Allan's Announcements

By Allan 　http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=9641

Hi Everyone,

This week is Classified Appreciation Week, so I wanted to give a big ol’ thank you to Howard’s stellar classified staff. Your hard work, which often goes above and beyond what’s expected, plays a big part in what makes Howard such a great school. We have a rockin’ classified staff and you all are some of the best folks I’ve had the pleasure to work with! Look for some treats in your mailboxes this week, which is the least I can do to thank you all for everything you do, every single day. :)

Thirteen items of note for this week:

• 2020-2021 Staffing Info and Updates – Three staffing items of note:

• Classified SPED – SSD is sending me an updated allocation for SPED classified hours after I pointed out that our seemed unexpected low. I’ll share the revised allocation once I receive it.

• Student Investment Act (SIA) Staffing – This was being called Student Success Act (SSA), but is now being called SIA, but principals received guidelines for how the 1/2 reading support FTE can be used. When we get our allocation, it has to be used for grades 1 & 2, supporting literacy and creating smaller groups of students for reading instruction. Specifically the SIA plan has one of its strategies to support K-3 literacy with targeted class size reduction in grades 1 & 2 for teaching students how to read. The parameters for using this FTE are:

• Facilitating teacher for a “walk to read” model for grades 1 & 2
• Class size reduction for a single grade (grades 1 or 2)
• Class size reduction with blended grades(1/2 blend)
• Limited use for reading intervention

Once this FTE is allocated, which should be later this week, I’ll plan to share revised staffing scenarios.

• Staffing Slide Show – Linked here is the 2020-2021 Staffing Information Slide Show (also on the Staff Shared Drive) I shared with licensed staff at Friday’s Early Release PD meeting. This includes updated SPED counts by grade level, which we noticed were off at Friday’s meeting. The original numbers I shared were off because the case manager report Synergy I ran included students who are currently in the evaluation/eligibility process, so some students had multiple case managers, which inflated grade level numbers for next year’s 2nd and 5th graders. Also, those students did not show up on the separate Synergy “SPED Combined” report since they are not yet officially identified. The “SPED Combined” total will still differ from the grade level counts because I left the students in the process of being identified, even though they may not be found eligible, but I thought staff would want to know the possible number of students coming.

• BJ Blake Covering for Allan, WEDNESDAY – Oops! I accidentally included this in last week’s announcements, but meant it for this week’s announcements. That’s what I get for trying to be ahead of the game. Anyhow, retired 4J administrator BJ Blake will cover for me this Wednesday  while I catch up on some formal observation write ups. I’ll still be in the building, but will be hiding in the STEAM Room or the Looking Glass office while BJ does the kid wrangling for the day.

• Library Happenings – Library items of note from Ms. Hopkins:

Book Fair info:

– Book fair flyers will be in our mail boxes on Monday please send home in Friday folders this week. Please Please
– Also in your mail boxes will be:

• Hall passes- one pass per student, send bus kids in the morning :)
• Guidelines for the book fair
• Gift certificate (different than last year)

I would like to start something new (if possible) for kids bringing cash to school for the book fair. A suggestion by an awesome teacher :) If they bring cash from home it should be accompanied by a note from a parent, an email to the teacher, or a sign order form from the back of the flyer. We are unable to accept checks. A better option than cash is the Scholastic e-wallet.

e-wallet video (English and Spanish)

Our online book fair opened on Friday may be accessed through the Book Fair Home Page Link as well as the e-wallet.

Please be sure to sign up for the preview next Friday March 6th. The sheet is in the office. If we can’t fit you in on Friday we can do a few on Monday, just let me know.

Staff are welcome to stop in after school on Thursday March 5th for sneak peek :)

I will have the teacher wish baskets set up, please select a few books you would like to add to your classroom library. I believe staff will be able to purchase books on Thursday & Friday after school also.

I would be wonderful if you happen to send classroom info home to parents to include a promotion for our Book Fair :)

Have a great week!

