Principal s Report February 9, 2016

Transcription

1 Principal s Report February 9, 2016 Old Business Kindergarten Open House Tuesday, February 16th from 6:00pm 7:00pm Personal invitations went out February 1st to: Chris & Ashley Grundler, Calista Fynaardt, JoAnn Fynaardt (grandmother), Peter & Elizabeth Schalmo and Tyler & Nikki Harter. Share folder Kindergarten Roundup April 13th from 1:00 2:00pm (during PE) Formal and Informal Teacher Evaluations Done Family Statement of Intentions Teacher Intentions Jody Obtaining teaching license Frank Shults and Janice DeRidder Molly and Rebecca New Administrative Assistant Katie Fisher updates/schedule Mandatory Reporting Training April and Jennifer worked on a perpetual calendar and job description New Business Wrote five 504 Plan for students and updated student files Website updated upcoming dates, events, and Principal Challenge pictures Iowa Assessment Testing February 9 11, 8:15 11:00am 504 Plan students start on Feb. 8 Testing outside of the classroom Multiple adults needed to test these students (Mrs. Doorenbos, Phyllis Meredith, Kristi Ellis) March teacher professional development Analyzing MAP data with Sarah (3 8) Looking through various math curriculum samples Field Trips Bowling (needs board approval) Farewell to Secretary

2 Contracts for School Year Kristi Ellis CICS Policy Manual due to review/revise in 2016 Teaching for Transformation View attachment Math Curriculum Adoption Process (attached) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Saxon K HS (virtual sample) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt On Core Mathematics K HS (virtual sample) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Go Math! K 8 (Samples for grades 1, 4, and 7 and also virtual access to all materials) Pearson Envisions 2015 Common Core K 6 (samples arriving next week for grades 1, 4, 6) Everyday Mathematics K 6 all product samples online Internet Research Recommendation by Dave Ellis "Teaching for Transformation" (TfT) TfT is a Christian approach to education that has been developed in Canada over the past 15 years. District 5 administration had the privilege of interacting with Doug Monsma in a Zoom conference on Thursday, January 21st. Doug is the Director of The Prairie Centre for Christian Education, King's University College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Doug oversees the TfT program. He has textbooks and scholarly pieces for Christian Schools International. Currently, Doug's center is working with 22 schools in Canada and 2 schools in the U.S., including Sioux Falls Christian. Our District may have the opportunity to be THE FIRST collection of regional schools to pursue TfT. What are some of the specifics of TfT? 3 5 year commitment (not a 1 day workshop) Systemic cultural excellence Rolled out initially to "early adopters," who would eventually champion the system 8 10 days of training for early adopters in Year 1 (2 days in August, 2 in October, 2 in December or January, and 2 in March with practices of TfT in between) Early adopters become Instructional Coaches in Year 2 and beyond Establishes a culture of a learning communities, i.e., Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

3 Distinctly Christian and committed to biblical worldview development Data indicates a positive trajectory of TfT's impact on academics and spiritual formation. TfT is collecting data with CARDIS, to assess the long term impact on faith formation and academic growth. Key core principles are essential questions, service learning, project based learning, expeditionary learning, authentic intellectual work, and "through lines. Throughlines weave the big ideas into a transformational worldview. These big ideas include: God worshiper, Prophetic speaker, Earth keeper, Beauty creator, Justice speaker, Creation enjoyer, Community builder, Image reflector, and Order discover. TfT touches many of CSI School Improvement goals including: PLCs, a clear plan for curriculum work coordinated with the other District schools, adequate time for teacher driven professional growth and development, essential questions, technology as a key instructional tool, well related to the core of the school's Christian mission and vision, etc. Year 1 (3 components) Early Adopter Model: The small group of teachers is trained in the program. Suggested: 2 days each in August, October, December, and March Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 8 days = $8,000 (additional travel expenses) Instructional Coaching: These are support opportunities that happen each month that trainers are not on site. Suggested: 1/2 days via Zoom in September, November, January, and April Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 2 days = $2,000 Leadership Training and Support: Training for a select few who will then lead the ongoing implementation of TfT Suggested: 1 day in August, October, December, and March (mix of on site and via Zoom?) Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 4 days = $4,000 (additional travel expenses, if needed for on site) Estimated total $14,000, plus travel expenses for Year 1 ($6,000?) *Note: Teachers may also need substitutes, which is not included in this cost. Year 2 (3 components) Full Staff Training: All staff receive training in the program. Suggested: 2 days each in August, October, December, and March Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 8 days = $8,000 (additional travel expenses)

4 Instructional Coaching: These are support opportunities that happen each month that trainers are not on site. Suggested: 1/2 days via Zoom in September, November, January, and April Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 2 days = $2,000 Leadership Training and Support: Training for select few, who will then lead the ongoing implementation of TfT Suggested: 1 day in August, October, December, and March (mix of onsite and via Zoom?) Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 4 days = $4,000 (additional travel expenses, if needed for onsite) Estimated total $14,000, plus travel expenses for year 2 ($6,000?) *Note: Teachers may also need substitutes, which is not included in this cost. Year 3 (3 components) Full Staff Training: All staff receive training in the program. Suggested: 2 days each in August, October, December, and March Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 8 days = $8,000 (additional travel expenses) Instructional Coaching: These are support opportunities that happen each month that trainers are not on site. Suggested: 1/2 days via Zoom in September, November, January, and April Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 2 days = $2,000 Leadership Training and Support: Training for select few, who will then lead the ongoing implementation of TfT Suggested: 1 day in August, October, December, and March (mix of on site and via Zoom?) Estimated Cost: $1,000 per day x 4 days = $4,000 (additional travel expenses if needed for on site) Estimated total $14,000 plus travel expenses for year 3 ($6,000?) *Note: Teachers may also need substitutes, which is not included in this cost. Curriculum Adoption Process

5 Phase I (Needs assessment, literature review, and curriculum adoption) 1. Grade level teachers will begin the curriculum adoption process by identifying key concepts to teach and hold students accountable to learn. Curriculum standards will include state and federal standards (Common Core). Additionally, clear performance indicators should be developed referencing what students need to know and what they will be able to do by the end of each school year in which the subject/content is taught. Phase II (Material review, adoption and acquisition) 1. Materials will be obtained (i.e. sample texts, videos, supplemental materials, etc.) for review by the teachers expected to teach the curriculum adopted in phase I. Teachers will review the proposed materials to determine whether they will be effective in order to meet the curriculum standards and needs of our school. 2. Teachers may pilot (with approval of the principal) some or all of the sample materials throughout the review period. 3. After piloting the various curriculums, the teachers will discuss the merits of each of the sample textbooks and supplemental materials. After review, a recommendation will be made to SIAC as to which materials will best support our school needs. 4. After approval of the materials by SIAC, the principal will make a recommendation to the school board requesting the specific materials (textbooks, videos, supplemental materials, etc.) be adopted. 5. If approved, the process of purchasing the adopted textbooks and supplemental materials will be completed. Phase III (Staff Training, Curriculum and Material Implementation) 1. Training will be offered. 2. Curriculum and materials will be implemented in the classroom. 3. Opportunities for teachers to discuss/review the new curriculum and materials will be provided and facilitated by the building principal during professional development days. Phase IV (Curriculum and Materials Evaluation) 1. SIAC/Teachers will develop an evaluation plan at the end of the phase III to determine the effectiveness of the adopted curriculum standards and materials. 2. Recommendations will be solicited from teachers, SIAC members, and school board in regards to additions and/or deletions to the curriculum and materials. 3. A SIAC committee member will present the final findings to the school boards. 4. If needed, modifications to the curriculum and materials will be approved by school boards. Internet Recommendation from Dave Ellis

6 Windstream has a provision to twin an additional DSL connection to the existing connection for $15/month I m not sure what we are paying now for our 6Mbs DSL. I ve not tested this type of connection nor conversed with anyone using it Mediacom quoted me $70/month for a 36 month contract for a 10x1 service 10 Mbps download x 1Mbps upload. There is some sense that this might be slightly better, however support would not be as good. You can find folks that have good and bad experiences with both providers I ve have spent the most time searching for a direct fiber connection. If there is any way of making this happen, it would be a tremendous value to the school as more and more services will be available only via the internet, Mango as an example. Alliance Technologies has fiber nearby. Initial estimates for a 5 x 5 service (5Mb down and up, dedicated, not shared like DSL) is $250/month and a $40,000 build, the cost to get the fiber to the school. They are checking with Iowa Valley to see if they are interested which might reduce the build cost. They will also sell the service for $740/month with no build but I figured that was not an option. If we could find some strategic money to cover the build, the $250/month might be doable. Please keep in mind that this is a high speed dedicated fiber connection and should not be compared to the 6Mb shared DSL. Another consideration here is ERate, which has the potential to reduce costs by up to 50%. I began doing some research in to Erate and was quickly buried in the magnitude of the application/approval process. This would likely require a group of folks working for a period of time to put a submission together. With no guarantee it would be approved. Alliance Technologies will also provide phone service at $35/month /phone so it could replace our current Windstream phone and data services.