Jensen Ranch
March 28, 2020
Week at a Glance
On Pause during the suspension of in-school instruction.
Click Here for the Jensen Master Calendar. You have access to it on your Google calendar under the "Other Calendars" section under your "My Calendars" section. This is the year to begin using your Google calendar to keep up to date!
Reminders
Mon., 3/30 PD Day Remote
Tues., 3/31 No School-Cesar Chavez Day
Wed., 4/1-Fri., 4/3 Distance Learning-Staff work from home/daily student check-in
Wed., 4/1 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa Click Here to Sign-Up
Fri., 4/3 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa. Click Here to Sign-Up
Mon., 4/6 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa. Click Here to Sign-Up
Wed., 4/8 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa. Click Here to Sign-Up
Fri., 4/10 Grade Level Chech-Ins w/ Lisa. Click Here to Sign-Up
4/13-4/17 SPRING BREAK!!
Sign-Up for Grade Level Time to Organize/Prepare Materials for Family Pick-Up
Click here to sign-up for time with your grade level team to prepare materials. The final prep day is Th., 4/2 so that I can begin to get materials out Friday afternoon. If you have a conflict or delay, please communicate with me!
Supporting Students w/ Daily Check-Ins: Class Availability
Jensen Ranch Distance Learning Class Availability for Support Services
Using the link above, list any blocks of time your students ARE NOT available due to whole groups or small group teacher-led instructional support. Your schedule info is needed by Wed., 4/1. Amy, Jodee and Vinita and I will use this information to get our paras started with student support. If you want a para to push-on on a Zoom/Google Meet-Up time, you can state that in your section once you access the link above. Questions, just ask!
Click here for the list of students currently on the check-in list
Mindful Fridays
This is information about the MIndful Fridays. Since we are a collaboration school, it really does not change our schedule, but it helps to unify distance learning expectations across the district for elementary. Middle school and high school have also put their own version into effect.
Distance Learning Page on Jensen Website
Click here for resources to share with your families.
PD Day: March 30-Remote Training
See PD section below.
Assessment Data Entered into Illuminate
Thank you for getting your report cards completed and out to students yesterday! Please make sure assessment data gets entered into Illuminate in the coming two weeks now that report cards are finished.
Review of Recess Rules Over the Next Few Weeks
Playground rules also should be reviewed by the PBIS team and any additional staff that want to participate. Here is a link to the current rules as listed in the school handbook. At a minimum, we all need to be consistent in holding students accountable. School/playground rules can be found on pages 18-19.
Second Step Lesson Tracker
Click here to update the Second Step Lesson Tracker. A reminder to please update the tracker by the end of each month.
CVUSD Technology Department Newsletter February/March
March 9, 2020 Technology Newsletter - Cleaning and Sanitizing Edition
March 30, 2020 PD Day
Monday Morning
- Your choice of TCI Science or PD from Peter Vallejo- but I do encourage you to do the Science Training as it will be grade-level focused.
Monday Afternoon
- Grade level team time to work on Distance Learning collaborating/planning or MTSS work.
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PD Email from Nia R. to Principals 3/27/20
Just want to make sure that you all are clear on the difference between March 30 PD session and the April 3 and 10 PD.
March 30 is going to be individual grade level sessions K, 1, 2, 3 and then 4 & 5 purposely coupled. 5 TCI trainers and 5 TCI technical support folks.
Friday, April 3/12:30 - 2:30 p.m. will be a single K-5 session. 1 TCI trainer/1 Technical support person.
Friday, April 10/9:00- 11:00 a.m. will be a single K-5 session. 1 TCI trainer/1 Technical support person.
I strongly encourage you to attend the March 30 training as it will be grade-level specific.
On March 30, we will have teacher google sign-in sheets.
Post March 30, we will ask teachers who did not attend on March 30 to formally sign-up for April 3 or April 10 training.
