CHS Staff Bulletin
4/20/20
In The Know
Grad Requirements for 9th -11th graders - The news came as expected. We are not reducing credits for any grade level other than seniors. All students have had personalized learning and essential skills requirements waived. All grades are to be posted as P or INC. No one is to use NP, it just isn't available for third trimester. Please checking the grading schedule posted in Synergy by Casandra.
Staffing For Next Year - I understand that there has been some conversation regarding staffing for next year. I am sorry that we didn't have a chance in to review FTE with Curriculum Council and staff before Spring Break. The news with staffing is always a sensitive issue as people want to know what their future holds and at the same time we want to handle this information with privacy and confidentiality. There are also rules around how FTE is allocated through budgets, who has control over those budgets, who has the right certification, what student enrollment looks like, leave status, etc. All of these factors play into a lengthy decision making process that needs to have a thoughtful and ethical look before making difficult decisions. That being said we are fortunate to have the same FTE next year as we do this year. The bad news is that student enrollment looks different at each grade level and different positions in the building are funded from different sources for next year which has an impact on staff in the building. My first concern is making sure that people know where we stand with our FTE and to settle nerves around whether or not staff are being displaced. At this point in time all displacements for next year have been made and those staff members have been notified. If I have not spoken with you about cuts, you are not being displaced. Curriculum Council will review FTE for next year so that they have clarity on their department FTE and what that looks like for next year.
As we look forward to the next school year we are keeping our current quarantine situation on our radar. It is possible that the state could reduce funding in different areas in order to weather this pandemic. We are paying attention to language and decisions from the state level to determine whether or not budgets will look different for next year.
From Nurse Kim - Hi all! I wanted to let you know that I have been "repurposed" to health screening and consultation at the district's emergency childcare site at Holt Elementary. I am still available for consultation on CHS students, and would be happy to hear from you. I can be reached by email or at my district cell phone at (541) 790-5237. I miss working with my CHS team and look forward to us all being together again.
Grading Scale - Please be sure to use P for Pass and INC for incomplete. We are not using NP or letter grades. We are only using P or INC. The only exception to this is a College Now instructor who needs to track and report a percentage grade in order to transcript college credit. These instructors will be reporting percentage grades to LCC and a P or INC to 4J. I hope that is helpful or adds clarity.
Hult Talent Show - I wanted to let you all know about an exciting opportunity that the Hult Center launched a few days ago, that may appeal to some of your students.
We have launched a “Stay Home Talent Show” and are encouraging all performers including musicians, actors, singers, dancers, comedians and more to submit a video no longer than 3-minutes for consideration. Clips can be submitted for consideration on social media platforms and Hult Center social media posts by including the hashtag #HultTalentShow between now and April 30, 2020.
For more information, you can visit our website and if students/parents/etc., have any questions, they can also email hultcentermarketing@gmail.com.
Here's a great example of a group of students coming together and getting creative! We really hope this is something you can all share with students and that hopefully, they will be able to showcase their talents!
Opportunity from the Educator Advancement Council with all Oregon Educators who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color - We are reaching out to Oregon Educators who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to gauge interest in an opportunity to gather in virtual space to build community. Initial hopes are to hold each other's hearts, to share our current struggles and celebrations, and most importantly for you to shape this into what can serve you during this global pandemic and beyond. If this interests you please fill out this survey and forward the invitation to other teachers you think would be interested. Sending you all love and light!
In solidarity,
Daniel Luis Ramirez, Ph.D. (he/him)Director of Equity, Policy, and Strategic Initiatives
Educator Advancement Council
Information in Support of Distance Learning
In the past three weeks, we have received two important pieces of guidance from ODE: Oregon's Extended School Closure and Graduation Pathways.
I want to share these with you and encourage you to use this guidance in combination with some of the content-specific resources shared by the district here: https://sites.google.com/4j.lane.edu/4j-distance-learning-staff to inform instruction starting the week of April 20th.
The 4J Distance Learning for All - Staff Resources website is intended to support staff across the district and includes some specific guidance for HS: priority standards for mathematics and resources for health, world languages, and AVID. Resources and updates will be added to the website in the coming weeks. The following guide is intended to synthesize key points and guide equity in instruction for students and teachers. Thank you for being flexible to ensure that we are attending to equity in instruction at each phase of this process.
