P.D.

January 30, 2023

By Allan  |  2023/01/28 22:09 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Equity, P.D.  |  Comments Off on January 30, 2023

 

Hey Bolts,

Ah, a four days week sure sounds good.

Fourteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing Updates:

• New Title 1 EA, Keri Schneider – Keri has been subbing in out vacant Title 1 EA position since Ashton left and this past week was officially hired for the position, so please welcome Keri to the fabulous Holt Team!

• SPED EA Interviews Tuesday – We’ll be interviewing three candidates after school on Tuesday for a new 4-hour SPED EA position we are adding. Let me know if you’d like to join the interview committee and I’ll send you the interview materials.

• REPEAT: Holt Night Out TUESDAY @MOD Pizza – Remind your kids there’s a Holt Night Out Fundraiser at MOD Pizza Tuesday, January 27th all day. I’ll bring flyers around on Monday. Sorry for the tardiness on that.

• Grade Level Team Meetings CANCELLED – I was reminder that no regularly scheduled meetings are supposed to happen the week of Conferneces or Grading Days, so this week’s Grade Level Team Meetings are cancelled.

• REPEAT: Report Card & Grading Day, Feb. 3 – See the Report Card Meeting Slideshow, Checklist, One-Pager, and Grade Level Guidance Sheets shared earlier for details, but note the following dates.

• Elementary Grading Day – Friday, February 3
• Report Cards Sent Home – Monday, February 13

Also note the following from the Holt Staff Handbook regarding Report Card Grading Day:

Licensed Staff – Grading day is a regular work day. HR allows teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator in advance, but be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues on grading. Please be sure to use this time for grading and not use it to run errands around town. Teachers are highly visible members of the community, so keep in mind public perception. HR has said that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice.

• REPEAT: EA PD Feb. 3 – Reid Shepard emailed classified staff that on February 3, EAs are invited to Churchill High School between 8:30-11:30. If classified staff are having trouble remembering which pathway you signed up for, your can reference the past email from Reid with the subject line of “Pathway Cohort.” For new classified staff, still having trouble finding their cohort, or have any other questions, CLICK HERE to get help from the organizers (make sure you’re logged into Google with your 4J email).

• Bertha Holt Birthday Celebration, February Plans – The Leadership Team discusses last week a revamp of how we celebrate Bertha Holt’s Birthday. Last year students earning $1 that grade levels pooedl to make a donation through Holt International, but this year we will focus on acts of kindness and service. Here’s the plan:

• Teachers will read the Bertha Holt picture book or show a video about our our school’s namesake
• Second graders get a book to take home
• Students will record acts of kindness and service on cut-out hearts (or something TBD)
• Act will be posted on a hallway display and grow over the course of the month

I’ll plan to put the following article in the Feb. 6th Quick News, but let me know I you have any feedback on the article or plan between now and then. We’re thinking we may do the $1 collection activity every other year.

Bertha Holt Birthday Celebration

On February 5th, Bertha Holt would be 117 years old. To honor the legacy of our school’s namesake, Holt Elementary School is holding a special month-long event where students will think of acts of kindness and service they can do to give back to our community.

Teachers will provide students a Bertha Holt Heart to write their name and act of kindness on, which will be added to our hallway display of how Holt kids are giving back to their community. Acts of kindness and service can be big or small, such as:

• Helping a neighbor
• Picking up litter in a park, playground, or your neighborhood
• Being kind to a friend in need
• Washing someone’s car
• Writing a encouraging or thankful note to someone
• Tell someone why they are special to you
• And so many more!

Small acts of kindness can make a big impact and we want to creating kind, compassionate, conscientious kids who want to grow up to make that difference.

• Friday PD, Feb. 10th: Upbeat Survey Results – The Friday PD on February 10th was originally a Building Based PD day, but district admin is having principals review with staff the survey results from the Upbeat Survey staff filled out a few weeks ago. I’m meeting with an Upbeat Coach this Tuesday to get the results and to discuss next steps.

• 4J PD Calendar Updates – Downtown has updated the 4J PD Calendar. I’ve updated the Holt Staff Calendar to reflect these changes, which appear to dropping the SPED Educator Trainings that SSD was originally doing on Building PD days, changing the April 3rd PD Day from 5.5 hours of Language Arts Adoption to 4 hours of Language Arts and 1.5 hours Building Based, changing all of the Friday SEL PD days to Building Based, changing all of the Friday Curriculum PD days to Building Based (except for one in May), and the Friday Staff Choice PD days now have an option for Building Based PD. The few staff who did sign-up for PD have the option of attending the building or district PD these dates.

• Pre-Arranged Student Absence Request Form Now for Elementary – Downtown is now having elementary schools use the same Pre-Arranged Student Absence Request Form that middle and high school use, which I mentioned a few weeks back. Teachers are not required to prove homework and it’s really just extra paperwork office staff have to deal with, but the following message was sent to principals as to their reasoning for adding this for elementary schools and families:

Pre-arranged student absence request form – For some context, this form was created to address the following:

Create a consistent form for families in 4J to use K-12, that way families would know what to fill out regardless of which school their student attends.

Increased communication once the office staff receives this form.

1.Principal signs off (step #2 after the form is received by the office)
2.Then the teacher(s) acknowledges the upcoming pre-arranged student absence.

Ensures that families have been communicated what our AR says (e.g. only the first 5 days can be excused absences, teachers are not required to provide homework, etc.)

Thank you for sharing the following in your staff and parent communication: Our 4J Attendance Committee has created a consistent 4J Pre-arranged student absence request form. Parents/guardians thank you for completing this form for all absences that are 3 or more days in length. Parents/guardians only need to complete the first section and then turn into the office. Don’t have your Student’s Perm ID #, our office staff can assist with that once the form is submitted.

• DO Use Student Full Names in Emails – Regardless of what you’ve ben told in the past, DO use student full names in emails. See this SSD Email for full details, but the short version 4J legal council says we need do do this to cover ourselves when there is a student records request (emails are considered part of a student’s record). If you’re using initials, that email may get get missed, leaving you and 4J open to legal liability .

• OHA K-12 iHealth Expiry Extension Update – I shared earlier that the iHealth COVID Tests had expired and not cleared for use, but the FDA has approved their continued use through March 2023 or April 2023, depending on the lot number associated with your school’s testing kits. See this email for details.

• REPEAT: Feedback on 2023–24 Proposed Calendar – If you missed it in the latest 4J Newsletter, downtown is seeking feedback on a proposed 2023–24 Calendar. The biggest changes are the school year starts a week earlier, Thanksgiving Break is now 3 days, and Conferences are the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving Break (schools would still decide their conference schedule). Click the Feedback Survey Link to share your thoughts. My own thoughts are that the early start will work fine for high SES schools, but low SES and high mobility schools are going see a lot of kids enrolling after the school year has started, missing out on the vital start of the year community building and school routines. I’m also not a fan of all the non-school days in September. This month is when school routines are established and having only one week that’s a full 5-day week seems like bad planning. I’m not sure what these days are for, but I’d rather see short weeks in May, or if these dates are for start of the year PD, move them to October instead. I’d encourage staff to weigh in on the proposed calendar before it becomes official.

• More Black History Month Resources – While it’s important to honor Black history throughout the school year, Black History Month in February is a special time to shine a spotlight on this topic. I shared a few resources last week, but here are a few from WeAreTeahcers, with idea from bulletin boards and posters to activities and books. Amy Page also shared a Sora Link to over 250 eBooks and audio books celebrating black voices.

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

January 30 (M)
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
7:30, Allan Meeting w/Parent (Office)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
4:00-5:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Zoom)

January 31 (T)
8:00-8:30, Allan Meeting w/Upbeat Survey Rep (Zoom)
10:30-10:00, Holt Night Out Fundraiser – MOD Pizza
2:35-3:45, SPED EA Interviews (Library)

February 1 (W)
Black History Month
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2;45, Grade Level Team Meetings CANCELLED
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

February 2 (H)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)

February 3 (F)
No School – Grading Day
8:00-11:00, Allan to Admin LETRS Training (Zoom)
8:30-11:30, Educational Assistant PD (Churchill HS)

February 6 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
3rd Grade Room Duty
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

February 7 (T)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)

February 8 (W)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)

February 9 (H)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
5:00-6:00, Site Council Meeting (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)

February 10 (F)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD, Upbeat Survey Results (Library)

Enjoy some pictures below from our School Spirit 80s / Neon Day last Friday!

Allan

 

 

 

 

January 23, 2023

By Allan  |  2023/01/21 23:05 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Equity, P.D.  |  Comments Off on January 23, 2023

 

Hello Holt Staff,

Nineteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing Updates:

• Welcome New Counselor (Eli Seno) and Part-Time PE (Rachel Farkas) – Please welcome Eli Seno as our new counselor, who will start this Friday, and Rachel Farkas, who is our new 0.2 FTE PE teacher. Rachel’s start date is to-be-determined because she is being held to her current position at Family School. Eli has been a regular licensed substitute here at Holt this year and was the lead at The Boys and Girls Club (he’s also a Sheldon grad and is Robin Seno’s son). Rachel is a retired 4J PE teacher who was the Elementary PE TOSA years and who I also worked with at Howard. She’ll teach PE classes on Tuesdays. She’s leaving her position at Family School to work at Holt and we’re working with them on her start date, which will be mid-February at the latest.

• Title 1 EA Interview Update – We have submitted to hire a candidates and are now just waiting for HR to make job offers to make them official.

