Madison Middle School

By barsotti_p 　https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/madisonstaff/2021/05/14/may-14-2021/

Hi Madison Staff,

The school year is quickly winding down. We’ll soon begin tackling our typical end of the year activities like class lists, schedules, and other planning. There’s still so many unknowns about next year, but we’re moving forward planning for as “normal” as possible.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

This Week’s Schedule:

Quick Links: Please make sure you’re signed into your 4J Google Account to access many of these links.

• SPED/Gen Ed Collaboration Log – Complete the full log at the beginning of each new unit. Complete the last 2 questions weekly for students on IEPs who are not engaging or are not on track.
• FOCUS SLIDES
  • Monday – Canvas self check
  • Tuesday – Mindfulness and discussion
  • Thursday – SEL Finishing strong
  • Friday – Team building : How many elephants
       

Madison INFORMATION         

• Wednesday PD:
  • Guest Speakers will present about piloting 4Js new SEL universal screening tool
  • Next Steps in our Climate Refresh                    

• State Testing: We have a total of 180 confirmed students whose parents would like them tested.  Very few of those will take all the tests available for their grade level. We only have a handful of students we haven’t heard from, but will plan for them to show up just in case. Testing will Please connect with Christina or Gina if you have any questions about testing.
  • Blue/CO/Monday-Tuesday Cohort = May 19
  • Green/OC/Thursday-Friday = May 26
  • Make-Ups = June 9    

• Repeat: Spring easyCBM: 
       
  
• School Climate Survey: Surveys for grades 6 to 12 are open and will be available until the end of the school year.  This year the surveys have between 32 and 34 questions and combine four components: (1) a significantly reduced version of our annual climate survey, (2) a mental health screener, (3) questions related to the All Students Belong initiative, and (4) questions about student experiences with distance learning.
  • This year the survey will be given by all math teachers, and may be completed either in person or via Canvas.
  • Secondary grades in English:

    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/4jsecondarysurvey

    Secondary grades in Spanish:

    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/4jencuestasecundaria

    As in previous years, our goal for these surveys is full student participation, but something different this year is that students can complete them either synchronously or asynchronously

       

• Staff Shout-Outs: I’m replacing the weekly check in with a staff shout out. If you need absolutely anything, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. This week’s shout out is to the climate team, for planning our super fun staff social. Also, thank you to everyone to made the time and effort to attend the event! 

DISTRICT INFORMATION     

• District Admin Staffing News: Two major updates came out this week. First, Brooke Wagner, current Director of PreK-8, will become the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services. This is a temporary role as this was Superintendent Vandercar’s position. Her role as Superintendent is currently temporary, so she will move back into her assistant superintendent role should the board hire a different person for superintendent next year. Brooke will oversee Human Resources, Finance, and other operational departments. No news yet on who will fill her position or if restructuring will happen.Dr. José Salgado will join 4J as the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction as Charis departs down this summer.José has worked at all levels of education over more than 30 years, in different cultures, languages and geographies, in a wide range of capacities and leadership roles. His experience ranges from teaching in rural Central America to teaching in the first dual immersion bilingual program in the U.S., leading schools in inner-city Boston to serving as provost of a university in Honduras. He holds a doctorate in education from Harvard University. He is currently serving as the chief academic officer of Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi, where he has worked to create the vision for the district’s instruction and curriculum for the next five years, and developed the online system for teaching and learning in response to COVID-19 restrictions. Previously he served as the chief academic officer of Schenectady City School District in New York. José’s diverse experiences have taught him that each individual situation deserves a unique approach, tailored to local context and a unique understanding of what it is required to improve student and school outcomes at every level, by leveraging effective teams, creating a clear and attainable vision, and setting clear goals and accountability systems. He has focused his career on closing achievement gaps and increasing academic outcomes. He believes success in education can be achieved when systems and structures are in place to support instructional leaders to increase student achievement in literacy and numeracy, align health and nutrition issues, technology, discipline approaches beyond punishment, and students’ voice and leadership, accompanied by meaningful principal and teacher training around data, pedagogy, climate and cultural changes, and approaches to learning. José’s expertise in teaching and leading is of the highest caliber, and he will be an outstanding addition to our team in this critical role.
          
• iPad Collection: We will NOT be collecting devices at the end of the year, unless we know of a student who will be leaving the district. All returning students will keep their iPad over the summer.
         

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Teaching Students About the Concept of Injustice: Students gain a rich understanding of civil rights when they build from their ideas of fairness to the larger issue of justice. See this Edutopia article for age-appropriate ways to teach the concept of injustice. 

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Gina and Peter