{"id":2906,"date":"2021-04-10T00:02:26","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T00:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/katie.legace\/?p=2906"},"modified":"2021-04-10T00:02:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T00:02:26","slug":"april-9-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/katie.legace\/2021\/04\/10\/april-9-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"April 9, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here is an article<\/a> that you might want to read (if you haven\u2019t already). This is from OPB and relates to recent communication (this week) around ED approving ODE\u2019s assessment amended waiver request<\/strong>. There are not a lot of specifics shared here. All indications are also that the assessments will be much shorter than normal. You\u2019ll see at the end of the article that one district (Ashland) is going with the approach of having parents \u201copt-in\u201d rather than \u201copt-out\u201d as is required. At this point, BLS is not considering this approach\u2026 so plan on our normal \u201copt-out\u201d approach we\u2019ve been taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Last week I included this request to share with your parents. I\u2019m including it here again as I\u2019m also including the Spanish version<\/a> of the letter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent, previous, blog I shared a\u00a0return to athletics medical clearance informational letter<\/strong>\u00a0with you (after a positive COVID result). That form has been updated and I\u2019ve been asked to share this update with you and ask that you also share it with your families in a future communication. Here is the\u00a0English version<\/a>\u00a0of this letter. Here is the Spanish version<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here is an important reminder from Scott! Please share it with your staff and ask them to let him know if they are interested: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a link to the ECS curriculum and the sample course description for course catalogs.http:\/\/www.exploringcs.org\/for-teachers-districts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/td>For Teachers & Districts \u2013 Exploring Computer Science<\/a>: NEW! Unit 5 or 6 Alternative: Artificial Intelligence Students gain an understanding of AI terminology while considering AI\u2019s social, moral, and ethical impacts. Students design smart cities, homes, and schools and learn to build, train, and test an AI system through a NVIDIA platform.www.exploringcs.org<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ue711<\/em>
Here is the sample course description: Think-Make-Explore Computer Science: <\/strong> Computer Science For All and Exploring Computer Science:<\/strong> This class is for everyone – no experience needed. Sign up with a friend! There are lots of opportunities to learn together.\u00a0 Make web pages, design your own program, design and control devices, learn what artificial intelligence is and why you care, understand how data is captured and used, learn how technology influences your life experience, investigate how technology impacts society, and create your own new technologies instead of being consumed by others\u2019 creations.
Computer Science is changing everything. Entertainment, medicine, transportation, communication, public policy, agriculture, fashion, art, energy, society, and design all rely on computer science. Be part of that change, and have fun doing it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equity Updates from Kinsey:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pronoun communication:<\/strong>
In the staff Spotlight newsletter next week, we will share this<\/a> communication.  This is an FYI, so that you have the info in advance.  This is not required of anyone, but if you\u2019re interested in modeling this inclusive practice yourself before it goes out to all staff, the bottom of the document can help you update your signature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equity lens:<\/strong>
This time of year brings lots of opportunities to make important decisions.  Here<\/a> is our district Equity Lens (special thanks to Matt Fox\u2019s students for the design of this document!).  We will use these questions during our April 28 admin Equity PD session, but feel free to use them before then, too.  Consider discussing each question with your team (an interview panel, your master scheduling team, etc) as you make decisions together in the upcoming weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New sign:<\/strong>
On\u00a0this<\/a>\u00a0document, see top of page 2 for a picture of the new sign that you\u2019re getting (and why you\u2019re getting it).\u00a0 Just a heads-up that manufacturing is complete and they are on their way\u2013yours should be delivered before the end of April!\u00a0 LEAD Cohort members or Language Specialists can help your office team find a great spot for it in your front entry.\u00a0 Reach out to Kinsey if you have questions about any of this info!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Alandra:<\/strong> Reminder on Elected Officials and Candidates in our schools: If an elected official would like to visit your school or speak with a class<\/strong>, please send them to Alandra or Julianne before you confirm the visit. Please also ask clubs and classes who would like to host elected officials or candidates for elected office to run the visits through the Comms Dept. first. A lot of unintended consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In advance of the May election, this is also a great time to share and review our handy dandy\u00a0Election Guidance document<\/a>, which outlines key dos and dont’s for public employees related to elections. Please share this resource with your staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When staff members visit another school, they need to: Enter through the front door; sign in; wear their badge in a visible place. This is especially important because, with masks, it can be harder to identify even staff that are familiar.\u00a0Let me (Alandra) know if you have any questions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Dana:<\/strong> Homeless Student Enrollment:\u00a0 A question came up recently regarding timeframes for enrolling students with an IEP who qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Ac<\/strong>t. Below is the clarification Sandy Schmidt, our new Homeless liaison, received from Dona Bolt at ODE:\u00a0
The McKinney-Vento Act\u00a0supersedes\u00a0federal, state, and local laws, including IDEA, in the provision of immediate enrollment for homeless students. The McKinney-Vento Act requires districts and schools to immediately enroll eligible students, regardless of whether they lack records, immunizations, etc., and there are no exceptions for students on IEPs. There are even higher expectations for districts with MV subgrants, such as Bend-La Pine SD Schools, that their schools support compliance with the MV Act.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paul shared this information in an email earlier this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instructional Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that many people rely upon outside speakers to provide real-world context to course content.  We want virtual tools like WebEx to be the primary option for speakers to engage with our students.  In unique situations where the instructional needs require an onsite demonstration, building leaders can approve speakers to meet outside<\/strong> with students while maintaining normal safety measures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples of when this might be appropriate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n