Jan. 9, 2020
Jan. 9, 2020

Academic Office Newsletter

From the Office of Dr. Paula Knight, Deputy Superintendent of Academics

Got feedback? We want to hear it!
Apply Now to Be a School Leader for the 2020-2021 School Year
The District is currently accepting applications for principals and assistant principals for the 2020-2021 school year. Are you passionate about serving the students of SLPS and eager to advance your career? Consider applying to be a school leader: LINK. Experience and education requirements are available at the link, as well as a full job description. For any questions, please contact Sheila Smith-Anderson at Sheila.Smith-Anderson@slps.org. The application window closes TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020.
EdCampSTL 2020
Would you like to engage and collaborate with teachers from beyond your building or district?
Are you curious to hear how the latest ideas in education are actually being used in other classrooms? Are you wanting to try something out, but not sure where to start?
Do you want to participate in FREE professional development?
If you answered “Yes!” to any or all of the above questions, we encourage you to join hundreds of teachers from around the greater St. Louis metro and beyond at EdCampSTL! It will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29, hosted at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, 1201 S. Warson Road.
Visit bit.ly/edcampstl to register now!
The premise of EdCamps is to:
  • bring educators together to discuss what they want to learn - yes you help decide session topics!
  • engage in a discussion, not listen to a presentation.
  • be a FREE professional development opportunity.
  • grow your professional learning community.
  • be encouraged about the work we do!
EdCamps are a powerful movement in education, redefining how teachers think about their learning. An EdCamp is an “unconference,” meaning there are no pre-set sessions; it is truly about what the participants want to discuss. For more information about EdCamps watch this short video.
Please reach out to sadie@connectedlearningstl.org you have any questions or are interested in helping at the event!
Follow EdCamp on: 
Black Child Book Fair
Save the date for the Black Child Book Fair (BCBF) on Feb. 1, 2020 at the Holiday Inn downtown, 811 N. 9th Street, from 10am to 3pm. This free event features black authors with positive black characters for black children. Click HERE for the Facebook event.
ACCESS for ELLs
ACCESS for ELLs is a standardized test taken annually by English language learners in kindergarten through 12th grade to assess their English language proficiency.
The testing window for ACCESS for ELLs opened Monday, Jan. 6, 2020 and closes Feb. 3, 2020 for non-ESOL center schools and Feb. 21, 2020 for ESOL center schools (Buder, Dewey, Mann, Mason, Mullanphy, Oak Hill, Sigel, Woerner, Woodward, Long, Gateway Middle, Busch, Compton-Drew, NCNAA K-8, NCNAA @ Roosevelt, Gateway STEM, Roosevelt and Soldan).
The District’s Translation & Interpretation Team recorded robocalls in multiple languages that can be used to inform parents about ACCESS for ELLs and the testing window for this assessment. If you would like to use this robocall to communicate with ELL families at your school, submit your robocall request (https://www.slps.org/Page/27448). Please note “ACCESS for ELLs 2020 robocall” in the subject field. No additional script is required.
During the testing window, test coordinators and principals will receive ACCESS testing status reports. Please refer to your ACCESS testing status report to monitor test completion in your school.
If you have questions regarding this assessment, please contact Alla Gonzalez Del Castillo at Alla.GonzalezDelCastillo@slps.org.
Free ACT Workshop for Educators
You are invited to Setting Up Students for Success (Even Earlier) in Missouri, a free workshop to learn how the newly released PreACT 8/9, along with PreACT and ACT Academy, can improve performance on the ACT test and prepare students for college success.
Discover new ways to use ACT Academy and use FREE, personalized practice resources and lessons to help improve ACT scores. Click HERE to register.
WHERE: University of Missouri – St. Louis
DATE: Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
TIME: 9am – noon 
Literacy Online Summit
Learning to read is arguably the most important academic experience students will have during their school years. But it’s not a given.
The “nation’s report card” shows that just over a third of 4th graders are proficient readers. That’s despite decades of cognitive research specifying the skills students need to be taught to read fluently. So what’s happening in schools—and in teacher preparation—that’s making it so hard for some students to gain these foundational skills?
In the Getting Reading Right online summit, Education Week reporters and their expert guests will discuss the science behind how kids learn to read, as well as explore original survey data on what elementary teachers and education professors know and believe about early reading.
Click HERE to register for this free online event on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from noon to 2pm. 
