In the Middle Newsletter
May 25-29
Principal Ponderings: Climbing
What is your one word?
It's time to ADVOCATE!
While there is a great deal of dialogue taking place around economic funding for public education, it is crucial that we advocate for our profession, our kids, and ourselves. Provided below are the email address of our federal and state legislators. If you have five minutes, it is important that you have your voice heard in Lansing and D.C. If we don't tell our story, someone will for us. Let's control the narrative!
Contact: www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary
Stabenow, Debbie - (D - MI)
Contact: www.stabenow.senate.gov/contact
Fred Upton:
Contact: https://upton.house.gov/contact/
Possible federal wording: "I write to you today to help us preserve educational services to Michigan children during this pandemic. State budget cuts are expected in Michigan schools, but much needed federal gov aid is extremely needed. No student or teacher asked for the burden of learning and instructing during a pandemic, however, both have shown resiliency, integrity, and a love for education in their response. It is with that in mind and heart, that they should not be harmed by pending drastic budget cuts for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget years.
Pauline Wendzel
Contact: PaulineWendzel@house.mi.gov
Kim LaSata
Contact: SenKLaSata@senate.michigan.gov
Possible state wording: "I write to you today to help us preserve educational services to Michigan children during this pandemic. State budget cuts are expected in Michigan schools, but monetary aid is extremely needed. No student or teacher asked for the burden of learning and instructing during a pandemic, however, both have shown resiliency, integrity, and a love for education in their response. It is with that in mind and heart, that they should not be harmed by pending drastic budget cuts for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget years."
What is "good faith"? Update: May 22
May 22
Thank you for the early efforts of those who have made contact already with students and families who could potentially earn an Incomplete for quarter 4. Again, we are looking for a "good faith" effort that has been shared below since we started back up April 13. Give grace to students during this time as we have been given grace. Nobody signed up for this and we were all learning as we moved along in the process. If you have questions on particular students, please, reach out in advance and we can discuss.
May 15
As we inch closer to the end of the school year, it is important to take an inventory of where our students are in regards to earning a Pass or an Incomplete. Similar to if we were in the building, if a student was in danger of failing, steps in communication must be taken to notify students and families in advance. If we have students who are in danger of receiving an Incomplete for Q4, call and/or email families to inquire and let them know that it isn't too late to put forth a "good faith effort" at completing the assignment in order to earn a Pass.
Previous info
In our COL plan, the district has defined a “good faith effort” as an attempt to complete assigned work as accurately as possible given the availability of little or no direct instruction, as this is a new and unprecedented set of circumstances.With that being said, you know your students better than anyone. If one of your highly capable students turns in work that is far below their level of performance that they have displayed throughout the year, feel free to provide them feedback and have them redo it.
On the flip side, if a student who struggles academically turns in work that has been consistent with their work during the year, but may be below grade-level expectations, that is a "good faith" effort.
If a student completes the assignment, the work is done at grade level, but maybe didn't meet the directives of how you wanted it done. Note it in PowerSchool, give the student feedback in terms of what they need to do, and allow them to redo the assignment.
Grading
Please, review the grading information that was provided by the district as part of our Continuity of Learning Plan.
4th Quarter: eLearning (Remote Learning)
At the end of the 4th Quarter, a student will earn either a “P” (Pass) or an “I” Incomplete.
Passing Grade - A passing grade will be given where a good faith effort demonstrates evidence of continued learning of essential skills. A “good faith effort” is best defined as an attempt to complete assigned work as accurately as possible given the availability of little or no direct instruction, as this is a new and unprecedented set of circumstances.
Incomplete Grade - All students with an "I" will be provided an opportunity to complete learning and earn the credit upon return to school in the fall or completion of remedial work assigned during the summer. Upon completion, the "I" on the transcript should be changed to "P" (pass).
Grades will be entered into PowerSchool in order to keep track of progress. Grading is used to measure learning and not compliance. Teachers will provide students with feedback on their learning activities. Students will be given the opportunity to use that feedback to improve grades/demonstrate progress.
Exams - There will be no final exams this semester.
Students are expected to continue with all learning activities assigned during remote learning.
Students that were on pace for grade promotion will be advanced to the next grade for the 2020-2021 school year.
Student Check Ins: Update, May 22
Please, review the criteria for VC and NC. May 29 will be the last Friday that will be required for attendance.
Attendance/Contact Recordings
PowerSchool
Once per week on Fridays
VC - Virtual Contact opportunities
Assignment turned in
Email returned
Joined Zoom/Google Hangout
Phone call
US Mail
Other Student-initiated contacts (parent communication does not count)
NC - No Contact
Nothing turned in
No other contact
Your reporting attendance in PowerSchool is your reporting to your building administrator. There is no additional communication needed beyond Friday attendance.
IEPs
Upcoming Dates and Events
6/1
- Staff Meeting, 1:00pm: EOY items
6/5
- List of Incompletes due to Swegles and Weaver by 3:00pm
6/10
- Grades finalized by 3:00pm
Resources Worth Sharing
Visible Learning Effect Sizes When Schools Are Closed: What Matters and What Does Not