Month: November 2020

Curriculum and Instruction

All Principals

RE:  Priority Standards

The Curriculum Coaches in the Curriculum and Instruction Department are currently working on documents for the GVC that will more clearly identify priority standards for grade levels and contents. Priority standards are a carefully selected subset of the total list of the grade-level specific and course-specific standards within each content area that students must know and be able to do by the end of each school year in order to be prepared for the standards at the next level. These priority standards are meant to help focus the time and energy of teachers, specifically in remote and hybrid learning, with the understanding that we are still responsible for other grade-level standards. In many cases, the other grade-level standards are necessary foundational learning that contribute to the overall understanding of priority standards.  Priority standards provide the power of focus for the time and intensity of instruction, may help focus feedback and grading, and provide a manageable way to plan for asynchronous and synchronous instruction. 

All Principals

RE:  KCKPS Instructional Coaching Framework – Professional Learning

Diane Sweeney and Leanna Harris will be presenting a 6-part training series in KCKPS on  Student-Centered Coaching. Two trainings will be hosted for both principals and coaches to attend together. The other 4 trainings will be for coaches, though principals are invited should schedules allow.  The first session will occur as part of the Principals’ Networking meeting on November 19 from 8:30 – 10:00. The Zoom link for the training, as well as the Frontline link, will be shared next week.

Elementary School Principals

RE: Phonics Resource Survey

The C&I Department is seeking feedback from staff who work with K-3 students in reading regarding the current phonics resource, FPC Phonics, Spelling, & Word Study. A survey was shared with instructional coaches this week to share with applicable staff. Administrator feedback is also welcomed. The deadline is Thursday, November 12th. If you have any questions, please contact allison.rice@kckps.org Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/JVTD1mTms8yzC1118

Human Resources

Hello Administrators! Human Resources would like to share with you the updated Formal Complaint Form for concerns brought to you regarding district staff members. While the district prefers that complaints or concerns be resolved informally at the lowest administrative level, there are times when a thorough investigation is required to resolve allegations of misconduct. As such, you may provide the Formal Complaint Form to a complainant if the issue is unable to be resolved informally or if the alleged misconduct is so severe that it warrants an investigation. This form should be used for complaints unrelated to Title IX.

BOE Policy KN – Updated 9.2020

KCKPS Formal Complaint Form 20-21SY

Curriculum and Instruction

Canvas Update

• Canvas is available for all teachers with rosters in Infinite Campus. To access the district Canvas accounts, either login to Clever and click the Canvas tile or go to kckps.instructure.com and sign in using the Clever username and password.
• Canvas accounts for Admin, ICs and support staff without rosters in Infinite Campus are not available. We are working through some glitches and will have them ready soon.
• We have created a Preparing for Canvas course to help teachers prepare for using Canvas with students.
  • To enroll in the course, go to https://kckps.instructure.com/courses/279 and login with your Clever username and password. Once you’ve logged in click Enroll Now.
• Timeline for Implementation:
  • Now – Thanksgiving 2020
    • Staff Learning, Planning and Preparation in Canvas
  • Thanksgiving – Christmas Break
    • Begin to Introduce students and families to Canvas. Resources will be provided to support staff with the introduction.
    • Staff can begin to utilize modules to organize and deliver learning to students.
    • Assignments within learning modules can be Canvas assignments, links to Google Classroom assignments or Seesaw Assignments.
  • January 2021-May 2021
    • All staff will utilize Canvas to organize and deliver learning to students through learning modules.
    • Assignments within learning modules can be Canvas assignments, links to Google Classroom assignments or Seesaw Assignments.
    • Continue to help families become familiar with Canvas.
  • 2021-2022 School Year – Full implementation of Canvas LMS
• For more information regarding Canvas, please see the Mobile Minute

Department of Evaluation, Research, and Assessment (DERA)

Assessment Updates – from Team CIA

The optional fall FastBridge testing window has been extended through November 13.  The Frequently Asked Questions document in the FastBridge PD Google Folder has also been updated, and will continue to be updated regularly.

The KAP Interim Window is also open as of today.  If you are choosing to participate in this optional assessment, that testing window has been extended by KSDE through November 18.

Please note that both these assessments (FastBridge, KAP Interim) continue to be optional during this time of remote learning.  The primary purpose of these assessments is to gain familiarity with each kind of testing platform.  A secondary purpose is to provide additional data points, which might aid in establishing further context regarding data gathered from formative assessments.  Please also consider these purposes when deciding whether to opt-in or opt-out.

If you have any questions, please let us know!

IARC (Fine Arts)

Elementary and Middle School Principals

ARTS INTEGRATION

Principals,

Please share the attached information with all teachers in your building.  In the past, IARC paid for homeroom/core teachers to attend a local arts-integration symposium.  The workshop is now going virtual and will be free.  The next session is November 17th or 19th. See the attachment.

An arts-integration learning experience points out and explores natural and relevant connections between a subject of focus (math, ELA, science, social studies, etc.) and an art discipline.  It moves beyond arts-enhanced learning to engage participants in rigorous artistic practice that helps participants gain insight into and understanding of the connected subject and, ideally, gain deeper insight into and understanding of the art form through the connected subject.

In addition to the November session, there will be virtual sessions in January and March.

Please forward this flyer to all of your teachers.