Warrior Beat
#worldchangingwarriors
Word for the Warrior....
I am just checking in with you all and updating you all with information I know below.
I can't stop saying THANK YOU to you all for all of your outstanding efforts to continue instruction and support kids during this time. It's just amazing and I am sure that no other school system in the state is coming close to the time and intentionality and support you are providing for our students! This work matters now and will matter whenever we return!
If you will, please send the Student Google Survey to students again this week in order for us to just keep our finger on the pulse of how they are doing week to week and what needs are present for them. You can either make a copy of the survey that you sent out last week or make a copy of the link below. This feedback is just for you and your department. You do not need to send it to admin. This effort is just for our awareness as a whole and to be used for your planning and support of students.
The link pasted below has been changed to say SECOND WEEK OF VIRTUAL SCHOOL.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f0aPfZSps6FKtdVL5UB1MP5baCe7CQHun1K_bFUYjWg/edit?usp=sharing
Instructions to make a copy of the link are below. If you have questions as to whether or not you have copied it correctly, so you get THIS week's feedback separately, please email Nick BEFORE you send it out.
April 9, 2020 SBE Conference Call Meeting
April 9, 2020 SBE Conference Call Meeting 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location
Conference Line: 605-472-5592 Access Code: 290578
Due to the high number of conference calls occurring nationwide, some users may experience challenges accessing the conference call platform. The meeting will be recorded and posted on this page within 24 hours of the meeting’s conclusion. The State Board will also announce the results of each vote on its Twitter account, @SBED_TN, during the meeting.
Agenda:
I. Statement of Necessity
II. Consent Items
A. Adoption of Agenda
III. Action Items (Final Reading)
A. COVID-19 Emergency Rules
First and final reading of emergency and permanent rules needed in light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for Tennessee K-12 public schools. Rules included in this item are:
0520-01-02-.17 Administrative Rules and Regulations, State Attendance Guidelines;
0520-01-03-.11 Minimum Rules and Requirements for the Approval of Public Schools, Requirements for 2019-20 School Year as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency;
0520-01-09-.24 Special Education Programs and Services, Requirements for 2019-20 School Year as a Result of the COVID- 19 Public Health Emergency;
0520-01-11-.07 Individualized Education Accounts, Monitoring And Compliance;
0520-02-01-.01 Evaluations, General Requirements For Evaluation;
0520-02-03-.09 and -.15 Educator Licensure: Denial, Formal Reprimand, Suspension and Revocation; and Requirements for 2019-20 School Year as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency;
0520-02-04-.11 Educator Preparation, Requirements for 2019-20 School Year As A Result Of The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; and
0520-07-02-.09 Non-Public School Approval Process, Requirements for 2019-20 School Year as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
B. English as a Second Language Program Policy 3.207
First and final reading of item to update policy requirements in light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for Tennessee K-12 public schools.
C. Uniform Grading Policy 3.301
First and final reading of item to update policy requirements in light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for Tennessee K-12 public schools.
D. Charter School Local Education Agency (LEA) Policy 4603
First and final reading of item to update an LEA policy for State Board-authorized charter schools in light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for Tennessee K-12 public schools.
E. Educator Licensure Rule 0520-02-03
Final reading of item to allow additional flexibility for educators and school leaders coming into Tennessee with licenses from other states.
IV. Adjournment
JSMS JAM
Students Who Need to be Contacted-Located in JSMS Google Drive-COVID-19 STAFF FILES
A couple of things to note, if you are the teacher adding the name to the spreadsheet, please leave columns G, H, I, J blank. If you are adding their name to the spreadsheet, we are assuming you have attempted contact already and now are asking for others to help make contact. This will help us know who to prioritize for attempting contact.
On Monday, we will be mailing a letter to those families who we have not had any contact with so far. Again, thank you for your work with this! It is making a difference!
Nick
CLICK HERE to access the STUDENTS WHO NEED TO BE CONTACTED file.
Schedules
If you have not filled out the recommendation spreadsheet that Kelli sent out, please do that ASAP. We are planning to use this information to help us make decisions on schedules for next year and how we will structure support block or what version of it that we will have. Let me know if you have any questions about what you need to fill out for this.
Here are the spreadsheets:
Current 6th/Rising 7th: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iI3kO8_GRZP9dezusSxzy2ijO31rCEOdvF2biHqyOBg/edit?usp=sharing
Current 7th/Rising 8th:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GxmxeItTzNpi3Bi6E7E_ERETlK27JR1IgS2CWvMNjNI/edit?usp=sharing
JSMS....WHO is that MIDDLE SCHOOL teacher? Game link below...
