Our Next MCAN Meeting:
Our August MCAN meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, from 9:30 am - 11:00 am. We look forward to ZOOMING with each of you! Register here to attend.
Recap of the July MCAN "Candidate Forum" Meeting:
The July 29, 2020 MCAN meeting was our first "MCAN Candidate Forum" where we heard from candidates running for school board, county commission, and sheriff. These candidates will be on the August 18, 2020 ballot for the Primary Election.
In the recap video, you will hear the answers each candidate provided in response to these three questions:
1. What are your beliefs regarding the importance of supporting early literacy and learning in our community, in your current work and in the elected position for which you are running? (Early literacy refers to a child from birth through the end of third grade.)
2. Do you understand the science of literacy and learning, such that you are able to support it or would you be willing to participate in trainings to learn more?
3. How can you, in your elected position, create sustainable stewardship for an early literacy culture in our homes, schools and/or community?
The recorded video can be viewed with the link shown below.
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August 18, 2020 Elections |
The August 18, 2020 elections will include the opportunity to vote to continue the .50 essential operating needs millage funding for our School District. Please review the attached file to learn more.
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Moonshot End-of-Summer Fun |
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End-of-Summer Social Media Campaign to Celebrate Our Moonshot Moment
We hope you will join us in promoting a fun, end-of-summer campaign to promote our Moonshot Moment literacy goal.
Encourage children (and the young at heart) to recreate our Moonshot Moment logo! Post their Moonshot masterpiece online on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #MoonshotMomentRocket.
Choose your creative medium. Is it chalk? Playdough? Crayon? Seashells and sand? Cookie dough? Costume? Have fun and surprise us with your creativity!
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News from
the School District
of Indian River County (SDIRC)
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A Message from SDIRC Superintendent |
Since school campuses closed in March, our district has been diligently working to problem-solve and find solutions to each challenge we have faced. While serving as an unwavering example to other school districts in our state and nation, we have continued to progress and gain momentum in all areas of our work. Our Instructional Provision Plan was developed within days of our schools closing in March, allowing our students to continue their education virtually, and our instructional staff to teach from the safety of their homes. We were one of the first school districts to create a 2020-2021 School Reopening Plan supported by our local health department and medical professionals with input provided from a “Think-Tank” of our own employees and community members, and feedback from our SDIRC families through multiple community surveys. Our district has been highlighted in the media multiple times for the communication and updates provided to our families and community members regarding our current situation, and our staff members have been training and preparing daily to welcome our students back to one of the three instructional models of their choice on August 24th.
Last Friday, our community and school district joined together in unity for our “Equity in Action: Moving to Re-envision 2025 Symposium.” As I initiated my work with the School District of Indian River County in January of 2020, I clearly established that achieving educational equity for students and staff throughout our district is a priority, commitment, and expectation of all work implemented and accomplished by our SDIRC Team. Given this, one of the very first areas of work undertaken in the first days of my superintendency was the careful review and comprehensive revision of our district’s African American Achievement Plan. While the commencement of this plan and new way of work represents a significant stride for equity in our district, it is only the first step in an important mission that will permeate all facets of education in Indian River County.
On Monday, August 3, 2020, we will welcome our teachers as they return for what will most definitely be an unprecedented school year. This has always been an exciting time in public education; however, some teachers may be returning to school with a great deal of uncertainty and concern for their own health. Given this, we will be diligent in our effort to engage in ongoing problem solving to the complexities we will collectively face, providing them with a level of comfort and confidence that even though we are entering uncharted territory, we will be able to effectively address any challenges that are presented.
On August 18th, Indian River County will hold its Primary Election, and voters will have the opportunity to vote to continue the .50 essential operating needs millage. If approved, the money our district receives from the millage will be used to expand supports for school safety and mental health, recruit and retain high quality educators, and create technology-rich classrooms. Your support of the millage will help make a transformational impact on education for ALL students in Indian River County, ensuring that all students have access to programs that support their talents and interests, all employees are respected and valued as part of an innovative workforce, and all students graduate and are prepared to be global leaders and innovators of the future.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of the School District of Indian River County.
Sincerely,
David K. Moore, Ed.D.
Superintendent
School District of Indian River County
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Upcoming Learning Opportunities for our Moonshot Community Action Network |
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August 11, 2020, 3–4:30 p.m. ET
Leveraging the Power of Data and Relationships:
Reducing Chronic Absence in Rural Settings
Presenters: Allison Crain of Mississippi Department of Education; Ramona Halcomb of Oregon Department of Education; Erin Helgren of Children’s Institute (Oregon); Susan Lieberman of Count ME In (Maine); and Angela Madigan of Waterboro Elementary School (Maine). Moderator: Hedy Chang of Attendance Works.
