SC GEAR UP
Weekly Memo - 6/15 to 6/21
Good Morning!
I hope everyone had a good weekend.
Please continue to monitor your Summer Programs. I would hope you've figured out how many kids you need for your region to meet the 80% mark and higher for Biology. Don't lose sight of that goal, but also please monitor the beginning of the Enrichment programs as well.
Meeting Change
Summer Programming
I wanted to place this in a separate section.
We are starting the enrichment in some of the Schools this Summer, and we are also doing some Dual Credit for those who requested an early start. While this is great, it also places a level of responsibility on the Program that may not have been there previously. If you don't have a coach working this Summer at a school with either Summer enrichment or Dual Credit, then YOU are the coach for the Summer. Please monitor the progress of both programs, but especially those students in Dual Credit coursework this Summer. A grade lower than a "B" in a dual credit course can have a major impact on a student's LIFE Scholarship GPA after their first year in college, so monitoring those students is important.
This highlights the topic of determining the kinks in the program now, so that we can address with school leadership as the Full Program begins in the Fall. So be looking for hiccups in the process, from invoicing, monitoring, instruction, etc.
Biology Goal
COMPASS Follow-up
Let's have a written report for the meeting Thursday. By now the structures of the program should be worked out, but maybe the hiring process is going slowly. Let's stay on it folks. Some of the questions to keep the conversations moving:
- Date of last meeting/contact on subject and who attended
- Technical college that will partner with high school through project
- Plan for Dual Enrollment Course delivery
- Plan for Developmental or "GEAR UP University Transition Course"
- Who is teaching the courses? Are they certified/qualified?
- Have the teachers been vetted by the high school or tech college?
- Does SCGU need to develop the lesson plans for the courses?
- Is every known member of the cohort scheduled for some type of enrichment or dual credit work this Fall?
- How will the invoicing process work? (whose budget?)
- Have you ordered your books?
- Is there a plan for inventory and storage with books/tech?
- Dates you shared data with stakeholders (parent night? IGP?)
- What was the feedback for the parent night? What was the attendance?
- What concerns have parents shared with you or the school?
- Issues you are encountering at any level
- What will be the role of the Graduation Coach?
SuperIntendent Appreciation
NCCEP/GEAR UP Summer Conference - San Francisco
Remember to register and make sure you get the registration of your folks in to Vickie ASAP! Since its a cross country trip, nobody is driving. Let's be sure we're knowledgeable about when our invitees are leaving and landing. Make sure they have your contact info.
There will be after-conference meetings again this year.
Steve and LaDonna will plan the Monday Meeting Agenda
Sonya and Katrisa will plan the Tuesday Meeting Agenda
Retreat?! 8/25
I need your thoughts so that we can start thinking logistics and speakers. Do you want to have the retreat?
Everyone should send me a "yes" or "no" email vote.
The fact that this is still here should tell you I haven't heard from everyone. We don't have to have the retreat folks. You won't be hurting my feelings. But I do need to know. If nothing else, I can break the day up and meet with you one on one about the upcoming year.
SCGU Award Letters for 2015-16
As a follow-up to the above, its about time to start reviewing your Programs from this year for suggested changes for next year's award letter. I'm bringing this up because I realize that the school year is close to ending, and I want you to have discussions with your school officials before they leave. I probably wont need your changes until after the conference, but at that point some folks you may need input from may not be around to meet with you.
Objectives for 2014-15
The SCGU Grant objective for 10th grade will be that 80% of our students will pass Biology by the end of 10th grade. As of first semester, I believe Vermadel has us at 38%.
Remember, the success of the SC GEAR UP Grant will be judged on three things:
1) Did your GU cohort graduate high school at a higher rate than the non GU cohorts?
2) Did your GU cohort enroll at a post-secondary institution at a higher rate than the non GU cohorts?
3) How prepared to succeed were our GU cohort when they arrived at college?
Objectives for 2015-16
The SCGU Grant objectives for 11th grade will be that 1) At least 25% of our cohort will have passed at least 2 math courses above Algebra by the end of 11th grade; and 2) 80% of our students will pass U.S. History by the end of 11th grade.
Vermadel will give us updates on these at the August GC meeting, if not sooner.
Vermadel
Listen,
The first two weeks of June is a very stressful time for Vermadel. She has a lot of data to collect and she has to collect that data before June 15th if possible. After that date, individual PowerSchool data gets dumped into a District pool and her job becomes SOOO much harder. Let her work and lets hold off on asking for additional data unless its an emergency. Its hard for me not to do it to, but I am giving her permission to tell us ALL "no" if she needs to.
We can begin bothering her again after this week.
Finance
We meet on Tuesdays to go over the Program and sign invoices. Questions usually come up. Be available between 1:30 and 3:00 for a potential call or text.
I NEED Q2 INVOICES ASAP!! The delay in providing the invoices will be a problem down the road if this continues. This is especially important with Q3 and Q4.
Social Media Update
The SC GEAR UP Facebook and Twitter are now both up!!!! Please have the coaches encourage students to like and follow SC GEAR UP on social media. We can do better on Twitter and certainly on Facebook.
Don't forget about the newsletters as well!