January 5, 2023
Issue #12
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| Hello, Colleagues.
Happy New Year and welcome back! It is my hope that you were able to take time to be fully present with your family, friends and yourself during the break. Quick question: How well did you do on the winter break “homework” -- an Academic Office invitation -- to allow yourself permission to reflect, to address self-care and to (re)focus as you thought about the next right step?
As we begin Quarter 3 of the 2022-2023 school year, I recently revisited a text resource titled “Radical Departures: How the Reinvention Lab (currently) defines innovative learning” and I would like to share it with you. I invite each of us to challenge ourselves to move beyond ‘status quo learning’ and toward ‘reinvented learning’ by exploring these five questions.
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Focus on Scholar Learning (FOSL) Walks – Semester 2
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Academic Office-led school Learning Walks continue. Information about the WHAT and the WHY of these targeted Learning Walks was shared in a previous Newsletter. Check it out HERE for a reminder.
FOSL Walk additional resources / information provided for your reference:
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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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“Without inner change there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.”
– Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams
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Your partner in education,
Marion Smith Jr, EdD
Deputy Superintendent of Academics
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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: English Language Arts (ELA)
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The SLPS Literacy Committee held a Scholastic Book Fair during the week of December 12, 2022. The 4-day book fair allowed us to purchase over $300 worth of books that will go to classrooms for our scholars. If you are interested in having a book fair for your school to raise money for books, email Esther Palsenberger or call 314-331-6153.
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Winter Reading Race (December 21-January 3)
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If any of your scholars turned in the reading log for our Winter Reading Race during the winter break, send those completed sheets to Dr. Esther Palsenberger or Judine Keplar so we can identify the winner.
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The Love of Reading Is Prominent in our District
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Scholars are reading books before, during, and after school. Our scholars in grades Kindergarten through 5 are also using our new MyOn app to read independently with high-interest books of their choice. Based on the data from MyOn, our scholars have read 26,409 books and spent over 6,581 hours reading since early October.
The chart below shows how many books each grade level has completed since October:
Kindergarten: 1,027
1st Grade: 2,871
2nd Grade: 4,632
3rd Grade: 7,388
4th Grade: 5,542
5th Grade: 4,501
6th Grade (in an elementary setting): 443
Reading is dreaming with open eyes. Keep reading!
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Department Spotlight: Gifted & Talented Education
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District-wide Universal Gifted Screening For All 2nd Grade Students
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All second-grade students in the district who have not already been identified as Gifted will participate in the gifted screening process beginning Monday, January 9, 2023 (click here to access the universal screening schedule).
Universal screening is an equitable approach to ensure populations that have been marginalized and traditionally underrepresented in gifted education have an opportunity to be identified at an early age.
Read the information below to learn about the new universal screening being used:
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The SLPS Gifted Department will be utilizing the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3)
- The NNAT3 is a nonverbal measure of general ability, ideal for use with a diverse student population.
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Requires no spoken or written language, making it useful for students who are non-English speakers, intermediate English speakers, and students learning English for the first time
- Online screener will be administered whole group, in a regular classroom setting by SLPS licensed Psychological Examiners (classroom teacher will stay in the room)
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Students who score in the 90th percentile or above will be identified/recommended to take Cognitive and Academic Assessments for official gifted eligibility (examiners can test at school sites if needed.)
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The “Work” of the Academic Office:
Strengthening the Gifted Instructional Core
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This school year, the Academic Office has taken several strategic steps to reimagine and redefine gifted instruction across the district. Our intention is to embody the tenets of the “Portrait of a Gifted Learner” and continue to thrive as a model for gifted instruction across the region.
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Formation of a District Gifted Leadership Committee (consisting of Academic Office Leaders, Network Superintendents and Gifted School Leaders)
- Gifted instruction data collection
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The Gifted Leadership Committee has developed a ‘gifted look-fors’ classroom observation form (aligned to National Gifted Standards and MO Gifted Learner Outcomes) to collect baseline data as part of collaborative cross-school learning walks and classroom observations.
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Development and implementation of professional learning experiences aligned to national and state gifted standards for all gifted educators. First collective professional development session for gifted educators will take place on Friday, February 17th during site-based PD time.
