Anchor Weekly
Week of August 17, 2020
Upcoming Events
- Monday, August 17: Deadline for Google/SeeSaw Training for Stipend
- Monday, August 17: Leadership Meeting at 9:00 am
- Wednesday, August 19: All Staff Report to Alta Vista at 8:00 am
- Saturday, August 22: Building open from 10:00-5:00 pm; you will still need your keys and swipe card
Captain's Log
I'm so excited to see you all on Wednesday! I wish we could be together in one place and share lots of hugs, but we will make the best of a challenging situation. When you arrive on Wednesday, we will send you to pods (specific classrooms) where you will be logging in with a team laptop for our virtual day of learning. Each pod will have a host from the leadership team to facilitate discussions.
Please plan to arrive a few minutes prior to 8:00 on Wednesday because all staff will need to be be screened at the office. To help facilitate this process, make sure you self-screen using the Screen & Go App (http://ascn.io/wacoisd) before entering the building for your temperature check.
We are looking forward to learning and changing the world together!
Bitmoji Project
To-Do List
- Send Peter Holmstrom your bitmoji
- Complete Reading Academy Training (Select Teachers Only)
- Complete Google and SeeSaw training modules in Canvas (Extended to August 17)
- Complete SafeSchools Training (New Course Added!)
- Complete lesson plan template for 1st two weeks using this template and dropping into your grade level PLC folder
School Reopening Resources & Requirements
Here are important resources you may need regarding our reopening plan.
Please follow these guidelines as you return on Wednesday:
- All staff must wear masks.
- Follow social distancing guidelines.
- Self-screen prior to entering the building using the Screen & Go app and have your temperature checked in the office (before you go anywhere else in the building).
- Visitors are not allowed on campus. If you need assistance with heavy furniture, please see Ms Lessli Garcia, our new head custodian.
Classroom Furniture, Technology, and Resources
- To have furniture removed, put a "REMOVE" sign on the furniture and email Mrs. Helton. She will coordinate with the custodial crew on it's removal.
- To have technology components removed, put a "REMOVE" sign on the equipment and email Mrs. Alvarado. You may not remove the desktop computers from your room.
- If you have things you would like to giveaway, send an email to the Alta Vista School House with the items you have and put them in a box labeled FREE in your classroom (or give other specific instructions in your email).
- If you have a resource that you are not sure what do to with, email Mrs. Orchard for assistance.
- If you have furniture that needs to be assembled, emails Bonnie Berryhill for a work order.
Please have patience with the removal process. We are having to move lots of items already in storage to make room for the extra items you want out of your classroom.
Lesson Plans
- For the first 2 weeks of school, all teachers (regardless of teaching virtual or in person) may use the Virtual Lesson Plan Template found in the Alta Vista Shared Drive: PLCs
- These lesson plans should be stored on the grade level PLCs folder for review. Thank you first grade for uploading your lessons template already!
- Teams should be planning lessons as if all students/teachers will be virtual. This will not be the reality, but it's easier to adapt a virtual lesson for in-person students than the other way around.
- I would not plan beyond the first 2 weeks of school because a lot could change quickly. Also, I have not made a decision on the final lesson plan template that all teachers will be using. This will depend on many factors, and I want to have a clearer picture of the future before making this decision. I also remember the frustration as a teacher of spending lots of time planning, and then having to scrap those plans due to last minute changes. This is why I recommend not planning beyond the first two weeks.
NWEA MAP
Because we are now 1:1, you will be giving these assessments in your classroom under your direct supervision. Remember that TIA (teacher incentive allotment) and performance measures are tied to this student performance measure so it's important that we take this assessment seriously. Nancy Alvarado will be assisting with technical issues, but teachers will be responsible for setting up the proctoring.
You may hear the district talk about a screener called Renaissance 360. We are doing NWEA MAP (NOT Renaissance) per our Transformation Waco contract. However, students will have access to the Renaissance product suite (training coming soon).
NEW Required Training being Added to Safeschools
Texas Cybersecurity Awareness for Employees Program Training has been added to SafeSchools. It is required under House Bill 3834 for all state and local employees. Please make sure you complete it!