Friday, November 12, 2021

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Action Items

For All Administrators (Action)

Building Inventory Reporting

from Risk Management

Attenton All Administrators:

Inventory Reporting is a critical element of Risk Management and fiscal responsibility throughout the district.
We are asking that all building administration, principals and department leaders engage staff to ensure building inventory lists are submit to Risk Assessment department by January 28, 2022.

Instructions and template on how to complete lists, are attached.
For questions, contact Dennis Martine.

Inventory Instructions PDF
Inventory Template XLSX

For Building Administrators (Action)

Praxis Study Sessions & License Help Sessions

from Human Resources

Please let the staff in your buildings know that on the following dates I’ll be available on Saturdays in Room 131 at the Central Office to help people set up supported study plans for their Praxis exams and to help people navigate their initial license applications or their license renewals. Below are the times and dates through the end of this calendar year. If folks have questions or plan to attend please tell them to email me at elizabeth.meitl@kckps.org. I’ll need to identify what resources I need for them and give them my cell phone number to make sure they can get in the building.

For each of the Saturdays –
9:00 – 10:00 Praxis Study Session
10:00 – 11:00 License Help

Saturday dates: 11/6; 11/13; 12/4; 12/11

If someone wants help with the Praxis or their license and they can’t make these dates I’m still happy to help. Please ask them to email me at elizabeth.meitl@gmail.com.

For EC-5 Administrators (Action)

New & Beginning Teacher Mandatory Dyslexia Training

from Curriculum & Instruction

Please share this link to the Elementary KCKPS New and Beginning Teacher Mandatory Dyslexia Training Checklist with the new and beginning teachers in your building. This does not include long-term substitutes.

This document is provided as a reminder of the process for completing the KSDE Mandatory Dyslexia Training Modules through Canvas. Each certified new and beginning teacher who completes all of the required modules & corresponding exit slips will be paid a stipend for 5 hours of extra duty pay. The document linked provides all of the directions for submitting a timesheet and how Frontline attendance will be completed. Timesheets are due by Friday, November 12 at 3 pm.

If you have questions about this process or who should have participated, please contact tracy.cooper@kckps.org.

EC-5 Canvas Site Training Sign Up

from Curriculum and Instruction

This is for EC-5 schools only. Wendy Elkins has provided multiple sign-up opportunities to come to your school for the entire day and collaborate with teachers and administrators on how to use Canvas. Sign-ups begin on Nov. 2 and run until Dec. 17th. Generally, schools have been using PLCs as the time for Canvas training with outliers dropping in when they have availability. However, if you have a different format in mind, please feel free to set up the time that will work best for your building.

Use this link to schedule your site visit. You will schedule a time using Calendly, and the link is provided below. There are two days per week where the time runs from 8:30-3:30 and two days from 9:00 – 4:00. Please include the name of the school and a contact person. If you have any questions, please email Wendy Elkins.

For Secondary Administrators

PREP-KC Math Relays Team Sign Up

from Curriculum & Instruction
Hello KCKPS Secondary Math Teams!

We are excited to announce the 12th Annual PREP-KC Regional Math Relays (Virtual for one more year) will be held in January again this year. Teams will be competing on either January 22 or January 29 from 8:45-11:00 and 12:30-2:45.

The Prep-KC is very excited for your students to compete once again!  We know that everyone has had a whirlwind school year so far, and we have made the decision to bring students, teachers and volunteers from all over the city together virtually once again. The only difference this year will be that teams may choose to compete from their own school setting rather than their homes if they choose.   Please note the participation guidelines below:

-Each school can bring up to 16 participants (competing in Individual and Team Events) AND up to 4 participants to compete in the Marathon competition (a $500 scholarship will be awarded to the top winner).

-A Student (if not participating in the marathon) can participate in up to two individual events and one team event.

-Each team in a team event will consist of exactly four students.

-EACH SCHOOL CAN HAVE UP TO 4 TEAMS COMPETE WITH AT LEAST ONE TEAM IN EACH OF THE THREE TEAM EVENTS.

-Photos will be taken and distributed via email and social media.  If you have a student who has not agreed to a photo release in your district, please note that on the enrollment form.

The preliminary enrollment deadline for entries will be Thursday, December 16.  with an opportunity to finalize in mid January. After the deadline, we will once again work with your district’s IT department to ensure students are able to access the required technology mediums.  Please find all of the information you will need in the Math Relays Coaches Folder. All the links were shared via email from the district CANVAS page for Secondary Math teachers by Dr. Parker.

A coaches meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 15 at 3:00 pm or Wednesday, November 17 at 3:30 pm.  Your coach(es) will only need to attend one of the meetings.  Feel free to take a look at the coaches agenda prior to the meeting.

Please submit team entry forms to Susan Engelmann (sengelmann@prepkc.org) or Cecil Christwell (cchristwell@prepkc.org) and copy Dr. Kurt Parker (kurt.parker@kckps.org)
As always, please reach out to Susan or Cecil if you have any questions or if you have a new Math Relays coach in your building or district.

We are looking forward to the relays!
PREP-KC Math Relays Team
=============================

From KCKPS Curriculum & Instruction Department:
The goal is for each school to have at least one team participate this year. The C&I budget can compensate one coach per building for 10 extra duty hours.  If a building has a full team participating (16-20 students) and is choosing to meet at their own school on competition day, we could compensate an additional coach if needed. In order to get paid, you must complete the GOOGLE FORM for timesheet approval by the Board prior to attending the coaches’ meeting.

