Staff Talk
A Newsletter for Beaverton School District Employees
November 2017 Issue
Multiyear Finance Plan
The Plan will be updated each year with consideration of revenue, student enrollment and program effectiveness. It will also include significant input from a broad base of stakeholders.
Superintendent Grotting and the Budget Committee will hold Multiyear Finance Plan Listening & Learning Session on Monday, November 27, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at Highland Park Middle School, 7000 SW Wilson Ave. Beaverton, OR 97008, in the Library.
Beware of Phishing emails
The Beaverton School District is experiencing an increase in the frequency and sophistication of spam emails and after an issue today, wanted to share some information that can help protect your email account and our BSD systems.
IT will never email you a request to visit a web site to change your password. Even if it looks like it came from us, please delete any message with that content.
When you need to change your password, visit the intranet and click the BKey Options button in the My Resources section.
If you received a request similar to the message below and you visited the link and input your password, we need you to immediately go to BKey and change your password. Please also let us know by either replying to this email or emailing the help desk.
Below is a copy of a spam email with some ways you can spot if it is spam.
LGBTQ+ Staff Affinity Group
If you are a staff member who identifies as LGBTQ+, please consider joining the District’s LGBTQ+ Staff Affinity Group.
We:
- Create an inclusive and affirming environment for BSD students, staff, and families
- Inform each other about the challenges and successes of supporting LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families
- Support one another through sharing resources and strategies
Our next meeting is Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. at Stoller Middle School. If you’re interested, please email Gretchen Mollers (gretchen_mollers@beaverton.k12.or.us) to get on the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group email list.
Actions for Allies: if you are a staff member interested in supporting LGBTQ+ students, check out this article from Education Week: Five Myths About Transgender Students Educators Need to Unlearn.
United Way Campaign - Oct. 30 - Nov. 10
The Beaverton School District United Way campaign will run from Oct. 30 - Nov. 10, 2017.
United Way is investing in our region's kids to create a future where kids are free from poverty so they are free to reach their potential. We see the effects of poverty on too many of the children we serve in Beaverton. Poverty is complicated and we know we can’t fix it on our own.
United Way is working with nonprofit partners to focus on investing in our region’s kids. The Portland region’s poverty rate is down, yet poverty is still growing for too many kids. The region continues to struggle with helping the kids who need it most stay in school and graduate. And, our region’s housing crisis has many families on the edge. The system is not working for ALL of our region’s kids which has an effect on all of us.
United Way has accomplished a lot for kids, families and communities right here in our own backyard.
Snapshot of United Way Accomplishments:
- Launched the region’s first coordinated early learning framework.
- Helped thousands of vulnerable families in the region stay in their homes and supported partnerships that returned over $45 million in tax credits to local families, buoying our regional economy.
- Helped mobilize over 60,000 volunteer connections through Hands On Portland, adding vital capacity to local nonprofits and bringing more than $5 million in value to our region.
United Way’s administrative costs are covered by Cornerstone business partners, so 100% of your donation will go to support people in need.100% of your donation will go to support people in need.
Giving is simple to do.
Click on this link https://connect.unitedway-pdx.org/BSDgives and complete the short personal information page and then click the red donate button on the Superintendent's Message page. You may give directly to United Way or designate your gift to the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of your choice, including the Beaverton Education Foundation.
Please consider giving what you can to help in this effort.
Inclement Weather Information
The District makes decisions based on the ability to operate school buses safely; the ability for students and parents to get to school safely, and the ability for employees to get to work safely and on time. The decision that is made will be for the entire District. As always, parents may choose to make different decisions based on their particular location.
The District will notify parents and staff via SchoolMessenger with a Non-School Hours Emergency message. Please manage your communication preferences in SchoolMessenger InfoCenter.
For the latest inclement weather information:
- Log on to the District website and a light blue message banner will be posted on the top of the main page with the status of District operations.
- Opt-in for SMS Alerts from SchoolMessenger
- Subscribe to Flash Alert for email or text message updates
- Like the Beaverton School District on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
- The Beaverton School District Inclement Weather Policy and transportation snow routes can be found on the Public Safety webpage.
- Subscribe to the District’s RSS Feed
Early Release/Teacher Collaboration
We are looking for stories to share and we would like to feature you and your school. Please let us know if you have a great example of collaboration or professional development happening in your school or team and we would love to feature it on the District webpage, in District publications and on social media. How is Early Release helping your students prepare for post-high school success?
Send an email to Melissa_Larson@beaverton.k12.or.us to share!
Monthly Tech Tip: Set your contact preferences for SchoolMessenger
Want BSD Briefs to only go to your work email address and not your personal? Or vice versa? You can set your contact preferences for the various types of broadcasts by signing up for an account at go.schoolmessenger.com.
From a computer with Internet access:
Step 1 - Simply enter the following URL in your web browser – go.schoolmessenger.com
Step 2 - Click on Sign Up menu on the right side of the screen.
