Message from Deputy Superintendent of Academics
Dr. Marion Smith Jr
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| March 30, 2023
Hello, Colleagues!
I trust that each of you had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break Vacation. We are now in the final stretch of this school year as we enter Quarter 4.
Looking ahead: In the month of April, we bring awareness and celebrate School Library Month, National Autism Acceptance Month and National Arab American Heritage Month.
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Autism Month | Autism Acceptance Month, previously named Autism Awareness Month, aims to celebrate and promote acceptance for the condition that occurs in one in every 54 children as of 2020 in the United States. Learn more about Autism and Autism Acceptance Month HERE.
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School Library Month | April is School Library Month, and April 23-29 is National Library Week. The annual celebration highlights the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. SHOUT OUT to all SLPS librarians! Learn more about School Library Month HERE.
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Arab American Heritage Month | In April 2019, President Biden signed a resolution to recognize the contributions of Arab-Americans to the United States as National Arab American Heritage Month. This move acknowledges the contributions of individuals of Arab descent to the United States. The Arab World consists of 22 countries in West Asia and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This group of nations is also full of rich religious diversity that includes individuals from the Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim faiths.
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First, thank you to everyone who submitted their name to be entered into the drawing to have me serve as a Guest Teacher in their classroom during Quarter 4. At the most recent Academic Office Leaders’ Monthly Meeting, three (3) names were selected through a random drawing.
Congrats to the winners:
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- Lauren Hollis | Kindergarten | Nance Elementary School
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Lisa Kadlee | 1st Grade | Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy
- Carolyn Kramkowski | Instrumental Music | Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Elementary
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I look forward to my time as a Guest Teacher in these classes by the end of the school year!
For those unfamiliar with my PK-12 teaching experiences, my teaching career began in my hometown of Las Vegas, NV. Prior to earning my undergrad degree, I served as a lead pre-kindergarten teacher in a multilingual early childhood education center. After earning my undergrad degree, I worked for the Clark County School District (the 5th largest school district in the country, enrolling over 310,000 PK-12 scholars) where I taught English Language Arts in both a Title I junior high school and middle school. I ended my time in the classroom as a high school English Literature, Language and Composition teacher and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher/curriculum specialist at the first career academies comprehensive high school in the district that enrolled over 2,700 grade 9-12 scholars.
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| End of School Year Testing
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It’s almost that time of year again!
Time for our scholars to ‘show what they know’ on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) state tests and other different end of year assessments. Amidst the many realities and challenges that continue to interrupt learning and teaching in many different ways, school-based staff have remained focused to support each of our scholars. Our scholars are ready to ‘show what they know’, thanks to each of you!
HERE are MAP Grade-Level Assessment Blueprints that may help staff understand what might be tested and the range of emphasis.
Additional MAP resources and supports will be provided in the next Academic Office Newsletter.
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Keeping “The Work” of the Academic Office Front and Center
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The WHY of our work for School Year 22-23:
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To develop and/or deepen the habits of mind and adaptive leadership moves critical to disrupt and dismantle inequities in our systems, practices, policies and procedures so each scholar thrives.
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The WHAT of our work for School Year 22-23:
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Strengthen the *instructional core, so each scholar has access and targeted supports to achieve Standards and to engage in deeper learning through the ‘Key 3’
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Use multiple sources of data (qualitative, quantitative and perceptual) to inform decision-making
- Apply “best we know right now practices” to educate the Whole Child
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*teachers’ knowledge and skills; scholars’ engagement in their own learning; academically challenging content
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The HOW of our work for School Year 22-23:
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- (Re)Frame our individual and collective thinking:
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“You are strong when you know your weaknesses. You are beautiful when you appreciate your flaws. You are wise when you learn from your mistakes.” – Unknown
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For more information, please contact Dr. Marion Smith Jr., Deputy Superintendent of Academics– Marion.SmithJr@slps.org
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Subject Area Spotlight: Performing Arts
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Celebrating 100 years of Women Making Music History!
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March is Women’s History Month.
TeachRock is highlighting 100 years of women making music! Celebrate by stepping into the Trace It Back Library and read a biography about one (or all!) of the four featured musicians who collectively contribute to 100 historic years of women making music.
