Action Items
For All Administrators (Action)
Donors Choose Projects & ALL Grants Require Pre-Approval
from Federal Programs
KCKPS has procedures in place for requesting funds from outside the district including DonorsChoose.org projects and grant requests, which include principal/department director pre-approval and signature.
Moving forward, ANY Donors Choose projects which are posted without pre-approval by the KCKPS Federal Programs department will need to be deactivated until the process has been followed.
Check out the Grants & Donations page on the district website to access forms, information, and instructional videos on how to complete the process.
KELPA Testing Plans
from ESOL
It is that time of the year again to begin planning for the KELPA assessment. KELPA testing plans for the 2022 testing window are due by December 16, 2021. Building administrators, testing coordinators and ESOL should plan to collaborate to complete the testing plan that will include training, administering, scoring, and number of students to test.
For questions, contact Jacqueline Rodriguez.
New District Letterhead
from Communications
Please use this letterhead template for district communications.
Annual Inventory Reporting
from Risk Management
A new year is upon us and so is the annual inventory counts for your respective buildings, departments/offices and classrooms. Attached you will find a template to help guide you with the inventory accountability process.
We DO NOT need every pencil, paper clip and staple, as those are considered supplies.
We DO need all the electronics, furniture and equipment to be accounted for.
This includes but is not limited to: Couches, Desks, Dry-Erase Boards, Cabinets, iPad charging carts, radios, TV’s computers, electronic learning devices, heavy machinery etc.
If there are any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact Dennis Martine.
Inventory Instructions PDF
Inventory Template XLSX
For Title IX Building & Department Coordinators
Title IX Reporting Procedures
from Federal Programs
Recent Title IX reports made over the past several weeks indicate two areas that need more attention from Title IX Building/Department Coordinators in following the KCKPS Title IX reporting procedures.
#1 – CC your principal and IIO (or department supervisor) when sending the ‘Please Call’ email to titleix@kckps.org.
#2 – A reminder that NO investigation or discipline can occur with students or staff until AFTER you’ve sent the ‘Please Call’ email AND the District Title IX Coordinator’s office has talked with you and made a determination on whether or not you will proceed via a Title IX investigation or via a student/employee code of conduct or investigation. This process must be followed each time, regardless of the level of seriousness of the misconduct and regardless of whether or not the misconduct is tracked on the Title IX spreadsheet or through a Title Incident Report and Title IX Complaint Form.
Please refer to the Title IX Procedures page in the KCK Principal Handbook and the HR Admin Guide or contact Lisa Walker, District Title IX Coordinator, with any questions.
Review All Title IX Supportive Measures
from Federal Programs
Please conduct ongoing reviews of the supportive measures put into place by you and your teams for students and/or staff involved in Title IX misconduct incidents. Campus teams should work together to ensure supportive measures continue to be appropriate for both complainants and respondents, that both parties are following their supportive measures as set forth, and documentation exists of your monitoring efforts and findings.
Supportive measures should be provided to ALL parties throughout the process and should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Non-disciplinary, non-punitive;
- Individualized;
- Restore or preserve equal access;
- Without unreasonably burdening other party;
- Protect safety of parties or environment, or deter sexual harassment;
- If supportive measures are not provided, document why not.
District Departments (IIOs, SPED, Student Services, Federal Programs) can provide additional support to building teams by providing input on existing plans and additional adjustments and considerations which may be needed. Please refer to the Title IX Reporting & Investigations page in the HR Admin Guide and KCK Principal Handbook for a list of typical supportive measures.
For EC-5 Administrators (Action)
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.
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.
Informational Items
For All Administrators (Informational Item)
Strikeout COVID Vaccine Event for Children on Friday, December 17, 2021 from 12 – 2 p.m.
from Communications & Marketing
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is partnering with the Wyandotte County Health Department and the Kansas City Royals to Strikeout Covid for those ages 5 to 11.
This first COVID-19 vaccine event for KCKPS that focuses on our community’s youth will take place on Friday, December 17th from noon to 2pm at Grant Elementary School, located at 1510 N. 4th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.
Those youth receiving the vaccine will get a free meal on site and be able to pick up other great giveaways.