Step 3 - Enter your BSD email address and create a password. An email will be sent to that email address with a secure token.
Step 4 - After authenticating via the token sent to your email, return to SchoolMessenger and Sign In using your email and password.
Step 5 - After signing in, the Messages menu is displayed which shows all the messages that you have received in the last 30 days. Next, navigate to your profile icon in the top right-hand corner and click the drop-down arrow to select Preferences. This allows you to choose the notification preferences (email, phone, text) for the various types of broadcasts (such as General, Emergency, BSD Briefs, etc). Click on the specific message preference to modify (check/uncheck) any contact preference and save the changes. For School Hours Emergency, Non School Hours Emergency, BSD Priority and Attendance and BSD Briefs, etc. types, at least one phone number is required for these notifications.
From a smartphone or tablet: Search for SchoolMessenger app and download it to your Android or iPhone device. Once downloaded, please follow steps 2-4 from above.
Note: If you’ve customized your notification preference to one type of broadcast, and the District does not send in that medium, then you will not get the messages that are sent. The type of notification method (Email, Phone or SMS) could vary depending on the purpose and urgency of the communication.
Note: If you are both a staff member and a BSD parent, please use the email address which is on file at your child’s school to sign up for SchoolMessenger. Staff should access Employee Online Services to modify their email addresses or phone numbers.
Safe Routes to School Update
Improving visibility means improving safety for all road users. Wearing light colors or reflective clothing is one of the simplest things pedestrians and cyclists can to do keep themselves safe.
Here are additional suggestions to help keep you safe while walking and biking:
- Wear bright, reflective clothing and shoes when walking or biking.
- Don’t wear headphones, text or talk on a cell phone while crossing the street.
- Be aware of vehicles around you. Make eye contact before crossing in front of vehicles.
- Don’t assume that cars see you or are going to stop.
- Driving or biking? Expect and slow down for pedestrians in popular walking areas, around schools and parks, and near crosswalks.
When more people walk, bike and take the bus, it makes the route to school safer, less congested and more fun for everyone. Thank you for continuing to walk, bike and use the bus. It’s the way to go!
Celebrate the Culturally Relevant Teaching Film Series
Visit the Culturally Relevant Teaching resource page on TeacherSource for more information.
The Office of Equity and Inclusion is hosting a celebration of the completion of the Culturally Relevant Teaching film series and library on TeacherSource on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. at the Administration Office, 16550 SW Merlo Rd.
The series of 10 films features teachers from different schools from all levels around the District. These teachers will be celebrated at the event, the short films will be viewed, and there will be a discussion/reflection on best practices related to culturally relevant teaching.
Please register to attend the celebration!
View the Film series to learn more about each of the ten High Leverage Practices:
Episode 1: Know Yourself
Episode 2: Know your Students
Episode 3: Building Caring Relationships
Episode 4: Normalizing Rigor
Episode 5: Check your Classroom
Episode 6: Capitalize Student Expertise
Episode 7: Make Language Count
Episode 8: Work in Teams
Episode 9: Assess for Learning
Episode 10: Celebrate and Reflect
Future Ready Update: Read&Write now available K-12
Good news! The District has purchased a K-12 license of Read&Write for all students and staff for 2017-2018. The IT Department is working on installing it on all devices, but in the meantime teachers can self-install it for their students and for themselves.
Read&Write works on all BSD Chromebooks, and the Chrome Browser on Macs and PCs. Follow these steps to install Read&Write on any BSD Chromebook or Mac or PC running the Chrome Web Browser.
Mac and PC
On a Mac or PC open the Chrome Browser.
Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner and click Settings.
In the settings tab, click Sign In to Chrome with your BSD account credentials.
Next, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
In the search box on the top left type in “read&write”
When you see the purple Read&Write icon click +ADD TO CHROME
When the dialog box pops up click Add Extension
The purple RW icon will now be added next your URL bar.
When you click on it for the first time, click Allow on all the dialog boxes that pop up.
Chromebooks
Login to the Chromebook using your BSD account credentials.
Go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
In the search box on the top left type in read&write.
When you see the purple Read&Write icon click +ADD TO CHROME
When the dialog box pops up click Add Extension
The purple RW icon will now be added next your URL bar.
When you click on it for the first time, click Allow on all the dialog boxes that pop up.
For Additional Tutorials click on the link below.
School Board Business Meeting
Monday, Nov 13, 2017, 06:30 PM
Beaverton School District, 16550 SW Merlo Road, Beaverton, 97003
Budget Listening & Learning Session
Monday, Nov 27, 2017, 06:30 PM
Highland Park Middle School, 7000 SW Wilson Ave, Beaverton
Beaverton School District
The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veteran status, genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Email: melissa_larson@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: www.beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 16550 SW Merlo Rd, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: 503-356-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeavertonSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @beavertonSD