Jensen Ranch
April 24, 2020
Week at a Glance
On Pause during the suspension of in-school instruction.
Click Here for the Jensen Master Calendar. You have access to it on your Google calendar under the "Other Calendars" section under your "My Calendars" section. This is the year to begin using your Google calendar to keep up to date!
Week 5 is in the Books!
We made it through Week 5 of Distance Learning! I just want to share how impressed I have been with everyone on our staff stepping up and taking on one of the most difficult challenges of your career. Thank you for your creativity and your diligence in keeping the instructional wheels turning by providing valuable and meaningful experiences for our students as we all learn along the way.
May is going to be action-packed so make sure you are keeping the end of year activities in mind as we go to plan ahead. Click here for our running list of End of Year activities/tasks.
Grid Picture-We Need You!
Click here for the JR certificated grid picture project! Please join in the fun! If you are not planning to participate, please notify Brynya ASAP. Your picture is due to Brynya no later than Th., 4/30.
Appreciation/Success Padlet
I encourage you to add to our appreciations and success padlet below! We don't really have a lot of together time, but I know you are doing things to help one another out and make our days more successful. Share your appreciation and share your success below. Thank you to one pawsitive anonymous soul who added an appreciation so far! Let's fill up our page!
Staffing for 20-21
Please carefully read the update on enrollment and staffing for next year. New opportunities are in the wings! Fingers crossed.
Doc Camera
If you have not already picked-up your document camera, I will email you to schedule a pick-up time for next week. Please pick yours up if you requested one!
Reminders
The Next Two Weeks
Fri., 4/24 Illuminate Opens Tri 3 Report Cards
Mon., 4/27 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa
Tues., 4/28 Independent Check-Ins Click Here to Sign-Up
Wed., 4/29 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa
Th., 4/30 Independent Check-In Sign-Ups and Obs Mtg Sign-Ups Click Here to Sign-Up
Th., 4/30 Tentative Grade Level Assignments for 2020-2021
Fri., 5/1 SPIRIT DAY: Bring your pet or stuffed animal to school day
Fri., 5/1 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa
Fri., 5/1 Materials Drop-Off/Collection (see below)
Mon., 5/4 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa
Tues., 5/5 Independent Check-In Sign-Ups and Eval Mtg Sign-Ups Click Here to Sign-Up
Tues., 5/5 Staff Meeting 2:50-4:15 p.m. (Additional Duties Agreement Presented)
Th., 5/7 Independent Check-In Sign-Ups and Eval Mtg Sign-Ups Click Here to Sign-Up
Fri., 5/8 SPIRIT DAY: Rainbow Day
Fri., 5/8 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa
Fri., 5/8 Jensen Car Parade arrive between 12:15-12:20 to line-up
Stay in the Loop!
Fri, May 1: Instructional Materials Drop-off & Collection; Med Collection; Library Book Collection 12:30-2:00 p.m. Drive-By Only
We are scheduled for next Friday, May 1 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. for our next round of instructional materials handout and collection. We have very few classes collecting materials or picking them up. We are going to be handing out some instructional materials for grades 1 and 4, collecting packets of completed work from Rm. 6, Room 18 and Room 20, and collecting library books. Our nurse will also be there to return student meds.
Fri., May 8: Jensen Community Car Parade! 12:30-1:15 p.m.
We are inviting our Jensen Families to come and drive by and honk and say hello to classified and certificated staff on 5/8! Jensen staff will be lined up along Carson Drive, practicing social distancing of course, and we are inviting Jensen families to load up their cars and say hello! Staff members are encouraged to bring a camp/lawn chair to sit on along Carson Drive. Arrive between 12:15-12:20 so that we can get everyone safely seated and situated along the sidewalk. You may bring your children, just have some things to keep them occupied for the hour! I am working with PTA with the predetermined driving route so that families can come at a staggered schedule by last name so that people don't get stuck waiting for a long time! If you don't plan to come, please let me know so we aren't saving a spot for you! This is also a rainbow spirit day so wear your rainbow colors!!May 22: Final Instruction Materials Collection Time TBD/Drive-By Only
Dates in later May TBD: CUM folder work (report cards will be emailed home this year so no envelope stuffing required!). Jeanine will be coordinating some work times as we move into mid-May to prep CUM folders for the end of the year.
