JCS Staff Newsletter
April 6, 2022
Miss a newsletter?
Check our archive on our website under the staff button or click here.
JCS ESSER Funds
Johnson City Schools' Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund documents are available for review through this link. At the bottom of the page, there is a link to a Google form where we ask for feedback from all of our stakeholders. Every six months we will use this feedback for our ESSER 3.0 Public Plan-Federal Relief Spending Addendum. Please feel free to review these documents and provide us with feedback.
Upcoming Dates
April 8, 9, & 10: Science Hill Choral Department - Footloose Musical - Click here for more information.
April 12: Rejoice in the Arts - Click here for more information
April 18: Make-Up Day
Click here to view Printable Calendars for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
Information From Finance & Insurance
Trust Co. Meeting (Classified Retirement Plan)
April 14th at 3:30 p.m. Shawn Weems with the Trust Company will be at the Central Office (100 E. Maple St.) to review how the Trust Company retirement plan works and answer questions anyone may have. The Trust Company is the 401a retirement plan for Full-Time Classified Staff hired on are after 7/1/2010. If you are interested in contributing more to your retirement or want to look at how your funds are invested you will want to attend. Johnson City Schools contributes 5% to the plan and will match up to an additional 3%.
If you not sure which retirement plan you have, you can contact Leia Valley (valleyl@jcschools.org), Tina Foster (fostert@jcschools.org) or Jan Mominee (momineej@jcschools.org).
*If you think you may come to the meeting, please let Tina Foster know so we can prepare enough documents for attendees.
Instructional Technology
Cohort 7 Technology Teacher Leaders
Cohort 7 of the district’s Technology Teacher Leader program will begin accepting applications shortly after spring break. Talk to a colleague who is already a Teacher Leader to see if this program would be a great fit for your continued professional learning. You do not have to be techie at all to apply!
Apply here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvjXPmOJVkRPIp1aTCOG-wkF7vhGL5LgtW55DSn3DB2pK_aw/viewform (Due by April 18)
Summer Technology Academy
Our annual Technology Academy will be held on July 27 in-person at Science Hill High School. This year’s theme will be “Restore Your Connection”. If you would like to present at the Technology Academy, please fill out the form linked below. Registration for the event will be available soon! You don’t want to miss this big day of professional learning that will be in-person for the first time since Summer 2019!
IXL & Reflex Learning at Home
Students and parents are continued to take advantage of our newest platform for practice and reinforcement with learning standards. Buttons for both IXL Learning and Reflex Learning are found in each student’s SSO (Single Sign-On).
·
Information from Human Resources
Johnson City Schools is hiring custodians, Educare assistants, and instructional assistants. Current job postings can be viewed at www.jcschools.org/jobs. Johnson City Transit is in need of bus drivers. Please visit this page for more information about open Bus Driver positions.
TLC Snapshot
Teachers, do you still need your required annual PDPs? New evaluation links were re-sent by email on March 31st to ensure you can still receive your past PDP certificates. Please remember that evaluations are required after each training session you attend. It's been a great learning year with this new system; however, next school year the responsibility for registering and completing evaluations will fall solely to event participants. Check out our three new EdTech PD sessions below to register if you still need to complete training.
Student teachers, please send me a list of trainings you completed this year with dates included to receive hand-typed PDP certificates via email.
We encourage you to complete our 2022-2023 Annual Needs Assessment survey. Your input and training participation are critical factors to the success of our FREE professional learning program through TLC. Help us meet your teaching needs by submitting fresh ideas and supply feedback regarding your new PD account.
Visit our Professional Learning department web page to learn more about ordering die-cuts and classroom resources from The Learning Center. We will order materials by request to put in our district library. Contact Tracey Coffey with any questions at coffeyt@jcschools.org or (423) 434-5218. ~Tracey Coffey, TLC Manager
2022 District-Wide Professional Learning Opportunities
We have four new EdTech workshops available thanks to our generous JCS Technology Teacher Leaders!
April Sessions
May Sessions
IXL: Getting Ready for Next Year!
Tuesday, May 10th at TLC
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
by Russ Minatel
What Tools Does Bloomz Replace for Me As a Teacher?
Communicating effectively with parents can be a challenge for PTAs and teachers. Parents can feel overwhelmed with the amount of information they receive through emails, handouts, newsletters, and websites. With Bloomz, you can replace as many as 10 disparate tools with one simple mobile app. Read more
Bloomz Feedback or Help?
Do you have any feedback? Do you need help with Bloomz or have questions? Please reach out to Collin Brooks. We want to make sure we are addressing concerns and empowering you to use this communication tool.
If you have any questions or problems with Bloomz, please contact Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org.
Bloomz On-Demand Training for Teachers
Beginning Parents on Bloomz | More InformationApril Board of Education Meeting
April Board Recognitions
Next BOE Meeting
The next Johnson City Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, May 2 starting at 6 p.m. inside the Board Room at Central Office (100 E. Maple Street). Board meetings can be viewed on the Johnson City Schools' YouTube channel.
In the News
Science Hill senior named National Merit Finalist and earns perfect ACT score
It wasn’t that Science Hill senior Sophia Cross thought she’d make a perfect score on the ACT, but she was hopeful that her hard work would pay off. And it did. Cross earned a perfect 36 on her ACT and she recently learned that she is also one of four National Merit Finalists at Science Hill.
“It feels nice that all of the work I did paid off,” Cross said through a smile.
Read more -
Four Science Hill students named National Merit Finalists
Four Science Hill students have been named National Merit Finalists for the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor achieved by less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. The four Science Hill students include Sophia C. Cross (daughter of Ping and Robert Cross), Yeleeya Y. Li (daughter of Zhiwu Li and Yong Liu), Leon S. Sarkodie (son of Olga and Oduro Sarkodie) and Kyler D. Sood (son of Dhiraj and Sarika Sood).
“We could not be prouder of our students who have been named National Merit Finalists,” Science Hill Principal Dr. Josh Carter said. “This distinction reflects the years of hard work and dedication these students have committed to their education. We are honored to have them represent Science Hill.”
Read more - www.jcschools.org/News/351
Indian Trail CDC class finishes Wonder as first book study
Completing a book study doesn’t seem like a big deal but Indian Trail Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Haley Parker said she couldn’t be prouder of her students as they completed their first book study back in February.
Parker and her students started the book “Wonder” in November and finished it just before Valentine's Day. After finishing the novel, the group turned their focus on the theme of the novel "kindness" by completing a craft project to explain what they find wonderful about themselves. They also finished in time to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day, which allowed the students to complete activities including telling and writing the things they like about one another, making cards for Indian Trail faculty and staff, and coloring posters to hang around the school to remind others to be kind.
“I am so proud of my students,” said Parker through a big smile. “This is a brand-new experience for our CDC students, and it was a big challenge for them. They completely exceeded my expectations.”
Read more - www.jcschools.org/News/353
Share your Good News!
Johnson City Schools loves celebrating the accomplishments of our students, staff, and community. If you know of any events, awards, programs, or other compelling stories involving the Johnson City Schools' community, please fill out this form or reach out to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org
JC Schools Staff Newsletter
We will distribute this newsletter on the Wednesday following the monthly Board of Education meeting. This newsletter will have information from District Departments and other helpful tips. If you have suggestions for content in this newsletter, please send them to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org.
C: 423-218-8682 | O: 423-434-5233