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Teachers may engage the whole classroom and celebrate these acclaimed musicians by choosing a Trace It Back biography. Each of these Trace It Back biographies can also be used as a stand-alone resource. Students can select a musician, read the associated Trace It Back biography, and then show what they know through a variety of arts-integrated projects (suggestions for assessment are included). For more details and links to this instructional resource, click HERE.
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April is Jazz Education Month
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Jazz at Lincoln Center is excited to offer a series of Jazz Fundamentals videos.
Join us as we explore some of the foundations of Jazz: Blues, Improvisation, Scat Singing, and Collective Improvisation.
Student quote: “Jazz band pushed me outside of my comfort zone and challenged me to be an individual player because you couldn’t simply rely on the rest of the band … or to have the director hold your hand through your music.”
“Unexpected Outcomes of Jazz Education” - Read the entire article with assessment rubrics HERE.
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SLPS Performing Arts classes are required to include a minimum of one performance per semester. Teachers have been instructed to add and continue updating school performance dates and times to a shared document that may be found here: 2022-2023 Performance Calendar. A performance is NOT necessarily a "formal" show/concert and might include, but not limited to, the following: in-person or recorded concerts, school assemblies, sporting events, community performance, in-class solo/ensemble recitals.
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For more information, please contact Kaye Harrelson, Performing Arts Curriculum Specialist - Kaye.Harrelson@slps.org
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Department Spotlight: School Culture & Climate
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SLPS School Culture & Climate
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The Culture and Climate Program offers support to schools through school partnerships that include staff professional development, teacher behavior management observations and coaching, school systems analysis, behavioral data support and more!
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Our Mission
The Culture and Climate Program of the Academic Office will effectively collaborate and review districtwide data and procedures to inform and create a more positive school culture and climate by developing a common language with best practices and interventions that impacts and develops a system of excellent schools within Saint Louis Public Schools.
Our Vision
To be the program that informs, supports and shapes change within schools across the district to promote a more positive school culture and climate for scholars and ultimately, wellness within school-based staff and all stakeholders.
Our Practices
We leverage Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social Justice and Restorative Practices, Social-Emotional Learning, and Empathy Lens, Trauma-Informed Practices and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy to support schools and students.
Our Terms and Beliefs
School Climate refers to the school's effects on students, including teaching practices; diversity; and the relationships among administrators, teachers, parents, and students.
School Culture refers to the way teachers and other staff members work together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share.
A positive school climate and school culture promote students' ability to learn.
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Wrapping Up the School Year
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Our scholars know that we are close to the end of the school year and they are ready ready… and so are you! It might be important and extremely beneficial to take the time to reset expectations often at this point!
Resetting, repeating and role-playing the behaviors that are expected helps your scholars to be successful. It is not a waste of instructional time, it is a way to proactively address behavior while re-establishing trust and building stronger relationships within your classroom community. It is also beneficial for school staff as managing and maintaining control can sometimes feel like an uphill battle; resetting is a way to simply take the time to re-teach and refocus scholar attention.
If you or members of your team need any support with a school or classroom reset, please reach out!
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Our Cardinals Community Representative has shared this link for all schools and departments that wish to treat staff to an event outing. The tickets are not to be given to students, but to be used for staff giveaways as a way to say, “thank you!” Please feel free to complete the Community Ticket Program Application for up to 100 tickets for one game this season for your school teams. If you have any questions, please email me and I will gladly assist you and/or connect you with our representative!
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| Leadership Opportunity for School Leaders
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Department Spotlight: Professional Development
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Professional Development Updates and Resources
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Welcome back and hope you enjoyed your spring break.
This is an update on the requirements for first- and second-year certified teachers.
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2nd semester Mentee Logs are due on Monday, April 24th. You should have a total of 30 hours for the 22-23 school year. Please check your hours from 1st semester before you submit your 2nd log so you know you have a minimum of 30 hours to meet the DESE requirement. Your mentor’s log should match with the same dates/ times.
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The Beginning Teacher Assistance Program is a requirement for DESE within the first 4 years of certified teaching. You will need this to upgrade your certificate in the 5th year. We offer free sessions twice a year. The next one is Saturday, April 8th. Please sign up on Frontline by Tuesday, May 28th. There are 30 spots left and the session is virtual. A flyer is linked below for your review.
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The Individual Professional Development Plan is also a requirement from DESE. If you have not completed your IPDP for the 22-23 school year, please collaborate with your mentor to complete it as soon as possible. Your principal will approve your IPDP.
