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Getting the MOST Out of a 529 Account
College Kids is partnering with MOST 529! Angela Williams of MOST 529 will be hosting monthly zoom sessions beginning October 15, 2020 through January 21, 2021 at 6pm. These sessions will provide a general overview of the MOST 529 Education Plan and help interested individuals learn about ways to save for education expenses and federal and state tax incentives.
- What is a 529 savings plan? It's a type of investment account you can use for education savings, which is usually sponsored by an individual state.
- Where does the name come from? It comes from Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, which specifies the plan's tax advantages.
- What makes these little savings vehicles so powerful? Tax savings. Your earnings grow federally tax-deferred, qualified withdrawals are tax-free, and some states (like Missouri) have other tax benefits as well.
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REMINDERS!
Friday, October 16 is a classroom prep day for all staff. All staff are to report to their sites.
The PLE scheduled for October 15 has been cancelled to give principals additional time, as many prepare to reopen their buildings to students. We will communicate the new date when it is finalized.
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Revised Assessment Calendar
From the Academic and Assessment Offices: Please see the revised assessment dates for this year only; however, assessments will still be available for teacher use.
- CFA 1: September 8-14 -- optional
- CSA 1: October 12-16 -- optional
- CFA 2: October 26-30 -- optional
- CSA 2: December 11-17 -- optional
- CFA 3: January 4-8 -- optional
- CSA 3: March 8-12 -- optional
- MAP Practice: November 2- 24 -- optional
- Scantron: September 16-October 15 -- no change
- Scantron: March 1-31 -- no change
- STAR 1: August 31-September 18 -- testing window pushed back twice (September 25 and again October 2)
- STAR 2: November 30-December 17 -- no change
- STAR 3: April 19-May 28 -- no change
- DRDP: on hold
*All ELL assessments will remain as scheduled*
**All HS EOC practice testing schedules will remain**
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Preparing Students to Return to School
Help set your students up for success, as we transition back to in-person instruction. The Student Support Services Department is holding two workshops on parents, guardians and other caregivers on October 14, 2020: 11am to noon and 6-7pm. Registration closes October 12, 2020 at 5pm. Once you register, a link to the virtual meeting will be sent to you.
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1st Letter of Academic Concern
Students who are not making adequate academic progress toward grade level expectations should be identified, and a notification should be shared with parents during Parent Teacher Conferences. In your communication, please include the areas of concern and the support students are receiving. The template for the letter is included HERE.
In addition, document your communication using this form and submit by November 2.
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Tips for Assessing Students Virtually
Assessments are a helpful tool that can be used to support teachers and students reaching their performance goals. Online assessments are a great way to measure what students know. Formative Assessments, assessments for learning, provide critical feedback to students and teachers on student progress toward mastery of standards. Formative assessments are given at the beginning of the quarter and throughout the quarter to support instructional decision making and differentiation. Summative Assessments, assessments of learning, measure what the students have learned. They are given at the end of the quarter to determine student growth in progress toward mastery of standards.
Do a Trial Run: Be sure that students know how to access the assessment platform and can login using their assigned username and password.
Cameras and Microphones On: There are some assessment platforms that do not allow teachers to see students in MS Teams while they are engaged with a test on an iPad. If this is the case, it is important that students remain in MS Teams and that their camera and microphones stay on to allow for a smooth transition from the testing platform to the virtual classroom and as a measure to deter cheating.
Trust Students & Families to Do the Right Thing: It is important that we support students and families in the assessment process. Communicate your testing expectations clearly, identify the purpose of the exam and simply trust students and families to do the right thing when your virtual setting does not allow for optimal proctoring of assessments.
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Share Your News!
Principals: Don't forget to use your marquees as a communications tool. If your school is returning to in-person instruction, and you have an outdoor sign, share that info with the public. Post a welcome message and post return dates. Try a motivational message like ... Working together, we will get through this!
