| Seeking Nominations for 2019-2020 Educator of the Year Program
The mission of the Saint Louis Public Schools Educator of the Year Program is to honor, promote and celebrate excellence in the teaching ranks. The District strives to acknowledge the people behind some of the most robust learning experiences occurring in the District and rewards them through a public celebration and year-round career progression opportunities to scale impact across classrooms and/or schools. Do you know an outstanding educator? If so, it is time to nominate for the 2019-2020 Educator of the Year.
In order to be eligible, applicants must:
- be currently employed, full-time with Saint Louis Public Schools
- have completed their second full year of experience (unless otherwise specified) in an award-eligible content area
- have met experience requirements while employed with Saint Louis Public Schools and be in good standing with Parsons Blewett
- be fully certified and appropriately credentialed
The nomination period closes on Jan. 10, 2020. The nominee is notified once nominated and will send the application packet
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| Every Student Succeeds Act: Review Missouri's Revised Plan
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is designed to ensure that all students have a fair and equitable high-quality education and to close educational achievement gaps. The public is invited to comment on Missouri’s revised Consolidated ESSA Plan through Dec. 31.
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| ACCESS for ELLs Testing Technology Update
As you plan for ACCESS for ELLs administration, you may choose to consider using iPads to supplement technology needs at your sites. When scheduling ACCESS for ELLs Online sessions, consider using iPads with students who are familiar and use the device during daily instruction and assessments. It is highly recommended that schools allow students to practice with the test demo platform, so they are comfortable with it on testing day. This is especially important for the online Speaking session. For the Writing session, you should consider which technology device (iPad, laptop, desktop) students would feel most comfortable with while typing long responses. Remember that during the Writing session, students are allowed to use scrap paper to draft their writing responses and then type them into the test.
Whichever technology device you choose to use during the ACCESS online testing, it is very important to check the following:
- The Insight app is up to date and ready to test
- Test the audio on the headphones and make sure the microphone works by administering a Speaking practice session
- Verify that the internet connection is functional on the devices used to administer the test
- If you are using portable devices, verify the charge will last for the duration of the test (it is recommended that all devices be plugged in for power during testing)
If you have any technology issues, please reach out to the district Help Desk at 314-231-3720 x75757. Thank you.
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| Science Requirements
All elementary students must receive science daily. In grades K-2, a minimum of 30 minutes and in grades 3-5, a minimum of 45 minutes of daily instruction must occur. Since April 2013, the Next Generation Science Standards were adopted and the Missouri Learning Standards were adopted in 2015. This has created a complete overhaul. Rather than teaching the scientific method in isolation, the three-dimensional approach (Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices) to science instruction is non-negotiable.
The Frameworks for Science Education outlines the enduring understandings while the NGSS document breaks down each the Missouri Learning Standards (Performance Expectations) by content and idea.
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| Adult Meal Pricing
The Food and Nutrition Services Department will increase the price of adult meals under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs sponsored by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Breakfast will remain at $2.50, and lunch will increase from $3.75 to $3.87 effective Dec. 16, 2019.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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| HSSU Essay Contest
The Harris-Stowe Athletic Department is hosting “Take a Kid to the Game Day” on Feb. 8. Along with the theme, the department is holding a 3rd grade essay competition on the importance of teamwork. Click HERE for a flyer with details. Harris-Stowe competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which asks its administrators, coaches, and student athletes to live by five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. In turn, Harris-Stowe wants to help instill these core values in our youth.
Please share this information with 3rd grade teachers and encourage 3rd graders to participate. If you have any questions or concerns, contact William Carey at 314-340-3572 or careyw@hssu.edu.
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| Princeton Summer Journalism Program
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is a free residential journalism and college preparatory program for high-achieving current juniors from low-income backgrounds who are interested in journalism. Over 10 days, students live on campus at Princeton University and learn reporting skills from professional journalists. They also attend lectures on liberal arts topics led by Princeton professors. Participants hold a press conference, produce a short documentary, report on a professional sporting event from the press box, attend a play or theatrical production, visit 3-4 major news outlets, and interview subjects for their feature stories in the Princeton Summer Journal. After the program, students are paired with a volunteer college adviser, a professional journalist, to help them through their application process.
Program Dates: Friday, July 31 – Monday, Aug. 10, 2020
Cost: None. All program expenses, including meals, housing, airfare or train tickets to and from campus, are covered by the program.
Eligibility: To apply, students must be:
- current high school juniors (Class of 2021)
- living in the United States
- with an unweighted GPA of 3.5/4.0
- who have an interest in journalism (no experience required)
- and meet one of the financial eligibility requirements below:
- The custodial parent(s)/guardian(s)’ combined income (including child support received) must not exceed $60,000 annually
- The student must be eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch.
- The student is eligible for a SAT or ACT fee waiver.
Applying: The online application is available on this website and due no later than Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Students must submit an unofficial transcript to be considered. You may read about the full application process HERE. A flyer to share can be downloaded through this link.
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| REMINDER: iPad Expectations
The iPad support team has recently completed a walkthrough at each school to make sure that the carts are available and that chargers are wired in each cart. The expectation is that the iPads are used as a technology tool in the classroom at a minimum of 75% per week. The apps that are downloaded on each device are aligned to supporting and providing more exposure in the daily curriculum. Please remind your teachers of this expectation.
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| REMINDER: First Semester Exam Schedule
The first semester exam schedule is as follows:
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| GOOD NEWS: Holiday Spirit at Monroe
We want to express a HUGE thank you to Congregation Temple Israel, Monroe Elementary's faith-based partner, for hosting their 4th annual holiday shopping day for school families today. Each Monroe parent was invited to pick out toys for their children and left with wrapped presents. The congregation's ongoing support of Monroe can't be beat!
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| GOOD NEWS: Carr Lane Girls Focus on Strategy and Self-Esteem
Girl power was on full display last week at Carr Lane VPA Middle School, as members of the Saint Louis Chess Club and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department taught chess strategy and discussed important issues, such as peer pressure and self-esteem! Among the special guests was Jennifer Shahade, Women's Grandmaster. The event was supported by C.H.E.S.S. (Cops Helping Enhance Student Skills) Cops.
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| Did You Miss an Issue of the Academic Office Newsletter?
There is now an archive of all issues of the Academic Office Newsletter. Yay! Click HERE or visit slps.org/AONArchive.
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| PD Booster Sessions Schedule
Click HERE for a full calendar of upcoming booster sessions from the Curriculum Team!
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| Standards-Based Learning CORNER
Some Research about Standards-Based Learning:
- Standards-Based learning provides teachers clear opportunities to plan with the end in mind because “... they can develop specific performance criteria for each performance standard. Standards-based learning leads to more precise and efficient instructional choices.”
- Standards-Based Learning in Action Schimmer et al., 2018
- Haystead and Marzano (2009) conducted a comprehensive review of studies on classroom instructional strategies, concluding the use of scoring scales and tracking student progress over time towards a learning goal yielded a 34 percentage point gain.
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Science
The crosscutting concepts are the third domain of 3-Dimensional Instruction. They have application across all domains of science. They include patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion and quantity; systems and system models; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change.
CCC #5 – Energy and Matter – Tracking energy and matter flows, into, out of, and within systems helps one understand their system’s behavior.
CCC #6 – Structure and Function – The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions.
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Social Studies
During the week of Nov. 20-24, I attended the National Council for Social Studies and National Social Studies Supervisors Association Conference in Austin, Texas. SLPS was represented at the conference by Jervon Humphrey of Yeatman-Liddell and Raphael Rogers of Gateway Middle. Through the hours of sessions and speakers, I wanted to share some of the presentations and resources, which I was able to pull together. Many of the issues we face in SLPS are also issues around the nation. These include low reading levels, reduced time devoted to social studies, and shifting away from teacher-centered instruction.
Many districts have been working, like we have, to address these deficiencies and change the way in which social studies is done. As I said at the start of the year, students do not hate social studies, they hate the way we teach it. As you wrap up the first semester, remember to make the content engaging and relevant. Focus on addressing the standards and assessing to those standards. If you need strategies, here are some of the strategies that are being implemented elsewhere with success. We will be looking more at hexagonal thinking (Matthew Pace at CVPA is a believer), among other things in an upcoming PD:
Do Nows/Exit Slips: Please make sure Do Nows align with content covered in the previous class to assess the need for reteaching and Exit Slips align with what students were learning during the present class. This allows you to see what the students learned, or where you need to go for reteaching. “Make It Stick!”
CFA News: Please have all items for the Government CFAs scored by Dec. 18 at the latest!
Shout Outs: Congratulations to Sara Eplin at Metro on the birth of her daughter Gwendolyn Kaye! Mom and baby are doing well. Congratulations to our old social studies colleague, and now assistant principal at Metro, Dr. Kaylan Holloway upon his matriculation from Maryville.
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Performing Arts
Congratulations to Ruth Christopher (McKinley-String Bass), who was chosen for the 2020 All-State Orchestra performance at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference in January at Osage Beach, MO. This is Ruth's second year in this prestigious ensemble!
Congratulations to Locke Meyer (Metro-Clarinet), who also auditioned and was chosen for the 2020 All-State Concert Band in January.
Shout outs to All-State Jazz first alternate on bass - Evan Wohlrabe (McKinley) and Jazz Honor Band member -Dorian Simms (Central VPA). Bravo to ALL these fine SLPS musicians and their teachers.
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: ELA K-5
What are Running Records? Running records are formative assessments used with children that allow you to see what strategic actions they are using during their oral reading. Running records also allow you to see error patterns which will inform your future teaching decisions. Running records are quick and easy to administer. You are able to look closely at each student’s reading frequently and therefore provide teaching that is responsive and timely to their needs. To take a running record you sit next to a child, listen to the child read a text, and record their reading using running record coding on a blank sheet of paper or a running record form (see link).
Why are Running Records Important? Running records allow you to find information about:
1) how a child sounds when they read (do they read in meaningful phrases, read punctuation marks, read using a good pace, use appropriate intonation)
2) whether a child monitors and self-corrects their reading
3) whether a child uses each of the cueing systems (meaning, structure, and visual)
4) what a child does when they come to a word they don’t know (do they make an attempt, appeal, or stop reading altogether?)
5) how a child does with word work
Running records also:
1) allow you to see if what you taught is being used by the student (you’ll have on-going records that show each student’s response to your teaching)
2) give you immediate feedback that will inform your teaching decisions right at that moment
3) allow you to document progress over time
4) allow you to work in a child’s instructional level (your students aren’t going to learn how to take on more complex text if they are consistently working in books that are too hard or too easy).
5) give you specific information regarding your students’ reading behaviors that you can share with families during conference time.
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| DISTRICT CALENDAR
THROUGH DEC 14
♦ Annual Scholastic Warehouse Sale: REGISTERDEC 17
♦ CVPA Winter Fine Arts Night: FLYER
DEC 19
♦ Quarter 2 ends
DEC 20
♦ Recordkeeping Day (no students)
DEC 23-31
♦ Winter Break for school-based staff, 12-month staff work Dec. 23, Dec. 26-27 and Dec. 30-31
JAN 8
♦ ACCESS test training
JAN 10
♦ Nomination period closes for Educator of the Year: LINK
FEB 8
♦ Harris-Stowe "Take a Kid to the Game" Day
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