January 28, 2021 RCSD Educator Blog
Message from Jamey Schrey
#Celebrate #Workinprogress
Okay, I was late for the party. I got to the second episode of Schitt’s Creek, just not seeing where the show was going. Friends and colleagues said, “Stay with it. The characters will grow, and you will connect with them.” Many also shared, they had watched all the seasons more than once. What? Well, I pushed onto episode three, then four, and then binged the whole thing!
Honestly, I cried at the end. I was touched by the episode and was honestly sad that it was over. I was not sure why I was so sorry that it was over and then tripped up on the recap of making the season with the cast. What dawned on me was that I was sad that the characters I connected with were leaving me. The cast and famous directors were interviewed on a separate episode and were able to articulate what I valued in the show:
One director said, “Schitt’s Creek is joy. We need to find the value of every day. Joy is the hardest thing to get right and the easiest thing to take for granted.” Yes! I loved the little insightful moments in the show about the raw life moments that can bring one such joy. Yet, so easy to miss and not register, to pause, and take in and hug. I cheered every episode for the characters to do good, be good, and succeed. I internally celebrated for them, and in turn, I had joy.
One of my beliefs is that holidays are on a calendar to remind me, someone that is not overly organized and not naturally comfortable celebrating, to reach out and acknowledge others. Valentine’s Day is around the corner. A day where my children love to pick their Valentine’s cards and hand them out to friends and family. Funny how excited and comfortable it is for children to pick cards and ensure that everyone in their class gets a card.
If joy is the hardest thing to get right and the easiest thing to take for granted, maybe Valentine’s Day can be our 2021 chance to reach out to those we care about, those we work with, those that we can’t see in-person, and acknowledge them.
As a #workinprogress, I will try to acknowledge 14 people, not necessarily my closest friends, but others that lift me up that I do not recognize enough with the intention of letting them know that they matter to me. That what they do, who they are, is something that I do not take for granted. Want to join me? On February 1, send someone or tape to their door a heart with a small message that finishes one of these stem starters:
You lift me up when you…
You need to know…
I value you because…
I have meant to thank you for…
Indeed, there are thousands of ways to celebrate one another. I am going to try this, and by writing this down, I have some accountability. I will let you know how it goes!
Happy Thursday!
Jamey
PS: I have been doing my crossword, somedays jamming through it, and other days having to do research. Either way, I am enjoying my time in the morning.
***A fantastic teacher also shared that the book Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Person is a great read. It is on my list!
***Another special teacher also shared the video below from Amanda Gorman that has a theme important to us as we continue to grow and learn.
Report Card Information
Elementary Info
A reminder that once you enter grades in Otus, parents can see those grades.
School sites are running the PDF and emailing or printing them out at different times. Please talk with your principal if you do not know those dates yet.
Participation Scores for science, social studies, and PE are now comments, not rubrics (this is different from the 1st Trimester)
1st Trimester teachers filled out a rubric for participation. Running two separate reports (Summative Grades and Participation) and then having to combine them to email out to families was a very time-consuming process and something that secretaries and principals were not trained on. Therefore teachers should add one of the following comments in Otus so it prints on the report card.
Please add one of the following comments. You do not need to enter the comment 3 times just 1 time. You can add it in your "homeroom" class or under where you put comments for ABC Standard comments. Do not put the comment in Science, Social Studies, and PE, just put the comment once.
Your child participated in Science and Social Studies. Physical Education lessons were provided for students to complete at home.
Or
Your child did NOT participate in Science and Social Studies. Physical Education lessons were provided for students to complete at home.
Unfortunately, there is no way to mass comment to all students, so hopefully, when you are writing comments to students you can add this comment at that time.
Rubric Report Card Guide- This guide shows you how to enter comments for the report card, and how to assign the report card rubrics and grade the rubrics.
RCSD Report Card Comment Bank- Optional Comment Bank teachers can use to copy and paste comments into Otus.
How to Show Grades and iReady Scores within Otus (3-minute video)- A reminder, when you are on a Zoom with parents, you can share your screen with the PDF version of the report card. This video shows how you could also show the grades right within Otus. You can also show iReady progress right in Otus. Their most recent attempt will be uploaded before conferences.
If you are going to print, the report cards are designed to print front to back, meaning please print two-sided when you print.
If you have questions please reach out to the following people
Megan Spears- OR, Spanger, Fiddy, Junction, Thomas Jefferson, Champions K-2
Brandon Blom- Sargeant, Diamond Creek, Crestmont, TK, Champions 3-5
Jennie Ruvalcalba- Kaseberg, Woodbridge, Blue Oaks, Stoneridge
Julie Murdaugh- Cirby, Brown, Riego Creek, Gates
Questions/Reminders for Teachers
Will you project report cards on the screen using the PDF or another way?
How are parents accessing your Zoom link?
A reminder to remove the authenticated users setting for Zoom with parents if you are using the same Zoom link you use with students. Here is a short video showing you how you can do that. You need to then change it back when you meet with students (this would apply more to Champions teachers or teachers that are quarantined during that time and providing instruction via Zoom).
If you are using a different Zoom link then the one you are using with students make sure the authenticated user setting is off and you do not need to switch it back and forth.
Please let parents know you will be using a Waiting Room and you will let them in when it is their time.
Are students there at the conference as well?
Think ahead about how you would project student work if that is going to be part of your meeting
Is there an agenda you would like to send to all parents ahead of time?
Example: Check in with parents about the student, positives, review work, report card, iReady, any questions
Are there reminders you want to send to parents ahead of time? If so here are some potential reminders:
Please be on time
If possible, do your best to find a quiet place so that you can hear the teacher
If you need help with Zoom ask your child since they have used Zoom this school year
- Run preview reports on 2/16 and 2/23
- Run reports by grade level and added to the site folder.
- Final grades completed by 2/24 at 11:59pm
- Run Final Reports 2/25
- Run reports by grade level and added to the site folder.
- 2 emails go home 2/26, Summative and Learning Behavior
- If you have questions please reach out to Joe Clark
Elementary- General Rubrics
In your shared folder called, “RCSD General Blank Rubrics,” you will find both general ELA and Math rubric for entering scores into your gradebook. These can be used to take any assessment and enter scores into your gradebook. These rubrics currently live on the Formative grading scale but can be cloned and moved to the Summative grading scale if needed.
Middle School-Math
The Middle School Common Assessment Team application is now available. We will use the collaborative common assessment process to become more reflective about how to improve our core instruction and our assessment practices. Looking forward to working with this team!
Who, What, When, Where, and Why
Applications are due by Wednesday, February 3rd. Team members will be notified by Friday, February 5th. Middle School Math Common Assessment Team Application Form
Join your CapCUE family for a day of learning!
Sat, February 27, 2021
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM PST
Register Here
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