CHS Staff Bulletin
12/9/19
In The Know
Staff Meetings - At the beginning of the year we heard a concern that we might need more staff meetings. Now that we have completed the 1st trimester the concern has been raised again in Operations. In response to the concern, please know that Helen and Greg will be meeting this week to determine which PLC dates we need to shift into staff meetings. Our goal with the added staff meetings is to cover topics that are important to the culture and climate of CHS. For example we will be discussing discipline policies and how to effectively manage classrooms. We will also share how we assign consequences within the restorative justice model.
PLC Effectiveness - I know that we get bogged down from time to time with the work that we do and the energy we give to others. I think it is important to step back and take a look at the work we have been doing and how it impacts students. I also think it is important to give ourselves permission to celebrate each other and be proud of the work that you have done.
The mission of Churchill High School is clear and succinct:
Mission - Churchill High School will build a community of excellence by:
- Cultivating an environment of equity
- Fostering a diverse culture of lifelong learners
- Recognizing the individual strengths of each student
- Expanding knowledge and developing skills through multiple pathways and programs
At Churchill High School, we have approached this philosophy by shifting our mindset from a system of teaching to a system of learning. As we began to embed this learning mission into our daily work, we have been asking ourselves, “What would this look like if we really meant it?”
We have a collaborative culture at Churchill High School which has been established over the years through trust, collegial support, and shared values. We have embraced this culture and have established and supported high-performing teams focused on the right work, at the right time, and doing it in the right way, ensuring each team is continually improving.
We have restructured Curriculum Council to focus on learning, how we teach to enhance learning, and how we respond to student learning. Team leaders in curricular areas lead the work and enhance the capacity of their team as well. These teachers are not only the experts in their area, but they are viewed as a key link between administration and faculty.
As we continue to do priority PLC work we must focus on units of instruction,. Our job is to work as teams to identify the specific standards that will be taught and what skills are essential for all students to learn. Next, clear targets and criteria for student success are outlined and agreed upon by each team member. Throughout instruction, we need to have frequent checking for student understanding, formative assessment, re-teaching, and finally an end of unit formative assessment to determine whether students have learned the standards.
One of the most important shifts we can make is in how we use data to drive our decisions. Next step work is to work as individual teachers and in teams to use results from team-developed, common formative assessments to determine whether there is a core instruction issue, or whether some students need extra time and support. This shift will help us to understand the importance of using ongoing formative assessment data to get a clear picture of student performance. As teams develop unit plans and schedule their time to work together, they will need to include time to review student achievement data and then determine the best course of action. Our administrative team will work with each department to surface the data in a way that is meaningful to the team and helps inform instruction. Using data answers the question, “Are the kids learning, and how do we know?”
Since not all students learn at the same rate, we will need to work on developing a system of interventions for struggling students. The goal is to get every student a block of time during the school day and week to extra time and support. Students should be able to get extra help from a specific teacher or utilize a learning lab in specific classes. As a result of the curriculum alignment process as well as using data to help inform student’s needs skill by skill, we will be able to make steady and incremental gains in student achievement.
Looking Forward
*Community-sponsored activity, independent of and receiving no funding, services, or supervision from the Eugene School District 4J and Churchill High School.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
12:30–3:30 pm — FIELD TRIP: LCC Welding/Advanced Technology Tour
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
LANCER PAGEANT CONTESTANT APPLICATIONS DUE*
3:45 pm — 9th-Grade Team
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
8:00 am–12:00 pm — OSAS Training for HS in the STEM Conference Room
3:45 pm — Operations
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
10:00 am — Lane Community College Presentation
11:00 am — Equity Team
4:30 pm — SSD Vision Launching Meeting in the CHS Cafeteria
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 — ADVISORY SCHEDULE
0 Period 7:35 AM – 8:25 AM
1st Period 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM
2nd Period 9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
Advisory 10:22 AM – 11:07 AM
3rd Period 11:12 AM – 12:05 PM
Lunch 12:10 PM – 12:40 PM
4th Period 12:45 PM – 1:35 PM
5th Period 1:40 PM – 2:30 PM
SENIOR PORTRAITS AND QUOTES DUE TO YEARBOOK (squires_d@4j.lane.edu)
7:45 am — Student of the Month Breakfast
2:45 pm — PLC
3:30 pm — GSA Social Gathering
NEXT WEEK...
December 17 — SPECIAL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE: CYBER CRIMES AND INTERNET SAFETY
Period 1: 8:30 - 9:27
Period 2: 9:32 - 10:29
Period 3: 10:34 - 11:33
Lunch: 11:38 - 12:08
Period 4: 12:13 - 1:10
Period 5A: class: 1:15 - 2:20; assembly: 2:30 - 3:30
Period 5B: class: 1:15 - 1:20 (attendance); assembly: 1:25 - 2:25; class: 2:30 - 3:30
December 17, 7:00 pm — Season of Sound Band Concert
December 17, 18 — LANCER PAGEANT VOTING*
December 17, 18, 11:00 am–1:00 pm — Graduation Cap and Gown Orders
December 18, 3:45 pm — LCC Placement Testing
December 19 — FIRE DRILL (beginning of 5th period)
December 19 — LEAP DAY
December 19, 3:45 pm — Site Council
December 19, 7:00 pm — Season of Sound Choir Concert
*Community-sponsored activity, independent of and receiving no funding, services, or supervision from the Eugene School District 4J and Churchill High School.
Kudos
Renee Neill - Thank you for always being so positive and understanding. Every time I see you there's a smile and a laugh. It lifts spirits and endears students and staff to you. It is this positivity that is central to developing relationships with students. Thank you for being a leader in this area.
Trisha Jackson - Thank you Trisha for your generosity. I noticed the other morning that we had a new student in the building and you went out of your way to walk the student to their first class. This reminds me of your interview for your job, when asked how team members help each other out, you responded by saying that kindness is important and looking out for one another. You exemplified this approach. Thank you for showcasing your integrity.
Churchill High School
Website: https://chs.4j.lane.edu/
Location: 1850 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchillHighSchool
Twitter: @CHSLancers