Thursday, November 30, 2017

Contents

New Items

Retirement Flyer – for All Administrators
Attendance Clerk Training – for All Administrators
Retirement Strategies for Women Workshop 12/6/17 – for All Administrators

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching – for Trained Co-Teachers or Coaches
Optional Administrator Training – for All Administrators
Consultant Contracts – for All Administrators
Math Relays Coaches Needed – for All Administrators
Sumner Academy Applications – for All Administrators

New Items

Retirement Flyer

From Crystal Primers
Please share this flyer with your staff:

Retirement Flyer PDF

Attendance Clerk Training

From Rosie Rodriguez
Attendance Clerk Training
Date: December 6th from 1:30-3:30
Location: Central Office and Training room 132

Retirement Strategies for Women Workshop 12/6/17

From Kristen Woodbury

Please click on the link below and input the following registration code to register to attend the December 6th seminar ??? Retirement Strategies for Women, part of our Financial Literacy Series.?? ??

https://my.valic.com/SeminarRegistration/Index.aspx

Registration Code: 5628KAN11AK

Kansas City, KS Public Schools Central Office

Wednesday, December 6th

Room 133

5:15pm ??? 6:15pm

 

Here are some things that might be on your to-do list that we can assist with:

  • Get enrolled in your Traditional or ROTH 403(b) plan, or 457(b) plan
  • Answer questions about your KPERS pension benefit
  • Review your account portfolio
  • Are you on pace?

Event Flyer PDF

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching

From Jennifer Martin
What: In this 2-Day training facilitated by Dr. Richard Villa, participants will explore approaches to differentiating the content students learn, the process through which they learn it, and how they demonstrate what they have learned. Participants will practice both a Retrofit and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to differentiation. Participants will have the opportunity to design unit/lesson plans that integrate whole class, group, and individualized instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Materials and working lunch will be provided.

Who: This training is intended for previously trained coaches and previously trained co-teachers. However, it is open to any educator interested in differentiated instruction and/or Universal Design for Learning.

When: Monday, December 11th & Tuesday, December 12th from 9:00 ??? 3:30

Where: Central Office and Training Center rooms 131-133

Register at the TASN website (see link below). Please be aware that the training will run from 8:30 to 3:30. TASN lists the training as 9:00 ??? 3:00. Contact Danita Long if you have any questions.
https://ksdetasn.org/events/UrWo4g

Optional Administrator Training

From Jody Mitchell
Save the Date ??? ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Through our partnership with the District???s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we are offering all Administrators a voluntary training opportunity on Thursday, December 7th from 10am-12pm at the Central Office Training Center in rooms 131-132.

The training will provide information for Administrators on the following areas:

  • A general overview of our EAP program ??? how it works, options available to
    employees
  • How to document work performance issues to gain the best result for employees
  • Best practices on assisting employees to address obstacles and to increase work performance

We look forward to seeing you there!

Consultant Contracts

From Bridgette DeSmet
This is a reminder that a completed and approved Consultant Contract is required for any individual/company/organization that provides consultant services or professional development.

It is important that we track all consultant services as Board approval is required at certain cost levels.

Attached are the Consultant Contracts to use.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.

Consultant Contract (Less than $20,000)

Consultant Contract (More than $20,000)

Math Relays Coaches Needed

From Matthew Andersen
This year, KCKPS will host its 14th annual Math Relays event on Saturday, March 3rd at Wyandotte High School, bringing together elementary, middle and high school students for a day of math problem solving that challenges their minds and advances their math skills. This year, we anticipate an estimated 1,200+ students to take part in the event.

Overview of the Competition

On the day of Math Relays, Elementary students will participate in a team problem-solving event. In a team problem-solving event, participants work together to solve a series of problems and then present their solution to a judge. Judging will take place in the following categories: Math Content, Overall Presentation, and Precision. Please refer to the Scoring Rubric for the specific criteria. Room proctors can also award bonus points to teams based on: Teamwork and Perseverance.

Middle and high school students will participate in Individual Events and Team Events.
In the individual events, which will take place from January 22-February 15, students compete by taking Math Relays tests using the Student Testing System (STS) in each of four competition categories: Algebra and Functions, Number and Quantity, Statistics and Probability, and Geometry. The individual events occur at the building sites.