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In the afternoon of March 30, teachers are working on what you'll determine is best for your school.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks very much,
Nia
Nia’s TCI info from Wed, Mar 25, 9:46 AM email
How? On March 30, 2020 - We will have the first training on TCI: Bring Science Alive! - This is the only time we have scheduled in the calendar right now to ensure that all elementary teachers get an introduction to our new science materials before the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. This will be a distance learning professional development session using ZOOM. The March 30 agenda and Zoom link to your grade level meeting is shared with you in the doc. located in this link:
March 30th PD day Agenda/Assignment & ZOOM Info.
You simply click on the ZOOM link assigned for your grade level on March 30th, and you should be able to join the meeting from there.
PD Email from Peter Vallejo
Greetings CVUSD teachers,
I will be offering optional PD on Google Classroom on Monday, March 30th using Google Meet video conferencing. Click on the links below to join the sessions during the specific timeslot. Once you join the Google Meet, remember to turn off your microphone to prevent feedback. The meeting may be recorded and shared within our domain.
If you feel you have a Google Classroom that others could learn from, please add me as a co-teacher so I can share ideas.
For distance learning and other EdTech resources, check out the CVUSD EdTech Website. I am available by email if you would like additional support and we can schedule video conferencing with individuals and groups.
PD Descriptions:
Google Classroom - Basics: This session is for beginners and will cover creating a Google Classroom, adjusting settings, adding students, posting assignments, grading, commenting.
Google Classroom - Open Forum: Participants will share best practices and get ideas from our CVUSD peers through an open discussion and screen sharing. This is an experimental format to showcase what our colleagues are doing in Google Classroom.
Morning Sessions - Secondary meet.google.com/vym-zjuc-xdi
8:30-9:15 Google Classroom - Basics
9:30-10:15 Google Classroom - Basics
10:30-11:15 Google Classroom - Open Forum
Afternoon Sessions - Elementary meet.google.com/niw-qeuz-pup
12:15-1:00 Google Classroom - Basics
1:15-2:00 Google Classroom - Basics
2:15-3:00 Google Classroom - Open Forum
Suspended-Instruction and Distance Learning
Reteaching concepts is good. Introducing new content in a slow, steady, and effective manner is also important. Remember, we are all (teachers, students, principals, support staff, families, etc.) in new territory. We are learning together, and as we get deeper into the work, we will continue to evolve our teaching and learning to serve our students well. Be sure to monitor student progress using formative checks for understanding, adjust instruction and provide supports as needed.
Some Areas to Focus-On
Promoting/Re-building a strong sense of community We are doing this together, even though we are in different physical spaces; this is new for everyone, and we are all continuing to learn together…
Keep building Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Some teachers are teaching in Google Classroom; some are using Google Meet; some are using Zoom, etc.
Some teachers are already calling families/students and checking in
Students and families find the virtual "face to face" class meetings very motivating. Teachers who have tried it expressed the same. Students are used to being in your classroom all day and having contact with you. Email and Google Classroom work, but it cannot replace a personal connection.
Thinking about ways teachers can continue to motivate and build deeper relationships
Increasing interactions between teacher/student
Need to help students overcome feelings of isolation
Establishing some clear and fair due dates/deadlines for completing assignments
Frequent check-ins and reminders are key.
Giving clear and timely feedback so students gain an understanding that they are accountable for their on-line assignments (as they were with their in-class work) and there is support
Being caring, honest, and fair about assessment; we want to keep the learning going and as best as possible chart/track the learning so we know where they are in their learning when we return to school.
Prepping for Additional Weeks
We will discuss this during Tuesday's staff meeting.
Supporting Students w/ Daily Check-Ins
Click here for the list of students currently
Need an Interpreter to Communicate with Families?
Employee Guidelines During Suspension of In-School Instruction
Sick Leave, PN and for classified only, vacation is still an option based on each employee’s personal circumstance. For example, if an employee is sick and unable to work, they can use sick leave. As with any workday, staff would put their absence in the subsystem, indicating “no sub required”.
March 18 through March 27 instruction will be provided via “distance learning”
School will resume April 1, unless we have new directions from the CDC, ACPHD or our board. We will are now anticipating coming back on April 7, but that may change later this week.
