{"id":1693,"date":"2020-11-19T00:03:32","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T00:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/wendy.mcculloch\/?p=1693"},"modified":"2020-11-19T00:52:38","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T00:52:38","slug":"11-18-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/wendy.mcculloch\/2020\/11\/19\/11-18-20\/","title":{"rendered":"11.18.20"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quote to consider<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of you are unaware of just how amazing you really are. The way you make people laugh, lift others up and spread extra love. You do this even though you may be struggling too and I think that it makes you such a strong, inspiring and beautiful human being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To Dos<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEBEX SECURITY UPDATE: As you know, WebEx will be updated on Monday, November 30th.  Students who are logged in to the WebEx platform will go directly into their teacher\u2019s meeting room, whereas those who are not logged in will need to be let in from the \u201cwaiting room.”  More about this change can be found in our blog entry<\/a>. Please review this update with your students during advisory on Thursday<\/strong>. Communication about this is being sent to families as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CANVAS UPDATE: Continue to reach out and partner with your Canvas coach to ensure that your Canvas is set up to meet the school-wide universal expectations<\/strong>. Additionally, check out, and consider providing your students with, The Student\u2019s Guide to Canvas Submissions document<\/a> created by our Canvas coaches. As always, refer to the Canvas Corner link on the side blog for Canvas Best Practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ADVISOR FAMILY OUTREACH: Click here<\/a> for the updated attendance records sorted by advisory teacher. Advisors need to check this list and make contacts home via phone to students who are highlighted NPV for the three most recent weeks<\/strong> or are highlighted for having attendance rate below 80% overall<\/strong> for the month of November. Be sure to click on the November tab at the bottom. Please update the notes as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are two links to templates to use for our every other week communication with our families. Please copy the document<\/strong>, make adjustments to the blanks<\/strong> to make these templates \u2018yours\u2019 and send out to your Advisory families<\/strong>. Be sure to adjust the sharing settings to \u2018anyone with the link\u2019 can view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English: click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish: click here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bits and Bobs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GRADING: For the 2020-21 school year all middle schools are making an adjustment to our grading system. Students who demonstrate learning at the A, B, or C (including “+” and “-“) level will be issued that letter grade; percentage cut offs for each letter grade remains unchanged. Students who demonstrate knowledge below this level (traditionally earning a D or F grade) will be issued a P (Pass) in place of a D or NG (No Grade) in place of an F<\/strong>. We are aware of the potential challenges we all face with distance learning and the unprecedented situation families are facing related to COVID-19. This temporary option is in response to our current reality and will be in place through the end of the 2020-21 school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: If a student, in any class, has already been issued a final first quarter grade of a D or F, these will be changed (by Gina) to a P or NG in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SNOW DAYS: The snow this week has brought up some questions regarding how we are viewing \u201csnow days\u201d this year. The answer may be complicated \u2013 based on whether we are talking about CDL or Hybrid. The district is working on updating our snow day\/school closure language. Checking of roads and communicating of closures will occur as they have in the past. What is different, obviously, is that instruction will continue in CDL, whether facilities are closed or not. Teachers will teach in CDL, students will engage and learn in CDL regardless of whether schools are closed<\/strong>. If a weather-related closure is called for, then transportation will not run and schools will be closed to students and families (e.g. no LIPI or grab and go lunches served). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RETURN TO SCHOOL: Last week this was shared<\/a> with elementary folks. As you will see, secondary schools will move to hybrid after \u201cdemonstrated evidence of safe elementary transition.\u201d It is not defined how long it will take to demonstrate this safety, but we do know MS\/HS will come shortly after elementary makes this transition. Here is a link<\/a> to the Hybrid Schedule that was approved by our district and BEA Tuesday afternoon<\/strong>. We still have many details to work out, but I wanted to make you aware of the overall structure so that folks can begin to plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SUPPORTING SECONDARY INSTRUCTION: This week’s blog<\/a> post is in recognition of two things: the major push towards improving the ‘F” data and the desire to bring our synchronous time more in line with ODE requirements.  A practice of recording district instruction has the potential to guide improvement in BOTH areas<\/strong>.  Making videos for students not only counts towards the ODE guideline, but it also empowers students because they are able to access the learning on their schedules, according to their needs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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COLLEGE DAY: Just a reminder that the annual, district-wide Career and College Day<\/strong> is this Friday, Nov. 20.<\/strong> Don\u2019t let the \u2018freeze\u2019 or CDL slow our fun \u2013 dress up wherever you are working from. Be sure to encourage students to do the same. Bonus points for creativity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We look forward to seeing your fun \u2018at-work\u2019, CDL, and\/or LIPI Career and College Day photos on social media. You can also send them to spotlight@bend.k12.or.us<\/a> for the next district newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS: At this time we are assuming that there will be statewide assessments this spring<\/strong>. We will communicate this with our families, as well as the Opt Out procedures, in this weeks family message. The information has also been added to our school webpage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BOND TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOM UPDATE: After discussion and approval by the ICCL team, we are sharing our new classroom technology standards. Each classroom will have a ceiling mounted projector and Apple TV!<\/strong> This standard setup will allow wireless projecting from staff computers and staff\/student iPads. This update removes the need for technology carts and the old school doc cams (as the iPad can be used as a doc cam). In addition to this new classroom standard, we are providing staff with two additional options: <\/p>\n\n\n\n