Thank you for all you did to make the start of the year as normal as possible. I know the smoke was almost enough to push everyone over the edge but you kept it together and made the first couple of days a memorable experience for everyone. We visited several schools and walked away impressed with how smooth things were running. You’re all great leaders. Keep up the good work.
Updates, Reminders, Info and Rants…
IMPORTANT! Meal Plans on Websites: Here is an example of what it could look like when done or if you are having a hard time figuring out where it should go . The ask was to share your school meal plans on your website, under the School’s Information Page before the first day of school. Need help? Whoever manages your school websites can do this, but Deby Bryon can assist if folks run into challenges.
Reminder about masks – now that you have been in school for a couple days and have seen what kids are wearing it might be a good idea to remind families that masks need to be form fitting and cover the nose and mouth. Bandanas and gaiters are still not approved “masks”.
Parents and masks – We know parents like to congregate after dropping kids off and right before pick up. Be aware that they should be masked up if they cannot keep 6 ft apart. Friendly reminders in person or strategically placed signs will help enforce this practice.
TLC Update Please read the update and be sure your staff is reading it as well. It is in an email from Julie or right here. This is one place where we can all get on the same page with what is being taught. The scope and sequence of literacy and math are clearly outlined and have been adjusted to accelerate learning this year. No need to put your own spin on “identifying power standards”. They are done for you!
Interventions – Please have your intervention groups up and running sometime during the week of September 20. Just a reminder that we have a legal obligation to be providing Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) for all students on IEPs and that is the week we need to start fulfilling those needs. There are a variety of ways you can identify students needing interventions before you have had your DIBELS day (Lexia data, phonics screeners, Dreambox data, in class assessments, interventions from the year before, etc.). As you acquire additional data,
you can adjust interventions as needed.
DIBELS DIBELS Testing starts on 9/15. Forgot your day? Here it is. Here also, are a few reminders to make your day go smooth:
- Classroom Teachers will need to complete DAZE testing and score.
- Reserve the media center or other location in your building for the day your testing is scheduled.
- Set up the room with tables or desks where the 10-12 district testers plus all of your building testers will be able to test students.
- Schedule your building testing team to be available for the number of hours allotted to your building. Please send Julie Walker your schedule when complete.
- Create a schedule for testing day. Use the table: Minutes and Measures per student to calculate the number of minutes each class will require for testing. You will have 8-10 district testers plus your school team. Each class generally takes 15-20 minutes, with each student taking K: 2-3 min, 1st: 5-6 min, 2nd: 7 min, 3rd-5th: 5-6 min.
- Have a person designated to be the runner to get classes and bring them to the testing location. This could be your interventionist, Title 1 teacher, student services etc…. Please let classroom teachers know that on testing day they need to be flexible around the scheduled time because the testing team may be running earlier or later than expected.
- Have a person designated for entering data into the DIBELS Data System as we are testing.
- Have all DIBELS testing booklets ready to go for the testing team.
- Organize DIBELS testing booklets by classroom and label booklets with student name and classroom teachers.
Title IV – Just a reminder that the 1 hr office assistant was approved as part of our Title IV funding. Each school is allotted $4200. Some of you used that for 1 hr office aid. Some added other funds to it for a 2 hr office aid. Some of you used that for an office aid sub. Basically, continue with last year’s plan.
School Board School Assignments: Here is a link to the School Board Members and the schools that they are assigned to represent. – School Board Assignments
Restorative Practices – Want to go more in depth with understanding the “circles” we have been using and how they can also be used for restorative practices with students as well? Consider joining the community of practice, brought to you by the HDESD and the Culture of Care coaches. The commitment is a 1.5 hour training/month, in which you become part of a community of learners around restorative practices. You will receive some amazing training, resources and connect with people who are also doing restorative work in schools in our community. Here is some information about the work and information on how to sign up. First class starts on 10/11.
SIW 9/15– get the word out to families that this coming Wednesday is our first SIw so kids will be released early. The topic for this SIW is up to the school to decide.
The next 6 weeks…. At the middle level and at the high school level teachers will be working to create a syllabus for the courses they teach. At the elementary level we don’t need to do this but It would be helpful if teachers or grade level teams added a section in their class newsletters that previewed upcoming topics. It wouldn’t have to be super detailed – just something that provided parents with an overview of upcoming topics and projects. This would also go a long way to answer some of the curriculum questions and what is being taught questions we are getting from community members. See this letter from Lora that further explains how to handle these requests.
Another reminder about our shared Google Drive we received lots of requests to share permissions with your teachers for documents in our Elementary Leaders Shared Drive. Out of precaution, and because we will be sharing things in the drive for your eyes only, we are not granting these sharing requests. If there are documents you want to share with your staff please make a copy of the document and share it. If you are still confused by all things google drive, Christie Boen is an amazing Google Drive trainer!
Calendar
- SIW schedule
- Horizontal Meeting Schedule
- September 8-10 – drop in visits from the Ed Center
- September 13 – Horizontal Meeting (business focus), 3-4:30 @ Miller Elementary library
- September 14 – School Board meeting
- September 15 – SIW
- September 22 – District leadership training, location TBD
- September 24 – Tammy is out, but available by phone.
- September 27–Horizontal Meeting (professional development focus–please bring your Collective Efficacy book), location TBD
And Finally…
If you have never read the book, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse”, give yourself the gift of 12 minutes to watch this story here. It’s a truly beautiful story and really puts life into perspective when we have those days we doubt ourselves and the world.
Thanks to you and your staff for doing so well this week! Between our visits and Lora and Steve’s visits, we see and hear great things everywhere. Congratulations on a great start!