Important Information!
5.29.2020
Hello,
I will not be providing Schoology analytics today. Instead, I would like to provide you with information about how we as a school community will be supporting our students, their families, and each other in this time of uncertainty. As you may or may not know there was a significant incident related to policing in south Minneapolis this week that resulted in a man losing his life. There have been many demonstrations that have occurred across the Twin Cities as a result of this death.
This is an unprecedented time for Minnesota and our students and as a result, I feel compelled to provide you and them with support during this time. After consulting with members of the school's leadership team, I have put together opportunities for you, our students and their families to receive support during this time. For your awareness, all families and students will receive communication from me regarding the supports that are available to them and their students during this time.
Grade level counselors, student management specialists, and our school Social Workers are available to help students process the situation. Please make sure you refer any students that are having difficulty during this time to their appropriate grade level counselor, student management specialist, and/or school social worker. We will also be providing students with an opportunity to process in advisory on Monday with a lesson that follows up from a previous lesson about Ahmed Aubrey.
I have included talking points here for you to use when interacting with students who need support during this time. I'm also going to offer you an opportunity to process the situation on Monday beginning at 9 a.m. in this Google Meet. This will be an optional opportunity for all staff to process this situation using the compass and other Equity tools that we have become familiar with. There is no obligation to join the Google Meet. Attendance is optional and is being provided to you as a method of support.
If you have any questions about any of these items please let me know and I will assist. Thank you for all that you do for our students. It is greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Diana Bledsoe
- From Ms. Ann Dale: Shout out to our ESPs. Thank you for working so hard tutoring our students to help them see success in distance learning. You are all Rock Stars!
From Haik and Schroeder: Shout out to Rachael Anderson for being an amazing counseling team member! Thank you for jumping into the role during this crazy time and being such a valuable member of our team. You have handled everything that has been thrown your way seamlessly and we appreciate you!
- From Ms. Bledsoe: Shout out to Ms. Teeple for providing me with photos for virtual "One World Many Stories" academic honors. Click the links that follow to view the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade presentations. These presentations will be sent out to families and students shortly.
Do you have a message of congratulation, support, or appreciation that you would like to share? If so send it my way and I will include it in the staff shout out section of the important information email.
Information For All
FYI-
Final Grading Reminder
All teachers were directed to apply the FINAL MARK 6-8 Distance Learning Grading Scale in their Class Settings, for T3, prior to posting any marks.
Summer Meal Distribution
The Food & Nutrition Services department will begin food distribution at NVMS on June 8th. More information is below.
Meal distribution
- June 8th – August 14th
- Monday – Friday , 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Breakfast & lunch (cold grab-n-go bags)
- Intended for anyone 18 years old or younger. Adults can pick up meals for kids, child does not need to be present.
- Picked up at the front door (unless otherwise communicated)
- Additional distribution sites - BG, CV, EB, GC, PB, WV, WD, ZW, MGM, MGH, PC, OEC
- Home meal delivery will continue for families that have barriers coming to a site
June 4th & 5th Expectations
Although Chromebooks are scheduled to be collected on June 4th and 5th teachers are expected to continue to provide instruction. This should be work that can be done without the use of the Chromebook and should be communicated out to students prior to Chromebook collections. Teachers and non-licensed must also continue to hold office hours on June 4th and 5th.
Daily Work Summary
The daily work summary requirement concludes on June 5th for both licensed and non-licensed staff.
Celebrating our 8th Graders:
Please consider helping us celebrate our 8th graders by adding a message of congratulations here to the class of 2024. We won't be able to say goodbye in person, but I want them to know how special they have been to us.
Equity Foundational Training:
Licensed staff who have completed the building level Equity 1.5 training this year, have received 8 CEUs. These hours fall under the cultural competence training requirement for the state. Click here to view your hours. Once there, click on "Transcripts/My Reports." Scroll to the bottom of the page to find a list of all of your PD. Contact Kelly Armstrong with questions.
Reminders For Non Licensed Staff
During the closure, the following is expected of all NVMS ESPs:
- Complete NVMS Daily Work Summary every day by 2:30 p.m. This will require you to be logged into your Osseo Area Schools apps account.
- Complete online professional development from HR and your union representative. I have included the instructions for Safe Schools Courses and Online Professional Development courses with this email. The instructional guide for accessing materials can be found here.
- Complete your performance evaluation form for your end-of-year meeting. Ms. Dale has sent out a copy.
NVMS Distance Learning Links Hub:
If you’re like Mr. Berg it is very possible that you have struggled at times to keep the various links, spreadsheets, and docs we are now using on a daily basis organized. As a result, he put together this hub of various links to help you stay organized. If there is something you would like included send it to Mr. Berg, and he will add it.
Reminders For Licensed Staff
Student Attendance:
- We are currently using an opt-out process; this means that unless a parent calls in to report his/her child’s absence, we will assume they are in attendance. Mary Anne Maurer will be checking daily attendance calls and recording that information into Synergy. If you know that a student is absent due to illness or for another reason, please forward that information onto Mary Anne Maurer as well.
Teacher Expectation for Attendance Monitoring:
- Per the district's flex learning plan, licensed teachers are expected to be making daily contact with students. This can be done either via phone or through Schoology discussions or a Google Meets class session, etc. This does not have to be one-on-one contact and it does not have to be synchronous to your Google Meets office hours or your duty day. You just need to see students engaging with class materials at some point during the day. If you do not have contact with a student for two days in a row, please attempt to call the student and notify Mary Ann Maurer, your grade level SMS and counselor on the third day.
Reporting Expectations:
- During this time, as long as you report a summary of your daily work using the form found here by 3:50, you will be paid your regular salary or hourly wage according to your regular work schedule. This will require you to be logged into your Osseo Area Schools apps account.
- Licensed staff- your duty day will be from 8 am to 3:10 pm.
NVMS Distance Learning Links Hub:
If you’re like Mr. Berg it is very possible that you have struggled at times to keep the various links, spreadsheets, and docs we are now using on a daily basis organized. As a result, he put together this hub of various links to help you stay organized. If there is something you would like included send it to Mr. Berg, and he will add it.
Resources For Staff
CONSCIOUSNESS DEVELOPMENT
Tech Tidbit: "Scheduled" Google Meet vs. "Nickname" Google Meet
Click HERE to access information about the difference between a "Scheduled" Google Meet and a "Nickname" Google Meet. I have added those directions to the Tech Tidbit document. .
Flex Learning Resources & Supports
Fitness with Ms. Gross
Important Links
You can manually add the links below to your desktop. If you do not how to do manually add these links to your desktop, please watch the video found here.
Pacific Interpreters
- Interpreting services information can be found here.
If you have questions about:
- Your work responsibilities between now and May 4: contact your direct supervisor.
- Your pay: contact Payroll at payroll@district279.org.
- Your benefits: contact Human Resources at HR@district279.org.
- How to access confidential support during these challenging times: take advantage of our Employee Assistance Program.
Flocabulary Login Link
Click here to access the district Flocabulary account.
BrainPop Password:
The BrainPop user id and password are below and case sensitive.
- User Id: NVMSBRAINPOP
- PW: knights7
Google Nods
If you haven’t already done so you might want to add Google Nod to your list of Chromebook extensions. It provides quick emoji reactions for muted team members during virtual meetings. It is also very helpful to the facilitator because it allows us to gauge real-time feedback as were are speaking. This is just a suggestion, not a requirement.
Professional Development Articles for Staff
If you would like to use this time for professional development consider visit the site found here using the log included below. This site is filled with a variety of information on a wide variety of topics that impact educators.
- User Id: bledsoed@district279.org
- PW: nvms279
Virtual Reppin’ Knight Pride Certificates
The form found here has been created to provide you with an opportunity to positively acknowledge our students who are showing Knight Pride in this distance learning environment. Students who are acknowledged by staff will be sent a certificate, a sweet treat, and will receive a positive phone call home to share this acknowledgment with their family members. Please consider nominating a student next week.
PBIS Distance Learning Incentives
Looking for a way to positively recognize your students during distance learning? If so click here for more than seventy-five incentive ideas.
COVID-19 Resources
I am worried about COVID-19. What resources are available to me?
Here are some of the specific resources included in the HR FAQ (the most updated FAQ is posted on my279).
- District 279 website: https://www.district279.org/covid-19/
- Employee Assistance Program: https://www.district279.org/human-resources/51-services-departments/human-resources/573-employee-benefits?start=7 (24 hour, anonymous employee access for general needs or concerns)
- Tips for dealing with the Coronavirus: https://www.district279.org/human-resources/51-services-departments/human-resources/573-employee-benefits?start=7
- Education MN: Coronavirus resources
- National Education Association: http://neatoday.org/2020/01/06/schools-and-coronavirus/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/getattachment/Press-Media/Press-Releases/2020/COVID-19-and-Mental-Illness-NAMI-Releases-Importan/COVID-19-Updated-Guide-1.pdf?lang=en-US
- Minnesota Dept. of Health COVID-19 public hotline: 651-201-3920; open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri.
Our Commitments:
We, the staff at North View Middle School, commit to…
- Providing challenging academic opportunities that are relevant, engaging, culturally responsive, and rigorous.
- Providing a meaningful, encouraging and safe environment that fosters the whole child, and focuses on student strengths.
- Including data driven best practices and instruction that meets the academic and individual needs of our students, improves student achievement, and promotes growth.
- Engaging in continued professional development to ensure that we are aware of our students’ racial perspectives, challenge our biases, and include practices that serve our diverse student population.
- Providing effective collaborative partnerships with the entire school community by ensuring that we encourage multiple opportunities for involvement, communication, and access.
- Modeling and implementing daily engaging multi-level reading and writing strategies within our classrooms.
- Accepting responsibility for each student’s success and celebrate that success with our school community.
Our Mission!
Committed to furthering the lives of each student by using the best practices available.
Email: bledsoed@district279.org
Website: http://schools.district279.org/nvms/
Phone: 763-585-7200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nvmsknights/
Twitter: @NVMSPrincipal