Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
Thank yous, appreciations, and celebrations:
- Thanks to all of our iAs and subs while we deal with a significant amount of professional leave and illness. Flexibility is appreciated.
- Prayers for Ms. Starnes from our SLE class. She is a survivor-in both spirit and fact. The results of cancer treatment have made her body more sensitive to certain risks. Please keep her in your prayers as she rests and recovers from some heart and lung issues. I know she is trying hard to grow strong enough to come back to work. I know we miss her.
- Thank you to our great IAs and other staff who have planned another great show for our annual sing-a-long on Thursday. I can't wait to see it!
- Thanks to Billy Etter for hosting a group from Hawkins Co. who came to see Milo.
- Thanks to Lisa H for leading all things spelling bee!
Week of Dec 18-21
Club day!
Day 9 of 12: Snowball fight-write a compliment on white paper, crinkle it up and throw it on a colleagues desk or at them (kids can try it at class meeting)
Staff Holiday Party at Cherie Herald's house-hope you are coming!
Tuesday:
Math data meetings with Michael Hubbard (grades 3 and up)
LCF performance 9:00 (please remember seating map and details on supervision)
Day 10 of 12: Holiday Accessory Day: Bedazzle yourself in holiday accessories! (students too)
Wednesday:
Troupe community tour
Day 11 or 12: Holiday sock day (students too)
Thursday:
Day 12 of 12: Ugly Sweater Day (students too)
Holiday sing-a-long in auditorium -Let Kristian know if you plan to perform
Friday:
First day of 17 days off!!!
A look ahead:
January 8 professional learning day at GWES. Plans include:
- a brief gathering in the library (auditorium being used by music teachers)
- follow up to PBL work that occurred at last collaborative- finish those plans and solidify elements
- work on ELA units with consult from admin or Shasta (she will likely be here half day)
- work on Math units and hold data conferences regarding nine week assessments
For Your Information:
Request: I would like to request that from January forward, we cease texting any parents regarding students. I know this is an easy connection for some of you, and that those of you doing it are doing so with absolutely good intentions. However, the risk may out weigh the benefit. As I have learned more about student records and special education law, I learned that the tone and content could quickly become adversarial. In addition, your personal cell phones then become evidence and ALL content on the phone is fair game. Assistants, I am especially concerned in your case because you may not have the professional liability coverage that our teachers receive as members of some professional organizations. In addition, this blurs the professional and personal boundaries that you deserve. I would like to request that you notify parents who may text you, that guidance has been given that we should communicate about school using only school communication tools, such as email and phone calls. You should not tell what the risk is-simply say it has been requested that we make this change. Our new Google platform may offer a communication tool that would allow texting through Google, if that is necessary, I will ask for support in learning how to use this should some of you feel it is needed.
Walkie Talkie Radios: At times lately, we have tried to reach your teams through radio and cannot reach anyone. These radios are the primary line of communication to preserve instructional time. Please unsure that the IA has it and hands it off when you are outside. Someone from the team should be accessible by radio at all times.
Just a reminder at indoor playtime, devices should be used for instructional purposes only.
Last friendly reminder-it is a requirement that each teacher be present and attentive in the zones of playground supervision. See photo below for a reminder.
Please let Candice know your party plans so if parents call she can communicate this for you. (time, if parents are invited,etc.)
From this point forward, Michelle Bright will make all time sheet approvals and corrections. I will still be approving time off. Please make sure if you need a correction it is sent to her. Remember that due to the break, all time sheet corrections and approvals must be complete by tomorrow, with your sheet being submitted before the end of the day.
Guidance Regarding What Can/Cannot Be Posted During Mandated Testing
The state recently released additional guidance of resource and support items that are no longer allowed to be visible in the classroom or school during the testing sessions. The state has indicated these are things that a student should be able to recall independently. Following is a specific list provided from the state. It is not “all inclusive”, but includes examples that are prohibited. Michael Hubbard provided the test coordinators with this list and have asked them to share this now and throughout the year to ensure teachers are aware prior to testing. Please email or call Michael Hubbard with any questions, mhubbard@k12k.com or 378-2125. SEE IMAGE BELOW
Starting Jan. 3, 2018, Kingsport City Schools will move from the current Microsoft Outlook email/calendar/contacts provider to Google G Suite.
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Ultimately, Google G Suite was selected by the TAC as the best path forward. The move (migration) from Outlook to Google G Suite will increase email/calendar functionality, provide better collaboration and availability features, and offer unlimited storage, which our current systems cannot provide. This was recommended as the most cost-effective solution for our district.
WHO: All KCS Employees.
WHAT: Outlook emails, calendars and contacts will migrate from Outlook to Google G Suite (Mail, Calendar, and Contacts).
WHEN: The migration of data has already begun and will continue through Winter Break. The last day to use Outlook will be Jan. 2, 2018. Starting Jan. 3 only Google G Suite will be used.
WHY: The move to Google G Suite will increase email/calendar functionality, provide better collaboration and availability features, and offer unlimited storage, which our current systems cannot provide.
HOW: Migrations will be ongoing until Jan. 2, 2018 via the KCS technology department.
A few key things: If you have anything on K drive or other network drives that you want saved, they need to be transferred to Google drive
IF your password for email and computer log on is few than 8 characters, you will need to change it
See Lucy for details-she is still learning, so we can ask Hope for help if needed
Professional Learning
Please find attached and at the link below the 10-day PL Calendar Agenda.
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/106JKGjSa2vjTJ6dTs4fU8HRNwrr7vURz/view?usp=sharing
WSIC News
Link to the WSIC, please be certain to watch each day: https://goo.gl/vjw2eP