A big thank you to all who came to the job fair! Especially this one, who was there interviewing til the bitter end with all the clanging and banging, when everything was taken down around her. Anna Park did not give up–way to go Anna! It was an afternoon connecting with colleagues and friends, new and old, and meeting eager teachers ready to come to Bend-La Pine to change the world. Thanks again everyone.
Do Now:
- Levy Presentations: Thank you for signing up! We are hitting the circuit and are ready to roll!
- Student Services Survey: One administrator per school needs to take this- Survey Link
- Recess for K-5 (and state reporting): Please go into your main schedule for the year and make sure your schedule now reflects the added 3-5 recess per Article 16 of the contract. You should now have a morning and afternoon recess K-5, with only one of those recesses being a rotation. No exceptions please (if you are not doing this, please reach out to Tammy/Lisa to talk about it asap.) Also, Jo Kinzel is in the process of auditing for the state, our instructional minutes, and your accurate and current schedules are an important part of this process.
From Julie: Curriculum, Instruction and Systems
Please share the following information with your staff now.
Wonders Materials
- More information will be shared in the coming weeks on the plan for disposing of Wonders and Units of Study materials
- The Wonders and Wonderworks decodables are great resources. I recommend teachers keep these as resources for the coming years.
- The Leveled Readers are also a great resource. Teachers are welcome to keep these in their classroom libraries.
- During April conferences teachers can give away shared read and anthology books (lock and key)
Expeditionary Learning Launch
Expeditionary Learning (EL Education, Language Arts adopted materials) launch will be on our next Educator Network Day, April 24th from 2:00-3:15. Trainers will be here in-person to give us our first look at the “why” behind the curriculum and the components. We will be travelling to 4 locations. The expectation is everyone is there on time and ready to learn.
Administrators:
Expeditionary Learning (EL Education, Language Arts adopted materials) launch for administrators will be on April 23rd at our horizontal meeting from 3:00-5:00 at Highland Elementary. Come prepared ready to learn!
Reminders:
- Take some time in the next week or so to complete your School Design Mid-Year Review. Let us know if you need some help!
- TLC Update: April 3, Elementary TLC Update
- Tentative BEA Agreement can be found HERE
- Inservice Week Certified work calendar for 24-25
- April: Naglieri testing & SBAC for ELA
- May: SBAC for Math and Science
New Notes:
From Jenny White: Life and Career Readiness
Digital Citizenship for 3rd – 5th graders in Wayfinder’s Collections
Equip students with essential digital literacy skills and promote responsible online behavior, empowering them to navigate the digital world safely, critically evaluate information, and become responsible digital citizens. Direct Link. Directions on how to find this collection in Wayfiner
Game Collections in Wayfinder
Engage students in fun and interactive games that promote engagement. This collection includes games that encourage cooperation, adaptability, and connection. Directions on how to get to the collections in Wayfinder. Here are the direct links: Kindergarten, 1st – 2nd 3rd – 5th
For Principals or Teacher Leaders a fun Wayfinder Activity you can use in a SIW or Staff Meeting. Rock, Paper, Scissors Battle
From Paul in HR: HR has been working to better understand what staff may or may not do during their lunch periods and here is what we’ve learned:
- For certified staff: We cannot enter into any agreement that infringes on their 30-minute duty free lunch. Here is the relevant ORS 342.608
- For classified staff: The district consulted with BOLI as to whether classified employees can voluntarily waive their meal period. The answer we received was to refer to our CBA to see if it includes language allowing classified staff to forgo the meal period and work through it. The BLS/OSEA CBA states the following:
16.5.2: With the supervisor’s approval, employees may work through break
and/or meal period, work a regular schedule, and receive pay for the extra time.
In unusual circumstances, supervisors may require employees to work during break and/or meal periods, provided employees will be granted compensatory time off, for the time worked, or paid time and one-half for the break and/or meal time actually worked.
In summary, certified licensed staff cannot work during their 30-minute duty free lunch period. Classified staff may agree to work through breaks or meal periods, with prior supervisor approval, and receive pay for this extra time.
Performance Evaluation Reminders
All goals, formal observations and most mini’s should be finalized in UKG by the end of April. We are asking Level Leaders to review your progress during their next one-on-one site visit.
In addition, please initiate Self-Reflections (SRs) for your staff this week. You may ‘skip’ instead of ‘initiate’ SRs those who are not on a full evaluation cycle this year. Staff are instructed to complete their SRs by May 1.
- Here is an instruction video to share with your staff on how to complete self-reflections
- Here is an instructional video for admin on how to review, submit and finalize self-reflections
From Lora:
A reminder that our April 10 Admin PD is Youth Truth Training. This training is in the boardroom (not Perseverance Hall), from 1:00-3:00, so that you have time to get back for conferences. Bring a fully charged computer and be ready to dive into your data.
From Tammy and Lisa:
Conferences and Levy Information: This next week, you will be receiving information informing families of the upcoming levy and what it means for Bend-La Pine Schools. You will get a stack of fliers that are to be distributed to each classroom teacher to pass out to each family at conferences. As a reminder, we can educate all about the levy, but we cannot tell people how to vote for it.
New to Sharezies: Thank you Kimberly and Tom for sharing High Lakes “end of the year” check-out tool!
Transfer Interviews: Update, they have now been moved to April 30 instead of April 23.
Erin’s Law: Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) is upon us. This is a friendly reminder that you need to let April Jorgenson know when you have completed the trainings. Thanks for checking in with her.
Roger White support: Thank you Patrick for sharing the information about how we can help Roger and his family as they rally around helping their husband and dad as he fights the hardest fight of his life to recover. While it is a Meal Train link, it is also a place to send gift cards and donate money as well. What to help? Click this link.
Important Dates
Please check that your calendars have all these dates.
- April 10: Youth Truth Training 1-3 pm in the Board Room (all Elementary Admin)
- April 10-11. Spring Conferences W: 3:15 pm -7:15 pm , Th 7:15 am-7:15 pm
- April 17: Office Staff training in the board room from 1:15-2:15. Cover your office for staff please
- April 19: Staffing plans due
- April 23: Horizontal 3:00-5:00–mandatory EL training– at Highland. We need the full 2 hours, so please be on time. No school share outs this time–we’ll catch you up later!
- April 24-26. Tammy and Lisa out of town at a conference–24th will be traveling and may not be able to receive texts/calls, 25-26 should be fine. Call Lora Nordquist if you need some help right away and we are not available.
- April 30: Transfer interviews: High Lakes Elementary, 3:15-5:15
- April 30: All goals, formal observations, and most mini observations finalized in UKG
- May 30: School Counselor Celebration in board room 8-9:30
And finally…
