WEEK IN REVIEW

November is the Perfect Time to Show our Gratitude

We know a school district is only as good as the people in it and Craven County Schools is strong because of the work that you and your colleagues do day in and day out. We continue to thank you for all that you do! Your contributions to our students, their families, and the community do not go unnoticed and we greatly appreciate you.

An E-Card has been created for our staff to help celebrate each other and facilitate an outpouring of love and gratitude for all that you do to support one another. Whether large or small, each day is filled with acts of kindness, connections, and support. The true definition of a TEAM.

If you would like to show your gratitude for a colleague, click on the link and submit your message of thanks. Your message will be delivered during the remainder of the month. Let's celebrate #CCSUnited and give thanks to one another.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS NEEDED

The CCS Teacher Advisory Council wants your feedback. Right now school grades are based on 80% proficiency and 20% growth. Please complete this survey so that the state can get feedback on what else should be included in a school's performance grade. 

Here is a video explaining the survey. 

Survey link

Portrait of a Graduate Playbook



North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate identifies seven competencies that when combined with academic rigor, will prepare students for success after high school. To help familiarize you with the Portrait, NCDPI will be launching one competency per month in the linked playbook. PLAYBOOK The playbook includes background information, suggestions to spark conversations within your school buildings, and an activity to promote each competency. This is a living document and we ask that you share feedback and suggestions to improve it. For additional resources including a video, graphics, and English/Spanish versions, please visit the NC Portrait of a Graduate webpage.

Professional Learning for Economics & Personal Finance Classroom Teachers

For High School Social Studies Teachers of Economics and Personal Finance

Best Practices from experienced EPF Classroom Teachers

Join us in person in December and January or Virtually in January for lessons from two EPF Classroom teachers. Our teacher presenters have built courses, designed resources, tried activities and lessons, and know what works! You will leave this workshop equipped with lessons, project-based learning opportunities, unit planning time and new ideas to incorporate immediately into your Economics and Personal Finance Class.

December 12: Winston-Salem Learn More and Register

January 11: Virtual Learn More and Register

January 27: Fayetteville Learn More and Register

Virtual EPF Institute

The Official PD for the Economics and Personal Finance Course

For High School Social Studies Teachers of EPF

This virtual EPF Institute will consist of 40 hours of professional development and is being offered for teachers of the new Economics and Personal Finance Course. This virtual EPF Institute will meet on 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22 for five total meetings. Attendees will be required to attend and be actively engaged from 8am-4pm on each listed date, meaning teachers will not be able to manage students in the classroom simultaneously. NCCEE will provide sub-pay reimbursement. There is no cost to attend but space is limited. Learn More and Register

Digital Learning Professional Development

The District Instructional Technology Facilitators can offer a variety of professional learning.  This can be a whole group, grade level or departments, or 1:1 sessions with individual teachers.  Please reach out to your DITF and schedule some professional learning.

NC Digital Learning Competencies for Administrator Work Group

The NC Digital Teaching and Learning Team is looking to establish an administrator working group to provide input and feedback on the updated North Carolina Digital Learning Competencies for Administrators. The purpose of this group is to review proposed revisions to the Digital Learning Competencies and suggest needed changes.

Individuals who are selected will need to be available to meet once a month virtually. Each group will meet from 4:30-5:30pm using the following schedule:

Administrator Workgroup

• December 1

• January 12

• February 16

• March 16

• April, 20

Each work group team will be made up of two representatives from each of the 8 regions and team members will be provided with a $500 stipend for their work.

If you are interested in participating in one of these working groups, please fill out the application no later than November 21st.

If you have questions about this working group, please contact Dr. Ashley McBride, ashley.mcbride@dpi.nc.gov, 931-619-7941.

Literacy Instructional Standard Learning Series

for All Content Areas

The NCDPI Office of Academic Standards will begin offering a Literacy Instructional Standard Learning Series in November and span through spring of 2023. These state-wide, virtual professional learning opportunities will focus on integrating the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) into standards-aligned content area instruction. The sessions are open to all K-12 educators (all content areas, including exceptional children's staff) and would greatly benefit your literacy leadership teams in building strong, standardized research proven instructional standards in all content areas. The sessions will support your Adolescent Literacy Leadership teams with implementation of their improvement goals. 

As you are developing your implementation plans for NC SIP, district literacy instruction plans, evaluating and modifying literacy curriculum and instructional methods, please consider these sessions as a resource and professional development to support your adolescent literacy improvement goals and content area literacy instructional practices.

Content Area Literacy Instructional Standards Learning Series

The following sessions will be offered this school year: 

Literacy in ELA: November 30, 2022

Literacy in Science: December 15, 2022

Literacy in Math: January 25, 2023

Literacy in Social Studies: April 27, 2023

Literacy in ELD: May 11, 2023

For more information and where to register, please see the LIS Learning Series Promo.

If you have not already joined the ELA listserv, please consider subscribing to get the most up to date information and very valuable resources to support adolescent literacy instructional practices aligned to standards. To subscribe to the listserv, click here and navigate to the ELA SCOOP section of the page. Also, please find the latest edition of The ELA SCOOP on this page, which is the NCDPI ELA Section's quarterly newsletter full of valuable resources for implementation support.

If you have any questions please contact Mr. Blanchard

The link to be in the talent show is https://forms.gle/BfZdzQQeXS3m27CJ7 

The link to be on the Talent show committee is https://forms.gle/L9usRLqTM8cc4HyZ9 

Digital Learning Newsletter

Check out our new format for our monthly newsletters. 

Visit http://bit.ly/ccssparknews and take a look!

Discovery Education SOS Instructional Strategies

Spotlight on Strategies is research-based strategies for integrating Discovery Education digital curriculum resources in meaningful, effective, and practical ways.

Log into Classlink and launch Discovery Education. Then click on Educator Supports and finally select the fourth one down, Instructional Strategies.  Have questions?  Ask your DITF!

 ESOL Newsletter for Staff Fall 2022

Please review the Fall 2022 ESOL Newsletter to learn more about supporting CCS multilingual learners:  https://bit.ly/FALL22ESOL 

Reminder: ESOL and AIG Resources for Staff 

Want additional information about AIG?  Looking for ways to help your multilingual learners?  Remember that there is a Canvas resource for each located in the Instructional Toolbox on the Craven County Schools Website!

Need a refresher on what the AIG and the ESOL programs are? 

Feel free to rewatch/watch the AIG 101 and ESOL 101 short overview videos located in your Annual Staff Training Canvas.

Native American Heritage Month is in November

Which is correct–Native American or American Indian? To honor the culture correctly, do you say Native American or American Indian? Native American, American Indian, and Indigenous Peoples are all used, even within the community. Many prefer their tribal affiliation (like Lakota people, Sioux, Cheyenne, etc.) to generalized terms. Some Native Americans prefer one term over the other, so if you’re unsure, just ask!

When is Native American Heritage Month? Native American Heritage Month (or Indigenous Peoples Day) is celebrated in November each year. The month is dedicated to honoring indigenous peoples, their culture, and learning and understanding the true history of Natives in America.

Need teaching suggestions? Reach out to your ESOL teacher for support.

For additional classroom resources for all grade levels please click here.

FAFSA is Open!

The 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle is open!

Completing the application is a necessary step for prospective college students to receive financial aid. Not only does it make you eligible for federal aid, such as Pell Grants or work-study programs, but North Carolina’s colleges and universities also use the form to divvy up state aid.

The form is open until June 30, 2023. Many North Carolina schools give out aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to fill it out as soon as possible, even if you haven’t finalized your plans.