Monday, March 30, 2020

WHS Staff News - Week of 3/30/20


Hang in there! In the simplest of terms, this is what I expect from you ... 

You first, family second, student's third, curriculum fourth! 
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. (Be clear with your students, have reasonable expectations)
This journey we are on right now is a Marathon, not a sprint. 

Keep these things in mind. Here if you need me. 

Below is a tweet I saw over the weekend that I thought was right on about setting parameters and finding balance. 

 Staff PSA Video
I am working with Neil on creating a staff PSA to get our students/community to understands the importance of listen to CDC guidelines. I hope to have more information out later today. 


Rotation Schedule 
The rotation schedule has been updated untill Spring Break. No changes to the original schedule.
Special Bell Schedule Home Instruction Virtual School Days

 Virtual Spirit Week 3/30 - 4/3



Resources
Google Meet Grid view Extension (Shows everyone in a Google Meet - Brady Bunch like)
Link to get the Extension (Add to Chrome)

Screencastify
If you are into Screencastify, this coupon code CAST_COVID, will get you access to the unlimited plan for educators.  Go to their site, click on pricing and then put in the redeem coupon. 
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Monday, March 23, 2020

WHS News - Week of 3/23


Week one in the books! I could not be more proud of the entire WHS community for how we have handled all of this so far. I know this is hard. No one signed up to be a virtual teacher, but pandemics make us to do things we never thought we would have to do.  

Please stay positive with your students, follow up with them, check in on them, offer your help and most importantly, continue to over communicate with them. 

 Last night I went live on the Warrior Broadcast Center - if you missed it here is the link to Episode 1 Checking in with Carroll 

Starting tonight, there will be a weekly student produced Wake Up Waldwick LIVE show streaming via the Warrior Broadcast Center/s YouTube channel.  Mr. Meltzer and his students are determined to make sure the show goes on!


Gradebook 
The end of Marking Period 3 is Friday. Below are the dates and Laurie's email with all of the details and timeline.  I don't want any incompletes issued without my approval first and I don't anticipate my seeing a lot of good reasons to allow one.  There is no excuse for "I didn't have the time" by a student. If a student is missing work or has not completed an assignment, you the teacher need to follow up with the student and counselor.  

ELL Narratives - will be handled the same way as normal.  Laurie will be pushing more information out on this. 

GRADING OPENS FOR TEACHERS: Thursday, MARCH 26 @ 10:00am
GRADING CLOSES FOR TEACHERS: Wednesday, APRIL 1 @ 9:00am SHARP
REPORT CARDS RELEASED TO PARENTS: Friday, APRIL 3 @ 10:00am
Ms. Cassidy's directions/timeline

Schedule for Friday 3/27
Friday 3/27 was a scheduled "R" day.  It will be a Day 1, with Monday also being a Day 1 as scheduled.  

SGO's (I have received a few emails on this topic)
My first response to these questions is to worry about your lesson and students. Non-tenured staff should be thinking about them and figuring out if you need to adjust your assessment. If you have questions, please reach out to Dianna.
For tenured teachers, we have time. If you want to work on them, feel free. 
We have no guidance from the state on what to do with SGO's.  When we do, we will share that information.

Online Resources (Not adding to your plate, just sharing. No pressure)
Formative 
A few of our math teachers have a premium access account to the site Formative (we pay for it).  Like other companies, Formative is offering any educator a free premium account. It's a great resource for assessing students in all areas. Check out the site and see if it's something you would like me to give you access to.  I have to add your name to our school account. 

https://goformative.com/ (link to site)
https://community.goformative.com/videos (Link to Video Tutorials)

Zoom Resources
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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

WHS Staff News - Week of 1/28/20


Halfway point! We have had a busy first half of the year with a lot to be proud of! Please keeping doing what's best for our students: Push them, challenge them, show them you care and be there for them when they need you! 

 Course name changes. Please see video. 


Elective Fair (New Date) - February 20 in the HS Gym
We will run a special schedule with all classes meeting.  Assembly Schedule (Page 3) There will be no classes from 10:40 - 11:18.  Seniors will have an extended lunch.   