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PTC Guidance Tool
A successful family/school partnership is vital for student success. Parent-teacher conferences create an opportunity for shared collaboration between the family, student and teacher. While virtual teaching has posed many new challenges, it has also brought a dynamic level of interaction between home and school. Being able to connect with parents virtually allows families to have much needed face-to-face time with their child’s teacher from anywhere!
- The Parent Teacher Conference window is October 19-30.
- Conferences should take place before school, after school or during a teacher’s plan period (optional). NO conferences during a teacher’s instructional time.
- Conferences should take place virtually. The preferred method is a video conference; however a phone conference is acceptable.
- The goal is 100% participation.
Click HERE for the Virtual Parent Teacher Conference Guidance Tool with instructions for how to easily schedule and maximize every minute of your conferences. If you prefer a PDF, click HERE.
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PBS Kids Virtual EdCamp
The 3rd annual PBS KIDS Edcamp will take place on Saturday, October 17 from 8:30-10:30am. The Nine Network is in the process of recreating this magic for its virtual format on Zoom.
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Creative Arts Contest for Grades 6-8
In support of Credit Awareness Month, the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition, a collaborative of local financial institutions, non-profits and community organizations, is sponsoring the Creative Arts Contest. Students in grades 6-8 are encouraged to answer this year’s Credit Awareness Month Question with a 1-minute original song and accompanying video. One of the main goals of the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition is to facilitate and align stakeholders in the Greater St. Louis area for the purpose of creating systems level change, economic mobility for low-wealth households and long-term economic security among all households. Although this contest is open to all 6th – 8th graders in your school, we always like to keep that goal in mind and encourage our minority students and students from low-income households to elevate their voices. Winners will receive the following awards: First place $750; Second place $500; Third place $250. Additional prizes will be awarded to the other two finalists. Please direct questions to contest@moneysmartstl.org.
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2020-21 Pupil Accounting: October Term 1 Grade Reporting Timeline
- October 12: Term 1 grading cycle OPENS – ALL sites
- October 16: Term 1 ends; Term 1 grading cycle CLOSES – ALL sites
- October 19: Term 2 begins; Term 1 report cards printed in Preparation of Parent Conference
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Contactless Sign In and Out for Pre-K
1) The District is suggesting a safe method for contactless sign in and out for the Pre-K Program.
3) Choose Microsoft Forms.
4) Create a heading including Classroom Name, Room # and Teacher.
5) Create questions such as Time In/Out, Student Name and Authorized Pick up Name, etc.
6) Click the share button, there is a QR code option that you can download and place wherever you would like.
7) In settings, be sure to choose anyone with this link can fill it out.
8) During arrival or departure, parents scan the QR code using their cell phone and complete the form.
9) All entries are captured in the MS Form and can be downloaded to an excel file for easy record keeping.
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High School Grading Guidance
The Academic Office has created a High School Grading Document. All high school teachers will utilize the guidelines as a tool for completing 2nd quarter report cards.
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Focus on: Culture and Climate
This Week’s Virtual Strategy: Opening the Conversation – A Guideline to Classroom Discussions
Are there important issues or topics that you need to discuss with your students? See the steps below as a guide for classroom discussions.
1) Be positive – students will follow your cues; speak with confidence, respect and be open!
2) Establish norms – set norms together so that all participants know what to expect.
- Lead students through a "Sounds/Looks/Feels" model.
3) Establish goals – determine what each participant should “walk away” with by sharing what you expect them to gain from the discussion.
4) Offer a shared starting point – have prompts and questions prepared to guide the dialogue, but start with an opening question, thought, picture, video clip or quote, etc.
Questions? Casetta Brown, Culture and Climate Coordinator, 314-345-4434 (o) or 314-532-6582 (c).
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Digital Instruction with CommonLit Webinars!
Learn how to fully utilize all of the features of CommonLit, including assigning standards-based reading lessons and analyzing data from digitally graded lessons.
