Updates, Reminders, Info and Rants…
From Lora – Substitute Teachers for Professional Learning – (please note, there are some changes to “dedicated subs”, that conflict with what we have shared in the past)
Let me start with the good news: in the last six days of school, we have had zero unfilled certified sub jobs on three of those days. It appears that some combination of the HDESD hiring/training additional subs and the bonus for subs who accept multiple jobs in a month is helping to reduce the number of unfilled jobs in the district.
But while we’re monitoring the data on a weekly basis, we’re not yet at the point where we can allow school/district staff to hire subs for staff professional development. At this point, the district is NOT authorizing the use of certified subs for any professional learning/team work time/staff leadership retreats, etc. Even if your school has “dedicated subs,” (subs that will work only at your site), you may not use these subs for the above purposes. The rationale is two-fold: 1) not every site has this option available to them, and 2) at the last minute, those “dedicated subs” may be needed to cover for a teacher in your building who is taking authorized leave (sick leave, personal, bereavement).
We have had a few teachers/schools with exceptional needs, and they have been authorized to use subs for professional learning. Please contact your level leader directly to discuss the issue if you believe you might have such a need. You will need their approval before requesting subs.
From Lora for Wednesday – Here is a copy of the Critical Friends protocol that Lora will be following during our Wednesday meeting when you share your school design work in small groups. Please look it over and be prepared to participate. You may want to bring a few paper copies of your school design plan to share with your group. (5-6.) We will be meeting in the board room here at the Ed Center from 1:30-3:30 and will follow up by heading over to McMenamins for some holiday cheer when we are through.
From Dave – Just an FYI that the Youth Truth survey will be conducted in January. More info coming soon for you, your staff and your families.
From Stephanie Bent – 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.
From Jennifer Hauth–Re: Harmony SEL Curriculum: Below are some quick links that can help teachers using Harmony SEL to access the Harmony curriculum efficiently. Thank you Jenny White for putting it all together!
The Red List – things to definitely share or do…
Update Staffing Plans – We have been in staffing plans lately for a variety of reasons and notice that they are not up-to-date. Please take a moment to update those with your current class size numbers AND staffing. We anticipate people wanting to return at semester break and need to know where you are at currently.
From April re: SIF Budgets – April is in the process of transferring the funds for the schools’ SIF budgets and she has processed the ones where the budget in your staffing document is completed. Please complete your SIF budget by the first week back in January so April can check this off her list and get you your funds.
From Julianne – I apologize for the last minute notice, but as you know, things move fast in the COVID-19 world. (Oiy!). On Friday Dec. 9, I am hosting two informational WebEx for elementary admins to cover the new Test to Stay/Modified quarantine protocols released by the state. Please join either at 10 am or 1:30 pm.
Calendar
- SIW schedule
- Horizontal Meeting Schedule
- Tammy and Skip visitation schedule
- Monthly checklist
- December 9 and 10 – both Tammy and Skip are out. Please access Lora, Katie, Juan, or Julie for any issues.
- December 13 – Horizontal meeting (canceled) enjoy!
- December 15 – Horizontal leadership – Critical Friends protocol for Design plans with Lora 1:30 – 3:30, Board Room – bring copies of your design plan
- Holiday Cheers! After the Horizontal meeting on the 15th–McMenamin’s
- January 1st – SLGG’s due
- January 7th – SIF budget’s due to April
- January 10, Admin Horizontal Meeting 3:00-4:30–location TBD
And Finally…
