NESC newsletter
December 2020
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Upcoming Educator Events

December
  • 14th - Steve Dunn Secondary Text Structure workshop (Day 2), 8:30-3:00
  • 16th - Steve Dunn Grade 6-8 Expository Text workshop (Day 2), 8:30-3:00
  • 17th - NDMTSS Developing Pathways for Academics workshop, 8:30-11:30

January
  • 12th - Recess Sustainability webinar, 5:00-6:00
  • 13th - 21st CCLC Quarterly Meeting
  • 14th - Angela Maiers Liberating Genius webinar, 4:00-5:30
  • 14th - NDMTSS Developing Pathways for Academics workshop, 8:30-11:30
  • 18th - Recess Sustainability webinar, 2:00-3:00
Upcoming Student Events

  • NESC ConnectEd virtual lessons with guest artists from the ND Council on the Arts - December 14th, 15th & 17th, 3:45-4:15

  • NESC SCRUBS Camp (virtual) - March 25th - Save the date!

What You Need, When You Need It
Parents Lead has resources to help you and your students' families navigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Visit their site to find a Parenting During a Pandemic Toolkit, holiday supports, and so much more!
This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
NESC ConnectEd
The NESC proudly supports North Dakota educators in their efforts to provide high-quality, extended day programming for K-8 students.

Join us with your 21st CCLC students for LIVE learning on Zoom!

3:45 - 4:15 CST

December lessons feature guest teaching artists!
  • Dec. 14th - Grades 6-8
  • Dec. 15th - Grades K-2
  • Dec. 17th - Grades 3-5
The NESC at a Glance
New Playworks Resource Available for NESC PreK-6 Schools
Playworks is a non-profit who has been facilitating virtual workshops for NESC educators over the last couple months. They want to give their Game of the Week tool, Keep Playing, to all NESC districts as a resource for all teaching and recess staff! This resource typically has a cost associated with it but NESC PreK-6 EDUCATORS GET IT FOR FREE RIGHT NOW!
 
Here’s what you get with Keep Playing:
  • 2 games a week delivered via email every Monday morning that can be played with students either virtually or in-person (including academic applications, Social Emotional Skill competencies, and modifications for COVID considerations)
  • Extensions to help kids release energy and refocus on their academics
  • Blogs that highlight key topics pertinent to the new school landscape
  • Additional resources linked for further learning opportunities
 
Learn more about Keep Playing here!

All educators within our PreK-6 schools can have access to this resource for FREE through the NESC/Playworks partnership!

NESC PreK-6 principals were emailed on-boarding directions December 5th!
Members at Work
More NESC Schools Engaging in NDMTSS
Four Winds and Minnewaukan High Schools have begun their work in the 2020-2021 NDMTSS Developing Pathways for Academics workshop series. Their diverse leadership teams are utilizing the NDMTSS Essential Components to solve problems at the school, classroom, and student levels. These two teams, along with sixteen others from across the state, will be translating current educational research into practice to help schools maximize resources and outcomes for all students, developing universal screening and progress monitoring systems and identifying interventions and curricula.

If your school is interested in learning more about NDMTSS, visit www.ndmtss.org or contact Erin Lacina (Erin.Lacina@nescnd.org, 888-701-NESC).
Celebrations!
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Congratulations to Julie Schuler, NESC 21st CCLC Project Director, as she retires from this position at the end of December! Thank you, Julie, for your contributions to our schools over the past 12 years! Enjoy your retirement!
The NESC was awarded $132,849 in Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds following a competitive grant process for K-12 education entities! The NESC is one of twenty awardees and will use the funds to transition student events and services to virtual formats for facilitation during the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Congratulations to NESC member districts, Lakota, Midkota, Mt. Pleasant-Rolla and New Rockford-Sheyenne for their GEER awards! Read the press release here and view a full list of the grant awards here!
NESC Learning Opportunities
College & Career-Readiness Videos Available to NESC Schools
The NESC has partnered with Juan Bendaña, college and career keynote speaker, to bring a series of videos to your middle and high school students! These keynotes are perfect for classroom use by counselors and club advisors and can also be used for virtual assemblies! You have the convenience to view them with your students whenever your schedule allows!

This opportunity was made available through the Native Youth Community Project Grant from the US Department of Education.
How does our school access these keynote videos?
  • An access link will be emailed to NESC administrators and counselors by December 14th.

What videos are available?
  • Student Success (45 minutes) - Juan encourages students to find and define their purpose, get clear about their passions, and build a clear plan for how to achieve their goals. 

  • Leadership (47 minutes) - Juan reminds students that leadership is inside everyone, and everyone has the potential to impact and influence others. Juan goes over real-world strategies that show students to become effective leaders of themselves first so that can be effective leaders of others.

  • Career Readiness (40 minutes) - Juan guides students through the questions of “What do I do with my life,” “What do I do for a career,” and “How do I figure out what I want to do?” Juan also talks about the confidence it takes to be career ready and the importance of finding mentors who can help along the way.
Professional Learning for pK-6 Recess Planners and Supervisors
The NESC is partnering with Playworks to help kids stay active and build valuable life skills through play!

Our full series includes the following recess workshops
(Registration and participation available in this order):
  1. Power of Play - webinar recording available
  2. Group Management (session 1 = prerequisite) - webinar recording available
  3. Indoor Recess (session 1 = prerequisite) - webinar recording available
  4. Recess Program Sustainability (session 1 & 2 = prerequisite) - January webinars!
  5. Recess Youth Leadership (session 1 & 2 = prerequisite) - February webinars!

When/Where:
  • Each workshop is a one-hour, virtual session.
  • Multiple dates/times are available for each workshop!

Cost: FREE!

Workshop information and registration link: http://www.nesc.k12.nd.us/regional-professional-learning-workshops/

This professional learning series is made possible through the NESC Caring For Kids Grant in partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield North Dakota Caring Foundation.
Liberating Genius of Every Student

When/Where:
  • January 14, 2021
  • 4:00 - 5:30 PM CST
  • Virtual session

Cost: FREE for NESC educators!

Workshop information & registration link: https://tinyurl.com/NESC-AngelaMaiersSeries
Literacy Workshops

When/Where:
  • 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM CST
  • Each workshop is a virtual session.

Cost: FREE for NESC educators!

No material/curriculum purchases are required.
  • Workshop materials will be provided to participants by Steve Dunn and the NESC.

Click on the workshop titles or registration links (to the right) to view the workshop descriptions.

This professional learning series is made possible through the Native Youth Community Project Grant from the US Department of Education.
NESC Graduate Credit
The NESC is partnering with Valley City State University to offer graduate credit to member educators for NESC professional learning events.
NESC Partner & North Dakota Learning Opportunities
NDMTSS - TATE: Technical Adequacy Tool for Evaluation (Tier 3 Support)
Jan.

NDMTSS - Enhancing FBAs & BIPs (Tier 3 Support)
Feb. - Mar.

NDMTSS - Prevent Teach Reinforce Master Coach Series
Mar. - Jun.
Past NESC Workshops - Continued Support
Marzano Resources Prioritized Standards, Proficiency Scales, and Assessment webinars
(FREE NDREA resource)

Every Monday Matters student resources and adult supports
(FREE 21st CCLC resource)
Mission
The NESC supports schools through leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Vision 
The NESC positively impacts schools' capacity to offer high-quality education.