Madison Middle School

Hi Madison Staff,

Welcome to the last blog post of the year. We did it!!!!

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.

• Focus Slides for Wednesday: I am super excited about this time with your next year students and starting the message that everyone belongs.  We have included two games to play with your Focus class but if you have other ones you like more, please play them instead.  If you have any questions before Wednesday, please reach out to Peter or Anne.
• Master Schedule Next Year: We have not schedule the students yet but this is our first draft we are going to schedule our student in for next year.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Peter.
     

MADISON INFORMATION

• Feedback on Our Leadership: We have had the opportunity to provide you with feedback this year (though we still have more to do this week), we are seeking your feedback on our leadership this year. These responses will be read only by Gina and Peter. There are three questions: What have you appreciated about our leadership this year, what would you recommend we improve upon or do differently, and what other feedback do you have. I hope you’ll feel safe to be very honest about things that are going well and things that could be contributing to people feeling unsupported, unheard, or any issues in staff culture or collaboration. 
      
• Grading Day Friday: Report card grading day is a regular work day, but HR does allow teachers to work from home if you notify your administrator (me) in advance. Be sure to plan ahead if you need to collaborate with any colleagues on grading. Also, 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 in the past that if working off-site on grading days is abused, we will not be allowed to continue the practice.         

• End of Year Check Out: Linked here is the check-out checklist for teachers. 
           
• 8th Grade Celebration: In case you missed my email, we are celebrating the 8th graders on June 17th from 5 to 7.  They will drive through the parking lot as we wave and say our good byes.
    
• Staff Shout-Outs: Consider giving someone a staff shout out! If you need absolutely anything, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. We didn’t have any shout outs this week, so please consider taking a moment to celebrate a colleague whose made an impact this year.    

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• LGBTQIA+ Resources: With this month being Pride Month, I thought I’d share some resources related to fostering an inclusive classroom for all students. 
  • welcomingschools.org has a collection of read alouds and lessons designed to be age-appropriate and support inclusivity and representation. Some lessons are tagged with grade level suggestions.
  • Supporting LGBTQ Students in Elementary School: This Edutopia article shares 3 strategies for creating an LGBTQ inclusive classroom: include LGBTQ children’s literature in your classroom library, rethink practices that reinforce the gender dichotomy, and capitalize on teachable moments.
  • Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Students: These resources from Teaching for Justice include a guide for teaching LGBTQ youth, a webinar, and book and film recommendations.

Dates for Next School Year:  

Wed, July 28                Peter and Gina Report Back
Wed, Aug. 25               School psychs, nurses, and SPED consultants report back
Mon, Aug. 30                Teachers Report Back
Fri, Aug 27                   196 day employees report back
Thur, Sept 2                 192 day employees report back
Thur, Sept 9                 Transition day for all of our students 🙂 – No 6th grade only day this year.

I hope you have a wonderful last week!

Peter and Gina

Hi Madison Staff,

The finish line is in view as we head toward June. Today I’m feeling gratitude for this incredible Madison team. It was likely the most challenging year of our careers and I know many have hit near burn out this year. Thank you for all you have done this year and all you continue to do. As we countdown these last 13 school days, I hope you’ll take a few moments to say thank you to the people around you who have kept you going and reflect on all you’ve done. It really should have been impossible, but we did it together.  

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.
• COVID Protocol Suggestion Box – Please add any suggestions or concerns here.
     

MADISON INFORMATION                       

• Talent Ed… We are at the time of the year to fill out your End of Cycle Goal Reflection.  Please make time to do it this week.  Most of our goals were written with the thought of being back in person sooner than we were this year.  If your goals were not met, no worries this year.  Just put in the comments why.
• 8th Grade Promotion Activities: We are doing a drive through promotion program once again this year on June 17th from 5 to 7.  On June 17th, we are also doing an 8th grade slide show at 10am on zoom.  Since most of us are doing async work that morning, it would be fun for all of us staff be there to celebrate our 8th graders.
• Focus Slides

• • Tuesday: Focus Feedback Survey
  • Wednesday: Forecasting Video 
    • 8th Grade: Please reach out to the students who have not filled out their survey yet.
  • Thursday: Mindfulness
  • Friday: Teambuilding –  Choose your own Fun!

