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| BCSD Staff Newsletter |
November 2017 |
Superintendent Letter to Staff
November 2017
Why are we working with the Quaglia Institute? I occasionally hear this question asked, so let's talk about it.
The mission of BCSD is to
inspire, engage, educate and empower
every student. In order to ensure teacher expertise helps guide the work to accomplish our mission, a Teacher Advisory Committee was formed to advise the superintendent on how to improve student outcomes. Two major issues were identified: grading and the Strategic Plan. The Teacher Advisory Committee then divided into two groups; one working on grading and a second group working on the Student Engagement Goal of the Strategic Plan.
Last year the Teacher Advisory Committee for Student Engagement spent significant time discussing 'How do you know when a student is engaged'? Student engagement is having a student's 'head, heart, and hands all in on the learning.' The Teacher Advisory Committee asked, "As professionals, what can we do to create learning conditions that facilitate or encourage student engagement?"
This discussion led to a conversation with Russell Quaglia that helped us better understand the levers we control in setting the stage for student engagement. The good news is that there are leverage points that can help us increase student engagement. We do not have to stand helplessly by and accept that a student is not engaged. Rather, there are actions we can take. Student engagement is increased when there are 1) good relationships between teachers and students, 2) teachers and students are very clear on what is to be learned and how that learning will be demonstrated, and 3) challenge - providing the right amount of difficulty and complexity in learning.
The Quaglia Institute is serving as our critical friend. They are asking hard questions and providing a feedback mirror on our practices so that we can find our way to improve practices and engage all students. Engagement Facilitators (formerly the Teacher Advisory Committee for Student Engagement) in each building are receiving additional support and coaching from the Quaglia Institute. The expectation is that our Engagement Facilitators will ask the hard questions and provide a feedback mirror in each individual school, so that together we improve our practice. Together we are currently working on clarifying what students are to learn and how we will know when they have learned it. Together, we are working on ensuring our students also have this clarity of learning.
Together we make the difference. One of the most powerful variables between schools where all students learn at a high level and schools where only some students learn at high level is collective efficacy - or the belief that together we can make a difference in student outcomes.
Thank you for being part of our team's power!
With gratitude,
GwenCarol
P.S. If you would like to join the Teacher Advisory Committee for Grading or the Engagement Facilitators, just send me an email letting me know.
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Communication
Educator for a Day - Volunteers Needed
Friday, December 1
"Host Educators" needed - Sign up to host a community member in your classroom.
For the third year, the Blaine County School District will coordinate Educator for a Day where we invite local community leaders into our classrooms and schools to experience a day as an educator. This is your chance to share what you do with our community! Be part of sharing the good news about our schools. Sign up here.
What Do I Do?
As a "host educator" you will have a guest in your classroom for half the school day so that they can see, hear, and experience a day in the life of an educator. As a "host educator," you will be helping to spread the word about the challenges and hard work school employees face every day in every classroom and in our schools.
Who Can Participate?
This opportunity is available to anyone who wants to be a host - teachers, specialists, support staff and administrators. Everyone contributes to the success of our students.
 What Do Teachers Say About Being Part of Educator for a Day?
Hosting "Educator for a Day" helped me appreciate the small things we do each and every day with our students. My guest, Marilyn, was comforted in knowing that we still value positive relationships with our students, strong foundational skills and standards, and a passion for reading. She was pleased to see teachers teaching and students learning. It was a rewarding opportunity for not only Marilyn, but myself as well. As we work to improve our high yield strategies for students, we must not keep the good work we do with children a secret, but find opportunities to share with our community. Our children are the "promise" for our future.
Gloria Wieand
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Teaching & Learning
In early 2017, the Board of Trustees approved new SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Standards as part of the Strategic Plan - Goal #4. The BCSD has always focused on the whole child and these new SEL standards are a way to clarify the expected outcomes for our students. The intentional teaching of SEL skills provides a foundation for learning and enhances students' abilities to succeed in school and beyond. It improves academic performance, increases attendance, improves students' attitudes toward school, and increases pro-social skills such as empathy, kindness and sharing.
Where is the district in this process?
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 Secondary schools are implementing their SEL curriculum maps developed last year.
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Elementary schools are investigating potential SEL materials and frameworks for implementation of the standards next year.
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The district's new SEL assessment (Panorama survey) was administered to 7th, 9th and 11th graders this fall as a baseline for intended growth to be measured this spring.
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Secondary schools will soon review and share the results of the survey with staff and students.
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Survey results will inform strength and goal areas.
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The Panorama Play Book provides lesson resources (information coming soon).
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Students will be reassessed this spring to inform schools of progress.
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Elementary schools will implement their new curriculum and assessment next year.
There are multiple SEL documents available. Thank you to the SEL committee representatives and each school for the progress we have made in social emotional learning thus far.
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This past month all of our schools were visited by the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security. This assessment is a new service provided by the Idaho Department of Building Safety that can help identify items of concern. This inspection, which will take place every three years, can be used to help with future planning, practice and purchases. Thank you to everyone who supported this assessment.