• 4-hour SPED EA Job Posting – Our 4-hour SPED EA Job Posting is now up and closes Wednesday. We had a strong runner up from out Title 1 EA interviews who is interested in this position, so we know we’ll have at least one strong candidate applying.

• REPEAT: Classified 403b Information and Help Session, TUESDAY – The 4J Classified Benefits Coordinator will be in the Staff room on Monday from 8:30-10:30. They will be available to answer questions about your recent changes to your 403b as well as provide information on how to enroll. Feel free to ask any benefit related questions you may have as well. See the linked email for additional details.

• REPEAT: School Choice Tour THURSDAY @6:00 – School Choice Tours will be this Thursday at 6:00PM. We had a respectable turnout for our daytime tour last week and hopefully we’ll have the same this week. Even though we’re closed to most transfers, this is our chance to retain families who might be considering private or alternative programs.

• REPEAT: Holt Spirit Day – 80’s Day/Neon Day, FRIDAY – This Friday is a Holt Spirit Day it’s 80’s Day/Neon Day! Start planning your Totally Rad outfit now! I’ve ordered myself a Ferris Bueller leopard print vest if anyone else out there wants to wear a Red Wings Jersey and go as Cameron. ;)

• REPEAT: School Spirit Assembly, FRIDAY @8:15 – We’ll have our monthly School Spirit Assembly this Friday in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:20, but all classes should be in the gym by 8:15. Stay tuned for details, but let Ashley know if you want to be part of the Staff vs. Studnet Competition, which (after the adults lose) will result in a game of Electric Shocking Hot Potato. 

• Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party, FRIDAY – Also this FRIDAY in the gym will be our Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party Reward. This will be in the gym at the following times:

11:50-12:10, 1st/5th
12:15-12:35, K/3rd
12:40-1:00, 2nd/4th

• Friday PD: Double Prep – This Friday’s PD time is a double prep for the missed prep on the Feb. 3rd Grading Day.

• Holt Night Out TUESDAY @MOD Pizza, Jan. 31 – Remind your kids there’s a Holt Night Out Fundraiser at MOD Pizza Tuesday, January 31st all day, and remember to pass out the flyers for the event.

 

• Team Meetings Feb. 1 – The first two Wednesdays of the month on non-Staff Meeting weeks are dedicated Team Meeting times. Teams should:

– Meet in their wing so specialists can connect if needed
– Take care of any needed team business
– Complete the Team Meeting Minutes Form (make a copy) and email it to holt_staf@4j.lane.edu

The Team Meeting Minutes Form can also be found on the Holt Staff Dashboard.

• Report Card & Grading Day, Feb. 3 – See the Report Card Meeting Slideshow, Checklist, One-Pager, and Grade Level Guidance Sheets shared earlier for details, but note the following dates.

• Elementary Grading Day – Friday, February 3
• Report Cards Sent Home – Monday, February 13

Also note the following from the Holt Staff Handbook regarding Report Card Grading Day:

Licensed Staff – Grading day is a regular work day. HR allows teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator in advance, but be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues on grading. Please be sure to use this time for grading and not use it to run errands around town. Teachers are highly visible members of the community, so keep in mind public perception. HR has said that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice.

• REPEAT: EA PD Feb. 3 – Reid Shepard emailed classified staff that on February 3, EAs are invited to Churchill High School between 8:30-11:30. If classified staff are having trouble remembering which pathway you signed up for, your can reference the past email from Reid with the subject line of “Pathway Cohort.” For new classified staff, still having trouble finding their cohort, or have any other questions, CLICK HERE to get help from the organizers (make sure you’re logged into Google with your 4J email).

• Reimbursements End Feb 28 – Secretaries were told last week week that 4J is ending employee and parent group reimbursements. The following was sent to principals on Friday:

We had the opportunity to check in with Matt Brown, our Finance Director, about what was shared with secretaries earlier this week regarding a revisement to our financial policies about allowable employee reimbursement. Below is a section from the communication that went out, however what was not included is that this change is something that is coming this spring (they want to provide a runway to help buildings begin processing what this shift means for buildings).

Reimbursements for employees should only be made if necessary (like mileage reimbursement for travel). All purchasing should be made through purchase cards, purchase requests/orders (PR/PO), or the procurement process. Employees should NOT be using their personal funds for work purchases. If an employee needs reimbursement for mileage or travel, the employee must provide a receipt along with a supervisor’s signature to be turned into Financial Services within 60 days of the activity. The same goes for parent reimbursements. Parents should not be using their personal funds to purchase items or services on behalf of the school district. We will be updating our financial policies to include what is an allowable parent reimbursement.

• Dirty Rags in Bucket, Not Trash Can – A reminder from Jeremy that used rags needing to be washed go into the Dirty Rag Buckets found in each wing and are not to be hung on trash can lips.

• 22-23 PE/Music Schedule Guidelines – Downtown gave principals updated 22-23 PE/Music Schedule Guidelines for next school year. Highlights include schools with more than 20 classes will receive additional FTE, that schools will collaborate with specialist to have 5 minute transitions between classes when possible, and classes missed due to holidays or school events (including assemblies) are not required to be made up. See the above link for complete details.

• Feedback on 2023–24 Proposed Calendar – If you missed it in the latest 4J Newsletter, downtown is seeking feedback on a proposed 2023–24 Calendar. The biggest change is the school year starts a week earlier, Thanksgiving Break is now 3 days, and Conferences are the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving Break (schools would still decide their conference schedule).

Click the Feedback Survey Link to share your thoughts. My own thoughts are that the early start will work fine for high SES schools, but low SES and high mobility schools are going see a lot of kids enrolling after the school year has started, missing out on the vital start of the year community building and school routines. I’m also not a fan of all the non-school days in September. This month is when school routines are established and having only one week that’s a full 5-day week seems like bad planning. I’m not sure what these days are for, but I’d rather see short weeks in May, or if these dates are for start of the year PD, move them to October instead. I’d encourage staff to weigh in on the proposed calendar becomes official.

 

• 4J Elementary Leadership Plan Feedback – A district committee of district reps and EEA are working to revise and improve the elementary leadership plan process. Principals were asked to give feedback, but let me know (or I suppose your EEA Rep) if you have any input you’d like passed along.

• Payroll Codes on Your Paystub – Melanie shared these Payroll Codes with me, which make interpreting the many abbreviations on your Monthly Paystub a whole lot easier.

• Black History Month Resources – February is Black History Month, so I wanted to pass along this list as a starting point for resources. There are, of course, many other resources available; Rethinking Schools, the Zinn Education Project, and Facing History and Ourselves to name a few.

Info on BHM origins:
• Awesome Video: How Black History Went From a Week to a Month

• Article: Black History Themes
• Article: The Man Behind Black History Month

On Teaching:
• How to Be an Anti-Racist White Educator
• What Anti-Racist Teachers Do Differently

Black Youth Leaders and Activists:
• Past: Youth in the Civil Rights Movement
• Present: Young Black Activists, Young Black Leaders and Creators Making History Today, Amanda Gorman

Lesson plans, etc.:
• Virtual History Journeys
• PBS Learning Resources

From 4J District Librarian, Amy Page:
• Libray Connection 2022
• Sora Black History Month Collection
• Black History Month Choice Board
• Black History Month eBooks

Keep in mind that black history and teaching the story of historically of marginalized groups should be a year round-activity and not just a sidebar or novelty to the American history typically taught in U.S. schools. It should be viewed as a central part of the American story.

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

January 23 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
1st Grade Room Duty
8:30-10:30, Classified 403b Info & Help Session (Staff Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

January 24 (T)
10:00-11:30, 4th Grade State Capitol Virtual Field Trip (Zoom)
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
1;30-2:30, Allan Meeting w/Elem Curriculum Admin (Office)
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
5:45-7:15, Title 1 Conscious Discipline Parent Nights (Library)

January 25 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00, Student Council (Reich’s Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)

January 26 (H)
2:45-3:45, Leadership Team Meeting (Library)
4:30-6:30, Allan to BIPoC Staff Event (Putters)
6:00-7:00, School Choice Presentation & Tour (Library & Zoom)

January 27 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – 80’s Day/Neon Day
8:15-8:45, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
11:50-12:10, 1st & 5th Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
12:15-12:35, KG & 3rd Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
12:40-1:00, 2nd & 4th Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Double Prep (for missed prep on 2/3)

January 30 (M)
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
2nd Grade Staff Room Duty
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
4:00-5:30, Allan to All Admin Meeting (Ed Center)

February 1 (T)
10:30-10:00, Holt Night Out Fundraiser – MOD Pizza
February 1 (W)
Black History Month
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2;45, Grade Level Team Meetings
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

February 2 (H)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)

February 3 (F)
No School – Grading Day
8:00-11:00, Allan to Admin LETRS Training (Zoom)
8:30-11:30, Educational Assistant PD (Churchill HS)

Last 5-day week of the month. 

Allan

 

January 16, 2023

By Allan  |  2023/01/14 21:06 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Equity, P.D.  |  Comments Off on January 16, 2023

Hi Everyone,

Hope you’re having a good 3-day weekend. 

Nineteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing Updates:

• Title 1 EA Interviews THURSDAY – We had 19 applicants for Ashton’s Title 1 EA position and are holding interviews this Thursday after school, 2:35-3:45. Let me know if you’d like to join, Jenny, Jackie, and me, and I will get you the interview materials.

• PE Interviews FRIDAY and Counselor Position Reposted – We didn’t have any applicants for our Temp Counselor Job Posting and have reposted. Our Temp 0.2 PE Job Posting was also reposted, but Alex was able to find a retired 4J PE teacher who’s interested, so we know we’ll have at least one strong applicant. PE interviews are tentatively scheduled for this Friday at 1:30 if anyone would like to join Alex, Ashley, and me.

