Weekly Update #11

 Inspirational Quote:

"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." - Paulo Freire

This Week's Schedule

COVID Survey - every morning before 8:00

Monday, November 9, 2020                                   School Site Council (still looking for teachers to join)
Tuesday, November 10, 2020                                Dr. Parker (K-2),Weekly Staff PD (ESL dept meeting)
Wednesday, November 11, 2020                            No School - Veteran's Day
Thursday, November 12 2020                               Glenda - Supt Meeting
Friday, November 13, 2020

Things to Consider

Please read the weekly update carefully.

• Absences - Please remember to report absences to your CIT, so that they can arrange the sub coverage.
• Paraprofessionals report to Cyndi and Specialists to Amanda.
• 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.
• Please plan accordingly and email Glenda and Liz with any concerns.
• 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 for half day schedules.
• 2-hour days in total for both sessions. Student in the AM come for the first hour and students in the PM come for the second time. 
• 15-minute break in between 
• 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 -  Admin has begun to run reports on Schoology usage.  If there are students in your homeroom that have not logged onto Schooloogy, you will receive a communication about the student(s) that have not logged in.  Please use this information to connect with families, and inform Glenda, Liz, and Candice as to why they are struggling to connect.  These students should be part of your target list.
• The goal is to have 100% of students on Schoology.  Every student should be logging into Schoology daily and participating in activities and tasks on Schoology.
• 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.  
• Direct Link for Clever (for K support) - https://clever.com/oauth/authorize?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.stmath.com%2Fsso%2Fapi%2Flogin%2Fclever-v2&client_id=3d09b9e95137ecda4ae0&district_id=5db0fe8c2889050001989637&response_type=code&skip=1&channel=instant_login_link&confirmed=true
• 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.
• Here is a helpful resource about attendance: Attendance FAQs

• Q & A about filing - click here

                                                                 District Updates

 

• Parent Survey  - Parent Survey being developed to get feedback from families on first quarter and assess their experience.
• Zoom Guidelines for Lynn Public Schools Parents/Guardians 

  To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during distance learning, all parents/guardians are asked to follow the following guidelines. 

  • Ensure your student’s device is fully charged or plugged in before entering online lessons. 

  • Choose and setup a space where there will be minimum disruptions for your student - ideally a wall behind the student.  Everyone can see where your child is working when the camera is on.   

  • Allow your student to enter their online session and attend by themselves, as would happen in a classroom setting.  Remember that Zoom, Teams, and Conferences are designed for students.  

  • Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit in any other way any part of an online session, including not posting on any social media platform. 

  • Remember the teachers and entire class will hear what is going on in the background – please be mindful about the family activities that will potentially be heard and seen.   

  • If you need to speak with your child during a check-in session, first mute your child’s microphone. 

  • Email your child’s teacher if you have questions.  Do not join the class to ask.  

  • Help your child stick to the schedule for their courses.  

• Science Assessments are on Schoology - 68GB-GT55-QGNTC
• An interum Science Department head has just been hired! Please look out for communication.
• ST Math -   ST Math Champion Hour on Tuesday, November 10, 3:30-4:30!
• To register click here. 
• Adding Passwords to Word Documents - https://youtu.be/ongOMsM53NY. 
• CPR Course - These are available on Teach Point.
• Special Ed - all learning plans must be updated to reflect the schedule changes.
• Report Cards / Progress Reports - will be on e-schools moving forward
• 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 (There are changes!)
• Connery School Calendar - Mentor dates are updated.

Looking Ahead

• Novemeber 7th - School Site Council (we still need a few more staff members to join)
• November 10th - Staff PD, Dr. Parker Visit Day (Schedule will be sent shortly)
• November 11th - No School / Veteran's Day
• November 12th - Mentor Meeting