Thank you for giving me some titles to explore over winter break. I am definitely going to check out some of the shows you suggested. However, some of your suggestions are kind of worrisome – we may need to talk. At least nobody suggested Keeping up with the Kardashians! Here’s the list in case anyone needs some binge worthy TV suggestions.
Focus on Excellence and Equity…
Thank you for participating in the Bryt Training on Wednesday. I find the material presented and the small group discussions really engaging and consistent with the work we need to be doing in our schools and in our district. During the training I wrote down this quote from one of the teachers in the video Courtney shared that resonated with me:
“…it’s not just about teaching a unit on MLK or having an equity focused unit. It is hard work and involves our evaluation of our own presumptions of our students.”
As a reminder here is the homework assignment you will need to complete in the coming weeks:
Find some time for individual quiet reflection to write down two goals you can definitely achieve to plus one stretch goal for your own (individual) leadership work for how you can work to move BLS closer to your group’s definition of equity over the next few months. Please enter your three goals into your groups spreadsheet by December 18. Please provide written feedback to your group members (based on the column headings in the spreadsheet) by January 15.
More information on this assignment and links for recording your goals will be sent soon by Sean Reinhart.
Department News…
From Kerry Morton – Thank you for attending training with DreamBox Learning Professional Development Services. Use the links below to access the information from the webinar.
- A survey about the provided professional development: https://bit.ly/37NjRLI
- Google folder with support documents: https://bit.ly/INTROdbl
- The recorded session: https://dreambox.zoom.us/rec/share/qpm0QGtruIy0K9OTdhxzv7L8m5hfwxF0fTeGkQTQxueNP1Mgds1F4-N2g_GVdYUx.gCDm-ir1Kr5yd4O2
- Access Passcode: +yp=7+fn
- To play as a student: https://www.dreambox.com/k-8-math-lessons
- Educators can play any DreamBox Lesson in English or Spanish.
- To play in Spanish via the teacher’s Insight Dashboard, add &lcid=21514 at the end of the English Lesson’s URL.
- Click HERE to see some examples
From Amy Tarnow – WebEx Update: We still don’t have a definitive answer to what has been causing the increase in WebEx issues we have seen since Thanksgiving. However, through work with the company it has been determined that rolling back to a previous version of the app is helpful. As of this morning, this version will install automatically before you host your next WebEx meeting (you must start your meeting from the https://bls.webex.com/ website). It is our hope is that teachers and students will see some stability return to their WebEx meetings with the implementation of this change. If you continue to hear about problems with WebEx meetings after today, we would appreciate it if you would take a moment to describe them on this form.
How to check your WebEx Version:
- Start a Webex Meeting
- Go to “WebEx Meeting” in top menu bar by the apple
- Go to “About Webex Meeting”
- You should be on version 40.11.5.11
From John Craft for your teachers – Teachers, a quick tip to help when sharing audio and video during Webex meetings: Be sure to “Optimize for motion and sound” from the share screen window.
Updates, Reminders, Info and Rants…
Getting classrooms ready – The rumor we need to address is that we are coming back with kids on January 4th. As I communicated to each principal the reason for getting desks in place and classrooms ready by January 4th is to get this off our plates now rather than later. Of course this raised some concern and some people didn’t quite hear things the way you said them. Just keep reassuring everyone that we are not coming back January 4th with kids in the classroom.
Desks – How many are you short and for what grade level? Dan Wolnick had a great idea about how to identify if a classroom is ready to go with desks or not. On the square footage spreadsheet he added columns where he indicated information and the status of each classroom. Having all the info on classrooms in one place makes things much easier for everyone. If you want to add information to this spreadsheet please do. Check out Juniper’s tab as a model. I especially like column J – Ready for Expanded LIPI? Yes or No.
A reminder – because 4th and 5th will more than likely not go past hybrid, a mix of tables and desks might work in those classrooms. I am asking that you be as creative as possible with what you have. Middle level admins are in the process of providing Jim Boen an inventory of what kinds of desks they have. I should have that info soon.
Childcare update – Earlier in the week I included all of you in the follow up email I sent to our childcare providers. The meeting I had with them went very well and they are all open to improving in any way they can. They understand that numbers are spiking and that we are seeing increased exposures or possible exposures. I would encourage all of you to work with them and do your best to help them out. They are a valuable resource for our families and are doing their best. In addition to what I sent them, here are some guidelines, practices, and steps for you that Tami, Paul Julianne and I came up with:
- Parents with children in the childcare program should address questions/concerns about the program’s safety practices with the childcare staff. So please direct those concerns to the program lead first.
- If concerns are unresolved, the parent can then communicate the concerns with building leader where the childcare program is run
- BLS staff should direct questions/concerns about childcare programs with their building administrators. Building leaders will communicate with childcare staff about correcting the practice
- If the situation is not resolved, the building leaders will send an email to Skip and the agency lead about the issue.
- Skip, the agency lead and the building leaders will determine the best corrective measures to take
Superintendent Search – Don’t forget that next Wednesday you have an opportunity to hear from our two Superintendent finalists in a Q & A style forum. There will be two sessions, one for each finalist, instead of both appearing together. The forums will each be an hour in length and will start at 9:30 and 10:45am. If you haven’t yet, please submit a question that you’d like our candidates to answer.. More to come on how to login to these virtual sessions will be coming.
Something to read – I recently participated in a Dylan Wiliam conference and this document was shared. I thought I would pass it on to everyone as a resource. Addressing Unfinished Learning After COVID-19 School Closures
Invitation – I Just want everyone to know that I would more than welcome the opportunity to participate in a staff meeting. If you want me to address a specific topic or just want to introduce me to your staff just let me know and I will put it on my calendar.
Calendar
Monday – Horizontal 2:30 in Skip’s WebEx room
Wednesday – Virtual forum with our two superintendent finalists: the first candidate will participate from 9:30-10:30, and then the second candidate from 10:30-11:30.
Finally…
