Team Trailblazer Weekly Update
November 16, 2015
How does MVCA support courageous learning?
COURAGEOUS STUDENTS WANTED!
In their previous situations...
Were they unsupported academically?
Was their learning stunted due to an unbelief in themselves as students?
Was the culture of their previous learning environments toxic?
Did they have to make some courageous decisions to step away to a new school?
At MVCA...
Do they believe that they can succeed? Do we tell them so?
Due to the nature of our environment and student population, we all need to be cognizant of how we embrace our kids and help them to see themselves as having potential despite their past.
Do we allow our students to define themselves per one failed assignment, or are we there to help them to fail forward and regain confidence?
Make it great week - thank you all for what you do each and every day to build our students' academic courage!
Instructional Coaching Feedback Survey
Hello Teachers,
If you have not yet responded to the Instructional Coaching Teacher Feedback Survey please try to do so prior to the survey close at midnight EST on Monday 11/16. As a reminder, your feedback on the experience of coaching can have a major impact on program refinements moving forward. Link to survey below.
http://s-a59b4f-i.sgizmo.com/s3/i-0000000-1122836/
Thank you!
FAST Referrals
If you have a student in need of support from a CONNECT counselor, please use the Sharepoint site.
I will update you soon!
Current Enrollment Update
Grade
Level
Count of
Each Grade
K=90
1=115
2=165
3=154
4=175
5=181
6=246
7=305
8=351
9=556
10=338
11=264
12=186
Grand Total
3,126
Peer Power Tutoring - MS Help Needed!
Hello Middle School Staff!
We have been hard at work trying to recruit students to use Peer Tutoring as another way to find success.
Our tutors created this video to showcase what we do and if you’re not opposed, would you be willing to share this out in homeroom or at the end of your classes one day? It’s really short.
http://safeshare.tv/v/ss56450bd0dc91a
Also, we’re looking for tutors so please encourage any of your advanced students to sign up who are looking for an after school opportunity. The kids love it! They get to be a teacher in their own breakout room with their own slides and work on the subjects they are strong in.
If you want to see what we do before sharing this, please feel free to email me and I’ll send you a link to the blackboard room. We hold Tutors On Demand every Thursday from 4-5pm.
Thank you for all of your support with this program!
Sarah Schubring
Laptop request
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1K_-DlyeU8eB8oK7A_Iw1shnietF0mXNDAz_K2b18SQ8/viewform?usp=send_form
Andrei reviews these weekly and approves if warranted.
Happy Birthday to HS math teacher, Lindsay Wesley, on November 17!
STEM Grant Opportunity
The new Michigan Science Standards have just been adopted. If you are looking for an engaging way to meet the new engineering component of the standards the Kent ISD can help you to leverage a free 3D Printer and a free drone (UAV) in your classrooms! We are an approved PD provider for MDE's 99s(5) grant. The grant will also cover substitute costs for educators in attendance.
Here's what you need to do:
- Enroll in one or both of of the PD offerings on the attached flyer
- Apply for the grant per the instructions here: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-5236-343832--,00.html
- Follow directions closely: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Section_99b_instructions_for_website_478192_7.pdf
- Choose our PD on line 25 by scrolling to the bottom of the list and selecting either "STEM Thinking: Autonomous Vehicles," or, "STEM Thinking: 3D Printing"
- Email your MDE confirmation of GRANT SUBMISSION to careerreadiness@kentisd.org so we know to order your equipment!
See you at the PD!!!
**Small window per MDE grant guidelines November 12- December 15**
616.365.2354
STEM Consultant
Kent Intermediate School District
New students as of November 16
1550387 Blake 7th Grade
1814019 Diamond 7th Grade
1808902 ISLAM 7th Grade
1674393 Muhammad 7th Grade
1805342 Parson 7th Grade
1814436 Weiers 7th Grade
1633062 DiNardo 8th Grade
1803649 Garcia 8th Grade
1810553 Gould 8th Grade
1494520 Jordan 8th Grade
1809692 Manley Jr 8th Grade
1811382 Smith 8th Grade
1813337 Thompson 8th Grade
1810368 Lamont 9th Grade
1785545 Ford 10th Grade
1808975 Knox 10th Grade
1809778 Lee 10th Grade
1806311 Videan 10th Grade
1797435 Foster 11th Grade
1811643 Gee 11th Grade
1809849 LeBlanc 11th Grade
1481174 Smith 11th Grade
1812521 Sobleskey 11th Grade
1802125 Vestrand 11th Grade
1806269 Brown 12th Grade
1809771 Sinkler 12th Grade
Hour of Code
Susan Vernier and Katie Simmons participated last year and would like to expand with more of you! If you are interested, please reach out to them at svernier@k12.com or kasimmons@k12.com.