On the day of Math Relays, team events for middle and high school will include: Relays, Medley, Team Problem-Solving and BreakoutEDU. In a relay, participants work problems individually and then hand their solutions to a teammate, the ???anchor???. In a medley, participants work together to solve problems as a team. In Team Problem Solving, a team of six students will work together to solve a single, challenging problem and then present their solution to a panel of judges. BreakoutEDU is similar to an Escape Room, but instead of breaking out of a room, students are using their math skills to collaboratively break out of a locked box.

The continued success of Math Relays is due to the individuals who help coach students in preparation for and during the events. If you are interested in being an Elementary or Secondary Math Relays Coach, please use the following application link. All coaches must apply individually. Due to changes to this year???s Math Relays events, there will be a mandatory face-to-face and/or virtual coaches meeting in January.

Sumner Academy Applications

From Octavio Estrella
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science is accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year.
Information in English and Spanish regarding the admission standards for Sumner Academy are available on the school district???s website by clicking Standards for Admission to Sumner Academy.

Applications will be available from now until Friday, February 9, 2018 on the website.

Please make this information available to parents and students.

If you have questions, please contact the Director of Student Services Lisa Garcia Stewart at 913.279.2248.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Contents

New Items

Math Relays Coaches Needed – for All Administrators
Sumner Academy Applications – for All Administrators

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching – for Trained Co-Teachers or Coaches
Optional Administrator Training – for All Administrators
Consultant Contracts – for All Administrators

New Items

Math Relays Coaches Needed

From Matthew Andersen
This year, KCKPS will host its 14th annual Math Relays event on Saturday, March 3rd at Wyandotte High School, bringing together elementary, middle and high school students for a day of math problem solving that challenges their minds and advances their math skills. This year, we anticipate an estimated 1,200+ students to take part in the event.

Overview of the Competition

On the day of Math Relays, Elementary students will participate in a team problem-solving event. In a team problem-solving event, participants work together to solve a series of problems and then present their solution to a judge. Judging will take place in the following categories: Math Content, Overall Presentation, and Precision. Please refer to the Scoring Rubric for the specific criteria. Room proctors can also award bonus points to teams based on: Teamwork and Perseverance.

Middle and high school students will participate in Individual Events and Team Events.
In the individual events, which will take place from January 22-February 15, students compete by taking Math Relays tests using the Student Testing System (STS) in each of four competition categories: Algebra and Functions, Number and Quantity, Statistics and Probability, and Geometry. The individual events occur at the building sites.

On the day of Math Relays, team events for middle and high school will include: Relays, Medley, Team Problem-Solving and BreakoutEDU. In a relay, participants work problems individually and then hand their solutions to a teammate, the ???anchor???. In a medley, participants work together to solve problems as a team. In Team Problem Solving, a team of six students will work together to solve a single, challenging problem and then present their solution to a panel of judges. BreakoutEDU is similar to an Escape Room, but instead of breaking out of a room, students are using their math skills to collaboratively break out of a locked box.

The continued success of Math Relays is due to the individuals who help coach students in preparation for and during the events. If you are interested in being an Elementary or Secondary Math Relays Coach, please use the following application link. All coaches must apply individually. Due to changes to this year???s Math Relays events, there will be a mandatory face-to-face and/or virtual coaches meeting in January.

Sumner Academy Applications

From Octavio Estrella
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science is accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year.
Information in English and Spanish regarding the admission standards for Sumner Academy are available on the school district???s website by clicking Standards for Admission to Sumner Academy.

Applications will be available from now until Friday, February 9, 2018 on the website.

Please make this information available to parents and students.

If you have questions, please contact the Director of Student Services Lisa Garcia Stewart at 913.279.2248.

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching

From Jennifer Martin
What: In this 2-Day training facilitated by Dr. Richard Villa, participants will explore approaches to differentiating the content students learn, the process through which they learn it, and how they demonstrate what they have learned. Participants will practice both a Retrofit and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to differentiation. Participants will have the opportunity to design unit/lesson plans that integrate whole class, group, and individualized instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Materials and working lunch will be provided.

Who: This training is intended for previously trained coaches and previously trained co-teachers. However, it is open to any educator interested in differentiated instruction and/or Universal Design for Learning.

