THE ELECTION!
I think we need to be ready for anything here folks!!!
ONE ask I have for all of you, is to MAKE OUR TEACHING SPACES SAFE AND OPEN EQUALLY FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF ELATION, DISAPPOINTMENT, AND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE.
We should assume that in every room are STUDENTS AND PARENTS of BOTH/ALL political perspectives, and they are ALL EQUALLY WELCOME IN OUR CLASSROOMS!
Counter-intuitively, I might suggest that this week may NOT be the ideal week to dig into the election and related topics, believe it or not, UNLESS you can be sure you can maintain an environment that is equally open to all students and that we don’t unintentionally marginalize some. In my mind this week especially, that might be harder to do than normal! I will leave it up to YOUR professional judgement… I just ask that we all work extra hard this week to ensure that if you DO create time and space in class to process the election results as they happen, that you ensure civil discourse and equity of voice!
Please DO READ Lora’s most recent election letter to staff. Thanks all!
CANVAS SEARCH AND STUDY ASK
With the help of the ILT, Heidi has developed a process for a “Canvas Search & Study”. This will be a light touch on your end and put most of the leg work on a small team of staff and students. The goal of this is to learn from our current best practices and be able to refine our individual methods as we move into Tri 2.
Teachers – by Monday, Nov. 2nd @ 4:30 PM, please access the course in Canvas called “Canvas Search & Study”. Read the home page to get started. (you just need to copy a module from your courses to this course)
Non-teachers – contribute a module if you feel you have made one you’d like to add. Otherwise you can ignore this for now and just know we are doing it. We will gather your input along the way in the process.
Canvas Search & Study Course: https://bls.instructure.com/courses/13568
FAN TRAINING and MAC SURVEY
MAC day will be during the week of Nov. 9th. If you are receiving this email, you are currently not trained for this year. If you feel comfortable completing the online training on your own, please do so before Nov.4th. If you would like me to walk you through the training and give you the answers, please let me know so we can schedule a WebEx training. (It only takes about 20 minutes or so).
For Yen Ling, Brad and Berit… backgroupnd since you are new to BLSD… our FAN (Family Access Network) program in Bend LaPine Schools provides CRITICALLY IMPORTANT and very real support to our most vulnerable families. This MAC survey day always feels like a “hoop” but to be honest, this training is ESSENTIAL to securing their ongoing federal funding. Every teacher must participate! THANKS!
Here’s a link to a recorded WebEx training:
https://bls.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/bls/recording/playback/b9b63a7fcf1d4bd391e4d8ffc1c8c715 Password: MAC2020fan
Here’s the link to the training itself: https://mac-training.mesd.k12.or.us/
PASS NO PASS OPTION
We have the opportunity to allow families to opt into a Pass – No Pass grade for one or more of their classes this trimester. As we get closer to end of term, I think this MIGHT be an option that some of your students might want to take advantage of… especially a student who is “barely passing” and instead of a D they can earn a Pass on their transcript.
Here is the form a parent would need to use and some language to help us and them understand the choice.
FRIDAY AGENDA – MORE COMING HERE MONDAY NIGHT ONCE I GET HOME AND CAN BUILD AGENDA – this is quick draft!!
- 8:15 – STAFF CREW
- 8:45 – 9:15 ALL TEACHER EXPEDITION PLANNING INTRO – We will be working together on Friday morning to do some expedition planning for Frog In The Pot and for the new 9th grade expedition.
- 9:15 – 10:45 9TH GR EXPEDITION TEAM TIME – hosted by Tony Altucher (Anita, Seelig, Karen)
- 9:15 – 10:45 10TH GR EXPEDITION TEAM TIME – hosted by ____ (Michelle, Heidi, Zach)
- 9:15 – 10:45 Non Expedition Teachers will be doing course and other planning – stay tuned for specific plan and task
- 10:45 – 11:15 Expedition teams share out
- 11:15 – 12:15
- Crew Planning Time
- Individual Teacher Time
https://modelsofexcellence.eleducation.org/exhibits/better-world-projects
FROM THE DISTRICT REGARDING TALKING TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS ABOUT HYBRID AND REOPENING:
As new state metrics are being discussed, so is the growing possibility of returning to school in at least a hybrid format. As families are considering this very real possibility, they are also experiencing a range of emotions (some are very excited, while others are very anxious or concerned – and no doubt some a roller coaster of all of these). Due to this, the district has received a number of parent communications requesting that teachers or other staff do not talk with students about when a return to school is going to occur. Following is a sample message that the District recommend we stick close to:
We know many staff members are excited to see students back in class. But as state metrics and conditions are changing and evolving, please avoid sharing these details with students and parents. We don’t want to create unnecessary disappointment for our students.
GOT DATA OVERAGES???
Many of our Bend employees have internet service with BendBroadband. Some of these teachers (in particular) have experienced an overage of data usage due to CDL this fall (both teaching themselves and any children they have learning through this model). Following is some good news on how these teachers can not be charged for this overage usage during this crazy time. Please share the following message with your staff:
Any teacher that’s been impacted by data overage charges with BendBroadband should send an email to [email protected], from their school email address with their name and account number, requesting credit for their “data usage allowance overage charge,” and they’ll be credited.