Pupil Accounting Timeline
♦ Jan. 6, 2020:  Quarter 3 begins/classes resume
♦ Jan. 8, 2020:  Grade verifications processed/distributed (secondary); missing grade reports (secondary)
♦ Jan. 10, 2020:  Term 2 grading cycle CLOSES
♦ Jan. 13, 2020:  Grade files due to Pupil Accounting for review (secondary only)
♦ Jan. 13-14, 2020:  Term 2 report cards printed
♦ Jan. 15, 2020:  Term 2 report cards distributed (elementary/middle); Term 2 report cards mailed (secondary)
♦ Jan. 17, 2020:  Professional Development (NO students)
♦ Jan. 20, 2020:  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. HOLIDAY – DISTRICT CLOSED
♦ Jan. 22, 2020:  Instructions distributed; Special January Enrollment Collection
♦ Jan. 29, 2020: Last Wednesday in January Special Enrollment Collection
♦ Jan. 31, 2020:  Progress 3 grading cycle OPENS
♦ Feb. 7, 2020:  Progress 3 grading cycle CLOSES
♦ Feb. 13, 2020:  Progress 3 report cards distributed
♦ Feb. 14, 2020:  Professional Development (NO students)
♦ Feb. 17, 2020:  Presidents' Day HOLIDAY – DISTRICT CLOSED
Click HERE to download this information in a PDF.
DESE Report Cards
Message from State and Federal Programs: District and school report cards have been released by DESE. These report cards include District and school-based indicators, such as 4-year graduation rate and performance of student groups. The report cards can be accessed here: www.slps.org/Page/45975.
Updates from Ricoh
1) Welcome back from break! Ricoh wants to thank everyone for their increased use of the online submission tool Ricoh TRAC.
Using the TRAC Solution Copy Module, you can easily submit copy jobs by electronically sending all the details with your documents to be copied. TRAC is beneficial to all, as it allows the user to check on the status of their job at all stages from “In progress,” “Finishing stage,” “Waiting on Customer Instruction,” “Pending Supervisor Approval” and “Complete.”
Being able to check on the status of one’s job without contacting the copy center allows the work to flow continually. Frequent phone calls and email inquiries for job statuses bring production to a halt. The less the Ricoh team is pulled away from the production floor, the quicker you will get your orders.
Only 53% of all copy jobs sent during the 2018-19 academic year was submitted via Ricoh TRAC. This past summer, Ricoh received nearly 1,300 orders in just one month’s time! However, there are still users that are unaware or unsure of how to access the TRAC system.
You can access Ricoh TRAC at https://slps.ricohtrac.com. The welcome page contains helpful links such as the hours, phone number and current wait time for the Copy Center. If you do not already have an account, you may request one there. Ricoh looks forward to working with you.
2) The Ricoh Mail Room handles the pick-up, sorting, processing, metering and delivering of all incoming mail addressed to the Board of Education Building. This includes all US Mail, overnight packages (UPS, FedEx, etc.), hand deliveries, and interoffice mail. All accountable mail will be scanned within the TRAC system and an email alert will be sent to the recipient. Interoffice mail will be delivered to the departments during the scheduled daily mail runs at 11am and 2pm.
Ricoh has a designated drop off spot inside the mail room for outgoing accountable mail. Senders are responsible for contacting and scheduling the pick-up with the vendor. They must also provide their own shipping label and account number. 
Ricoh couriers pick-up and deliver all Pony Mail throughout the District once per day. (Note: this does not include textbooks or furniture).
Ricoh posts outgoing US mail for all locations, including schools. Outgoing US mail must already be inserted into envelopes and include a return address. All outgoing mail must be received at the BOE Building by 3:30pm for same-day processing.
REMINDER: Seeking Nominations for the Educator of the Year Program
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 TOMORROW Jan. 10, 2020.  
Nominate TODAY at this link!
REMINDER: PreK Professional Development: Seeking Teacher Leaders
The Early Childhood Education Department is seeking teacher leaders to facilitate 2020-2021 districtwide professional development presentations for pre-kindergarten staff. 
A commitment to presenting sessions on all districtwide PD days is requested, and presenter teams (of 2 to 3 people) are encouraged. Choose a topic of interest and expertise to join the ECE PD Team! Please complete the 2020-2021 PD Presenter Interest Form to be considered for this enriching opportunity.
REMINDER: Spring Break Literacy Camp Teacher Interest Survey
SLPS is considering hosting a Spring Break Literacy Camp at an offsite location for students in grades 2-5 this March. The purpose of this survey is to gauge teacher interest in teaching at the Spring Break Camp. You can take the survey by following this link: Teacher Survey
GOOD NEWS: Getting a Jump Start
A record number of students attended orientation last night for the District's Jump Start dual-enrollment program with Harris-Stowe State University.