When: Monday, December 11th & Tuesday, December 12th from 9:00 ??? 3:30

Where: Central Office and Training Center rooms 131-133

Register at the TASN website (see link below). Please be aware that the training will run from 8:30 to 3:30. TASN lists the training as 9:00 ??? 3:00. Contact Danita Long if you have any questions.
https://ksdetasn.org/events/UrWo4g

Optional Administrator Training

From Jody Mitchell
Save the Date ??? ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Through our partnership with the District???s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we are offering all Administrators a voluntary training opportunity on Thursday, December 7th from 10am-12pm at the Central Office Training Center in rooms 131-132.

The training will provide information for Administrators on the following areas:

  • A general overview of our EAP program ??? how it works, options available to
    employees
  • How to document work performance issues to gain the best result for employees
  • Best practices on assisting employees to address obstacles and to increase work performance

We look forward to seeing you there!

Consultant Contracts

From Bridgette DeSmet
This is a reminder that a completed and approved Consultant Contract is required for any individual/company/organization that provides consultant services or professional development.

It is important that we track all consultant services as Board approval is required at certain cost levels.

Attached are the Consultant Contracts to use.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.

Consultant Contract (Less than $20,000)

Consultant Contract (More than $20,000)

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Contents

New Items

Consultant Contracts – for All Administrators

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching – for Trained Co-Teachers or Coaches
Optional Administrator Training – for All Administrators

New Items

Consultant Contracts

From Bridgette DeSmet
This is a reminder that a completed and approved Consultant Contract is required for any individual/company/organization that provides consultant services or professional development.

It is important that we track all consultant services as Board approval is required at certain cost levels.

Attached are the Consultant Contracts to use.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.

Consultant Contract (Less than $20,000)

Consultant Contract (More than $20,000)

Previous Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching

From Jennifer Martin
What: In this 2-Day training facilitated by Dr. Richard Villa, participants will explore approaches to differentiating the content students learn, the process through which they learn it, and how they demonstrate what they have learned. Participants will practice both a Retrofit and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to differentiation. Participants will have the opportunity to design unit/lesson plans that integrate whole class, group, and individualized instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Materials and working lunch will be provided.

Who: This training is intended for previously trained coaches and previously trained co-teachers. However, it is open to any educator interested in differentiated instruction and/or Universal Design for Learning.

When: Monday, December 11th & Tuesday, December 12th from 9:00 ??? 3:30

Where: Central Office and Training Center rooms 131-133

Register at the TASN website (see link below). Please be aware that the training will run from 8:30 to 3:30. TASN lists the training as 9:00 ??? 3:00. Contact Danita Long if you have any questions.
https://ksdetasn.org/events/UrWo4g

Optional Administrator Training

From Jody Mitchell
Save the Date ??? ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Through our partnership with the District???s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we are offering all Administrators a voluntary training opportunity on Thursday, December 7th from 10am-12pm at the Central Office Training Center in rooms 131-132.

The training will provide information for Administrators on the following areas:

  • A general overview of our EAP program ??? how it works, options available to
    employees
  • How to document work performance issues to gain the best result for employees
  • Best practices on assisting employees to address obstacles and to increase work performance

We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, November 27, 2017

Contents

New Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching – for Trained Co-Teachers or Coaches
Optional Administrator Training – for All Administrators

Previous Items

New Items

Differentiated Instruction in Co-Teaching

From Jennifer Martin
What: In this 2-Day training facilitated by Dr. Richard Villa, participants will explore approaches to differentiating the content students learn, the process through which they learn it, and how they demonstrate what they have learned. Participants will practice both a Retrofit and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to differentiation. Participants will have the opportunity to design unit/lesson plans that integrate whole class, group, and individualized instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Materials and working lunch will be provided.

Who: This training is intended for previously trained coaches and previously trained co-teachers. However, it is open to any educator interested in differentiated instruction and/or Universal Design for Learning.

When: Monday, December 11th & Tuesday, December 12th from 9:00 ??? 3:30

Where: Central Office and Training Center rooms 131-133

Register at the TASN website (see link below). Please be aware that the training will run from 8:30 to 3:30. TASN lists the training as 9:00 ??? 3:00. Contact Danita Long if you have any questions.
https://ksdetasn.org/events/UrWo4g

Optional Administrator Training

From Jody Mitchell
Save the Date ??? ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Through our partnership with the District???s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we are offering all Administrators a voluntary training opportunity on Thursday, December 7th from 10am-12pm at the Central Office Training Center in rooms 131-132.