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Formation of the SLPS Gifted Advisory Council (parents, teachers, community members.) This committee will work collaboratively to make key recommendations for the future of gifted education in SLPS. The committee will meet in-person on the second Wednesday of each month. The first meeting will take place on February 8, 2023. Individuals interested in joining this committee click here (completion of interest survey does not guarantee placement on the committee.)
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For more information contact Natasha Mitchell, Interim Director of Virtual Learning and Gifted Education - Natasha.Mitchell@slps.org
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New Spotlight: MTSS Corner
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Shifting the Framework: “Multi Level Prevention System”
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Shifting from Response to Intervention (RTI) to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), requires us to reexamine how we plan, implement and track our intervention systems here in SLPS. The separate practices of RTI and Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) may not always address the collective and individual needs of each scholar we serve. The implementation of initiatives, supports, and resources for each scholar is the foundation of MTSS.
Below is a detailed view of the multi- level scholar support system designed to meet unique needs of our scholars.
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Tier 1: Instruction is specific and differentiated for each scholar in the whole class setting. High expectations are set and equity and inclusion is at the center of teaching, learning, and grading. Different modes of instruction are used to meet scholar needs and curriculum resources are aligned to the teaching of standards. Differentiation of instruction at this level is designed for whole group instruction and adjustments in teaching are made based on formative assessments – different Check for Understanding strategies.
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Tier 2: Targeted instructional support for standards mastery. Tier 2 supports are typically implemented during small group sessions, and the needs of the group set the tone for Curriculum resources, at this level, are designed to provide targeted assistance to each scholar or scholar group. Progress monitoring the effectiveness of the interventions and resources is essential to ensure that scholars are working towards mastery.
- Tier 3: Individual intervention in correlation with whole and small group instruction is the basis of this tier. Instruction is designed to meet the specific needs of the scholar. Interventions continue to be progress monitored, and alternate assessments may be used for scholars who are receiving Tier 3 services.
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As we transition into the MTSS approach to learning, teaching and support, it is important to remember the ‘Why, What, and How of MTSS.”
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Department Spotlight: Curriculum and Instruction
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Report Cards will be sent home with scholars on Friday, January 13, 2023
- TheSIS-360 grade reporting window is now open until January 6, 2023
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You may access Step-By-Step Instructions (including a video and PowerPoint resource) on how to use the SIS-360 Grade Reporting System for both traditional and standards-based grading HERE.
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Standards-Based Grading Update (Grades Pre-K through 5)
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A pre- recorded Standard Based Grading Session from October 4th is below:
- More information can be found on the SIS Tyler Gradebook Training Teams’ Page
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For additional support and guidance with grading during our ongoing journey and transition from traditional grades to standards-based grades, please access the Standards-Based Grade Reporting Guidebook HERE.
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The current SLPS Board Policy on Grading is linked HERE.
- The SIS Gradebook Guidance 1-Pager is linked HERE.
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NOTE: In our efforts to address coherence and clarity in our communication across the school district, please be sure to use the information shared here and in the guidebook. If you have created or shared alternative information, conversion charts or crosswalks around Standards-Based Grading, please be sure to update them.
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For more information about using the SIS Grade Reporting System, please contact Matthew Haack, Student Information Systems Manager, - Mathew.Haack@slps.org. For more information about Standards Based Grading contact - Ravetta Jackson, MTSS Specialist - Ravetta.Jackson@slps.org.
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Washington University/Institute of School Partnership STEMpact Teacher Quality Program
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The 2023-2024 STEMpact Teacher Quality (TQ) experience is a year-long (100 hours) learning opportunity involving teachers in St. Louis and surrounding areas. The Institute will meet July 10-21, 2023, between the hours of 8:30 – 4:00; and four full days and four after school sessions to occur throughout the 2023-2024 school year. During the school year, participants will continue their learning with quarterly after school sessions between September and April; and one quarterly full day session (specific dates TBD by district calendars).
Upon completion of expectations, participants receive $100/day stipend for the Institute (10 days x $100 = $1,000) and $75 each for each of the four after school sessions (4 x $75 = $300).
College credit is available for those interested through Washington University. Credit cost/stipends/tuition reimbursement is administered in whatever way is standard for each teacher/school district.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Carrie Launius: janet.launius@slps.org for an application. All applications must be received by January 31, 2023.
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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
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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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Dr. Taresa Wright-Fraser, Elementary Math, 314-943-5266
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