D34 What's News?
April 18, 2019
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End of Year Schedule
The last day for certified and support staff is Tuesday, June 11. The end-of-year staff schedule will include:
- Thursday, June 6: Last day of student attendance (full day)
- Friday, June 7: Building-based time (including: morning meetings of crisis teams for an overview of all-staff active shooter training; SIP plan completion; work on K-5 Literacy Units of Study; job-alike curriculum planning meetings; and trauma-informed training for support staff)
- Monday, June 10: All-staff crisis response/"options-based" training
- Tuesday, June 11:
- Morning: All-staff celebration (look for details coming soon!)
- Afternoon: Close down the year, pack up classroom
About Options-Based Training
Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, state law mandates that school districts conduct active shooter and threat drills while school is in session, with law enforcement present, within the first 90 days of the school year.
To comply with this law, District 34 has partnered with RETA Security/Facility Engineering Associates to conduct “options based” training. A team of nearly 30 administrators and staff participated in training last summer to familiarize themselves with this approach to school safety. Nan Ross Meridith (GEA President) and Heather Hopkins (HR Director) participated in the training and they shared information about the need to train all staff at the October Personnel Committee Meeting.
Providing all-staff options-based training in June will ensure the vast majority of our staff -- over 700 of us -- will gain foundational knowledge about our new security protocols. It will set the foundation for full implementation in the fall. After the all-staff training on June 10, building crisis teams can fine tune the training specific to the unique needs of their schools’ students and physical plants, and run building-based drills in the fall. At that point, more than 90% of our staff will be trained and can effectively support these required drills.
We will use the information gained during the June training to determine how to provide crisis-response training for new staff at New Teacher Orientation, and to inform the communication we send to families.
Here are some (but not all) specifics about what you can expect during the training:
Staff will attend training based on their level (primary, intermediate or middle). Training will be further differentiated by grade level.
Training will include videos that contain material that may be sensitive and/or emotional to some.
Training will include situational activities and will be active (though not strenuous). You’re encouraged to wear soft-soled shoes and comfortable clothes.
Drills will not include real or simulated gunfire, and the trainers will work to ensure your understanding without causing fear or confusion.
If you have health concerns, you can let trainers know and you will be able to sit out of the portion of the training your aren’t able to complete.
If you have experienced a traumatic event associated with violence, and feel comfortable sharing, please do so with your building administrator so we can better individualize your experience
The training will not be a “one time” training. There will be future retraining and practice drills.
We will share more detailed information, including schedules and locations for training and more specific instructions for June 10, in the coming weeks. Meantime, if you have questions, contact Heather Hopkins.
Electric Avenue
As we head into the upcoming warmer months, a little reminder of some things to do to help keep down energy usage throughout our buildings. Here are a few tips we can all do…
6 WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT SCHOOL
- Take advantage of natural sunlight
- Turn off lights and ALL screens
- Have class in the grass
- Close unused rooms and spaces
- Keep doors to different areas closed
- Encourage students to recycle
You've Got the Look!
The "identity team" will look at ALL feedback and make final adjustments before revealing the new logo in May. Staff will get the first look!
Strategic Plan Action Plan Volunteers - Last Call!
Math Mastery Checks - Update
Trimester 2 Math Mastery Check analysis will be shared with teachers in the next few weeks. You will also be asked to share feedback on the assessments through a survey. Keep your eyes on your email!
We also would like to share an update on the Math Mastery Checks in general. Rather than administering three per school year, we will move to having two Mastery Checks a year. The timeline of the second Mastery Check will move further into the year and aim to avoid overlapping with other assessments as much as possible. That said, we will not have a Trimester 3 Math Mastery Check this school year.
