EMS/ELA STAFF NEWS
Week of 5/4/20
WHAT you need to know
Our kickoff to Teacher Appreciation is a secret.....but you will know it when you see it!
TUESDAY-FRIDAY...THE GAME OF GAMES!
1. Be sure to drop in to the daily zoom (in your google calendar) anytime between 10:30-11am. 2. When you are admitted to the meeting, simply state your team name and the wheel will spin for you.
3. Your spin will result in a prize, a challenge, or a prize and a challenge.
4. A description of your challenge will be sent to you only (because it's top secret) via email by noon.
5. Should you choose to accept the challenge, just complete the task and capture it in a picture or video. Simply use the same email and REPLY ALL to me and Annessa with the proof that you completed it. Daily submissions are due by 7 pm on Tu/W/Th. Friday's submissions are due by 3pm.
6. The more creative/unique/hilarious/embarrassing/inventive the submission, the more points you earn. Include your family/housemates/pets or random masked strangers for BONUS POINTS!!!
7. Annessa and I (and our husbands) will judge submissions. You will receive between 1-10 points for your submitted proof (this is completely subjective and point decisions are final ;-) We will reply to you with the points you were awarded.
8. Your individual scores and team averages will be documented on a spreadsheet and daily leads (as well as a highlight reel) will be shared.
9. At our Friday afternoon Happy Hour Zoom, the individual and team winners will be announced!
10. All prizes (daily and grand prizes) will be awarded when we are back in the building later in May.
DISCLAIMER: All submitted pictures and videos are the property of The Game of Games and may be used in future newsletters, slideshows, and for general roasting purposes.
THE TEAMS
TEAM ELA
Julie White
Becky Raimonde
Ericka Legnard
Tawny Patterman
Joseph Scharfenberg
Stephanie LaScala
Karen Saginak
TEAM ELECTIVES
Erin Rademacher
Frankie Crispino
Jeremy Leiker
Amy Pickering
Jackie Weisfield
Spencer Malott
Lance Lammers
Sharon Vasquez
Tama Wood
TEAM 7/8
David Zamkov
Shannan Bowerman
Amanda Brunk
Melissa Bergfalk
Cheryl Cambra
Kristi Fozard
Pam Lipford
Kathy Reeves
Lorene Stevens
Carolyn Metz
Mandy Miller
Lori Lauer
TEAM 7
Alma Olaechea
Connor Bilkos
Dave Lammers
David Owens-L
Makaila Mulry
Lorenzo Moreno
Eric Clausen
Stephanie Matthews
Rhy Robinson
TEAM 8
Debbie Palmisano
Carrie Moore
Ken Lane
Allison Somers
Kevin Mebust
Rachael Watkins
Trish Tucker
Erin Stovall
TEAM RDAB
To Be Determined
(but they said you should be very afraid ;-)
MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!!!
Mr. Owens invited his students to use google draw to show their understanding of a medieval manor
AND THE WINNER IS...
Best Middle School Theatre Student Award
Lucy Walker
A’loni Copple
John Brennan
Anneclare Fieger
Best Supporting Character in a Play
Hagen Hoover
John Brennan
Outstanding Crew Work in a Musical
Ayden Shurley
Evan Rouse
Callen Campbell
Outstanding New Technician Award
Justice Patton
Outstanding New Actor Award
Juliet Arana
Fantastic Character Development in a Musical
Joe Carter
SAVE THE DATE!!!
6th Grade Parent Information Night Zoom was well attended
Mrs. Hart's Zoom book club is reading the hobbit
Our Apple a Day Giveaway is back!
With more schools teaching online in response to COVID-19, we thought educators may be wanting some technology upgrades.
That's why, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re bringing back our Apple a Day Giveaway! Starting Monday, May 4, we're giving away one Apple product per day, all the way through Friday. That's five chances for you to be a winner.
Enter now and stay tuned as we announce each day's winner during Teacher Appreciation Week!
Educators can enter for a chance to win ...
- Day 1: Apple iPad 32GB with Wi-Fi
- Day 2: Apple TV 4K 32GB media player
- Day 3: Apple AirPods with charging case
- Day 4: Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) 40mm
- Day 5: Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD Storage)
Horace Mann Wednesday Webinar Options
Today’s challenges are very different from a few weeks ago. And while we know your concerns and challenges are centered around caring for your students, our top priority is taking care of you.
