John F. Kennedy HS Staff Bulletin
Volume 1, Issue 1 (April 8, 2019)
Monday, April 8: Faculty Meeting
- What does it mean to be a white educator at Kennedy?
- How can I use a "warm demander" framework to ensure high academic engagement?
- What are "Equity Traps" and how can I avoid them?
- How can I disrupt negative stereotypes of students in my classroom?
It is going to be hard work, but it is vitally important for our growth as individuals, as a staff and as a community to discuss, reflect and act on these issues in a way that interrupts inequity at Kennedy and accelerates student success. Please come to Monday's faculty meeting on time with an open heart and an open mind. Light refreshments will be available.
Wednesday, April 10: WASC Visit
- Increase rigor, engaging curricula and instructional practices, use data analysis to measure impact
- Implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
- Improve parent and community engagement
- Expand services and support for English Learners (both integrated and designated support)
- Create a positive shift in climate and culture for staff and students
The Visiting Committee will meet with groups of teachers and staff in the morning, and visit classes after lunch before debriefing their visiting the administrative team at the end of the day.
Wednesday, April 10: Whole-School Professional Learning for Teachers
On Wednesday we will focus on creating formative assessments that will help us determine if students are meeting the content and language objectives, and we will share best practices for helping English Learners meet the objectives through scaffolding and differentiation. The session begins at 2:25 in the Library.
Monday, April 15: Partners School Transformation Review
On Monday, April 15, a visiting team of Partners staff will be coming to Kennedy to conduct the yearly School Transformation Review (STR). The STR is an occasion for school leaders to take inventory of the strengths, challenges and opportunities within their schools in order to inform the process of continuous improvement, and create plans to develop the essential practices that support transformation. During the STR visit, the team from Partners will visit all classrooms for 5-10 minutes.
Additionally, Partners will be holding Focus Groups during prep periods to gain your invaluable insights into the strengths, challenges and opportunities at Kennedy. Alex MacIver will share more information with teachers about the STR and schedule for the day. Feel free to reach out to him if you have any questions.
April 22 - May 3: Time for State Testing
These tests are designed to provide feedback about what our students know and are able to do, and whether they are on track to be ready for success in college or a career when they graduate from high school. We are finalizing a plan to talk with students about the importance of the tests, offer participation incentives for students, and notify families about the tests and the schedule.
This year, we will administer most of the tests to students during their English and Social Science classes. There will be no special bell schedule, and no early release days. Ms. Tesch, our Teacher on Special Assignment, is serving as our Site Testing Coordinator, and she has designed a schedule that maximizes student participation. During the testing window, access to student tablets for non-testing purposes will be limited.
We will need everyone's support in order to ensure a smooth testing process. English and Social Science teachers will be most impacted since most of the testing will happen in their classrooms. But we will also need:
- Teachers to help proctor tests during their prep periods (you will be compensated for your time at the period sub rate)
- Case Managers to ensure that students with disabilities have the appropriate accommodations for testing
- Grad Tutors to support English Learners during testing
- Instructional Assistants to support students with IEPs during testing
- Cafeteria staff to provide students with meals so that they can focus on the tests
- Custodial staff to ensure that the testing environments are clean and well-lit
- Tech experts to keep the tablets charged and ready for testing
- Non-classroom staff to support students who need to take a break from the testing environment and students who need encouragement to do their best
Teachers who are administering CAASPP assessments and want to get an early look at the testing interface are invited and encouraged to attend SBAC Test Examiner training on Tuesday, April 9, from 3:35 until 4:35; those who attend will be paid at the UTR hourly rate for your participation. The required in-service for all faculty and staff who will administer the SBAC, CAST, and the new California Spanish Assessment is on Wednesday, April 17, at 2:25.
Ms. Tesch will share additional information about CAASPP via Email.
Are you curious about what's on the tests? Visit the CAASPP Practice and Training Test Site to see sample questions from each of the assessments (click on the green "Sign In" button on the bottom of the screen, then follow the prompts).
We're on Social Media! (And Don't Forget About Our Website.....)
Email: kennedyeagles@wccusd.net
Website: www.wccusd.net/kennedy
Location: 4300 Cutting Boulevard, Richmond, CA, USA
Phone: 510-231-1433
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfkhsrichmond/
Week at a Glance
Lunch Scholarship Week Begins (College & Career Center)
3:35 Staff Meeting (Library)
Tuesday 4/9 (A Day)
Spirit Week Begins - Twins Day
Deadline for Submitting Timecards for April Payroll
Deadline for Submitting Quarter 3 Grades and Coments
3:35 CAASPP Training for Test Examiners (room TBD)
4:00 Baseball Away Game @ DeAnza
7:00 Boys Volleyball Home Playoff Game vs. Vallejo
Wednesday 4/10 (B Day)
Spirit Week - Beach Day
WASC Visit
2:25 Whole School Professional Learning (Library)
4:00 Home Baseball Game vs. Richmond
4:00 JV Softball Away Game @ Vallejo
6:30 School Board Meeting (DeJean MS Multipurpose Room)
Thursday 4/11 (A Day)
Spirit Week - Vintage/Old School Day
3:30 Track & Field Meet @ St. Mary's
Friday 4/12 (B Day)
Spirit Week - Flannel Day