Primary Division MD Newsletter
September 11, 2020
Bring Us Light
We are living in a state of constant change. Life right now is about recalibrating. We have been reading excerpts from the Mindful School Leader to help us stay grounded. This month we encourage you to try starting a four-week journey on being more mindful. We know we must make ourselves over daily, consistently, to keep moving forward. We are not meant to be stagnant. If change is the only thing, we can be sure of, our goal is to figure out how we can use that certainty to our advantage to modify, revolutionize, refashion, and transform our day to day being. The best way we know for sure to stay in steady makeover mode is to take care of ourselves. To feed ourselves with love and loving thoughts. To eat food that is delicious to us and our bodies. To engage in loving practices, like giving ourselves the gift of stillness at least five minutes a day. To surround ourselves with people who bring us light, and to banish all forms of negative energy. Sometimes we have to unfollow people in real life. Moving forward, we will see that the value we give ourselves is the value the world reflects to us. Embrace change. It will lead you to happiness. Thank you for being part of the Uplift Primary Team, “Like a good neighbor, your teammate is there!”
Best,
Yasmin, Priscilla, and Kecia
F & P Administration
F&P Assessments: We’ve scanned all texts and assessment sheets from the 2nd edition of the F&P BAS and uploaded them into a Google Drive here. The link to this Google Drive is posted on Blackboard within each grade’s “Assessment” folder. Guidance for which groups of students to prioritize for BOY administration is found at the bottom of the first page of the primary assessment framework.
Eureka
The STEM CIS team has created a short video about how to implement Eureka Affirm. This will also be available on Blackboard. Video is linked below.
COVID Safety Updates
Thank you again for all you are doing to prepare your campuses and staff for a “new” normal this school year. I have four important notes I wanted to send along as we head into the long weekend. In our milestone timeline for the in-person return to school document that we shared yesterday, we note we will provide the process for COVID response flow chart as well as the safety template leaders can leverage for their in-person safety trainings. You’ll find both of these documents attached with further details below. Please be sure to schedule time in your PK-12 meetings next week to discuss both of these important topics and how you will share with staff.
- COVID Response Flow Chart and Process:
- The COVID-19 Response Flow helps leaders plan and manage their campus’ COVID response by modeling a detailed process outline of steps and responsibilities in a hypothetical scenario. There are two available Flow Models that outline the exact same scenario, however the information is presented in different formats which may be more (or less) helpful depending on your personal preference or campus role. The spreadsheet includes a ‘Contact Information’ tab to personalize the document to your campus needs. Please fill out this information and return it to Amanda Martin so that CMO can keep an updated record to help support you in your response efforts.
- You may want to print and leave a copy of the second flow chart to leave in the classrooms with your teachers, so it is easily available.
- Safety Training Template:
- We are attaching a link to the Uplift Safety training. There are areas included in the presentation, highlighted in yellow, where schools will want to enter their specific campus information. Schools should provide this training to all staff returning in-person to ensure we are all following our safety procedures. Please see the details below for available office hours for anyone who would like additional details, prior to holding the training with staff.
- Please be sure to save your own copy and do not write over the shared version.
Here are a few items to add to you to do list:
1) Sign up three K-2 teachers for Dyslexia Training. (Due by noon on 9/11)
2) Send your MD your updated Staffing Model, Virtual Daycard, and In- person Daycard. (Due EOD 9/14).
3) Ensure all Dyslexia Screeners are completed. (Due by EOD 9/16).
Observation Updates
We would like for all teachers to have at least two coaching observations entered in PowerSchool by September 30th. If you need a refresher, use the resources below.
- PowerSchool training video (view from 10:08 to see how to start an observation form in PowerSchool)
- Manager Review: How-To Guide
- All PowerSchool training materials
RETURN TO SCHOOL PLANNING DOCUMENT
Dyslexia Training
We don’t want you and your teachers to miss out an upcoming scheduled Virtual Dyslexia Teacher Training. All details and sign-up opportunities can be found here:
Dyslexia Teacher Training Announcement and Sign Up
This training is best intended for General Education Reading teachers and/or Reading Interventionists. (Please refrain from registering MTA Instructors and/or Special Education teachers as they will receive dyslexia training thru other venues.)
For questions please reach out to Rebecca Allen @ rallen@uplifteducation.org
ESL Small Groups
Support for English Language Learners
Thank you for your responses to our weekly SLA surveys. We noticed several questions this week about services for our English Learners. Our ESL team has been hard at work since mid-July, meeting with English Learners to assess their English language proficiency; we want to be sure we have an accurate understanding of their current needs. We will begin pulling small groups of English Learners on Tuesday, September 8. We’ve attached a summary of our small group plan.
Assessment Framework
Shout outs
- Shout out to North Hills, Mighty, and Triumph for being the first campuses to have their entire leadership teams registered for Reading Academies! Thanks for prioritizing this even with so many other things on your plate right now. - Erin W
- Kristen for sending out the West Dallas Community Action pdf so that her staff would learn about the community history, current events, and partners and parent blast. Ask her about her weekly Stop Light for Teachers.
- Chaneka for the individualization of SPED support for her SPED scholars. Ask her to tell you about it.
- Shaquela for making sure her school and staff are ready to welcome back K - 2nd grades on Monday, September 14th.
Primary Director's Meeting
Summit Has It Going On
Happy Meridian Teachers and Scholars
Hampton Students at Work
Uplift Wisdom...Focused and Working
Mask With Staff Names
Mr. Kiefer at Uplift Wisdom
Big Smiles From Uplift Peak Scholars
Writing With Uplift White Rock Hills
Sha'Lon Has Been Busy!
Uplift Education
Email: ksmith@uplifteducation.org
Website: uplifteducation.org
Location: 3000 Pegasus Park Dr, Dallas, TX 75247, USA
Phone: (469)621-8500