The CIA Report
August 2018 Edition
For those of you who are new to Wentzville or who are new to our administrative team, welcome to the first edition of The CIA Report for the 2018-2019 school year!
This newsletter will come to you monthly, typically about a week prior to the administrator meeting (we're claiming the back to school crazy as the reason you're getting this issue so late!). It contains many things the CIA department needs to share with you but that can just as easily be read and shared aloud in a meeting. This is our version of a "flipped" meeting.
If you have questions as you read, please make use of the shared Google Doc (linked below) to post those questions. During our CIA meeting, we'll take time to address the questions and we'll use the Google Doc to document our responses for future reference.
The only way this works is if you read The CIA Report each month so you can continue to be informed.
Please take some time to read through this prior to the August 28 administrator meeting. If you have any questions, please post them in this Google Doc.
Thanks!
Learning Today... Feeding Your Professional Soul
That's right - you are the winner! You get to lead your students on the beautiful journey of this new year!
Jeff Kubiak, principal and leader, shared a blogpost celebrating educators returning to school.
We GET the chance to work with kids for another whole year and "It is an honor for [us] to walk this mission of preparing kids for the mighty unknown." This makes us the winners!
Our students are at the heart of everything we do each and every day. Sometimes the other stuff that tries to force its way in as a priority can make it tough to remember that. When that happens, take a break, visit a few classrooms, and remind yourself why you are the winner!
Teaching & Learning
New Science Content Leader!
We want to once again welcome Dr. Derek Scott to the Wentzville School District. We are thrilled to have him serving the staff and students of our district as the Science Content Leader. He has been very busy learning the ropes and gaining an understanding of the vision for science curriculum and instruction that has been set in motion for this year!
Like our entire department, he is happy to help in any way he can. Please email him at derekscott@wsdr4.org.
Curriculum Update
This year K-6 Social Studies and K-6 Computers will begin the research phase of curriculum development. Nichole Nolan (Social Studies) and Meghan Aydelott (Practical Arts) will be sending out applications to participate on curriculum teams. All teachers who are currently teaching those subjects/grade levels are welcome to volunteer!
Teaching and Learning Blog
The Teaching and Learning blog is moving! We are transitioning from Blogger to Google Sites, as we believe that it will allow us to best communicate and share information with teachers throughout the district.
The site is currently under construction and will be published soon! Keep an eye out for an email launching our new blog!
Constitution Day
September 17th is the birthday of the United States Constitution!
Constitution Day is celebrated every year on September 17th -- a Monday this year. Constitution Day commemorates the culmination of the work of the Constitutional Convention with the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
All schools that receive federal funds are required to observe Constitution Day (also known as Citizenship Day). Schools are asked to devote some part of the day to celebrate and help students learn more about the document that guides our nation.
Nichole Nolan will be posting resources for Constitution Day on the Teaching and Learning blog - soon!
Assessment
As you are working on your school improvement plans, do not hesitate to reach out for help!
Professional & Program Development
ACTION ITEMS:
PD Plan 2018-19: Please take time with your PD Chair to finalize this year’s plan and make sure it aligns to your building SIP. These are due 9/6 for BoE approval
PD Days -
8/31 PD Day - Please share your PD agenda with your grade level admin team and:
Please have your PD Chair put Building PD Agendas in this folder. Please name: (school) 8/31 Building PD Agenda
Please have your PD Chair put Trauma PD Agendas in this folder. Please name: (school) 8/31 Trauma PD Agenda
9/28 PD Day - Be a lead learner! Our goal is to have our administrators attend one or more District-Content PD group sessions so that you are learning alongside the teachers you supervise. Those times are highlighted in yellow below. We are still working on identifying all groups and learning outcomes for the 9/28 PD Day . Please enter where you will be attending here. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th tabs have the groups/locations on each PD Day.
Elementary Principals - Please contact Karen Hill if you have a “new to 1st grade” teacher who is giving the CogAT.
PD Planning Meeting for 2019-20 is April 4 from 12-3:00p. You received a google calendar invite on 8/17.
Technology
HelpDesk Work Orders
Reminder to buildings, with the start of the school year, many requests are made...if computers are not working correctly or staff needs any technology assistance, please remember to submit a work order to Help Desk. Simply email the request to helpdesk@wsdr4.org or visit HelpDesk.wentzville.k12.mo.us, and log in with your District email. Be sure to include a detailed description of your problem, your room number, and building.
Reminder about Technology Purchases
Need to make a technology purchase for your school or classroom? Please remember all technology purchases must be approved and purchased through the Technology Department office. If you have any questions, please contact the Technology Office at x22330.
School Improvement
Please continue to work through the school improvement process we discussed during our August Admin meetings. See process notes below.
To allow ample time to work through the process below and involving others in the process, first quarter school improvement meetings will not begin until mid-to-late September. Calendar invites will be sent out this week. If you need a later time in the month or early October, just let Megan know.
We are continuing to work with our District MMD Leadership team to determine the best route to take with the MMD grant this year. At this time, there is nothing you need to do at the building level. We will keep you updated as we learn more.
Dr. Megan Stryjevski
Twitter: @DrStryjewski