Bring computer science to your school. Start with an Hour of Code!
Computers are everywhere, but fewer schools teach computer science than 10 years ago. Good news is, we’re on our way to change this. If you heard about the Hour of Code last year, you might know it made history. In the first Hour of Code, 15 million students tried computer science. Last year, that number increased to 60 million students! The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.
Sign up to host an Hour of Code this December 7-13 during Computer Science Education Week.
Testing Update from Wendy: MME
Wendy attended a 7 hour MME webinar that included speakers from MDE, College Board and ACT.
The attached PPT includes everything you wanted to know about SAT, PSAT, M-STEP and more. SAT & PSAT 8/9 & 10 will definitely be all hands on deck.
Here are some of the more informational slides:
· Student Eligibility for MME – slides 12 – 17 – provide a great explanation about which students can/cannot take the MME and which will be included in accountability
· College Board contacts – slide 18
· ACT WorkKeys contacts – slide 19
· M-STEP contact – slide 20
· Roles & Responsibilities (SAT) – Principals – slide 32
· Roles & Responsibilities (SAT/PSAT) – SSD Coordinator – slide 33
· Roles & Responsibilities (SAT/PSAT) – Test Center Supervisor (Site Lead) – slide 34
· Roles & Responsibilities (SAT/PSAT) – Associate Supervisor (Proctor) – slide 35
· Roles & Responsibilities (SAT/PSAT) – Proctors & Hall Monitors – slide 36
· Accommodations Requests (SAT/PSAT) – slides 44 – 50
· SAT Test Day Schedule – slide 52
· Staffing Requirements/Limitations (SAT/PSAT) – slides 59 – 63
· Training (SAT/PSAT) – slides 64 & 65
· Test Materials Return (SAT/PSAT) slides 69 & 70
· SAT School Day Customer Support Contacts – slide 71
· Appendix: Accommodations Matrix (SAT/PSAT) – slides 72 – 80
· PSAT Test Day Schedule – slide 97
· Seating & Furniture Requirements (SAT/PSAT) – slide 115
· ACT info begins – slide 135
· ACT staffing options – slides 166 - 168
· ACT WorkKeys Schedule – slide 195
· ACT WorkKeys website & contact info – slides 215 & 216
· Pre-ID, Labels & Accountable Students & Test Verification (all Wendy) - slides 225 – 257
· SAT Accommodations info – slides 260 – 267
· M-STEP Supports & Accommodations – slides 269 - 273
Noteworthy highlights…
· SDQ (Student Data Questionnaire) for SAT & PSAT can be completed after the test and that is the plan for now…until MDE changes their mind. So, no mailing out SDQs to 9th – 11th, having to add Class Connects to walk students through completing the questionnaire, hoping students return the SDQ and then having to sort them to the correct site. Same for ACT WorkKeys. Yahoo!
· SAT w/ essay, including administrative tasks = 4 hours, 22 minutes (+ 30 min. to complete SDQ)
· SAT/PSAT requires 1 student per 6’ & under table or 2 per 8’ & longer table; ACT requires 2 per 6’ table
· Staff with a student in HS can’t have access to/proctor the same test their child (or person living in their home) will be taking, even if in another district. My plan is for staff in this category to handle M-STEP.
· SAT/PSAT materials should arrive 2-3 weeks prior to testing
· SAT/PSAT – requires add’l person in testing room w/ > 34 students; ACT WorkKeys requires add’l person in testing room w/ > 25 students
· SAT/PSAT online training for Test Center Supervisors (Site Leads) and Assoc. Supervisors (Proctors) is required and will be delivered by College Board. It includes materials shipment returns. (I will also provide follow-up training after the online training.)