Fri., May 29: Student End of Year Materials Pick-Up TBD/Likely Drive-By Only
Returning all student materials from the classrooms. Teachers will also be on hand for this.
2020-2021 Enrollment and Staffing
We are going to have some program and staffing changes at Jensen for the 2020-2021 school year.
Below I am outlining our staffing needs for our next school year in the hope that people will have an interest or willingness to move into the new assignments. Short of that, I will need to assign staff to the positions by the end of next week.
K-3 staffing change(s) that we need to resolve:
**Possible new position** K-1 Combo**I am working with HR and Student Services to open a K-1 combo so that we can maintain the kinders who are being diverted this year and get back the kinders who were diverted last school year who are moving to 1st grade. I will know early next week if this is a go. If so, we will need someone to take on this position. I will not hire a new teacher for a combo, but it may open up a position for hire.
We will be moving from 3 sections of 3rd-grade classes to 2 sections and 1 section of a 2-3 combination.
A current Jensen teacher will need to move to the 2-3 combo.
With Natasha Leung and Kelly Joslin moving into a 5th-grade jobshare, we need a current Jensen teacher to move to 5th grade. This job share allowed us to not to lose any current staffing.
Considerations:
The possible K-1 combo position is best filled by either a current Kinder or 1st-grade teacher.
The most likely move to the 2nd/3rd grade combo would come from 3rd grade since that is where we are overstaffed by one person in our projected grade level positions.
It is confirmed that we are receiving a Special Day Class (somewhere in the range of 3rd-5th grade students) and it will move into Room 9.
I know that by working collaboratively together, we can resolve these challenges that have come before us.
If you have any interest in these programming needs, please reach out to me by Tuesday, April 28 or Wednesday at the latest. I need to notify staff of tentative staffing assignments by Th., April 30.
Trimester 3 Report Cards
The Trimester 3 Report Card window has opened. Please make sure you carefully review the guidance document with information on how to complete the report card and how to access the comment section. We are sending out a report letter to families to explain how this report card will be different. I've included a copy for your reference. You do not need to do anything with this letter.
Report cards will be emailed home on the last day of school and a copy of the letter will be included in the email.
Suspended-Instruction and Distance Learning
Reteaching concepts is good. Introducing new content in a slow, steady, and effective manner is also important. Remember, we are all (teachers, students, principals, support staff, families, etc.) in new territory. We are learning together, and as we get deeper into the work, we will continue to evolve our teaching and learning to serve our students well. Be sure to monitor student progress using formative checks for understanding, adjust instruction and provide supports as needed.
Some Areas to Focus-On
Promoting/Re-building a strong sense of community We are doing this together, even though we are in different physical spaces; this is new for everyone, and we are all continuing to learn together…
Keep building Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Some teachers are teaching in Google Classroom; some are using Google Meet; some are using Zoom, etc.
Some teachers are already calling families/students and checking in
Students and families find the virtual "face to face" class meetings very motivating. Teachers who have tried it expressed the same. Students are used to being in your classroom all day and having contact with you. Email and Google Classroom work, but it cannot replace a personal connection.
Thinking about ways teachers can continue to motivate and build deeper relationships
Increasing interactions between teacher/student
Need to help students overcome feelings of isolation
Establishing some clear and fair due dates/deadlines for completing assignments
Frequent check-ins and reminders are key.
Giving clear and timely feedback so students gain an understanding that they are accountable for their on-line assignments (as they were with their in-class work) and there is support
Being caring, honest, and fair about assessment; we want to keep the learning going and as best as possible chart/track the learning so we know where they are in their learning when we return to school.
Supporting Students w/ Daily Check-Ins
Click here for the list of students currently
Need an Interpreter to Communicate with Families?
Interpreter Services
To request an in-person interpreter, fill out the online Interpreter Request form (below) with the required information to submit your interpreter request.
