Quote to consider:
“I’m so desperately grateful to all the professionals in the school building for adding ‘heroic hygiene’ to their jobs to get our kids into the classroom.” ~HDMS parent
To Dos:
ORIENTATION DUTY SCHEDULE: Thanks in advance for having all hands on deck during all four orientation days. This is especially important before/after school and during passing periods. Please review carefully this schedule (scroll down for the duty schedule) and be sweeping the hallways and supporting students at the correct day/time.
GRADES: Please review the link here to see the students who will be moving to BLPO and/or D CDL at the end of this semester. Please post their grades by Feb 2nd so that Gina can un enroll them and they can be re enrolled in their new program.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- Stand up staff meeting in cafe Monday (2/1) morning at 9:00am
- Staff meeting Thursday (2/4) at 2:30 in Kennedy’s WebEx room
COMMUNICATION: Please continue to email Nole, Heather and Wendy for all things admin. Please begin to email all three of our office support staff; Kerri Green, Gina Samuel and Stacy Miholich as they are balancing the load of all the offices at this time.
Bits and Bobs:
ATTENDANCE: Starting the week of February 1st-5th, attendance will only be taken for students who physically attend class in their cohort group. This will continue to be the protocol as we move into hybrid the following week. Asynchronous students are automatically marked PV (present virtually) and rarely will this be changed to NPV (not virtually present).
ORIENTATION INFO: The Orientation slideshow will be what teachers cover with their students during classes next week. Please make a copy and edit the classroom slides for yourself.
Here is a map of the school you could consider using/printing for your students.
CHARACTER STRONG: We are very excited to announce that HDMS has purchased the Character Strong Advisory Curriculum. This program comes very highly recommended by current middle school teachers. There are 35 grade level lessons, designed to be either virtual or in person, covering topics like Empathy, Healthy Habit Development, Growth Mindset, Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness, Kindness, Respect, Acceptance, & more. The lessons are designed for middle school students, not too elementary and not too high school. Each one is set up to be “plug and play” meaning little to no prep for teachers. More information about access and optional support sessions coming soon!
STAFFING: A few updates:
- ICCL: Maria V. has accepted this position for the remainder of the year! Congrats!
- Curriculum Secretary: This position will close next week and we will begin with interviews shortly thereafter.
- Support EA: Interviews are set for this position for next week. Hoping to have someone in this role by Feb 8.
- Nursing Support: Bridget Dean has been hired as a Health Aid to support Nurse Megan and our office staff as we work through the increased nursing needs for the remainder of the year. Welcome to Bridget!
- Custodial: Travis has joined our custodial team and will start here at HDMS on Monday.
Following are a few updates from Tami Pike:
Just wanted to give you all a “heads up” that with the increased number of staff set to be receiving their COVID vaccinations over the next few weeks, there will more than likely be an increased number of staff calling out sick (especially with the second dose). If individuals complain of COVID symptoms (even if it may be from the vaccine), we will still be following our exclusion guidelines for COVID symptoms (please contact Wendy/Nole or Nurse Megan). This means that a staff person could potentially be out for 10 days or be tested for COVID. If the result is negative, the employee could return to in-person work when they receive a signed Return-to-Work Form from their medical provider and symptoms have improved or resolved.
Quarantine time has changed from 14-days to 10-days when an individual has been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case.
Notification of a positive COVID-19 case (in a school building) will be sent out to parents and school staff within 24 hours of case confirmation. Separate communication will be sent to parents in cohorts affected by the case. Information in this communication will include quarantine instructions (if warranted).
MEDICAL APPOINTMENT SURVEY: Please fill out this survey by the end of the day Tuesday (2/2) in regards to potential upcoming medical appointments so that we may have an idea around our upcoming coverage needs.
NURSE MEGAN TRAINING: For your reference, here is the video of our WebEx recorded Nurse Megan training.
MASKING UPDATE: see this document for the latest info for staff and students re: masks. Please note that this update clarifies the following: no gators, no buffs, no bandannas (unless these items are worn over a mask meeting district requirements). No masks with a valve.
Also, we were asked to remind staff that upon arrival on school property and stepping outside of their vehicle, a mask must be worn by all. Lastly, remember to use this flowchart to guide your next steps when you have questions/concerns about COVID-19 related matters.
