Akin News 04/08/20
From the Desk of Beckie Webster
Thank you for keeping the focus on student learning:
I would like to welcome 2 new IAs to our Akin family-can you believe the luck to start a new job at an elementary school and now this... Welcome Annie Emms-ESLE and Eloise Vera Moore with SLE-we are so glad to have you both!
Thank you to our office staff and IAs for jumping right in and doing what they can to support us during this different and challenging time. We appreciate your willingness to support our systems (that have changed a few times) and your enthusiasm to help! Thank you to Kendra Martin, Gina Garrett, Amy Casteel, Misti Yeager, Love Clark, Terri Coleman, Cait Fiore, Anna Sweeney, Ashley Nielson, Danielle Sinha, Sheila Sanchez, Kaitlyn Stout and Leonicia Perry! Thank you for your service!
PD for All Akin Staff (Teachers & IAs)
Video Recording Tools-w/Darby Thurs., 4/16 from 9-10 or Friday, 4/17 from 12:30-1:30
Flipgrid-w/Justin Thurs., 4/16 from 1-2 or Friday, 4/17 from 10-11
Please plan to attend both of these trainings (Video Recording & Flipgrid) above at the time that works best for you and your family (all staff must attend both). All trainings are listed on the campus calendar, too!
Updates:
Teams: Please make sure you update your newsletter for 4/9
Mon., 4/13
- Student & Staff Holiday
Tues., 4/14
- Begin preparing 4/20-4/24 Learning Plans, due Thurs., 4/16 at noon
Wed., 4/15
- Continue preparing 4/20-4/24 Learning Plans
- Support the needs of your students and families
More Updates
Thurs., 4/16
- Continue to prepare Learning Plans (due today at Noon)
- Sped. will begin planning for learning plans
- Required Training: Video Tools: 9-10, Flipgrid 1-2
Friday, 4/17
- Email Learning Plans 4/20-4/24 to all students at 3:00pm (Sped. & General Education Teachers)
- Required Training: Video Tools: 12:30-1:30, Flipgrid 10-11
- Support the needs of your students and families
Please continue to reach out to Wendy, Yvette, Darby, Beth and I if you or your families need anything. We are here for you all!!!
Technology
Use to support students & parents
Video Conferencing, Facetime, Google Meets, Zoom Updates:
1. No one-on-one calls with students, yet.
2. Don't record
3. Use a password, use a waiting room and have students id with their names
4. Schedule your Zoom/Video Conferencing Meetings on Campus Schedule
5. Use short (15 min.) videos to support skills and post (this allows parents the flex. to use this info. when it is convenient for students/parents)
6. Let us know how we can help with a special circumstance
Please remember we are going slow, building a system together and adjusting as we go. Flexibility is key!
Technology Support Needed...
Upcoming fun for our Aviators (In the Learning Plans for 4/14)
Keeping students connected to our school community is a goal of every staff member at Akin. Though we aren't physically together, our students and families are in our thoughts daily! To keep school spirit strong, next week will be our Remote Learning Spirit Week! Use #aviatorspiritathome to share your photos on social media or send pictures to your teacher!
Specials Team-please start sharing this on announcements for next week!
Counselor Corner
Teachers, as you continue to connect with your students, please let me know if any students or families are in need of my support. I am still available to meet individually with students just as if we were at school (only now through Zoom!). Here is the link for students or parents to request a check-in with me, but I can also reach out to families if you have any concerns. https://forms.gle/NAfa2YDuB5xpbx2a9
I have also added lots of resources to my website if you want to navigate parents there or find something to include in your newsletters.
https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/akinschoolcounselor/home
You have been assigned Mandatory Cyber-security Training
Before Spring Break you were sent an email like this...Due Thurs., 4/9
The training assignments you've been enrolled in are displayed below:
- 2019 Your Role: Internet Security and You
- 2019 Kevin Mitnick Security Awareness Training - 30 Min
- 2016 Handling Sensitive Information
- Captain Awareness: Detecting Suspicious Activity
Please use this link to finish your training:
https://training.knowbe4.com/auth/saml/303b1d0ca93a7
Special Education Updates
- All ARD meetings will occur as scheduled (per parent participation) at original dates and times starting April 6th. ARDs that were missed are being rescheduled ASAP.
- Learning plans will be created and sent by the Inclusion/Resource/Social Skills teachers, only. These teachers will reach out to our general education teachers this week.
- Please continue to include all case managers/tracking teachers when communicating with parents to ensure we are all on the same page. They will include all general education teachers when they communicate.
- All Learning Plans (Sped. & Gen. Ed) will be sent to parents on Thursday, 4/9 at 3:00 pm
Remember to Take Care of Yourselves!
Watch a series on Netflix, challenge your kids to fix dinner, Zoom with friends and give yourself grace!
Thank you for all caring so much for our students and their families!
Akin Aviators' Planning Time
Planning Time/Daily Office Hours:
Grade Level Specials Time (k-5th)
ESL - 10-11
SRP - 10-11
Resource - (Melissa & Shelby) - 10-11
Dys. - 10-11
SLE - 10-11
Resource - (Heidi) - 1-2
Quest - 10-11
Specials - 1-2 (changed)
Email: beckie.webster@leanderisd.org
Website: akin.leanderisd.org
Location: 3261 Barley Road, Leander, TX, USA
Phone: 512-570-8000
Facebook: facebook.com/montajaneakinelementary
Twitter: @MJAkinElem