• Library Books: Pleases start reminding all hybrid students to turn in their library books. Shana has worked hard to get books into students hands and now we would like them back. 
       
• Staff Shout-Outs: Consider giving someone a staff shout out! If you need absolutely anything, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. We didn’t have any shout out this week.
  
  • Audrey for all her work taking the staff/student pictures and getting the yearbook ready on such short notice
  • Jackie and her team in the kitchen.  It has been fun working with her and watching her interact with the students
  • Gina and the climate team for all of their work on the revision

DISTRICT INFORMATION          

• District Survey: In case you missed it in Cyd’s announcements last week, there’s an opportunity to provide input to the district. “We want to hear from you about how these one-time ESSER funds can best support the needs of our students and staff and schools, related to the pandemic and its impacts. I hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts, using the online form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/4JESSERstaffsurvey. “
     
• District Student and School Safety Survey: Staff received an email from the superintendent on Friday afternoon asking for your input on student and school safety. The goal is to gather data on what is working, what isn’t, and who is being affected positively or negatively by our policies and practices. The information goes directly to SeeChange, the consulting firm hired by the district. If you’d like to provide input, please complete the survey linked here by June 1.
      

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Peter & Gina

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

Hi Monarchs,

Thank you teachers, for all of the wonderful gifts that you give to Madison kids, families, and colleagues every week! May the force be with you, this week! We look forward to spoiling you a bit, this week!

It looks like everyone’s in the groove of the new normal of hybrid and SSO which means there are way fewer items for the blog. If you’ve been watching the news, you may have seen that local case counts have risen more than 100% from the previous two weeks. According to ODE guidance, even if we shift into high risk, schools can likely continue operating in hybrid provided the schools aren’t shown to be transmission sites. Hopefully this means we’ll continue operating as is for the remainder of the year. At the school board meeting on Wednesday the superintendent indicated they are moving forward with planning for next year as having a full 5-day schedule. Students who want to remain online next year would enroll in EOA. Fingers crossed for getting back to as close to “normal” as possible!

Here’s what’s happening this week:

This Week’s Schedule: HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!

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.   

MADISON INFORMATION 

• FOCUS SLIDES 
  • Monday – Canvas Check before Progress Reporting
  • Tuesday – Mindfulness
  • Wednesday – SEL : Stress Management
  • Thursday –  Team Building – Spot the Difference  
• Wednesday PD: No PD this week. 
• End of day dismissal:
  We are changing the end of day dismissal just a little for the last 7 weeks to spread the students out a little better.  We are going to dismiss by your last digit of your room number after PE and music are dismissed.
   
  New Dismissal Schedule:
  PE/Music
  Rooms ending in 01 (501, 601, 801, 901)
  Rooms ending in 02
  Rooms ending in 03
  Rooms ending in 04
  Rooms ending in 05

  
                

• Expo Update: We have 2 part time postings in round 2 of the EXPO
  • 
    

    M-MAD02	COORDINATOR	MADISON	0.8	Intervention & support for Math & ELA
    M-MAD03	DATA COORDINATOR	MADISON	0.2

                            

• State Testing: The school board approved the district’s plan to offer state testing opportunities to families on Wednesdays in May. This email from Kerry Delf provides more information. Families have been emailed a link to a survey to complete by April 30 to indicate their preference and text with the link and their student’s ID number, which is needed to complete the survey. Families can opt out directly on that survey if they prefer. Important note: Staff members should not make suggestions to families about opting out of tests, however you can direct them to the survey or the form if they ask for it. All communication about state testing will come from the district, so please don’t worry about needing to email or communicate with families around testing. More info to come next week when dates have been sent.
  • Testing dates will be on Flex Wednesday mornings, 5/19 and 5/26, and will be done entirely by guest teachers and EAs. Teachers will not need to proctor tests, and class-time will not be used.
        
