Quote to consider:
There’s nothing wrong with being wrong. To err is human. It becomes a problem when you choose to stay wrong. To deny error is willful blindness. New information is an invitation to question old opinions. The faster you are to recognize your mistakes, the less wrong you become. ~ Adam Grant
To Dos:
CANVAS CLEAN UP: In order to ensure that every secondary staff member has their Canvas courses set up to meet the district requirements, our first responder Canvas Coaches will be reaching out so they can support you. The deadline for all our course meeting this standard is Jan 5. SIW will be given on Jan 5 (instead of PD) so staff have time to meet and make the needed adjustments. If, after Jan 5, your Canvas courses don’t meet the district standard, I will have a conversation with you to see what additional supports you may need to reach this goal.
SLGG: Staff please complete your two SLGGs by Jan 3. See last week’s blog post for links to resources as well as a school wide SLGG attached to our advisory classes.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: Here are the district guidelines.
Bits and Bobs:
STAFF MEETINGS: Due to circumstances beyond my control this year and working on a timeline that is directed, I have had to give up several SIWs. The results of this has meant that our planned PD for the SIWs at times has been delivered during our Tuesday staff meetings. This is not how I intended to use our staff meeting time and am struggling with the tension of how to move professional work forward in our building while also having limited time to do this important work.
ELL INSTRUCTIONAL TIP: Here a link to this weeks tip. Thanks Lucy and Clarissa!
NUTRITION SERVICES UPDATE: In response to new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules, Bend-La Pine Schools will no longer offer “grab and go after school snack/supper” for all students in the new year. Instead, as of January 3, 2022, “snack/supper” will be available only to students enrolled in after school academic programs, such as Kids Inc.,
Breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided for all students at no cost for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.
OUTDOOR MASKING: You may have seen the communication from the district office that was recently sent out re: outside masking. In a nutshell, the big change is that masks are not required outside during recess or lunch. The exception would be if you are bringing an entire class outside for instruction or for an event. Even with this change, the district office shared that it is still recommended for BLS staff to wear our masks when we are outside at recess, managing drop off/pick up and greeting parents.
Reminders:
STAFF WINTER GATHERING: This year to celebrate community, connection and care we are hosting an all staff breakfast in the Media Center Tuesday, Dec 14th. Food and drinks will be set up by 8am, please come and join in some seasonal, collective, festive joy! (This is replacing our Dec. 14th staff meeting.)
WEB CONNECTION: Tuesday, December 14th, 8th-grade WEB leaders will be excused from their advisory to join their 6th-grade webbies advisory. WEB leaders will have all the supplies they need and come prepared to have fun and connect with their webbies. Thanks for everyone’s support with WEB. Please click here to view the list of WEB leaders and the advisories they will be joining.
CELL PHONES (also noted in weekly family communication and will be revisited in Advisory the first week back from winter break): Cell phones are off and away in student lockers from 9:10am-4:10pm. We know that some students keep their cell phones on their person throughout the day. As long as the cell phone is not disrupting the learning environment, I encourage you all to focus on instruction. Once a cell phone disrupts that learning environment, please ask student to place face down on your desk until the end of the period or place in a manila envelope (extras available in the admin office workroom) and have student store under their desk for the remainder of the class period. For repeated instances, please enter a behavioral SST or send Nole, Dave and Wendy (and CC the grade level counselor) an email and we will follow up.
CHRONIC OFFENDERS (also noted in weekly family communication and will be revisited in Advisory the first week back from winter break): As always, students may be sent individuality to the office if they are egregiously disrupting the learning environment or for serious offenses. A phone call to 7330 or a quick email to that admin team and Stacy to let them know the student is coming is helpful, but not required. Unless we receive communication otherwise from the teacher, our standard response when students are sent to the office is a timeout from class while they complete an office reflection form.
Entering behavioral referral (FYI or follow up response requested) is a huge support in our school wide behavioral support system as it allows us to document incidents and initiate progressive disciplinary responses.
As you all know, whenever a student continues to not meet expectations, classroom teachers partnering with families first (and on an on-going basis, when needed) is best practice.
High Desert Highlights:
