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Welcome and happy 2020-2021, our year of virtual teaching and learning! Each of you are so important to our young people. We are embarking on true educational transformation, and the District cannot do this work without you -- OUR TEACHERS.
I am proud to support and navigate through this transformation with you. Always remember, all of us must offer GRACE and less GRIEF, as no one person has all of the answers. However, our scholars look to us for high-quality teaching and learning EVERY DAY.
I will not say this has been easy, but I can assure you that, as your Deputy Superintendent of Academics, I am listening and learning something new every day from you and our scholars. Your voice is important and valued. We may not agree on everything, but I can say that we all agree that we want what is BEST for every child in SLPS. That is why we “show up” every day.
I am here with you and for you. Take good care of yourselves during this incredible time. Stay strong, stay focused, and stay in the work. Let’s appreciate this educational movement and embrace all the changes that come during this transformational time.
All of the best to each of you.
Dr. Paula D. Knight Deputy Superintendent of Academics Saint Louis Public Schools
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Upcoming Tech Training
Please click HERE for Microsoft Teams training videos. Topics range from Creating Breakout Rooms to Class Notebook to Hosting a Live Event.
The IT Department is providing a series of webinars during the month of September. Click HERE for a schedule and links to register.
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Fall Young Writers Contest
Please share with students! The Fall Young Writers Contest sponsored by The St. Louis Writers Guild is OPEN to submissions.
Please also encourage students to participate in the Guild's expanded Young Writers Programs, as well as the contests. The Guild's goal is to help young writers shine!
Every writer has one dream; to get published and share their work. This year we are excited to announce that the winners will be PUBLISHED!
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Welcome Aboard!
Welcome to Theodis “Tony” Maltbia, who is the new Director of Career and Technical Education. Tony has been in the department but is now taking the lead. Expect to hear much more of new partnerships and strategies to help our students with career awareness and planning. To reach Tony, email him at theodis.maltbia@slps.org.
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Online Graduate School Programs for Educators
Schools across the country provide online instruction for educators. Here are some programs that might be of interest:
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MDC Teacher Portal
The Missouri Department of Conservation's Teacher Portal is designed to provide the highest quality service to Missouri’s educators who are interested in teaching about Missouri’s ecology and conservation. Click HERE to access.
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SLPS Wellness Day 2020
Plan to join your colleagues for SLPS Wellness Day on Sept. 12, 2020. All mammogram van appointments are full, but they are still taking reservations for free flu shots:
- Provided by CVS
- Available by appointment only
- Between 9am-1pm
- Employees will receive a $10 gift card after completing
- REGISTER HERE
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Leadership Opportunity
The Mentor Teacher Leadership Program is seeking five teacher-leaders to join this exciting cohort that supports the mentors to our 1st and 2nd year teachers.
If you meet the criteria and are interested in joining this powerful group of teacher-leaders, please complete the application no later than September 8, 2020 by close of business. Please contact Dr. Wanda Clay or Dr. LaTisha Smith if you have any questions.
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GOOD NEWS: Regina Fowler Joins Board of Education
Welcome to Regina Fowler, who has joined the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis. Ms. Fowler was sworn in by Judge Jimmie Edwards at the BOE's work session on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Ms. Fowler is an SLPS alum, as are her two children.
Ms. Fowler graduated from Washington University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and received her masters of Business Administration from the UMSL with emphasis in Human Resources and Accounting. She recently retired from a long career in business, serving as the head of Finance, HR and Administration at several organizations including KSDK-TV and, most recently, REJIS, an information technology organization.
Ms. Fowler currently teaches accounting classes as an Adjunct Instructor for Harris-Stowe State University. She also teaches financial literacy and management classes through her not-for-profit, C-H.O.P.E.
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GOOD NEWS: Gateway Elementary Teacher Honored by St. Louis American Foundation
In recognition of her dedication to education and leadership in the classroom and the community, Rhonda Stovall, 4th grade teacher and science lab instructor at Gateway Elementary, has been selected to receive a 2020 Excellence in Education Award at the St. Louis American Foundation's 33rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Virtual Gala on Oct. 17. There are eight total awardees who, along with the award and recognition, will receive an educator grant for $500. Ms. Stovall is a former SLPS Educator of the Year.
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GOOD NEWS: Community Support for CTE Program
The Career and Technical Education Department is excited to announce the members of the newly developed SLPS-CTE Advisory Committee, which is committed to supporting the growth of CTE programming at SLPS to meet workforce development needs in the St. Louis area.
- John O’Mara – UA Local Union 562
- Val Patton - St. Louis Area Chamber of Commerce
- Nya Grimes – Ameren
- Justin Rathert – Boeing
- R. J. Catizon – Carpenters Union
- Sherman George – Community/Former Fire Chief
- Brett Richardson – STLCC
- Donna Howlett – MSD
- Dan Lester – Clayco Corp
- Martha Ricketts/Denise Strehlow – BJC
- Nicole Fondren – Spire
- Mike Holmes – Urban League
- Howard Hayes – Slate, STL Works – Advisory Committee Request
- Rosalyn Croft - Tarlton
Additionally, UA Local Union 562 - Plumbers & Pipefitters will partner with SLPS to meaningfully engage with Beaumont and Roosevelt students in the Construction Trade program.
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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: Performing Arts
Performing Arts open office hours with Kaye Harrelson are held from 1:30-3:30pm daily.
"Be the safe place that kids need. Create a relationship." If you accomplish those two things in the first weeks of virtual learning, students will find their way back to you.
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Secondary
Science Teachers, please know that the science teacher leaders and myself are here for you. We have a few booster sessions planned out to support virtual science instruction:
♦ Sept. 8, 3:15-4pm: Step-by-step setting up your Science Class Notebook in Teams (facilitated by Julie Elking)
♦ Sept. 14, 3:15-4pm: 6-12 Virtual Teaching Check-in: What? So What? What Now? (facilitated by Ellie Gund)
A survey will be sent in week 3 asking what additional supports are needed, so we may address them. Stay tuned!
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Curriculum Corner: Social Studies
Social Studies - All Grades:
- Continue working on building relationships with students and help “onboard” them with Teams.
- Be sure to use the linked resources in the curriculum plan for your synchronous and asynchronous activities. There is no need to make copies for anything, as we are 100% virtual now.
- Additionally, we have added tutorial videos to best help you with some of the technology-related questions you may have with some of the programs being used.
Elementary Social Studies:
- Some basic information I want to make sure you are aware of is that the grade level units need to be your first focus. There are suggested standards-based lessons in there that can be expanded and modified accordingly, as well as quarterly assessments. Please utilize these resources.
- All of the resources (curriculum plans, proficiency scales, exit slips, and assessments) can be downloaded from the Social Studies Channel in the K-5 Team.
- I have reached out to the AICs to check to see if any PD or help is needed, so be sure to let them or me know how I can support you.
Secondary Social Studies:
- I have met with all of the middle school teachers and many of the high school teachers over the past few weeks. As stated, please be sure to utilize the files in the grade level channels and connect with colleagues from other schools. You all have much to share and now is the time to start sharing lesson plan ideas and resources with one another. Much of the communication is happening on Teams, please utilize these resources accordingly.
- All of the resources (curriculum plans, proficiency scales, exit slips, and assessments) can be downloaded from the 6-12 Social Studies Team.
Kids Voting:
- We are doing KidsVoting 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 by Sept. 11. Your responsibility will be for sharing out activities and coordinate voting.
Junior Achievement:
- 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.
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Curriculum Corner: Arts Integration
Even in these times of virtual learning, Springboard to Learning is still ready to help you bring the core curriculum to life!
We’ve adjusted all our programs for virtual instruction.
If you are unfamiliar with Springboard to Learning, our mission is to provide innovative educational resources that develop children’s critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills through the arts, sciences and humanities. Our programs directly support school curriculum and are designed to ignite a passion for learning.
These residencies are FREE to your school (are already paid for by the Board of Education) and help augment your core curriculum goals according to state standards. Residencies usually meet once a week for about 45-55 minutes and run about 10 weeks. However, we are flexible to your school’s specific needs and schedules.
To request your top three preferred residency programs, click HERE.
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Secondary
Welcome back! The ELA team across grades 6-12 is an amazing, supportive community of professionals. Please join our Team(s) to collaborate and engage with your colleagues. All ELA teachers in grades 6-12, including ESOL, SPED, school leaders, and friends of ELA are welcome to join!
In SLPS, our ELA curriculum is rich, robust, diverse, and flexible. Digital resources have been carefully curated to support teaching the Missouri Learning Standards for ELA. If you missed our content meeting on August 20, a link to the ELA Curriculum Overview Notebook has been provided HERE, which will answer most of your questions about ELA in SLPS.
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out for support! Judine Keplar can be reached at judine.keplar@slps.org, 314-345-2314, office, or 618-698-2349, cell.
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Curriculum Corner: K-12 Math
A lot of information was handed out during professional development. Let’s collaborate on strategies that spark meaningful conversations in our virtual math classes, so teachers and students can experience the best possible connection. Please join me during our Math Booster sessions.
♦ Sept. 9, 3:30-4:30pm: Engaging Virtual Math Classroom (Elementary)
♦ Sept. 10, 3:30-4:30pm: Engaging Virtual Math Classroom (Secondary)
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Elementary
Welcome back! Please remember curriculum specialists are here to support you. We understand this is an unusual time. Please reach out to us. As the science specialist for elementary, I understand you have many questions about how to deliver the standard-based curriculum. It is a change, albeit a positive change, for our students. When writing the science materials, the team (V’rhonnee’ Brown, Emily Gentemann, Christina Sweeney, and Jill Toney) carefully considered how to the materials as user-friendly as possible. We tried to cover all bases, knowing at the time of writing that we would be virtual. If you need any support, please contact me. The best way to get me is by email: janet.launius@slps.org or call me on Teams.
I have been adding everything to the Elementary Teams page. Please frequent that page not only in science but in all areas. I post a lot of information on the chat section and any materials in the page with the documents. There is a lot on the page, so please make sure you scroll all the way down while looking for something.
I know this year brings on many challenges and I am here to support you in any way that I am able. Do not hesitate to contact me. Have a great year.
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Elementary
Welcome to another wonderful school year. During this unique start of the school year, remember this quote from Bethany Hamilton, "Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you."
We have the most courageous teachers that any district could ever ask for to support our students.
Dr. Esther Palsenburger will have open office hours from 7am to 3:30pm. You can also contact her for a PD for your building, PLC support, and modeling.
Each week, there will be a pre-recorded read aloud, a Nearpod presentation for students, and a weekly PD session.
If you have any questions, please contact Esther via email or at 314-779-5939.
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Upcoming Dates
♦ Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day, District closed
♦ Tuesday, Sept. 8: Board of Education Meeting: STREAM
♦ Wednesday, Sept. 9: Virtual ESOL Parent Meeting
♦ Friday, Sept. 18: Q1 interim progress reports
♦ Friday, Sept. 25: Site-based PD, half day
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Miss an Issue?
Past issues are uploaded on a regular basis.
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