| Film Making Challenge
Students from all grade levels are invited to participate in the Love of Learning Voices of Change film making challenge.
To participate, students create a 30-second to 3-minute short film addressing a social justice issue of their choosing.
A PD session will be held on Nov. 4 from 4-5:30pm in the PD Loft. To participate in the challenge, contact Dr. Glenn Barnes.
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| Customer Service Workshop
Does your team need a refresher on the fundamentals of customer service? The one-day Key2Ed workshop presents ideas for how to implement a welcoming culture, while serving families and students. Click HERE for more information or contact Key2Ed's Joyce Little at jlittle@key2ed.com.
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| Student Portal - Middle Schools
Effective Oct. 22, the Student Portal was activated. All middle school students will have access that is only for their usage. You can decide in each of your buildings how you roll out the information. However, these are the details. Students can log in through a computer and/or a mobile app.
- The app is available for both iOS and Android—with the download of the app in the Apple iTunes iOS App Store and the Google Play App Store. Both platforms (both browser and app-based) are very user-friendly and should offer greater communication between your student body and your school’s staff. Attendance, grades, discipline, transcripts, contact information and course schedules are all available at the time when it is entered. In other words, it does not require an overnight refresh.
- All active students will log in with their student ID.
- For all active students, their password will be their birthdate without slashes, e.g., 08/04/2014 will be 08042014 as a password.
- The system will have them change that 1st time password to whatever they want it to be.
- From that point forward, it will be their chosen password with their student ID as the log in.
- If your students do not know their student ID, please work with your Data Processor to obtain a listing of that information for distribution purposes.
Click on the links for two documents for your reference:
Getting Started with Student 360 – is a document that I would suggest you print a couple of copies for reference purposes. You could have these sitting out in case individuals have detailed questions. I would not recommend copying for every student.
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| School Wellness Symposium
Join the Missouri Association of Secondary Principals and education thought leaders from the International Center for Leadership Education from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to dive into topics, including equity, cultural competency, trauma-sensitive classrooms, self-care, chemical dependency, school safety, and many more related topics. The School Wellness Symposium is Nov. 17-18 in Columbia, MO. Access a flyer HERE. Learn more and register at moassp.org/meetinginfo.php. Questions? Contact Mitch Bonine.
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| Community STEM Day!
All are invited to a fun and interactive day of STEM activities at the free Community STEM Day at the O'Fallon Park Rec Complex on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10am to 2pm. Click HERE for a flyer to share with families. Sponsors include Bayer, the St. Louis American, Missouri S&T, Maryville University and EDHUB. Event includes a free lunch!
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Click HERE for more information about the Nov. 2. screening of True Justice, an HBO film exploring the work of Bryan Stevenson, at Central Library noon to 2pm.
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| The Science of Reading Instruction ... Plus a Cooking Class!
Principals, literacy coaches and K-2 teachers are invited to attend a very special (and delicious) event on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Kitchen Conservatory.
Hosted by The Superkids Reading Program, attendees will have a conversation with guest presenter Emily Larsen about the science of reading and then enjoy a hands-on cooking class, followed by a four-course dinner!
Space is limited. Attendees must register at the link on the FLYER.
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| REMINDER: AIC Appreciation Day
Looking for a chance to thank your Academic Instructional Coach for all they do for you? Nov. 4 is National Coach Appreciation Day. Take the time to share your gratitude for all of their hard work and support.
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| GOOD NEWS: Horsing Around at Ashland
After completing a study of vertebrates, invertebrates and their habitats, students at Ashland Elementary extended their learning with a visit by Dandy and Trition, two ponies. They discussed what category the ponies fit into (vertebrates!) and natural and adapted habitats.
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| GOOD NEWS: Robotics Team Volunteers to Support Children with Spina Bifida
On Oct. 19, the Gateway STEM Robotics Team volunteered at a Go-Baby-Go event, customizing ride-in cars for kids with spina bifida. Over the previous two months, they had worked in partnership with the Belleville Kiwanis Club to add a Go-Button on the steering wheel for children who can’t use their legs or an enlarged foot pedal for those who do. They also added a parent master switch on the back and fitted the car under the guidance of BJC therapists.
The Robotics Team members in the picture from left to right are: Daniel Newgent, Ethan Henning, Evan Holden, Nathan Morison, and Jevon Clark. Also in photo are Project Lead the Way teachers Tim Frazier and Frank Dressel. Students who helped plan and make car modifications but could not attend: Ayrton Ponce, Raneem Alhamed, and Asher Pruitt.
The smiling faces of KC, Faith, Cole and their families with their new BMW i8 Concept cars says it all. It was fun watching them race around the cafeteria with a sense of freedom they hadn’t enjoyed before.
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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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| CURRICULUM CORNER: ELA Elementary
Last week, we were able to come together as a district in our cohorts to demonstrate our love for learning. We are life-long learners, and it was very evident in each of the cohorts that I visited. For the spotlight this week, a shout out to our wonderful teachers for sharing their ideas and strengths during the PD session.
Also, our host school did an amazing job preparing for this day. A special shout out to Mr. Jerry at Gateway Elementary for having the building in tip-top shape for our teachers.
On Nov. 4, we will have a booster session to explore different apps that will bring engagement into your classroom throughout a lesson. We will have one session from 4-5pm and then another session from 7-8pm to accommodate our late schools. The location will be provided soon.
Upcoming booster session topics in November:
- Writing on a topic (grades 2 and 3)
- Performance Task Writing (grades 3-5)
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Social Studies
Thanks to Busch Middle's Dax Stausing for sharing the work of his students utilizing the source analysis frames, which were introduced during the start of school PD. Shout out to Busch AIC Svetlana Nikic for helping with this, as well. Students are engaging in reading and contextualizing primary source materials. In doing so, they are reaching higher order thinking and can further discuss the information as a class. Great work!
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Science
The Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) are one of the three dimensions of teaching science. Each of the practices build from K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Engaging in Argument from Evidence is the seventh practice.
“Argumentation is the process by which evidence-based conclusions and solutions are reached. In science and engineering, reasoning and argument based on evidence are essential to identifying the best solution to a design problem. They also use argumentation to listen to, compare, and evaluate competing ideas and methods. They engage in argumentation when investigating phenomenon, testing design solutions, resolving questions and measurements, building data models, and using evidence to make their claims.”
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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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| Guest WiFi Passwords
- October: candy
- November: feast
- December: peace
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♦ Due date to send home first letter of concern (retention): LETTER / SPREADSHEET
NOV 2
♦ Budget Forum #3 @ Vashon (10-11:30am)
♦ Community STEM Day: FLYER
NOV 6 - DEC 5
♦ Student artwork on display at SLCC-Forest Park: FLYER
NOV 15
♦ Balloting deadline for the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund teacher trustee: LINK
NOV 18
♦ Washington University's University College info session at Central Office: FLYER
NOV 25
♦ High School Actuarial Information Day: INFO
NOV 26
♦ Deadline to register for the Beginning Teachers Assistance Program: INFO
DEC 7-11
♦ Learning Forward's annual conference in St. Louis: INFO
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