The Wyandotte County Health Department will be on hand to administer the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 5 to 11. A parent/guardian must be present at the event. No vaccines for those over 11 or booster shots will be offered. Masks are required at the event.
New Hire Orientation
from Human Resources
Revised Orientation for 2022
Orientation Schedule (Word Doc)
Why?
It was determined by the Classified PD Council (which includes principals, as well as directors) that we need to revise the orientation plan. One full day is ineffective as a training, and the new hires are arriving to their buildings or departments and still need training systems training that is being left up to the supervisor. We decided we need a plan that is best for our new hires as well as the supervisors.
What?
Beginning January 12th, all new hires will report to the central office. The full schedule is attached, but a summary of the orientation is below. Your new hires will receive three communications prior to their orientation: an email from HR (when given offer); an email from Sherrie (on the Friday afternoon prior); a phone call from HR Admin Assistant (On Monday prior). Your support for all of our new hires is greatly appreciated! …Sherrie Piedimonte
When?
Beginning January 12, 2022
Wednesday (following the BOE meeting):
• Topics: payroll, benefits, KPERS, EAP information, as well as training on our technology systems
• Times: 8am -11:30 for all operational new hires
noon – 3:30pm for all instructional new hires
• Location: Central Office
Thursday:
• Topics: Mandatory trainings, DEI
• Times: 9am – 1pm
• Location: Zoom from assigned location
Friday:
• Topics: Trauma Sensitive and Resilience Schools Training
• Times: 9am – noon
• Location: Zoom from assigned location
HR Power Hour
from Human Resources
Hello Everyone,
HR would like to invite you to our last HR Power Hour of 2021. Please share with your fellow colleagues!!! This is a great opportunity to hear about any updates & to engage with the HR Team with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you on December 9th @ 9am.
When: Thursday, December 9th
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 870 0369 1550
Passcode: 455F9L
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 K-5 Administrators
Woo Hoo to Emerson and Stony Point South
from Diploma+
Emerson and Stony Point South have met the 100% Connector goal for first semester. Join me in congratulating the leadership of Brett Bernard and Melissa Hunter-Boyce and the hard work of their teachers in meeting this goal!
SS/Science Implementation Wakelets
from Curriculum & Instruction
To support the implementation of new science and social studies resources, we have added resources, pictures, and examples of SS and science implementation throughout KCK classrooms to Wakelets. As we continue to do SS/Science implementation walkthroughs, we’ll continue to add to this resource. Please share these with teachers and encourage them to send pictures or invites. We’ll continue to add new pictures/resources and send them out monthly to show the updates. Please contact Cheryl Beyer if you have any questions.
SS Wakelet
Science Wakelet
For Secondary Administrators
KCTC Survey – Implementation Window Open
from Student Services
The KCTC implementation window opened November 1, 2021. On our FA Pacing Calendar there are suggested implementation dates in order to ensure that students have enough time to complete the survey prior to the window closing at the end of January. Each building identified a KCTC point of contact earlier in the year. This person has all the information needed to support your school community in implementing the KCTC survey. If you have any questions or need support in implementing the KCTC, please reach out to Tracie Chauvin.
For Building Principals
FREE Responsive Classroom Webinar
from Student Services
The Center for Responsive Schools is hosting a free webinar on December 16th from 6p-7p called, “Resolve to Rewind, Replay, and Rejuvenate This January.”
Please share with your staff. They can register with this link.
Additionally, they have an article about Inviting All Winter Holidays into the Classroom.
HGSS Administration Notice
from Curriculum & Instruction/DERA
For the 2021-22 school year, grades 3-11 will be administering the HGSS Classroom Based State Assessment. This will be administered for all classes/grades during the third quarter with the exception of 11th grade American Government, which will be given prior to the end of each enrolled semester. Teachers should be aware of this assessment as it is embedded into the curriculum resource. State HGSS assessment data collection will now be submitted via Infinite Campus. Teachers will be submitting their student scores directly into Infinite Campus. Directions on how to do this are forthcoming. The state will be requesting some student work samples from three buildings. Those principals will be notified by DERA of specified student samples to be submitted.
Please direct any questions about administering the assessment to Brenda Burney (secondary) or Cheryl Beyer (elementary).
Any questions regarding the submissions of the scores and testing data should be directed to Troy Pitsch in DERA.