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSet9hn2KIIJlpQHDjlXPWIGS3p2NSeGor3fOORQyHKBv_P6bw/viewform
SO FAR...our high scores with a score of 53/55 are: Megan Roop, Kaelin Toney, Michael Stewart, Michelle Kincaid!
If you have not taken our "Who is that MIDDLE SCHOOL teacher" game....try it! It's about an hour of a GOOD time! HAHAHAHA!
DISTRICT GUIDANCE FOR 6-12 GRADING/INSTRUCTION
Click here for a link to a resource created at the district level for 6-12 virtual learning. This document is regularly updated. The hope is that this resource will allow us to have concise information during this time where we are receiving lots of information.
1) Are we allowed to assign new content?
You may assign new material but please be judicious, knowing that students don't have direct access to teachers to assist with clarifying expectations and understanding. Also, be understanding and flexible with the work and grading until you know for sure students have access to technology and internet access.
2) Are we allowed to assign grades for assignments?
You may take grades with the understanding that the TDOE will make a decision on 4/8 as to what schools will be allowed to do with grades. What we do could be changed...or not. Ask yourselves what you are hoping to accomplish with the grade. Ultimately, a grade is intended to be feedback that will facilitate improvement. Are you able to provide feedback without the grade? Make sure the grade reflects learning goals and not doing goals.
3) Should we code attendance?
No. Do not address attendance. We will continue to monitor students who have not connected with you or your work and make efforts to reach out to them. Please use this spreadsheet to log students who are not making contact:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mE7lE9bR-7JwfDwkz_mUKG5Ft8xyG3Djx8aHB9N7Iks/edit#gid=0
6) What if students don't respond to to CANVAS or email?
More communication will come on Monday or Tuesday regarding how to communicate the names of students who have not engaged or who you believe or know to not have wi-fi/technology access.
This section will be updated over the next four weeks.
Ensuring Equity During Online Learning
In the wake of the COVID-19-propelled public health crisis, schools around the nation are turning to online learning for students. Technology presents a huge opportunity to engage students to continue their schooling.
However, online education also brings a host of equity and access concerns, misconceptions around students’ technology abilities, and unique challenges for some student populations, including special education students and English learners.
This special edition issue brief provides educators ideas on how technology can best serve us during these times. The following suggestions rely on best educational practices, logical conclusions drawn from school district equity audits and classroom observations, research on technology access, and our collective empathy toward families and students
Click here to link to the full resource. The resource is intended as information for consideration and not the official opinion of our district.
District Level Guidance for Zoom Meetings
You may have seen the many reports on the news concerning the security risks when using Zoom. the district office has reviewed these stories as well as reviewed the steps Zoom is taking to mitigating these risks. They have created a list of steps you can follow to ensure that your Zoom sessions are secure.
These include:
- Require a meeting password
- Lock the meeting once it starts (You may give students a grace period to join before locking)
- Turn off all screen sharing for meeting participants
- Setup a meeting waiting room and only admit users that are required to be in the meeting
- Turn off File Transfer
- Disable Private Chat
- Do not use a generic school password for your sessions. Use a teacher-specific password
They will continue to monitor this and will provide further guidance should things change.
Student Referrals to Counseling
Reminders and Tips from Laura!
Here are a few Technology updates for you.
- Tickets and Issues:
- Teachers please continue email helpdesk@k12k.com to create work order tickets. ( Note do not forward emails to this address as anything below your signature does not make it into the ticket)
- If you have questions from parents regarding technology feel free to forward those to my email and I will work with the parents. Parents can also call the JSMS mainline 423-378-2450 and ask to speak to me. If they reach my answering machine they will need to leave their name, student name, issue, and a callback number, I will get back to them as soon as possible.
- For student device requests and repairs please send me the parents contact info or encourage them to reach me via the mainline or my email as I will have to work with them to arrange a pickup service by me at the front of the school.
- Teachers and students can now communicate via email.
- How to create a distribution list of all of your students so you can email them all at once. (See document attached document "Creating a Label in Gmail".)
I hope you are all well and I hope to see you all soon,
Laura Valentine
COVID-19 Staff Files
Please remember that we are housing all COVID19 resources in a shared drive in our JSMS Google Drive. This includes our JSMS Spreadsheet logging disengaged students who need to be contacted, Calling Script of what to say when we call families, and all forms related to personnel (logging time, bus directions, self-screening forms, etc.)
CLICK HERE for COVID19 File in JSMS Google Shared Drive
Warrior ROCKstar!
She has worked tirelessly to make sure all the students have
their devices. Laura has worked to make sure everything has
been organized, prepared loaners/chargers for students who
need them and made sure everything has been sterilized, etc.
I feel she deserves The Rock!
Thanks!
Vicky Stoops