Hallway Walks
Thanks to those of you I’ve seen walking the hallways down to the Main Office during the passing period preceding your prep period. It’s nice to see an increased adult presence in the hallways and a student even asked me if it was “because of all the stuff that’s happening in the bathrooms” (you have to love those sweet 6th graders). I want to reiterate that this is a requirement for all full-time staff and for part-time staff with a single, full prep period. If you’d like to talk more about it, please come see me.
SLGG Update
The SEL goal data is in and I’m so happy to report that, out of 557 respondents, 51% rated themselves as a “4” on the belonging scale and 39% rated themselves as a “3” thank you for all that you do to make our students feel like Pacific Crest is a place they belong.
I’m still working on assessing the CERs for the content-area goal. I’ve graded about 300 of the them and our students really love using first- and/or second-person pronouns in their writing (among my bigger pet peeves when I was a Language Arts teacher). I am hoping to have all of that data and information and instructions to share with you by Monday, but will definitely have it to you by Wednesday.
Important School Closure or Weather Delays and Work Days
With winter weather finally approaching, Steve Herron, BLS Chief Human Resources Officer, wants to make all staff member aware of the 2021-22 Inclement Weather Guidelines. We have reverted to the guidelines as they existed in 2019-20, given that we are exclusively back to in-person learning. Do your snow dance and sign up for BLSConnect so you know if your dancing was maybe a little too successful.
Spending Process Update and YTD Team Budget Numbers
Again, I appreciate your patience and understanding regarding spending this year. At the beginning of the school year, I was informed our school budget would be covering the cost of student supply items which, in the past, were provided by families for their student. Upon learning of this additional expense, I invited each teacher to complete a Google Form, School Supply Need-To-Have/Nice-To-Have List to capture student and classroom supply needs and provided the information for Deb to purchase these items. Fast forward to now, more than a third of the way through the school year, and I am sure that there are still many items, student and/or classroom, on this list you still need, no longer need, or have already received. So let’s start fresh with the following processes:
Student Supplies (ie. pencils, paper, notebooks, comp books, index cards, etc.): Continue to email Deb with items and quantities. She will order them and also stock the most commonly used items in the workroom so they are available as needed. If you take the last of something (like I used the last of the colored pencils), let Deb know so that more can be ordered (Deb, we need more colored pencils because I used the last box and forgot to tell you).
Classroom Supplies & Materials: We are circling back around, after a couple of years, to using the “Purchase & Professional Development Request” form. Some of you will remember it from years past, some will have never seen it before (including me!). Going forward, we are requesting you to complete this form and have your teammates review and sign-off before giving it to Deb. These forms are also printed and in workroom. These are for items/materials/etc. that will be purchased from your department’s current budget.
Spring Additional Funds: As many of you know, we take hard look at the budget in March and spending needs for the remainder of the year. Based on past years’ spend, we have been able to allocate an additional dollar amount to each department and hope to be able to do so again, so start thinking of what you’d do with some additional funds. The goal is always to spend this year’s budget on this year’s students and the reality of this year is that doing so is going to be tricky, like so many other things.
YTD Team Budget Numbers: By the end of this week, Deb will send you team budgets and a list of year-to-date expenses to assist you in moving forward with purchases.
As always, if you have any questions regarding the above or anything regarding budget, please don’t hesitate to ask me or Deb.
Staff Gatherings
A reminder that Mandy sent out earlier this week:
Let’s get together, enjoy a beverage, make some connections, and sneak up on sixth graders on ice cream dates! Staff gathering at Market Hall/The Grove directly following SIW on Wednesday, 12/15 at 4:00ish. Address is: 921 Northwest Mount Washington Drive, Bend, OR 97703.
Additionally, in attempt to build connection and spend some time together, our ICCL team members will be hosting informal gatherings in each of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade hallways Tuesday morning. Come by for some coffee, treats, and conversation!
Winter Clothing Collection in January
Our WEB Leaders will be putting up flyers soon! This info is in the News from the Nest and a slide in Monday’s advisory. This effort will benefit Bethlehem Inn.
From Our Friends in Teaching and Learning
As a school, we are JUST above the requirement for first-aid certifications in our building, so if you have the time to do so, please consider taking this training. I did this earlier in the year and it was the easiest first aid class and I still found it to be helpful.
Due to COVID-19 we will again be offering a blended model for the First Aid/CPR class. The class will be done online with a hands-on skills assessment to follow. The online portion of the class should take about three (3) hours with the skills assessment to follow with a first aid/CPR trainer that will take about 20 minutes. The online course can be done to fit your schedule. Your First Aid/CPR card will not be issued until all portions of class are completed.
The process will be as follows:
- Sign up for the class in Performance Matters. Stephanie Bent will send you a link from HSI/Medic to get started ([email protected]).
- Please check your Junk Mail if it does not appear in your regular inbox.
- After each section of the online session, there will be a one or two question quiz.
- When scheduled, the hands-on skills assessment schedule will be emailed to you to register if you have completed the online portion. You can only do the in-person skills assessment after you have completed the online portion of the class.
- The in-person skills assessment will be done in 30-minute increments with 1 to 6 person ratio (20 minutes for the class and 10 minutes to clean and sanitize equipment).
- First Aid cards will not be sent out until both portions of the class are completed.
The class currently in Performance Matters opens 12/3/2021 with a completion date by 1/28/2022. If interested, please sign up now.
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