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Assessment and Progress Reports
Given the dynamics to the start of the year, the following adjustments will be made to the assessment and progress report schedules:
1) 1st CFAs will have a Sept. 18 end date: If all students have not tested, we will not require them to take this assessment. We will consider the 1st CFA optional. We will concentrate on CSA-1 which is scheduled to begin Oct. 12.
2) The STAR window will remain open until Sept. 25.
3) Interim progress reports are scheduled for Sept. 18. We will push this back one week; interim progress reports will be available Sept. 25. The progress report window will open Sept 21.
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Teams Refresher for Educators PD
The Office of Professional Development is excited about the upcoming Microsoft Teams 101 Professional Development hosted in conjunction with the SLPS Technology Department and Microsoft Education Corporation that will occur Sept. 17, 2020 from 4-6pm. This course serves as a refresher on using Teams with continued fidelity.
- Webinar Link: JOIN HERE
- Achievement Code for Microsoft Education Community: T-HWE4DFB20
The District continues to be at the forefront of preparing you for this virtual learning by providing open sessions and boosters. We are confident that you are ready to navigate these ongoing learning sessions for our students.
Frontline/MyLearningPlan: Staff should document participation in their own PD Contact Log in Frontline/MyLearningPlan. Instructions can be accessed HERE. Staff have up to five days after the conclusion of the PD to sign-up and receive credit.
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The count will end Sept. 30, 2020. Don't be left out! Your community is counting on you. Why is it important? Hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake! The results of the 2020 Census will help decide where federal funding flows. If you aren't counted, St. Louis could miss out on government grants that will support education, provide housing assistance, improve highway planning and more. Click on the image to participate or my2020census.gov.
Thanks to the staff of Lexington Elementary for being our models! Please encourage your families to also complete the Census.
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Dell Semi-Annual Sale for SLPS Stakeholders
It's time for Dell's Semi Annual Sale! Through Sept. 24, teachers, staff, students and their families can save 17% on select Dell branded products when applying coupon code: SAVE17 at check out. Visit www.dell.com/mpp/slps to shop and share this flyer.
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Title 1 Annual Meetings
From the Office of State and Federal Programs: All Title I Annual Meetings must be conducted by Friday, Sept. 18. The following items are required components of the meetings:
- Newsletter or other announcement for the meeting
- Meeting agenda, sign-sheets, and minutes
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GOOD NEWS: Hodgen Tech is 2020 Bayer School of Excellence
Congratulations to Hodgen Tech Academy, which has been named the 2020 Bayer School of Excellence by the St. Louis American Foundation. Click HERE to read an article featuring Principal Julia Kaiser and Dr. Adams. The school will be celebrated at the Foundation's 33rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Virtual Gala on Oct. 16-17, 2020.
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GOOD NEWS: ELA Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the spring Secondary ELA Contest. Each winner received a set of adorable handmade, hand-painted pencil bookends created by curriculum specialist Judine Keplar:
- Juliuna Garwood, Carr Lane
- Jan Ward, Carr Lane
- Amy Samm, Northwest
- Ruth Butler, Roosevelt
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Curriculum Specialists:
- Dr. Esther Palsenberger, Elementary ELA, 314-779-5939
- Judine Keplar, Secondary ELA, 314-532-6427
- Zehra Khan, K-12 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
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Curriculum Corner: K-12 Math with Zehra Kahn
Lesson planning is at the heart of being an effective teacher. It is a time when we envision the learning we want to occur and analyze how all the pieces of the learning experience should fit together to make that vision a classroom reality. Please join me each week from 7 am to 8 am in the respective Teams channel, and I will support you.
- Wednesdays – K-5 Elementary Math Teachers
- Thursdays – Middle School Math Teachers
- Fridays – High School Math Teachers
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Secondary with Dr. Valentina Bumbu
We are moving in week 3 of instruction! Can you believe it? All grades (middle school)/core (Chemistry, Physics, Biology) science classrooms will need to start with Unit 1, regardless of where they are in Unit 0. Don't forget to have students complete the first District Common Formative Assessment (CFA) for their respective grade/core subject in science and import the data in your respective trackers by Sept. 18 at noon.
