AIM for Excellence
February 27, 2019
Staff,
As we approach this time of year, please remember to focus on providing strong instruction for our students. If you’ve not had time lately, please take some time to reflect on your own actions, practices, and commitment to the Big 3. Are you planning your instruction using your standards, is your PLC having discussions around the four PLC questions, and how are engaging your students in learning? If you are a singleton in your building, what does your student data tell you and how are your responding to it?
I know it seems like we’ve had many surveys lately, however, I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the technology survey listed below. The information collected will be used to help us determine PD related to technology as well as determine focus areas to support you. Thank you for taking the time.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Brent
Technology Survey - Action Required
We would love your feedback!
CLICK HERE to access a Technology Survey! Please take a few minutes to complete a technology survey. This survey will drive the work of the Instructional Technology Department and the Technology Department. This survey is anonymous and the results will be taken into consideration as we plan for future trainings and technology opportunities throughout the next several school years. We truly value and appreciate your feedback!
School Improvement Leadership Network (BLT Training) Spring Dates
Elementary Trainings
How many can attend? About 10; Attendees can choose PD points or a stipend for attendance
Time: 4:15-6:15pm
Location: BOE Board Room
- Monday, April 1 (BB, AC, BE, BW, PR, MB)
- Tuesday, April 2 (TH, RV, FV, NV, WV, CE)
- Monday, April 8 (WA, RR, CS, HC, IC, HLC, HMC)
- Thursday, April 11 (MD, MA, RW, HT, SC, CC)
- Monday, April 15 (WL, BR, GS, WG, SS, PC)
- Thursday, April 25 (MP, ML, HN, FRV, RP, CW)
Secondary Trainings
How many can attend? About 10; Attendees can choose PD points or a stipend for attendance
Time: 4:15-6:15pm
Location: BOE Board Room
- Monday, April 29 (SFT, OT, PT, FT, IT)
- Wednesday, May 1 (PRT, CST, MT, ST, CT)
- Thursday, May 2 (OE, ON, ONW, OS, OW, MCC, OATC, PLC, CLC)
#OlatheSparkStartersPodcast
The #OlatheSparkStarters is a teacher created Podcast meant to inspire innovative ideas and empower educators to cannonball into personalized professional learning. Our vision is to empower fellow educators by sharing stories and ideas that will spark innovation and help spread best practices.
Send your questions, ideas, or feedback to: olathesparkstarters@gmail.com
You can also listen to the Podcast by following us on Twitter @OlatheSpark or listening via Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/olathe-spark-starters
#big3Challenge11
- What did you learn that has helped improve teaching and learning in your classroom?
- How do you know?
1. The Sunshine Spreaders - Teachers who spread joy and positivity.
2. The Courageous - The teachers who step out of their comfort zone without fear of failure.
3. The Encouragers - The teachers who inspire with courage, spirit, and confidence.
4. The Innovators -The teachers who seek new and/or better ideas.
When you combine these qualities together, it lights a spark that sparkles with passion and enthusiasm. As Tisha Richmond would say, "We can have the techiest tools and most innovative ideas in the world, but the fire for innovation won’t start without a spark."
Spark Starters are filled with passion; a passion that is contagious. A fire is starting in Olathe and it is a beautiful sight to see. Every two weeks we will shine a light on the amazing Spark Starters throughout Olathe.
Bonnie Butell-Huntoon
-Aaron Schwartz
Jeremi Wonch
-Kelli Svatos
Gail Carpenter
-Amanda Keltner
We appreciate how she steps out of her comfort zone without fear of failure.
Assessment Department
Administrator Updates - Action Required
**Principals – You may ignore the KITE emails that start with "One or more errors was found while processing KIDS records." These messages are also sent to the Assessment Office and we deal with the errors, along with Tech.
Kansas Assessment (KAP) Updates
- Daily Access Code Contacts – please let the Assessment Office know who should receive the DAC (an administrator and one other)
- Testing Schedules – please send your KAP testing schedule to the Assessment Office by March 1.
District Writing Assessment Update
Elementary K-1st runs from March 19th - April 11th - click for KDG and click for FIRST
Elementary 2nd-5th runs from Jan. 7th - March 8th – click for SECOND, for THIRD, for FOURTH and FIFTH
Teachers may use any of the district rubrics they feel are appropriate for their student's writing.
Narrative and Informational Rubrics are included in the linked directions (also sent to teachers)
Opinion Rubric – click for 3rdGrade and click for 4th&5thGrade
Secondary 6th-12th runs through March 8th - click for MIDDLE and click for HIGH
Special Services Department
Paraeducators Week: March 25-29
Here are some ideas on how to recognize paraeducators at no cost or inexpensively:
- Publicly recognize the work that paraeducators do---in a staff meeting or parent newsletter.
- Make signs, banners or posters for the hallways to promote the work your paraeducators do.
- Pinterest has a ton of suggestions on using candy and other treats with a card:
- Animal crackers with a card “This place would be a ZOO without YOU!
- Extra Gum with “Thanks for going the EXTRA mile!”
- Thanks for all the laughs and Snickers®
- You are out of this World! (Mars® or Milky Way®)
- Thanks for the Mounds® of Work You Do!
- You are M&M® (Marvelous and Magnificent).
- (You get the idea! The list candy “thank you” ideas goes on and on!)
- Lunch or a special treat!
- A personal handwritten note from you for a job well done!
Summer Academy 2019
Hiring - We need YOU!
Dates: June 3-27, 2019
Professional Development: June 3-4, 8:00-4:00pm
Pay: $26 an hour; Opportunity to earn 2 graduate hours through MNU
Daily Schedule:
- 30 minutes of Teambuilding
- 45 minutes of daily PLC time (students are in PE)
- 75 minutes of Reading Intervention (co-teaching model)
- 75 minutes of Math Intervention (co-teaching model)
Do you want to read about the "Day in the Life of..." a Summer Academy student?
