CIA Tidbits
SHARING STRATEGIES, HELPFUL TIPS, AND MUCH MORE!
August 2020
Thank you Teachers for opening your lemonade stands!
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Welcome New Lancaster Teachers!
Many of our new teachers participated in our very first NEW TEACHER SUMMER ACADEMY held July 27th- August 3rd. We were fully digital and got to experience teaching and learning in this distance/digital age. It was such a pleasure getting to know our fabulous team of new teachers... what an AWESOME group! Thank you for choosing Lancaster School District!
Shout out to Renee, Michelle, and Connie for actualizing your amazing vision!
IMPORTANT NEWS AND CURRICULUM UPDATES...PLEASE READ :)
- 6th grade Science Curriculum = 6th Grade Twig Elementary. We've made a one-year purchase so everyone has a current curriculum to implement this school year. The pilot will conclude in the Spring, with adoption for the 21-22 school year.
- 7th/8th grade Science Curriculum = Amplify. We've made a one-year purchase so everyone has a current curriculum to implement this school year. The pilot will conclude in the Spring, with adoption for the 21-22 school year.
- Consumables are being delivered but are delayed for some schools. They are being tracked and will hopefully be delivered to sites as soon as possible, however, all core curriculum is available digitally. Site administrators are working on a consumable pick-up schedule for families so stay tuned...
- Williams Act visits will be virtual this year and ONLY for the schools that were visited last year. Teachers at those schools will need to complete the Teacher Questionnaire, but more info will be coming shortly.
- SST/504 Process and documentation- SST's and 504's are now completed solely through PowerSchool. All student information will be connected to the student's PS account. SST Chairs will be trained soon and will share the new SST/504 process with teachers shortly thereafter. *Beyond SST is no longer active.
- 1st grade Dr. Douglass math PD has been postponed to second semester.
- Elementary Teachers- Throughout Distance Learning, Math and Language Arts instruction has been given priority. However, Science and History content should still be incorporated throughout the year. We encourage you to get to know your new science curriculum and integrate it in areas whenever you can. Use both science and history text to support your ELA standards for Reading and Writing.
- The 12 hour cap on paid PD time applies ONLY to the optional ITS PD sessions being offered on Aug. 3rd and 4th (and asynchronously through Sept. 4th). Once school starts, there is currently no cap on the number of optional paid PD sessions teachers can participate in, but they will only be paid once for the same session.
August 6th & 7th Virtual Professional Development
**Teachers, if you choose, you may complete your required Mandated Reporter Training during a PD session of your choice on August 6th or 7th.
Click on any of the pictures above to open the document in full. You can also download the schedule below.
Lesson Design Resources
Instructional Coaches are available to help!
CIA Staff Changes
Sarah Schneider is now the Ed Services Secretary - CONGRATS to Sarah!
Katie Weber will be joining us soon as the new CIA secretary - WELCOME Katie!
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Curriculum Demo Codes
Click here to access the site and the DEMO CODES!
ELA Handbook/Priority Standards
There is also an accompanying video that walks you through the "Understanding the Reading Standards" section of the Handbook.
Click HERE to open this resource!
Math Priority Standards
Click HERE to take a look!
Digital Curriculum Resources and Help
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A Few Things I’ve Learned in Quarantine...
2020, you’ve taught me so much already. I’ve learned that the world can literally change overnight… March 13th is the date I remember when I think of it all shutting down. What was life even like before that date? We’ll never see that life again, the way we knew it.
We are forever changed by this-- the things we appreciate in our lives, the things we miss, the things we’ve learned, the things we’ve learned we need to learn more about. The way we function and work and interact now, via video, has opened doors and new ways to improve our professional connectedness. I can attend waaaaay more meetings, now that I’ve cut down my commute to a quick jaunt into my dining room “office”. Which brings me to another thing I've learned.
I’ve learned that I love my dining room. Many of you know it-- that formal dining room that you rarely even enter? You may eat in the formal dining room like once or twice a year? If I’m honest, we have never eaten a single meal in ours (clearly, there is no TV in the formal dining room, lol). But it’s beautiful. Not fancy, but beautiful. There is a lovely painting of a peacock, who almost looks to be posing for his portrait, and I forgot how much I loved that painting. It brings me joy. If I hadn’t been forced to set up my newly appointed home “office” in my dining room, I would have never realized my appreciation for it. Who knew? I worked many hours, staring at the screen and then back at that painting, back at the screen, at the screen, at the screen…
We all did. So many people stepped up to the plate. The work, the necessary actions, the calling...
I’ve learned that the people in our district make stuff happen!!!! From the people serving meals to our families, to the folks behind the scenes, navigating this ship through all of the uncharted waters. It has been a tremendous sight to bear witness to, and I have only seen what could be seen if you were looking through a keyhole…
...but Krista Thomsen, our CIA director, has had a front row seat to the action.You know. You’ve read the emails, the very, very, very long emails… well, imagine being the person that had to formulate the thinking and the words!
I've learned that Krista is a vampire. The cool kind of vampire… think Twilight...Cullen Clan...
She does not sleep. My evidence? Well, it’s humanly impossible to pull off what she did professionally AND sleep. AND smile. AND have patience. AND be flexible. AND laugh. AND produce. AND LEAD. On behalf of our team, I would like to thank you, Krista, for leading the heck out of us!
I learned that having a growth mindset really does change things. As most of you know, I’ve always believed that, but when it’s put to the test, it's proven. When I got tired, (I’m not a vampire so I require rest), my fixed mindset tried to convince me that the work, this unprecedented season would require, would be too overwhelming and frustrating; too much. But I know better. If I’m going to teach about growth mindset, then I’d better practice it too. I know that when you put in the work and effort, the results follow. Growing pains make you taller. The work turns into results. The frustration and exhaustion turn into pride and motivation. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. We desperately desire our students to believe in themselves and their potential too. Their ability to grow, our ability to grow…we’ve all been invited to the party!
I’ve also learned that I use ellipses a lot. Probably way too much…
I could continue to name so many things I’ve learned, but I will leave you with one more…
I’ve learned that although expectations are set high for us and we are building the plane as we fly it-- grace, patience, and support are abundant in our district. For that, I am humbled and grateful. Thank you to everyone for your tireless efforts and your willingness to both help each other and share freely. We will continue to lean on each other and explore this new world as a team.
TEAM LANCASTER, let’s do this!
~Kristi Zenno
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Congratulations to our lucky June gift card winners!
Robin Webb (PI) & Danae Dearo (AC)
Complete the Google Form below to enter August's Drawing!
(Please scroll within the Form to enter your response.)
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We Are CIA!
Krista Thomsen, ext 301 - Director Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Katie Weber, ext 301- CIA Admin Secretary II (start date TBD)
Connie Hobson, ext 321 - Induction Administrative Secretary I
Renee Rubio, ext 322 - Induction Facilitator
Michelle Lambeth, ext 323 - Induction Facilitator
Kristi Zenno, ext 311 - District Instructional Coach (ELA, History/Social Science, Newsletter)
Gina Wilson, ext 312 - District Instructional Coach (Reading Intervention, Arts Integration)
Allison Harmon, ext 314 - District Instructional Coach (MTSS and Inclusive Practices)
April Gridler, ext 313- District Instructional Coach (Math, Science/NGSS)
Email: CIA@lancs.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/lancsd.org/lancasterschooldistrict-cia
Location: 44327 Fig Avenue, Lancaster, CA, USA
Phone: (661) 723-0351