Teacher Expectations:
Provide daily and weekly instructions/lessons to students. This can be done in a variety of ways:
Virtual learning
Posting of daily assignments
Provide work in a daily/weekly packet
Provide instruction for students from home and provide students with daily and weekly instruction.
Develop a weekly process to verify work completion for students
Check-in and out with their administrator each day via google form or some other method.
Be available to check in with the administrator at a specified time (determined by each site) each day to check in on issues, concerns, questions, etc.
Counselors are expected to be available to address students in crises. Counselors will be available to provide support to students in need via “Tele-health”, etc. Marianne Meadows will provide a number for families and students to call. 510-537-5910 x 3450
Elementary Science Specialists will provide a lesson for 4th and 5th grade each week
PE teachers will provide lessons for students to complete at home
March 23-24 - Elementary Conferences will happen via phone or video conference. You will work with families to determine how this will take place.
Administrator Expectations:
Will be available remotely to support staff, parents, and students that may need assistance.
Develop a process with staff to check in daily (Google Meet-Up)
Develop and process to ensure that all students that do not have access to the technology needed to complete their teacher’s assignments, receive the device that they need. Greg will share a google doc with you to assist in this process. Use your older Chromebook as loaners in the event that they do not return. Greg can assist with this.
Classified Employee Expectations:
All Classified Employees are expected to work their regular days and hours.
Expectations and duties will vary between each department/classification. Your supervisor will provide specific directions.
District Office and Site Clerical, Campus Security, Custodial, Warehouse, and Maintenance staff will be expected to be on site.
Child Nutrition will continue to provide a grab and go lunch to students in need. Specific sites will remain open to provide this grab and go lunch. Suzy will provide further details on specific sites. CVE, Marshall, Creekside, CVHS and Redwood.
Para Professionals must be available, unless sick and unable to work, to provide assistance to their supervisor/teacher. This may include professional development/training, grading papers, making copies, assembling packets, and organizing work/classrooms. Your supervisor will provide specific directions.
Special Education:
IEP Meetings can be done telephonically. Pre-scheduled IEP’s should continue.
To the greatest extent possible we will provide services to students in special education. All students will be given “prior written notice”. A letter will go to staff explaining the process. Teachers will be given a template to complete. All timelines are tolled during this time of on-site instruction suspension.
Suzy Williams will get back to everyone regarding special ed transportation.
Please remember that all employees are “disaster services workers” per Government Code 3100
Resources-Prepping for Distance Learning
On Monday, you are going to tell parents your plan for distance learning. As you figure things out over week one, you may want to try something different or new with your students as you go along. Allow for flexibility. Encourage families to create daily schedules and outline how much time students should be spending on lessons/activities. You may even want to send a live video stream of yourself to your class, do a class meeting online, send your class a premade video of you reading a story. Be creative, have some fun with this and most importantly, stay personally connected to your students to ensure they are engaged and you can provide support as needed.
We'll talk more about all of this Monday morning. This is a work in progress and we're going to get more confident as we go along. We'll hash out individual or grade level details during the day Monday. No need to panic! We got this!
You do not have to have the 14-day instructional lessons in place, you just need to know what platform or combination of platforms you are using for instruction:
- Packets (weekly, bi-weekly)-1st set need to be ready for Tuesday distribution 8am
- Google Classroom
- Classroom website
When will students get their lessons/instructions:
- Daily
- Weekly
- other...
You need to explain your daily check-in process with students and families for support. This is where you outline the method/methods you will be communicating with your students:
- Will you use Zoom to schedule appointments/video conferencing (whole group/individual)?
- Will you use Google Hangouts to schedule appointments/video conferencing (whole group/individual)?
- Will you use Google Classroom?
- Will you be available by phone or email.
You need to have a basic outline of how you will be monitoring the work progress of students and how students will be assessed. Since we are only out 2 weeks right now, you can likely hold off on big tests.
- Packets-those will be turned in (what day, where to?)
- Google Classroom-you can monitor assigned work and give assessments
- Monitoring of online programs that have been assigned-daily log-in, completion of lessons assigned, books read, etc.
How will you conduct Spring Conferences?
- You will follow-up with the relevant families and explain if it is in person at school, phone or video conference
IEP's
Jodee and Ken will update us on how those will take place. IN person/phone conference/video conference
Grade Level and/or Teacher Daily Check-in w/ Lisa
I'm going to be using ZOOM for our video conferencing with you individually or with your team.
It's free right now for us to use so we're going to try it out!
Zoom (an online communication platform) is temporarily lifting the 40-minute time limit on free Basic accounts for schools affected by the Coronavirus. It's much more reliable and better quality than google hangouts.
Here's the link: https://zoom.us/docs/ent/school-verification.html?zcid=1231&_ga=2.228851412.995105639.1583699918-735451631.1546545079
Your Plan for Distance Learning w/ Your Class
As you get everything planned out, you will add your plans here. If you as a grade-level team all do basically the same thing, it will make your lives so much easier and remove parents comparing assignments and workload:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1alZ_b5kpzfYX84SjXednwpf6Po1nC_8scVANxNzRDAY/edit?usp=sharing
Jensen Events Schedule-Review for Possible Necessary Postponement/Cancelation
ELPAC Testing-Schedule is currently on hold due to school closure.
Click Here for the ELPAC testing schedule. Our next testing session will not be until March 25th for K-2nd grade. More info to follow in the coming weeks.
Green Schools Activities
Waste-Free Wednesdays
Custodian Recognition @ Fri. Flag 4/20
-Each class will create a card for Jarvis and one or two students from each class will present to him saying one or two things they appreciate about him!
Earthday Clean-Up Sat., 4/25
Friday Flag Helpers -On Hold
For Friday, March 13: Grade 3 teachers, please select 5 students who will fill the roles listed on the link below.
There are 5 roles, so as a grade-level team, decide the best way to select 5 students from the three classrooms. I would encourage you to use this as a way to do some personal bucket-filling for kids who may need some positive recognition.
Add Student Names by 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. If you, as the teacher would like to notify the parents, you are welcome to do so since you are selecting the student.
Elementary Assessment Calendar for 2019-2020
Please review the 2019-2020 Elementary Assessment Calendar and work with your grade level team as you work on your curriculum planning. This is a live link so if there are updates or changes it will be reflected on this document.
Mighty Jaguar Homework Club -Gr. 3, 4, 5
On Hold
Session 2 - January 13 and run through April 27.
Prodigy Math Online Resource
If you are having trouble getting your Prodigy class account set-up, check with a colleague. Several staff members have been successful in setting it up!
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Follow-Up from our trainer Mike to me:
As promised I have sent out the teacher toolkit for your teachers and have sent them to their individual email addresses. Below are the links that I have shared with your teacher, hopefully, you find them helpful as well.
Your Teacher Toolkit: giving you access to videos, printables, and answers to FAQs. Make sure to bookmark this one!
Prodigy Champion’s Club application: join our exclusive network of teachers just like you, sharing best practices, discovering new ways to engage your students and earning rewards!
Share our Prodigy for Parents video with the parents of your students!
Here's today's recording as well: https://prodigygame.zoom.us/recording/play/gVMOpQzyGJXy9crRJWMM1PMaDRp-2VRztLD_UV-YE5ZS_d0XGriabAzEXl5Dle93?autoplay=true&startTime=1570823133000
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Thanks and looking forward to working with you this year,
Matthew Gike
Interpreter Services
To request an in-person interpreter, fill out the online Interpreter Request form (below) with the required information to submit your interpreter request.
A minimum of two weeks notice is needed for an "in-person" interpreter. On occasion, an interpreter can be found on shorter notice, but that is generally not the norm and should not be expected. An email will be sent on your behalf to request an interpreter within 24 hours of the first workday after your request has been received. You will be included on that email and will be notified via email when your interpreter request has been filled.
