Personalized Learning Academy 1.0 October 16th

Greetings!

Sarah and I are happy to announce that we will be able to offer Personalized Learning Academy 1.0 once more before our November IGKNIGHT day.  We would like to invite you to attend the Academy on Monday, October 16th.  We are limited to 50 seats for this session.  In addition, we will do our best to balance the seats among the various schools and grade levels.  In order to have the best chance at getting your seat, please register as soon as possible.

Please be sure to register here by Wednesday, September 20th at 3pm.  We will review the list and try to ensure a balance among schools that Thursday, 9/21.  Any remaining seats will go to people in the order in which they registered.  We will contact all those who will be attending on Friday, 9/22, to verify their attendance and ask them to request a sub via Aesop.

Because this is during a work day you cannot earn the academy rate for attendance nor the 1.0 in-district credit that was available to summer attendees.  However, you will be able to count your attendance as professional growth hours for recertification purposes.

As it can be difficult to fill sub positions, please know that if there is a shortage of subs that day you may be asked to return to your building.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike or Sarah and we will be happy to answer them!

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

First Day Presentation

We know the first day might have been a blur...so we wanted to share the first day presentation that was shared with all of you.  This will contain the information regarding expectations for implementing the learner profile, the continuum of learning, and the plan for personalized learning.  Please note some tasks used in the game in the auditorium are included at the end of the presentation, please feel free to check your knowledge on them.  Below is the link for you to reference.  Thanks

https://www.emaze.com/@AOROFOQIW/2017-18-aug-opening

Guide on the Ride Article

Through our partnership with the Personalized Learning Institute, we receive a monthly newsletter that shares events and resources.  This month we were very intrigued by an article that shifts thoughts of the teacher being the guide on the side in learning to becoming a guide on the ride. We have attached the link below for your reading pleasure.  Please feel free to share your thoughts with Mike or Sarah or as a comment to this post.  Happy reading!

http://ajjuliani.com/forget-guide-side-students-need-guide-ride/

K-5 Writing Scoring and Professional Development

This year we are working on adding more opportunities for job-embedded professional development for staff.  One opportunity we have added for this fall is the writing scoring and professional development for K-5 staff.  K-5 staff will come together as a grade level to review all writing fall pretest samples, engaged in discussion, and participate in writing professional development specific for your grade level.  Please be sure to note your grade level date to participate in the professional development and writing scoring.  Subs have been secured for you.   On the assigned day please arrive at Meredith School by 8:00am.  We look forward to a great day or assessing and learning.
First grade: 9-21
Second grade: 9-22
Third grade: 9-25
Fourth grade: 9-26
Fifth grade: 9-27
Late Fall/Winter TBD:  Kindergarten

Joint SIP Goal Data Collection Dates

This year every school in the district has chosen a joint school improvement goal focused on the understanding and application of the learner profile and reflection of learning needs.  The pre-data for this SIP goal will be collected by district administration and instructional coaches from September 11th to the 22nd.  The instructional coaches will be visiting all grade span levels and getting to know schools outside of their assigned grade span. Various staff will be coming to visit your classrooms with short scripted questions to ask a few students during instruction.  These learning walks should not disrupt any learning that is happening and should be short in nature.  The team will quietly check in with a few students regarding thier learning needs and reflecting on the learner profile.  The data collected will be shared with all staff through your school improvement team.  Thank you in advance for opening your classroom for the pre-data collection and for all the hard work and dedication you are putting forth towards the learner profile.    

Most Likely to Succeed Week is Here!

This week, September 5th ot the 12th, is the national Most Likely to Succeed Week.  We are a proud participant of the national showings of the groundbreaking movie.  We will host showings for staff and community on September 7th at 1:00 and 3:30 at Meredith Middle School and on September 12th at 6:30pm at Harter Middle School.  Please encourage your students and families to attend these screenings and join in the conversation on education and personalized learning.  If you, or your parents, have any questions about the events please have them contact Sarah Mumm or Mike Rice.

Social Science Review Team Unite!

We are excited to continue the curriculum review process this fall on the revision of Social Sciences.  We will be meeting with the full K-12 review team on October 4th at Meredith Middle School Professional Development Center.  The intent of this meeting is to review the work completed this summer, continue to work on the revisions of the curriculum maps, and begin to consider possible materials that the team would like to review as samples.  The middle and high school staff will begin the meeting at 7:30 am with kindergarten through fifth grade staff staff joining the session at 8:00 am.  We will spend part of the day in vertical articulation and sharing and other parts working in smaller grade span teams.  Please submit your sub into Aesop if you are part of the review team.  We look forward to a great planning session!  

Vote Today for One of Our Own!

Cast your vote to support our Blackberry Creek Kindergarten Teacher, Autumn Gilchrist!  She has been identifed by Glancer Magazine as one of 10 Teacher Moms Who Deserve an A+.  Congratulations to Autumn, it is very well deserved.  Please take time to vote and support Autumn on Facebook or cast your vote by email lkleivo@glancermagazine.com

The following is the blurb from the Glancer Magazine.  Congrats Autumn, we are proud you are a Knight!

AUTUMN GILCHRIST of SUGAR GROVE

Autumn Gilchrist’s two little boys, Austin (4) and Jason (2), keep her on her toes, smiling, laughing and patient. She is positive being a mom has shaped her to be a better teacher. A twelve-year veteran educator, Autumn currently teaches Kindergarten at Blackberry Creek Elementary School.

Autumn feels like being a teacher mom is an impossible combination at times. She is fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing village, one she has to rely on when work has to come first. “That’s the hard reality,” says Autumn. “I often have to put my family second. It’s a constant balancing act, but I’m so grateful that my boys will grow to see me doing something I love – being a mom and a teacher!”