Ahead of the Curve
Jasper Weekly 2.22.16 to 2.28.16
Serve. Matter. Experience. Together.
Time Is on My Side, Yes it Is
1. I don't have to prove myself by working longer hours.
2. I don't have to change the world, tomorrow.
3. Busyness can sometimes be a form of laziness.
The reality is that this season of my life is incredibly challenging. Balancing my faith, family, and work is a daily pursuit. I know we all struggle with this. I just want you all to know I have a big heart for this issue of life balance. If you haven't done this lately, take some time to evaluate how you spend your time and what are some areas of your life that could use some tweaking.
I heard a teacher say this week, "There are so many things I want to do that I know are good for students but I can't do them all today." How true! As long as we are all moving in the right direction and keeping the main things the main things, life will be good. For me, I'm leaving as soon as I can after bus duty even if my inbox isn't cleared and my to-do list isn't completed. When I arrive home, I will devote my focus to my family unless the building is on fire or there is another campus emergency. Jasper will be standing on a solid foundation when I return the next morning.
Thanks for letting me share!
Upcoming Birthdays
Saturday, February 27th-Steve Ford
Upcoming Weeks at Jasper
3/7-3/11-Spring Break
Greatness Spotted
PTA Council Lifetime Members Award
Ed News
"This district’s very best and very brightest did not receive any pay increase. This makes no sense," she said.
Learning Bite
An apt reason to teach to the test is so that your students can be successful in demonstrating their knowledge and skills.
What about room for spontaneity and individualized experiences?
General Announcements and Reminders
1. (NEW) Six Weeks Grades Reminders
2. Spread the Word
3. (UPDATED AGAIN) May 27th and June 6th Work Days
1. (NEW) Six Weeks Grades Reminders
If you are considering a six weeks grade of less than 50 or a 69, please have a conversation with your support admin first so that appropriate supports/interventions can be put in place.
2. Spread the Word
If you are sponsoring a club or organization and you will be holding meetings during block lunch, please, please, please, please submit an announcement request, which is included weekly in the link at the bottom of this page (http://tinyurl.com/announce-request). Also, submit this meeting to the block lunch meeting request, which is included weekly in the link at the bottom of this page (http://tinyurl.com/Block-Lunch).
This is how we update our block lunch board for the kids and how they keep up with what their options are during this time. We have so many great activities going on each day for kids but not all students know about them.
Have the students be responsible for getting the announcements and advertisements to you and you will just act as the liaison for submitting those so they are publicly available.
If you have any questions about advertising for your meetings, please reach out to Petra Morgan.
3. (UPDATED AGAIN) May 27th and June 6th Work Days
Teaching/Professional Staff on a 189-day contract:
May 27th:
This is a work day for everyone on campus.
June 6th:
In order to not have to come to work on Monday, June 6th, you will need to document 8 hours of professional development (not just extra work hours) outside of the normal work day (8:30-4:30) from the beginning of last summer until the end of this school year. This can include:
-Staff meeting outside of typical contract hours listed above (8:00-8:30 or 4:30-5:00 would count as 30 minutes toward documented PD hours)
-Campus professional development opportunities outside of these hours (above and beyond the 3 required Jasper PD sessions)
-(NEW) 2015 summer training (non-paid)
-2015 Jasper summer leadership retreat
-2015 AP Institute
-District-recognized online PD (above and beyond any PISD/Jasper required sessions)
-PD360 (now called Edivate) at www.pd360.com, click "forgot password" to retrieve your pd360 password, which is different than your network login password, complete 1 lesson, including questions/assignments for 1 hour of PD
-MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) at https://www.mooc-list.com/, get with your support admin to determine number of PD hours each course would count.
-Campus professional development Google Classroom article discussion chats (Coryn will be sending e-mail soon and I will provide a link on the Ahead of the Curve)
-Race to Nowhere movie viewing at Shepton on Monday, February 22nd at either 4:45 (Shepton and Jasper staff only) or 6:30 (Shepton parents also invited to this viewing). This will count as 2 hours of professional development. Click here to register attendance.
-Beyond Measure movie viewing at Shepton on Tuesday, April 19th at 5:00 (Shepton and Jasper staff only). This will count as 2 hours of professional development. Click here to register attendance.
If you do not meet all of the requirements above, you will either need to work the number of hours you are short on the professional development exchange hours on Monday, June 6th or take a personal leave for the number of hours you are short on the professional development exchange hours (can use a sick leave day if all personal days are exhausted).
For example, if you only completed 6 of the required 8 hours of flex professional development, you will either need to work 2 hours on Monday, June 6th or take 2 hours of personal leave (sick if personal is exhausted).
You will need to document these hours and turn them in at the end of the year.
If you have any questions about what might or might not count, please see your support admin.
Paraprofessional Staff:
You will need to check your work schedule in TEAMS to see if Friday, May 27th and Monday, June 6th are work days for you. If they are, please get with your support administrator for options for these days.
Important Bookmarks
Staff Google Folder:
Staff Google Classroom:
Class Code: f3y5rao
Staff Handbook:
http://tinyurl.com/jasper-staff-folder
Jasper Admin Walk-Through Form (use to help plan lessons and self-reflect):
Block Lunch Meeting Request:
http://tinyurl.com/Block-Lunch
Social Media Input:
http://tinyurl.com/Jasper-club-social-media
Announcement Request (170 characters):
http://tinyurl.com/announce-request
Incompletes:
http://tinyurl.com/incompleteform
Campus Professional Learning Opportunities: