| Last Chance to Register !
Monday, March 2, 2020, is the last day to register science fair projects.
Friday, March 13, 2020 – Monday March 16, 2020: Project drop off at SLPS Board of Education Building, Central Office, 801 N. 11th Street
Tuesday, March 17, 2020: Projects judged
Wednesday, March 18 – Thursday, March 19, 2020: Public viewing
Friday, March 19, 2020 and Monday March 23, 2020: Project pick-up
Any projects not picked up will be discarded on March 24, 2020.
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| Parent-Teacher Conferences
Principals will have the flexibility to schedule parent conferences around the March 10th primary. Please send all schedules to Dr. Paula Knight no later than tomorrow, Friday, February 28. All schedules will be posted next week.
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| Coronavirus One Pager
Friendly reminder that the one pager for families about the coronavirus will start to arrive at your schools tomorrow, Feb. 28, 2020. It was also sent out digitally today via email and can be found on our website. These methods are to be used in addition to the one pagers going home with each student. Thank you!
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Bite-Size PD from the Academic Office
Are you looking for high-quality PD but don’t have time for afterschool booster sessions?
We have a solution for that! The Academic Office is launching Bite-Size Learning PD Subscription Boxes. Think Stitch-Fix, BarkBox, HelloFresh, etc., but without any cost and no long-term commitment!
Each Bite-Size Learning PD Subscription Box features a one-pager that details the strategy/topic, a professional article related to the strategy/topic, a complete lesson plan that uses the strategy/topic, an anchor chart exemplar, a snack and a gift for the teacher – all packaged in a fun box!
If the featured strategy or PD topic is of interest to you, sign up in Frontline/MyLearningPlan to reserve your kit. Picking up your kit is easy! Just swing by Central Office during the pick-up window to grab your kit – no lengthy time commitment required! Once you receive the materials, review them at your own pace, set up an observation with the Curriculum Specialist for support, and complete a survey online. When those things are complete, teachers will receive two hours of PD credit.
- March Bite-Size Learning Topic: Text Annotation
- Target Audience: Grades 5-12, Any Content Area
- Pick-Up Date: Tuesday, March 24
- Pick-Up Time: 2:30-4pm
- Pick-Up Location: Central Office, 2nd Floor, Academic Office
- Registration Deadline: Friday, March 13 (Frontline/MyLearningPlan)
- Registration is limited to 30 teachers, so don’t delay!
- Questions? Reach out to Judine Keplar, ELA Curriculum Specialist
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| Missouri Summer Teachers Academy (MSTA)
The 2020 Missouri Summer Teachers Academy (MSTA) at the University of Missouri (June 16-18) will focus on The Modern Presidency. Thanks to generous donations, teacher participation, including lodging and meals, is fully subsidized. Click HERE to learn more! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until they reach capacity.
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EdPlus Packages for Schools
EdPlus is offering a $500 package to all SLPS schools this year that includes individualized onsite support: staff professional development, data analysis, classroom observations and more. Click this link to learn more.
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Pupil Accounting Timeline
Feb. 24: Term 3 grading cycle OPENS
March 4: Core Data Clean Up Session: ELEMENTARY ONLY
March 6: Quarter 3 ends
March 6: Term 3 grading cycle CLOSES
March 6-9: Term 3 Report cards printed
March 10, 11: Parent Conference Day (held after school)
March 11: High School Data Processing Specialists Meeting
March 16-20: SPRING BREAK
March 23: Classes Resume
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| Upcoming Assessments
Listed below are the upcoming assessments through the end of the school year. Please refer to the dates to make sure that you are assessing all students to be included during the appropriate timeline.
| Assessment | Timeline | Who | Scantron Performance Series #2: Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science
| March | Grades 3-8 | | ACT | March 24 | Grade 11 | | STAR Reading | April 6-24 | Grades 3-5 (others test later in May) | | Government EOC | April 6-15 | Government students | | English II EOC | April 16-24 | English II students | | MAP Science | April 21-27 | Grades 5 and 8 only | | Biology EOC | April 27 - May 6 | Biology students | | MAP ELA | April 28 - May 4 | Grades 3-8 | | MAP Math | May 5-11 | Grades 3-8 | | Algebra EOC | May 7-15 | Algebra students |
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REMINDER: Apply to Work SLPS Summer School
The SLPS Summer School Application is now open. Applicants must complete and submit the application no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 to be considered for summer employment. All applications submitted after the Feb. 29, 2020 deadline, will be wait listed. Please make a concerted effort to submit your application by Feb. 29.
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REMINDER: Fiscal Control End-of-Year Deadlines
The Finance Department will soon begin the end-of-year process as it pertains to Fiscal Control deadlines. Please click HERE to see all deadline information. If the Fiscal Control Office can assist you in any way, please contact Beverly Foster at 314-345-2493 for Accounts Payable related issues, and contact Ronnie Martindale at 314-345-2389 for all other issues.
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| REMINDER: The Color of Medicine
The Academic Office is hosting a screening event for The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Philips Hospital for SLPS high school students on Monday, March 9 at Central VPA , 9-11:30am. The documentary is 1 hour and 50 minutes and is an exceptional historical view of race, excellence in medicine, the pitfalls of systemic racism and how we overcome. Local medical professionals will welcome students to the screening and host a special Q&A session following the film. Please have students prepare questions in advance.
You may find out more about the documentary at thecolorofmedicine.com. Seating will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. Make your reservations today! - Date: March 9, 2020
- Showtime: 9am
- Location: Central VPA High School
- Reserve seats HERE
Reserve buses by emailing slpstrans@slps.org. Please include The Color of Medicine in the subject line.
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FINAL REMINDER: Princeton Journalism Program
The deadline for students to apply to the Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) -- a free residential journalism and college prep program for high-achieving current juniors from low-income backgrounds who are interested in journalism -- has been extended to MARCH 1, 2020. The program is FREE, including meals and travel expenses. Click HERE for a flyer to share with students about this incredible summer program.
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GOOD NEWS: Long Students Attend Showing of Just Mercy
All students and staff at Long International Studies Middle School are reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. For some staff who have been in the district a few years, you will recall Mr. Stevenson was the special speaker at our last big convocation at the Fox Theatre.
Just Mercy tells the story of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law office in Montgomery, Ala., founded by Mr. Stevenson. The book takes the reader from the early days with a small staff facing the nation’s highest death sentencing and execution rates, through a successful campaign to challenge the cruel practice of sentencing children to die in prison, to revolutionary projects designed to confront Americans with our history of racial injustice.
The book has been made into a movie (playing now), and students at Long had the opportunity to go see this powerful film for free thanks to the SLPS Foundation.
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Standards-Based Learning CORNER
FAQs Answered
Some questions that have already been asked are:
Isn’t Standards-Based Learning and Grading just teaching to the test? No. Standards-Based Learning is teaching to a target and making sure your assessments are aligned. Students can hit any target they can see. Making sure students know what is expected of them (letting them see and analyze an exemplar) and teaching them so they are able to achieve this target is not teaching to a test unless your only target is the test. In SLPS, we will have learning and standards targets which will result in: learning the standards. Learning the standards will result in improved performance on all assessments because students learned the content.
Doesn’t this mean I am no longer allowed to give a zero for an assignment that is not turned in? No. It means that students will be given grades based on what learning and mastery they are able to demonstrate. Grades for citizenship, responsibility, and participation will be separate from grades that are intended to communicate mastery of content. In a Standards-Based System, academic and non-academic grades are separated in order to ensure a clean and honest report of learning.
How are we supposed to teach every standard to mastery? Isn’t there more content than can be covered to mastery in one year? Yes. The truth is the curriculum teams that will be working on revising our curriculum documents will identify (based on DESE recommendations as well as historical data for SLPS) what our primary, secondary, and tertiary standards will be. Primary Standards will be spiraled, taught, and retaught to mastery. Secondary and tertiary will be taught with discretion to student readiness and intervention plans.
Come back to the Academic Office Newsletter each week for updated information about the SLPS journey from TEACHING to LEARNING in a Standards-Based Learning System.
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| CURRICULUM CORNER: Elementary ELA
A word wall is a collection of words that are displayed in large visible letters on a wall, bulletin board, or other display surface in a classroom. The word wall is designed to be an interactive tool for students and contains an array of words that can be used during writing and reading.
