WRCCS News
April 2021
Arbor Day ~ Lesson for teaching about trees
Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April each year. This national holiday was created to recognize the improtance of trees. Below is one classroom lesson around this important day.
Practice the ancient art of kirigami to create a stylized tree silhouette.
(Grades K-12) Resource: Education World https://www.educationworld.com/holidays/
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WRCCS School Development Day
The WRCCS School Development Day will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 14, as part of ISN's National Conference on Educational Innovation. This is a free and open to the public full day of workshop sessions, discussion, and resource sharing for those starting new schools or those that are looking to innovate an existing school.
Come witness the launch of WRCCS Micro-credentials! Planning, opening, and sustaining a successful Wisconsin Charter school requires a ton of commitment, a bunch of learning, and a whole lot of community building. WRCCS Micro-credentials is an opportunity for charter schools to highlight specific strengths, skills, and merits of specific charter schools, elevate their profile in their community, and help other Wisconsin charter schools locate experts in the field. All participants will have access to evidence and artifacts of success as these six charter schools defend a WRCCS Micro-credential live.
Charter Schools defending a WRCC Micro-credential:
- Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School
- Class ACT Charter School
- High Marq Environmental Charter School
- Kaleidoscope Academy
- Tomorrow River Community Charter School
- Valley New School
WRCCS Micro-credentials being defended:
- Academic Model
- Charter School Governance
- Community Engagement
- School Culture
- School Operations
See the full WRCCS Micro-credential process here.
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WRCCS provides contract support
WRCCS provides contract support ensuring the contract language aligns with the DPI Contract Benchmarks
There are well over 100 charter schools that have expiring charter contracts this year or next. That list may include some of you. WRCCS supports schools needing a new or updated charter contract. WRCCS does not give legal advice or promote any particular contract.
Recommended contract drafting process looks like the following:
- Draft your contract ensuring that it meets the mandatory section of the DPI Benchmarks document
- Complete the "Location in Contract" column of the benchmark document (with either the page number of the section in your draft).
- Send the completed benchmarks document along with your contract draft to DPI (Cassandra.Benedict@dpi.wi.gov)
- DPI will send contract back highlighting and benchmarks that still need to be addressed
- Make the revisions necessary to the contract and then ensure the contract is duly executed by the authorizer and the charter school governance board
- Send in signed charter contract with completed benchmarks document for final review
WRCCS supports these schools to get their contracts where they need to be to meet the benchmarks document. If you would like support from WRCCS with your contract and the DPI Contract Benchmarks, please fill out this short support request form or email us at support@wrccs.org.
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WRCCS Events
Got PLN?
Join other leaders around the state who are sharing solutions! If you are new to the Professional Learning Network (PLN) movement, click here to learn more.
Upcoming PLNs
Virtual PLN
Theme: Can SEL happen in a virtual setting? What are schools doing to build interpersonal skills virtually?
April 20, 2021
Work-Based Learning PLN
Theme: How do you give credit/monitor learning in a WBL environment?
April 21, 2021
Independent Charter PLN (NEW!)
Discussion of common issues and listening session
April 22, 2021
Design Team PLN
Theme: Making a simple plan for the summer
April 28, 2021
Equity and Social Justice PLN
Theme: What intentional actions should we be taking to ensure equity as we transition students between virtual and face-to-face learning?
Click here to register for a PLN today!
For Questions and/or concerns regarding WRCCS PLNs, please email Nick Pretasky npretasky@wrccs.org. #wrccspln
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Other Events
Equity Thought Leader Podcst Series sponsored by Learning Forward
The Equity Thought Leader Podcast Series from myPD Unplugged is a production of the office of curriculum, instruction, and professional development at Long Beach Unified school district.
Each week, a new equity-focused podcast will be released to help educators build a deeper understanding of multicultural education, equity, and social justice pedagogy.
First in the series: Multicultural Education (Banks’ Five Dimensions‪)
For more information, click the link below.
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Charter School News and Celebrations
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Charter School Job Openings
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Need support?
Director
Nick Pretasky
Associate Director
Email: support@wrccs.org
Website: wrccs.org
Location: 304 Kaphaem Road, Tomahawk, WI, USA
Phone: 715-453-1079
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrccs/
Twitter: @WRCCSworks