· PSAT – 3 hours
· ACT WorkKeys training will be delivered by me
· ACT WorkKeys is (3) 45 minutes sections. Will be first test of day, followed by M-STEP 11 Science & Social Studies, after a break.
Thank you,
Wendy Poulton
Michigan Testing Coordinator
Office: 616.309.1605
Cell: 360.840.3059
Survey - Co-teaching in a Virtual Setting
From Vickie Russell:
Hello!
I am conducting research to complete my master’s degree. I am researching the effectiveness of co-teaching in the virtual setting and would appreciate your input. I have developed a survey that should take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. It is a mix of multiple choice, rating scales and just a few open ended questions. Please know that I do not ask for names and will not be using the name of the school or k12 in my report.
Below is the link for the survey! If you have co-taught or are currently co-teaching, please fill it out by Wednesday, November 18, 2015!
https://www.surveyface.com/l/online-co-teaching
Thank you,
Vickie Russell
Self-Contained Special Education Teacher
Expense Reports
A friendly reminder!
Andrei communicated to us that due to an unforeseen delay with the new online system, we will complete our October expense report as we have in the past.
“Until we are told otherwise, reimbursements and any/all expenses will be processed as we have before. Please reinforce to your teams that the Source Code and Funding Source on all Reimbursement Forms MUST be completed; if not, it will be returned to that respective team member and will delay their payment. October reimbursement information is now due NOVEMBER 18, 2015.”
UPDATED MTSS Referral Process
The form has been updated and it is attached in this email.
If you have questions, please reach out to the MTSS Team!
Cassandra Rusie
Lisa Faulkner
Jon DeCou
Colleen Kayl
Kelly Mohr
Allyson Dunn
Terasa Burt
Or any interventionist...
How to complete the form: http://screencast.com/t/94wnfgYgo
Weebly site: http://mvcainterventions.weebly.com/referral-documents.html
FAST Training for Families
If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to a FAST member.
This week's PD with Summer!
Owning Retention and Family Satisfaction
When
Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 9-9:45am
Where
This is an online event.
More information
www.tinyurl.com/sumshelComing next week...
Small Groups or Rx Learning
When
Tuesday, Nov. 24th, 2-2:45pm
Where
This is an online event.
More information
www.tinyurl.com/sumshelFREE GVSU PD - Early December
Pinterest Party (West)
Event Start: Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $75.00
Location: GVSU Bicycle Factory
Middle/High School Assessments & Interventions (East)
Event Start: Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $150.00
Location: GVSU Detroit Center
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (East)
Event Start: Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $150.00
Location: GVSU Detroit Center
Pinterest Party (East)
Event Start: Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Location: GVSU Detroit Center
This is a member only event
Lexile - Creating Student Booklists (West)
Event Start: Monday, December 7, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $75.00
Location: GVSU Bicycle Factory
Tech Tools and Teaching Tricks (WEST)
Event Start: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $150.00
Location: L. William Seidman Center
Lexile - Creating Student Booklists (East)
Event Start: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $75.00
Location: GVSU Detroit Center
Event Start: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $75.00
Location: Bicycle Factory
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (WEST)
Event Start: Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $150.00
Location: Bicycle Factory
MAP© 102- Proctor Training (EAST)
Event Start: Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Member Cost: $0.00
Non-member Cost: $75.00
Location: Detroit Center
Tuition support through GVSU
http://www.gvsu.edu/cso/gvsu-med-program-14.htm
The window to request the 50% reduction opens up this Wednesday!
If you are new to MVCA, please contact Tina Ortowski at tortowski@k12.com to get one!
Thanksgiving Break
Please be sure to set up an out of office message in your email as well as on your school phone - thanks!
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2015, 08:00 AM
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We look forward to welcoming new MS math teacher, Brian Poppen, this week!
Systems Updates
Not all apply to us - please peruse at your leisure :)
MVCA All Staff PD
See details in your Outlook reminders
If you give a thumbs up for another round of the ugly Christmas sweater contest...find me in Lync! If you have other ideas as well, let me know.
Thursday, Dec 10, 2015, 01:30 PM
Grand Rapids, MI, United States
CONGRATS!
We look forward to welcoming Danielle Stoops, who will be subbing for Eva while she is out.