We are still here to support you! Coming up booster session is on Sept. 22 at 3:30 pm on What? So What? Now What? where we talk about what is working, what is not, and quick fixes in virtual learning. Join us if you can!
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Elementary with Carrie Launius
Mystery Science often sends me ideas how to make teaching easier. I have put them in the chat box in the science Teams. Be sure to look at them. In case you missed it, here is the overview: LINK.
All codes and sign-ups are also on the Teams page. If you do not know how to access something, check the file and there is support in it to help you. You can also get a student link to the videos under resources in Mystery Science. You can then share it with your students. Also, there are some excellent reading activities that coincide with the unit you are teaching. Be sure to look on the “Reading” tab.
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Secondary with Judine Keplar
Assessments
- The Common Formative Assessment for ELA 6-12 is now open.
- The STAR Reading Assessment is now open.
Virtual Classroom Observations by Curriculum Specialists
- Observations of virtual instruction will begin the week of Sept. 14. Please contact your Curriculum Specialist with any questions.
Important Links
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Curriculum Corner: Visual Arts with John Grapperhaus
Use of document cameras in visual art instruction is a huge game changer – in the classroom and in the virtual classroom even more so. I’m working on getting document cameras for the art teachers, but if school leaders can provide them, it’s appreciated. I encourage you to double check with your art teachers to see if they have one. For art teachers, here are some great ways to make use of a document camera: LINK
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Elementary with Dr. Esther Palsenberger
Wednesday mornings at 7am, teachers can come together for an open PD to share ideas that are working, as well as ask for suggestions from other teachers. Lesson planning support will be given throughout the hour, as well. A Teams meeting invite will appear within the Elementary Teachers Teams Page on Wednesday for you to join us. Come join other teachers and discuss how teaching is going for you and share or learn some great practices.
If you have any questions, please contact Esther via email or at 314-779-5939.
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Curriculum Corner: Social Studies with Dr. Glenn Barnes
Attention School Leaders! Kids Voting Is Coming
We are doing Kids Voting this year, so I will need a representative from every school to head up this effort. Please submit the name of your representative to me via email ASAP. Your responsibility will be for sharing out activities and coordinate voting.
School Leaders … One More Thing … Junior Achievement Has Gone Virtual
All JA activities this year will be virtual. In addition, JA’s programming materials can be found online and implemented as a part of your social studies period. For schools participating in JA, please let me know who your coordinator will be for those in grades 5, middle school, and high school.
General Election Voter Registration Deadline Is Nearing
If you or your students have not registered to vote, the last day to register for the November general election is Oct. 7. Registration can happen online through the MO Secretary of State Website. Go HERE to register!
Elementary Social Studies
I will be offering lesson planning help sessions on Thursday mornings at 7am in the Elementary K-5 Teams in the Social Studies Channel. Come join me if you need support or help.
Secondary Social Studies
I will be offering lesson planning help sessions on Friday mornings at 7am in the Grades 6-12 Social Studies Team. Come join me if you need support or help.
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Curriculum Corner: Performing Arts with Kaye Harrelson
Metro District 8 and Missouri All-State music ensembles will not include in-person rehearsals or performances in the 2020-2021 school year. HOWEVER, at the high school level there will be video auditions that will be virtually submitted. District vice-presidents will soon be emailing details and deadlines. Those students chosen for the "on-paper" ensembles will be able to submit audition videos for the 2021 All-State Honor Ensembles, a highly, significant addition to student portfolios, which are referenced by college recruiters when awarding scholarships.
At the middle school level, no auditions will be held this year. Instead, the members of those "on-paper" ensembles will be nominated by their school directors. District vice-presidents will soon be emailing details and deadlines.
High school registration fees will be dropped this year from $12 to $5. Middle school registration fees are completely waived for 2020-2021.
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Resource Reminders
FOR STAFF:
FOR STUDENTS:
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