Julie

• REPAT: Kona Ice Fundraiser, THURSDAY – The North Eugene Kona Ice (i.e. shave ice) food truck will park out front after school this Thursday and Howard will get 20% of all sales. I’ll make an announcement at 2:00 for any bus riders who brought money for a shave ice to come out early so they can eat before getting on the bus, but teachers should have kids show you their money and make sure it’s only bus riders going out. I’ll be outside to supervise. And remember, Kona Ice said ALL STAFF GET A FREE SHAVE ICE!

• Friday Early Release PD – This Friday’s Early Release PD is designated for math PLC Time, but teams this week can meet on your own and not in the library. I need to meet with David Jacobsen, the 4J Federal Programs Coordinator, at this same time to approve the direction of the Howard Title 1 Budget. Teams should still compete the team meeting notes: Google Shared Drives > Howard PLC > your grade level > PLC Meeting Notes Template

• March PTO Meeting, Tuesday, March 10 – Not this week, but next week on Tuesday, March 10th at 6:00 in the Community Room is the March PTO meeting if any staff are able to attend.

• Literacy Night, Thursday, March 12 – I’ve seen lots of classes making their way through our school-wide reading of Hidden Figures and making some cool related projects to share with families the evening of Thursday, March 12th. Corianne and I are going to try doing sign-ins out front this year, so classrooms won’t have to manage these.

We’ve already advertised Literacy Night in the March newsletter, but we’ll also send home the linked Literacy Night Flyer in Friday Folders this week. We’ll also continue our traditional free pizza and cookies for families.

For folks new to Howard, Literacy Night is a family involvement event to help encourage families to be part of their child’s education, as well as helping to build community, promote literacy, and giving kids a chance to show off what they’re doing at school. New folks should talk to their teammates about what kinds of projects and activities you might put out during the classroom visit time. For schedule for this evening will be:

5:30-6:00: FREE Pizza & Cookies (Cafeteria)
6:00-6:45: Visit Classrooms
6:30-8:00: Book Fair Open

Talk Literacy Night up to your students and get them pumped to attend!

• Literacy Night Staff Dinner – We’ll once again provide a meal for all staff working Literacy Night. I’m planning to order a variety of pizzas and salads from Mezza Luna and also some drinks. If you’d like to suggest a particular pizza or salad, just let me know!

• Classified Staff Help at Literacy Night – A couple folks have already spoken with me, but we could use about 6-8 classified staff members to help set-up, serve, and clean-up in the cafeteria for Literacy Night. We could probably also use some help with sign-in this year. If you’re able to help, I can offer trade time for the PD day the next day. Just let me or Corianne know if you’re able to help.

• REPEAT: March 13th PD Day Info – Principals were sent a March 13 PD Email to share with staff. See the link for details, but the short version is:

8:00-10:30: Licensed Tech PD
Grades K-2/Music/PE (Gilham)
Grades 3-5/SPED/Title (Holt)
8:00-10:30: Classified PD (Chavez & ATA)
10:30-1:30: Travel time, lunch, prep time
1:30-4:00: Behavior Framework (Howard Cafeteria)

Linked here is a complete list of the K-12 PD Sessions for March 13, 2020. Classified need to register for trainings on TalentEd Develop (TED). The complete list of session were all entered as of Friday. Linked here are the TED Registration Directions.

There are 8 hours worth of activities this day, but classified staff only need to work your regular work hours. There will be some PBIS/Behavior Framework activities for all staff in the cafeteria 1:30-4:00, though we’ll likely end well before that. My preference for part-time staff, both licensed and classified, would be for you to come to the afternoon training here at Howard if you can adjust your hours.

• How You Might Be the Best Part of “That” Student’s Day – Think about “that” student in your classroom. You know, the one that always acts out. Maybe your class is the only place they get food, the only place they can learn, and the only place that someone even recognizes that they’re there. See this Bored Teachers Article for some excellent reflection and inspiration.

• Teaching Black History in Culturally Responsive Ways – Black history is American history, and it should be taught throughout the year across the curriculum — not confined to just February. See this Edutopia Article for more on this topic.

• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Google Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:

March 2 (M)
Classified Employees Appreciation Week
Statistics in Schools Program for 2020 Census – SIS Week
PTO Read-A-Thon Continues
PBIS Monthly Theme – Safe Bodies
Read Across America
3:45-5:00, Allan to Elementary Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

March 3 (T)
Book Fair Delivery
2:45-3:30, PBIS Meeting (R&R Room, RM21)
6:00-7:00, Howard Kindergarten Round-Up (Library)

March 4 (W)
Walk+Roll to School Day
BJ Blake Covering for Allan
9:00-1:00, OSEA Site Visit (Staff Room)
11:00-10:00, PTO Papa’s Pizza Fundraiser (W11th Location)
2:45-3:45, Equity Team Meeting (Imelda’s Room, RM7)

March 5 (H)
Book Fair Set-Up
8:45-11:30, Niccum to Corridor Play (NEHS)
2:00-3:00, Kona Ice Fundraiser (Front of School)
2:45-3:05, Allan & KG Team – Staffing Input (Robin’s Room, RM3)
3:30-3:30, Allan & 1st Team – Staffing Input (Jasmine’s Room, RM11)

March 6 (F)
Popcorn Friday!
Book Fair Student and Staff Preview
8:00-12:00, Allan to HR Early Pool Hire Committee (Ed Center)
1:30-2:00, EA Supervisors Meeting – Staffing Input (RM26)
2:05-2:20, Allan Meeting w/Specialists – Staffing Input (RM26)
2:30-3:30, Early Release PD – PLC (Teams Decide)
2:30-3:30, Allan Title 1 Budget Meeting (Ed Center)

March 8 (SU)
Daylight Saving Time

March 9 (M)
PTO Read-A-Thon Continues
8:00-6:00, Book Fair Open (Library)
9:10-10:25, Human Growth & Dev., Rock & Calliahan (STEAM Room)
11:00-12:15, Human Growth & Dev., Cortez (STEAM Room)
2:45-3:05, Allan & 2nd Team – Staffing Input (Ashley’s Room, RM25)
3:30-3:30, Allan & 3rd Team – Staffing Input (Allison’s Room, RM20)

March 10 (T)
8:00-6:00, Book Fair Open (Library)
9:00-10:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)
9:10-10:25, Human Growth & Dev., Rock & Calliahan (STEAM Room)
11:00-12:15, Human Growth & Dev., Cortez (STEAM Room)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Mellissa’s Room, RM26)
2:45-3:30, Allan to IEP Meeting (Allison’s Room, RM20)
6:00-7:00, PTO Meeting (Community Room)

March 11 (W)
Title 1 Progress Monitoring Day – No Groups
8:00-6:00, Book Fair Open (Library)
9:10-10:25, Human Growth & Dev., Rock & Calliahan (STEAM Room)
11:00-12:15, Human Growth & Dev., Cortez (STEAM Room)
2:45-5:00, Allan to Pay Grade Eval Committee Meeting (Ed Center)

March 12 (H)
8:00-5:00, Book Fair Open (Library)
8:10-8:55, BSU Meeting (STEAM Room)
2:45-3:05, Allan & 4th Team – Staffing Input (Carla’s Room, RM27)
3:30-3:30, Allan & 5th Team – Staffing Input (Suzy’s Room, RM9)
5:00-5:30, Staff Literacy Night Dinner (Staff Room)
5:30-8:00, Literacy Night

5:30-6:00: Free Pizza & Cookies (Cafeteria)
6:00-6:45: Visit Classrooms
6:30-8:00: Book Fair Reopen

7:00-8:00, Community Forum: SSA Proposed Plan (River Road)

March 13 (F)
No School – Professional Development/Planning Day
8:00-10:30, Licensed Tech PD
Grades K-2/Music/PE (Gilham)
Grades 3-5/SPED/Title (Holt)
8:00-10:30, Classified PD (Chavez & ATA)
10:30-1:30, Travel time, lunch, prep time
1:30-4:00, Behavior Framework (Howard Cafeteria)

March 14 (SA)
9:00-12:00, OBOB Regional Battles (North Eugene High School)

Have a good one, everybody!

Allan