Friday Notes
Dare to be Different!
Blog: PD the Last 3 Days
The training was led by Larry Ainsworth, a consultant from San Diego, who has written a plethora of books on assessments and standards. While this particular training was 3 days, it is a part of a larger 5 day training. The goals of the training were, to me, pretty simple, and meant to bring clarity to some of the curriculum decisions we make:
Are the state standards at the center of everything we do?
What do the state standards REALLY say?
Do we have assessments that match not only the standard itself but also the level of rigor
that standard is written at?
Do we have a way to check for progress against those same standards along the way?
My questions aren't nearly as good - and there was plenty more content presented - as what was in the book and the training, but I think you get the gist. It is really a process to refocus us. As time wears on we sometimes forget to partake in the very important process of continually asking ourselves why we do something the way we do.
I found that I got A LOT OF VALUE out of this training. I am sure your department leaders will share more next week. No action needed from you at this point. I just wanted to let you know where we have been and what we have been doing.
Robotics Competition
Thanks to Ms. Thompson and Mrs. Warner for being willing to give this a shot FOR OUR STUDENTS. Also a big thanks to Mrs. Nichols, Mr. Hamm, Mrs. Addy, and Mrs. Miller for helping them out. I cannot say enough how proud I am of the event itself as well as how our kids represented themselves. Great job to all!
Bowling Night Presented by the East PTC
Teachers,
Please Save The Date for next Sunday, November 12th from 6pm until 8pm. Our very own PTC is hosting a "Family Game Night" at the Expo Bowl in Beech Grove. This is a fundraiser for our PTC. Cost is $10 for 2 hours UNLIMITED bowling. Bowling shoes and bowling ball are included in the cost. Please share this info with your students. Flyers are posted in the hallways. This is being promoted as "family" game night so that parents attend with their students!
Then, to make it just a bit more interesting, the PTC would like to get teachers involved by holding a 3 vs 3 department competition! All you need to do is gather 3 team members from your department (departments can have multiple teams) and come bowl for our school! Previous bowling experience is not necessary. The highest combined team bowling score after 12 frames (1 complete game) will be declared the winners and will move on to face their next opponents. The over all winning team will receive an honorary traveling Bowling Pin Trophy! Team member's names and a team name need to be email to Nikki by end of day Friday, November 10th. A bracket will be made of all teams on Sunday. This tournament is open to all departments.
Canvas
Sub Plan Reminders
Sub plans should be specific, typed, and include: a seating chart, reliable students, and enough work for the ENTIRE class period. The plans should clearly state what items should be taken up and where they should be placed. Leave nothing to guess.
Hyperdocs
A HyperDoc is a digital document—such as a Google Doc—where all components of a learning cycle have been pulled together into one central hub. Within a single document, students are provided within a single document, students are provided with hyperlinks to all of the resources they need to complete that learning cycle. Want to learn more? Check out the article below and the sample Hyperdoc created by Ms. Streit
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/hyperdocs/
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1FqLyyEBlLePIKxxR5rxOpgdKEuwegzmyBOF4ER_AVkA/edit?ts=59f64adb
BYOD Meetings
School Closing/Delay Information
School Closing Info:
It is about that time of year where everyone gets excited about the weather and how it is going to impact our school day. I have attached updated flowcharts (for internal use) showing the process we follow to determine if school will be delayed, open or closed and who does what in relation to the decision making process. Attached are the following flowcharts:
1. Inclement Weather when school is in session
2. Inclement Weather when school is not in session such as a holiday break
3. Inclement Weather Early Dismissal
4. Cancellation of After School Events when school is in session
5. Cancellation of After School Events when school is closed
Our goal is to have made a determination by 5:30am in regards to school closings or delays. A two-hour delay could be used for extreme cold weather. A factor of making this decision includes whether or not it is predicted to have rising temperatures throughout the morning. While it may be very cold at 5am, rising temperatures throughout the bus travel/waiting times for students might be sufficient to not warrant a delay. We will continue to use our Connect Ed (robo call) system to notify parents as well as social media and news outlets as soon after 5:30am as possible if there is going to be a closing or delay.
When schools are delayed, teachers and support staff should begin their day according to the delay. A 2-hour delay means that school begins…2hours later. If an employee is scheduled to arrive at 7am they should arrive at 9am in this example.
When schools are closed/delayed all custodial and maintenance staff will still report to their assigned work locations as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so. If those staff members are NOT to report to work, they will receive information from their immediate supervisors.
All twelve-month staff members and Central office staff members should report to work as soon as reasonably safe for them to do so. A twelve-month staff member may choose to take a day from their available personal days.
Principals please review your two-hour delay schedule and share it with your staff. Also review what information you would share with your parents and post on your website.
OTHER REMINDERS:
1. We will clear snow from designated entries in the morning. Please make sure your staff knows which doors/entries will be cleared first. (If you are not sure, contact facilities.)
2. Parking lots are not plowed unless there is more than two inches of snow. Remind staff that appropriate footwear is needed.
3. Please try to use the walk off door mats in the buildings. However, even if this is done the tile/terrazzo floors can still become very slippery when wet.
4. Middle School East DOES NOT serve breakfast on two hour delay days
Our 2 hour delay bell schedule can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NL1Nk2Hi5lwKDDG3fxcwv56vBkw3IWWYrs8R6-nCuWo/edit
Chromebooks
#1 - Review the document located at https://www.smore.com/eqcys. PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES. You must drop off the cart after use (between 2:15-2:30), and carts need to be picked up the DAY BEFORE they are used (between 2:30-2:45)
#2 - YOU MUST have a system in your classroom to determine what kid is using what Chromebook. As I have mentioned previously, I would just number your roster and require students to use that Chromebook. Why? When we need to track down what happened to a broken computer, or pull a log of what a student accessed, we have to have the Chromebook cart # and computer #.
If you have any questions about any of this let me know.
Evaluation Timelines
Thanks!
Counselors Corner
Kyle McClarnon
All 6th Grade
7th Grade Last Name A-M
Sarah Ready
All 8th Grade
7th Grade Last Name N-Z
November Canned Food Drive
East will host the annual Canned Food Drive the week of November 13th. All canned goods are used to support the SPARC Center. There will be a grade level competition: the grade who brings in the most cans from November 13-17, will win a DJ during lunch on November 20th and 21st. Students should place their cans on the designated grade level area on the stage in the cafeteria. A huge thank you to Student Council and BPA for their help with this! STAFF: wear your jeans for a donation of 2 cans per day!
Counselor Sign Up Process
Counselor Request Forms are now 100% electronic. Students can sign up to speak with a counselor from any device that has internet access. Chromebooks are set up in the office for students to make a request. Teachers: you can save this link on your computer or ipad, and students can sign up directly from your room! As always, if a student is in crisis they will be seen by a counselor immediately.
Child Abuse & Duty to Report
An individual who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect shall make a report to DCS or local law enforcement immediately. This applies to every staff member in the building. Please review the Child Abuse & Duty to Report information by clicking here.
High Ability Identification Process
The high ability identification process is outlined here. This process applies to current 6th and 7th grade students; with placement decisions for the 18-19 school year. Recommendations can be made from now until January 12th. If you have questions, please see Kyle or Sarah.