CommonLit is a standards-based, online, literacy and assessment program dedicated to helping students in grades 3-12 develop college-ready reading skills. It was founded by Michelle Brown in response to the lack of quality resources available to the students she taught in the Mississippi Delta. Her story is compelling because it mirrors the struggle so many urban educators face when attempting to personalize reading instruction with content that will interest and challenge students.
Many teachers in our district use CommonLit as a resource to teach comprehension skills and to personalize instruction for their students. In fact, several CommonLit passages are included in our ELA curriculum. If you are interested in learning how CommonLit can support standards-based instruction, reading comprehension, building background knowledge, differentiating lessons, and other aspects of literacy instruction, please register for one of the upcoming webinars HERE.
Future CommonLit webinars are scheduled for 2pm on the following dates:
- October 14
- October 20
- October 28
- November 5
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Focus On: Transitioning to Hybrid - Supporting Concurrent Teaching
Many of our students are getting ready to transition back to school for in-person learning, while others will still be learning virtually. This type of hybrid enrollment requires teachers to support in-person and virtual learners simultaneously. As educators, this instructional delivery platform adds a new layer of finesse to our ever-growing repertoire of 2020 teaching strategies!
Professional development will be offered next week to support educators as we move to hybrid enrollment. Educators will gain insights and on how to use Blended Learning to support concurrent teaching (as in - teaching in-person and virtual learners simultaneously) and learn tips and tricks for setting up their hybrid classroom to teach concurrently.
The same session will be offered three times next week to offer flexibility in scheduling.
Session Title: Transitioning to Hybrid – Supporting Concurrent Teaching
This session will be led by: Natasha Mitchell, Interim Director of Virtual Learning, and Dr. Sara Martens, Coordinator - Academic Instructional Coaches
Session Dates/Times:
- Monday, October 12: 3:30-4:30pm
- Tuesday, October 13: 3:30-4:30pm
- Thursday, October 15: 3:30-4:30pm
Please sign-up in My Learning Plan!
SAVE THE DATE: Promoting Engagement using Nearpod
- October 14, 2020
- 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Nearpod brand ambassadors will host a live PD event designed specifically for SLPS teachers. Nearpod is an interactive digital learning platform that promotes engagement and innovate content delivery.
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Tech Trainings
The Technology Team is offering additional training in October. Click HERE for the full schedule.
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GOOD NEWS: Providing Help in a Time of Need
Volunteers from Central Presbyterian recently brought donated furniture and home necessities to the family of Gerson, a ninth grader at NCNAA at Roosevelt.
Gerson's family, Guatemalan immigrants who have been in the United States just over a year, had lost everything in an apartment fire mid-September. The volunteers work regularly with NCNAA at Roosevelt, helping students to create and cultivate a school garden that provides fresh vegetables to the school's families.
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Secondary with Judine Keplar
Weekly Updates
Assessment: Scantron Diagnostic (Performance Series) for Reading and Language Arts (Sept. 18 – Oct. 15)
Assessment Tips: Please use the Question Stems & Prompts documents that are located in your SBG Resource Folders to write questions for instruction and assessment that are perfectly aligned to the standards. The assessment writers for both MAP and EOC use this same resource to write questions for state assessments.
PD Booster Sessions: Lesson Planning & Content Support
General Announcements:
- Access the SLPS ELA District-Wide Tracker HERE! Reach out to Judine Keplar if you need support with the tracker.
- Are you looking for your Proficiency Scales? You can access all SBG Resources for ELA 6-12 by visiting our OneDrive Folder.
SMART Goal Reminder: By the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, 70% of students in grades 6-12 will meet their performance growth target (established by their ELA teacher) as measured by a comparison of their scores on ELA common formative assessments (CFAs) and common summative assessments (CSAs) that integrate high priority standards (RI.1.A/RL.1.A, RI.1.B/RL.1.B, RI.1.D/RL.1.D, RI.2.A/RL.2.A, RI.2.B/RL.2.B, W.1.A).
Important Links
This workbook is updated regularly, so be sure to check back frequently for new resources!