• 4-hour SPED EA Job Posting – SSD has given us an additional 4-hours SPED EA. It’s a general SPED EA, but we’re getting it as a result of the level of need of one particular student. If you know anyone good out there, tell them to apply. The posting should go up this week.

• REPEAT: School Choice Tour TUESDAY @12:00 – School Choice Tours will be this Tuesday at 12:00-1:00 and next week on Thursday, Jan. 26th at 6:00PM. If you’re interested or have any input, linked here the School Choice Tour Slide Show touting our school. Usually, it’s mostly kinder parents on the tours, but don’t be surprised if we drop by some older-grade classrooms as well.

• Holt Night Out TUESDAY @BJ’s Resturant & Brewhouse – Remind your kids there’s a Holt Nigth Out Fundraiser at BJ’s REsuraunt & Brewhouse Tuesday, and remember to pass out the flyers for the event. 

• Friday PD: Staff Choice – This Friday’s PD time is designate as “Staff Choice.” Plan on doing whatever it is you signed up for on the Elementary Staff Choice PD Sign-up Form last time. Friday the following week is a double prep for the missed prep on the Feb. 3rd Grading Day.

• Classified 403b Information and Help Session, Jan. 23 – The 4J Classified Benefits Coordinator will be in the Staff room on Monday, January 23rd from 8:30-10:30. They will be available to answer questions about your recent changes to your 403b as well as provide information on how to enroll. Feel free to ask any benefit-related questions you may have as well. See the linked email for additional details.

• Holt Spirit Day – 80’s Day/Neon Day, Jan. 27 – Not this week but next week is a Holt Spirit Day it’s 80’s Day/Neon Day! Start planning your Totally Rad outfit now! I’m thinking I’ll ordered myself a Ferris Bueller leopard print vest if anyone else out there wants to wear a Red Wings Jersey and go as Cameron. ;)

• School Spirit Assembly, Jan. 27 @8:15 – We’ll have our monthly School Spirit Assembly on Friday, January 27th in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:20, but all classes should be in the gym by 8:15. Stay tuned for details!

• Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party, Jan. 27th – Also Friday, January 27th will be our Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party Reward. This will be in the gym at the following times:

11:50-12:10, 1st/5th
12:15-12:35, K/3rd
12:40-1:00, 2nd/4th

• EA PD Feb. 3 – Reid Shepard emailed classified staff that on February 3, EAs are invited to Churchill High School between 8:30-11:30. If classified staff are having trouble remembering which pathway you signed up for, your can reference the past email from Reid with the subject line of “Pathway Cohort.” For new classified staff, still having trouble finding their cohort, or have any other questions, CLICK HERE to get help from the organizers (make sure you’re logged into Google with your 4J email).

• No InstaPrint or Print Orders – For now, hold off placing any new print orders. InstaPrint is no longer doing print orders for 4J and downtown is currently looking at other local vendors. We don’t know what this means for the status of an existing order, but we’re assuming they are still being processed, although teachers could cancel those orders and instead just do them here at school, wait to see if they do get filled, or wait to see who the new vendor is (rumor is it’ll be Central Print).

• Laminating Criteria – Lamination cost have jumped significantly for this year, so I think the criteria for laminating items should be that it’s only for curriculum materials that will be used year-to-year and not for student projects that’ll go home with students. There may be exceptions to this, but come talk to me about those cases.

• Book Nook Cancelled if Sub Shortage – One of our regular Holt parent classified subs is also one of the parents who runs Book Nook, so do know that we may cancel Book Nook at the last minute some weeks if we have any unfilled EA sub jobs.

• Leadership Plan Update – Our leadership plan was approved at the last JCAC meeting. As a reminder, here’s a link to this year’s plan and how days were distributed. I also learned that we do not actually have to vote on who fills the positions in the plan and just need to vote on the duties and days allocations (which I think is different from what we were told in the past, but whatever). Downtown and EEA have been talking about revising the elementary leadership plan process for a few years, so maybe this will be the last year we do it this format anyhow.

• COVID Tests Update – Principals were emailed that the expired BinaxNOW tests are approved for use after their expiration date, but the iHealth test kits we’ve passed out to staff and families are not currently approved for use after their expiration date. The manufacturer has applied for another extension for expired test kits, but the FDA has not yet announced a decision regarding the extension, so they may still be worth hanging on to.

• University Student Placement Process – HR has cleaned up their process for university students working in schools and have a complete University Student Placement Process webpage has all the info you’ll need regarding getting your student teacher a 4J email, access to Synergy, and other 4J resources.

• Second Step Digital Curriculum & Pacing Guide – I’ve shared this before, but on the Holt Staff Dashboard is a link to the Online Second Step Curriculum Materials along with the Second Step Pacing Guide for the year. If you’re not able to log on with your 4J email, let me know and I can resend an invite to connect you to Holt. Codes for your grade level will be in the front of your teacher guides, but let me know if you can’t find them and I can get you right codes.

• January SSD Newsletter – If you’re interested, linked here is the January SSD Newsletter, which has info about IEP writing, recent procedural questions, and the updated SSD Organizational Chart!

• ODE Gender Expansive Guidelines – The Oregon Department of Education published Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools. This guidance is grounded in the recognition, respect, affirmation, friendship, joy, belonging, and safety every human deserves – including the students, staff, and families that make-up our school communities.

District admin have provided just about zero guidance around these topics for elementary, but this guidance from the state focuses on fostering educational environments that are safe, free from discrimination, and aligned with state and federal laws.

ODE is also releasing a set of Supplemental Resources aligned to the strategies and recommendations outlined in the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan. These documents outline recommendations, best practices, and resources for districts to consider as they develop policies and programming to support gender expansive students. At the request of students and community members, there are also student and family resource documents that outline the support that can be requested and affirmed within schools and communities.

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

January 16 (M)
No School — Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 17 (T)
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
Kinder Staff Room Duty
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
11:00-11:00, Holt Night Out – BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
12:00-1:00, School Choice Presentation & Tour (Library & Zoom)
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)

January 18 (W)
8:15, Allan Meeting w/Sheldon Region Behavior Consultant (Office)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

January 19 (H)
2:35-3:30, Title 1 EA Interviews (Library)
2:45-3:30, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:00-7:30, 5th Grade Outdoor School Night (Cafeteria & Library)

January 20 (F)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice

January 23 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
1st Grade Room Duty
8:30-10:30, Classified 403b Info & Help Session (Staff Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

January 24 (T)
January Birthday Drinks & Goodies in Staff Room:
10:00-11:30, 4th Grade State Capitol Virtual Field Trip (Zoom)
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

January 25 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00, Student Council (Reich’s Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)

January 26 (H)
2:45-3:45, Leadership Team Meeting (Library)
6:00-7:00, School Choice Presentation & Tour (Library & Zoom)

January 27 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – 80’s Day/Neon Day
8:15-8:45, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
11:50-12:10, 1st & 5th Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
12:15-12:35, KG & 3rd Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
12:40-1:00, 2nd & 4th Holt Bolt Buddy Dance Party (Gym)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Double Prep (for missed prep on 2/3)

Have a good 4-day week!

Allan

 

 

January 9, 2023

By Allan  |  2023/01/07 21:25 Posted in Announcements, P.D.  |  Comments Off on January 9, 2023

 

 

Howdy Holt Bolts,

It was nice to see everyone after the break last week (related snarky TikTok) and it’s always surprising how once kids are back how easy it is to get back into the groove.

Fifteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Two staffing Updates:

• PE and Counselor Interview Updates – Following both our counselor and PE interviews last week, we did not select any of the candidates at this point and decided to repost the positions. The Counselor Job Posting is up now and closes Tuesday. The PE Job Posting should hopefully get reposted soon.

• Title 1 EA Job Posting – Ashton’s 6.5-hour Title 1 EA Job Posting is now up and closes Thursday. We know of at least one solid candidate applying, but please encourage anyone good to apply. Jenny and I have tentatively scheduled interviews for Thursday, January 19th right after school. If you’re interested in volunteering your time to help with interviews.

• Team Meetings Wednesday & Minutes Template – Staff voted last week to resume Grade Level Team Meeting, which will not be weekly but will be twice a month on the first two Wednesdays of non-Staff Meeting weeks. Meeting dates are on the calendar through spring break and we will revisit before then if this is something teachers want to continue or modify. Teams should:

– Meet in their wing so specialists can connect if needed
– Take care of any needed team business
– Complete the Team Meeting Minutes Form (make a copy) and email it to holt_staf@4j.lane.edu

The Team Meeting Minutes Form can also be found on the Holt Staff Dashboard.

• REPEAT: Fire Drill, Friday, Jan. 13 @8:20 – This Friday at 8:20 will be our January Fire Drill. Linked here is the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Lines Map. If we are rained out, we’ll try again next Friday.

• Friday PD: Report Card Meeting – This Friday is “Building Based” and we voted last week to use this time to discuss Report Cards. Downtown hasn’t given any guidelines yet, but if they stay consistent with past practice, Report Cards will go home on Monday, Feb. 13th. Teachers in the past have also been allowed to do grading from home as long as they notify their administrator (me) and have connected with any colleagues regarding grading. Let me know if there’s any specific report card info you think we need to know from the district and I can try to get that ahead of time before we meet. See you Friday at 1:25 in the Library!

 

• Remind Kids to Wear Coats – I’m going to put something in the Quick News, but we have some cold and wet days coming up, so remind your kids to take their coats out to recess.

