Allan's Announcements

By Allan 　https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=13039

Hi Everyone,

Keep on summering, like you’ve never summered before!

Twelve items of note for this week:

• 7-hour EA Job Posting Update – The 7-hour EA position I mentioned in my last announcements that all schools are getting has been changed by downtown to a 6.5-hour Building Behavior Support Assistant (BBSA) Position (i.e. Levi’s position). This means we’ll have two Behavior EAs next year. The job posting is a pool hire and I’m not quite sure how the hiring process will go, but I’ll keep folks posted.

 

• Class List Email Friday, Sept. 1 after 3:00 – 4J is continuing the practice of classroom teachers emailing families class placement instead of posting class lists outside of the office. Teachers should plan on sending a welcome email through Synergy to families of all students in your class after 3:00 on Friday, September 1st.

 

• Holt PBIS Incentive Programs – A reminder for Holt veterans and an explanation for newbies, linked here is an explanation of Holt’s Positive Incentives, which includes ZAPs, Orange Tickets, Spirit Tickets, the ZAP Fairy, and prize explanations. See the Holt Staff Dashboard Behavior Column for more info, including the ZAP Prize List, the ZAP Drawing Nomination Sheet, and others.

 

• Elementary Testing Coordinator – Since there are no longer ESCs, we are in need of someone to take over test coordination. The EEA contact offers a stipend of 2% of your total salary for whoever takes over this duty, which covers both easyCBM benchmark testing and OSAS. Let me know if you are interested or have any questions. I’ve done testing coordination before and can certainly help whoever takes on this duty.

 

• Air Quality Index (AQI) Correction – An AQI greater than 150 (not 200) is when we move recess and any other outdoor activities inside and we are to use using PurpleAir (not AirNow.gov).

 

• New Student Screening Coming: SAEBRS – Downtown shared the following with principals about a new Social, Academic, Emotional, Behavioral Rating Scale (SAEBRS) we’ll have students take three times a year:

As part of our MTSS journey, and in alignment with best practices in supporting our students’ mental and behavioral health, we will be adding a social/emotional benchmark screener to our activities this year. The Social, Academic, Emotional, Behavioral Rating Scale (SAEBRS) is a research-based, nationally-recognized rating scale that teachers use to capture a snapshot of student behaviors, and older students can even rate themselves. Much like an academic benchmarking tool (like easyCBM), the SAEBRS is simply one piece of data that building teams can use when determining how to provide supports to their students. Four of our schools piloted the SAEBRS in 2021 and found the results to be very helpful in understanding student needs. The ratings will happen three times per year, starting in mid/late October, will take 2-3 minutes per student, and can be completed entirely through Clever. There is nothing that you need to do now. More information to come!

 

• Safe Schools Training Modules – The normal training courses are scheduled to publish on August 21. They will include AED, BBP, Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting, Understanding Boundaries, and a new one called Influences of Unconscious Bias in the Classroom. There may be more added, but these will be available when staff return to the building.

 

• State Law for Students on Abbreviated Days – I mentioned in my last announcements that all elementary schools are getting additional EA time as a result of changes in state law that could lead to more students on shortened school days coming back full time. If you are interested linked here is an Abbreviated School Days: Impacts of SB 819 Slideshow that contains more info. We only have one student on a shortened scheduled, but this new law is going to greatly impact high schools and online programs. The short version is that schools now need to hold a meeting every 30 days for any student with an IEP or 504 or who are in the process of being evaluate for either to decide on a shortened day (unless the parent signs off on meeting every 90 days). Parent can now opt out of a shortened day at any point versus prior rules where it was a team decision. Also, the superintendent must now personally review the complete records of every student on a shortened schedule and if a district is found not in compliance the superintendent’s license will be sanctioned.

 

• Student Teacher Laptops, Email, Badge, etc. – See Step #3 at the bottom of the 4J University Student Placement Process webpage for how to get your student teacher a 4J laptop, email, badge, Synergy, and/or Seesaw access.