MUST COMPLETE TO GET PAID

All links were sent to your teachers through the Secondary Math Canvas Page. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Kurt Parker.

New & Beginning Teacher Mandatory Dyslexia Training

from Curriculum & Instruction

Please share the link to the Secondary KCKPS New and Beginning Teacher Mandatory Dyslexia Training Checklist with the new and beginning teachers in your building. This does not include long-term substitutes.

This document is provided as a reminder of the process for completing the KSDE Mandatory Dyslexia Training Modules through Canvas. Each certified new and beginning teacher who completes all of the required modules & corresponding exit slips will be paid a stipend for 5 hours of extra duty pay. The document linked provides all of the directions for submitting a timesheet and how Frontline attendance will be completed. Timesheets are due by Friday, November 12 at 3 pm.

If you have questions about this process or who should have participated, please contact tracy.cooper@kckps.org.

Informational Items

For All Administrators (Informational Item)

Classified Professional Development

from Human Resources
Please encourage all classified staff to look at the courses offered to them through Canvas. The foundation is providing some pretty great gift cards for completing modules. Currently, the following courses are offered:
* Enough is Enough
* Drug Awareness
* Take the Lead (customer service)
* Microsoft Suite (word, excel, powerpoint, teams)
* Grokker

Coming soon:
* The Fred Factor
* Canvas
* Frontline

To register and complete the courses, use this link.

Question? Contact Sherrie Piedimonte

New COVID Vaccine Event – Monday, November 22, 2021

from Communications & Marketing

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is partnering with the Wyandotte County Health Department and the Patrick Mahomes Foundation (15 and the Mahomies) to host our Squash COVID-19 Vaccine Event on Monday, November 22nd from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. at Carl B. Bruce Middle School.

From vaccines to testing, this event is aimed at keeping you and your loved ones safe, but full this Thanksgiving holiday.

Those getting either the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will receive a free turkey and a meal voucher for the food trucks on-site. Those that are getting their first shot will also get their choice between a $50 gift card or an NFL hoodie.

Individuals that take the COVID-19 test will receive all the traditional Thanksgiving side items, and those who get both a vaccine shot and a test will receive a full Thanksgiving dinner.

In addition, we will have numerous community partners on site, music, and information to help you and your family as we enter into the holiday season.

All food items will be on site. This is only for those wanting the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No Boosters will be offered. No vaccines for those 5 to 11 years old.

We want to thank all of our community partners who also plan to take part.

We hope to see you there.

Click here for a printable PDF flyer for this event in English

Click here for a printable PDF flyer for this event in Spanish

Electronic Reporting Forms for Injuries and Incidents

From Communications & Marketing

Just a quick reminder that many of the forms you need when it comes to incidents are now electronic.

Student injury forms have now been included to the list.

To find the reporting form for students go to this link: https://form.jotform.com/212366215525047

To make the reporting of workman’s compensation accidents less time consuming, the Supervisors Accident Report is now an electronic form.

Regardless of severity, immediate supervisors & directors are required to report all work-related injuries within 48 hours to Risk Management.

To do so, please use the following link: https://form.jotform.com/212304621025035

The Incident Report helps document any incident involving non employees.

This includes our students, visitors, parents and guardians.

The incident form is to be filled out for a number of situations including: a child is missing, if a student is injured in a way that could require medical attention in the future, police have to be called during an incident,  there is a fight,  or even to report property damage.

An example of a fight that needs to be recorded- a fight that breaks out that others are around and it may have been recorded. A fight that someone may not realize they are injured immediately but could later on in the day. Fights that do NOT need to be recorded: two kids on the playground hit each other in the arm over a ball.

There may be other incidents that could also require use of this form.

If you have questions about whether an incident falls into this category, please reach out to your IIO.

Here is a link to the Incident Report form:  https://kckps.org/incident-report/

For Elementary Principals (Informational)

Elementary ELA Cadre Applications

from Curriculum & Instruction
Please share with eligible certified staff. The C&I Department is seeking K-5 Classroom Teachers, SPED Teachers, ESOL Teachers, Reading Interventionists/Specialists, and/or Instructional Coaches to engage in a cadre beginning January 2022 that will revise the elementary ELA GVCs at all grade levels for the 2022-2023 school year. Please click the application link for more information. Applications are due November 30th.

DATE REVISION – Are You Faster Than a 5th Grader?

from IARC

DATE REVISION – May 6th

Elementary Principals,

Mark your calendar for the reprise of the Are Your Faster Than a 5th Grader (RUFTA) event.

The two-mile race brings together 5th grade students, administrators, staff, community leaders and patrons for a morning of friendly competition and physical activity. This year’s event will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6th. Race route and location details are forthcoming.

Teams of fifteen 5th grade students from each of the district’s elementary schools will participate in the race. The other 5th grade students will join the fun by taking part in a one-mile walk that will precede the race.

This event was launched in 2012 as a way to promote physical fitness to students and to encourage overall wellness. Principals are encouraged to walk/run with the students. More details to come.

For Secondary Principals (Informational)

Theatre Festival

from IARC
The Fine Arts Department will host a KCKPS Theatre Festival on 11/16/21 at the Kansas City Young Audiences’ facility.
The theatre programs from Argentine, Arrowhead, Central, Eisenhower, CB Bruce, Rosedale, Sumner, and Schlagle will participate. Schools will perform throughout the day and will attend workshops. Please connect with your respective theatre teacher for additional details.