Why do we need to use word walls?
- They provide a permanent model for high frequency words.
- They help students see patterns and relationship in words, thus building phonics and spelling skills.
- They provide reference support for children during reading and writing activities.
How can you use the word walls so they are meaningful for your students?
- Make words accessible by putting them where every student can see them. They should be written in large black letters using a variety of background colors to distinguish easily confused words.
- Teachers and students should work together to determine which words should go on the word wall. Try to include words that children use most commonly in their writing. Words should be added gradually — a general guideline is five words per week.
- Use the word wall daily to practice words, incorporating a variety of activities such as chanting, snapping, cheering, clapping, tracing, word guessing games as well as writing them.
- Provide enough practice so that words are read and spelled automatically and make sure that words from the wall are always spelled correctly in the children's daily writing.
- New information should be added on a regular basis.
- Use content-area material from the curriculum rather than randomly selected words.
- Word walls should be referred to often so students come to understand and see their relevance.
Use as a resource for assessments:
- Display synonym of words that will be used differently on assessments such: Main Idea: Central Message: Central Idea as well as Story: Passage: Text.
- Provide a visual with the definition as much as possible to help students understand the meaning especially with academic terms.
If you have any questions, please contact Esther Palsenberger at 314-779-5939.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Social Studies
This week, I have been busy working on the Grades 6-8 textbook adoption process and the Standards Based Learning Committee. These two are inextricably linked and very important for a teacher to navigate and utilize for the purpose of mastery. When utilizing materials, your first concern should be how they align to the learning standards which can be found HERE. While textbooks and the resources are commonly referred to as “the curriculum,” that is not the case. Standards are the curriculum. Textbooks are the district adopted resources to help convey learning. The school district has a curriculum which utilizes those standards, lays out the pacing, and provides connections to adopted resources. As we move more toward a standards based classroom, we need to make sure we are assessing the standards regularly. Assessments need to reflect the types of assessments found on MAP or EOC. We should be providing a stimulus to students, a question, and then allow for them to answer. While the resources from textbooks do offer helpful assessment items, they are not usually constructed in a way to reflect how we need to assess.
On Monday, March 9, I am offering an assessment training to assist you in creating assessment items which will raise the level of complexity and challenge our students to achieve mastery. This offering is available on Frontline/My Learning Plan.
Professional Resources For You
SPECIAL REMINDER: The Love of Learning: Voices of Change Film Awards are Friday, March 6 at Metro from 5-7pm. Plan to come to the awards show and click HERE to see all films and vote for your favorites!
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Secondary Math
Secondary Math Contest: The 32nd Annual SLPS Secondary Math Contest will be held on Saturday March 7, 2020, at Roosevelt High School. Sign-ins start at 8am followed by breakfast and testing starts promptly at 9am. Awards will be given at 11am on that same day. Students will need to arrange their own transportation. Calculators are not be provided, and it will be the responsibility of the school to provide them to the student or the student taking the test may bring their own. Each high school is allowed to send five participants for each subject area. If their name is not on the roster, they will not be able to test that day. The participant list should be emailed to Zehra Khan by March 2, 2020.
Math Department Chair Meeting: Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 from 3:30-4:30pm at Central Office. We will meet in Colgate Room on the second floor.
Standards-Based Grading Workgroup: If you are interested in the Secondary Math Standards-Based Grading Summer Task Team, please be sure to enter your information by Friday, Feb. 28 at 5pm. Reach out to Zehra Khan with any questions. Information about this opportunity is contained in the form that can be accessed here: Secondary Math SBG Workgroup.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Visual Art
Visual Art teachers should be encouraged to include 21st Century Skills (the 4 C’s) in their planning and instruction. These will be evidenced in regular lesson plans and student art projects.
1. Critical thinking – Including analyzing, problem solving, evaluating, open-ended questions and critiquing.
2. Creating – Including imagining, improvising, innovating and applying technique.
3. Communicating – Including speaking, writing and listening actively.
4. Collaborating (Not every class, but at least monthly.) – Including team building, decision making, goal setting, resolving conflict, brainstorming and team art projects or installations.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Secondary ELA
Are you on the team? The ELA Microsoft Teams are your hub for curriculum, lesson plan support, supplemental resources, assessment supports, PD resources/materials, and much more! Teachers are strongly encouraged to add content to the teams in the appropriate folders to share with colleagues:
Preparing Students for MAP and EOC: Incorporating the practice of close reading in the classroom is essential. Students have to be given opportunities to read from start to finish without the teacher stopping in the middle to make meaning of the text.