Job Postings
Visit Frontline to learn more or apply for any of the positions listed:
Job Postings
2018-19 School Year Positions
Support Staff
- Associate Substitutes
- Health Coordinator Substitutes
2019-20 School Year Positions
Certified Staff
- Early Childhood Classroom Teacher
- 1st Grade Classroom Teacher
- Intermediate Classroom Teacher
- Intermediate Interventionist (Reading Specialist)
- PE Teacher
- Special Education Resource Teacher
- Special Education Classroom Teacher
- ELL Teacher
- Primary Bilingual Spanish Teacher
- Middle School Bilingual Spanish Teacher
- Middle School RLA Teacher
- Middle School Instructional Innovation Specialist
- Part-Time Drama Teacher
- Part-Time Speech Language Pathologist
- School Psychologist (Bilingual Spanish)
- Occupational Therapist
- Assistive Tech Specialist
- Student Services Instructional Coach
- Primary Music/Drama Teacher
Support Staff
- Associate
Another wonderful and innovative idea by Dr. Paula Kluth, consultant, author and advocate of inclusive education. Kluth, Paula “Don’t We Already do Inclusion?”. Cambridge Book Review Press, 2013
Invite Earhart In
Inclusion is about seeing students as individuals and about bringing out their uniquenesses.
Teaching to interests is a fairly simple strategy and one that can buy you not only quite a bit of student engagement, but a fair amount of trust and connection in the classroom. For instance, Tamar, a young woman with a love of Amelia Earhart, embraced any lesson related to the celebrated heroine. Her middle school teacher knew this and used her fascination to enchant Tamar into learning new content, engaging in more challenging work, and making connections with peers. Tamar was typically reluctant to learn new content in math so her teacher would integrate airplanes or Amelia Earhart into the curriculum, instruction, or educational materials. For example, distance-rate-time word problems featured Earhart and her various planes. In language arts, she could be coaxed into more sophisticated reading selections if they included stories or facts about aviators. Tamar even connected more effectively with peers when she could interact around her favorite topic. She enjoyed chatting about Earhart and then asking classmates, “Who do you admire?”
Many students with disabilities- but especially those with autism and Asperger’s syndrome-have deep interest in one or a variety of topics and many educators are discovering these fascinations can be bridges to learning, motivation, and support. Take a note from Tamar’s teacher and consider how you and our team might make changes to honor a student’s fascinations as a tool for teaching and for inclusion.
What types of fascinations do your students have? How can these be incorporated into the classroom environment, curriculum, instruction, and behavior supports?
Kluth, Paula “Don’t We Already do Inclusion?”. Cambridge Book Review Press, 2013
A Local Celebrity!
Real Friends
I write a lot about the benefits of Twitter here. (And maybe you don't read them because you have an immediate reaction to skip anything that has the Twitter Bird.) Often, I focus on the benefits of learning and on-demand professional development. And those are important benefits. But they aren't the most important benefit. The number one, most powerful and life-changing reason to use Twitter is to make real, personal, deep, meaningful connections.
I have Twitter friends. There are 10 of us. We're from Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Utah, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Ontario, Canada. We met through #K12PRChat on Twitter, a bi-weekly chat for school communications professionals around the world. And we meet IRL at least once a year at the National School Public Relations Association conference. These people are some of the most talented communications professionals in any industry. I have learned so much from them; I've gained plenty of inspiration that I put to work right here in D34. We DM each other on Twitter daily. If I have a question about a school PR issue I'm tackling (like rebranding!), I can message them and have at least three responses within minutes. I'm better because of them.
But, really, it does a disservice to call them my Twitter friends. They are my friends. FRIENDS. I know their spouses and kids and siblings and coworkers and favorite music and food and vacation spot. And they know mine.
My mother died on March 28. (Her name was Mary Jayne and she was 92 and lived an amazing life, and I really want you to read about her.) A few days later, back at work, flowers showed up on my desk. And an email came with a StubHub gift card and a note demanding me to do something fun that my mom would approve of. From my friends. So this summer, when my husband and I are in the bleachers at Wrigley on a hot, sunny Saturday, we will celebrate my mom, and count our blessings for the best of friends.
My wish is for you, and you, and you -- and I really mean YOU -- to find friends like mine. And be open to the idea that they might first be your Twitter friends.
Last Call: Help Us Understand The State of Equity in D34
District 34's strategic plan lists the following core value:
Diversity, Inclusion & Equity: We embrace and welcome the differences of each member of our community and provide equitable resources to meet the needs of all.