For last-minute interpreting needs, you and the family can use the Language Line. Click the link for the directions.
Student Council Timeline/Meeting Dates
During Student Council meeting dates 3rd grade will attend upper-grade lunchtime. The dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, April 1st
- Wednesday, May 6th
- Wednesday, May 21st
Free Mindfulness Meditation App for Educators
CVUSD TOSA Updates
Mark Your Calendars!
2019-2020
Mon., 3/16 Staff Planning Meeting from 8-9:30 a.m.-Science Room
Tues., 3/17 Certificated Staff workday at school and Materials Pick-Up by Families
Wed., 3/18-Fri., 3/20 Distance Learning-Staff may work from home or school/daily principal and student check-in
Mon., 3/23-Fri., 3/27 Distance Learning-Staff may work from home or school/daily principal and student check-in
Mon., 3/30 PD Day will be held at Jensen Ranch
Tues., 3/31 No School-Cesar Chavez Day
Wed., 4/1 Expected Return Date for Students to School-No Joke
Fri., 4/3 Friday Flag - inside
Fri., 4/3 Principal's Coffee
Fri., 4/3 Battle of the Books- postponed
Fri., 4/10 Superhero Assembly-canceled
4/13 - 4/17 No School - Spring Break
Check the online school calendars for updates:
Jensen Ranch Master Calendar-families
Jensen Ranch Public Calendar-for staff
Reminders & Resources
NON-JENSEN STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Click Here to list the names/information of any regular non-Jensen student volunteers that you are expecting to help in your classroom during our school day. While on campus, the student will be under your direct supervision and it is expected that you have been in communication with the student’s family and that they know the student is on our campus to volunteer.
PBIS and the PAW PLEDGE
Use the lesson plans in the staff PBIS Handbook as a guide and adapt as necessary to your grade level. Reinforce these lessons as needed with your students throughout the school year!
Resources:
Electronic Copies of JR PBIS Lesson Plans
SECOND STEP LESSON TRACKER
The lesson tracker should be updated by the last school day of each month. Once the 19-20 tracker is available it will be posted here.
PD OPPORTUNITIES FROM ED SERVICES
Please Click Here/TBD for 2019-2020 to see what professional development opportunities are being hosted by Educational Services & Special Education. Please contact the host of each event for any questions or additional information.
MYSTERY SCIENCE MATERIALS
Please see this link for the reimbursement procedure, budget amount, and materials list.
MTSS
CVUSD MTSS Team Drive of Resources 2019
RTI-From Amy Valvo
The book leveling website is amazing! Often times, we are unsure what level some of the books are in our classroom. Please use the link to search over 60,000 titles with my username and password. Extending Learners w/ Book Clubs
Resources:
This website will give you access to nearly 60,000 titles and their corresponding levels:
https://www.fandpleveledbooks.com/login.aspx
Username: avalvo@cv.k12.ca.us Password: rti
www.readworks.org and www.newsela.com (Both great, free resources for reading passages)
SOCIAL STUDIES FRAMEWORK-NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL STUDIES
https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/c3/C3-Framework-for-Social-Studies.pdf
TROUBLE TICKETS
https://help-cvusd.issuetrak.com/Login.asp
If you have an issue and it is still a concern but it has been updated to “Closed” status, please communicate with Jeanine. You may still need to update/resubmit the request or we may be
BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
Second Step 19-20
The Six Tenants of Classroom Management
Ideas for Emotional Regulation in the Classroom
EL RESOURCES
OCCUPATIONAL RESOURCES (OT)
Occupational Therapist Support & Resources
NEW DIGITAL RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS: California State Library
https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-public/k-12-online-content-project/
About Us
Email: lmaclean@cv.k12.ca.us
Website: https://jensenranch.cv.k12.ca.us/
Location: 20001 Carson Lane, Castro Valley, CA, USA
Phone: 1(510)537-6365
Facebook: facebook.com/lisamacleanprincipal/
Twitter: @JensenJaguars