LEADERSHIP LETTER: KEVIN PUGH, DEAN OF SCHOOL CULTURE
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Dear Dragon Families,
I hope this message finds you and your family well during these uniquely challenging times. I am so proud of how our teachers, staff, and students have managed this transition to remote teaching and learning. I am also deeply grateful to parents, families, and caregivers who are stepping into some very new educational partnership roles. On behalf of all of us, thank you. You are demonstrating grace and patience as we all figure this out together. Your feedback to us shows an awareness and appreciation that we have the best in mind while working as a team for your children...and simultaneously supporting our own children and families.
In the spirit of that gratitude and grace, I want to share some things that I hope will be helpful for your own efforts to “MacGyver” the homefront when it comes to school...some insights, information, and links to resources.
Let’s face it, new challenges bring new problems, which will demand new and creative solutions. Now that we’ve been in this virtual environment for a bit, we’ve learned more about what’s needed. In particular, we need to leverage the strength of our PBIS system that teaches expectations and skills for success. Our Code of Conduct describes how we expect our students to behave, and we remain committed to the guiding principles behind that. Obviously, some considerations must be made to adapt to our current situation. Please review the
Code of Conduct Considerations During Remote Learning
that addresses how we are applying and upholding our regular Code of Conduct during this time of online learning.
Within the building, we have PRIDE posters displayed that indicate expected behaviors in that area of the school. For this period of remote learning, we have created a new PRIDE poster for the virtual environment, and you can access that
here
.
Our staff will be using an internal paperless reporting system for behavior concerns, and will communicate any concerns to you as necessary. We have already been videoconferencing effectively with students (and parents) to address and resolve concerns about harmful behaviors in the virtual environment. Thank you for supporting our efforts by reinforcing appropriate and respectful behaviors.
Student Support:
Our Counselors are also connecting with students to offer support as needed. Especially in elementary grades where students do not have email, you can expect to be contacted if we need to meet with your child on video. In addition, you may receive phone calls from numbers that you do not recognize, as we are using the Google environment to make these contacts (Google calls generate random numbers as the source, but this allows us to easily shift into a video call if needed).
Breakfast and Lunch distribution:
SVVSD is providing food service! We are hearing there is more than enough food being distributed, and you do not need to be on a free-or-reduced lunch plan in order to pick up. Some families are even using the fresh produce and other items from the lunches to make dinner! Please take advantage of this, as some locations may be closed if they are not being utilized. Meal distribution times and locations can be found
here.
Finally, I want to share a one-hour recorded webinar that I joined this week. It is from Dr. Randy Sprick of
Safe and Civil Schools
, entitled “
Positive and Productive Childcare While the Kids are not in School
.” You’ll find 10 helpful and practical strategies for sanity and success at home during this time. They are aligned with our PRIDE values and behavior expectations and will help your children to experience alignment between school and home learning.
Please continue to reach out and let us know how we may support you!
Kevin Pugh
Dean of School Culture
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SCHOOL-WIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS
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HIRING PROCESS COMMUNICATION
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Hello Dragons,
I wanted to give you an update on the progress of our educational leadership hiring processes that have been ongoing. Both processes used a two-step system of a first-phase standard interview panel and second-phase mock team problem-solving exercise. Both hiring teams consist of 11-13 members of staff, Board of Directors, and parents from across the organization.
Director of Student Services (DSS):
The DSS hiring committee evaluated 26 applications and interviewed four candidates in person in March 2020. From those interviews, two finalists were identified and conducted the problem-solving exercise remotely on April 8, 2020. A final recommendation has been made at this time and I am currently discussing terms with the candidate. I hope for an announcement on our new leader in the coming weeks.
Elementary Principal:
The Elementary Principal hiring committee evaluated 12 applications and interviewed three candidates in person in March 2020. From those interviews, two finalists were identified and scheduled for the remote problem-solving exercise on April 2, 2020. One candidate completed the exercise. The second candidate received a job offer earlier in the day that was better for family and commuting and withdrew from the process.
With the withdrawal of the second finalist at the last minute, the committee was unable to complete their recommendation absent a comparative analysis. The committee sought guidance from the Board of Directors on how to proceed. It was determined that the best course of action is to re-open the process to seek additional applicants for the committee to have two finalists from which to compare and make a recommendation. The first candidate will remain in the process having completed both phases. Any new candidates will complete the same process to “catch up” with the first Finalist so that a comparative discussion is available to the committee. This will be done immediately and with a short timeline in order to reach a conclusion soon.
I will continue to communicate progress as it unfolds.
Thanks.
Wayne Granger
Executive Director
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PK3, PK4, K-4TH GRADE PARENT REQUEST COMMUNICATION
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Current PK3, PK4, and K-4th Grade Families!
It's time to fill out your parent input form for the 2020-21 school year!
Please check your email for today's communication from Mrs. Gael Lester, K-2 Acting Principal, and Mrs. Abby Bok, 3-5 Acting Principal.
Click here
or on the button below to fill out the form. This is for current PK3, PK4, and K-4th grade families ONLY.
The deadline to submit the form is Sunday, April 19, 2020.
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MARCH PBIS DRAGON RECOGNITIONS
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Since we're not in the building, where the monthly PBIS Dragon Recognitions slideshow is usually shown, we're bringing the presentation to you at home!
Click here
or on the above image to see all our amazing Dragons who have been recognized by their teachers and staff. Go Dragons!
As well, look out in your email for Dragon Recognitions which will be sent out for those students meeting our Dragon PRIDE expectations. We expect those recognitions to be sent out starting next week!
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PRINCIPALS' DAILY CHALLENGE HIGHLIGHTS!
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Our amazing principals are finding fun and touching ways to connect with our students and Dragon families. Every day they send a creative challenge, ranging from showing Dragon Pride to using a Venn Diagram to compare and contract home and school learning to writing a letter or postcard to designing a playground and even coming up with an alternative to handshaking!
We'd like to highlight some of the responses, in addition to the weekly Dragon Snap. Keep the creativity and positivity coming, Dragons! We're in this together!
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SUPPORT DRAGON FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES
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It's time to order your
2019-2020 Flagstaff Academy Yearbook
for your Dragons! To order:
- Visit www.mjthomasphoto.com and select 'order yearbook'
- Enter the code flagstaffyb1920
- Submit payment for $35. Payments will only be accepted directly by MJ Thomas.
The last date to order the yearbook at this price is Friday, May 8, 2020.
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Remember, with every Amazon purchase through
smile.amazon.com,
AmazonSmile donates to Flagstaff Academy Inc at no cost to you!
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