From Tammy and Karen
As you head into this well-deserved Fall Break, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your hard work and dedication. Each one of you shows up for your community every day for every member of your community. We especially appreciate the many ways you support one another—your teamwork and mutual encouragement make all the difference, and it’s truly inspiring to see. You’ve all earned this time to relax, recharge, and spend quality moments with your loved ones. Enjoy every minute, and thank you again for all that you do!
TAG ICCLs: If your building does not currently have a TAG ICCL teacher, please identify one and them to this list (go to TAG tab on the worksheet). As a reminder, all schools need to have a staff member join this team. If you have questions about the team, ask Jessica Scott or Stephen Duval for more information.
Please submit your Calendar of non-contract days to both Karen and Tammy by December 6th. You will also start completing time cards for your leave. There is information about the timesheet on the Staff Portal in the Payroll page.
Slides from Horizontal Meeting
Interested in doing something fun together? Since we do not have a horizontal in December, do you want to get together to enjoy each other’s company and have some fun and connection? If so, click on this link, to recommend a date/time and activity (happy hour, bowling, painting, etc.–your ideas are endless!) You can vote for an idea on this link as well. The idea/day/time with the most votes will be announced in the Blog on December 5.
Important Links
- November 20th Elementary TLC Update
- Topics of Interest/Problem of Practice–This week there are questions about PLCs and MTSS – share your great ideas and ask your questions!
- TAG Folder of helpful things
Notes from our Team:
Life and Career Readiness from Jenny White
Principals, here is an activity from Wayfinder called Interest Swap that you can use during a staff meeting or SIW. You can also share the Wayfinder Activity Highlights below in your weekly connection with teachers.
- Kindergarten: Words of Encouragement – Students contribute words of encouragement to a resource in the classroom.
- First: Celebrate Me Dance Party – Students dance to celebrate their uniquely awesome selves.
- Second: Words of Encouragement – Students contribute words of encouragement to a resource in the classroom.
- Third: Celebrations – Students celebrate something they’re proud of.
- Fourth: Future Me – Students imagine their future selves offering advice for today.
- Fifth: Letters of Gratitude – Students write a letter of gratitude to someone in their lives.
First Aid Reports from Stephanie Bent. Please check this document to see if you need staff trained in First Aid. Schools listed in red are required to train more staff.
Policy, Advocacy, and Office of DEI from Kinsey
Immigration/Undocumented community members: If you receive inquiries about our practices related to immigration enforcement or undocumented individuals, here is the English version of our FAQ document (Spanish and Chinese versions available as well). This is intended to be an FYI/talking points for you. You are welcome to share this document with staff for the same purpose, and/or make copies available for students or families who ask.
I have received questions about what a school should do if someone (ex: an immigration official) approaches the office asking for student, staff, or family information related to immigration status. First of all, this is extremely unlikely to occur. If this happens, please contact me immediately before providing or confirming any information. You can say, “I need to confirm district policy and procedure for this request before I am approved to share any information.”
Thank you for sharing this with your office team, so they feel informed on the response required in this very unlikely scenario.
Operations Update from Paul Dean
School Building/Site Modification Proposals Form Administrators are to follow the steps on this form if someone on your staff is considering a project that impacts your school facilities by altering/modifying an existing building or by adding a new structure to your site. Reach out to your Level Leader and COO if you have any questions.
Inclement Weather Department Information. The following departments want to remind administrators about snow day tasks:
- Transportation: Snow Routes can be accessed at this link
- Custodial: Snow maps exist at each site with the custodian/principal. Those snow maps contains the three priorities:
- Front entrance
- Bus loop
- Back entrance
- Ice melt is applied on asphalt ONLY
- Basalt (good traction and does not damage the concrete) is applied and kept on the sidewalk throughout the winter season to retain traction and is intentionally not cleared off
- Custodians report to work regardless of school closure decision
- Safety/IT – Please refer to the Bend-La Pine Schools Inclement Weather Guidelines 2024-2025 for essential information
Action Items
- Include Karen in texts and emails
- Share ideas of a get together here.
- Complete time sheets for any leave for this pay period.
- Complete the calendar of non-contract days for this year and send to Karen and Tammy.
- Identify teacher to attend TAG ICCL (if not already done)
- Check first Aid compliance document
- Share immigration information with office team
Important Dates
- November 25-29 Fall Holiday Break, (if you take time off, use non-contract for all days except Thanksgiving itself)
- December 10: Admin and ICCL Training—make sure your ICCL team knows! 3-5–location TBD
- December 11: All Admin Meeting at Perseverance Hall, 3:00-4:30
- December 19-20: Tammy is out–connect with Karen if you need anything
- December 23-January 3. Winter Break!