21st Century Academies
Counselors
All Counselors
March 1, 2019 Supporting Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Students PD Workshop Registration Information
2019 Spring Kansas Counseling Conference March 7th-8th in Lawrence Registration Due by Feb. 28th
2nd Annual Kansas City School Climate and Culture Symposium March 29th Early Bird Registration Due by Feb. 28th Link and Flyer
Kansas State Schools of Character Recognition Program Information Applications Due March 15th & March 22nd
Counselors from all levels are needed to be in attendance and to support any person who may need it during the April 2 screening of the movie, “The Ripple Effect”. This movie is about suicide and its aftermath. This movie will be shown on April 2 from 7-9 p.m. at Prairie Trail. Counselors would need to be in attendance from 6:45-9:15 p.m. This would be a paid activity. Anyone who would like to work this event should email their interest to Angie Salava.
If a counselor needs to see an individual student’s response to a Panorama question or questions, they can contact Angie Salava for that information. This information will be shared on a very limited basis.
Counselors: The morning of the April district professional development day will be reserved for transition meetings. The transition day form will be placed in the Google drive in All Counselors->Transition forms. Please come to the meeting with information on your students on the district form.
High School Counselors
Student Opportunity: The Power of You: HS Youth Career Development Workshop April 4th Register by March 1st Event Information
Student Opportunity: CampCardiac: 1 week summer day camp for students interested in careers in all fields of medicine. Scholarships Available. Application Deadline May 10 Camp Flyer
CTE
The March CTE LinkED newsletter is available for viewing. Archives of the previous newsletters are available on the CTE O-Zone page for your reference.
MS Principals & MS Computer Teachers: ACTION NEEDED
All MS Computer teachers need to sign up for a "myPLTW" account by March 1. Refer to email sent on February 19 for details.
All MS Computer teachers will need to select training dates for "Computer Science for Innovators and Makers" AND "App Creators" beginning March 5. Refer to email sent on February 19 for details.
ELA: Elementary
Elementary Principal Updates:
District writing post-assessment information (see Assessment section)
Document to support student movement with reading levels – click here
Please read below for updates from Linda.
Pacing document for reading level movement - click here
Journeys leveled reader databases for small group instruction (Select grade level: Kdg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
Journeys Additional Spelling Lessons (This booklet is an excerpt from the Language & Literacy Guide.). Note: Grades K-5 in folder
Journeys Mini-Writing Lessons (This booklet is an excerpt from the Language & Literacy Guide.). Note: Grades K-5 in folder
Journeys printing tips (troubleshooting)
Book Discussion Prompts (Use during whole group and small group instruction)
Metacognition Discussion Prompts (Use during whole group and small group instruction.)
F&P Resource Folder (overview packet, parent letter, grade level expectations, sorting card, FAQs)
Lessons from Linda (2017-18) - click here
K-5 Comprehension Strategies – click here
Zaner-Bloser handwriting books - KDG, 1st, 2nd (Contact Mary Wargin if more are needed.)
ELA: Secondary
Secondary Principal Action Required
Principals: ACTION NEEDED
District Writing Task Data Summary Sheets due April 1st. Please check-in with teachers.
Mark your calendars for the Read 180 Rising Star Awards: April 24th
Department Updates:
1. Writing Task
- Enter your scores on the spreadsheet (email sent to DC’s and TL’s from Nicole Atencio on September 26th)
- Fill out the summary sheet with PLC (click here) DUE APRIL 1st!
- Send TWO student samples per PLC
**Give Data sheets and sample papers to your DC or TL. They will send to Kim.
2. Read 180:
- Please begin thinking about you Rising Star nomination DUE March 4th, 2019 (click here for form)
- Mark your calendar for the Rising Star Awards: April 24th
Mathematics
Elementary Principals- ACTION Required
Please advertise with your community the following Eureka Math Parent Nights.
Click here for the flyer.
School Library, 6pm-7:30pm (food and childcare will be provided)
April 9th- Manchester Park
April 11th- Pleasant Ridge
April 25th, Madison Place
Physical Education
Science
KATS will be hosting a one-day KATS conference in place of its annual KATS Kamp. On Saturday, April 27, take a trip to the Kansas Cosmosphere. For more info: https://kats.org/
CSI Elementary Sponsors
A reminder CSI kits are due to the IRC, Thursday, February 28, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. It is imperative that these are returned on time, as it is a quick turnaround to refill each kit. If you are unable to return the kit on this day, contact the Science Department to make different arrangements.
Social Studies
Elementary:
Congratulations to Janelle Stigall and Amy Walker for a publication in Social studies and the Young Learner entitled "Remember the Ladies: Connect to local women's history using storytelling." Click here to read it.
If you are interested in presenting at Summer Conference on engaging strategies for teaching elementary social studies, please email Tina at tmellsworth@olatheschools.org.
Secondary:
- Congratulations to ONW for a successful National History Day contest last week! Over 500 students presented their research to community judges, and several are competing at the regional contest this Saturday, March 2 in Lawrence, Ks.
- Middle School Leads are meeting Thursday, March 7 at the IRC at 8am.
March is Women's History Month. Here are some resources to support the teaching of Women's History. (Link)
Congratulations to Janelle Stigall and Amy Walker for a publication in Social studies and the Young Learner entitled "Remember the Ladies: Connect to local women's history using storytelling." Click here to read it.
World Language
French Immersion Opportunity for Teachers hosted by KATF scheduled for March 23, 2019. More Information
The student application for the Seal of Biliteracy been updated on the WL Department Website. Form also available here: here.