To help keep you connected, we’re offering a “Wednesday Webinar” series of no-cost virtual workshops over the next several weeks on topics important to educators. Topics will include student loan forgiveness, DonorsChoose funding, retirement planning and more.
Plus, if you join in a webinar, you’ll learn how to enter our $10,000 DonorsChoose sweepstakes!
Check out the entire webinar series here below. Space is limited, so register soon. We hope to see you there!
Dates and Times
Supplemental Insurance Made Easy
May 6, 2020, 03:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Retirement Planning & Understanding Investment Options
May 13, 2020, 03:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Educator Advantages in Auto & Homeowner Insurance
May 20, 2020, 03:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Zoom PD THURSDAY MAY 7, 1-2 PM
Kirk Henwood will be hosting office hours for secondary teachers next week on Thursday, May 7th from 1-2pm to answer questions about using National Geographic and Discovery Education for remote learning. Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/91630862064?pwd=Q3E4Rk95d2llZGtONlVqSDcrMm1xdz09
Meeting ID: 916 3086 2064 Password: 004071
REMOTE PLCs
Guiding Questions for remote PLCs:
What is a strategy or approach you’ve used that has been successful with students during remote learning?
What is something new you plan to try in the next week?
What are some challenges you are facing?
PLC A: every other Tuesday 8:15-8:35 a.m.
Olaechea, Somers, Owens, Raimonde, Rademacher
PLC B: every other Tuesday 8:45-9:05 a.m.
Bilkos, Moore, Brunk, Pattermann, L Lammers, Crispino
PLC C: every other Tuesday 9:15-9:35 a.m.
Lane, Zamkov, Bowerman, Legnard, Weisfield, Leiker
PLC D: every other Tuesday 9:45-10:05 a.m.
D Lammers, Palmisano, Bergfalk, White, Malott, Pickering
Evaluation Updates...
All Staff
This will be a no rating year for all employees, with the exception of 3rd year probationary status staff who are eligible to move to non-probationary status next year.
Year 3 Probationary Staff Eligible to Move to Non-probationary Status
3rd year probationary staff who are eligible to move to non-probationary status will receive a completed evaluation/rating so that they have an evaluation attached to them which will allow them to earn non-probationary status.
In order to hold these staff members harmless around the Individual Attribute, evaluators should input the maximum score when calculating the summative rating.
Probationary Year 1 & 2
This school year will count as a year toward earning non probationary status for 1st and 2nd year probationary staff.
Here is another FREE option for connecting with your CCR students around social emotional learning values
The activities in 180 Connections are designed to digitally build a bridge of connection between teachers and students and, if possible, students with each other.
180 Connections provides you with one personal connection activity for 180 days of the school year.
There are three tasks provided for each connection activity:
Information: Teachers share details about themselves to build connections with their students.
Illustration: Teachers share pictures, videos, samples or quotes that amplify that information and that connection.
Interaction: Students engage in exercises that build connections with their teacher and each other.
Staff only: District Technology "Office Hours" daily Zoom Available
Instructional Tech Support Office Hours
Topic: Office Hours
Time: Daily 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/787861669
Meeting ID: 787 861 669
Password: 927279
*NOTE: Please do not share this link/meeting ID publicly*
Staff meetings will be every Thursday at 3:45 via zoooooom
We will have staff meetings on Thursday afternoons--lasting up to one hour.
Annessa Hart is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: EMS/ELA Staff Meeting
Time: Apr 2, 2020 03:45 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Thu, until May 21, 2020, 8 occurrence(s)
Apr 9, 2020 03:45 PM
Apr 16, 2020 03:45 PM
Apr 23, 2020 03:45 PM
Apr 30, 2020 03:45 PM
May 7, 2020 03:45 PM
May 14, 2020 03:45 PM
May 21, 2020 03:45 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/uZMtd-iqqD4uXeAXpm1ErnfJTghFLgNtAA/ics?icsToken=98tyKu2vrjsrGNKQtFztf7ItW4X8b9-1l0lLi5tNkU7AES5VSDfxPsRuNZxrMfmB
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/470012654?pwd=aTNmTjF0RXo1M1V1UGMycXJKeG5pUT09
Meeting ID: 470 012 654
Password: 910845
Grading Reminders from this week's staff meeting
As we wind down this quarter, and with our new end date of May 15th, we want to be focused on how our final grading practices will play out.
