Kleckner's Korner
Week of January 11, 2021
MOY MAP Testing
Action Item:
1. Please send out this link to remote parents or all of your parents but label it remote students only: Here is a link to the signupgenius for remote testing (Thank you April and Tish for getting this done already):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084fafac29a7fb6-moymap
Students need to bring:
1. Goal Sheets
2. Paper and Pencil
3. Headphones (preferred)
Before you leave the lab after each test:
1. Turn in seating chart with information on whether or not students finished the test they were taking that day or update the spreadsheet.
Link to spreadsheet (in the testing folder in PC Google Drive, MOY MAP Schedule, tabs at the bottom for each teacher):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1INzAp4QqTMr4o0SsQMDOjBxR8W2HIiSGUkJxGYxi01Y/edit#gid=0
PLCs/WDM Schedule
This week we made a lot of headway in the WDM process! We've officially ironed out the issues with the cover sheet, covered all of the parts of the script and now we're ready to put it together!
Here is the calendar I'm following: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EF8U-oA3nIHj_su2GUP6y7-e90MA97qkSxaKTdV4y_Q/edit#gid=0
Action Items:
1. While you are planning next week please indicate what TEK we will be looking at on January 20th. PreK and Kinder we were able to fill yours in this week.
2. Please don't forget to send me your reteach scores from this week's DOL/CBA.
Please, please ask questions if you are confused.
Notes from Jocelyn...
As we start 2021 and our second semester of the school year, changes to attendance requirements have taken place… again. Another email from me with a lot of words, but extremely important.
Here is the rundown on the updates:
- Daily Absences
- Tardies should not be entered into Skyward.
- The automated phone calls to parents alerting them that their child was marked absent have begun.
- You have 3 days to change a child’s attendance from Absent to Synchronous or Asynchronous.
- If you have not changed the attendance by day 4, Skyward will automatically change it to an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE.
- You do not want to be the reason a parent/student must start an attendance agreement, or worse, filed on for truancy because you did not change a warranted absence.
- When it comes down to the legality and number of absences, Canvas/Seesaw participation will be verified to ensure the absence code is correct.
2. Individual Attendance Plan/Committees
- Once a student has 5-7 absences (starting January 5 and beyond), we must form an attendance committee.
- Committee consists of teacher, admin, parent, and student.
- The committee creates an Individual Attendance Plan for the parent AND the student.
3. Truancy
- If a student reaches 10 absences (starting January 5 and beyond), the campus will file a truancy letter.
- Truancy court will be held virtually.
4. 90% Rule
- The 90% rule started with the first day of school.
- A student must be present for at least 90% of the 180 school days in order to receive credit for the grade level.
- Once a student has reached 18 absences, they have violated the 90% rule and the student and the parent must sign a grade recovery form stating they understand the student could be retained due to absences.
5. F2F Coded but are staying Remote
- If a student is coded as F2F, but is not attending F2F, we can change their coding in Skyward after 15 consecutive days of not attending F2F.
6. Revoking Remote Learning
- TEA has now given guidance on what a school district can do for students that are failing, but refuse to return to school.
- It is a multistep process with a lot of documentation from you and the campus/district.
- If you need to know more, here is the TEA resource (page 20, question 22) - https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/SY-2020-21-Attendance-and-Enrollment.pdf
- Case by case situation; see me if you have concerns.
ACTION ITEM:
- Please share the attached PDF on your Canvas/Dojo/Seesaw. This is a very easy to read graphic for parents to help them understand all of our attendance terms and requirements. The document is currently being translated to Spanish. I will send it out as soon as I have it.
- We will also send this out via Skyward and in the next parent Smore.
I know this is a lot, but I figured putting this all into writing is best.
As always, let me know if you have any questions or how I can help!
Notes from Esther....
Please share out the link for remote students to sign up for testing (thank you Tish and April for getting this done already!
Notes from Selena....
I am putting a copy of Phonological Awareness Activity booklets in English and Spanish as well as an observation checklist in your boxes and attaching them to my Canvas page for you to use as resources when pulling groups. Remember, if students have not mastered these basic phonological skills, they will struggle with phonics skills as well. Let me know if you have any questions about how or when to use these!
Shout Outs!
Jordan and Jennifer - Thank you so much for organizing and setting up our Thursday lunch! Your the best! - Karen Nethaway
Whole Staff - thank you for coming back on Tuesday and making it through the Great Internet Outage of 2021 (so far)!
Weekly Administrative Information Packet
1. Expiring FFCRA Leave - PLEASE READ
2. Garland ISD Employees with Children in the District
3. G/T 6-hour update - if you still need your update hours here are opportunities!
4. MiniCAST for Science Teachers - free opportunity
5. Remaining District Professional Development Days - FYI
Important Dates to Remember ***Denotes New Information
Calendar
January
5 - Quarter 3 begins
11 - February 5 - Middle of Year MAP testing for Face to Face Students
15 - Quarter 2 Virtual Award Ceremonies
18 - MLK Day/Student and Staff Holiday
February
***3 - Early Release Day - District Staff Development in the afternoon.
8-12 - Middle of Year MAP testing for Remote Students
8 - Kinder Cap and Gown pictures
11 - Virtual Art Night (more details soon)
Counselor’s Corner
If you need assistance with individual concerns or counseling services, please reach out to Mrs. Medrano-Johnson at gmedranojohnson@garlandisd.net,
or fill out the following Park Crest Request for Counseling Services form.