Opening Day 2021 | Monthly news for and about the staff of Northwest Education Services
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Thriving together
Dear North Ed Staff,
With great excitement, we welcome you to the 2021-22 school year. While there will be challenges ahead of us, we are confident that together we will not just persevere but thrive. Thanks to your dedication and adherence to new safety protocols, the gift of in-person education is something that you provided to our students and community last year, and we will build upon that foundation for the upcoming school year.
Please help me welcome the 43 new staff members who have joined the Northwest Education Services team. Even in a very challenging hiring environment I am amazed at the talented and experienced team members we were able to secure. Thank you for living our values as we build relationships and show empathy to our new team members.
As we roll out our new brand, please know that our vision has not changed: Partnering to serve, learn, and lead to ensure every learner will have pathways to a meaningful life. The talent and expertise that exists within our nearly 600 employees is nothing short of amazing. I am certain that this year we will continue to put students/learners first!
Respectfully,
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Dr. Nick Ceglarek
Northwest Education Services Superintendent
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If you missed summer editions of the Check it Out staff newsletter, please find links to those editions to the right. |
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Rebranding Update
3, 2, 1 . . . Launch!
While there is still work to be done with rebranding – and an ongoing commitment to upholding our brand integrity and the investment we’ve made in its creation – we feel pretty safe in saying: “Welcome to Northwest Education Services!”
Months of work have gone into getting our brand to this point, and we need your help in keeping this new identity intact. Our rebranding team will keep working to accomplish outstanding tasks and provide you updates along the way, but please consider reviewing the North Ed Brand webpage on our Staff Intranet. Our employees are key to successfully ensuring that our brand becomes recognizable by the community, and the webpage offers guidance on how you can support that effort.
Also, please recognize that with this significant rebranding effort comes change, and our Communications Department is here to assist you through this process. If you have any questions about the rebranding process, the reasoning behind our new name or how you can use our new logo, please reach out to us at NorthEdNews@NorthwestEd.org.
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Social Hour
The North Ed Wellness Committee is hosting a social event from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 at Rove Estate Vineyard & Tasting Room, 7007 E. Traverse Highway (M-72), Traverse City, MI, 49684. Rove Estate has graciously given us access to an event tent for this social hour, so come enjoy fellowship and conversation with colleagues or sit back and take in the views of Rove’s vineyard situated at the base of the Leelanau Peninsula! Light appetizers will be provided, and beverages will be available for purchase.
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North Ed COVID-19 Protocol
Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, for all students and for North Ed employees whenever students are present. Due to the unique student population North Ed serves – who come from a wide geographic area with varying rates of COVID-19 transmission and vaccination statuses – the decision to require masks was made with support from North Ed’s internal safety committee and aligns with current recommendations from local medical professionals, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here is a brief summary of some protocols that will be implemented for the start of the school year, understanding the need to be flexible and adjust as recommendations from government agencies may change:
- Masks required for students and staff who are around students.
- Unvaccinated individuals must wear masks at all times.
- Masks required for anyone riding school buses.
- Social distancing measures in school facilities (3 feet when masked and whenever possible).
- Daily cleaning and sanitation of school facilities and equipment.
- Quarantining, contact tracing and reporting protocols in coordination with local health departments.
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Hiring Referral Bonus
Want to earn $500? We have a number of open positions at North Ed, so employees are being offered a $500 bonus for successfully referring someone who joins our team as a teacher assistant! Now through Sept. 30, 2021, simply email the name of your referral to HR Generalist Jaime Lewis. If that person is hired, you’ll get a $500 bonus in your paycheck! It’s that easy!
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2021 – 2022 Mileage/Travel Procedures
All “Travel Vouchers” must be turned in to your supervisor monthly or according to the following schedule:
July 1 – Sept. 30: DEADLINE Oct. 31, 2021
Oct. 1 – Dec. 31: DEADLINE Jan. 31, 2022
Jan. 1 – March 31: DEADLINE April 30, 2022
April 1 – June 30: DEADLINE June 30, 2022
If you work summer sessions, travel vouchers must be submitted to your supervisor no later than June 30 and again the last day of the summer session. Travel reimbursements are included in your paycheck and are not subject to income tax withholding. Travel Vouchers can be filled in and printed from the website. Travel vouchers must be turned in on a timely basis. Failure to do so will result in NON-PAYMENT of the voucher.
Procedure:
North Ed will reimburse mileage according to the IRS rate for travel to work assignments outside the TCAPS district. If assigned to multiple sites outside the TCAPS district, mileage will be calculated from either home to the worksite or the administration building to the worksite, whichever is the shorter distance. In the case of multiple worksites within the TCAPS district, mileage reimbursement will be calculated from the first worksite of the day to the last worksite of the day.
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Save the Date - October 7
John Sandula, teacher at the Life Skills Center, has esophageal cancer and is fighting the battle of his life. A benefit to support the Sandula family will be held on Thursday, Oct. 7, from 3:30-6:30 p.m., at Right Brain Brewery, 225 E. Sixteenth St., Traverse City. More information to follow. Questions can be directed to Mimi Kinney at MKinney@northwested.org
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Wellness Calendar
Northwest Education Services' Wellness Committee intends to host social events throughout the year for our staff members. Attendance at these events is optional. The North Ed Wellness Calendar is shared below so you can add it to your account and view upcoming social events and other activities. Stay connected with colleagues and add the Google calendar today!
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Opening Day Results
Sept. 1 was a spectacular day and it was wonderful to see all the new and familiar faces at Thirlby Field. Congratulations to all the North Ed Olympic teams for tackling every challenge of the morning and JOB WELL DONE to the top three teams of the day!
First Place: Creekside School (formerly New Campus School)
Second Place: Career Tech (formerly Career-Tech Center)
Third Place: Arnell Admin
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Happy Birthday
See who celebrates in September!
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Classified Ads:
MSU Football Tickets for Sale: 2 tickets /game in the upper deck on the 40-yard line. Great seats (Season tickets have been in the family since 1950s)
Near concessions and bathrooms with seat backs for comfort. $50/ticket (below face value), sold in pairs for the following games:
Sept. 11 – Youngstown State
Oct. 2 – Western Kentucky
Nov. 27 – Penn State
For more information, contact Mary Smith, 231.883.8838 or marysarowsmith@gmail.com
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Be sure to get ALL the news!
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Tech Help
The North Ed Tech Services Department provides a variety of support for our staff in dealing with technical issues, and offers useful resources through the North Ed Help Desk Shared Google Drive. To view the drive, visit the Tech News webpage found on our Staff Intranet (you’ll need your North Ed username and login information).
For assistance with technology issues, contact the North Ed Help Desk at 231.922.6307 or submit a Help Desk Ticket online:
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Board of Education Links
General Resources
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COVID-19 Resources
Communication Links
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Dean Transportation
Now hiring bus drivers, attendants and mechanics!
Apply in-person at 800 Parsons Road, Traverse City
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Northwest Educational Services
(Formerly TBAISD)
1101 Red Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
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