District Staff News
September 9, 2019
I trust you're settling in to the new year as we enter the second week of school. I want to thank you again for your engagement during our All-Staff Inservice at the end of August. I have heard lots of great comments regarding Dr. Jon Landis' keynote address, as well as really good feedback regarding the breakout sessions that took place throughout the day. I recognize that we all have an opportunity to do some great work this year and it's a pleasure to work with a dedicated staff that is committed to the students and families we serve.
I appreciate our renewed focus on positive school climate strategies that we are implementing across the district. Our children and young adults need to know the expectations that are critical for optimum learning environments. They also need to know how to be a successful member of a learning community where they can thrive and interact in healthy ways with their peers. Our work is not simply about transferring subject-matter knowledge, but also how we interact with one another in a civil and respectful way. These are skills that our students will carry out into the community and that will stay with them for life.
Do we have challenging work ahead of us? Absolutely. But as I said at the end of my opening remarks during our inservice, I wouldn't want to do this work with anyone other than those of you here supporting our students.
Have a great week!
Best,
Greetings! Did you know that September is national attendance awareness month? Last June, over 20% of our students were chronically absent and we know that how a student starts the year predicts how well they will do.
Take a look at https://awareness.attendanceworks.org/ and 10 Facts About School Attendance. Both of these resources provide information on how attendance impacts student learning as well as how to start the year off right and keep the awareness on attendance!
- Ivonne
Happy September! A reminder that all Classroom Management Plans should be completed and submitted to your building Principal. Buildings will be working to identify members of their School Climate Teams. If you are interested in participating, please see your Building Principal.
Also, September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10-24 year olds in this Country. Clackamas County has the highest rate of youth suicide in the tri-county area. If you suspect that a student may be at risk for suicide, please notify your school counselor immediately.
Learn the warning signs: https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/
Resources include:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Clackamas County Crisis Line (503) 655-6585
Oregon YouthLine (877) 968-8491 or text to 839863
The district is conducting a social media campaign on Twitter and Instagram to raise awareness. Check it out by following: https://twitter.com/canbyschools or https://www.instagram.com/canbyschooldistrict.
- Kathy
With the busiest summer we’ve ever seen finished, an all-stall inservice checked off our list, and the first week of school complete, your technology team wanted to let you know about two big-picture items:
We’re undergoing tremendous change and doing it at a very aggressive timeline. In the past four months we’ve changed how we support our elementary schools, we’ve significantly updated two of our major backend systems, and we’ve replaced a system that manages thousands of our staff and student devices. In the coming weeks, we’re deploying a new phone system, a new volunteer management system, and all the while doing our best to help our aging classroom technology last another year. We’re doing this for a profound reason: We believe that technology is a support that not only helps get our jobs done, but, when appropriate, is also a part of sound instructional and operational practices that better the lives of ALL of our students. We believe instructional technology works best when we have the right systems and people in place to support it. This is why we’re pushing hard to make changes that impact our underlying processes. This is also why you may not see technology changes as fast as you might like. We’d love new devices in our students’ hands every year, mounted projectors or interactive panels in each instructional space, and innovative technology opportunities in each school. We believe that this change is the next step, but right now we must devote our time and energy to foundational supports so that our future will be successful.
The second thing you need to know is that we thank you. We thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your willingness to stick with us through this change. Great staff members who help our students succeed are the reason we’re here and if you’ll stick with us, we will do some great things together.
- Bret
BENEFITS ENROLLMENT
OEBB Open Enrollment for the 2019-20 benefit plan year closes at 11:59 PM on September 10 (that's tomorrow!). This enrollment is for the plan year beginning October 1, 2019. Everyone is required to re-enroll in benefits.
You may find additional benefits information on the district website: https://www.canby.k12.or.us/ under Human Resources Department Benefits Information. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Tess Robison at extension 3916.
Tomorrow is our final enrollment lab. It's in the District Office's Riverside Room tomorrow from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30pm to 5pm. No sign-up is required ~ Just stop by!
American Fidelity
Just a reminder that we will be holding a will be holding a “last chance” enrollment date on Thursday, September 26th from 4 to 7 pm. The enrollment sessions will be here at the District Office with three representatives from American Fidelity. This will be a drop-in with no appointments required. If you want to continue or start a dependent day care account or flexible spending account, enrollment is required.
Employee Reimbursements
This year employee reimbursements will be processed as a direct deposit on the following dates: September 11 & 25, October 9 & 23, November 6 & 20, December 4 & 18, January 8 & 22, February 5 & 19, March 4 & 18, April 1, 15 & 29, May 13 & 27 and June 10 & 24.
- Denise
The start of the school year is especially busy and can be a stressful time of year. Check out our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Newsletter for tips:
New Classified Staff Welcome & Orientation
All new classified staff are invited to our New Hire Welcome to Canby Orientation on Tuesday, September 10th, 4:15-5:00 at the District Office (Meridian Room). This is a voluntary information session where you will have the opportunity to meet other new employees, learn more about the district, understand all of the benefits available to you, and get your questions answered.
We hope you can join us!
- Michelle
Thank you to all who participated in the “Walk Around the Track” and yoga during the inservice. Also, it was wonderful to have such a great turn out for our wellness speaker, Dr. Grace Bullock.
Fitness class start the week of September 30. Look for times and locations on flyers coming soon to your building staff rooms.
Hike and Hops will be at Mary S. Young park in West Linn on September 21st. Exact meeting time will be sent out on flyers coming to your staff room soon.
If any employee has an idea for a seminar or class that they are interested in taking or giving, please contact Megan Hochstetler (hochstem@canby.k12.or.us).
The first champion meeting of the year is September 19 at 4:15pm in the Lee Elementary school staff room. If you are a champion we will see you there. If you are just interested in learning more about what champions do and what the wellness grant is about, please feel free to join us.
- Megan & Morgan
Even as they spent time preparing classrooms and making plans for the new year, the staff found time to decorate all six of Lee's student restrooms. Staff members worked passionately to create spaces that encourage self-esteem and good choices. They wanted to show their students just how much they're loved!
We're so impressed with this show of love and support! Way to go, #TeamLee!
See something positive happening in your building? Click here to share your positive school climate news!
The Key to Effective Classroom Management
Stop disruptive behavior before it begins. A recent study found that relationship-building exercises throughout the school day can increase academic engagement by 33% while reducing disruptive behavior by 75%.
OPENING & CLOSING ROUTINES
#STOMPOUTBULLYING
#BacktoCSD
In case you missed it, here's a look back on all the smiles from the first day of school. Thank you for sharing your photos and thank you for welcoming our students and families into our schools with genuine warmth and open arms.
All students. All abilities. All opportunities.
Email: fostera@canby.k12.or.us
Website: www.canby.k12.or.us
Location: 1130 South Ivy Street, Canby, OR, USA
Phone: 503-266-7861
Facebook: facebook.com/canbyschooldistrict
Twitter: @canbyschools