August 18, 2020, 3–4:30 p.m. ET
Afterschool Opportunities: An Antidote to Learning Loss During COVID-19
Presenters: Jenn Conner of Foundations, Inc.; Charles English of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas; Angelina Garner of C.S. Mott Foundation; Jodi Grant of Afterschool Alliance; and Rhonda K. Lauer of Foundations, Inc.
Moderator: Dr. Terry K. Peterson of C.S. Mott Foundation
When you register for the GLR Learning Tuesday events, please add that you are a member of the "Moonshot Moment" coalition!
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Register here for August 28 at 10:30 am to learn about the relaunch of EduCare Text Messaging Service as its bigger and better than ever, now with messaging for birth – 8 year olds, and available in Spanish!
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Summer Learning Program Providers - Request from the Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign |
Request for Reviewers: FGLRC is producing a Summer Learning Program Toolkit with a strong emphasis on literacy supports, and we are almost ready for our peer review process - seeking feedback and input on what has been developed. This document once graphically designed will be at least 60-80 pages in length. We are seeking reviewers who are familiar with developing and facilitating a summer learning program for elementary age children.
The anticipated review schedule will occur between late August & early September. If you are interested in volunteering to review, please reply to jfaber@floridacsc.org by August 14.
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The start of the 2020-21 school year will be unprecedented due to social distancing, interrupted learning, and the loss of routine experienced by every member of the school community. How can districts and schools create caring and supportive school environments, in the midst of uncertainty, that encourage students and families to attend and participate in school?
Speakers:
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Gloria Corral, President and CEO, Parent Institute for Quality Education
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Patrick Corvington, Executive Director, DC School Reform Now
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Kwesi Rollins, Vice President for Leadership and Engagement, Institute for Educational Leadership
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Hedy Chang, Executive Director, Attendance Works
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Creating an Engaging & Restorative Environment to Support Transitions to School |
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. EST
Join the second Attendance Awareness Campaign webinar to examine what it means to address the effects of trauma while helping to reestablish the routine of school, whether it is in-person, remote or a blend. Hear about what families need from schools and educators who have supported their communities through traumatic events. Speakers will discuss the importance of clear communications, how strong relationships support learning and engagement, and how many of the practices designed for students and families who’ve experienced trauma are suitable for the whole school community. We’ll focus on activities and strategies educators can put in place just before and during the first month of school, and the importance of using data to inform and tailor these transition activities.
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Moonshot Moment - In the News
CGLR Pacesetter Recognition!
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On July 17, 2020, the Campaign for Grade Level Reading (CGLR) announced that our Moonshot Moment movement was one of just 21 communities who were designated Pacesetters for “Mobilizing for Success” and “Deploying Innovative Strategies and Tools.”
Congratulations!
Based on the GLR Campaign's peer review process involving nearly 400 individuals from across the network, we received 2019 Pacesetter Honors in the following THREE categories:
- Big Tent Collaboration;
- Aligning What We Know (Science) With What We Do (Practice);
- Strengthening Pre-K to K–12 (early years to early grades) Transitions
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On July 17, 2020, our Moonshot Moment along with 29 communities were accorded the status of Pacesetter Finalist in the following FIVE Impact categories: School Readiness; Summer and Afterschool; Parent Success; Healthy Development; Grade-Level Proficiency.
We look forward to collecting population-level scorecard data with each of you to support our application for this prestigious recognition in the Impact Areas.
We are grateful to each of our MCAN members and Moonshot Supporters for helping us to achieve this well-deserved recognition of our Moonshot Community! Thank you!
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BUSINESS ALLIANCE FOR EARLY LEARNING
Florida Chamber President & CEO Mark Wilson
Joins the Bosses for Babies Campaign
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To learn more about this initiative, check out this recap video featuring a recent virtual conversation between Florida Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Wilson and Representative Vance Aloupis, CEO of The Children's Movement.
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Learn more about Florida's State-wide Initiatives for Early Learning |
In conjunction with the Florida Chamber Foundation's Business Alliance for Early Learning, The Children's Movement of Florida created the Bosses for Babies campaign to help lead the Florida 2030 Blueprint Goal that 100% of Florida children will be ready for Kindergarten by 2030.
Bosses for Babies is an important partner with the Business Alliance for Early Learning and highlights the many ways Florida businesses are taking action to set Florida's children up for success.
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