Canvas Must-Do List
Please, take some time right now and ensure that your Grade Passback and your 50% grading options are both set up in Canvas. We are going to have to spend some time at a January SIW with everyone to ensure these are set up correctly ahead of the end of the semester, so you checking right now will save us all some valuable time.
(Seriously, go check right now; the information below will be here when you get back.)
New Staff Introduction
We continue to have turnover in our Special Education department, as Lauren McAllister is leaving Pacific Crest at the end of the month and won’t return in January. We are fortunate that our Special Programs department had a licensed teacher who is already working as an Educational Assistant ready to make the move.
Ben Jackson has been working at Mountain View High School in their Intensive Academic Intervention program as an Inclusion EA, has prior experience as a certified Social Studies teacher, and is currently working on obtaining his Special Education endorsement through Lewis & Clark. Ben will be starting with us on Monday the 6th and will be working alongside Lauren so that the transition can be as smooth as possible.
Please, welcome Ben when you see him in the coming weeks and help him discover what a special place PCMS is.
Additionally, please take some time to thank Lauren for all the work she’s done on behalf of our students this year. Lauren has been amazing from the start and was my first choice in hires after I was part of the team that interviewed more than 20 teachers for placement within the district. She is professional, committed, knowledgable, and (most importantly) student-centered in her work for our students and families. She’ll be missed and we are sad to see her go.
One more addition – an EA has been hired to fill Chicken’s recently-vacated role; they are currently going through the HR rigamarole right now and I am hopeful they can start soon so we can just be a bit understaffed and not woefully so. Stay tuned.
New Athletic Director
In addition to Ben, I am excited to announce that Steve Blackmarr has been hired as our new Athletic Director. Steve is the father of Keegan (7th grade) and was our 7th Grade Football coach this year, where he did an incredible job not only helping our students learn how to play football, but also in impressing upon the athletes the importance of character and leadership off the field. We are looking forward to his character-focused approach continuing as he oversees that department.
Sparrow Mariah
Please refer to todays News from the Nest to read entire story about our lovely Sparrow Mariah. Our WEB Leaders will include more info in WEB News in the upcoming days AND our virtual Sparrow assembly will be during advisory on Monday, December 13.
SIWs This Month
Next week’s SIW (12/8), which is designated as a grade-level MTSS meeting on the SIW Calendar, has been changed to a teacher-directed SIW.
The following week’s SIW (12/15), which is designated as a teacher-directed SIW on the SIW Calendar, has been changed to an all-staff SIW so that you have the opportunity to participate in an information-gathering session for the upcoming Principal job posting (to be posted 12/17). Juan Cuadros, Executive Director of Middle Schools will be here along with a representative from Human Resources to gather input on the skillset, traits, etc. to be used in the job posting and interview process.
Also, please remember that SIW times are part of the workday and are mandatory for full-time certified staff. If you have something come up and need to cut your time at SIW short, you need to let me know ahead of time, just as you would do for a typical work day.
If you have questions about any of this, please see me or Anne-Marie.
Golden Eagle Time
Next week during SIW, Mandy will be hosting some sessions for Advisory teachers, broken into first Advisory and second Advisory, in order to share some ideas around how this time can best be used when we move into twice-weekly Golden Eagle Time sessions for students. I encourage all Advisory teachers to attend to be able to learn what their colleagues are doing and brainstorm ideas.
We’d like to launch these with a heavy academic focus so that we can offer those students struggling some support that matches their needs. Over time, we’ll get a better clue as to what is working, what is not working, and what gaps remain present, all of which will allow us to see when the more enrichment (read: fun) activities can happen.
This document has been created to start to brainstorm ideas by subject area for interventions and enrichment activities. Look it over and see what genius it ignites for you.
Sustainability Awareness
This information was shared with me too late to include in the Golden Eagle Update prior to the Thanksgiving break, so I’m getting a head start on sharing in advance of the upcoming Winter Break.
Our district’s Sustainability Team has put together a Standard Operating Procedures documenting all of the responsibilities and best practices schools should take to ensure a proper amount of energy usage occurs in non-school times such as these breaks. Please review and start planning for how you will leave your classroom on the 17th.
See me or Walt with any questions.
Secret Snowman Gift Exchange
Just a quick reminder about our Secret Snowman gift exchange. If you are interested in participating forms are by the mailboxes in the Work Room for you to fill out. Don’t forget to put your name on the form! Return your completed form to Christina or leave it on Christina’s desk before you leave this Friday, the 3rd. We will draw names on Monday, Dec. 6th. Spending limit is $30.
From our Friends in Human Resources:
Supplemental Retirement Saving Opportunities
Bend-La Pine Schools offers two excellent programs through which you may contribute a portion of your current income into supplemental retirement savings accounts. Bend-La Pine Schools’ supplemental retirement savings programs are offered under Sections 403(b) and 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, and are called the Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plan (TSA Plan) and the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), respectively. Bend-La Pine Schools has adopted the services of Carruth Compliance Consulting, Inc (CCC), an independent third party administrator, to provided compliance and administration services for the 403(b) TSA Plan. Please Note: CCC is not involved in the administration of Bend-La Pine Schools 457(b) DCP.
All employees are eligible to contribute. You may begin participating in the TSA Plan and/or DCP at any time by establishing an investment account with an authorized vendor and then completing, signing, and submitting a salary reduction agreement to the payroll office. You may increase, decrease, or stop contributions to either plan, or change the Vendor receiving contributions, at any time by submitting a new salary reduction agreement. Changes to the DCP take effect the month following receipt of appropriate forms. You may contribute to the maximum limit of both the TSA Plan and the DCP in the same year.
Click here for all the details.
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