• Spring easyCBM: Please see Christina’s email about easyCBM testing for Spring. It will look much like it did in the fall. 
  
   

DISTRICT INFORMATION
     

• Administration News: March and April are traditionally the times when administration shifts happen. Here’s a brief rundown of who’s going where:
  • All the interim administrators from the beginning of the year have been formally assigned to their positions. This includes Trinity Welch-Radabaugh as principal of North, Travis Sheaffer as AP at North, John Wayland as principal of Kelly, and Sarah Prater as AP at Kelly.
  • Casandra Kamens, AP at Churchill, is the new extended learning administrator overseeing all summer programs and after school programs.
  • Joyce Smith-Johnson will be the new elementary education director at Springfield school district next year.
  • Larry Williams, principal of ATA, will move downtown to support educational equity and inclusion. AJ Hruby, the AP at ATA, will move into the principal role.
  • Jen Hebard, principal of Family School and Chinese Immersion, will move to Kennedy to serve as assistant principal and oversee the Chinese Immersion school which moves to Kennedy to co-locate on their campus.
  • Teresa Martindale, principal of Adams, will be the principal of Family School and support other district programs.
  • Chris Benz, AP at Kennedy, will be the principal of Adams.
  • Scott Mayers, AP at North, will be the AP at Eugene Online Academy.
  • J. Jesus Sandoval, currently an education specialist in Willamette Education Service District, will be an AP at North.
  • David Jacobson, currently the Federal Programs Administrator and former principal at Willagillespie, has decided to return to classroom teaching.
  • Mark Watson, AP at Sheldon for the 15 years and current AP at Cal Young, is retiring this year.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Anti-Racism Resources: After our anti-racism PD on Wednesday, a few staff members shared some additional videos and podcasts. If you have any other resources to share, please send them my way and I’ll include them in the blog. 
  • Nice White Parents – This 5-part series from the New York Times focuses on the 60-year relationship between white parents and their neighborhood schools in New York City. It’s a pretty fascinating glimpse into how people think they’re helping without considering the impact on others.
  • Portland Civil Rights: Lift Ev’ry Voice – This film from OPB explores Portland’s African American history with a focus on the turbulent 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s. At the time, issues surrounding urban renewal, school desegregation and brittle police relations were exploding both nationally and locally.
       
• Test Your Luck: Some people have mentioned looking for strategies to help students with work completion and motivation. I saw this video and thought the idea looked fun, even with older kids!
  

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Peter and Gina

Hi Monarchs,

We did it! If anyone wants to start counting, there are officially 42 school days left!

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 math or ELA unit. Complete the last 2 questions weekly for students on IEPs who are not engaging or are not on track.
• COVID Protocol Suggestion Box – Now that everybody’s back on campus, please add any suggestions or concerns into the yellow physical suggestion box that resides in the staff room.
• Focus Slides
  • Monday – Fire Drill Preparation
  • Tuesday – Self Canvas Check
  • Thursday – SEL “Wearing is Caring”
  • Friday – Team Building – Memory Game Video

• Staff Appreciation – 

  • On Monday, April 19th, 2021 the District will be recognizing staff at middle schools and acknowledge how tirelessly you have been working to bring your students back on campus. We would like to respectfully request to take a photograph of you (wearing a mask) with the delivery to promote our gratitude to donors.

    The district has partnered with the Eugene Education Foundation and Starbucks to make your day a little sweeter! The Office of Public Safety staff will be delivering boxes of donuts compliments of Eugene Education Foundation.

    In addition, Starbucks has generously donated one complimentary beverage (up to six dollars in value) to every staff member to show gratitude and appreciation for all you do. You will find a voucher printed on blue paper in your mailbox, early next week. You can redeem your Starbucks certificate at any Eugene corporate store this week, Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, April 25. (Those are the standalone stores, not those in a Safeway for example.)

    Thank you for all you do for our kids and community!

    You are appreciated!

       

MADISON INFORMATION     

• Hybrid Updates:                   
  • Eating and Cleaning Protocols: At Friday’s Site Coordinator’s meeting, Joyce clarified the expectations around students eating. It is recommended that kids who are eating have nothing else out (paper, pencils, etc)
    • If food is out, materials shouldn’t be: It was recommended that when kids are eating, that should be the only thing they do. Given the fact they’re unmasked, touching their mouths, possibly getting saliva on their hands, students shouldn’t also be touching iPads, pencils, materials, etc during that time. I know this may complicate your morning or lunch plans, so please don’t hesitate to check in if you have questions.
    • Wash/Sanitize Hands Before and After Eating: Students should be cleaning their hands directly before and directly after eating. Washing with soap and water is preferable, but hand sanitizer is also acceptable.        

• • Masks Available: Gina has 2 cloth masks for every staff member and will be placing them in mailboxes next week. Please keep them on hand, and let her know if you every need another.
•  
  • Sick Student or Adult: Should a student or adult leave your room after exhibiting one primary COVID symptom (fever of 100.4+, cough, chills, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell), their area should be sanitized which means they’re desk and chair.  The room will not be evacuated for this type of situation.
    • Full Room Sanitation: Entire classrooms will only be sanitized if it is discovered the sick student or adult was Covid positive at that time and it wasn’t disclosed (ie: parent knew the kid was positive and sent them anyway) or student or staff member has a close contact that is currently positive (ie: student’s parent is Covid positive and kid was sent to school and began exhibiting symptoms). That type of cleaning will be coordinated by Joyce, Dawn, or Trevor (custodial supervisor).
    • Vomiting: If a student vomits in the classroom, the class would be asked to leave for about 15 minutes while the vomit is cleaned up and the student’s area is cleaned. Unless there were significant other primary Covid symptoms, a full room sanitation would not happen at that time.
      
•         
• Weekly Check In: Don’t forget that the weekly check in includes a space to celebrate each other. Linked here is the staff weekly check-in. I’d like to know how you’re doing and be able to offer support for those who need it. Here are the shout-outs from last week: 
  • Shout out to Tim Wilcox, who has managed to get kids already making beautiful music, right outside our staff lounge! The office group enjoys this every day!

DISTRICT INFORMATION

• Volunteer Guidelines: If you are planning to host a volunteer, for any reason, either online or in-person, this Spring, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the updated 4J process for volunteer approval.
  • Requirements Applicable to All Volunteers (including online)

    Volunteers must be cleared through the district’s volunteer criminal history process and approved by the Office of Public Safety before interacting with students or volunteering in other capacities. In order for a volunteer to be approved, they must have completed required Safe Schools trainings and have a criminal records check. Certain volunteers are required to undergo background checks based on fingerprints. See  Policy GCDA/GDDA for further information.     

  • Volunteers on District Properties

    State guidelines and the 4J Covid-19 management plan prohibit the district from allowing all but essential visitors and volunteers on school and district properties. No school may permit any on-site volunteers, unless pre-approved by the school principal. If an essential volunteer is permitted to enter a school property, they must sign a Covid-19 waiver of liability and agreement. The Physical Distancing Site Coordinator must train the volunteer in COVID health and safety protocols and provide the volunteer with the 4J COVID Communicable Disease Management Plan.   

  • Single Visit Online Volunteers –   The district is likely to grant a single day online volunteer to be treated as a “visitor” as long as s/he is never left alone, either physically or virtually (i,e, breakout room) with students. As always, teachers are responsible for vetting their guests and encouraged to check with an admin prior to scheduling a visit or if you have any questios.  

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Critical Literacy Pedagogy PD Opportunity: This project is designed to support K-8 general education and language arts teachers in choosing, analyzing, and teaching with literature written by and about people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Participants will gain competencies in critical literacy instruction, and will learn how to confidently incorporate culturally diverse literature into their curriculum. It looks like it’s free to attend. More information is available here.
  • 
        
• COVID-19 Surveillance Project: Would you like to find out if you have Covid-19 antibodies now and again this summer? Linked here is an opportunity through the Oregon Health Authority to do a prick test to learn about your antibody load and help OHA learn more about Covid-19 antibodies around Oregon.

What’s Coming Next Week: 

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Peter and Gina