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Professional Development Department Resources:
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For more information, please contact Kimberly Swenson, Professional Development Research and Data Specialist- Kimberly.Swenson@slps.org
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New Spotlight: MTSS Corner
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Shifting the Framework: “Tracking and Progress Monitoring”
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The Academic Office continues to support the shift from RTI to MTSS and explain why, what, and how of ‘MTSS. Part of ‘how’ SLPS will implement equitable practices for each scholar is progress monitoring and tracking. Although the framework of MTSS is prevention and strong teaching strategies for Tier 1, some scholars will need additional support in order to be successful. Tier 2 and 3 interventions will hopefully address the needs of each scholars who need additional scaffolding on foundational skills blended into core content.
Progress Monitoring is another component of how we will implement Multi- Tiered Systems of Supports in SLPS. This practice of engaging in a formative assessment helps determine if the intervention practices in place are beneficial for scholars. Once the interventions have been identified and implemented, Progress Monitoring allows the school team and the classroom teacher or interventionist to determine if the intervention is successful and is helping the scholars progress toward mastery. In addition, Progress Monitoring also determines scholars’ rate of learning or improvement. School teams determine the frequency of the assessment and if the scholar is moving toward mastery. An important note to remember is the teacher or the interventionist should monitor the progress of the scholar through aggressive monitoring. This practice assist school teams with a better understanding of the intervention strategies that are being tracked, and the Tier 1 instructional practices that is helping students reach mastery and make academic gains.
In efforts to build upon the equitable practices in our district, a professional development opportunity is available. Part of the development includes but is not limited to analysis of Standard Based Grading Data and identifying tiered support for scholars in each content area. If you are interested in this Professional Development Opportunity, please visit the link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/i2pDxKfXcK
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As we continue the transition to the MTSS framework, it is important to remember the ‘Why, What, and How of MTSS.” Below is a one pager to support our collective work moving forward.
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For more information regarding MTSS and resources for each tier, please contact Ravetta Jackson, MTSS Specialist - Ravetta.Jackson@slps.org
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Saint Louis Public Schools offers a free, full-day pre-kindergarten program residents of St. Louis City. The instruction is led by certified teachers and blends traditional learning with technology. Students enjoy a day of learning, playing, and napping, too! Each student receives free breakfast, lunch and a snack from a nationally recognized Food and Nutrition program. Discover the Power of Pre-K! Enroll at www.slps.org/prek.
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Camp SLPS 2023 will be held from Monday, June 5th through Friday, June 30th at sites across Saint Louis Public Schools (no summer learning on Monday, June 19th in recognition of Juneteenth holiday).
Staffing Update
Staffing is currently in progress and staff selected for Camp SLPS 2023 should receive offer letters on a rolling basis to their district e-mail during the first week of April.
Registration for students is now available! Please register online at https://www.slps.org/summer or use the QR codes below! A list of site assignments is also posted on the SLPS website. Be sure to use the published list to confirm with families where their child will be attending Camp SLPS this summer!
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Rising 9th Grade Credit Opportunity
This year, students who have successfully completed 8th grade and will be 9th grade students in the 2023-2024 school year have an opportunity to earn high school academic credit by successfully completing Camp SLPS 2023! Summer programming for rising 9th grade students will focus on readiness in ELA and Math and will be held at the following sites:
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- AESM- Students from Lyon, Long & AESM
- Carr Lane- Students from Gateway, Laclede, Pamoja, Yeatman & Carr Lane
- Carnahan- Students from Busch, Compton Drew & McKinley
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Students and families can sign up for Camp SLPS using the QR code!
High School Enrichment
This year, high school students who are not seeking credit recovery are eligible to take elective courses as part of Camp SLPS 2023! High school courses will be held at McKinley High School and Clyde C. Miller Career Academy. Students and families who are interested should sign up using the registration QR code!
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Saint Louis Public Schools Art Fair at the St. Louis Zoo
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2023 marks the 22nd year of the Art Fair at the Zoo. PreK-12th grade scholars’ artwork in now on display on the lower level of the Living World at the St. Louis Zoo, now through April 7th. (Art comes down at 12PM.) The artwork is judged by leaders from arts institutions and universities.
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This year’s theme is “Animal Diversity in Africa”.
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Award Ceremony Details:
Date: Friday, April 7th, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: St. Louis Zoo, Living World Theater
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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
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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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