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Human Resources
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Employee Assistance Program
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays.
Kepro
www.eaphelplink.com
Company Code: eapnow
1-800-999-1077
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As we continue to look for new and innovative ways to show appreciation towards our employees, we are offering this complimentary perk that gives you access to 20 - 60% off on movies, hotels, shows, concerts, sporting events and more. This is just a small token of our appreciation for your hard work. Please take 2 minutes today, and sign up for these complimentary perks.
2. Fill out the information to become a member (use your work email address)
3. For Company Code, use "
BCSD61"
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"Got Credits" Certified Staff???? Then We Want to Move You!!!!
One of the Master Agreement MOUs includes educating certified staff on the need to ensure they have all of their credits on file with the HR office so that HR is able to obtain maximum funding for each teacher from the state.
State Levels: BA, BA + 24, MA.
Currently there are 49 individuals that would have to have on file a BA + 24 or MA for State Movement an additional 74 individuals that would have to have on file a MA for State Movement. Are you one of these individuals??? Contact HR to find out!
15 Plus Pass - $600 (regular $1350)
Ski/ride any 15 days on our 15 plus pass
50% off the full day window rate on any additional days with no blackouts
NEW Freedom Found Pass - $650 (regular $1500)
Unlimited skiing/riding Opening Day through December 15th, 2017 and March 19, 2018 through the end of season.
15 days of regular season skiing/riding on Bald and Dollar Mountain between 12/16/2017 and 3/18/2018.
No restrictions, blackout dates or per week limitations.
50% off full day window rate on any additional days with no blackouts.
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Staff Photos
- all staff need to have their photo taken by Bell Photo. If you are not in a school, please find a time to go to a school and have your photo taken. It's important that our photos are consistent for the website, Skwyard, etc. Thank you!
Alturas -
8:00 am to 12:00 pm -
Wednesday, November 8
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Finance
The Finance Handbook is complete and ready for your perusal. Please take some time to review this material as some of the procedures have changed, and may impact how you apply for reimbursements and travel. The procedures are the updated versions and are applicable as of 9/1/17.
Many of the forms that we use in Finance have also been modified. As of 11/1/17 we will only be accepting the most recent version of these forms. Most of the forms have been modified to be interactive allowing the user to type in the data rather than having to write it. We hope you will find this to be easier. A link to each form is below.
You can access the Finance Handbook via the Employee Staff Portal
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Click Sign In on the top right hand corner and enter your user name and password
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Staff Portal
will appear on the blue menu bar at the top of the page once you are signed in. Click.
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Go to
Guidelines to Finance
on the left hand grey menu
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Finance Forms Shortcut:
Upcoming Pay Dates
With the holiday season approaching we wanted to provide you with the upcoming pay dates for each month from November through March. Please note that there is a larger than typical gap between the December and January pay dates.
Nov - Fri 11/17
Dec - Fri 12/15
Jan - Thurs 1/25
Feb - Fri 2/23
Mar - Fri 3/23
Reimbursement info
Receipts must be ITEMIZED and include a listing of all food and beverage items purchased. The credit card signature receipt must also be included. NO ALCOHOL WILL BE REIMBURSED. Meal reimbursements that do not include an itemized receipt will not be reimbursed due to our inability to demonstrate to auditors the traveler's adherence to allowable food purchase procedures.
Reimbursements will be made up to 90 days from the date of the purchase/transaction. After the
expiration of this time period, the employee will forfeit their reimbursement from the District.
* All receipts must be legible.
* All receipts must be itemized by listing each individual item purchased with an individual charge associated with each line item. Auditor restrictions preclude our ability to accept any receipt that does not meet the criteria.
* Receipts that include reimbursable purchases that are commingled with personal purchases can no longer be processed for reimbursement. Please keep purchases that you intend to submit for reimbursement separate from purchases that are not reimbursable. The receipt that you submit to the Finance Department for reimbursement may only include items that will be reimbursed; no other purchases.
* Purchases from L.L. Greens may no longer be submitted for reimbursement. This is due to Idaho Statute that limits a Public Entity's ability to transact business with a company who may have a conflict of interest (perceived or otherwise) due to a sitting Trustee.
Mileage
Please note that in-district mileage will be paid at a fixed distance. You can find the miles on the mileage matrix (link is above).
Interesting facts
Did you know that in 2015 more people were killed by accidents involving taking a selfie than died by shark attacks. The fear of shark attacks is Galeophobia, so it would seem that there should be a name for the fear of taking selfies, since it is more dangerous.
Did you know that ⅔ of the District's General fund revenue comes from local property tax stabilization levy dollars, and is fixed in amount meaning that barring any change we will never receive an increase.
Did you know that if you send an email to Karen Hoffman and provide her the correct answer to the following questions you will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift certificate to Hailey Coffee - What is the name of the fear of sharks and what date did the new procedures in the current Finance Handbook become effective? Answers will be received until 11/16/17, and the winner will be announced in the next newsletter Finance section.
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