Hey Panda Family,
We are all through with Week 2! We are definitely taking 2 steps forward for each bump along the road that pops up. I had a PTA Meeting this past week and the parents were so complimentary of how it is going and how hard all the staff is working to help! 👏 Keep up the great work! Here are the updates for the week 😊🐼
Full Remote Schedule: All classes should begin their full remote schedule this upcoming week. Remember to be flexible with families if they miss some sessions. Feel free to slowly implement your small group sessions, just like we have with the other live sessions. Remind them of your office hours to catch them up and/or watching any recorded lessons you may offer. If you haven't posted your Remote Schedule outside of your room please make sure you do so. I will be coming around and checking that this week. It helps Leslie and me to have a visual, even if it is remote. Please make sure you stick with the exact times on your Remote Learning schedule for live meeting times. All support services (EC, Speech, ESL, etc.) are made around this schedule and if we move times it will vastly impact these supports.
Flocabulary: Don't forget to utilize our Flocabulary school-wide subscription. If you need help with your login please reach out to Ms. Grubbs.
Drills: In the month of September, we are required to do the following drills:
- Fire
- Lockdown
- Reverse Evacuation (outside to inside)
Weather permitting, we will conduct these drills at 8:30 on Friday, September 4th. Anyone in the building will be expected to participate in these drills.
Jose: Mr. Jose will be out on vacation for the next two weeks. He will return on September 14. In the meantime, Ms. Faith will be helping with our daily custodial needs and Pam will open the building at 6:45 each morning.
PGE Calendar in Canvas: On the PGE Staff Canvas page, Ms. Willis is working to upload all our school meetings, events, birthdays, etc. to the calendar. Go to "Calendar" on the PGE Staff Canvas page to access.
Canvas Page Ideas: See some wonderful Canvas page ideas from your colleagues. More have been added since Friday - Canvas Page Ideas
Lesson Plans: Here are the lesson plan look-fors that Ms. Gardner and I will be checking during remote learning. Remember, your plans provide you with a blue print for your teaching and it gives us clear insight as to what we should see and what standards are being assessed. Here you go - Lesson Plans 2020-2021
Packet Materials: I encourage each of you to continue sending out tangible packet materials for your students as needed (novels, worksheets, manipulatives, etc.). Please coordinate the pickup with your families. Every parent that I have talked with mentions how helpful it is to have a combination of tangible and virtual assignments. If the office can support you with this please let us know.
Updating Links during the day: If you need to update MS Teams/Zoom links during the day, or even assignment information, try and do all of it in Canvas. If you only send out the updated link or information in Dojo then our daycares, grandparents, babysitters and other people that are supporting remote learning may not get it. If you update it in Canvas then the student should have everything they need immediately.
Peer Project Grant (from district): We have applied for and been awarded a $418,500 grant from the WS Foundation to provide five days of digital learning PD for all 900 teacher assistants (including EC and ESL) in our district. The Targeted Training for Classified Employees in a Virtual Environment Grant will pay stipends for our teachers assistants to learn how to use Canvas, Zoom, Teams, new textbook adoption, digital resources, and online learning teaching strategies. Much of the training will be held on our RC days throughout the year. More information will be shared when our training schedule is finalized.
IT Help: Please submit your technology requests and questions to Mr. Younts using this Google Form.
Missing Cart: Please continue to be on the lookout for Ms. Vaden's cart. It has been misplaced and has instructional materials in it. If you happen to find it please let her know.
NCEES: Certified staff, please remember to sign up for your PDP conference. Emails were sent last week with attached resources and examples as well as a Sign-up Genius to schedule your conference. Dates were adjusted on the Sign-Up Genius because of IEP meetings, so please do not wait until the last minute to sign up.
Meet your class: Over the next two weeks Ms. Gardner and I plan to pop in to one of your live sessions to introduce ourselves to our new pandas and say hey to everyone else. We will reach out to you by text/email beforehand so you know we are coming. If you would like us to do something specific with your class (read a book, do an activity, etc.) please let us know. We would love to participate!
Leave Requests & Substitutes during Remote Learning: If you need to take leave during your scheduled work day please fill out the Leave Request form, or you can email me if you are working from home. Leave that is 1.5 hours or less will be excused and not counted against you (please do not abuse this). Any leave that is 1.5 hours or more, you will need to enter it in the Frontline system but you will mark "No Sub Needed" during remote learning. District is not approving subs during remote learning so we will have to make a plan for your live instruction coverage while you are out. Please have all leave approved just as you would if we were working under normal circumstances. Don't hesitate to reach out to me or Pam if you have any specific questions.
Morning Announcements: Here are the YouTube links for this week's Morning Announcements. Please include them on your Canvas page.
https://youtu.be/J84o9EEbmvs - Monday, August 31
https://youtu.be/ALhErP1xvsM - Tuesday, September 1
https://youtu.be/hk7tn3cdDD8 - Wednesday, September 2
https://youtu.be/c17QxLFvq2o - Thursday, September 3
https://youtu.be/Ucig8RJMH3c - Friday, September 4
Required HR Videos: Must be completed by September 1.
Employees must complete THIS FORM to verify they have viewed all 3 videos.
The links take you to SafeSchools. Your log-in is the same as you use to log onto your school computer: Username (first part of your email address) + password.
Environmental
Safety Data Sheets (GHS) (19 min.)
https://winstonsalemforsyth-nc.safeschools.com/courses/details/COURSE-SAFETY_DATA_SHEETS
Health
Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure Prevention (Teachers and Administration) (19-23 min.)
https://winstonsalemforsyth-nc.safeschools.com/courses/details/COURSE-BBP
- Please select the video that pertains to your position in the schools system.
Active Shooter (17 min.)
https://vimeopro.com/rsmanimation/north-carolina-active-shooter
- If it asks for a password, use rsmaccess
SCC & PTA: Please don't forget to join both SCC & PTA. Both organizations do so much to support our staff.
Opening Staff Meeting: Here is the link to the Opening Staff Meeting Presentation. It has all the vital information to begin the year - Opening Staff Meeting
Staff Spotlight: From Ms. Ceglowski - I need you to give a shout out to Deana and Michelle b/c looking at the baby pictures of their sweet little girls may well be the best self-care most of us are doing these days!
From Ms. Tall - shout out to my grade level for stepping in and helping me during my recent struggles. They are amazing and I'm so glad to have their support!!
Also, thank everyone for the prayers and kind messages that I received while I was in Louisiana. It really meant a lot to have that support during that difficult time.
IF Updates
iReady assessment dates:
iReady Math 9/21-9/25 with makeups 9/26-10/2
iReady Reading 9/14-9/18 with makeups 9/19-10/2
The webinar session will be held on the following date and time:
September 3 - 3:30-4:30
Below are the links for next week's sessions by grade bands. When the teachers go to the link to register, there will be a drop down for them to select the time they prefer.
We will discuss how you will administer the BOY assessments in PLT.
Upcoming Dates:
August 31 - Full Remote Schedule will begin (new instruction can begin)
August 31 - Complete Cumulative Folder Check (share with Elkins & Gardner)
September 1 - PBIS & MTAC Committees meet @ 3:30
September 3 - iReady PD training @ 3:30 (K-3 & 5th grade)
September 4 - Fire, Lockdown, and Reverse Evacuation Drill @ 8:30
September 7 - No School (Labor Day)
September 8 - SIT @ 3:30
September 14 - iReady ELA BOY window opens for K-3 & 5th grade
September 14 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30 via MS Teams
September 15 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
September 18 - PTA Spirit Night Drive-In Movie @ W-S Fair Grounds (more info to come)
September 21 - iReady Math BOY window opens for K-5
September 22 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30
September 25 - PDPs Conference due and signed off on
September 25 - Teacher Workday
September 30 - Student Progress Reports due
September 30 - Positive Communication Form due - Positive Communication Form
October 1 - Staff PD training @ 3:30
October 6 - PBIS & MTAC Committees meet @ 3:30
Watch this awesome how-to video on making Quizzes in Canvas that will grade it for you! If you need additional help Mr. Younts will be happy to assist you.