What's coming up! I made this list for me but felt it could not hurt sharing it with everyone. All these dates/events are on the calendar or will be added. 
I also updated the Working Wednesday Doc to reflect the updates I made on this list.  No dates were changed, just what the focus of the Wednesday would be.

1/28 PSAT Data Day - Math Department
1/29 PSAT Data Day - Language Arts Department
1/29 Working Wednesday - DLC Time
1/30 Placement Test - Language Arts 3pm
2/3 Doc for recommendations will be pushed out to staff
2/4 Placement Test - Science 3pm
2/5 Working Wednesday - Task (Recommendations)
2/6 PSAT Data Day - Math Department
2/6 Placement Test - Social Studies Arts 3pm
2/11 Placement Test - Spanish Arts 3pm
2/12 Working Wednesday - Task (Recommendations/SGO’s)
2/13 Recommendations due for all departments by 8am
2/19 Working Wednesday - DLC Time 
2/20 Elective Fair in the Gym - Assembly Schedule with all classes meeting
(10:40 - 11:18 No classes)
2/24 - (Monday) Staff Meeting in the Little Th 
2/25 9th Grade - Grade Level Meeting 11:35 in the Little Th (Course requests)
2/26 Academic requests inputted in Genesis by the counselors 
2/26 10th Grade - Grade Level Meeting 11:35 in the Little Th (Course requests)
2/26 Working Wednesday - No meeting, free to go! 
2/27 11th Grade - Grade Level Meeting 11:35 in the Little Th (Course requests)
3/2 All electives requests due to the counselors via the students
3/4 Working Wednesday - DLC Time
3/11 Working Wednesday - DLC Time
3/13 Elective requests inputted in Genesis by the counselors
3/18 Working Wednesday - Staff Meeting
3/25 Working Wednesday - No Meetings / Free to Go
4/1 Working Wednesday - Tasks - SGO’s
4/8 Working Wednesday - DLC Time
4/10-17  No School
4/22 Working Wednesday - DLC Time
4/24 PSAT 10 (Sophomores)
4/29 Working Wednesday - TBA
5/6 Working Wednesday - State Testing Meeting
5/14 NJSLA Testing: Math/ELA (9th & 10th Gr.), Science (11th Gr.)
5/15 Teen Arts
5/18 NJSLA Testing: Math/ELA (9th & 10th Gr.), Science (11th Gr.)
6/9 Semester Assessments
6/10 Semester Assessments
6/11 Semester Assessments
6/12 Semester Assessments




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Monday, January 6, 2020

WHS Staff News - 1/6/20

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great break and enjoyed the time off.  If you are into resolutions or your "one word" for the year good luck with them. Each day let's continue to focus on making ourselves and WHS a better versus then the day before.

"If your not moving forward, your simply standing still"

My focus for 2020 is this statement and philosophy by John Gordon
Semester Assessment Schedule
Semester assessments start next week.  We will be running a modified schedule with two assessments per day. Here is the Schedule for the four days. The normal rotation will be followed but we will have a modified bell schedule.

Monday 1/13 Day 3 - Assessment Blocks (Periods 3 & 7)
Tuesday 1/14 Day 4 - Assessment Blocks (Periods 4 & 8)
Wednesday 1/15 Day 1 - Assessment Blocks (Periods 1 & 5)
Thursday 1/16 Day 2 - Assessment Blocks (Periods 2 & 6)

A few items to clarify:
All classes will still be meeting.
When a class falls on an assessment block that is not giving an assessment, instruction should continue and the full length of the period should be used.
Be respectful of other teachers and their assessments.  There should be no other major tests given, during the 4 days of semester assessments.  Let the students focus their attention on studying for the assessments.
The semester assessment is a separate item in Gradebook. It should not count towards marking period 2.
I will be sharing the schedule with the students and parents later today. Please start to review the schedule with your students.

January 24 (Recovery Day)
We will run a bell schedule with all classes meeting, unless we have a snow from now till then.
Schedule for 1/24/20

January 20 (PD Day)
All instructional staff will be attending a PD session on PLC's. I have the same speaker coming back that was in late last year, that worked with a handful of teachers on the initial implementation. Lunch will be provided (FREE) and the day will run till 3:15.  There is a possibility that we will be meeting offsite for the day.  More details to follow.



