OSP Connected
October 2019-Office for School Performance-Volume 32
Message from Dayle
Yes, the honeymoon is over. October is the month where students are feeling more comfortable, safe with their teachers, challenged or bored and perhaps tired. They also start testing the limits of what is allowable in your class and with you. But, it’s not personal. It’s locating the guard rails so they feel safe and life can be predictable. And, the way you respond to their work to locate the guide rails matters. Let me give you a few examples.
Despite your classroom rules about respect and appropriate language, one afternoon a very frustrated young person says to another student, “You’re such a $#$%. This class sucks and you act like it’s great.” Feels personal, doesn’t it? It’s not. Underlying this comment appears to be a lot of frustration, an inability to express this emotion and a need to find a way to be successful in class. You may need to ask for a break from the student or ask for administrative help but take the time to talk to the student about the underlying issue and build skills in communicating frustration.
In the last two weeks one of your students has skipped twice and been absent once. You say to them, “Hey, where have you been?” They responds with, “Mind your business”. Feels personal, doesn’t it? It’s not. Pushing you away is a lot easier than sharing their struggles to get to school or the issues that may be preventing them from mentally and physically being in your class. Letting the student know you didn’t mean to disrespect them but that you want them to be successful and you asked because you care is very appropriate.
Being an educator means you pour yourself into your work, into lessons and into relationships. You want the students you work with to respect your effort and you want to make a difference for them. When they push back or make poor decisions don’t take it personally. It isn’t. They are students and are learning not only content but also how to interact with others in their environments. Remove “yourself” from the situation and teach!
HSD Focus 2018-2019
INSTRUCTION: Aligning our Focus in a Year of Implementation
Hillsboro School District’s strategic plan is a theory on a comprehensive system to support students. Our strategic plan is divided into three categories: Community, Culture and Career and for each, there are two Board Goals that we are working towards this year. The Board goals that are related to instruction are under the Career category and they are as follows:
Increase SBAC math scores by 3% overall and 5% for key groups in grades 5 and 8 in 2019-20 vs. 2018-19.
Increase by 5% the number of language scaffolds connected to academic tasks utilized in the classroom as measured by fall 2019 to spring 2020 walkthrough data.
Each school also develops their own specific school improvement plan (SIP) that supports the board goals. Specific goals are developed often in language, math, reading, and climate and culture. All school leadership teams have been meeting together by levels to refine their goals and plans for implementation for the year. If you don’t know your SIP goals, reach out to your administrator and /or teacher leaders. The more aligned we are with each other, the best we can do to serve all of our students.
BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS: Establishing Balance
September has come to an end, and your email inbox is filling up with notifications, PD opportunities, new ideas, and meeting invites. These clear signs that a new school year has begun means it’s time to shift your focus toward finding a balance between your professional and personal life. Taking the time to establish this balance will help you feel more productive and in control as you manage the pressures and busy schedules that a new school year can bring. The Responsive Classroom approach outlines a few ways we can establish and maintain balance throughout the year. Click here to see some examples of how to establish balance.
CAREER & COLLEGE READY: Deadline for Applying for Financial Student Aid
October 1st is when students and families can apply for financial aid through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application). Please share the upcoming dates below and for more information about FAFSA/ORSAA visit www.oregonstudentaid.gov
Each of our comprehensive high schools will be hosting financial aid nights for all 12th grade families this fall. These workshops will address the FAFSA and ORSA financial aid applications and some may discuss scholarship options available to students, including Oregon Promise and OSAC. These sessions are open to all families and there is no need to sign up in advance. Many of our students experiencing poverty qualify for Pell and other grants that not only cover community college costs but give students money for books, transportation and other needs. Won’t know unless they fill out the FAFSA!
Upcoming dates:
October 1 @ Century High School 5-9pm
October 1 @ Liberty High School 6-7:30 pm
October 7 @ Glencoe High School 6:00pm (FAFSA specific)
November 12 @ Hilhi 6:00pm
November 18 @ Glencoe High School 6:00pm (Scholarships)
Getting our students to be ready for college and career takes a village! If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to print in poster size the What is your Future? poster and continuously connect your instruction to these college and career pathways.
Language Arts Adoption Update
We are excited to embark on this journey towards finding our next Language Arts Adoption. This is a big endeavor and we have learned so much in the process. Currently, we have 61 elementary classrooms involved. This includes K-6 teachers across the district in both English and Spanish. We are currently piloting American Reading Company and McGraw Hill. To keep yourself informed about this process, check the following links on an ongoing basis:
Language Arts Communication Plan
Language Arts Adoption Update - for weekly updates
Tech Teach Grow
Our Purpose
This digital magazine is intended to support educators with technology integration in the classroom. Our hope is to provide HSD staff with tech integration ideas, info and updates via quick digital media easily accessible at your convenience. Everything we share should work with your current HSD tech.
Want a different result? Try something new!
Learn What’s Next…
Follow this link to #TechForward>> were you will find crowdsourced feeds of tech integration ideas, info & updates organized by application. These feeds are constantly curated to provide you with the ideas for tech integration that work with the HSD tech in all our schools!
Voice Typing
Coffee Conversations - High Expectations (Episode # 10)
In this episode of Coffee Conversations, Deisy and Morgan discuss what it means to have high expectations for students, even those with disabilities. Did you know that over 80% of the students in HSD with an IEP have an IQ that is average or above? A disability does not mean that a student can't access grade level standards - it just means the student might need a different way or a little extra support.
When we talk to high school students in special education, they tell us that they want teachers who believe in them and really want to help. They tell us that they sometimes say "I'm fine" even if they aren't and they need the teacher to stay and ask more questions to be sure. In other words, don't let students get away with learned helplessness! Support them, believe in them, and help them believe in themselves!