VS Vitals 23-24
VOL 1: 08/29-09/01
Welcome Back, Staff + Students!
Weekly Message from DBH, August 29, 2023
Team-
Wow it feels fantastic to be here in Fall 2023, 12 years into the Virtual Scholars journey will all of you!! I am excited to see how the efforts of the entire team bring the VS Brand alive. From the efforts that started last Spring to get input from the team about the Orientation, to meetings during the summer to work on courses including those courses redesigned to support teachers and mentors, and to the energizing start of 2023-24 last week.
As I look up and down our starting line, I see the care you represent for each other and for students. It is energizing to know that regardless of the challenges any year brings us, we have each other’s back. And, we will enjoy the positive times in community with each other. Frankly. that is pretty darn cool to say about our team.
So, have a fantastic week.Elizabeth and I will be on chat monitoring your needs and requests throughout the week. If something is urgent, please text us if we do not answer fast enough on chat.
Join us at the KICKOFF ice cream social at Holladay Annex between 3:00 AND 4:00 ISH. Something for everyone.
Take care,
DBH
All students are back to school this week in PPS!
- Tuesday: 9th and 12th graders only in buildings
- Wednesday - Friday: All students 9-12th grade in classes!
And the year begins!
New This Year: Companion Teachers
Companion Teachers are the first teacher identified if the VS Mentor is absent, unless the absences are frequent. The Companion Teacher will also be the teacher who will deliver special events and information for the buildings. These events include Student Panel, Erin's Law, etc...see the image below to see each building's Companion Teacher. More to come!
WEEKLY NOTES
WEEKLY MESSAGING
You can expect that Elizabeth and I will be updating you each week through the VS VITALS. All of these will be available to you on Canvas through June. And we will continue to use CHAT and EMAIL for communication.
ENROLLMENT NEWS
Currently we are only accepting enrollments for credit recovery. Counselors are aware of this requirement. If staff have questions, direct them to vs-admin@pps.net which both Elizabeth and I will receive.
VS HUB SIZES
VS Hub sizes are set by VS Admin. Please do not advocate at your schools for additional students in the VS Hub. The rationale for the size is not only the room size but a balance of slots in all of VS.
YOU NEED A STUDENT IN CANVAS (Orientation or Course)
If you have a student in the VS Hub who is waiting for the Orientation, just type the following in the ENROLLMENT CHAT
- Student Name, Student ID, Need orientation
- Student Name, Student ID, Needs Course
Examples:
- Annie Smith, 343425, Needs Orientation
- Annie Smith, 343425, Needs VS Course (do not give us the name, we will use the enrollment sheet to guide this)
USING THE NEW CHAT SPACES
Please get familiar with the way the new chat threads work. Use the REPLY to a thread to keep chats organized.
ACTIONS PENDING
- Complete EMERGENCY FORM
- Complete MANDATORY TRAINING
TIME OFF PROCESSES
APPROVAL- LEAVE-SHEET-CALENDAR
CLASSIFIED and CERTIFIED
- Follow the contract for reasons and kinds of leave and time frame for getting approval.
- APPROVAL: Text DBH and EE with enough info that we can align type of leave with purpose for leave.
- DBH 503-313-3425
- EE 503-679-0474
- please sign your name at least the first time in case we do not have your number in our phones.
- LEAVE: Fill out the the online short leave.
- SHEET: Fill out the REQUEST for TIME OFF on the Schedule Sheet
- CALENDAR: create an ALL DAY EVENT invite: khuseman@pps.net and vs-admin@pps.net
- Name - Out Time Frame - Sub Needed at SCHOOL(mentors) or No Sub Needed
- Example: Charlie Z - Out 8:00-2;00 - Sub Needed
- Example: Charlie Z - Out 8:00-3:45 - No Sub Needed
- Example: Sue S - Out 8:00-4:30 - Sub at FHS Needed
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For Teachers, we will discuss SUBBING via EE and DBH.
For Mentors, keep your sub plans current so that teachers can make the day feel supportive to students.
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Always get approval for time off before making travel plans. Teachers - Summer Academy will be a thing... so plan for that. SNOW DAYS impact us all... so check the PPS calendar just in case!