https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/madisonstaff/2020/10/08/october-9th-2020/
This Week’s Video: Because we probably all could use a pep talk right about now.
Oct. 9-15
Applied Learning (Asynchronous Work): Continues next week and every week from here on out. Remember that students should check into your Canvas page on Wednesday looking for Asynchronous work. You will need to pre-teach that in your classes on Monday/Tuesday plus Focus. Please let your students know that attendance will be taken on Flex Wednesdays.
Wednesday: Next week is our first Flex Wednesday where we will be offering extensions and supports. Please pick 1 hour for office hours, 1 hour for support, and 30 minutes of extension time. Protected prep should be from 12:30 to 1:30 unless you want to run a club. If you want to run a club, please run your idea by Peter and we will talk about how you want to advertise it. If you run a club, we will talk about how to get your protected prep later in the afternoon along with office hours and support time.
When filling in the google sheet – as a grade level team, please make sure that a student could get support in 5 classes between 1:30 and 4.Next Tuesday during GLT we will start as a whole staff to answer questions and then you will be talking about what students that you will schedule in your support or extension time. In Canvas you should be able to send invites to the students and it will show up on their calendars.
EasyCBM/Assessments for Fall: We finally heard from the district that easyCBM will begin October 12 and go through Nov 13. Gina and Christina are in contact with teachers that are administering the assessment. Math testing will take place next week, 10/12-10/16, and ELA the two weeks after that.
We interrupt our usual announcements to just remind everyone that you are doing an incredible job in an impossible situation. Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do. It’s not normal, we’re all not okay, and we know we all can’t wait for “normal” again. The more you can offer yourself the same grace you’d offer a colleague, find someone to laugh about the “holidays” with, and lean on each other, the less alone and consistently overwhelming it all might be.
Supply & Materials Distribution Friday, 10-2: We are hoping many families come to pick up materials and supplies tomorrow. Teachers that are participating in material distribution, please send out an email to those families so they know they can come pick things up. What we want to avoid is families thinking they can skip our distribution dates and come later because we are able to staff the distribution dates, but when people come later, our office staff has to consistently interrupt their work to give out materials.
Behavior Support: Gina is working on a modified check-in check-out process that is specifically geared toward distance learning. Thank you to all of the teachers who have welcomed her into classes this week. She’s gained a great deal of insight regarding how to potentially structure a support document that will increase positive engagement. We’ll have a draft ready for feedback next week.
Covid Protocols: Just a reminder that if you are sick and/or are being Covid tested, have been exposed to someone who is positive, etc., please let us know. There are protocols we need to follow. On the heels of this, we are asking for everyone’s understanding around employee’s individual work from home plans. Many staff have teleworking agreements and aren’t required to be in the building unless their work that day requires it. If someone is awaiting a test result or has been exposed to Covid, they are being required to work from home. They are not required to tell others about this plan. Thank you for showing each other kindness and understanding. Our number one goal is the safety of our team and second is to avoid having our building shut down as cases in Lane County increase.
We learned this week that if you hear of one of our students testing positive, Gina also needs to know that and report it to our district Covid administrators. They have to follow up to see if those students visited any meal sites, were around other students, etc. Thank you for your help with this.
Child Care – The district approved 4 applications from outside groups to set up child care centers using 4J facilities. Madison has been approved to host two different K-5 programs in our gyms. We are still waiting for more details from them.
Internet Hubs: We have been identified as a current site for an internet hub for North Eugene, but we do not have any students yet. Hot spots seem to work a lot better in North Eugene then other areas 🙂
Comic: The advantage of teaching middle school is we get to experience both sides of this comic.
Political Statements – Linked here are the updates from Kerry Delf on Political Activity and from Cydney Vandercar on Black Lives Matter. Additionally, Kerry shared this guide on elections for public officials.
Repeat: Meal Deliveries Start October 12: Families that indicated they need help with food can sign up to have meals delivered if they aren’t able to access our daily lunch pick up. Priority will be given to current 4J families and food will not be delivered outside of the 4J boundaries. Families can visit this link for more information about the program and complete the form here to sign up for deliveries. The district wants to target families who are not close to food distribution sites or who cannot get to distribution sites due between 10:45 and 2pm for lunch pick up.
3 Keys to Effective Instructional Videos – When using videos with students, remember we actually need to teach students how to use the instructional videos. See this Teacher2Teacher article on what one educator learned last spring about making instructional videos effective during distance learning. The short version is to keep videos 6 minutes or shorter, and super focused on the learning target. Take full advantage of tools that enable you to check whether students are still with you, and ask questions aloud in the video to help kids learn that they need to actually listen to you speak.
Schedule of Upcoming Events:
October 12 (M) – A Day
1:30-3:30, Gina and Peter Admin Meeting
October 13 (T) – B Day
GLT Time to talk about students
October 14 (W) – Flex Day
8am – Climate Team
9am – GLT – Business
10am – Staff Meeting
October 15 (Th) – A Day
October 16 (F) – B day
October 23 (F)
No School – Progress Reports and Building PD
We hope everyone has a restful weekend,
Peter and Gina
