https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=12549
Hi Everyone,
Eighteen items of note for this week:
• New Staff Start this Week! – We hired these folks earlier, but our new part-time PE teacher, Rachel Farkas will start this week, teaching PE classes on Tuesday, and our new SPED EA Laura Peterman will start this Wednesday. Please give these folks a “howdy” when you see them this week!
• Monday Morning Announcements on Zoom – A quick reminder that Monday Morning announcements are now going to be on Zoom, so log in at 7:55 and announcements will start at 8:00. Zoom links are on the Staff Zimbra Calendar.
• REPEAT: Report Cards Sent Home, MONDAY – A reminder that report cards are to be send home with Monday Mailers next week on Monday, February 13th.
• Team Meetings, WEDNESDAY – 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.
• Fire Drill, FRIDAY @8:15 – This Friday at 8:15 will be our January Fire Drill. Linked here are the Building Evacuation Map and the Fire Drill Lines Map. If we are rained out, we’ll try again next Friday.
• Holt Spirit Day – Wacky Dress-Up Day, Feb. 24 – Not this week but next week is a Holt Spirit Day and it’s Wacky Dress-Up Day! Start planning your outfit now and let your kids know how they can participate, wearing mismatched closthes, bright color, crazy outfits, crazy attire, or simply wearing their Holt gear or Holt school colors!
• School Spirit Assembly, Feb. 24 @8:10 – We’ll have our monthly School Spirit Assembly on Friday, February 24th in the gym. The assembly will start at 8:15, but all classes should be in the gym by 8:10. Stay tuned for details!
• Artist in Residence Schedule Finalized – The Artist in Residence Schedule is now final for when Larry Meyers comes to Holt next week after President’s Day, February 21 – March 16, for his ceramic tiles residency.
• Upbeat Survey Results, Classified Results – I shared the Upbeat Survey Results in last week’s announcements, but forgot to mention that these results were for licensed staff. Linked here are the Upbeat Survey Results for Classified Staff, which are actually pretty similar to the licensed staff results.
• 22/23 Staffing Survey – To help me with next year’s staffing plan, I’d like staff, both classified and licensed, to complete the linked 2023-2024 Staffing Survey. I’d like to know staff members’ individual plans and preferences for the future as well as your thoughts on next year’s staffing plan, master schedule, or other thoughts. All answers will be kept confidential and let me know if you have any questions.
• 23-24 Enrollment Projections – Linked here are the 23-24 Elementary Enrollment Projections (projections are on the last page). If you see anything that you feel is a glaring error or omission, let me know, but these numbers seem reflective of our Current Actual Numbers. It looks like downtown actually padded our numbers at most grade levels and projected us above the actual number at all grade levels except 1st grade, which projected flat growth from this year’s kinder numbers.
• Staffing Timeline – Linked here is the 23-24 HR Staffing Timeline. Principals will get allocations Feb. 22. Staffing plans are due to HR by noon on March 15. The timeline for us to process our staffing plan will be:
Feb. 21 – Staff Meeting: Staffing Priorities & Grade Level Needs
Feb. 22 – HR gives principals 23-24 allocations
Feb. 22 – Allan emails allocations & draft scenarios
Feb. 24 – Friday PD: Staffing Discussion #1
Feb. 24 – Mar. 2 – Anonymous Google Survey
March 3 – Friday PD: Staffing Discussion #2
March 7 – Staff Meeting: Final Discussion
March 14 – If needed, Stand-Up Staff Meeting
March 15 – Plans Due to HR
*Allan available to meet with teams or individuals at any point.Friday, February 24th is scheduled to be “Staff Choice” but due to the tight timeline, I’m changing this to a time to meet to discuss staffing scenarios. I will plan to do a payback day the next Building Based Friday, which is April 7th, since most staff are using the Staff Choice days for additional prep. We’ll also need to shift some of our Data Team Meeting dates/times on 2/24 and 3/4. Teams who were originally meeting from 1:30-2:25 (1st and 4th grade) will meet after school on Thursday. Teams meeting 2:30-2:30 on 2/24 and 3/4 during their protected planning time (2nd and 5th grade) will receive extended contract. Let me and Gloria know if this does not work for any teams and we can adjust.
