WTFD WEEKLY
March 9, 2018
MISSION
Vision
A Time for Everything......
During a bible study earlier this week, I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…….
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to embrace and a time to refrain
A time to be silent and a time to speak
A time to mourn and a time to dance
As many of you know, I have had a difficult time with my health this year. I battled high blood pressure, a diagnosis of diabetes, a pinched nerve in my cervical neck that left my arm and fingers aching and numb for weeks, and arthritis in my knees which resulted in injections. Additionally, I have been going to Ohio once a month to help support my parents and their needs. With all that being said, the time has now come for me to “slow down” and take care of myself personally and professionally. Therefore, I have asked the district to reassign me next year into a position that will not be as stressful and demanding as the principalship. I don’t know exactly where I will be, or what I will be doing, but I know that it is time to “slow down.”
I want you all to know that I will cherish the memories from Waterford and the relationships I forged with each of you. You are an extraordinary group of teachers and I have learned much from all of you. I have appreciated the opportunity to lead Waterford and am honored to have been a member of this staff.
In the coming days, my position will be posted and a search will begin for a new principal. I hope that the new leader will pick up where I left off and continue the work that we began four years ago. However, I am going to ask just one favor, and that is…… that you not share this information with others until after Monday…. so that I have an opportunity to send a letter home to parents in Monday folders.
As I embark on a new “season of life,” I am excited to think about how I can best serve. I am reminded of a banner that my dad, as a HS principal, had hanging in the foyer at Lima Senior High School. The sign said, “Enter to learn.” On the other side of the sign, as you exited the building it read, “Leave and Serve.” So, I am now thinking as I embark on a new season of my life, how I can best “leave and serve” students and teachers during my last six years.
Thanks again for your hard work, dedication, and the passion that each of you have for teaching and learning.
God Bless!
Related Arts Night
Beautiful Artwork on Display
Many parents enjoyed seeing their child's art
Lots of great music was shared with the parents
IREAD Testing Schedule
Monday, March 12th Practice Test 9:00 starting time
Monday, March 12th Section 1; 15 minutes after completion of practice
Tuesday, March 13th Section 2; 9:00 starting time
Wed., March 14th Section 3; 9:00 starting time
Make – Up tests on Thursday, March 15th and Friday, March 16th
Report Cards
ILT Update
The ILT began a unit of study on Leading Effective Data Analysis meetings. We viewed an an exemplar meeting and noted similarities and differences between our current practices and then began planning out a meeting for a career teacher. We also determined the need based on a rubric shared at our meeting in Atlanta with UVA.
Next Week and Beyond
Monday 3/12: Delay Day: All teams will be meeting in the Library to continue work BDP with Window F.
IREAD Testing: March 12- March 16
UVA Meeting with Warsaw 8:30-3 (Katrina, Joel, Julea, and Julie out)
PBS Meeting 3:05-4:05 p.m.
Cluster 3-5: 2:20-3:20 p.m.
School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 3/13:
IDEA Room Meeting: 12:30-1:30
Cluster K/1: 2:20-3:20 p.m.
Staff Meeting 3:30-4
Wed,3/14:
ALT 8-11: Katrina, Julie, and Julea
Goshen College Students visiting DLI Program from 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Cluster 2/RA: 2:20-3:20 p.m.
Thurs. 3/15:
ILT 3:30-4:45
Fri. 3/16:
Principal Meeting from 8:45-11 - Katrina Out
5th Grade to GMS
Upcoming Events:
March 28-April 8: Spring Break - no school
News from Central Office
1. March 27th GCS Teacher Recruitment Fair – Plans are well underway to host our own Teacher Recruitment event on March 27th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at GHS in the Media Center. Thanks to those of you who have already RSVP’d to Sarah Deegan as potential interviewers. More details will be coming in the near future. Mark your calendars!
2. Need Food Service Employees – Attached you will find a flyer from the Food Service Department regarding openings. Elementary Principals are asked to please send these home in Monday folders and think of other ways to help us get the word out (such as, school website, parent newsletters, etc.) Thanks for your help!
3. Assistance regarding reviewing the new Application/Hiring Software system – The HR department is in the process of searching for a new applicant tracking software system. We know that the current Search Soft system is antiquated and cumbersome to use on the part of our applicants as well as hiring managers/supervisors. We have three solid leads on new options and will be narrowing it down to one in the very near future. Before a final contract is signed, we are interested in getting input from a few hiring administrators to ensure that the new system is a better solution for all involved. If you are interested in helping us to preview the new software, please let Tammy know. The timeline for launching anything new would be after this next hiring season – on or around October 2018.
4. Feds and IDOE No longer require HQ status for teachers– After a great deal of conversations and waiting on clarity of responses, the IDOE will NO LONGER require teachers to meet Highly Qualified Status. As of last week, the IDOE website was updated to reflect this information. They are leaving this up to individual school corporations. We have determined that this is an unnecessary requirement and will no longer be asking for documentation from our teachers. However, requirements continue for paraprofessionals.
5. Information about the National, Annual TAP Attitude Survey: April 2 – June 30, 2018
The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) administers the TAP Teacher Attitude Survey on an annual basis in order to measure teacher perceptions and overall satisfaction with the TAP System each school year and over time. These data are essential for us to understand how teachers at your school are affected by the implementation of the TAP System. The school survey report shows the level of support for the four TAP elements among teachers at your school. These graphs indicate the percentages of teachers who express either moderate or strong support for each of the four elements of TAP: Multiple Career Paths/Teacher Leadership, Professional Development and Growth, Instructional Accountability/Evaluation, and Performance-based Compensation. In addition, we examine teacher attitudes regarding collegiality and show the percentage of teachers who report either moderate or strong support for statements about the presence of collegiality at their school. On the four core elements and Collegiality, the response percentages for the school are compared to the average of other TAP schools in your district or state (when applicable) and to other TAP schools nationwide.
TAP is the infrastructure we have adopted in GCS for ALL teaching and learning initiatives, AND it is the instructional accountability model that we use for evaluating all teachers. It is important that we gather their input on an annual basis. PLEASE encourage teachers to participate in this survey!
6. Requests for Professional Development – REMINDER! Principals and/or Program Directors: If you are planning to request approval to conduct professional development that involves multiple staff, multiple substitutes, multiple days or is an on-going financial commitment, please plan ahead and submit the request form to the supervising Assistant Superintendent in a timely manner so that adequate discussion can be held and a decision made well in advance of the potential training. If you are planning on this type of PD for summer 2018, we would like to have your request forms by March 23rd, so we can build this into our calendar for Summer PD Opportunities. It is our plan to then share that summer PD calendar with all teachers after Spring Break.
7. Announcement For Classified Staff about Good Friday and Holiday Pay – According to the Classified Handbook and our past practice, “Classified employees are entitled to the following legal holidays without loss of pay when they fall on a scheduled working day: Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving, Marin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Good Friday and Memorial Day, if scheduled.” Since Good Friday falls during Spring Break, it is not a scheduled work day for school year classified employees. Thus they will not receive holiday pay. Good Friday is considered a paid holiday for 52 week classified employees. Questions about this matter may be directed to payroll.
Enjoy the weekend,
Diane, Alan, Steve and Tammy