Quote to consider:
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” ~Goethe
To Dos:
CANVAS: Ensure your homepage on Canvas is up to date and translated (including such documents as: syllabus, staff introduction, classroom procedures etc). With virtual conferences coming up, your homepage will be the first stop for families to learn about you, your class, expectations, procedures and the learning that their student will experience this year in your classroom.
Bits and Bobs:
CONFERENCES: After reviewing the staff survey the overwhelming majority voted for adjusting our conference schedule to option #2. Staff will conference Wed and Thurs evening and not report to work Oct 29. Conferences will be held virtually, more to come on this next blog post.
SIW PD SLIDESHOW: Here is the slideshow presented at 10.6.21’s SIW. Reminder: as it says on slide 15, if there is an urgent need for an interpreter, it is acceptable to phone the on call interpreting services; directions and phone number found here.
EBISS: Notes of the Action Items found here: 7th EBISS and 8th EBISS. These will continue to live on the blog “hot links” as ongoing documents as well.
ADVISORY TEACHERS: Please consider using this Advisory Family Newsletter as a template for communicating with your students’ families about what you are doing in Advisory. Add your own information, activities, links and pictures. Make it your own!
TAKING STUDENTS OUTSIDE: Taking your class to a different learning space? Use this updated Out of Classroom form. Quickly enter where you are going and when, then submit the form. It will automatically notify all the people who need to know.
SURVEYS & PRIOR NOTICE: This is a reminder that before conducting student surveys, prior notice to parents/guardians is required. For example, staff can send it out in a classroom newsletter, share it on the Canvas syllabus, etc. Here is a board policy on this topic.
EDUCATOR NETWORK SIWs: Please click here for a document from Dean Richards (Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Systems) that includes time and location details for our district’s Educator Network SIW scheduled for 10/13. (Reminder: the SIW and staff meetings schedule is linked under the “hot links” section of the blog.)
YOUTH TRUTH: FYI- this year’s Youth Truth survey will occur in January; the district will be sending out more information later.
NAEP: HDMS was selected to participate in the NAEP assessment. This is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by NCES, within the U.S. Department of Education. Participation in the NAEP 2022 state-level assessments is required for schools in districts that accept federal Title 1A funds.As part of the NAEP 2022 program, selected 8th graders attending High Desert Middle School in-person will participate in civics or U.S. history assessments on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. NAEP will select approximately 50 of your school’s grade 8 students to represent 8th graders across the nation. Each student will be assessed in only one subject. NCES plans to release the national results as The Nation’s Report Card.
Reminders:
Remember at HDMS we are all part of a village that supports the success of every student that comes through our doors. Many of us supported Cameron during his middle school years at HDMS and I hope this article brings you joy:
Take an inventory of your professional life and consider the following:
- What is taking the majority of my time? Is it giving me the same in return?
- What can I adjust in my daily practice to find more joy in what I do?
- Have I internalized the permission given to remove items from my plate?
- Have I adjusted the expectations of myself during these unprecedented times?
- Am I asking for support and help when I need it?
High Desert Highlights:
