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A Quick Message from Dr. Marion Smith Jr. – Deputy Superintendent of Academics
As we continue to work with staff to prepare to welcome our scholars to in-person instruction on Monday, August 23, 2021, two (2) things for your consideration:
- This school year will be about continued flexibility, adaptability and our willingness to work together to LEARN/UNLEARN/RELEARN to best serve our scholars.
- I invite you to take 3 minutes to view THIS video to (re)frame our collective thinking around what story we want to co-create together about school year 21-22.
As an Academic Office, we are here to support and to serve YOU! WE are excited about the transformative work ahead and to be in community with each of you.
Your partner in education,
Marion Smith Jr, EdD | Deputy Superintendent of Academics
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Follow-Up | Virtual & Blended Learning for School Year 21-22
In consultation and collaboration with school leaders and district leaders, the Academic Office has created guidance that outlines expectations and provides resources to support educators in implementing Blended Learning instructional practices and creating learning environments in which we stand ready to pivot to virtual instruction if and when necessary. Click here to access the 2021-2022 Blended and Virtual Learning Action Plan and Teacher Accountability Metrics.
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Follow-Up | 1st Weeks of School: Culture Camp
Culture Camp Toolkit:
The Academic Office is excited to share the Culture Camp Toolkit. This resource is made available to access resources including lesson plans and activities to assist in making connections and building relationships with scholars, and establishing systems, procedures, and routines to explicitly teach concepts and skills that support creating the conditions for all scholars to begin the school year in a positive and supportive school and classroom environment. All resources can also be found in this OneDrive Folder.
Logistics:
The Academic Office is asking that teachers prioritize between 10-15 minutes daily (during the first 2 weeks of school) to focus on Culture Camp, allowing themselves permission for uninterrupted time to set the foundation of the classroom by explicitly teaching systems, procedures, and routines while engaging in teambuilding activities and elevating social emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices into the everyday work and conversations in the classroom. This focus on establishing connection, belonging, and addressing the classroom and school culture is critical for our scholars considering the last 18 months. Culture Camp does not replace core academic content instruction. However, it is important that teachers strategically incorporate Culture Camp ideas, activities, and strategies into daily instruction to be intentional about how they are establishing a positive, safe, and inclusive classroom environment for all scholars.
Physical Interaction Note:
It is our goal to get back to a space where close physical interactions are able to happen; but until we are there, all local and public health and safety guidelines per the CDC are in place. With this in mind, if there is a Culture Camp resource that calls for close physical interaction, please modify as needed.
Support:
Should teammates need support, please e-mail Casetta Brown, SLPS Culture & Climate Coordinator
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Follow- Up | Curriculum & Instruction
Literacy:
SLPS is excited to partner with Savvas Learning to offer district educators an opportunity to engage in ongoing, multi-tiered, professional learning experiences throughout the school year. Educators and leaders will have access to digital "on-demand" professional development and professional learning services provided by Savvas Learning, pre-recorded district-wide professional learning sessions conveniently accessible via the district intranet server, and over 70 Live Professional Development/Professional Learning Events designed to support us as we engage our scholars in this exciting new literacy program.
Live access to the 2021-22 Savvas Professional Learning Support Plan is available HERE.
Learning Kits:
Continuous Learning Kits (CLKs) are Standards-Based Enrichment Learning Guides developed, by grade-level span, and will be available for each month of the school year for scholars who may need to quarantine or isolate (due to Public Health restrictions due to COVID-19), due to unforeseen circumstances, or who may have interrupted access to technology.
- CLKs for the 2021-22 School year are now available online and can be accessed HERE. Hard copies of the August/September CLKs are also available for pickup in the Academic Office
- You must be logged in on the SLPS Intranet to access CLK documents.
- Schools are responsible for printing, distributing, collecting, and grading all CLKs
- CLK Answer keys are available in grade/content Microsoft Teams.
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Great News: Kristen Dowling Named Semi-Finalist for 2022 MO TOY
The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education announced the 2022 Missouri Teacher of the Year Semi-finalists and we are so proud to announce that Carnahan chemistry teacher and 2021 SLPS Educator of the Year, Kristen Dowling has made the cut. Please click here for the full press release.
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Save The Date
Saturday, August 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The District and the Urban League will host a “Back-to-School” drive-through event at the Urban League’s headquarters - 1408 North Kingshighway St. Louis MO, 63113.
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Standards-Based Learning Corner
Click here to explore past topics related to Standards-Based Learning and Grading in SLPS.
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Curriculum Specialists:
- Dr. Esther Palsenberger, Elementary ELA, 314-779-5939
- Judine Keplar, Secondary ELA, 314-532-6427
- Zehra Khan, Secondary Math, 314-532-3574
- J. Carrie Launius, Elementary Science, 314-934-5258
- Dr. Valentina Bumbu, Secondary Science, 573-544-6835
- Dr. Glenn Barnes, Social Studies, 314-934-5267
- John Grapperhaus, Visual Arts, 314-934-5320
- Kaye Harrelson, Performing Arts, 314-934-5445
- Dr. Taresa Wright-Fraser, Elementary Math, 314-943-5266
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Resource Reminders
TECH TIPS:
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:
FOR STAFF:
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Past issues are uploaded on a regular basis.
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