 

• Math Adoption Coming – 4J is beginning a two year math adoption process. The adoption will be K-10, which is a first for 4J.

 

• Repeats & Reminders – See prior announcements for details, but take note of the following:

• Inservice Week Schedule – Linked here is the Elementary Inservice Week Schedule.

• Optional New Staff Member Orientation and Q&A, 9/1 @10:00 – Friday, Sept. 1 at 10:00 in the library I’ll share some Holt nuts & bolts logistics, answer questions, and provide any assistance for new folks.

• Draft Leadership Plan – Linked here is a Draft 23-24 Leadership Plan. We need to submit a draft plan to JCAC by Sept. 1. Take a look and let me know your ideas ahead of the 8/28 Staff Meeting.

• Who is A/B and C/D on the Schedule? – Grade-level teams should let me know which classes will follow the A, B, C, or D schedules on the 23-24 Master Schedule for Library, PE, and Music.

• Team Sign-Ups – Feel free to add you name to the Team Sign-Ups Spreadsheet.

• Artist in Residence Survey – Pick your top five artists for the Artist in Residence Survey.

• Staff Walk-Up Songs – Add your “Walk-Up Song” to the Staff Walk-Up Song Survey.

• Holt Staff Fun Facts – Add or update your info to the Holt Staff Fun Facts Spreadsheet.

• Welcome Back Burritos, Coffee, & Supplies! Friday, 8/25 @9:00! – Burritos, coffee, school supplies, and socializing Friday, August 25th at 9:00 in the School Garden from Project Hope! 

• Breakfast Burrito Orders Due 8/28 – Fill out the Breakfast Burrito Google Form by 12:00am, Monday, August 28 to get one at the 8/31 Staff Meeting.

• Make Sure Your Voicemail is Set Up – All teachers should have your 4J voicemail is set up and working. See the linked Quick Start Voice Mail User Guide for instructions.

 

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

August 25 (F)
Licensed Staff Report Back
Teacher Planning Day
9:00, Welcome Back Burritos, Coffee, & Supplies! (School Garden)

August 28 (M)
8:00-11:00 – Building PD – Leadership Plan, Licensed Staff Nuts & Bolts
12:00, Breakfast Burrito Orders Due
12:30-4:00 – Conscious Discipline PD (Holt Gym/Cafeteria)

August 29 (T)
8:00-12:00 – Teacher Prep
12:30-4:00 – Conscious Discipline PD (Holt Gym/Cafeteria)
6:00-7:00 – Holt PTO Board Meeting (Library)

August 30 (W)
Classified Staff Report Back
8:00-11:00 – 4J Welcome Back Event (Sheldon HS Track)
11:00-12:00, Lunch and Transition Time
12:00-4:00 – Grade Level & Specialist PD (See LINK for locations)

August 31 (H)
7:30-11:15 – Building PD – SCIP, Equity, Nuts & Bolts (All Staff, Cafeteria)
11:45-3:30 – Building PD – Structured Collaboration

September 1 (F)
8:00-10:00 – Building PD – BEPA, SEL (Licensed Staff, Library)
10:00-11:00, Classified Staff Meeting (Library)
11:00-12:00, Optional New Staff Orientation and Q&A (Library)
12:30-3:30 – Teacher Prep

September 4 (M)
Labor Day – No School

September 5 (T)
7:30-9:00 – Staff Meeting, If Needed (Library)
2:00-3:00, Meet Your Teacher (Classrooms)
2:30-3:30, Kona Ice Fundraiser (Playground)

September 6 (W)
Kinder Starts
Grades 1-5 Structured Collaboration & Support of Kinder Start

September 7 (H)
All Grade Levels Start

September 8 (F)
1:30-2:00, Welcome Back Assembly (Gym or Outside)

Keep enjoying your summer!

Allan