Key Guidance for Instruction Starting the Week of April 20th
ODE encourages all teachers to lesson plan using Universal Design for Learning by defining what is the most essential learning for all students to know and be able to do, and providing (a) multiple means of engagement, (b) multiple means of representation, and (c) multiple means of expression
Attached is a 5 minute voice over (UDL Planning Voice Over with Video) that walks you through the why, what, and how of Universal Design. For some this will be familiar, for others this may feel new. For all of us, it is within our reach to plan for access for all learners.
- More resources to support the UDL work will be made available in the following days and weeks and can be found on the 4J Distance Learning for All - Staff Resources website.
General educators are encouraged to collaborate with their specialist colleagues (SpEd, ELD, counselors, school psychologists) in lesson planning.
Focus on formative assessment practices and a Pass/Incomplete grading system to report progress on essential learning.
Inclusive and differentiated teaching requires that students have multiple ways to represent and show their learning.
Requirements for summative assessments are waived this spring.
Focus on student learning that promotes agency over their product and provide students meaningful feedback on work, rather than focusing on grades or points.
ODE’s Toolkit #5: Sample Instructional Day (K-12 Overview) outlines guidelines for Teacher-Led and Supplemental Learning.
Many students are navigating situations that make school difficult right now: added family stress, limited access to the internet, taking care of younger siblings, limited academic support from adults, etc.
Rather than increase existing opportunity gaps at this time, we need to find ways to help the most students engage in and feel successful about their learning.
Students should engage in a maximum of 30 minutes of teacher-led learning, per content area, per day. This should encompass any required learning for courses.
This 30-minute should be a maximum for ALL students -- e.g., we should not design teacher-led activities that will take 30 minutes for most students and 60 minutes for others.
By trimming down content to the most essential learning and leveraging inclusive and differentiated teaching practices, we help our SpEd and ELD teachers and other specialists provide support for more students.
Distance learning is a process of co-teaching with parents and guardians during a pandemic -- this is not online school or homeschooling.
Schools and teachers should check in regularly with all families to solicit feedback on distance learning and improve plans to meet their needs. Building-based teams could choose from methods such as:
Regular use of surveys sent home by core teachers, with specific questions about time spent on required learning and supports needed.
Periodic family outreach phone calls by classified staff to get a pulse on family needs and barriers to engagement.
I appreciate your efforts to connect with and care for our students during Distance Learning for All. Together we can actively engage students and families in essential learning, while centering equity in our decision-making process.
CHS Staff Messages for OUR Students...
Trying to Find Quiet
Kudos
I want to give two kudos this week. I would like to step out and thank two distinct groups that work together constantly in the pursuit of greater futures for our kids, parents and staff.
Parents - I want to thank you for your patience and focus during this quarantine time. Raising kids is not easy, its a full time job. I know. In the face of being quarantined, home schooling, working, maybe not working, trying to make ends meet, and keep it all together mentally and emotionally is a big ask. Hang in there. You're doing great and you will continue to do great. Think about it, none of us have ever done this. Its very new and different. Change is not easy and processing this change on top of everything else is daunting on a personal level. Thank you for being patient with teachers and staff as you look for answers to your questions and get your needs met. I am regularly reminded what great families we serve. Your students have shown us so much about who they are and how they have been raised in their daily interactions with us. Thank you for sharing your greatest treasure with us. We miss them dearly.
Staff - I am so enormously grateful for our collective spirit during these stressful times. Having to make monumental shifts to how we deliver meaningful and relevant content is a huge undertaking. You have rallied, demonstrated poise, professionalism, and grace as we wade through these uncharted waters. Who knew that we would all get a deep look at online learning and new curricular modalities in such an immediate way. You have been collaborative, sharing, and always keeping students best interests in mind. I am so often reminded of how strong our culture at Churchill is, and how student focused it is. Your collective efficacy is what makes the difference for students. These next few weeks will test us in our ability to teach, but most importantly in how we maintain our positive focus and resiliency as role models for students.
Thank you Team Churchill!
Churchill High School
Website: https://chs.4j.lane.edu/
Location: 1850 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchillHighSchool
Twitter: @CHSLancers