District Staff News
November 12, 2018
As we honor our nation's veterans today, I'd like to invite you to watch video from an assembly on Friday at CHS. Chris Bangs and Bob Hammitt organized a panel of veterans who answered student questions. Board member Mike Zagyva helped recruit veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq to take part in the event. It was very moving to hear community veterans describe their experiences in the military and the impact war has had on their lives. I greatly appreciate the service of our veterans, and proud of those on our staff who served.
We're wrapping up the first third of the school year this month. When I'm visiting our schools, I'm impressed with the level of student engagement and sound instruction taking place across grade levels. We're doing great work at the elementary level of outlining our objectives and learning targets and laying out the daily schedule. I’m equally impressed with the caring nature of our staff when dealing with classroom management. I observed an entire kindergarten class doing deep-breathing exercises as a way to bring the class back to a level of calmness where learning could take place. Amazing! Now I'm starting to do my own deep-breathing exercises.
The district academic vision speaks to ALL students, ALL abilities , and ALL opportunities. When learning activities in the classroom are well constructed and when students feel cared for good things happen.
I had to check the calendar a few times, but Thanksgiving really is next week. I hope that you will get to spend time with loved ones over the holiday. We're looking forward to a strong finish for 2018. Thank you for your commitment to our students!
Best,
DR. IVONNE DIBBLEE
After ODE released its school report cards last month, I was reminded of my time as a building administrator. I always felt angst when the report cards came out. Inevitably, my team celebrated what we could and shared feelings of disappointment when we didn’t see the outcomes we had hoped to see.
As we recognize there is difficulty in trying to understand the disconnect of our report card data and what we feel reflected in the learning, both academically and emotionally, witnessed from students’ experience. Nonetheless, it is a measurement our state uses. For me, it always provided an opportunity to rally and ask ourselves “what can we do better”? That is at the heart of Goal 4 of our Academic Vision.
The truth of the matter is that, until we are satisfied with the results, we can always do much more. Recently, a Canby team had the privilege to learn from Dr. Anita Archer, at a conference we attended. Dr. Archer reminded us of the many ways to think about our classrooms and our teaching environments. I want to take this opportunity to share a succinct version of what we should strive for every day. She effortlessly defined it as:
I challenge us all to ask ourselves:
● “How do I intensify my instruction so that all of my students are getting my best”?
● “How can I plan lessons, with individual needs in mind, so that all of my students have access to the content”?
● “How do I connect with students, even the most difficult, so that they know how much I care”?
I have been in 70+ classrooms, have visited all of our schools, and I have seen great teaching! I hope you are not discouraged and that instead, feel the excitement and challenge of the opportunity ahead of us. I leave you with a lesson that I often shared with past colleagues and one that I carry as inspiration.
The Great Northern Geese travel thousands of miles in perfect formation, and therein lies the secret. As each of the great birds moves its wings, it creates a steady uplift for the bird behind it. Formation flying is 70 percent more efficient than flying alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they’re going quicker and easier because they’re traveling on the strength of one another.
Know that you are not alone! Let’s take this opportunity to work together, focus on achievable goals that will begin to change the landscape for our students. We won’t see immediate results, but I assure you that if we focus and work together, we will lay a foundation for years to come.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Sexual misconduct is not tolerated in the Canby School District. PACE, OSBA, and the district would like you to review the requirements for reporting sexual misconduct.
FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE
Please take a moment to review the 2019 403(b) Announcement. It lays out contribution limits and includes information on how to enroll.
CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
Mark your calendars! November 30 is the district's annual classified professional development day. Classified employees will be receiving information about the sessions, along with a link to sign up for them - in the coming days.
STEAM EDUCATOR OPPORTUNITIES
Concordia University is offering Masters programs in STEAM Education. As an employee of Canby School District, you have access to these program offers:
- $4,000 scholarship for our Master of Education (MEd) programs (online or on campus)
- $4,000 scholarship for our Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program (on campus only)
- 20% off tuition for certificate programs: Administration, Reading Interventionist, and ESOL (online and on campus), and Health/PE (campus only)
- Scholarship for our Doctorate of Education (EdD) program: Up to $10,000 for online and up to $15,000 for on campus
- Textbook benefits: Speak with an Admission Counselor to hear more
Facilities Assessment
This report will be completed in the next few weeks and presented to the Board. The district is also working with Soderstrom on a Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP). The LRFP assesses the district's needs and helps plan for the future. In addition, the LRFP process engages the community and other stakeholders on what they believe is needed to provide excellent educational opportunities for our students in the future.
The district is forming a LRFP Committee to provide input on what is needed in the next 10-20 years. If you're interested in being a part of the committee, please email Autumn Foster. Tentative meeting dates are planned for December 3, 17, and January 7. Space is limited on the committee. The committee will be representative of our K-12 system and our community.
BE VIGILANT: Last month, the technology team dealt with multiple email scams aimed at obtaining passwords, money, and other secure information from CSD staff. If you receive an email that seems fishy, ask yourself three questions:
1. Am I expecting this message? If you get an email request for money, gift cards, or secure information from someone you know (like your principal or supervisor) double check with them in person to determine the legitimacy. No administrator should be making these types of serious requests over email.
2. Am I being asked for information that’s private? We should never send data like student or staff records, financial information, or usernames/passwords over email. Again, it never hurts to very (in person) with the individual making the request.
3. Is the email address correct? If the email you receive looks suspicious, take a closer look at the actual email address. Any email you get from your principal or supervisor should always come from their canby.k12.or.us account, and never a gmail, yahoo, or other personal email provider.
KEEP IT UP! Last month CSD started using our technology helpdesk with great success. We’ve already processed over 500 issues! The technology team has already been able to more quickly respond to requests and better track important projects. Our improvement and district success depends on everyone using this system – so please keep it up!
Donation for Suicide Prevention
Cutsforth's Marketplace is celebrating a record-setting fundraising effort from this year’s “Taste of the Seasons.” Each October, the store hosts the event in which 65 vendors bring samples and funds raised are donated to a specific cause. This year, Cutsforth's decided to donate funds to the district to support suicide prevention efforts targeted at the community's youth, in partnership with the Canby Suicide Prevention Task Force.
Library Cards for More Kids!
Please see the library's letter to teachers about the initiative. Please click on the following links to access:
Professional Development in the Kitchen
During the state wide in-service day on October 12th many members of the Nutrition Services department traveled to Roseburg to participate in an annual day long professional training!
The goal was to have a fun (and educational) event to bring together and educate nutrition service staff members all from around our state. The day kicked off with Frank Kitchen who discussed the importance of flexibility in our lives. Then there was a mystery box cooking competition, promotions & policies training, vendor fair, and raffle baskets where the group raised more than $1,700 for Sodexo’s STOP Hunger foundation!
The team had a wonderful time learning and growing together!
Brains Under Construction
AVIDly Embracing Learning
Hugs Not Drugs
Congratulations to Eccles' Gini Saltmarsh, the recipient of the October 2018 CARE Award!
All students. All abilities. All opportunities.
Email: fostera@canby.k12.or.us
Website: www.canby.k12.or.us
Location: 1130 South Ivy Street, Canby, OR, USA
Phone: 503-266-7861
Facebook: facebook.com/canbyschooldistrict
Twitter: @canbyschools