Participating seniors report to HSSU part-time for classes in math, English, as well as some electives. “Jump Start is for students who are still unsure about what their next steps after high school might be. We want them to experience what college expectations will be like and to see themselves as college material,” explained Ryonnel Jackson, Director of SLPS Volunteer and Mentoring Services.
Congratulations to the talented young people accepted into this great program! 
PD Booster Sessions Schedule
Click HERE for a full calendar of upcoming booster sessions from the Curriculum Team!
Coming Soon: Multicultural Children's Book Day
Multicultural Children’s Book Day is on its 7th year and is gaining momentum more and more every year! Click HERE for information on how you can celebrate on Jan. 31, 2020.
Standards-Based Learning CORNER
What Do I Need to Know About a Standards-Based System? 
“The most critical element of standards-based learning is simply a decision to begin the process of aligning teaching, assessment, and reporting to standards” (Standards Based Learning in Action, Schimmer et al.). 
Standards-Based Learning is about much more than a grade book; it is an entire cultural shift that makes sure everyone (teacher, student, and parents) knows what students need to know in order to achieve mastery. The conversation changes from what students “do” to what students “learn.” No longer are the days where we teach based on our own desires and affinities. We are now in a place where we teach what students need to know in order to be successful throughout their entire educational career, an experience that builds on itself. Depth is valued over breadth, and mastery learning is valued over timelines. The question to ask becomes, "Did they learn it?" instead of "Did you teach it?" Students move from passive receivers of information to active participants and decision-makers in the process of their mastery learning. 
If you have not already, please respond to this survey to help inform our work on Standards-Based Learning.
Come back to the Academic Newsletter each week for updated information about the SLPS journey from TEACHING to LEARNING in a Standards-Based Learning System.
CURRICULUM CORNER: Elementary ELA
As the District moves more into the Standards-Based Curriculum, we need to provide constructive and effective feedback to our students in order for them to go back to the assignment and make adjustments based on the feedback. We can no longer provide only a percentage or letter grade. Students can only improve in their academics when they understand what they have done incorrectly.
Providing feedback means giving students an explanation of what they are doing correctly and incorrectly. However, the focus of the feedback should be based essentially on what the students is doing right. It is most productive to a student’s learning when they are provided with an explanation and example as to what is accurate and inaccurate about their work.
In this article from Teach Thought, they provide us with 20 ways to give effective feedback to our students to improve the quality of their learning. 
Next week: Time for celebration! Let's take a closer look at data results and celebrate classes and teachers showing at least five months growth!.
CURRICULUM CORNER: Science
You are cordially invited to “liven” up your science fair opportunities for students. Are you tired of the same ol' same ol' science fairs? This year is going to be different! We welcome you to the 21st Century SLPS Science Fair. Projects are much less traditional and more STEM-like. Even better, the engineering projects actually coincide with our curriculum, the Missouri Learning Standards, and NGSS.
Come to an informational meeting led by teachers who are working to help you get your students on the track.
The booster session will be Jan. 13, 2020, at Central Office in the PD Loft. We will hold two sessions, one at 4pm and the other at 5pm to accommodate later schools. Elementary teachers who attend the meeting and commit to having students complete projects will be promised a box of science fair supplies!  (the first 30 teachers)
Furthermore,  elementary teachers who come to the meeting and have students participate from their class will get a voucher to attend a summer baseball game. (We will hand them out at the fair)
Don’t miss this golden opportunity! Register at My Learning Plan!
Guest WiFi Password
  • January: snowy
  • February: heart
  • March: windy
  • April: rainy 
DISTRICT CALENDAR

JAN 10
 Nomination period closes for Educator of the Year: LINK

JAN 15
♦ Central VPA Winter Fine Arts Night [DATE CHANGE]: FLYER

JAN 17
PD Day (no students)

JAN 20
♦ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (district closed)

JAN 31
♦ Multicultural Children's Book Day: LINK

FEB 1
Black Child Book Fair: LINK

FEB 7
 Interim progress reports for Q3

FEB 8
♦ Harris-Stowe "Take a Kid to the Game" Day

FEB 14
PD Day (no students)

FEB 17
Presidents' Day holiday (district closed)
 Deadline to apply for the Princeton Summer Journalism Program: LINK / FLYER
Did You Miss an Issue? 
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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