The CIA Report
December 2018 Edition
Welcome to the December 2018 edition (yep - in January - might be a tad late!) of The CIA Report!
Please take some time to read through this prior to the January 8 administrator meeting. If you have any questions, please post them in this Google Doc.
Thanks!
Learning Today... Feeding Your Professional Soul
As we all know, it's very tough to move those who are resistant - regardless of their age. And if we are truly about growth (which all of us undoubtedly are), then we are not interested in compliance, we are interested in learning and developing understanding.
I love this idea of first just working to move learners toward the "ok, maybe" zone. It seems like a great first step (and reminds me that I do not have to move everyone to the same end goal at the exact same pace). It also feels a little less daunting if my initial goal for learners (especially adult learners) is to help them get to the "Ok, maybe zone."
In her blogpost, Rae Hughart, provides very simple steps to help move to the "Ok, maybe zone."
Enjoy!
Teaching & Learning
Professional Development
The Content Leaders, Lead Teachers, and Coaches are hard at work planning relevant, content-specific professional learning opportunities for our teachers for the January 18 PD day. When teachers see their administrators participating in their PD it just serves to reinforce the significance of their learning. Thank you for taking the time to join in the PD sessions - it is very much appreciated!
Reading Data (for Dyslexia and Intervention) at Elementary
Please, please be sure that ALL teachers are completing these spreadsheets. Not only are we required to track and manage this data for purposes of the Dyslexia mandate, but we are also trying to use that data at the district level to inform conversations about student progress.
If you have a teacher out on long-term leave (maternity, FMLA, etc.) the spreadsheet still needs to be completed. If you need assistance with this, please reach out to us and we'll be happy to help with ideas to manage this.
Teaching & Learning Site
This resource is currently managed and updated (frequently) by the five Content Leaders and Margo (we are in conversations about how to expand this to include ALL content areas). Please use this resource and refer teachers to this resource! Our Content Leaders and Margo are using it to share images and video of classroom work and interactions, as well as to share information and content specific resources. Check it out!
WSD 3rd Annual Film Festival - April 3!
As you may remember, this event is completely student driven. From the design of the logo and poster to the creation of the website and the design/coordination of the night of the event (not to mention the content that is created and shared during the event!), this event is created, promoted, and executed by students - the adults are there simply to provide support. We encourage you to come out that night to see what amazing work our students are capable of doing!
We are thrilled to have a committee of teachers, led by Kim Adkins at SMS, taking the reigns on this event this year! We have already seen such a positive impact on the event from their involvement! And we are also so grateful for the help of Derrick Docket and Joe Richter! They have graciously given both time and expertise to make this event the best yet!
If you missed the promo video, created this year by students at Timberland, here it is again!
Assessment
On Thursday, Dec. 20th, MAP results will be going home to parents.. You have already received an email with this information, but it can also be found here. We appreciate your office staff working on distributing these reports to students.
The EOC reports have been pulled off of Nextera, but will return in a couple of days. The original data that was posted was correct, the company simply needed to update information offline.
Fall EOC data
There will be fall EOC data, however, it will not be achievement level data. The state will provide a percentage of correct answers. These reports should be available five days after the close the testing window. They are providing this so districts can use the EOC scores as part of students grades or as the final. This percentage cannot and should not be used to determine the achievement level. The state will not be providing any type of conversion chart for the percentages.
Spring results will be reported in the same way as fall, with percentages only. Achievement level reports will not be reported until late June for ELA and Math. The Biology EOC will go through the same standard-setting process that ELA and Math went through last summer, so those scores will not be released until late summer.
Professional & Program Development
Need help meeting your Building PD Plan? I am available to meet with you and your BPDC members in January/February to review PD plan progress, assist in collecting data, visit classrooms and discuss building strengths/areas of growth. Help is just a phone call or email away!
Please work with your DPDC to complete your 1/18 Building PD Agendas by 1/11. They will post them in this folder. Wow! We already have some there!
You have great plans for the year! Consider taking a look at your PD Plan to help inform your agenda on 1/18 pm.
Remember, collaboration during a PD Day is a great thing and there should be some expectations including specific, identified outcomes and some form of reporting. For instance, Collaboration Teams can work on their specific, identified outcomes (shared before) and then all come together for the last 30 minutes to report out on learning, actions steps, etc. You could use a number of strategies that are engaging! Consider a sharing strategy like a gallery walk with outcomes on large post it paper. Please remember to include your DPDC in your planning so expectations are understood and supported. Let me know if you have any questions!
Trauma Informed Summer Conference: Remember that we are able to support up to 2 registrations from each building with Title II funds. These registrations are recommended for certified educators who have not attended this conference in the past. If interested, please distribute the 4420 below to up to 2 people, have them sign, you sign and then return to me/Bille D no later than January 18th.
Trauma Informed Conference 4420 June 2018
A student can choose to be in the classroom we assign them to… or not. This 3 minute Video is worth a look.
Does your Faculty Meeting need an update? Take a look at this ppt from the Learning Forward Conference… with lots of activities ideas and short videos!
Technology
SISK12 Passphrase Security
Safety and security with student information is of the highest priority in the Wentzville School District. Your new Tyler SISK12 passphrase will now include…
At least one letter
At least one Number
Case-Sensitivity (upper and lowercase)
A minimum of 15 characters
With the new passphrase policy, the duration for SISK12 passphrase change will be increased from 21 days to 365 days (once a year).
As a reminder, it is important to protect our passphrase(s). Never share your passphrase with a colleague, write it on a sticky note, or store in your browser. If your passphrase every becomes compromised, change it immediately. If a substitute employee needs network access, please have your building administrator request an account to be created specifically for them, do not share your password.
Hello G Drive, Goodbye H Drive
Over the past couple of years, we have seen how Google has enhanced learning, collaboration, and communication across the Wentzville School District. With ease of access and unlimited file storage, there are many benefits to Google Drive. A year ago, Google introduced the “G Drive” (also known as Google Drive File Stream), which allows quick access from your computer to save and store files. Google Drive File Stream, once installed, functions just like your H Drive. Instead of going to your H Drive, you will go to your G Drive. You can save any file format (ie - Word, PowerPoint, Notebook, etc) to your G Drive and best of all your G Drive travels with you everywhere...school, home, even Starbucks!
Watch how the G Drive (Google Drive File Stream) works!
On August 1, all staff H Drives will be disabled. Please ensure your documents have been backed up to an external drive, Google Drive File Steam (G Drive), or your computer hard drive.
Still have a question about the H Drive to G Drive change? Read FAQs
Please note: This is only for staff H Drives. Other network drives are not affected at this time (ie - P Drive, T Drive, etc).
School Improvement & MMD Updates
We realize that MAP & EOC scores are just one snapshot of the many things we do here in the WSD. We also realize that they do not tell the whole story about a child, a teacher, or a school. Although this data is useful in many ways, it is not useful in every way. We want each of you to know that we honor the hard work you and your teachers are doing every day with students. As a result, we realize this is one SINGLE data point and not the only data point to use when evaluating the effectiveness of instruction and/or the learning growth of students.
MMD Days: It is my hope to visit each MMD day or collab time at your building this year. Please be sure that I have your dates for MMD time.
Elementary Principals: We talked for a quick minute about coaching and the role of your literacy coaches during our admin meeting last month. Here is a chart that Margo and the coaches have put together to help us stay on the same page. You each work so well with your coaches and you know their strengths. Please let me know if you have any questions or if anything comes up that I can support you with in regards to coaching.
Dr. Megan Stryjevski
Twitter: @DrStryjewski