UNIVERSAL CANVAS SETTINGS DURING HYBRID: Resources. A video is coming from Elissa to support teachers who cross listed, and as always, reach out to your canvas coaches.
What: Standardizing the way our Canvas Modules look by:
1) organizing them by week
2) naming them with the color of weeks (Purple/Gray) and dates (4/8-4/12)
3) identifying assignments by using all CAPS after the assignment (AT HOME or AT SCHOOL).
Why: Students have had enough change (as have we all) and will more successful and less stressed if they can find assignments with ease and consistency. This set up makes it very clear what week it is, and what the students need to be doing both in class and at home. This template also helps teachers organize their thinking and planning into the cohort model to which we are currently adapting.
Support: The Canvas Coaches will be providing a Module Template in the Canvas Commons for HDMS teachers to import and then add the dates, their assignments etc. We are also providing a Weekly Overview for Semester 2, a Daily Plan for Semester 2, an Example of a Weekly Plan, Ideas for Asynchronous Instruction, and some Canvas Tips for Hybrid. We are always available to help staff with all things Canvas!
STUDENT SAFETY: Front entry doors will remain unlocked during the school day for students/parents to enter the vestibule. The lobby doors leading into the school, will remain locked and only opened to allow students or staff to enter the school. Please help us ensure that all other exterior doors remain closed and locked unless being physically supervised by staff to allow students to enter or exit. Once the staff member leaves the exterior doorway, the door should be locked and closed.
CLASSROOM COVID SUPPLIES: Each teacher’s box has been filled with one large hand sanitizer bottle, one box of cloth masks, and one box of 50 disposable masks.
LEAD UPDATE: New Equity Standards:
When the state of Oregon passed House Bill 2845 a new set of ethnic studies standards became part of the social studies standards for Oregon schools, with full implementation in 2026. These new standards will add the voices and perspectives of many minority groups that have previously not been heard in our education system.
At this time, the Oregon Department of Education is asking for teacher feedback on these standards before the standards are finalized. If you are interested and willing to review the standards, and provide feedback please follow the directions below. Anyone can participate.
- Click on this link to view the new ethnic studies standards. The social studies standards are in black font, and the new ethnic studies standards are in blue font. The standards are broken up by age group. You can view all grades, or just middle school.
- After you view the new standards, click on this survey link to give your feedback.
If you would like more information on these standards or the work behind the standards, please reach out to Julie McCabe.
CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY: As you know, our classrooms were updated by the tech department by ceiling mounting projectors and providing Apple TVs. When we communicated with staff this update in November, we, along with guidance from the ICCL team, also gave staff an opportunity for two additional options to the new classroom tech standard. If you signed up to use your iPad as doc cam with iPad stand, you will be receiving the iPad stand as soon as the order is delivered. There will likely be another opportunity for staff to request this additional technology in the future.
FYI: we’ve requested staff training from the tech department and training options should be coming. Thanks for your patience as the tech department is currently short staffed due to some staff leave. Jill will also be trained and can support teachers (when she’s available).
As always, the fastest, most effective way to get support from the tech department is to enter a help ticket.
SUSTAINABILITY: From district coordinator Jackie W: Please complete the survey found here and share it throughout your school communities. If you complete the survey and add your name to the end, you will be put in a drawing for free tickets to the virtual Mountain Film Event. You can watch engaging sustainability programs from your own home! Reminder: HDMS has an opening for the school’s sustainability coordinator; this is a stipend position. Email Wendy, Nole, and Heather if you’re interested
Reminders:
SIGN IN/SIGN OUT DAILY: In addition to the QR codes, direct links have been added to the sidebar of the blog.
1.27.21 STAFF MEETING: For your reference, here is the slideshow we shared during our staff meeting.
SPANISH INTERPRETER: If we continue to have no signups, we will pause our Spanish interpreter system. Consider signing up for a timeslot for this Wednesday from 1:30-4:00pm to make connections with our Spanish speaking families. These connections can be setup ahead of time and/or cold calls. Use the link on the sidebar of the blog to sign up by Tuesday at 9:00am.
TRUTH NORTH: Remember why you chose to become an educator; let that be your truth north when the going gets tough.
High Desert Highlights:
