Administrators Connection: November 29, 2011
Information for school and central administrators
REQUIRED ACTION
Official Reading Work Samples
High school Principals and Vice Principals:
The Reading Work Sample Assessment Secure Web site is on. Please email Artie Knight at aknight@pps.net, to give her your staff name who is responsible for Essential Skills Assessment. Artie will send you and your point person the secure web site link. This link should NOT be forwarded to other staff members. The assessments on this site are the OFFICIAL RWS for PPS. They are the only ones that can be used for Essential Skills completion.
At this time, there are four RWS but we will have more posted by next week. We are working on our Spanish RWS and more cultural relevant English RWS for ELL students.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Van
Van Truong, Assistant Director, 6-12 Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Office of Teaching and Learning
Reading Work Sample scoring Training for high schools is coming in December!
December 8: 8:30-11:30
Introduction to Reading Work Sample Scoring Each building should send at least 2 people from their Essential Skills team who need training in Reading Work Sample Scoring. Each participant must register on the Learning Campus.
December 8: 12:30-3:30
District-wide scoring session for Scoring Teams: Reading Work Samples If your school has Reading Work Samples that need to be scored, we are gathering a group of scorers together to help you. You should send at least two people who are trained in scoring Reading Work Samples and are willing to stay to help other teams score their samples. Participants from the morning training are welcome to stay and get some experience scoring in a collaborative session. Each participant must register on the Learning Campus.
Artie Knight, 9-12 LA Achievement Coordinator, 503.916.5404, x71046, aknight@pps.net
Fall Giving Campaign extended to December 16
Principals and central leaders, please share the news with your staff that the Superintendent has extended the Fall Campaign to December 16 to allow more time for employees who wish to to complete their pledges.
It's essential to emphasize that pledges are no long rolled over year to year. To continue giving through payroll deduction in 2012, employees must go to the giving site (www.giveattheoffice.org/_pps or fill out a paper form) to re-establish their contributions.
We now have more than 350 pledges totaling more than $66,000 but would like to get closer to the 1,000 employees who gave $84,000 last year. Giving is a personal decision based on many factors yet is it so essential in these economic times to support community nonprofits that serve so many of our families.
If you have questions, please contact Erin Barnett at ebarnett@pps.net or 503.916.3385.
Thank you for your attention and support.
The Fall Giving Campaign Team
REQUIRED READING
Update on K-5 Math Demonstration Lessons
Bridges In Mathematics demonstration lessons in grades K-5 have started! Just a reminder that all K-5 teachers are encouraged to participate in two Bridges classroom demonstration lessons this school year. This is a great opportunity for teachers to observe a grade level lesson and then to meet for collegial debriefing and planning.
There are December demonstration lessons scheduled for every grade level and there is still space available. Please remind the teachers in your building to register on the PPS Learning Campus, http://app.serebracampus.com/portland/. All demonstration lessons are in PPS classrooms and space is limited so, pre-registration is required.
Cheryl Ogburn, K-5 Math Achievement Coordinator, 503.916.2000, x71032, cogburn@pps.net
Important Dates to Remember
Tuesday, November 8-Friday January 6:
The first OAKS testing window opens. This is an opportunity for Seniors and Juniors to have one chance to take the OAKS online assessment.
Monday, November 14:
Official Reading Work Sample Assessments (RWS) available for Essential Skill of Reading are available on password protected site. Passwords will be out at the end of today or first thing Monday morning.
Thursday, December 8:
AM 8:30-11:30:
Introductory RWS Scoring Training. This is for teachers and administrators who need to learn to score reading work samples. The goal of this training is for the teachers or administrators to train the rest of the staff in their building. The scoring will be done at building levels for the 2012-13 school year. Please send two or more representatives from your building. Substitute costs will be covered by Teaching and Learning department. Please register on PPS Learning Campus. This will be the only RWS Scoring PD available this year.
PM 12:30-3:30:
District-Wide Scoring Session for Reading Work Sample Assessments. Participants from the morning session and any other trained RWS teams from buildings meet to score RWS from other building collaboratively.
Note: Next RWS district-wide scoring sessions will be done by Scoring Cadre in February and April. These are actual scoring sessions, they are not trainings. The dates are:
February 7,9,14,16
April 17,19,24,26
Both sessions are after school 4-7 p.m.
Van Truong, Assistant Director, 6-12 Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Office of Teaching and Learning
Changed Procedure Regarding OSHA 300 Log Reports in January
Our schools are used to receiving OSHA 300 log reports from Risk Management in January and posting this information. PPS is not required to do this in our school buildings. Therefore, Risk Management will not be sending schools this information. If an OSHA inspector should ask to see this information in your school please remind her/him that public schools are exempt from this rule per OSHA SIC Code 82. Should this prompt a disagreement at your school please ask the inspector to contact me directly.
For PPS facilities that are not schools, i.e., BESC, Rice, etc. Risk Management will send the OSHA 300 log information in January and ask you to post it at that time.
Please contact me if you have a question about this changed procedure.
Benson Meyers, Risk Manager, 503.916.3204, bmeyers@pps.net
Work Samples on Essential Skills Webpage
High School Administrators:
WRITING WORK SAMPLES
We are starting to post information on Writing Work Samples on our Essential Skills webpage. Please go to the Curriculum page, and scroll down to Work Samples, then scroll on the left again to Writing Work Samples. If you have any questions, please email aknight@pps.net or vtruong@pps.net for more information. We will update you as we get more information.
READING WORK SAMPLES
We are working on a process on how schools can submit culturally relevant Reading Work Samples to be used as PPS official Reading Work Samples. The information will be coming out by the end of this week.
Van Truong, Assistant Director, 6-12 Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Office of Teaching and Learning
OPPORTUNITIES AND HELPFUL HINTS
Student Information Confidentiality Reminder
Student information is confidential and all district employees who have access to student information must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other privacy laws.
• Under FERPA, only a student’s teachers, counselors, PPS service providers, and school administrators and administrative staff, i.e. those who have a “legitimate educational purpose”, can access student information.
• FERPA allows certain “directory” information to be released to someone who does not have a “legitimate educational purpose”, e.g. news media or volunteer.
• PPS has defined directory information to be: student name, major field of study, participation in officially-recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent school attended.
• All other student information is “personally identifiable” and can generally only be released with either written parent permission or a district contract agreement.
• Parents can submit a written request that “directory” information not be released, and those students are then identified in eSIS.
• Failure to follow these required procedures may include discipline up to and including termination.
Please make sure that your staff are aware of this legal requirement to keep all student information secure. They are not to share “personally-identifiable” information with anyone who is not authorized or post that information to a public website, including electronic files, paper reports, and photos.
Web publishing guidelines are available on Inside PPS at http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/information-technology/Web_Guidelines_Policy.pdf for more information.
Please contact the General Counsel’s office with FERPA questions at 503.916.3570. You may contact the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@pps.net with any eSIS or Web publishing questions.
Jenna Mason-Steinberg, IT Policy and Communications, 503.916.3925, jmason@pps.net
Better than eating turkey! Apply for NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program by November 30!
The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea (TAS) program is to give teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and to increase their level of environmental literacy by fostering an interdisciplinary research experience. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college-level teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Participants can expect to be at sea anywhere from one week to one month, with the average cruise lasting 12-14 days. Most participants try to sail on cruises offered during the summer vacation, but cruises take place throughout most of the year on a space-available basis.
All costs are covered, including transportation. The website includes significant details and blogs from past participants; the application is online.
Due date: November 30
Website: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/
Susan Jordan, Discretionary Grants, 503.916.3447, sjordan@pps.net
Up to $150 for a Pet in your K-6 Classroom
The Pet Care Trust is awarding Pets in the Classroom Grants to K-6 teachers who wish to teach children how to care for pets. In order to receive a grant, teachers must shop at a local pet supply store. Grant certificates will be distributed in the amounts of $50, $100, or $150 and may be used to purchase new pets, pet environments, or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets. Funds may be used for the purchase of new pets, pet environments or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets. Teachers are eligible each fall to reapply for a sustaining grant for up to $50 to maintain existing classroom pets.
Due date: June 30
Website: http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/
Susan Jordan, Discretionary Grants, 503.916.3447, sjordan@pps.net
