WHS Staff News - Week of 9/28/20

Last week I asked you to check-in on your students, this week I am checking in on you.  This year is going to be a marathon not a sprit so please keep that in mind. This year is like no other and 17 days in, this is hard and not what any of us signed up for when we choose this profession. But we did signup to teach, impact students, change lives and build relationships.  So, let's embrace that and do what we love to do. 

I created a form called Mindset Check-In that I will be using to touch base with the staff to make sure everyone is doing ok, find-out if anyone needs help with anything and mainly just to let you all know I am thinking about you and your well-being. 

Starting this week the Math teachers will be piloting concurrent teaching in all of their classes. Next Wednesday, 10/7, we will have a Q&A regarding concurrent teaching for the entire staff.  The Math teachers will be available to talk and share how the pilot is going. The goal right now is to roll this out starting October 12 as an additional tool for you to utilize.  We will also use the afternoon of Wednesday 10/14 for PD, questions and time to play related to concurrent teaching.  Dr. Elias is also available to help/talk through this model with you. She is an email/call away. 

For me, one size does not fit all when it comes to this model; but, I do believe this can be a great tool for keeping your entire class roster connected, align your pacing with your different cohorts, as well as help you make this way of teaching more manageable. 

Back to School Night - Thursday, 10/1
From last weeks blog post: (All links are due today)
Here are some guidelines for Back to School Night. Please review and if you have any questions, please see me. The due date for the video and your website updated is Tuesday, 9/29, at 3pm.

Reminder Testing Meeting (SAT/PSAT Testing) on Wednesday, 9/30, for all certificated staff. Some of you have never proctored the PSAT or SAT, so we all need to know what's going on and what to do. Everyone will be involved on Wednesday 10/14. Link to Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/dbg-aeim-eku
*I will email the proctoring schedule later today.

Last call for The Blended & Online Learning Course with Catlin Tucker
If you are on Twitter, I'm sure you have seen/read some of her blog posts in the past. The district is prepared to pay for this online course that is self-paced and offer PD hours for those who take advantage of the course. If you are interested, please add your name to this doc by tomorrow. 

SGO's - If you have questions, are confused or getting frustrated, please schedule a time to talk with Dianna.  She is here to help and will walk you through the process.  We wish we could ignore them, but NJDOE thinks during a pandemic we still need to have them?? Don't let them get to you. Complete the forms, give the assessment and be done with it. Set yourself up for success. 

What #njed teachers felt like this week when their Principal told them SGO’s still had to been done this year and by the way they are due 10/31. 🤦‍♂️ https://t.co/ZrrcbGCf3h

— Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) September 27, 2020

PD Resources 

Google adds more features to Meet. 

(I sure hope this works - Teachers need this)
Google Meet attendance reports available now for education meetings https://t.co/clCuuiB0di #njed

— Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) September 29, 2020

WHS Staff News - Week of 9/21/20

Be aware of your students' feelings! I have mentioned this to a few teachers, but everyone should be checking in with their students to get a sense that things are clear with assignments and that the workload is manageable. I have been hearing from 9th graders that they are feeling overwhelmed and starting to stress out over the workload and staying organized. Please listen to your students. 

For all teachers, you should not be posting work on days you don't see your students. You can assign projects, reading assignments, etc., but nothing new should be posted on Classroom the days you don't see that class. 

 
Plan for Wednesday, October 14 (PSAT/SAT Testing) 

Testing meeting for all certified staff (Teachers, Counselors, CST) - Wednesday, 9/30, at 3:15pm via Meet. (This will be our monthly staff meeting. Why is the meeting starting at 3:15 ... because of office hours for remote learners.)

I will post the Meet link later this week. 

Day of Testing Schedule 

• All rooms are being used
• Everyone will be proctoring
• Rooms will be limited to 10-12 students 
• Students will be grouped by cohorts 
• There will be no office hours that afternoon

Work should be posted by 8am Wednesday morning for all 9th and 10th graders. The work assigned should be asynchronous work. Juniors and Seniors not testing will be working on college related items.  You do not need to assign them work. 

BTSN Info 

Here are some guidelines for Back to School Night. Please review and if you have any questions, please see me. The due date for the video and your website updated is Tuesday, 9/29, at 3pm. 

SGO's & PDP's
So, on yesterday, 9/21, an NJDOE Memo was released regarding SGO's and PDP's and no surprise the state is moving forward as in the past with both.  

Dianna updated the "Creating Effective SGO's Timeline" and updated all dues dates.  Please review the doc and if you have any questions, please see Dianna. 