A minimum of two weeks notice is needed for an "in-person" interpreter. On occasion, an interpreter can be found on shorter notice, but that is generally not the norm and should not be expected. An email will be sent on your behalf to request an interpreter within 24 hours of the first workday after your request has been received. You will be included on that email and will be notified via email when your interpreter request has been filled.
For last-minute interpreting needs, you and the family can use the Language Line. Click the link for the directions.
Prodigy Math Online Resource
If you are having trouble getting your Prodigy class account set-up, check with a colleague. Several staff members have been successful in setting it up!
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Follow-Up from our trainer Mike to me:
As promised I have sent out the teacher toolkit for your teachers and have sent them to their individual email addresses. Below are the links that I have shared with your teacher, hopefully, you find them helpful as well.
Your Teacher Toolkit: giving you access to videos, printables, and answers to FAQs. Make sure to bookmark this one!
Prodigy Champion’s Club application: join our exclusive network of teachers just like you, sharing best practices, discovering new ways to engage your students and earning rewards!
Share our Prodigy for Parents video with the parents of your students!
Here's today's recording as well: https://prodigygame.zoom.us/recording/play/gVMOpQzyGJXy9crRJWMM1PMaDRp-2VRztLD_UV-YE5ZS_d0XGriabAzEXl5Dle93?autoplay=true&startTime=1570823133000
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Thanks and looking forward to working with you this year,
Matthew Gike
Elementary Assessment Calendar for 2019-2020
Please review the 2019-2020 Elementary Assessment Calendar and work with your grade level team as you work on your curriculum planning. This is a live link so if there are updates or changes it will be reflected on this document.
Free Mindfulness Meditation App for Educators
CVUSD TOSA Updates
Mark Your Calendars!
Check the online school calendars for updates:
Jensen Ranch Master Calendar-families
Jensen Ranch Public Calendar-for staff
Reminders & Resources
PBIS and the PAW PLEDGE
Use the lesson plans in the staff PBIS Handbook as a guide and adapt as necessary to your grade level. Reinforce these lessons as needed with your students throughout the school year!
Resources:
Electronic Copies of JR PBIS Lesson Plans
SECOND STEP LESSON TRACKER
The lesson tracker should be updated by the last school day of each month. Once the 19-20 tracker is available it will be posted here.
PD OPPORTUNITIES FROM ED SERVICES
Please Click Here/TBD for 2019-2020 to see what professional development opportunities are being hosted by Educational Services & Special Education. Please contact the host of each event for any questions or additional information.
MYSTERY SCIENCE MATERIALS
Please see this link for the reimbursement procedure, budget amount, and materials list.
MTSS
CVUSD MTSS Team Drive of Resources 2019
RTI-From Amy Valvo
The book leveling website is amazing! Often times, we are unsure what level some of the books are in our classroom. Please use the link to search over 60,000 titles with my username and password. Extending Learners w/ Book Clubs
Resources:
This website will give you access to nearly 60,000 titles and their corresponding levels:
https://www.fandpleveledbooks.com/login.aspx
Username: avalvo@cv.k12.ca.us Password: rti
www.readworks.org and www.newsela.com (Both great, free resources for reading passages)
SOCIAL STUDIES FRAMEWORK-NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL STUDIES
https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/c3/C3-Framework-for-Social-Studies.pdf
TROUBLE TICKETS
https://help-cvusd.issuetrak.com/Login.asp
If you have an issue and it is still a concern but it has been updated to “Closed” status, please communicate with Jeanine. You may still need to update/resubmit the request or we may be
BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
Second Step 19-20
The Six Tenants of Classroom Management
Ideas for Emotional Regulation in the Classroom
EL RESOURCES
OCCUPATIONAL RESOURCES (OT)
Occupational Therapist Support & Resources
NEW DIGITAL RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS: California State Library
https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-public/k-12-online-content-project/
About Us
Email: lmaclean@cv.k12.ca.us
Website: https://jensenranch.cv.k12.ca.us/
Location: 20001 Carson Lane, Castro Valley, CA, USA
Phone: 1(510)537-6365
Facebook: facebook.com/lisamacleanprincipal/
Twitter: @JensenJaguars