ELD Department News
Keeping you in the know!
Welcome to the DCSD ELD Department!
*Please note: We have cc'd all hiring principals to ensure you are aware of upcoming training. Principals, please confirm your new hires have received this newsletter. Please collaborate with them to determine the best day for them to participate in the Essentials for the 21st Century ELD Teacher training. Thank you!
Hello!
Welcome to the English Language Development (ELD) Department! We hope your summer has been filled with relaxation, rejuvenation, and fun. As we begin to think about the 2018-2019 academic year, we would like to notify you of important dates and resources.
Please save this email for future reference, and please forgive its length!
Important Dates
New to DCSD ESL Orientation:
Essentials for the 21st Century ELD Provider
As a new to DCSD ESL Teacher, you are required to attend and complete this course: Essentials for the 21st Century ELD Teacher. You will gain essential information that will allow you to successfully complete your duties as an ELD specialist. This will include the nuts and bolts of DCSD's ELD Department and WIDA Screener and Kindergarten WAPT training. The WIDA Screener and Kindergarten WAPT training is required for all new staff if training has not been completed in DCSD. If you have completed training outside DCSD, you still need to be trained by DCSD.
Please plan to attend this course on one of the following dates, and register your attendance through this google form:
- Tuesday, July 31st from 8:00-4:30 at Mountain Ridge Middle School: 10590 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126.
OR
- Thursday, August 9th from 8:00-4:00 at the Early Childhood Center: 3950 Trail Boss Ln, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
- Friday, August 10th from 7:30-3:30 at the West Support Center: 701 Prairie Hawk Dr, Castle Rock, CO 80109
You will be provided a 30 minute working lunch, and this training will take the entire allocated time. Please bring:
- earbuds or headphones
- a charged laptop (some portions of the training are not compatible with an iPad or other tablets)
- your lunch
ELD Think Tank (required meeting): See this link for your assigned session.
DCSD's ELD Department holds
- Session 1: Thursday August 16th from 8:30-3:00 at the Parker Library (20105 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138).
- Session 2: Friday August 17th from 8:30-3:00 at the Lone Tree Library (10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124)
Substitute Teacher Coverage
If you are a secondary teacher, you will need to request a FULL day substitute in AESOP for each of the ELD meetings and other trainings. Please enter "ELD-Other Training" as the reason when submitting your request. If you are an elementary teacher, you will not request a substitute unless prior approval has been obtained from Remy Rummel.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Please follow this link for more information about DCSD Professional Development opportunities. These are not required, but they are powerful experiences intended to prepare DCSD staff for the year!
Resources
District ELD/ESL Google Site
- District ELD/ESL Google site: houses all ELD Department paperwork, information, and resources.
- ELD Handbook: includes all processes and procedures, and other pertinent information that is specific to DCSD ELD.
WIDA
In 2012, Colorado joined the WIDA consortia. On THIS SITE, you will find our ELD Standards, resources, assessment information, and much more. Please follow THIS LINK, bookmark it, and explore!
ELD News
Keep an eye out for the ELD News - a newsletter like this sent 2-3 times per month. This will include important information, celebrations, and newsworthy notes.
Ongoing Support
You will have access to significant support throughout the year via 9 ELD Leads, ESL teachers, your school PLS, our ELD Team Lead, and me.
You will be assigned a specific ELD Lead, and this person will be your first point of contact. You will learn about this (and more!!) at our upcoming orientation day. Cindy Close (CC) and Becky Corr are our ELD Team Leads, and you will have the opportunity to connect with them at the Essentials for 21st Century ELD Providers course.
Please do not hesitate to contact me, Becky, or CC if you have questions! I so look forward to meeting and working with you all - thank you for being a part of our department!
See you soon!
Natasha Straayer (Director, Educational Programming)Remy Rummel (ELD Coordinator)
Cindy Close (ELD Team Lead)
Becky Corr (ELD Team Lead)