• School Choice Info – School Choice season has begun and school choice tours will be in-person this year, but doing it hybrid and will have the in-person presentation also on Zoom. Tours will be on Jan. 17th (12:00PM) and Jan. 26th (6:00PM). Holt is closed to most transfers (we’re allowed to take about 10 kinders), so these tours serve more to retain neighborhood families who are considering trying to lottery into other schools. PAHS is sending a parent rep to share about the parent group and about Holt from a parent perspective. If there are any staff who are interested/willing to join me in the presentations, I’d love to have more voices than just myself. You could share as little or as much as you’d like. Staff merely being present during these presentations also helps families feel like we’re a family and a team and makes it more welcoming. Below is an article I’ll put in the next Quick News.

 

School Choice for the 2023-24 School Year

Spread the word to all of your friends that HOLT ROCKS! With Holt’s focus on the whole child, we are an excellent school and a positive choice for your child’s education. With School Choice coming soon, please invite friends and acquaintances to visit Holt and seriously consider joining the Holt family.

We’re holding a presentation and tour on Jan. 17th (12:00 PM) and one on the evening of Jan. 26th (6:00 PM). Both will be offered in-person and on Zoom, though presentations will be geared toward in-person attendees.

Please watch the 4J website for the upcoming lottery application timeline.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://4J-lane-edu.zoom.us/j/99968435049?pwd=ZDM2czBBRzFmYWJOVVVaMWdVQWhBUT09

Meeting ID: 999 6843 5049
Passcode: 796245

 

• Lunch Wagons Location Change – Teachers, please tell your students Monday to put their class lunch wagons in either the PURPLE or GREEN area (whichever one matches the color of cone on the tables where they sit during lunch). We’ve had issues with doors getting blocked, so the PURPLE area will be where they currently go and the GREEN area will be along the U-shaped bike rack.

Also, for Rainy Day Recesses, students should put the wagons in the seating area across from the Dynamos Classroom. Having the wagons in the lobby area outside the gym on rainy days has also blocked doors and caused some traffic jams and safety issues.

• Doors and Blinds Reminder – Two reminders:

• Blinds are to be kept open – Classroom blinds need to be kept open during the school day (blinds in the open position or pulled up). Door windows should also be uncovered.

• Room Doors Closed & Locked if Unattended – If a classroom is left unattended, classroom doors should be closed and locked, which will prevent students from sneaking into the classroom. Allan sent an email.

 

 

• Chairs Up at End of Day – Teachers, remind students at the end of the day to put their chairs up. We have a 1-hour night custodian who’s coming in right now and sweeping around chairs slows him down.

• EA P.D. Opportunities on Grading Day, 2/3 – Classified Staff should take note that on Grading Day, Friday, Feb. 3rd, downtown will offer EA PD similar to what they did in October and previously scheduled for January 3. More details to come.

• Student Prearranged Absence Form – Downtown is now requiring elementary families to use the same Request for Pre-arranged Absence Form that middle and high school use. This doesn’t really apply to elementary schools, but secondary wants elementary to start using it because families complain about it when middle school starts asking them to use it in order to excuse absences that are 3 or more days. I’m asking elementary directors if they can put their foot down and say elementary isn’t doing this, but if we have to if they can at least waive the signature requirement by teachers. Do note that although there is mention of homework and missed work, teachers are not required to provide work. Below is an article I’m planning to send out to families once I hear back from elementary directors:

 

Prearranged Absence Form

School District 4J has a new Request for Pre-arranged Absence Form form families should:

• Complete for or all absences that are 3 or more days in length
• Submit the form to the office at least 2 days prior to the absence

The form does not apply to sickness, an emergency, or an authorized religious holiday, but is required to excuse any planned absences 3 days or more. Without the form, absences will be unexcused. The above form can also be found on the Holt Website under the School Info menu on the Schedule and Attendance webpage.

 

• 4J Grown Your Own Teaching/Counseling Program – 4J is starting up a “Grown Your Own” program for any current 4J EAs interested in getting their teaching or counseling degree. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, be recommended by their building principal, and have 2 years experience working in schools. If this is something you’d be interested in, let me know and I can get you additional information.

Additionally, if their are classified staff interested in career advancement who do not meet the qualifications to apply to the Teacher or Counselor Pathway (example: do not have a bachelor’s degree), but wish to begin their pathway to further their career they can also apply. This could include people that want to be teachers, but could also be people that want to move into a position like electrician, HVAC technician, or mechanic. If this is of interest to you, let me know and I can share additional info as well.

• Nominations Open to Honor Education Support Professionals – Each year, the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Lottery partner to honor one outstanding Education Support Professional (ESP) for their service and commitment to public schools and students. If you know a deserving classified staff member, please feel free to submit a ESP Nomination Form.

• Free Guided Virtual State Capitol Tours – The state emailed principal info on free Virtual Tours of the State Capitol Building. All you need to do is visit the website and then call or email to schedule your tour.

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

January 9 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
Title Staff Room Duty
2;45, Allan Meeting w/Parent & Kim
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Chavez)

January 10 (T)
January Birthday Drinks & Goodies in Staff Room:
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

January 11 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00, Student Council (Reich’s Room)
2;45, Grade Level Team Meetings
2:45, Allan to IEP Meeting (Lesli’s Room)

January 12 (H)
3;00, Allan Meeting w/Parent
5:00-6:00 Site Council (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)

January 13 (F)
8:20, Fire Drill
9:00, Allan Meetin w/ESD Migrant Ed.
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Report Cards/Equity (Library)
4:00, Holt Staff Friday at 4:00 (Public House)

January 16 (M)
No School — Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 17 (T)
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
Kinder Staff Room Duty
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
11:00-11:00, Holt Night Out – BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
12:00-12:00, School Choice Presentation & Tour (Library & Zoom)
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)

January 18 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

January 19 (H)
2:25-3:30, Title 1 EA Interviews (tentative)
4:00-6:00, Allan to Conscious Discipline PD (Zoom)
6:00-7:30, 5th Grade Outdoor School Night (Cafeteria & Library)

January 20 (F)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice

 

Look forward to your 3-day weekend!

Allan

 

January 2, 2023

By Allan  |  2022/12/31 09:54 Posted in Announcements, Articles, P.D., Video  |  Comments Off on January 2, 2023

 

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a good break. My family Christmas celebrations were delayed due to everyone in my house except me getting sick the first week of the break. Still, it was nice to have some time off. Best new movie I watched over the break was Everything Everyone All at Once and the best book I read was Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino, which is essential reading for film nerds.

Ten items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Four staffing Updates:

• Title 1 EA Job Posting – Ashton Stowell is sadly leaving us at the end of the week to pursue a teaching degree. Holt parent Keri Schneider (the one who brought the Subway Party Sub before the break) is coveringuntil we hire a replacement. The job posting for the 6.5-hour position should go up this week, so please encourage anyone good to apply!

• Counselor Interviews, Jan 3rd @1:20 – We had two applicants for our temp counselor position and interviews will be Tuesday, January 3rd from 1:20-3:00 in the library. Let me know if you’d like to join me and Kim and I will email you the interview materials.

• Temp PE Interviews, Jan. 6th @1:25 – We had three applicants for our temp part-time PE position. Alex, Ashley, and I will hold interviews on Zoom from 1:25-3:00. Interviews are on Zoom because this position is 0.2 at Holt and 0.2 at Howard, so Zoom was the easier option. Let me know if you’d like to join.

• BEST EA Job Posting Open – 2-hour to 3.5 hour BEST EA positions are now posted on the 4J Jobs website and closes Thursday.

• Jan. 3 PD/Planning Day  – Emailed earlier and on the Staff Google Drive is the Meeting Agenda for Tuesday. We’ll plan to meet in the Cafeteria with the following schedule:

8:00-8:30, Breakfast Stacks & Socializing (Cafeteria)
8:30-11:00, PD and Staff Meeting Meeting (Cafeteria)
11:00-1:30, Team Collaboration & Vector Training Time

Bring a device to the meeting for the “DHS Child Welfare Reporting Online Documentation” agenda item. I’ll walk folks through setting up your account.

I’ll have the usual mix of breakfast goodies available starting at 8:00 and we’ll start the meeting promptly at 8:30.

• Classified Staff Meeting – Following the Staff Meeting will be a Classified Staff Meeting to prep for the Recess Rules Round-Up later in the week (see the next agenda item) and any other business the team would like to discuss.

 

 

• PBIS Rules Round-Up Refresher, THURSDAY & FRIDAY – The PBIS Team discussed holding a Recess Rules Round-Up Refresher the first week back. Grades 3-5 will be Thursday, 1:30-2:00. Grades K-2 will be Friday, 8:20-8:50. Let me know if any classes need to adjust times. As we did in the fall, we’ll do 5-min. rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition), but we’ll change some of the stations to focus more on problem solving. We can discuss any tweaks at the Staff Meeting, but the tentative plan is for the five stations to be:

1. Equipment, Lining Up
end-of-recess lines and equipment are problem areas
2. Restrooms, Snacks/Food
snacks only on the curb in AM, no food at lunch recess, trash in the garbage
3. Gaga Ball
main point – don’t be a cheater
4. What to do when you have a problem?
mini-Kelso review
5. What does it mean to be Safe, Respectful, & Responsible on the playground
hands-feet-objects-to-self and being kind to one another, discussing different scenarios appropriate for younger and older grades

Linked here is a Map of the Station Locations. Classes will rotate in the station order listed below. Teachers should plan to come out early so we can start and end on time. Let me know if there are any scheduling conflicts and we can adjust [CORRECTED: ADDED KG and MOVED 3RD, flip flopped #4 and #5 to match map]:

Thursday @1:30
5-Minute Rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition)
Classes start at:

1. Equipment & Lining-Up (Ball, Talley)
2. Gaga Ball (Benavides, Harshbarger, Longoria)
3. Restroom & Snack/Food (Cobb, Reich)
4. What to do when you have a problem (Lovato, Ayres)
5. How to be Safe, Respectful, Responsible (Parks, Heinrich)

Friday @8:20
5-Minute Rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition)
Classes start at:

1. Equipment & Lining-Up (Harmon, Seno)
2. Gaga Ball (Norton, Gulewich, Vaughan)
3. Restroom & Snack/Food (Gori, Barton)
4. What to do when you have a problem (Dempsey, Rabourn)
5. How to be Safe, Respectful, Responsible (Zluticky, Gullekson)​

 

We will decide on station assignments at the Classified Meeting on Tuesday. We’ll talk more on Tuesday, but me know if you have any questions or suggestions on any of this.

 

• Friday PD: Team Collaboration Time – This Friday is “Building Based” and will be a time for a Team Collaboration Time, with the same guidelines as the January 3rd collaboration time.

• Fire Drill, Friday, Jan. 13 @8:20 – Not this week, but Friday next week at 8:20 will be our January Fire Drill. Linked here are the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line Map.

• Security Camera Ideas – Facilities is meeting with principals about installing additional security cameras. My guess is they are only going to add them to one or two locations, but my thinking is priorities should be:

1. Playground (Hard Play #1 and Soft Play #2)
2. Hallways (A-D Wings #1, Wing Intersections #2, Counselor/Calming #3, Gym/Cafeteria #4, Library/Office #5)
3. Bus Pick-Up/Drop-Off Area
4. East side of the building
5. Back of building

I’ll add this as a Business Item for the staff meeting but wanted to get this out now since it’s a fast turnaround.

• Revoking a Transfer for Irregular Attendance – Schools used to be able to do this, but we are once again being allowed to revoke a transfer for a student due to poor attendance.The process to revoke a transfer is to communicate with the family about school choice and that the transfer can be revoked for poor attendance and/or repeated behavior infractions. Work with the family on providing some tiered interventions and have data to support the revocation. If attendance/behavior does not improve a transfer may be revoked. See attached policy and process. Attendance criteria should match the attendance criteria that we use for all students. Students that are dipping into tier 2/chronic attendance should be addressed.

• How Drawing Can Lead to Deeper Understanding – Organizational drawings—concept maps and sketchnotes, for example—help students see gaps in their learning while boosting comprehension by fourfold. See this Edutopia Video for details.

 

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

January 2 (M)
Winter Break – No School

January 3 (T)
8:00-8:30, Breakfast Stacks & Socializing (Cafeteria)
8:30-11:00, Staff Meeting & PD (Cafeteria)
11:00-12:00, Classified Staff Meeting (Cafeteria)
11:00-1:30, Team Collaboration & Vector Training
1:20-3:00, Temp Counselor Interviews (Library)

January 4 (W)
Students Return
Library Checkout Week (no library learning sessions)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
Winter Benchmarking Window Opens
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)

January 5 (H)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
1:30-2:00, Recess Rules Round-Up – Grades 3-5 (Playground)

January 6 (F)
8:20-8:50, Recess Rules Round-Up – Grades K-2 (Playground)
9:00, Allan Meeting w/Facilities RE Security Cameras
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Building Based – Team Collaboration
1:25-3:00, Temp PE Interviews – Tentative (Library)

January 9 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
Title Staff Room Duty
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Holt Library)

January 10 (T)
10:15-11:45, 4th Grade Junior Achievement
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)

January 11 (W)
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
12:00, Student Council (Reich’s Room)
2:45, Allan to IEP Meeting (Lesli’s Room)

January 12 (H)
5:00-6:00 Site Council (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)

January 13 (F)
8:20, Fire Drill
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice
4:00, Holt Staff Friday at Four (TBA)

See you soon!

Allan

 

December 16, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/12/16 21:26 Posted in Announcements, P.D.  |  Comments Off on December 16, 2022

Hi Everyone,

Three items of note before heading off to the break:

• Updated Jan. 3rd Agenda (Classified Meeting and New Agenda Items) – Attached and on the Staff Google Drive is an updated agenda for our Jan. 3rd PD. Leadership added a few items, so I’ve adjusted the times a bit. Also, downtown canceled all of the originally planned classified PD (see emails below), so I’ll hold a Classified Meeting following the all-staff meeting. Let me know if you have any additional agenda items.

• PBIS Rules Round-Up Jan. 5 & 6 – The PBIS Team discussed holding a Recess Rules Round-Up the first week back. Grades 3-5 will be Thursday, 1:30-2:00. Grades K-2 will be Friday, 8:20-8:50. Let me know if any classes need to adjust times. As we did in the fall, we’ll do 5-min. rotations (4 min. talk, 1 min. transition), but we’ll change some of the stations to focus more on problem-solving. Details will be shared at the Jan. 3rd Staff Meeting.

• Office Door Entry Repair (use left door) – If you didn’t notice today, the card reader for the front office door stopped working. Facilities came out to work on it and temporarily fixed it so the left door will unlock, but the usual door on the right will not unlock. They are planning to work on it over the break, so it should be back to normal by the time folks report back.

Enjoy your break and feel free to reach out if you need anything!

Allan

December 12, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/12/10 16:13 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Grants, P.D.  |  Comments Off on December 12, 2022

 

Hi Everyone,

We’ve almost made it! Just 5 days until winter break!

Eighteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing Updates:

• Temp Part-Time Music Teacher, Tracy Zehner – Please welcome Tracy Zehner as our new temporary part-time music teacher. Tracy is an experience music teacher (and also a Holt parent of a 1st and 3rd grader) who’s taught since 2008 in Illinois, Connecticut, and most recently in Indiana since 2014. Tracy will take over 3rd grade classes starting after winter break, but she will start working this Wednesday prepping and planning, so please take time to welcome Tracy to Team Holt!

• Temp PE 0.2 Job Reposted – We have reposted our 0.2 FTE Temp PE Position and have paired it with Howard’s 0.2 position in hopes that a combined 0.4 FTE position will entice more candidates. The posting closes on Tuesday if you know anyone good who might be interested.

• BEST Update & BEST EA Openings (2-hr & 3.5-hr) – Downtown is deciding whether Holt or WillaG will re-open their BEST Program first this year. WillaG has a BEST Coordinator and an Academic Coordinator, which Holt does not, but Holt has more building EAs hired to work at our program. If any EAs want additional hours (either 2-hours or 3.5-hours), please visit the BEST EA Job Posting to apply. The job posting closes Tuesday. And if their are any teacher interested in being the Academic Coordinator (1-2 hours extended contract daily to review math intervention data and coach BEST staff on small group math instruction), let me know ASAP.

• REPEAT: Cozy Blanket Contest Entries, DUE MONDAY – In place of the annual Winter Coat Drive, we’re trying a Cozy Blanket Drive. See Ashely’s Email, Staff Flyer, and Entry Form for details.

• Holt Night Out Fundraiser – MOD Pizza, WEDNESDAY – This Wednesday is a Holt Night Out Fundraiser at MOD Pizza on Coburg Road! Remind your students to just bring the MOD Pizza Fundraiser Flyer when they order. To place an online order, use the coupon code MODF16980.

 

• REPEAT: Elf Jr. Performance, THURSDAY, 9:00-10:00 – Thursday from 9:00-10:00 is the Upstart Crow for our performance of the Elf Jr. Musical. Upstart Crow will begin setting up at 7:00, which will conflict with 3rd and 4th grade Music times. The 9-10 assembly time will also conflict with Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade recesses. Those teachers can take their prep during the assembly and other staff will cover your class. Linked here is an Assembly Map & Directions. If Holt has used a different sating format for performances in the cafeteria, let me know and I can adjust.

 

• Holiday Shopping, THURSDAY – Those volunteering to help with the annual Holiday Shopping Program are already in the know, but for anyone new to Holt who this may be new, see the above linked overview. Thank you to everyone who was able to help with this!

• Holt Spirit Day, Cozy Sweats & Sweater Weather Day, FRIDAY – This Friday is the monthly Holt Spirit Day and this time it’s Cozy Sweats & Sweater Weather Day. Get kids excited me to school in some cozy sweats or a warm winter sweater or just wear your Holt spirit gear!

• REPEAT: School Spirit Assembly, FRIDAY – We’ll have our monthly School Spirit Assembly on Friday in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:15 and all classes should be seated at that time. Winners from the Cozy Blanket Contest will be announced at the assembly. Stay tuned for details!

• REPEAT: Friday PD: Staff Choice – Principals haven’t gotten any details for Friday’s “Staff Choice” PD time this Friday, but I’m guessing plan on doing whatever it is you signed up for on the Elementary Staff Choice PD Sign-up Form last time. I’ll let you know if anything changes.

• Jan. 3 PD/Planning Day  – Shared earlier, the Wit & Wisdom PD originally planned this day has been cancelled, along with previously planned EA trainings, so this is now a building directed day. See my separate email for the meeting agenda, but we’ll plan to meet in the Cafeteria this day with the following schedule:

8:00-8:30, Breakfast Stacks & Socializing (Cafeteria)
8:30-11:00, Holt Back to School Meeting (Cafeteria)
11:00-1:30, Team Collaboration & Vector Training

• January Friday PD Days – Downtown let principals know that all district led Friday PD for the rest of the semester is now Building Based. I’ll add this to this Thursday’s Leadership Team agenda how we’d like to use these days.

 

• REMINDER: Kids in Hall Need a Pass – If you spot stray children walking in the hall, make sure they have a hall pass. If they do not have a pass, send them back to class and escort them if possible. And DO NOT believe students when they say, “But my teacher told me… [INSERT EXCUSE HERE].”

• Holt Bolt & Holtober Fest 23-24 – PAHS has officially decided, and I agree is a good idea, to go back to the Holt Bolt in the spring, when there’s no fires and AQI issues, and the school carnival in the fall (i.e. Holtober Fest). The plan for this year is to still do the spring carnival, but make the change for next school year.

• IEP Meeting Days Info – Principals were asked to share the following info:

As many of you know, one of the items bargained for to be included in our CBA was in regards to implementing a pilot this year where buildings worked to establish IEP/504 days where staff could be included in IEP’s or 504’s that didn’t impact their time before school, after school or during planning. A workgroup was developed at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year to discuss possibilities, and although there is still work to be done, here are some ideas about how we will be moving forward.

Elementary:
*All elementary schools that would like to participate in this pilot can identify IEP/504 days they would like to take and secure a sub for their classroom, as well as one floater to release general education teachers to attend the IEP/504 meetings.

*If you are looking to schedule these days, please be prepared to plan in advance so subs can be secured well ahead of time and CMA’s have ample time to schedule these meetings on the same day (this is something the special education teacher will do, but you will want to be prepared to have a sub in your class for that time and you should also be given ample notice so you have time to prepare).

*What this means for the general education staff is that the teacher, if chosen to attend an IEP or 504 meetings sometime throughout the day, will have to prepare for a sub to run their class for that period of time. It may be one period or a few hours depending on how many IEP’s or 504’s you are asked to be a member of.

Secondary:
*We are in need of more workgroup meetings to find a solution to the multiple intricacies that a secondary schedule brings with it. We are in hopes of collecting some feedback from teachers and problem solving a bit more as a group in the spring. If you have any ideas of ways to best cover for teachers who may need to be out of their class for a period or 2 for meetings, please feel free to share with your administrator or reach out to the SSD administrator in your building to share.

Next Steps:
*EEA and SSD are still working on a way to gather some data from teachers (gen ed and sped), parents, students, administrators and any other stakeholders so we know how the pilot is working.

*It is a busy time for all of our schools. Our hope in looking at this pilot is to see if we can help alleviate some of the stress that staying late or coming in early for IEP/504 meetings can cause. This will not alleviate any responsibility to attend before or after school meetings, but the hope is to reduce the frequency.

Thank you for your shared commitment to supporting our students and families by being a part of the team.

Linked here is the email sent to principals, which also include the email sent to SSD licensed staff.

• Electrostatic Spray Update – There was concern expressed at a past Staff Meeting about nightly electrostatic spray ruining papers. I got an Email Answer this week that it does need to continue, but can be limited to top tier touch-points, such as doorknobs, sinks, fountains, and small group tables, but not student desks, counters, or walls. So as long as your small group tables are clear, student and teachers papers and work should be safe.

• Grant Items – Two grant related items:

• Three Rivers Casino Grants, Due Dec. 31 – The Three Rivers Foundation is currently accepting applications through December 31st. Grants do not have any minimum or maximums amounts. Here’s the link to Apply and the grant FAQ.

• Notify Finance Dept. of Large Grants – In talking Finance last week about a different matter, I learned they now want schools to notify them of any grants you are applying for in excess of $1,000. For grants $5,000 or more, there is a formal process for board approval, which is not new, but for grants between $1,000 and $5,000, just notify me of what you’re applying for or send a short email to grants@4j.lane.edu. You don’t have to send them you actual application, just a link to the grant and one sentence what you’re asking for. See the 4J Grants webpage for details.

Do note there is a difference between “grants” and “donations,” so anything you get from DonorsChoose does not apply to what’s described above.

• December’s SSD Newsletter – If you’re interested, linked here is the December SSD Newsletter. The topic of the month is student reduced-day schedules. There’s the usual FAQ and also a special spotlight on Speech Language Pathologists.

• Is growth mindset effective? – Studies show varied outcomes of introducing growth mindset for students. Some students benefit from growth mindset interventions, but the approach is less effective for high-achieving students, according to an analysis by researchers. The research does conclude it’s useful for low-income and low-achieving students, so for a Title 1 school like us, Growth Mindset is a good thing, but I found this an interesting read. See this Article from The Hechinger Report for details.

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

December 12 (M)
Library Week #1 Classes
SPED Staff Room Duty
10:45, Allan to Formal Observation
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Holt Library)
7:00-9:00, Allan to Conan the Barbarian (The Art House) Come Join!
December 13 (T)
National Cocoa Day
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:30, Feed Hope Food Box Prep (Cafeteria)

December 14 (W)
Holt Night Out – MOD Pizza
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
1:45-2:10, 1st & 5th Orange Ticket Recess
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

December 15 (H)
9:00-10:00, Elf Jr. Performance (Cafetorium)
2:45-3:45, Leadership Meeting (Library)
4:00-8:30, Holiday Shopping Event

December 16 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Cozy Sweats & Sweater Weather Day
8:15-9:45, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice

December 17 – January 2
Winter Break – No School

January 3 (T)
8:00-8:30, Breakfast Stacks & Socializing (Cafeteria)
8:30-11:00, Holt Back to School Meeting (Cafeteria)
11:00-1:30, Team Collaboration & Vector Training

January 4 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
Winter Benchmarking Window Opens
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)

January 5 (H)
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)

January 6 (F)
1:25-2:25, Classified Staff Meeting (Library)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Building Based – Team Collaboration

Don’t forget to keep you fingers crossed for a surprise snow day! It could happen!

Allan

 

 

December 5, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/12/03 22:25 Posted in Announcements, Articles, P.D., SEL, Technology  |  Comments Off on December 5, 2022

Hey Everyone,

We are definitely on the countdown to Winter Break. This, of course, means we can expect extra stress among our students and families (and ourselves too), so be prepared for the unexpected and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Eighteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Three staffing Updates:

• Temp 1st Grade Hire, Chastity Doty – We conducted interviews last week and have hired Chastity Doty for our 1st grade vacancy. Chastity has been subbing in this position for the past couple of months, so please OFFICIALLY welcome Chasity to Team Holt!

• PE & Music Update – We interviewed one Music and one PE candidate last Friday. I’m still checking references for our music applicant, but for PE we want to widen our pool of applicants and are reposting. To hopefully attract more candidates, we’re reposting the position as a 0.4 FTE position, pairing our 0.2 position with Howard 0.2 PE position they are also trying to hire for. If you know anyone good, please encourage them to apply!

• Darrin Heffington Leave Extended – Darrin’s leave has been extended through spring break, Abby Parks has agreed to continue subbing in this position, so we are lucky to have a strong reliable sub in the position.

• Computer Science Education Week Dec. 5th-11th – Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code are this week (it snuck up on me) and there were a few resources shared in the latest Library Lowdown and EdTech Update you could do with kids this week:

• The Hour of Code Games
⁃ Minecraft
⁃ Star Wars
⁃ Frozen
⁃ Angry Birds
⁃ The Grinch
• Google Hour of Code Activities
• Microsoft Hour of Code 2022 Carnival
• Minecraft Education Edition Hour of Code Escape Estate
• Khan Academy

• REPEAT: Book Nook Starts WEDNESDAY – See Jenny’s Email for details, but here’s the quick version:

Start: Wednesday, December 7th.
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Cafeteria
How: Send kids at the beginning of morning recess (not before).
How many: Send up to 5 kids each time.
Other info: Please do not send them with a snack (unless it can stay in their pocket)
What next: A Book Nook staff person will walk kids out to recess after they are done choosing a book. The book will be delivered to the table outside your classroom with a sticky note with the child’s name on it.

Make sure they bring a Book Nook Recess Pass, plus their Book Nook currency, which is one of the following:

• 5 Zaps
• 1 Instant Winner
• 1 Book Nook free book coupon
• $0.25
• A used book from home to trade in

• Fire Drill, FRIDAY at 8:20 – This Friday at 8:20 will be our December Fire Drill. Linked here is the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Line Map.

• REPEAT: Friday PD, Dec. 9 – Building System – Leadership discussed doing a review of all of our support systems, with a particular focus on behavior support systems. With many new staff members and with systems having changed and morphed over time, here are the system I’m planning on reviewing, but let me know if there are other you think we should go over:

• Major/Minor Referrals
• PBIS Tickets (Zaps, Orange Tickets, Spirit Tickets)
• PBIS Videos & Resources
• Behavior Supports Available
• Voice Levels
• Recess/School Rules
• Request for Support – Academic/Behavior
• Request for Support – Student/Family Needs
• Family Resource Coordinator Supports

• REPEAT: HOLT Cozy Blanket Essay & Drawing Contest, ENTRIES DUE Dec. 12 – In place of the annual Winter Coat Drive, we’re trying a Cozy Blanket Drive. See Ashely’s Email, Staff Flyer, and Entry Form for details, but here’s the short version:

What?
Instead of the yearly coat collection, Holt will be having a fuzzy blanket giveaway for kids who would benefit from a warm and cozy blanket if their own.

When?
Contest forms are due on Monday, December 12. Winners will be announced at the assembly on Friday, December 16th.

How can teachers help?
Put the contest forms in Monday Mailers. If you would like, you can give students time in class to complete the form if they want to enter. Miss Darla has also volunteered to help kids get forms complete in here room.

• Holt Night Out Fundraiser – MOD Pizza, Dec. 14 – Wednesday, December 14th is a Holt Night Out Fundraiser at MOD Pizza on Coburg Road! Remind your students to just bring the MOD Pizza Fundraiser Flyer when they order. To place an online order, use the coupon code MODF16980.

• REPEAT: Elf Jr. Performance, Dec. 15, 9:00-10:00 – Thursday, Dec. 15th from 9:00-10:00 has been confirmed with Upstart Crow for our performance of the Elf Jr. Musical. Upstart Crow will begin setting up at 7:00, which will conflict with 3rd and 4th grade Music times. The 9-10 assembly time will also conflict with Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade recesses. Those teachers can take their prep during the assembly and other staff will cover your class. Linked here is an Assembly Map & Directions. If Holt has used a different sating format for performances in the cafeteria, let me know and I can adjust.

 

• School Spirit Assembly, Dec. 16 – We’ll have our monthly School Spirit Assembly on Friday next week in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:15 and all classes should be seated at that time. Winners from the Cozy Blanket Contest will be announced at the assembly. Stay tuned for additional details!

• Friday PD, 12/16: Staff Choice – Principals haven’t gotten any details for Friday’s “Staff Choice” PD time next week on December 16th, but I’m guessing plan on doing whatever it is you signed up for on the Elementary Staff Choice PD Sign-up Form last time. I’ll let you know if anything changes.

• 4J PD Calendar Changes – District admin didn’t say anything (“timely communication”), but I checked the 4J PD Calendar and they have changed a number of the Friday PD Topics, adding a couple building based in January, adding some PD on Fridays for SPED teachers, tentative topics for future Staff Choice Fridays, and removed a couple Friday PD Days for a double prep due to a missed Golden Hour of prep on an adjacent Friday.

• Erin’s Law & Great Body Shop Curriculum – I’ve been asking district admin since the start of the year what we’re supposed to teach to meet the Erin’s Law Requirements and finally got an answer this week. We are no longer using the Second Step Child Protection Unit and district admin has determined that The Great Body Shop lessons will meet the requirement. Teachers are welcome to continue using the Child Protection Unit if you choose, but you’re only expected to teach The Great Body Shop Safety Units, which are spread across the units.

If you do teach the Child Protection Units, you should send home the Parent Notification Letter. A notification about The Great Body Shop was shared with families earlier in the year, which I believe will cover us for notification, but I’ll add this to Tuesday’s Staff Meeting agenda if we want to send a notice about GBS safety lessons school-wide or call it good.

• DRAFT 4J Discipline Process Flowchart Matrix – I shared earlier that downtown is working on an update of their Major/Minor Behavior Matrix with a more comprehensive Discipline Process Flowchart Matrix. This is still in draft form and the goal is to have it finished by the end of the year, but if you’d like a preview or have any thoughts on the draft document you’d like me to pass along, see the above linked doc.

• Transitional Kindergarten Postponed – SSD had planned to start a “Transitional Kindergarten” program focused on students needing significant behavior support, but they are postponing their plans for this program until next school year. Their reasoning is that they were unable to find any viable candidates to teach this classroom (though they didn’t listen to my suggestion of having each of the Regional Behavior Consultants teach a class).

• Emergency Sub Licenses Return – TSPC has reinstated the emergency substitute teaching license option, which only requires a high school diploma, but many requirements of the district including, paying applicant fees, submitting letters of support, and more. If you know someone worth consideration, let me know and I can connect them with HR.

• Free KWANZAA Materials – Lane AABSS recognizes that many winter holidays will be discussed and celebrated in the coming weeks as a way of honoring the diversity in our communities and schools. They are offering FREE materials and resources to educators. To receive these materials, just complete the linked form.

• Winter Break Bingo – From Just Two Teachers, use these bingo cards, whole group, to assist with management before the winter break. Kids complete a class-wide bingo board in the two weeks up to winter break by having good behavior both in class and around the building. Grids are available in several different color schemes. This actually pairs nicely with the December Kindness Calendar if you’re using that. 

 

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

December 5 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
ELD/Speech/Counselor/Library Staff Room Duty
Artist in Residence Continues
3:45-5:15, Allan to All Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

December 6 (T)
Sunshine December Birthday Coffees & Goodies!
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)
4:30-6:00 Allan to Conscious Discipline PD (Zoom)

December 7 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
Winter Break Food Box Sign-Up Deadline
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
1:50-2:10 KG & 3rd Orange Ticket Recess
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

December 8 (H)
Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day
1:45-2:10, 2nd & 4th Orange Ticket Recess
2:45-3:45, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
5:00-6:00, Site Council (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)

December 9 (F)
8:20, Fire Drill
9:00-2:00, 4th Grade Salmon Fry Release Field Trip
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Building Systems Review (Library)
4:00, Holt Friday @4:00 (TBA)

December 12 (M)
Library Week #1 Classes
SPED Staff Room Duty
3:45-5:15, Allan to Elem Principals’ Meeting (Holt Library)

December 13 (T)
National Cocoa Day
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:30, Feed Hope Food Box Prep (Cafeteria)

December 14 (W)
Holt Night Out – MOD Pizza
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
1:45-2:10, 1st & 5th Orange Ticket Recess
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

December 15 (H)
9:00-10:00, Elf Jr. Performance (Cafetorium)
2:45-3:45, Leadership Meeting (Library)
4:00-8:30, Holiday Shopping Event

December 16 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Cozy Sweats & Sweater Weather Day
8:15-9:45, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Staff Choice

10 days until winter break (unless we get a surprise snow day)!

Allan

November 28, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/11/26 21:47 Posted in Announcements, Articles, P.D., Video  |  Comments Off on November 28, 2022

Howdy Everyone,

Just three weeks until winter break!

Fourteen items of note for this week:

• Staffing Updates – Two Staffing Updates:

• New SPED EA, Denice Mellor – Please welcome our newest SPED EA, Denice, who comes to us from Chavez, where she was also a SPED EA. We hired Denice about a month ago, but Chavez put a hold on her starting until they could hire her replacement, but she will officially join us starting this Monday, so please welcome her to Team Holt!

• UPDATE: Temp Job Posting, 1st, Music, PE – Our temp 1st Grade, Music, and PE Job Postings were extended another week and will now close on Tuesday, November 27th.

• Book Fair Evening Event & PJ Day, WEDNESDAY – To help bring awareness to the Book Fair evening event this Wednesday, we’re holding a special mid-week PJ Day! Get your kids excited to wear their comfy pajamas this day and also remind them about the book fair, which will close Thursday.

• REPEAT: Holt Staff Annual Gingerbread House Event, THURSDAY – The Staff Gingerbread House Event is this Thursday from 5:30-8:00ish. Come if you have a team or if you just want to socialize! The gathering is at Katies’ house. Address is on the Staff Zimbra Calendar. See Debbi’s Email for details.

• UDPATE: Staff Workload Relief Day, FRIDAY – Downtown revised their guidelines for the workload relief day that only licensed staff may work from home (if you notify your principal ahead of time) and that classified staff are to work your regular hours on-site (unless you are using appropriate leaves)

December 2nd – This transition day should be treated much the same as a grading day for licensed staff. Licensed staff may work from home on this day, but should be available to team members. Any licensed staff that intend to work from an alternate location, will need to let you know their intentions. In that communication licensed staff should also identify how they will communicate with their colleagues on this day. Licensed staff that have not communicated a desire to work from an alternate location will be expected to work on site. As a reminder, our classified staff are wage and hourly employees and need to report to their building or use appropriate leave.

• Need any EA Help this Friday? – If teachers can use any help with prepping materials or with other tasks, add your name and the task to the Workload Relief Day Tasks Spreadsheet. EAs should also add your name to the tasks you’re willing to take on.

• Book Nook Starts Dec. 7th – See Jenny’s Email for details, but here’s the quick version:

Start: Wednesday, December 7th.
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Cafeteria
How: Send kids at the beginning of morning recess (not before).
How many: Send up to 5 kids each time.
Other info: Please do not send them with a snack (unless it can stay in their pocket)
What next: A Book Nook staff person will walk kids out to recess after they are done choosing a book. The book will be delivered to the table outside your classroom with a sticky note with the child’s name on it.

Make sure they bring a Book Nook Recess Pass, plus their Book Nook currency, which is one of the following:

• 5 Zaps
• 1 Instant Winner
• 1 Book Nook free book coupon
• $0.25
• A used book from home to trade in

• REPEAT: Friday PD, Dec. 9 – Building System – Leadership discussed doing a review of all of our support systems, with a particular focus on behavior support systems. With many new staff members and with systems having changed and morphed over time, here are the system I’m planning on reviewing, but let me know if there are other you think we should go over:

• Major/Minor Referrals
• PBIS Tickets (Zaps, Orange Tickets, Spirit Tickets)
• PBIS Videos & Resources
• Behavior Supports Available
• Voice Levels
• Recess/School Rules
• Request for Support – Academic/Behavior
• Request for Support – Student/Family Needs
• Family Resource Coordinator Supports

• HOLT Cozy Blanket Essay & Drawing Contest, ENTRIES DUE Dec. 12 – In place of the annual Winter Coat Drive, we’re trying a Cozy Blanket Drive. See Ashely’s Email, Staff Flyer, and Entry Form for details, but here’s the short version:

What?
Instead of the yearly coat collection, Holt will be having a fuzzy blanket giveaway for kids who would benefit from a warm and cozy blanket if their own.

When?
Contest forms are due on Monday, December 12. Winners will be announced at the assembly on Friday, December 16th.