To help build knowledge around diversity and equity in D34, please complete this survey, which seeks to understand the current "State of Equity" in D34 and identify the foundational knowledge of Diversity, Inclusion & Equity in Glenview. The survey closes Monday - give your input now!
The results will help to guide the planning and execution of this goal within the strategic plan. Are you interested in driving the diversity conversation forward in Glenview? There’s a question in the survey!
This section is where we highlight all of the wonderful things going on in the district, schools, and classrooms. If you have items to share or would like an event covered, please fill out the Staff Shares Request Form.
Don't want to write something up, but you want to share? Fill out that form! Or, even easier, email Cathy Kedjidjian and she'll be excited to come to your classroom and share your story!
Springman Courtyard Opening
Come join us for the Springman Courtyard Grand Opening! We look forward to sharing our hard work and beautiful new learning space with all of you! If you are able to attend, please RSVP here!
submitted by Emma Russell (SP)
Attea's Day of Silence
Attea's Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) once again sponsored events supporting the GLSEN Day of Silence on Friday, April 12. Day of Silence is a student-led national event where folks take a vow of silence to highlight the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ people at school. Roughly 500 Attea students participated at some level. Students could choose to stay silent for part of the day (passing periods, lunch, morning, afternoon, etc.) or for the whole day. Students could pledge by completing a form for a few weeks leading up to the event. On the day of the event, the GSA passed out stickers in the lobby so that students could let their teachers and peers know if they were participating. At the end of the day, we broke the silence with a short announcement and our loudest cheer!
To learn more about GLSEN and Day of Silence, check out this link!
submitted by Danae Ciske (AT)
Talking Points from the EDCO Meeting on April 9:
- K-5 teachers of writing will use a more streamlined approach to pre-assessments. Post on-demand assessments will continue to be evaluated with the district rubric.
- June 7th will be curriculum PD. June 10th will be active shooter training. June 11th will be an all-district celebration in the morning, and building year-end activities in the afternoon.
- EdCo discussed a rough plan for the August Institute Day.
- February PD Feedback will inform future PD.
- Matt shared a draft of the 19-20 assessment calendar. EdCo will look to come to consensus next month on reducing testing time in grades 2-5.
- EdCo will only have one May meeting, instead of two.
- We will be adopting new resources for social studies in grades K-8 in 19-20.
Teach Plus Fellowship Opportunities
Applications are now open for the 2019-20 Teach Plus Illinois Teaching Policy Fellowship (due May 6) and the Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship (due May 20). These highly selective leadership opportunities are for outstanding Illinois teachers looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the teaching profession. Teachers will expand their influence without leaving the classroom and receive a $1,600 stipend for their commitment. No prior policy experience required. Please reach out to Sarah Campbell at scampbell@teachplus.org if you have additional questions.
North Shore Walk for Autism Speaks
The Chicagoland Chapter of Autism Speaks is hosting its 9th annual North Shore Walk for Autism Speaks on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at New Trier High School, Northfield Campus. This fundraising event allows Autism Speaks to provide families with tools, resources, education, and support. If you're interested in forming a team, you can get started by clicking here.
To Inifinity and Beyond!
Mark you calendars for an Astronomy Day at Harper College on Saturday, May, 11. All ages are welcome and the cost is FREE.
Welcome!
Author! Author!
Kale Mary for the Win
It's important to note that winners are chosen using Random.org. There was no preferential treatment given to kale-inclusive recipe submitted by this issue's winner, Mary Hoyland from Lyon. Her students agree that kale (and - bonus! - brussels sprouts!) deserves a thumbs up.
Click here to view the recipe book!
Let's Try It Another Way
Not too many people submitted recipes in the last raffle, so maybe we like to eat out? Let us know your favorite restaurant, whether it's the white-linen fine-dining hot spot where you got engaged, or the go-to spot to take out pizza.
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Glenview School District 34
Email: news@glenview34.org
Website: http://www.glenview34.org/
Location: 1401 Greenwood Rd, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 998-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glenview34/
Twitter: @glenview34