Passages used on the MAP test are typically about 1.5 pages single-spaced in length. EOC passages are typically 2-3 pages single-spaced in length. Use this as a guideline when selecting passages for MAP/EOC practice
Use the MAP and EOC practice tests at all grade levels. Exposing students to scaffolded passages and questions only enhances their knowledge of the test format, types of questions, and possible question stems. All ELA practice tests, listening scripts, and scoring guides can be found in the Microsoft Team under MAP Resources (6-8 Team) and EOC Resources (9-12 Team).
English Department Chair Meeting: Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 from 2:30-4pm at Vashon High School. We will meet in the Reading Room on the second floor.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Elementary Science
NSTA offers great webinars for free. On March 3, 2020, at 7pm, you are invited to log in to NSTA and watch Dr. Christine Royce. Dr. Royce is currently a SLPS cohort leader and an expert in the field of science and literature instruction.
REGISTRATION FOR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS IS DUE MARCH 2! Click HERE to register your projects.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Performance Arts
2020 SLPS Choral and Band Adjudication Festivals: SLPS band and choir ensembles perform for each other, as well as non-SLPS music eduators, in a non-competitive environment. Impartial judges enter comments reflecting each ensemble's performance against stylistic and expressive indications of the published music on a MSHSAA-generated music ensemble critique form. This annual assessment is an important opportunity for students to hear and review their peers and is a reflection of student growth and the integrity of musical instruction.
Choral Festival (grades 6-12), Tuesday, March 10, 2020, Carr Lane Visual & Performing Arts Middle School, 9-11:30am
Band Festival (grades 6-12), Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, 9am to noon
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CURRICULUM CORNER: Secondary Science
Please share this information with high school students interested in pharmacy!
WHAT: BESt Pharmacy Summer Institute is a collaboration between Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Express Scripts, Inc. and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The mission of the BESt Pharmacy Summer Institute is to expose and prepare local multicultural students for a future career in healthcare, with an emphasis in pharmacy.
WHO: Full-time, multi-cultural freshman, sophomore, junior or senior students are eligible to participate who reside in the St. Louis region, St. Louis City, St. Louis and St. Charles, MO counties and Madison, St. Clair, IL counties.
WHEN: BESt I and II program runs June 22-July 17.
DEADLINE: Apply by March 13th, 2020.
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PD Booster Sessions Schedule
Click HERE for a full calendar of upcoming booster sessions from the Curriculum Team!
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| Guest WiFi Password
- February: heart
- March: windy
- April: rainy
- May: bloom
- June: trips
- July: humid
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| DISTRICT CALENDAR
FEB 24-28
♦ Public Schools Week: LINK
FEB 29
♦ EdCamp: REGISTER
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Clyde C. Miller (10am-noon)
MARCH 2
♦ Deadline to register Science Fair projects: LINK
MARCH 3
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Vashon (6-8pm)
MARCH 4
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Metro (6-8pm)
♦ Teaching Reconstruction Teacher Workshop: FLYER
MARCH 6
♦ Voices of Change Film Awards: FLYER
MARCH 7
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Carnahan (10am-noon)
♦ Summer Camp Fair: FLYER
MARCH 9
♦ The Color of Medicine screening at Central VPA
MARCH 11
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Soldan (6-8pm)
MARCH 12
♦ Community Visioning Workshop, Roosevelt (6-8pm)
MARCH 14
♦ Mad City Money Financial Reality Simulation: FLYER
♦ Facing History: Building Equitable Classrooms: LINK
APRIL 1-2
♦ NY Times 1619 Project
APRIL 6
♦ Deadline to apply for CGCS-Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships: LINK
APRIL 9
♦ High School Actuarial Information Day: RSVP
MAY 15
♦ Bright Futures Scholarship application deadline: LINK
JUNE 27-30
♦ Emerging Leaders Conference: FLYER (English), FLYER (Spanish)
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| 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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