.
A HUGE thanks to Colleen Behrens, secondary science instructional coach, for providing the following information and resources. Thank you, Colleen!
- Eclipse Glasses: Use only ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses. Remind students to wear these glasses at all times when looking directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse. https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
- Pinhole Cameras: Encourage the use of pinhole cameras as an alternative safe viewing method. These simple devices allow students to observe the eclipse indirectly by projecting the image of the sun onto a surface. https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection
- Shadow Play: Another safe option is to observe the eclipse’s effects through shadows. Using items like a colander, students can witness the eclipse by looking at the patterns of light and shadows cast on the ground. https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection
- Supervision: Assign designated staff members to supervise students during the eclipse. Ensure that students are using eye protection and following safety guidelines at all times.
- Education: Take this opportunity to educate students about the importance of eye safety during solar events. Explain why it’s unsafe to look directly at the sun without proper protection and demonstrate the correct use of eclipse glasses and other viewing methods. https://airandspace.si.edu/whats-on/soar-together-air-and-space/eclipse#puppets
By implementing these safety measures, we can ensure that our students have a memorable and safe experience observing the partial solar eclipse on April 8th.
Let’s make this eclipse viewing a safe and enriching experience for everyone involved!
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Calendar:
LINK to the SIW Calendar and HS administrator work sessions and agendas for 23-24.
April 8: E-Bikes are prohibited to be on campus for students 16 and under
April 9: HS Principal Staffing and FTE WS 8:30-10:00 @ MVHS
April 10: Youth Truth Training 3:15-5:15 pm in the Board Room (all secondary admin)
April 12: No school and certified staff member comp day for parent conferences in fall and spring
April 17: Office Staff training 2:30-4:00 in the board room
April 18: Secondary Instructional Planning Meeting 8:00-10:30 @Ed Center Board Room
April 19: Equitable grading speaker 10:00-12:00 Wall Street Lab. The principal and assistant principal leading this work in your school should attend.
April 19: Staffing plans due
April 23: HS Administrator CBA work session: 7:30-8:00 @ BSHS/Future Center
April 23: HS Administrator Work Session 8:00-9:30@ BSHS/Future Center
April 24-26. In Chicago at a conference. Text or call Lora Nordquist if you need some help right away and I am not available.
April 30: All goals, formal observations, and most mini observations finalized in UKG
May 21: National Board Info Session 4:30-5:30 in board room
May 24: Notify students, staff and families of Val and Sal for the class of 2024!
May 30: School Counselor Celebration in board room 1:00-2:30 Come and support your counselors!