The training will provide information for Administrators on the following areas:

  • A general overview of our EAP program ??? how it works, options available to
    employees
  • How to document work performance issues to gain the best result for employees
  • Best practices on assisting employees to address obstacles and to increase work performance

We look forward to seeing you there!

Previous Items

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Contents

New Items

Volunteer Training Cancelled for Tuesday, Nov. 21 – for All Administrators

Previous Items

New Student Information System for 2018-2019 – for All Administrators
Thanksgiving Attendance Letter – for All Administrators
District Calendar Special Preparation Days Reminder – for All Administrators

New Items

Volunteer Training Cancelled for Tuesday, Nov. 21

From Grace Elmore
The volunteer training that was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 21 has been cancelled. If you have any community members who are interested in volunteering, please have them contact Tina Richardson, (913) 551-3200, for information on the next training dates.

This training has been cancelled.
“From Tina Richardson
Volunteer and Mentor Training November 21, 2017
11:00-12:00 Central Offices Training Center room 273” (from a previous Administrator’s Notice)

Previous Items

New Student Information System for 2018-2019

From Joe Fives
Greetings Principals/Administrators,

The school district will debut a new student information system for the 2018-2019 school year. The gradual plan for implementation begins with scheduling in spring and will lead up to the system going ???live??? when staff return in fall.

The new system, selected by a school district cross-departmental team, will combine features of several current online systems into a one-stop shop for convenience and a better user experience for both the school district???s staff and external end users.

Those current systems utilized by the district that will be replaced by Infinite Campus are the following:
??? Silk
??? Websilk
??? Pinnacle
??? School Loop
??? Online registration
??? Career cruising
??? Viewpoint
??? myPayments Plus
??? Bright Arrow

We will meet with principals and administrators as part of the regularly scheduled administrator???s meeting during the last week of November to discuss features of Infinite Campus, training sessions for principals, administrators, teachers and staff, and the timeline for roll-out and implementation.

A communication will be sent to all staff this week regarding the new student information system. We ask that administrators and principals make staff aware of this new project during your departmental staff meetings and written communications.

In the meantime, if you have questions about Infinite Campus, please contact Penny Atchley at 913.279.2369 and Michelle Gould at 913.279.2058.

Thanksgiving Attendance Letter

From Rosie Rodriguez
It is getting closer to our Holiday Season and it is imperative that we remind our families about the importance of attendance.

Please send this letter out before Thanksgiving break urging students and families to avoid absences.

Chronic absenteeism can only be prevented if we work together!

 

Adopt a Family for the 2017 Holidays!

From Mechelle Wortham
Please share the following opportunity to give with your staff!

District Calendar Special Preparation Days Reminder

From Susan Westfahl

Each year, a committee is formed to make recommendations to the superintendent and the Board of Education pertaining to the district calendar. I want to draw your attention to a provision in the calendar for FY 2017-18, which is designed to provide teachers and instructional staff with dedicated time to 1) prepare for students to return from winter break, and 2) finalize records at the end of the school year.

January 3 and May 24 were intentionally set up as two half-days for teachers, and for instructional staff with 186 day contracts or letters of employment (such as paraprofessionals). On those days, teachers and instructional staff are to report from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm. The time on January 3 is to be primarily dedicated to lesson and classroom preparation. It is acceptable for buildings to plan two hours as time to work in PLCs, with the remaining two hours dedicated to individual preparation time.

On May 24, teachers and instructional staff are to report from 8:00 am -12:00 pm for finalizing records and grade reports, and closing the classroom for summer break.

PLEASE NOTE that if we have emergency closure days due to inclement weather this winter, and find it necessary to extend the school year, we will adjust the final half-day for teachers accordingly. Please refer to the district calendar explanation marked with a “#”. ”

# – Last day for students will be May 23 and the last day for teachers will be May 24 if no emergency closure (make-up days) are used. The board reserves the right to change the calendar to respond to unforeseen circumstances.”

The very last potential day for teachers and instructional staff to report would be May 31. Administrators and all staff with contracts of more than 186 days are to report following their regular schedule on January 3 and May 24. Please contact my office if you have questions.

Dr. Cynthia Lane
Superintendent of Schools