i-Ready/Ready Classroom Upcoming Updates
Batch Printing for All Students. Save time by batch printing without restriction across individual students, classes, report groups and grade levels within a school.
Share Student Reports Securely with Families. Download a ZIP file of individual student reports to upload to Student Information Systems.
Off-Grade Level Access to Interactive Practice. Educators will be able to assign Interactive Practice from any grade level to their students, just like Comprehension Checks.
New Way to Engage Students in Fractions. Students and teachers can create and share fractions puzzles with their class in the Cloud Machine learning game, available for students in Grades 3–8.
Accessibility Improvements for Personalized Instruction in Mathematics. We’re beginning to add keyboard navigation and visual design supports, including color contrast, to Mathematics lessons in grades 3 and above.
Interactive Practice Grades 6–7. New Interactive Practice will be available for 20 lessons in grades 6–7. Interactive Practice for all lessons in grades 6–8 will be available for back-to-school 2021.
Family Letters in More Languages. In addition to English, Spanish, Tagalog, Russian, Mandarin, and Arabic, Family Letters will also be available in Korean and Vietnamese.
Download Teacher Toolbox Resources in Multiple Formats. Gain more flexibility with Teacher Toolbox resources by choosing from different formats (e.g., Word Doc, PDF, and Student Fill-in PDFs). Select the format that you prefer to download by clicking on the image/title of a resource.
Develop Session Videos. All develop session videos for grades K–5 are now available on the My Videos section of the student bookshelf and on the Teacher Toolbox.
Insurance for 2021-22
Last week, Maddie sent out initial information regarding insurance rates and open enrollment for next school year. NIHIP (our provider) will be doing a virtual open enrollment presentation on Wednesday, May 12 at 3pm. Employees are NOT required to attend the presentation. However, we do encourage you to attend, as NIHIP always shares a ton of usual information and can answer any questions.
Spring Assessment Dates
Please see below for assessment windows for spring. More to come on SEL data collection.
Coursework Pre-Approval
Please remember that all coursework for reimbursement and/or lane changes must be pre-approved by me. If you are requesting reimbursement for a course, this approval MUST happen before July 1 for budgeting purposes. Please see the Business Office Share File for the forms you need, and reach out to Maddie with any questions.
Updated dashboard data 4/25/21:
How can we get students to think more deeply about vocabulary? Great
Article here about how to incorporate vocabulary (and make it meaningful!) into your
units!
Here’s a refresher of the Fist to Five strategy that is super easy to utilize in class. Link has classroom ideas on how to implement it too!
Q4 Raffle is set for 5/27. Items are posted and students can purchase at any time.
Remind students that this week will be the last chance this year to purchase a DoorDash and/or a Dunkin’ Run. We will resume those next year.
Please remember to check out your CICO students at the end of each class period.
Continue being AwEsOmE and give out your daily point goal to students each day!
More bundles for the raffle will be uploaded within the next few weeks.
COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES
Decision Making Tree for Post-Vaccine Symptoms
Safety Protocols
*If you have any COVID-10 like symptoms at all or are not feeling well, please DO NOT
come onsite UNLESS you have just gotten the vaccine (please see guidance above).
If coming onsite:
*You must continue to self-certify (updated with the new symptom guide) using Skyward.
*All staff must enter through the main entrance at each site.
*You must sign in using the sign in sheet, mark that you self-certified, and take and record your temperature. IF YOU HAVE A FEVER ABOVE 100.4 YOU ARE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND REACH OUT TO YOUR PRINCIPAL AND HEATHER.
*Once Sharon/Marc are onsite, they will review the sign in sheet and cross check with the
self-certification report. If anyone is NOT cleared or did NOT self-certify, they will meet with them to ensure they are safe to be onsite. If not, they'll refer that employee to Heather.
*If you arrive after Sharon/Marc are onsite, please will report to the Health Office to check in so we know you have self-certified. Your temperature will also be taken and recorded. Employees will know to do this because, when Sharon/Marc arrive, they will pick up the sign
in log and put out a sign that says "Please come to the Health Office to check in".
When you come onsite, you can work in your classroom/workspace. Please feel free to use it as your own. I'd just ask that you work in that space as much as possible and not travel out much. You can, of course you can use the bathroom, lounge, copiers, etc. as needed. Please do not congregate in the hallways or in other spaces. We simply want to keep you safe.
If you are alone in your workspace and the door is closed, you may remove your mask. If anyone enters that space, everyone in the space MUST wear a mask and stay 6 ft apart at all times.
When you DO leave your room, I'd ask that you strictly follow the 4 W's to help keep yourself and others around you safe:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Wear your mask.
3. Watch your space.
4. Wait your turn.
If you are concerned that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 and
have been
or are scheduled to be onsite, please let your principal, and/or me know
immediately so we can partner with you for your safety and for the safety of others.
You can trust that we will keep all this information confidential, balancing staff privacy and
system safety needs.
All staff MUST wear masks AT ALL TIMES
when onsite and in public spaces.
If you are working in an office/classroom
with the door closed, you may remove your
mask. It must be worn when anyone enters
that space with you.
- Thank you to everyone who attended the board meeting. It was so much fun to see all of amazing students being honored.Do you know an amazing teacher? If so, feel free to nominate someone for Teacher of the Year by clicking on the link. Nominations close on Friday, April 23rd.How about an amazing school worker who has contributed to the education field? You can nominate them for a Those Who Excel Award.
Maureen DeVoss, President
Melissa Jakstas, Vice President for Certified Staff
Chris Brown, Vice President for Non-Certified Staff
Katy Gardner, Treasurer
Betty Cwiak, Secretary
Cathy Jawnyj, Region Representative
Michelle Serini, Stanton School Representative
Tiffany Tardio Weber, Lotus School Representative
TREAT YO SELF TO SELF CARE
I'm going to use the book 180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators by my friend Tina
Boogren to share weekly nuggets of self-care ideas for all of us.
Week 33: Outdoors
The more nature that we feel and experience, the better we will feel. Even 15 minutes outside
reduces stress hormones! It also helps us feel connected to something greater than ourselves.
This week's invitation: Get outside for at least 15 minutes each day!
*Walk--alone, with a buddy, or in a group.
*Rest--sit in the grass against a tree or simply lie down.
*Eat--take your morning coffee outside or eat a meal outside picnic style.
*Notice--keep your eyes open and notice the details around you.
*Breathe--take deep belly breaths.
*Take your students outside--can you teach outside or take a 5 minute brain break?
*Experiment--try new places and seek out new locations!
Full Capacity Opening Meal Plans--April 2021
Ongoing LCHD Call/Update Notes
Approved 2021-22 school year calendar
2020-21 Wednesday CTT Planning Calendar
Link to D114 Business Office Share Folder
*check here for documents most frequently used/requested
Please let Heather know of suggestions for any documents to add to this
folder!
*Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, April 28--Kindergarten Round Up--visit D114 website for details
Wednesday, April 28--Special Board of Education meeting--Board reorganization--6PM-Hybrid meeting
Thursday, May 13--Virtual PTA Meeting at 6:30 PM--Meet Link
Picture Dates (see specific building schedules):
Have a really fabulous week!
Heather 😊
