https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=12480
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.eduThe 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 13Also 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 MonthOn Teaching:
• How to Be an Anti-Racist White Educator
• What Anti-Racist Teachers Do DifferentlyBlack Youth Leaders and Activists:
• Past: Youth in the Civil Rights Movement
• Present: Young Black Activists, Young Black Leaders and Creators Making History Today, Amanda GormanLesson plans, etc.:
• Virtual History Journeys
• PBS Learning ResourcesFrom 4J District Librarian, Amy Page:
• Libray Connection 2022
• Sora Black History Month Collection
• Black History Month Choice Board
• Black History Month eBooksKeep 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