How can teachers help?
Put the contest forms in Monday Mailers. If you would like, you can give students time in class to complete the form if they want to enter. Miss Darla has also volunteered to help kids get forms complete in here room.

• UPDATED: Elf Jr. Performance, Dec. 15, 9:00-10:00 – Thursday, Dec. 15th from 9:00-10:00 has been confirmed with Upstart Crow for our performance of the Elf Jr. Musical. Upstart Crow will begin setting up at 7:00, which will conflict with 3rd and 4th grade Music times. The 9-10 assembly time will also conflict with Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade recesses. Those teachers can take their prep during the assembly and other staff will cover your class. Linked here is an Assembly Map & Directions. If Holt has used a different sating format for performances in the cafeteria, let me know and I can adjust.

 

• January 3rd PD Day Info – The following was sent to principals regarding the PD Day following winter break on January 3rd:

January 3, 2023 – With the various moving parts, please know that it has been confirmed that the Elementary Wit & Wisdom Language Arts PD that was scheduled for January 3, 2023 (4 hours) has been postponed. We recognize that many buildings were only planning for the 1.5 hours, however, that is now 5.5 hours with your staff (in order to absorb the 4 hours that Wit & Wisdom will no longer be leading.) This could mean that your building will have more time to address work that has been put on pause, in addition to focusing on what care and connection will look like as we welcome our students back on January 4. On this date, licensed staff members will need to be provided 2 hours for prep/planning (first thing in the morning or to end their day).

I’ll put this on the next Staff Meeting Agenda to see if there are PD topics staff would like to cover this day or if folks would rather make this a “Collaborative Team Planning Time” or some combination of the two. My initial thinking is there are a few topics I’d like to cover this day (CICO Review, Escalation Cycle Review, Equity Decision Making Tool, DHS Child Welfare Reporting Online Documentation, School-wide Problem Solving Student Strategies), but to make the bulk of the 5.5 hours collaborative planning time for teams.

• 4J Communications Survey Deadline Extended, Nov. 28 – The 4J Communications Audit has been extended to Nov. 28th, so doing miss out on your change to let district admin know how they are doing on communication.

• Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Slideshow – I’ve already covered this with staff earlier, but if you’re interested, linked here is a 4J Standard Response Protocol Slideshow that was shown to principals last week, covering Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

• 20 School-Appropriate Funny Videos for Kids When You Have 5 Free Minutes – Here’s a funny WeAreTeachers Arcile that aims to help teachers when you find yourself needing to fill a few mintues. Why not fill that time with a video of a cat riding a Roomba?

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

November 28 (M)
Library Week #1 Classes
5th Grade Staff Room Duty
Book Fair Continues
Artist in Residence Continues
November 29 (T)
4:00-6:00, Allan to 4J IPBS Meeting (ATA)

November 30 (W)
Picture Retake Day
Holt Spirit Day – PJ Day
Book Fair Evening Event

December 1 (H)
Book Fair Last Day
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
5:30-8:00, Holt Staff Annual Gingerbread House Event (Katie’s House)

December 2 (F)
No School – Staff Workload Relief Day
8:00-11:00, Allan to LTRS Training (Zoom)
1:00-2:30, Allan to SPED Parent Advocacy Group Listening Session (Ed Center)

December 5 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
ELD/Speech/Counselor/Library Staff Room Duty
Artist in Residence Continues3:45-5:15, Allan to All Elem Principals’ Meeting (Ed Center)

December 6 (T)
Sunshine December Birthday Coffees & Goodies!
2:45-3:45, Staff Meeting (Library)

December 7 (W)
Monthly Walk+Roll to School Day
8:50-10:45, Book Nook, During AM Recesses (Cafeteria)
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)

December 8 (H)
Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day2:45-3:45, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
5:00-6:00, Site Council (Library)
6:00-7:00, PAHS Meeting (Library)

December 9 (F)
9:00-2:00, 4th Grade Salmon Fry Release Field Trip
1:25-2:25, Friday PD – Building Systems Review (Library)
4:00, Holt Friday @4:00 (TBA)

And if you’re a snow watcher, there is a very slight chance of snow Monday night!

Allan

November 21, 2022

By Allan  |  2022/11/19 22:01 Posted in Announcements, Articles, Grants, P.D., SEL, Video  |  Comments Off on November 21, 2022

Hi Everyone,

Fourteen items of note for this week:

• Temp Job Posting, 1st, Music, PE – Our Temp 1st Grade, Music, and PE Job Posting is now up and close on Tuesday. The specialist jobs are 0.2 FTE jobs to provide some relief for Alex and Ashley now that we’ve added another 1st grade classroom, so if you know any part-time (or maybe retired) Music or PE specialists, please encourage them to apply.

• Book Fair Opens Tuesday – The Book Fair will set-up Monday and will be open for families before school (7:30-7:50) and after school (2:25-3:30). The Book Fair will also be open the evening of Wednesday, November 30th.

• Holt Staff Annual Gingerbread House Event, Dec. 1 – See Debbi’s Email for details, but the Staff Gingerbread House Event is Thursday, December 1st from 5:30-8:00ish. Come if you have a team or if you just want to socialize! The gathering is at Katies’ house. Address is on the Staff Zimbra Calendar.

• Staff Workload Relief Day, Dec. 2 – The following was sent to principals regarding the December 2nd Workload Relief Day (which is referred to as a “transition day” below for some reason), which states that staff may work from home if you notify me ahead of time and also have a plan how you will connect with colleagues if needed.

December 2nd – This transition day should be treated much the same as a grading day. Staff may work from home on this day, but should be available to team members. Any staff that intend to work from an alternate location, will need to let you know their intentions. In that communication staff should also identify how they will communicate with their colleagues on this day. Staff that have not communicated a desire to work from an alternate location will be expected to work on site.

• Friday PD, Dec. 9 – Building System – Leadership discussed last week doing a review of all of our support systems, with a particular focus on behavior support systems. With many new staff members and with systems having changed and morphed over time, here are the system I’m planning on reviewing, but let me know if there are other you think we should go over:

• Major/Minor Referrals
• PBIS Tickets (Zaps, Orange Tickets, Spirit Tickets)
• PBIS Videos & Resources
• Behavior Supports Available
• Voice Levels
• Recess/School Rules
• Request for Support – Academic/Behavior
• Request for Support – Student/Family Needs
• Family Resource Coordinator Supports

• Elf Jr. Performance, Dec. 15 – I checked in with Leadership back in September, but Upstart Crow Youth Theater is offering performances of the Elf Jr. Musical Comedy to schools and finally emailed back last week. Dates and times aren’t confirmed, but they said they are available the last week of December before winter break, and I’ve asked for them to come Thursday, Dec. 15th, 8:30-9:30. I’ll keep you posted once date/times are solid.

• REMINDER: Orange Tickets – Progress is going slow for our school-wide Orange Ticket Reward. As a reminder, these tickets are whole class rewards for positive behavior around the school (i.e. cafeteria, hallways, gym, library, etc.), which are then added to the hallways display near the Calming Room.

• REMINDER: Classroom Buddies – One other PBIS reminder, linked here is the 22-23 Classroom Buddies List for the year. Buddy Classroom should do one activity each month together, which can be as simple a big buddies reading with younger students. If you’d like some ideas, here’s some form TeacherStarter.com and from Teacher.org

• EEF Grant Updates – Two grants were submitted for Holt and we got both of them!. 3rd grade’s “Hands on Art Materials for Third Graders!” and also our bigger $3,000 “Refill the Book Machine!” grant application were approved!

• Holt School Choice Guide – Principals were emailed our 4J School Choice Guide Descriptions last week to be updated by Friday next week. Let me know if you see anything on here you think we should update. Holt is usually closed to students living outside of our neighborhood, but this is our chance to advertise ourselves and retain families who might be looking to lottery into BV or another choice school.

• 2022/2023 Licensed IEP/504 Log – I’ve been asking about this since September and looks like HR finally posted this without telling anyone, but the Licensed IEP/504 Log Google Form is now live. This form is for licensed teachers to request payment for up to twelve hours of additional compensation based on your per diem rate for attending IEP or 504 meetings during your prep and/or outside of your normal workday. This link can be found on the Holt Staff Dashboard and also on the 4J HR Forms webpage.

• Building Behavioral Needs Assessment – If you’re interested, here is the Behavior Tool and Resource Kit that has been shared with the 4 elementary schools that are currently being supported with TOSA teams.

• 22 Videos To Help Kids Understand Gratitude – Just in time for Thanksgiving, here’s a List of Videos from WeAreTeachers for all age groups that will help your students to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

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

November 21 (M)
Library Week #1 Classes
4th Grade Staff Room Duty
Artist in Residence Continues
4:00-5:30, Allan to All admin Meeting (Ed Center)

November 22 (T)
Book Fair Opens
2:45-3:45, Allan to IEP Meeting

November 23 (W)
Regular Day

November 24 (H)
No School – Thanksgiving Break

November 25 (F)
No School – Thanksgiving Break

November 28 (M)
Library Week #2 Classes
5th Grade Staff Room Duty
Book Fair Continues
Artist in Residence Continues
November 29 (T)
Regular Day

November 30 (W)
Picture Retake Day
PJ Day
Book Fair Evening Event

December 1 (H)
Book Fair Last Day
9:00, Safety Committee Meeting (Office)
5:30-8:00, Holt Staff Annual Gingerbread House Event (Katie’s House)

December 2 (F)
No School – Staff Workload Relief Day
8:00-11:00, Allan to LTRS Training (Zoom)
1:00-2:30, Allan to SPED Parent Advocacy Group Listening Session (Ed Center)

17 student days until winter break!

Allan