In the Know
An Internal Newsletter from the SISD Communications Dept.
Thank you for Supporting the SEF Arts Fest Run!
The 14th annual SEF Arts Fest Fun Run was a huge success. More than 400 participants enjoyed fabulous weather and great running conditions for the 5k run. The overall male winner was Nick Atkins with a time of 17:37.53 and the overall female winner was Kortney McMichael with a time of 21:05.12.
SISD campuses showed great support with Fairview Elementary taking first place and Sory Elementary coming in at a close second for staff participation. Fairview Elementary will be awarded a catered lunch by La Mesa for their first-place participation finish!
Special thanks to:
- Mary Clare Foley for singing the National Anthem prior to the 5K and God Bless America prior to the Fun Run;
- Billy Bob and the cheerleaders that rode in the pace car and encouraged the runners across the finish line.
Huge thanks to all the participating campuses and everyone that made it to the event.
Document Cameras
Wireless document cameras are a part of our new Teacher Technology Toolkit and have been placed in all Sherman ISD classrooms. Our new document cameras are similar to an overhead transparency projector, but offers much more flexibility and eliminates the need for the creation of overhead slides. The device can be utilized to project objects and student work on your panel.
Below, you will find some important information and tips on how to use your new document camera inside of your classroom and enhance the learning experience for your students.
Document Camera Information &Tips
- The document camera in operation is wireless. The only time it needs to be plugged into the wall is to charge the battery. You may charge the device anywhere in your room that is convenient. If the device is plugged it into an outlet where you do not want it, you may move it.
- The document camera connects using the Sphere2 program that is on your laptop wirelessly. It does not connect directly to the panel or projector with a wire.
- NEVER use a USB connection to connect the camera to your computer. It’s wireless.
- In order to show the camera on your panel, start the sphere2 program on your computer and display your computer to the panel.
- The document camera is not Bluetooth. It connects using our wireless network.
- It must be located using your computer and the software for the very first time. From then on, it will always be connected.
- Your document camera is wireless. During a lesson, you may move your camera from your teacher desk to student desks throughout your room. Want to spotlight a student’s work? Simply place the document camera over the work and show it on your panel or projector!
The video below demonstrates how to power up and connect your document camera to your laptop. Please feel free to contact your Instructional Technology Specialist if you have any additional questions.
2019 Major Saver Campaign
Help support a Sherman ISD campus through the Sherman Education Foundation’s 2019 Major Saver Campaign. The Campaign will kick off Wednesday, September 25. Campaign collections will be September 30 - October 8, 2019. You may purchase a major saver card for only $15 and receive discounts and coupons from 21 area businesses.
Major Saver cards can be purchased via cash, check, or online at www.majorsaver.com. The online sale can be credited back to your chosen school and student. All cards purchased online will be mailed directly to the customer.
This year’s Sherman card includes many of our popular offers from returning businesses and also includes new offers from Schulman’s MBG, Texoma Delivery, Firehouse Subs, Elevate Nutrition and more! Once you’ve purchased your card, be sure to download the Major Saver app and register your card so that you can access thousands of Major Saver’s additional discounts and deals!
If you have any additional questions about the campaign, please call the Major Saver campaign manager, Mary Beth Phipps at 816.554.7999 or SEF Director Kathy Bickerstaff at 903-891-6431.
Exchange Day-October 14, 2019
October 14 is scheduled as an Exchange Day (Comp Day) for some SISD employees. Staff members may comp out of this day by completing staff development training, including required trainings, and summer/weekend staff development. They essentially “exchange” this day of work done outside their normal calendar/schedule for the October 14 workday. Principals/directors will need to keep documentation (six-hour certificate) of the training(s) done for this exchange day. Certificates housed in Eduphoria is acceptable. When secretaries enter time for this day, they will need to enter nothing for professional employees and will need to enter an absence for the paraprofessional employees and code the absence as staff development.
If you have a recent hire, please inform your new hire of this day and encourage him/her to fulfill the exchange day requirement by completing the online required trainings (outside of the workday/schedule) and to submit a certificate. The expectation is for campuses to be closed on October 14.
If you have questions, please call Jill O’Neal at extension 2021
October 14 is not a scheduled workday for our cafeteria monitors, cooks, cafeteria managers/assistant managers, crossing guards, bus drivers, or bus assistants. This does not pertain to these workers.
Employees who work 197, 207, or 226 days may complete a training outside of their work schedule, or may take a personal business day, use comp time (if available), or take a flex day (if available).
Professional Development
Each school year staff members are required to complete a series of online compliance trainings. These trainings are located online through Region 10 ESC at the link below:
What does each staff member need to do?
1. Each individual will need to log into the Region 10 online learning site and complete the training by the specified due dates.
2. Provide a copy of the Region 10 Certificate of Completion to the campus administrator or designee for compliance documentation to be retained on campus for the current school year.
3. Staff Professional Development Portfolio: Upon completion of each module, staff should register in Eduphoria for each course and complete the Eduphoria survey.
Click here for the Region 10 required training portal.
Certified Employees Certificate Updates
If you are a certified employee, you will receive emails from the HR department when your certificate is about to expire. These emails are generated automatically. Once you have updated your certification, please let the HR department know you have updated your certificate. You can call extension 2020 or email hr@shermanisd.net and the expiration date on your certificate will be updated in TEAMS. You will continue to receive emails about your certification until you notify HR of the update.
Retirement Information & Dates
Dates for Retirement: As you are aware, SISD pays you for a portion of unused local leave at retirement. This is in accordance to Board Policy DEC(Local) and we want to make sure you are all aware of the timelines set out in this policy. It is not our intent to encourage anyone to retire, we simply do not want any employee to miss out on this opportunity.
If a professional contracted employee intends to retire at the end of 2020, he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than 4:00pm on the date listed below:
187 Day Contract Employee- Thursday, February 27, 2019
207 Day Contract Employee- Tuesday, March 3, 2019
226 Day Contract Employee- Thursday, March 26, 2019
If a non-contracted employee intends to retire and desires payment for local sick leave, then he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than two weeks prior to the last day of employment. If a retiring SISD employee does not meet this requirement, he or she will not be paid for any local sick leave upon retirement as determined by SISD Board Policy. If you have any questions about this, please email Human Resources Executive Director Jill O'Neal.
SHERMAN ISD SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOW OPEN
Nominate a Teacher for Katy Country’s 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year Program!
Here’s all you need to do to nominate YOUR favorite teacher:
Fill out the official online nomination form at the link below. This form may be completed by administrators, other teachers, parents and students. The more information received about the nominee, the better opportunity the nominee has to be chosen as the Katy Country Teacher of the Month by our judges.
Winners will be chosen once per month, September 2019 through May 2020.
Each month, judges will choose the winning teacher among the nominees and that teacher will receive a plaque and a check for $750.
Each month’s winning teacher is invited to the Katy Country studios for an interview where they are presented their award.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A TEACHER TODAY!
Upcoming District Events
Sept. 26 Dillingham Open House 5th Grade 5:30-6:30, 6th grade 7pm-8pm
Sept. 27- Careers in Texas Industries Day
Sept. 27-SHS Football at Mckinney North @7:30pm
Sept. 27-SHS Volleyball vs Princeton @ 5:30pm
Sept. 28- SHS Cross Country @ Denison XC Invitational @8am
Sept. 28-Piner 8th & 7th Volleyball @ Prosper Tournament @8am