Friday, December 4, 2020

Weekly Update #14

  Inspirational Quote:

"To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step.  We will fail when we fail to try."  ~ Rosa Parks

This Week's Schedule

COVID Survey - every morning before 8:00

Monday, November 07, 2020                                 Clinical Meeting - LCHC
Tuesday, November 08, 2020                                 First Response Team. Weekly Staff PD
Wednesday, November 09, 2020                            School Support Meeting
Thursday, November 10, 2020                               Glenda - Superintendent Meeting
Friday, November 11, 2020                                   
                                   
Things to Consider

Please read the weekly update carefully.
    • Parent Conferences/Open House - Next week will be our 2nd Open House. This will be scheduled meetings with each student's parent.  12/07/20-12/10/20
    • Evaluation - Evidence submission is almost due for Non-PST.  However, the district shared that there are pushing back the evidence submission for Non-PTS from January 5th to January 22nd. Please be aware that this is being done to give more time to upload evidence so that staff do not need to do this during the vacation week. It is not for evidence to be created. The Formative Assessment Form is still due by February 1st. 
      • I do advise that you try to upload some artifacts prior to Winter Break.
    • Artifacts - Please do not place artifacts in PowerPoints.
      • I request that you have no more than 6-8 artifacts that support all of the standards and goals.
      • Each artifact should have a description of how it connects to a particular standard and a short summary of the task.
      • Reminder - this can be done throughout the year.  You do not need to wait.
        • You don't need to upload information that is evident from my observations.  For example, if you are on a schoolwide team, we will always include these observations in my formative assessment.
      • Sample Artifacts - lesson plans (preferrably 2 from multiple subject areas), data collection, student work, professional development, communication logs, etc.
    • Elementary Report Card - distribution is being pushed from January 8th to January 15th. This will give more time to get grades into TAC, verify grades once in, and more time for parents to get logged into HAC.
      • HAC is the electronic parent view of report cards.  This communication to parents will come from the district.
    • Grades - Leadership will be meeting next week in order to callibrate assessments and grades due to remote learning in term 1.  More information to come.
      • ESL Teachers will input the Can Do Decriptor Levels into report cards.
      • Emily Meechin will email an overview on how to input grades into TAC.
    • Parent Conferences - There is currently a plan for each teacher to have a Spanish translator. I will share the email contacts for all translators by Monday Morning.  They have been given the link to your parent conference invitation.
    • Schoology Parent View - In order for parents to see their child's grades, the Visibility Settings need to be unchecked on your end.  (More information to come on Tuesday)
      • If you don't want grades to be factored into the end of the year average, make sure those assignments are marked ungraded.
    • Schoology Issues - If you have Schoology issues during the school day, please contact helpdesk and feel free to CC Shannon Bansfield and Josh Mower.
    • Building Close to All on Tuesdays and Thursday. Please do not report.  
    • iReady - Grades 3 -5 will have PD in January.  This will occur during one of our Wednesday outreach blocks.
    • Important Survey - we would love to hear from you about the various tools that we are using in school this year, so please fill out the survey below.  We'd like to use your answers in order to inform our professional development. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=puuYcXUB5E6tf7CUXTG3gDM3cn5sipNDm6n8P5ifZMhURVRaTllIQVJSTzVONTgxVE5UUkRXM1BNMy4u
    • ACCESS Window Extended - it will now be January 7th - March 11th.
      • Due to COVID - 19, we will be requesting that additional staff get trained in preparation for supporting our testing schedule - which will look different than in previous years.
    • Observations - The first round of observations has been completed. The second round of observations has begun and we will focus on Whole Group ELA and Math structure.
      • Please make sure that your Zoom links and user ID/Passwords are correct. Additionally, we are using the schedules posted in Sharepoint to determine the correct time to visit to observe Whole group in ELA or MATH. Again, please check that your schedule on Sharepoint is accurate and that you are following it each day.
    • Imagine Learning - On Wednesdays, you are charged to ensure that students complete 30 minutes.  The additional 30 can be asked of them to complete throughout the week.  In addition, you MAY use Imagine Learning during the school day.
    • ST Math -  On Wednesdays, you are charged to ensure that students complete 30 minutes.
      • There is a button for Imagine Learning and ST Math on Clever.  
    • Small Groups & System 44 - System 44 will cause a shift in groups for small group instruction.  At this point, schedules have been finalized by the Reading Team. Small group instruction with System 44 continues daily. 
      • Please note that if a student is a System 44 student and an ESL student, the homeroom teacher may not see that student for small group instruction.  We know that this is not ideal, but it IS what the student needs.  Therefore, the reading team will share information about how to see your student data and have present day data and information about your students for report cards.
    • Homework - Please read the guidance on homework that was attached to the weekly update email.
    • 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 place your class zoom and buttons on Schoology.
    • 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 unavailable to come in, you must take the day off.
    • 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.
    • 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.  
    • Make Up Tests - In your communication about makeup tests, please include our building sub, Liz Ruiz.  
    • Attendance - Please post attendance on time and everyday.  There have been lots of staff members on the non-submitter report.
    • 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.
    • Extra Curricular Clubs - We can still take submission for Spring activities!
    • Book Inventory for Professional Development
    • Reminder from Rania - ESL curriculum is required by law, so please make sure that that instruction does not get interrupted.
    • 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: 
    Updates from Nurse Danielle: 

    As COVID cases are on the rise across the city, state and the country, it is even more important for all of us to do our part in order to protect ourselves, our family and our Connery community. 
    With that in mind, please review on the following reminders:
    • Staff must submit your daily COVID tracker prior to work every day (by 8am)
    • Staff must report ANY and ALL symptoms, regardless of how small or mild they may seem to you (if you are unsure, just call, test or email me and I am happy to provide guidance).
    • Staff must report any pending COVID tests on your daily tracker
    • If you have traveled to a high risk state, you must report this prior to travel and also produce a negative test result within 72 hours of your return. There are ONLY 4 states left in the country that are considered low-risk as of today (Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii and Vermont). Please note: this is always changing.
    • If you start to exhibit any symptoms while in the building, it is important that you report them to me immediately (text, call, email) and I will give you further instruction.
    • Masks must be worn at all times when outside of your classroom or in shared spaces.
    • Hand hygiene is important!! Wash your hands. If you run out of sanitizer, Rick has plenty!
    • Please prepare ahead of time for the possibility that school could close at any time due to cleaning as no one will be allowed into the building.
    • Do not come into the building if you are sick, on quarantine or are pending a COVID test.
    Let's all do our part to keep ourselves and each other safe!
                                                                       District Updates
       
      Looking Ahead
      • December 7-10 - Parent Conferences
      • December 14 - School Site Council
      • December 15 - Staff PD
      • December 16 - Student Study
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