the RAH
February 13-17, 2017
Know Your Why
from J-
Thank you for your engagement throughout the longer day of learning together yesterday. I'll be more brief as there is much to digest and work through from our Senior & Elementary Leadership Team time yesterday.
As you review and plan to share your leadership input over the next couple of months, please ensure that you include your entire staff (vs leadership or representative group).
Yesterday I shared that a number of articles around the data and reading would be included today. Some of them may related to each other; some may not. My inclusion of them is not an official stance or endorsement of any kind - they simply made me pause and think about what we are doing with data. Data is great and fine - as long as it is used to tell the story of the learner. Associated with every data point is the individual person. As Dave Burgess says - "its' just not about raising test scores... it's about raising human potential." That's our why.
People over Programs
Learners over Learning
Relationships and Content are equally important. So is the order.
Bret and I most enjoy our time with you in schools. I had four fantastic site visits this past week, and am looking forward the six this coming week, with more being scheduled. Thank you increasing my capacity to learn through these visits. Please call for any support.
Got Student Teacher?
Safety Drills
FEMA sheltering
from the Mayor-
We continue to get a small number of parents asking if they can opt out of technology at school. Here is some wording you can use to address this issue: I have received your request about your student not accessing and utilizing technology at school. Much of our curriculum and learning activities are based in nexus to technology and devices. This would be similar to asking you and I to learn when we were in school without textbooks and materials of our generation. Further, learning when, where, why and how to use the devices is part of the education system, and we would be setting the student up for failure if we didn't provide this specific type of learning for their future. Based upon these reasons, we are unable to honor your request. We can support the student not taking the chromebook/device home outside of the school day - this happens already across the system for various reasons. If this would be of benefit, please let me know.
Enrollment for Explore begins next week. Additionally, the Explore administrator training dates are April 4, April 13, and April 18 at KAC from 4:00 – 6:00.
Here is a quick and easy blog post on 9 Edtech Ideas to Share with Your Teachers.
BrightBytes
The 2nd collection window for BrightBytes is coming! The survey will be available to students grades 3-12, certified staff and parents from February 21 through March 9. Staff will receive an email from Nichole Lemmon with a link to the survey and survey links will also be placed on school websites as we have done previously. Because BrightBytes metrics feed portions of the strategic plan, we are asking for 100% participation from students and staff. Your assistance is appreciated! If you have questions, please reach out to Nichole Lemmon.