Consider that we have two more weeks of instruction, followed by a week of bonus time--make up work, enrichment time, extra credit, re-do opportunities, and team-building fun.
Last day of instruction (official District date)--May 15th.
All grades due on IC (official District time/date)--May 18th by 3 pm.
Plan your work so that you do not have to do any grading on the weekend of May 15th. You will have the entire day on May 18th for grading and entering final grades.
You will need to manually change Ds and Fs to P-Pass in the final grade (when the grading window opens). You can also choose to change any letter grades--even if it doesn't match with the percentage...for example, if you have a student sitting at a 78% but you feel he/she should earn a B, you can change that manually.
For students who have done some work this quarter, they should receive a letter grade (C, B, A). For students who haven't logged in at all during quarter 4, they will receive a P.
This is not the time to fight grading battles or rely on "typical" principles of grading practice. Students should earn a grade that is commensurate with their grades in previous quarters.
For example, for a student who has participated in at least some remote learning, if he/she earned C quarter one, B quarter two, B quarter three...then his/her quarter 4 grade should be a B or higher (this is relying on body of evidence rather than strictly work ethic during remote learning time).
When in doubt, round up.
If you have a student with a major regression in grades (a student who normally earns a B is now at a C or below), then we need to talk through the final grade together before it is posted. Please reach out to support team members--other teachers, case managers, counselors, admin in order to talk through this.
If you have students who have been "attending" but not doing any work, please reach out to their parents--phone call is best. Let them know what the "short list" of mandatory assignments might be for their student to earn a C or better.
Lastly, consider avoiding zeroes and M--missing in these last few weeks. Anxiety is high for all--parents and students included. If a student has not turned something in, leave it blank, and reach out to the student and parent.
FREE Wi-FI Options...
Free Wi-Fi Resources (also shared with parents and students)
- Xfinity has announced an Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone program. Through it, Xfinity hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free. Search for a hotspot near you.
- Comcast Internet Essentials is offering two free months of their Internet Essentials package starting March 16, 2020. You have to be eligible, so read more on their website. You can also call 1-855-846-8376.
Currently, Wellspring Englewood is offering a food pantry on Sundays from 11:30am-1pm and Wednesdays 3pm-5pm. This serves both folks experiencing homelessness and families in the Englewood community in need of groceries. It is open to anyone who is experiencing food insecurity right now.
We have set drop off times Monday to Thursday from 9am-2pm. We are accepting both perishable and non-perishable foods. The address is 4300 S Lincoln St. Englewood, CO 80113, and there are bins outside to drop off food to ensure we're keeping proper social distancing. Here are a few items that are in need right now:
- Milk and dairy products
- Cereals
- Fresh meats
- Bread
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh or canned)
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Canned soups
- Pet food for dogs and cats
- Personal protective equipment to protect our staff and volunteers as they hand out food
Tri-Cities Response
Organizations and churches across Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan have banded together to love our neighbors by meeting their needs. If you are elderly, or have lung disease, heart disease or compromised immune systems, then you are particularly susceptible to negative outcomes from Covid-19. We want to help keep you safe by delivering groceries or providing other critical resources.
VOLUNTEERING EFFORTS
1. You can donate blood by scheduling with Vitalant.org.
2. Help locally by donating grocery gift cards or volunteering to shop/deliver food for shut ins with www.littletonfamilyservices.org.
3. You can support other efforts in your neighborhood by signing up at helpcoloradonow.org. They list all sorts of ways to support those in need throughout our metro area and state.
ENGLEWOOD SCHOOLS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
This can be a stressful and scary time for everyone. Feeling prepared and knowing what you can do to help you and your family stay well are some ways to help minimize stress. This resource for parents/caregivers provides ways for families to prepare as well as how to help children from different age groups cope with what is going on. If you think you are having symptoms of COVID-19, please follow these guidelines from CDC. These resources from Tri-County health can also help you stay informed and reduce the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19. Additional mental health and food resources can be accessed here.
As a reminder, Safe2Tell is a resource students can access right away if they have worries or concerns about themselves or a friend.
COVID-19 Student and Family Reporting Line
If you or a member of your household has COVID-19 symptoms or has a confirmed diagnosis, please contact your healthcare provider and then let us know by calling 303-806-6881. Your information will not be shared; however a nurse will follow-up with you to gather information that will help us keep our community safe.