Sept. 26, 2018
MONTHLY CHECKLIST

Click on the link below for a list of important tasks that affect students and families, budgeting, communications, professional development, building operations and more. All checklists can be found in the Administrator Handbook .

ACTION ITEMS
REFERENDUM INFORMATION FOR SITE TEAMS
Thank you for attending site team training. There have been some great ideas and several questions regarding content and communications about the referendum. Please see below.

DEADLINE NEXT WEDNESDAY
UPDATE YOUR SCHOOL DESCRIPTION
Principals, please review your school description as printed in the 2018-19 School Selection Guide . Think about what is new or unique about your school for the 2019-20 school year.

Please submit changes to your school description through this  Google form  by Oct. 3.

Please note that the communications office will be updating start time information for all schools. The 2019-20 School Selection Guide will be translated and printed in November and mailed to families in late December.

If you have any questions, contact pepe.barton@spps.org . 
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION
TIMELINE
The Teacher Development & Evaluation (TD&E) Oversight Committee suggests this  timeline  for implementing TD&E components. The link to the suggested timeline also includes templates to use for planning. It is highly recommended that administrators work with their leadership team and Saint Paul Federation of Teachers steward(s) to determine the schedule for each school. The timeline must be communicated to your staff and shared with Amy Steele ( amy.steele@spps.org ) by  Sept. 30 .
MOCK VOTING FOR STUDENTS
The Social Studies department is continuing to partner with Minnesota Civic Youth to provide a mock voting experience to Saint Paul Public Schools students. Minnesota Civic Youth provides lesson plans, realistic ballots and ballot counting. If your school would like to participate, please contact Rebecca Biel ( rebecca.biel@spps.org ) with a designated school contact by Oct. 5 . Rebecca will work with the contact and Minnesota Civic Youth to provide students with an engaging voter experience on voting day, Nov. 6.
REMIND ALL EMPLOYEES:
OPT-IN (DON'T ROLLOVER) FOR 2019 HEALTH INSURANCE
Please remind your staff they MUST opt-in for health insurance this year . Human Resources is offering more benefit options, including a lower-cost health plan from SmartCare. Advise them to visit https://www.spps.org/benefits.

Please print out multiple copies of this flyer and post them where your staff are likely to see them.

Contact Benefits at benefits@spps.org or 651-767-8200 with any questions.

GOOD TO KNOW
RESOURCES FOR iPAD MANAGERS
Please refer to the slide deck from the first iPad Managers meeting to find resources and information on:

  • iPad handout
  • iUpdate
  • Behavior lessons
  • iBoss internet filtering
  • Digital citizenship lessons
  • Reflector 3
  • Apple Classroom
  • Personalized Learning professional development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRINCIPAL MEETINGS
Wed., Oct. 3
8 - 11 a.m.
360 Colborne, Rooms A, B

Wed., Oct. 10
8 - 11 a.m.
Elementary at 360 Colborne, Rooms D, E, F
K-8/Middle at 360 Colborne, Rooms J, K
6-12/High at Humboldt Secondary School

Wed., Oct. 24
8 - 11 a.m.
360 Colborne, Rooms A, B
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MEETINGS
Wed., Oct. 3
1 - 4 p.m.
360 Colborne, Rooms A, B

Wed., Oct. 10
1 - 4 p.m.
360 Colborne, Rooms D, E, F

IMPORTANT DATES
Important holidays, no school days, special religious days and family engagement events are available online at spps.org/calendar.
Sept. 23-30 - Sukkot
Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish festival of thanksgiving, harvest and the remembrance of the Jews who wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Begins at sunset, Sept. 23 and ends at sunset, Sept.30.

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 - Shemini Atzeret
Begins at sunset, September 30 and ends at sunset, October 1. Closing day of the Jewish festival Sukkot. A day of prayer.

Oct. 1-2 - Simchat Torah
Begins at sunset, October 1 and ends at sunset, October 2. Jewish holiday. Reading of the law (Torah) is concluded and begun anew in the synagogue.

Oct. 9 - Indigenous Peoples Day
A City of Saint Paul resolution that honors Native American culture.

Oct. 10 - First Day of Navaratri
A nine-day Hindu festival to the glorification of the Hindu mother of goddess Shakti.

Oct. 11 - Referendum Information Session
6-7:30 p.m., District Administration Building, 360 Colborne St., Saint Paul

Oct. 11 - National Coming Out Day
Every year, on National Coming Out Day, people celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) or as an ally.

Oct. 18-19 - No School: all grades
Teacher professional development. Statewide teacher meeting

Oct. 26 - No School: PreK-5 & PreK-8 schools
Conference preparation. 6-8 middle schools in session.
DATE TO AVOID
Nov. 6 - Election Day
No school events or meetings after 6 p.m.
The Principal's Playbook is a collaboration between the Office of Leadership and the Office of Communications. The Playbook is the main source for communicating with principals. This weekly newsletter includes department action items, professional development opportunities and other updates that directly affect principals and other school leaders. Each Playbook also includes communications and marketing content to help schools communicate with their families.
Jada Wollenzien
Program Manager, Leadership Development
Office: 651-744-5074