Everyone – Thank you for participating in our Critical Friends exercise on Wednesday. This day was a long time coming so I am glad we were able to finally make it happen. Thank you Lora for leading the process. In talking to several of you, it appears the afternoon was successful and that you took away some helpful feedback and suggestions. Let’s aim for spring break as our target for having design plans completed.
Updates, Reminders, Department Info and Rants…
From Julie – Here is a blurb about the upcoming Foundational Skills Community Forums. Clarification – this is not an open community forum. Refer to Julie’s directions on inviting two parents.
Families,
Our school district is in the process of choosing curriculum materials and developing training to help our elementary teachers be more effective at teaching “foundational reading skills” (identifying letters, phonics, etc.). Next school year, we will expand our work and look at all the components of effective literacy instruction: reading, writing, and speaking. As part of this work, we want to hear from families and community members about what’s important to you.
We are hosting our first community forum on Monday, February 28th, from 6:00-7:00 at the Education Center (520 NW Wall Street-the stone building across from the library downtown). As part of that forum, we’ll be gathering your feedback on three questions:
- Think about our students as READERS. What would you want them to know and be able to do as readers when they graduate from high school?
- Based on your knowledge and/or experiences, what do you think our schools are doing well to help them achieve the goals you identified in question 1?
- Based on your knowledge and/or experiences, what do you think we need to do better to help them achieve the goals you identified in question 1?
From Nick in the Business office -Here is a handy link explaining the different budgets that you work with. This may be helpful as we start to get ready to head into another budgeting season. (sidenote from Tammy–this does not include Title 1A).
FYI From Terry Cashman– water fountains are being turned back on. Clearance was given by the health department. Walt will coordinate with your building engineer on getting this done.
The Red Zone – Things to Share or Do…
Mary Ehrenworth: The training this coming Wednesday is for all elementary school leaders (Principal, VP and SS) and will be here in the Ed Center boardroom from 1:30-3:30. Come prepared to leave with some good information and ideas to inspire you to lead for the second half of the year. (snacks provided)
Nagleri info – NNAT3 should now be available and schools can begin anytime. Student data are continuously updated via Clever. We test all 2nd graders and students who are new to BLS. You may want to reach out to neighboring schools so that you are administering the test close to the same time (parents like to talk and compare these things).
Something to share in your staff newsletters From Kinsey: Dear certified teacher, A key priority within our district’s equity efforts is to improve outcomes and experiences for our culturally- and linguistically-diverse students and families. We know that teachers who have specialized skills and training through an ESOL endorsement are better able to:
- understand multilingualism,
- identify strengths and assets of emergent bilingual students,
- support language acquisition during teaching, and
- partner with families through culturally-sustaining practices.
Want to obtain your ESOL endorsement for free?! Bend-La Pine Schools has partnered with OSU to provide a full scholarship to five certified teachers, to participate in the endorsement program. To learn more about this opportunity; understand the timeline, application, and selection process; and ask questions, please join BLS and OSU:
- Informational session and Q-and-A
- Tues, March 8th 4:30-5:15pm
- WebEx meeting: join here
- Here are additional details about this opportunity, and here is the application (due April 1, 2022).
Growing your toolbox of culturally- and linguistically-sustaining practices is incredibly valuable and relevant professional learning for educators, as our community grows and diversifies. If you are interested in learning about other PD opportunities related to this topic, please reach out to your building’s Language Specialist, or to one of our district’s multilingual department instructional coaches Thanks!
From Dave VanLoo – Please see Dave’s email earlier this week titled “Important!! OSAS Security Training and Testing for 2021-22” it was dated 2/15. It has important and timely information regarding state testing and training.
From Lora – We heard great disappointment from many administrators about the training with the Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) scheduled for June 27th and 28th, primarily because many of you will have completed your contractual days by those dates. SO, we are postponing the first two days of the training until the week of August 8th. We will share the exact dates of those trainings, as well as the schedule for the entire school year’s work with CEL, as soon as they confirm the dates.
To Do – Team, please send the attached information about mathematics “pathways” in middle and high school to your fifth grade staff AND fifth grade families.
Calendar
- February Visits
- SIW schedule – this is the newest version
- Horizontal Meeting Schedule – there have been changes – check it out now!
- Monthly checklist
- February 16-18 Tammy at a conference–call Skip!
- February 23 – Special Mary Ehrenworth Workshop for Elementary Admin. 1:30-3:30 (location TBD)
- February 28 – Preparing to Lead Equitable Schools–Principals only. 3:30-5:00 location TBD
- March 7 – Horizontal 3:00-4:30, Board Room
- March 21-25 – Spring Break
- April 4 – Preparing to Lead Equitable Schools–Principals only. 3:30-5:00 location TBD
- April 11 – Horizontal – school BRYT visits follow up 3:00 – 4:30, Board Room
- April 18, 19, 20 – Tammy and Skip out
- April 25 – Horizontal 3:00-4:30
And Finally…
There are times when we just need a laugh to make things feel better. When I need a laugh like to surf YouTube for some of my favorite clips from sitcoms (and maybe the occasional cat video). This week I found myself looking at clips from The Office and below are a couple of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them and that you take time out of your hectic day and schedule to laugh a little – it’s good for the soul.