Primary Division MD Newsletter
September 18, 2020
Welcome Message
This week, as you welcome scholars back to school, your MDs want you to know that you are seen and you are valued. On August 19th, The Department of Homeland Security declared educators essential workers, because you are essential. Under typical circumstances, there is a monumental amount of work that goes into bringing scholars and teachers to the building. Leading during a pandemic and racial and social unrest is anything but typical and you are doing it. It’s literally nothing school districts have done in our time. Let’s just be honest, this isn’t what you signed up for and yet you are doing it. You’ve put it all together and you are adapting in the blink of an eye. You are creating history. Years from now, 2020 will be remembered as the year you fiercely led during one of the most challenging years our country has seen in recent times. On Monday, before all of the scholars and students arrive, pause for a moment and realize what you are doing matters. It matters not just for the students you have in your classes today, but also for the future. You are part of large-scale systemic change and are making history.
Next week, there will be hundreds of little people counting on you every day to show up and be your best self. This weekend take care of yourself. You are essential.
We can't wait to see you and your scholars next week!
Priscilla, Yasmin, and Kecia
Grade Reporting
As we approach the start of in-person school, the reporting team is providing you with resources and directions to ensure teachers have a seamless transition to grade reporting at the close of the quarter. As discussed in the call on September 4th, the Reporting team proposed moving the quarter 1 reporting period up a few weeks. This was due to concerns that scholars’ grades would not transfer when new schedules were created for the return to in-person learning. After a robust discussion between leaders from all divisions, it became clear that the majority of leaders wanted to hold to the scheduled grading period ending on October 8th. Therefore, we will maintain the current end-of-Quarter date on October 8th. However, this means that teachers will need to manually transfer grades to PowerSchool given that scholar sections may change in-person school.
From the Reporting Team:
“Below are guides and resources for teachers that need to make any adjustments, and campus registrars and PEIMS coordinators are aware of the transfers.
Here are the user guides we discussed to help teachers retain and transfer grades due to schedule changes in PowerTeacher.
- If a scholar is moving between Sections within a Course with the same teacher, and the Assignments match between the Sections, they may transfer the grades within a built in process in PowerTeacher Pro gradebook: How To Transfer Scholar Grades
- The Scoresheet report in PowerTeacher Pro provides the Teacher with a snapshot copy of all Assignments and Grades for a Section: How to Run the Scoresheet Report
- After the schedule change, teachers will need to re-enter any grades into the new Section. Instructions for creating Assignments and entering grades begins on page 18 of the PowerTeacher Pro User Guide
These guides have been published on Uplink on the Self-Paced Technology Tool Training page.
Please reach out, if you any questions.”
Scholar Recruitment Meetings
A message was placed in last week’s memo, but I also know that everyone is getting use to the new format. As you are meeting with your leadership teams can you remind them about the importance of signing up for their spot? Both of our calendars fill up quickly and we want to make sure we have time to discuss with each campus. I have copied the link to the memo that was posted here.
A Message From Anne Erickson
Hello Primary School Leaders,
Thank you for your leadership and being the trailblazers who welcome back our first two grades of scholars on Monday. I wanted to send a quick note re: teacher absences and subs. There will be subs on-site at our primary schools next week to provide emergency coverage. The Talent Acquisition Team is managing this directly with your OD. If you have a no-show, please enter their absence in TEAMS and notify Tommy and Ashley as soon as possible. I learned we received a few resignations today from staff who do not want to return in person – so a no show is a possibility. If this happens, we want to backfill quickly and also ensure you have proper long term coverage. If you have a staff member who is unable to work due to failing the health screen and their absence requires a substitute, this will have to be coded as an absence. We are still working through the best way to code this in TEAMS and will share more information next week. In the meantime, on Monday, if a teacher is absent due to failing the health screen and requires a substitute, please notify Tommy and Ashley and either use the sub on campus or, if they’ve been deployed, pull a sub off your list as you normally would. We will ensure everything gets coded properly on our end.
Best,
Anne
Reminders for School Reopening
- Make each week of returning to school a joyous occasion! Make it special for scholars and staff.
- Think about any walking families and how they are going to socially distance as they drop of scholars.
- Add social distancing stickers to staircases.
- Add time to the schedule for handwashing before and after lunch. This procedure takes time.
- Remind teachers that...
The younger scholars should use Zombie arms when transitioning through the building.
Lunch should be fun and safe.
Classroom routines including walking paths in the room must be practiced.
Scholar hands need to be sanitized before and after recess.
Scholars need extra to time to pack and prepare to go home.
They should send a quick email, dojo, picture, etc. to families at the end of the first day.
New routines take time. Keep practicing until it is done correctly.
- Be consistent and give yourself grace.
First Week at Delmas Morton!
IT'S LOOKING GOOD AT...
Uplift Pinnacle, Uplift Hampton, Uplift Heights
SEPTEMBER GOALS AND ARC
Shout Out to
Kristin, Chermanda, Loren, and Marima for their seamless work with their Operations Directors to be scholar ready.
Shaquela and Melisa for having a successful opening of school
Heights, Ascend, Elevate, Pinnacle, Summit, Gradus, Luna, Peak, and Meridian for getting their entire leadership teams registered for Reading Academies. Thanks for helping us have a strong start this week! - Erin Weglein
Karen for having a clear and concise communication plans for her staff!!
Hannah for her collaboration with her SPED team and receiving a CMO shout out!