Weekly Update #8

 Inspirational Quote:

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." - B.B King 

This Week's Schedule

COVID Survey - every morning before 8:00

Monday, October 19, 2020                                
Tuesday, October 20, 2020                                Weekly Staff PD- Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
Wednesday, October 21, 2020                            CIT and Math Teacher Meetings, Student Study
Thursday, October 22, 2020                              Glenda - Supt Meeting, Food Pantry
Friday, October 23, 2020

Things to Consider

Please read the weekly update carefully.

• Virtual Fall Festival - Everyone has been doing a lot of hard work.  Let's set aside 12:00-1:00pm on October 30th to have some fall fun.  Please do not show movies.  This time is an opportunity to connect and engage with your students and families.
• Send out invitations, feel free to invite families to join.
• Some ideas are: read an engaging Autumn themed story, engage families in a Math activity with a fall theme, use some of the time to work together on an Harvest ART activity, etc.
• Teacher Absences - While subs are no longer going to be posted on Aesop (Frontline), I do ask that you post your absence requests on Aesop so that the office and I are aware of your request.
• Additionally, please make sure your CIT, Glenda, and Liz are aware.
• PROTOCOL FOR FAMILIES with STUDENTS that have COVID or another ILLNESS
• Connect with the nurse and teacher's child if a child will be out.
• If a child is able to listen to the learning, they are welcome to log on with their video off for any portion of the day.
• All student work and assessments must be made up once the student recovers.
• A plan for make-up can be created in collaboration with the teacher, family, and support staff in our building.
• Support staff such as (Building Sub, CITs, Math Teacher, etc.) can support w/ the make-up of assessments.
• Student Absences - There is a new code for students that are absent due to tech issues.  It is TI.  You may use that code for students, and it will present at similar to constructively present. 
• Progress Report - Our typical progress report will be sent to us next week via a fillable document.  The due date for them has been pushed a week later to November 6th.
• Small Group Instruction - All small group instruction with supports should officially launch on October 26th.
• Imagine Learning PD - will be presented during our November 3rd PD Day.
• Extra Curricular Clubs - This year, we ask that you submit how your club will be fun and engaging for students.  It will not be a club focused on academics.  We'd like to get students moving and having fun.
• Some ideas that I've heard are: dance club, art club, cheer club, crochet club, exercise club.
• We are also looking to gather materials and a distribution date for materials in preperation for the clubs.
• In addition, I am trying to secure some funds to make available at home so that we can support the clubs.
• PLEASE BRING YOUR IDEAS!

• Book Inventory for Professional Development
• Observation and Coaching Updates - Liz and Glenda will begin to join zooms regularly throughout the day.  Please do not stop what you are doing or worry about introducing us during your lessons.  We will be observers and do not want to distract you from your regular schedule.
• Please note that our first goal when we begin observations this year is to ensure that everyone states an objective at the start of the lesson, refer back to it throughout the lesson, and circle back to the objective at the end.
• Great Tip - In addition to their personal zoom, some classroom teachers have had their document camera or phone logged into zoom with a picture of the objective for that lesson. This is a great idea for you as the lesson facilitator to refer to, and for the students to see throughout the lesson.
• Action Plans have been created and released.  These are due on Nov. 1st. Do not forget to add weekly, targeted phone calls to families during teacher outreach block for student learning goal. (Our Fall Festival can be added as Parent Engagement under your Student Goal.)  We will be checking them and signing them afterward.
• Reminder from Rania - ESL curriculum is required by law, so please make sure that that instruction does not get interrupted.
• Rania would like 30 minutes of ESL for all groups.  I will be meeting with the ESL team about doing this creatively outside of the 20 minute small group times.  For example, making use of the Opening Circle / ESL Lessons or Closing Circle Time.  
• Much appreciation of your continued flexibility.
• Reminder - Academics ends at 1:00 and  except for Wednesdays the Closing Circle must be done.  This is an important part of the schedule.  Please make sure that this gets done.
• RazKids Accounts -  please remember to share these with support staff that service students in your classrooms.
• Current Login Information - Zoom Logins - Connery Share Drive
• No Contact List - Like last year, we ask that you add no contact or no attendance students to the following form: 
• Limited Contact List
• Please keep this updated
• Once a student is contacted and regularly on lessons, you may gray them out
• Our Wellness Team will be meeting regularly to go over student cases.
• Here is a helpful resource about attendance: Attendance FAQs

• Q & A about filing - click here
• Nurse Update - Each year all staff are required to receive Emergency Preparedness Training. Below is a link to the staff training which I have pre-recorded in zoom.  I ask that you please try to complete this as soon as possible - with a deadline of 10/13 (next Wednesday).
• Some topics include food allergies, CPR, Life saving medication administration, MERP, Bleeding Kits and AED.
• Here is the training video: https://lynnschools-org.zoom.us/rec/share/4C1EUPD638HjpK4I8RLNB38damrzweioNKVIvQFQhmoSZxInKB03-sfQrsT9Ibpe.afrrLN4x7vBNaCVD?startTime=1601564408000

1. Watch this food allergy video: https://www.allergyhome.org/schools/food-allergy-school-staff-training-full-length-module/   (if you watched this video last year, you may be able to skip ahead to the quiz)
2. Watch the EpiPen administration video (5 minutes) here: https://www.epipen4schools.com/Members/Training/

                                                                 District Updates

• Learning Support Centers - after school in person support for students least able to access remote learning,
• 4 days/wk, 1 hrs/day
• 3 sites (Shoemaker, LVTI, and Harrington)
• Special Ed - all learning plans must be updated to reflect the schedule changes.
• DESE Update - MCAS will proceed in the spring. EL accommodations continue this year even though we are teaching remotely. 
• Report Cards / Progress Reports - TBD
• Resource - Electronic Office Referral
• Please email Glenda and Liz when one is completed.
• You can also fill in the original form if you prefer - You may click the link below for the form: https://lynnpublicschools-my.sharepoint.com/personal/colong_lynnschools_org/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?docid=18be8c5df8fd1469d93afead8bda37c3b&authkey=ATVRqUfyMgkel8U5majMhqU&e=X8Zl37
• Updated Class Assignments - Click Here
• Connery School Calendar - Mentor dates are updated.
• Parent Outreach - Please call families during designated times.
• DESE Attendance Guidelines - Click Here
• Superintendent Goals - 1. All students connected to technology- Device, Internet, and Schoology by the third week of school. 2. Attendance will be at 95% by the third week into school.
• Zoom Link for Weekly Staff PD on Tuesdays:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87339845817?pwd=ZVp5Um5sWFlGOUFjdEFiSlFOcFRYZz09

Meeting ID: 873 3984 5817

Passcode: fNjge0

Looking Ahead

• October 20th - Staff PD
• October 21st - SST (Student Support Team)
• October 27th - Staff PD
• October 28th - Staff Meeting
• November 3rd - Teacher in-Service Day (PD - No School for Students)
• November 4th - ILT
• November 6th - Progress Reports Due