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Monday, December 9, 2019

WHS Staff News - Week of 12/9/19


Kindness month continues this week - Kindness Month @ WHS
  • Monday - Give someone a compliment.
  • Tuesday - Ask two colleagues or friends if you can help them with something today.
  • Wednesday - Write a note to someone and let them know they are appreciated.
  • Thursday - Think of a colleague or friend who has helped you be more confident with something. Thank them for it.
  • Friday - HIGH FIVE FRIDAY! Give out 10 high fives to 10 different people.
In School Suspension 
I'm bringing ISS back! I am working on a plan to have ISS available on all Day 2's if needed. A few of you have mentioned the idea and think it's something we need and I agree. Of course I will need help, so I am working on a plan to use hall duty, study hall, and Media Center duty teachers to cover the different periods. I am looking at one teacher per period and will rotate which teachers will be covering.

Working Wednesday (Last one for 2019)
Wednesday, 12/11, we have scheduled a guest speaker to come in for our working Wednesday. This meeting will be one that everyone needs to be at. Please plan accordingly.

Dr. Jolene Arasz will be speaking on the topic of anxiety. I heard her speak two weeks ago at a Bergen County Principals meeting and was blown away with how she presented and explained anxiety in such a clear and simplified manner. Our students anxiety levels are off the charts, and her presentation will enlighten all of us about this epidemic.

She will be speaking from 3:10 sharp, till 4:10. There will be an optional Q&A from 4:10 to 4:30 for those who can stay.

Holiday staff luncheon - Thursday 12/19/19 (Please pay Terais McLoughlin by Friday) Let's all enjoy a lunch together. 

 Spirt Rally - We will have a spirit rally on Friday 12/20.  More details to follow, including Spirit Week theme days. 
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Monday, October 7, 2019

WHS Staff News - 10/7/19

PSAT Testing will take place on Wednesday, October 16. Juniors will be testing in the Cafeteria and Media Center Lab.  The rest of the building will be following a normal schedule. I will share the proctoring schedule is a separate email and post it on The Answers @ WHS later today.

Week of Respect blog post.  I shared this with everyone on Friday.

Spirit Week 10/14 (Staff Days) 
This year's spirit days were picked so every staff member can get involved and feel comfortable participating.  I am hoping to get 100% participation each day. Let's have fun, and show the students what school spirit is all about! 

Monday 10/14 - Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness
Tuesday 10/15 - Sneakers and Caps
Wednesday 10/16 - Jersey Day
Thursday 10/17 - USA Out (Red, White or Blue)
Friday 10/18 - Warrior Day (Go over the top) 
*If Jeans are part of your spirit outfit, feel free to wear them

Field Trip Reminders
Location is key for BOE approval.  The date, time, club, etc. does not matter.  Only the location needs approval.

When using outside busing, if the bus shows up and does NOT have seatbelts you are NOT to get on that bus. The trip is canceled.   There are NO EXCEPTIONS for this one!
...But, they said they would have seatbelts when I requested it.
...But, we will lose the money.
...But, the kids and parents will be upset.
None of this matters! 

 On Thursday, I will have a graduate student from William Paterson University shadowing me for the day. Her name is Cassi Deighan. If you see her around the building please say hello and introduce yourself.  We will be around the building, in and out of classrooms. 

Recent Blog Posts

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Friday, October 4, 2019

Week of Respect 2019


Some of the events planned for the Week of Respect 

Monday - Staff and students wear blue for World Day for Bullying Prevention
Tuesday - Wear your favorite Jerseys (students) (Fight Against Bullies)
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - 3rd party compliments during lunch
Friday - Students and Staff wear Orange. Jeans allowed.

Friday 10/11 - 12 - 1pm in the Little Th
Positive Coaching Alliance Presentation: "Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor"
Freshmen and Sophomore athletes will be attending this assembly. Names will be added to the calendar.

Student Council members will be posting positive messages on social media.

We will also have "Student Ambassador's" observing random acts of kindness throughout the week. They will let Mrs. Fortini know the name of the student/staff member that was caught doing an act of kindness and what they observed.  Those individuals will be presented with a warrior pin. 
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