PDP's will be due on Wednesday, 10/28, by 1pm. I will get you more information next week. 

WHS Staff News - Week of 9/14/20

I could not have asked for a better first week with students in the building! Thank You!!! With everything we had to overcome to get here, we should all be extremely proud. I hope some of your fears and concerns have been calmed with what we have put in place. We can't relax with our safety precautions and we need to continue to BE PRESENT every class, everyday for out students. 

I know this is not easy. Everyday I worry about teacher burn out and the amount of stress so many of you are feeling. Right now my best advice is, Focus on what you can control.

  

PD Opportunity
The Blended & Online Learning Course with Catlin Tucker  

If you are on Twitter, I'm sure you have seen/read some of her blog posts in the past. 

The district is prepared to pay for this online course that is self-paced and offer PD hours for those who take advantage of the course.  

If you are interested, please add your name to this doc. 

Department Meetings on "Concurrent Teaching" 

Concurrent teaching is the process of teaching students in the classroom and students online at the same time.
As I stated in my Remind message last week, we are starting the conversation about concurrent teaching and the options it provides. Dr. Elias (Director of Curriculum) will lead the conversation and share teaching strategies and resources with each group.

Monday 9/14 2:30 - 3:15 Math (HS) Room 501

Tuesday 9/15 2:30 - 3:15 Social Studies (HS) Room 141
Wednesday 9/16 1:35 - 2:15 

    PE & HE (HS & MS) Room MSMPR
    Related Arts (HS & MS) Room MSMPR
Wednesday 9/16 2:30 - 3:15 World Language (HS) Room 144
Thursday 9/17 2:30 - 3:15 Language Arts (HS) Room 138
Monday 9/21 2:30 - 3:15 Science (HS) Room 301

*Special Education teachers should attend the department meeting they teach more in. 

A Few Quick Hits

• Fire Drills - For our first fire drill we will be walking through it first as per new State guidelines.  I will have more info on this later in the week.
• Reminder that all Google Classroom post for AM classes should be posted at 8am daily

Lunch time offer from Parkwood Deli
Few important details.....

All orders MUST be in by 11:00 am so we can get them to you by 12:30.
All orders MUST be entered as a PICKUP as we do not typically deliver at this time.
Enter Pickup time as ASAP.
In the special instructions, they MUST include WALDWICK HS so there is no confusion.
Park Wood Deli & Catering

WHS Staff News - 9/4/20

Yesterday was like no other first day I was ever apart of, but you all made it work! Great job! Yesterday 70 of 73 remote learners picked up their materials. As they came in, I asked them how the day went and they said:

"Better then I thought" 

"Went really well"

"You guys were so organized to starting the school"  

All of our hard work and attention to details paid off! Thank You! 

For this afternoon … Use the time at HOME after 12:44 to:

Plan for next week
Work on Safe Schools

Google Classroom Items
Invite the admin account to all your classes adminwhs@waldwickschools.org
Double check the name on your classes, Teacher’s Last Name should start each class title

A few updates:

Duty Assignments start on Tuesday

Hall Duty - Main Entrance / Art Wing please monitor the bathrooms and have students scan in using the QR code. Once they complete the form, their info will appear on the Google Sheet. I suggest you bookmark this sheet. Bathroom Check-In Sheet

Break Coverage - The four staff members that are providing breaks, please be on time.

Study Hall - students at home do not need to check in for attendance. Only worry about attendance for the students in the building.

Student Check-In via Genesis 

Students will be checking in for home via Genesis - The link below would be for internal purposes (Draft).

Page 1 - Students' display
Page 2 - Faculty display in Class Attendance - Post Attendance screen
Page 3 - Display in the Student's Class Attendance Tab.
Genesis Student Check-In

*This information will be shared with the students later today. 

For Tuesday and Wednesday - Student Helpers 

For the first in-person days of school (Tuesday, September 8th and Wednesday, September 9th) we are asking students to help freshmen and new students find their classes. Members of the Student Council and/or National Honor Society will be around the building helping out. Students will be allowed to leave class one minute early and arrive to your next class one minute late (if necessary) in order to help. The names of students are posted on your Calendar.

This morning I will be working on a video for students and parents which will included reminders about next week and what they need to know. Once It is finished I will share it with the staff as well.

Have a great weekend!!!

I am lucky enough to work with so many amazing educators that contribute to making #njed # 1! Proud to be a Jersey Educator!!! https://t.co/80slnFc4lN

— Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) September 3, 2020