• Staff Shout Outs – Discussed on Friday, we talked about reminding folks about the Staff Shout Outs Link, where you can share a shout-out to any staff member who has gone above and beyond, did something of note, or who you just appreciate! We’ll share these at the start of Staff Meetings. The link can always be found on my blog and also on the Holt Staff Dashboard.
• W2 Statement Email (not a scam) – I’m not sure if this email (and a second email sent later in the week) went to everyone or just select folks who had an error on their W-2, but I did want staff to know it is a legitimate email and not a scam. If you did get this email go to Employee Wage Statements Online Website and the click BusinessPlus Employee Online > Menu > Payroll Information > W-2 under the Tax Forms heading to get your corrected W-2 Statement.
• 4J Grown Your Own Teaching/Counseling Program – HR sent a reminder email to principals about their Grown Your Own Program for any current 4J classified staff 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.
Also, 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.
• February SSD Newsletter – Linked here is the February SSD Newsletter, which includes information about Behavior Support Plans, ABA therapy in schools, Google Read&Write (which is a great tool if you’re not familiar with it), and other topics. Previous issues can be found in the SSD Newsletter Archive.
• Why Black Boys’ Sneakers Should Matter to Educators – From the ASCD Blog, Phelton Cortez Moss, American University’s senior professorial lecturer on education policy and leadership, imagines the potential outcomes for Black boys if educators built stronger relationships with them that show they matter in schools. He recommends starting by viewing sneakers — and similar expressions of selfhood — as an asset to learning.
• Schedule of Upcoming Events – See the Holt Staff Calendar for future events, but here are the events of note for the next two weeks:
February 13 (M)
Report Cards Sent Home
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Library Week #1 Classes
4th Grade Staff Room Duty
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
4:00-5:30, Allan to Elem Principals Meeting (Zoom)February 14 (T)
Holt Friendship Day
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
2:45-3:45, PBIS/SEL/Equity Meeting (Library)February 15 (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)
2;45, Grade Level Team Meetings
7:00-9:00, School Board Meeting (Zoom)February 16 (H)
Winter Benchmarking Window Closes
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
2:45-3:45, Leadership Team Meeting (Library)February 17 (F)
8:15, Fire Drill
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, Building Based – Equity (Library)February 20 (M)
No School – President’s DayFebruary 21 (T)
Artist in Residence – Ceramic Tiles w/Larry Meyers Begins
Library Week #2 Classes
5th Grade Room Duty
Artist in Residence – Larry Meyers Begins
8:00, Morning Announcements (Zoom)
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 22 (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, Student Council Meeting (Reich’s Room)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
2:40-3:30, Data Team, Kindergarten
3:30-5:30, District MTSS Team Using LibraryFebruary 23 (H)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Heinrich)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Ayres)
10:30, Allan to HR Staffing Meeting (Zoom)
2:45-3:45, IPBS Meeting (Kelsey’s Room)
6:30-7:30, 3rd Grade Cultural Heritage Night (Gym/Cafeteria)
6:30-7:15, 4th Grade Expert Project Night (Classrooms)February 24 (F)
Holt Spirit Day – Wacky Dress-Up Day!
8:10-8:40, School Spirit Assembly (Gym)
8:15-9:15, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Parks)
9:20-10:20, 5th Philosophy with Paul Bodin (Lovato)
12:00-1:00, OBOB Tournament Practice (Library)
1:30-2:30, Friday PD, Staffing Discussion #1 (Library)
1:30-2:25, Data Team – 1st Grade
2:30-3:25, Data Team – 2nd Grade
4:00, Holt Friday at 4:00 (Beer Garden)
Keep watching that snowflake on your weather apps fo this Tuesday!
Allan
