JCISD LEARNING SERVICES UPDATE
Volume 1, Issue 6
NEW IN SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND CURRICULUM
BRIDGES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM - ACCEPTING REFERRALS
The Bridges to School program is an excellent resource to connect parents to whose students are having trouble getting to school every day and on time. The B2S program will accept a referral for any elementary aged student with 10 absences or if the student has a history of attendance problems they will accept a referral BEFORE they reach 10!
The B2S program provides families with support services that include: a comprehensive Family Needs Assessment, the development of an Attendance Intervention Plan, the monitoring of family progress towards intervention goals, linking referred families to existing community resources and programs, in-home parenting education, case management, advocacy to ensure families have access to needed supports and services and the monitoring of student school attendance.
B2S is available to go to the student's home to meet with parents.
At this time, B2S has several openings and is looking for referrals. Check out their website for more information OR contact Caitlin Williams, Caitlin.Williams@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5264
ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES IN EARLY LITERACY K - 3
Literacy Essentials PDFThe JCISD Literacy Team is offering regular professional learning on the K-3 Essentials. Each session will examine a different Essential. Please click on the following link for more information.
MICHIGAN KINDERGARTEN ENTRY OBSERVATION (MKEO) FALL 2018 IMPLEMENTATION
In accordance with Section 104 in Public Act 108 of 2017, Jackson County Kindergarten classroom must implement theMichigan Kindergarten Entry Observation tool. This Kindergarten assessment tool spans four domains: Language & Literacy; Mathematics; Social Foundations; Physical Wellbeing and Motor Development. For Jackson County, this tool will replace the PALS assessment and is a much more valid and reliable measure when considering kindergarten readiness. Between now and the beginning of the 2018 school year, elementary schools are diligently working to ensure they are ready for implementation through correct identification of data managers, building leaders, and teachers that need training. If you have questions regarding the assessment or the implementation in Jackson County, please contact Melissa Bulgrien (melissa.bulgrien@jcisd.org).
If you are a kindergarten teacher in Jackson County that needs MKEO training, please first consult with your building principals, but then you are welcome to register using the links > NEW LIVE LINKS for JCISD MKEO Trainings
CELEBRATING PARENTS AND FAMILIES EVENT
Current and upcoming projects of the GSC were also shared at this event. Because of a generous grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation, the GSC has begun work on increasing the literacy scores of children in Jackson County and decreasing the effects of “summer slide.” We have teamed up with our ISD Literacy team in order to plan and introduce “Summer Literacy Labs” in the county’s most needed areas. These labs will be focused on both prekindergarten and K-3 Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy to build skills in both children and parents/guardians. In addition, the GSC will increase access to books in the home by utilizing the Little Free Library and the Take a Book: Return a Book program across the county.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PD THAT IS DRIVEN BY CHILD DATA
GSRP, the state-funded program that serves 100% at-risk children, is mandated by MDE to pull child assessment data three times per year for the purposes of data-driven curriculum adjustments and targeted professional development. Our data this year shows the continuing trend of children functioning lowest in literacy and math. The Early Childhood Specialists, with training from the Erikson Institute and support from the ISD Math Specialist, Heather Holshoe, provided two math professional development opportunities earlier in the year based on the data. Further professional development will be offered yet this spring with a focus on early literacy components. All teachers working with students 0 to 8 years old are welcome to attend.
LEARNING SERVICES TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION
Director of Instruction and Learning Services
- Tovah Sheldon, tovah.sheldon@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3612
Data and Assessment
- Jennifer Fox, Jennifer.Fox@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5212
- Deb Spencer (Support), Deb.Spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
Early Childhood (Birth to Grade 3) / Great Start Collaborative / GSRP Preschool
- Jean Allison, Jean.Allison@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6710
- Wendy Bell, Wendy.Bell@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8046
- Christina Blackwell, Christina.Blackwell@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8015
- Catherine Brubaker, Catherine.Brubaker@jcisd.org
- Deb Spencer (Support), Deb.Spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
- Kelly Sheppard, kelly.sheppard@jcisd.org (517) 768-5281
- Kelly Friedland, Kelly.Friedland@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3625
Literacy
- Melissa Bulgrien, Melissa.Bulgrien@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8077
- Maeghan McCormick, Maeghan.McCormick@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5191
- Tammy Minder (Support), Tammy.Minder@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5158
- Sandy White, sandra.white@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6718
Mathematics / Science
- Heather Holshoe, heather.holshoe@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5151
- William Montgomery, william.montgomery@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6717
- Ronda VanStempvoort (Support, SCECHs), Ronda.VanStempvoort@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5251
School Improvement
- Jessica Bucklin, Jessica.Bucklin@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5759
- Jennifer Fox, Jennifer.Fox@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5212
- Dan Luciani, Dan.Luciani@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5238
- Deb Spencer (Support), Deb.Spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
Whole Child / School Health / Project AWARE / Attendance and Homeless Programs
- Janelle Buchler, Janelle.Buchler@jcisd.org, (517) 787-5903
- Kara Klotz, Kara.Klotz@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3623
- Tammy Minder (Support), Tammy.Minder@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5158
- Caitlin Williams, Caitlin.Williams@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5264