Staff Notes
August 25, 2019
Successes and Celebrations!
- Walk-through registration was reportedly one of the smoothest in memory! Also, over $45K in donated funds went to departments during this time! A great improvement from last year. More details will be shared with departments in the weeks ahead.
- Congrats to Kourtnie Howerton and the ASB Rally Commissioners for an outstanding first rally!
- Many teachers received new classroom spaces for the 2019-20 school year- great work and congrats to those teachers and their helpful colleagues for setting up their space quickly and beautifully for their new crop of students!
- Congrats to Ben Ballard and the Varsity Football team on their season opening win vs Hercules! 35-6 Final. JV also scores a win 28-12 over Hercules! Great job!
- Congrats to our new Head Coach (and NHS parent) Grace Lau, and the girls volleyball team for their season opening win over Piedmont, 3-1!
Some info and notes
- Class Overages- please remember that this is normal, and that we are working hard to get under contract size in classes with minimal disruption to student schedules and your class flow. Contractually, we have until September 10, 18 school days after class begins, to get classes to contract size. We will accomplish this task well ahead of that date, as we have already completed much of it. Thank you so much for your patience as we iron it out. You should know we are in great shape already, as the most we are currently over in any one class is 2.
- Early Releases: We are already seeing teachers let their classes go early, and this is not a practice that is good for anyone, including the classes around you, the students and their expectations, the campus supervisors, nor the teachers who are following these expectations. Please do not let your classes go early, particularly 6th period. Release should be at or after the bell. Thank you!
- 504 Season- with over 100 students with current 504 plans, chances are everyone has at least a few if not several students with upcoming 504 meetings. Your attendance or participation is not only required by law, but is also so important in discussing progress, challenges and supports. Additionally, it serves to inform you of the student's situation, so that they can have the best possible chance for success in their classes. If you cannot attend, please send ahead notes about the student's work and your observations in your class. If you have any questions, please contact their VP (by alpha) As a reminder, Kelly Cooper is A-L, Craig Bocks is M-Z.
Fire Drill and Evacuation
Don't forget! We will have our first fire drill of the year tomorrow during SSR, with a full evacuation. You have been delivered new flag cards should you need them, and a new updated map for where to take your classes. Please review these in the morning so that the drill can run smoothly and efficiently!
Monday, Aug 26, 2019, 09:30 AM
Northgate High School, Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Photo Day
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2019, 08:00 AM
Northgate High School, Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Quarantine Notices
When you are at school, you can click the green envelope button and the email will come to your mailbox.
Tech Reminders
As a reminder, please do not send students with Google account issues to Ron Otero’s office. He is not the one who helps with Google account issues. Kelly, Rula, and Craig are the only ones on campus who currently have the ability to make the fixes/updates with student Google accounts, although we are also in the process of adding myself and a few others to the list.
In terms of specific things that are technology related on campus, here’s a set of items that can help you determine where to go if you need assistance….
Ron Otero -
- manages the campus server, all computer labs both mac and pc
- manages all staff/students accounts (but not google accounts)
- maintains the campus switches, network wiring, all tech hardware including....ipads, chromebooks, printers (but not IMC), apple tv's
- oversees imaging of all devices, laptops, maintenance of all projectors/elmo devices/TVs and software installations for any device (campus wide or just locally)
Tobin –
-can teach training of any/all software
-can provide help with Airparrot, mirroring a device, or help with Elmo image mate software
-can help make any updates/changes to the school website (Craig B can do this as well)
Aeries Helpdesk
-call (x4105) or email (aerieshelpdesk@mdusd.org) to get help with any issues related to Aeries
Help Desk
-call 4105 or email helpdesk@mdusd.org to get help with google or email related issues
Feel free to follow up with any questions and we’ll try to help you out as quickly as possible.
Educator Discounts!
Found another one!
This site verifies your teaching credential status through the ctc website, then unlocks a ton of discounts at a variety of vendors. I used it to join Club Overstock for free! To start- https://api.id.me/en/registration/new
Got this great list from the Albert app, and thought we should share!
Upcoming Important Dates!
- August 26th- Fire Drill with Evacuation
- August 27th - School Photo Day
- August 30th- FB vs Alhambra HS
- August 31st- (tentative) NHS Debate Tournament
- September 2nd - Labor Day- No School
- September 4th- Home Opener- Girls/Boys Water Polo vs Las Lomas
- September 5th - Back to School Night
Sign ups for Sat School and Detention - Extra Pay!
Please give us your thoughts on First Day of School Schedule!
Constructing Meaning
For ALL TEACHERS!
Sign-ups for 2019-20 CM
The EL Department will offer Constructing Meaning (CM) training to teachers with English Learners in their classrooms. The 4-day training teaches teachers how to embed language instruction within content instruction. It meets the CA ELA/ELD Framework's Integrated ELD requirement and supports Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) in accessing the core curriculum. For more information- CM Info for Teachers, and teachers can sign up at 2019 CM Sign Up. Participating teachers need to attend all four days of the training. The first day will take place in late September or early October and the following days will be spaced about a month apart. The sign up deadline is Sept. 13, 2019. All sub costs are covered.
Constructing Meaning Training
2019-20 Constructing Meaning Training Days
Day One
Sept. 24, 2019, Tues. - Math & Science Teachers
Oct. 1, 2019, Tues. - English & History Teachers
Day Two
Oct. 22, 2019, Tues. - Math & Science Teachers
Oct. 29, 2019, Tues. - English & History Teachers
Day Three
Nov. 14, 2019, Thurs. - Math & Science Teachers
Nov. 19, 2019, Tues. - English & History Teachers
Day Four
Jan. 30, 2020, Thurs. - Math & Science Teachers
Feb. 4, 2020, Tues. - English & History Teachers
Participants need to attend all four days. If an emergency arises or a sub cancels at the last minute, please email Kim at smithke@mdusd.org.
If you know in advance that you can’t make one of the training days, please arrange to do the day with the other cohort – the information is the same. Again, please email Kim that you’ll be joining the other cohort.
Thank you!
Data Chat: Tardies
You will notice in the graph that 1st and 6th periods have the highest rates of tardiness.
While we can't do too much about 1st period tardies, as contributors include traffic and other drop-off challenges, 6th period tardies can be reduced through simple measures, including admin and supervisor presence in the halls, and teacher presence at their doors.
That being said, these are very good numbers (yay first week) - maxing out around 2% of our students being late.
Facility/Repair Requests
First Parent Ed Night of the Year
See the KTVU clip below! (You can only view the clip from a personal device or off campus, as it is through Facebook)
2019-20 Academic Calendar
Northgate High School
Email: cooperk@mdusd.org
Website: http://northgatehighschool.org
Location: 425 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925-938-0900
Twitter: @northgatehs