Friday, November 13, 2020

Week #12

 Inspirational Quote:

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
-W.B. Yeats

This Week's Schedule

COVID Survey - every morning before 8:00

Monday, November 16, 2020                                 Staff Meeting
Tuesday, November 17, 2020                                 Dr. Parker (3-5),Weekly Staff PD
Wednesday, November 18, 2020                            Student Study
Thursday, November 19, 2020                               Glenda - Supt Meeting
Friday, November 20, 2020
Things to Consider

Please read the weekly update carefully.

Because you deserve to have this said to you each day, and despite the moments where a parent might get mad or a lesson doesn't go just the way that you'd hoped, you still come back each day to shine a bright light on our students.  Thank you!
  • Half Day Fun - We'd like to give you the opportunity to use the last hour of the day on November 25th, to engage with students in a fun way.  Like Sara did, we will provide some ideas that could be done with student during that time.
  • Dr. Parker Meeting - please have your students reading levels available for the meeting.  Reading teachers have already shared the Spelling Inventory Data.
    • The objective for this meeting is to review current groupings and use the new data to inform your current group formation.  This is an opportunity to discuss your current students and their needs.
  • Tuesday PD - On Tuesday, we will have PD on Running Records.  We will be learning this gradually and will end the PD/PLT work by sharing how you can complete a Running Record on RazKids.
    • Materials are in your mailboxes.
  • Specialist Check in with Katie Landino - Katie will meet with each of you on Thursday from 10:30-11:00.  She will reach out with more information.
  • Upcoming Access Webinars - message from Rania
    • The ELE Department and ELE Coaches will attend the upcoming webinars to assist schools with questions, etc. and we will send the recorded video along to all principals once it is posted.
  • School Committee Vote - Students in our DD, II, and PreK classes will return on January 19th.
    • Protocols and systems have been planned by our First Response Team
      • These will be shared prior to student arrival.
  • Schoology - Please note, that when a student's laptop is reset (which happens frequently) all of their saved links dissappear.  Please place your class zoom and buttons on Schoology.
    • All students should use schoology to log in, and see a link to your class.  In addition all schoology pages should have buttons available for the various places/teachers they visit.
      • If you are still struggling with this, please reach out. 
        • Completing this task could support a lot of families.  Thank you!
  • Absences - Important Update - Due to union concerns over following the MOA's, I can no longer give flexibility on adjusting and switching remote day vs in person days.  If you are scheduled to come in on Monday and Tuesday, you must be in on that day and if you are unexpectedly unnavailable to come in, you must take the day off.
      • Exceptions are made for those that have to remote in from home.
      • All staff were assigned two days for in person days, even in you come in 5 days a week.  Therefore, the required days are the 2 you were initially assigned. You are still welcome to come in 5 days a week should you choose.
        • Please note this is a shift moving forward, and has no bearing on decisions previously made.
  • Staff Meeting Changes - There were two Staff Meetings scheduled during a half day/vacation day. The new dates are the November 16th and December 17th.
  • Reach Reminder - We need to follow our priority standards.  Please keep in mind that reach DOES NOT align to the priority standards in many cases.
    • Please use the priority standards when planning.
  • Upcoming Half Day Prek and K Schedule - The following schedule has been set by Jacqui Gallo
      • Sign on at 8:15.  Academics start at 8:30 till 9:30.
      • Sign on at 9:45.  Academics start at 10:00 till 11:00.
  • Schoology -  Thank you for all that responded to the Schoology log requested by Admin.
    • Parent Usage - To view parent usage complete the following:
      • Go to members on the left side in your course. Any parent that has signed up will be listed under your student.  
  • Make Up Tests - Thank you for everyone that has been reachout out to request support for make ups.  In your email to us, please include our building sub, Liz.  She has been great at arranging her schedule to support as many classrooms as possible. 
  • Attendance - Please post attendace on time and everyday.  There have been lots of staff members on the non-submitter report.
    • New Code - LWOP - Left Without Permission.  This code will be put in e-school ONLY by LeeAnn.  If a student leaves without permission or seems inactive because there screen is off for an extended period of time, please email a 1 sentence description to LeeAnn with the time of departure and student name.
      • We will be documenting this in order to track our attendance data.
  • Snow Days - The commissioner has opted to allow districts to choose whether they makeup their snow days or participate in remote learning.
    • In Lynn, there will be two possible options reported to families.
      • Option 1 - Learning is Remote - All parents are informed, schedule continues as it normally would on the day of announced remote day due to snow, and no one enters the school building.  Work continues as usual from home.
      • Option 2 - Cancellation - All parents are informed, there are no zoom meetings held, and all LPS buildings are closed. All programs and LPS functions are cancelled.
  • Schedules - Specialist Schedules have been updated to match our schedules and math routines.  
    • Here is the plan for their WORK in your classroom 
      • All specialists are assigned to your classroom 2 or 3 days/a week.  They will take a portion of the class each day for 30 minutes,
      • They teach their content integrated with math.  
    • Please be sure that you follow your schedule.  When observations are in progress, we use each classroom's schedule on SharePoint.
      • Please be aware that department heads and admin will be joining us for observations in order to learn more about our Guided Reading and Whole Group Structure, as well as learn from teachers that have model blended learning environments.
        • At this point, all classes should begin the transition (if it hasn't already happened) to using your center boards.  This was planned at a recent PLT and is important in supporting independence.
          • We know this will take time and practice!
  • Schoology Parent Access Codes - These should be sent.
  • Students Struggling - If students are struggling with noise at home or not able to access Schoology, please inform the office.
  • 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 Tardies - please email or text LeeAnn so that she can change the attendance.
  • Small Group Instruction - Should be running.  ALL support staff should be present for small groups at all times. 
  • Extra Curricular Clubs - We can still take submission for Spring activities!
  • 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.
  • Reminder from Rania - ESL curriculum is required by law, so please make sure that that instruction does not get interrupted.
    • ESL teachers have communicate with all staff about how we are making up the 10 additional minutes/day for students.
  • Food Bank - If you are able, may you please ask your local grocery store to donate bags to Connery for our Food Bank and share them with Candice.
  • Reminder - Academics ends at 1:00.  Admin has adviced that when the day ends, students are not required to log into another learning account with the exception of Wednesday.  This is a time for their lunch and or break from their computer.  The asynchronous time is at their own pace.
  • 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.
                                                                 District Updates
 
Looking Ahead
  • November 16th - Staff Meeting
  • November 17th - Staff PD
  • November 18th - Student Study
  • November 24th - Staff PD
  • November 25th - Half Day
  • November 26th & 27th - Thanksgiving Break
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