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Curriculum Corner: Arts Integration with John Grapperhaus
Every student, teacher and classroom can benefit from arts integration! Arts integration is defined by the Kennedy Center as “an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject and meets evolving objectives in both.”
No matter the teacher’s content area, let me know if I can bring your class the engaging experience of a Springboard to Learning Residency.
Visual Art teachers (and anyone else!) are invited to an Early Childhood Arts Integration Booster PD with Springboard on October 21 from 3:15-5:15pm: LINK
SMART Goals for Visual Art in the 2020-2021 school year:
♦ Schools will implement the SLPS Visual Art Curriculum with fidelity, leading all students to create and display one artwork for every 2 weeks of instruction throughout the 2020-21 school year.
- Each artwork will exemplify the 21st Century Skills of critical thinking, creating, communicating, and collaborating and will demonstrate understanding of the art medium, technique, and the elements and principles of art.
- Instruction units will be accessible virtually and in schools and use student friendly, clear, and appropriate directions.
♦ Schools will provide all students with at least two opportunities for community engagement in their schools, neighborhoods and city through student art displays, contests, supports of businesses and non-profit institutions, or field trips (virtual or brick and mortar) to arts institutions by the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Weekly Booster-Open Office Hours for Lesson Planning, Content Support and Q/A: every Wednesday from 3:15-4:15pm: LINK
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Curriculum Corner: Performing Arts with Kaye Harrelson
SMART Goals for Performing Arts in the 2020-2021 school year
100% of performing arts teachers will integrate instruction with objectives in the Respond, Create and Connect strands of the Missouri Fine Arts Standards.
Weekly Booster-Open Office Hours for Lesson Planning, Content Support and Q/A
Reminders
Cohort group meetings allow performing arts teachers to share more about items they may have already posted in the Cohort files (but maybe nobody read!) This is totally about sharing what works and is ENGAGING.
All times are 3:30-4:30pm. Check your Teams calendar for the Join Meeting button or click the appropriate link below at the appointed date and hour.
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Elementary with Dr. Esther Palsenberger
CFA/CSA Smart Goal: Schools will implement the SLPS English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum with on-going assessment using Common Formative Assessments focusing on high priority standards. By the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, 70% of students in grades K-5 will meet their performance growth target (established by the teacher) as measured by a comparison of their quarterly scores on the ELA common formative assessments (CFSs) that integrate high priority standards identified within the current curriculum plan.
Assessment Reminders: The Common Summative Assessment (CSA) provides a summative look at how your students mastered the priority standards for Quarter 1. It will guide your reteaching instruction for small groups that need extra support in order to master a specific priority standard. The CSAs are now located on the Achievement Series on Scantron.
Assessment Prep Tips: Explain to your students how assessments help the teachers to drive instruction and that it shouldn't be something students fear. Assessments provide teachers with information about students so everyone can be successful by the end of the year.
Upcoming PD: The PD scheduled for Monday, October 12 on CSA Q&A has been canceled.
- Date: October 14, 2020
- Topic: Open Forum Elementary ELA
- Time: 7-8am
- Link: Teams Link
Class Visit Highlights:
Ms. Gathing is a new 2nd grade teacher at Jefferson. When I visited her class, I would have never known that she has only been at Jefferson less than 2 weeks. She was following protocols with morning meetings and Do Now. While taking attendance, she told the students when their name was called that they needed to respond with what they wanted to be when they group up. Students were comfortable with muting and unmuting themselves and they spoke clearly when called upon. I am anxious to see what comes next in Ms. Gathing's class.
Ms. Miller from Dewey keeps her students engaged and entertained my putting stickers on her face when students respond with the correct answers throughout her instruction. The students love to see how many stickers she will have on her face by the end of the class. Great idea, Ms. Miller!
General Announcements:
Any questions? Contact Dr. Palsenberger: email
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Secondary with Dr. Valentina Bumbu
Science Assessments
Assessment SMART Goal for 6-12 Science: Schools will implement SLPS 6-8 Science Curriculum with fidelity by applying the learnings from professional development and on-going support on planning and pacing, to achieve an average proficiency at the same level or better than the district average or 20% growth as measured by common formative and summative assessment by the end of 2020-2021 school year.
Assessment Reminder: Common Summative Assessment for Q1 will start the week of October 12-16 in Scantron. Check with your building's testing coordinator for details. Data on CSA and quarterly grades are due in the tracker one week after administering the CSA.
Assessment Prep Tips: To prepare students for 3-dimensional assessment, use the pool of formative questions and proficiency scale for each standard hyperlinked into your respective grade/subject curriculum plan.
Science PD Announcements
Coming up Booster Sessions: How to Use Storylined Curriculum Resources to Effectively Lesson Plan and Teach (originally scheduled for October 13) will be postponed to October 20. I will send a reminder in the SLPS 6-12 Science Classroom Team as we get closer to the date.
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Elementary with Carrie Launius
The CSA (Common Summative Assessments) will be in Scantron. Each test is very short and measures the standard in the district curriculum. Using this data is important for teachers because it informs us if the students know the standard. Along with the CFA, there is another assessment in the Teams folder labeled by the standard code. Along with the assessments are exit tickets. All of these are also short and to the point. This allows us to gauge student learning.
After you have administered the assessments in the folder, consider reviewing the correct answer with the students and having them write it. Modeling and think aloud help students make sense of science. The assessments are designed to be used to help students progress. Even if students answer incorrectly, it is very valuable for them to see the correct answer.
Weekly Reminders
- Current SMART goal: Schools will implement the SLPS Elementary Science Curriculum with fidelity for 30 minutes daily in grades K-2 and 45 minutes daily in 3-5 to increase the number of students scoring above 70% on the district assessments
- mySci PD for schools in the grant tomorrow, Saturday, October 10 from 8:30-11:30am
- Tuesdays with Carrie: 7-8am every Tuesday for support.
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Curriculum Corner: Social Studies with Dr. Glenn Barnes
SMART Goals For Social Studies:
1) Elementary: Schools will implement the SLPS Elementary Social Studies Curriculum with fidelity for 30 minutes daily as evidenced by 100% of students scoring greater than 75% or above on quarterly assessments in the social studies units by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
2) Secondary: Schools will implement the SLPS Secondary Social Studies Curriculum with fidelity through on-going support with planning, pacing, and intervention to increase the number of students in grades 9-12 averaging a minimum of 3% growth between common formative / summative assessments in Government by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
Assessment Reminders
1) The CSA for 1st Quarter will take place the week of October 12-16.
2) Elementary: The Engaging scenario at the end of the grade level units is the CSA. This is a performance based assessment and will require time for students to complete and for you to score. Use the proficiency scales to score, as they are aligned to the priority standards being assessed. Also, be reminded that at the start of each unit, the pre-assessment is the CFA. Be sure to keep track of your data on this!
2) Secondary: Government will need the CSA to be scored on some components, so scoring guides will be included in the assessment for the teacher of record. Grades 6-8, please use the assessments I shared with you in Teams.
3) All: Be reminded that CFAs are to see what students know prior to learning. CSAs assess learning over time. You want to see growth between assessments.
Assessment Prep Tips
1) Be sure to keep the standards as your focus and assess them. Use the exit slips and create questions and opportunities which reflect the requirements of proficiency.
2) It specifications also hold quality information in showing what a student needs to know and be able to do.
3) Focus on pushing follow up questions with higher DOK levels. Don’t let students answer a simple softball question, but push them to explain their thinking. This will help you address misconceptions or misinformation.
PD Reminders
General Announcements
2) These Thinking Routines are also a huge boost to participation and higher order thinking.
3) Consider using these activities within your synchronous and asynchronous teaching.
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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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Resource Reminders
TECH TIPS:
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES:
FOR STAFF:
FOR STUDENTS:
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Miss an Issue?
Past issues are uploaded on a regular basis.
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