Month: February 2021

Curriculum & Instruction

Middle and High School Principals and Department Directors

RE: 2021-2022 Proposed Middle and High School Social Studies and World Languages Curricular Resources Sneak Peek

The Curriculum and Instruction Department is providing a sneak peak for all stakeholders (educators, parents, students, community members) of the proposed Middle and High School Social Studies and World Languages curricular resources for the 2021-2022 school year. Stakeholders will be asked to provide feedback about the resources and their implementation. Please click here for more information.

Elementary and Middle School Principals 

RE: Wyandotte County Spelling Bee

The Wyandotte County Spelling Bee was held virtually on February 6, 2021.   Below are the students who placed in the top five.  The champion is eligible to compete at the state level in the Sunflower Spelling Bee on March 27, 2021.   The County Spelling Bee Coordinator, Tracy Cooper, will make contact with the families of the champion and the runner-up to complete the registration for the state level bee.  The first place winner will attend the Sunflower Spelling Bee.  In the event that she is unable to attend,  the opportunity will be extended to the runner-up, who serves as the alternate.

1st place: Riya Ahir – Rosedale Middle School (KCKPS)
(Wyandotte County representative in Sunflower Spelling Bee, March 27)

2nd Place: Bivek Kalikote- Gloria Willis Middle School (KCKPS)
(Alternate for the Sunflower Spelling Bee, March 27)

3rd Place: Juan Ontiveros – Central Middle School (KCKPS)

4th Place: Desmond Campbell- Grant Elementary School (KCKPS)

5th Place: Hailey Jordan – Holy Name of Jesus School (Private)

Congratulations to the students who placed in the Wyandotte County spelling bee, and to all of the building winners, building sponsors and principals who participated in the building and county spelling bees.

Elementary Principals 

RE: CKLA Mid-Year Review

CKLA would like to conduct a mid-year review for KCKPS. It is an anonymous survey that takes less than five minutes. Please consider taking the Leader Survey yourself and passing the Teacher Survey along to teachers (gen ed, SPED, ELL, etc) who work with 4th and 5th grades. This information will also be emailed to instructional coaches. It will be used to help plan CKLA professional learning for the rest of this school year and into next school year. Both surveys will be open until February 17th. Please email allison.rice@kckps.org with any questions.

All Principals

RE: Student-Centered Coaching Reminder

Just a reminder that instructional coaches will participate in Session 5 with Leanna Harris on Thursday, February 11th from 8:30 – 10:00. Principals are highly encouraged to attend.

This session will address these objectives:

• Learn how to get teachers ready for co-planning and co-teaching

• Discuss the moves for co-planning and co-teaching in virtual and in person settings

Homework for coaches:

• Before the session, read these two chapters from Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves

  • Chapter 6: Thinking Aloud

  • Chapter 7: Sorting Student Work

• During the session, use these slides to follow along and access links to additional resources: Co-Planning and Co-Teaching

• After the session, reflect on challenges you may have faced during co-planning or co-teaching sessions.

ZOOM LINK
Meeting ID: 831 1835 3973
Passcode: 127033

As a reminder, all information and resources for these sessions is also available in the Canvas course ~ enroll here.

DERA

• Please remember that the FastBridge winter screening window closes on 2/12.
• Please be sure test security and ethics forms have been signed and completed prior to testing.
• High Schools Only:
  • Please go ahead and order your Pre-ACT materials from the CCRIS system, if you have not done so already.  Ordering instructions were sent in a forwarded email from Ben, from Lee Jones.
  • Please grant me access to the Validus Online Testing Realm for your building.  ACT/WorkKeys has verified that is the only way I can receive access to your online testing realm for WorkKeys.  If did not receive your email from Jan. 27 containing your log-in instructions for the Validus testing realm, please call ACT/WorkKeys support.
  • As ACT/WorkKeys/Pre-ACT testing windows and dates are approaching, please be sure you are referencing all three websites for KS testing for comprehensive information regarding all phases of these tests, and schedules of events:

ACT:   https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/state-and-district-solutions/kansas/the-act.html

WorkKeys: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/state-and-district-solutions/kansas/workkeys-online.html

PreACT: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/state-and-district-solutions/kansas/preact-8-9.html

Diploma+

As we prepare for the 2021-2022 enrollment season, Career and Technical Education (CTE) would like to make sure students, parents, and staff are all informed about the options available at each high school campus. The virtual CTE open house provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to learn about our CTE pathways. Please encourage your FA teachers to share the open house link with students during FA over the coming weeks so they can explore the pathways.

Human Resources

Power Hour

We will be having our next zoom session February 11, 2020 from 9:30am – 10:30am.  During this time any questions that Building Administrators or IIO’s may have they can ask our HR Staff.  Also, from an HR Standpoint, we will share any announcements or updates we may have.  We also have notes available from our last meeting on Thursday, January 28^th  here.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82283481476?pwd=U1V2b3BGSTZlc1ZSbmR2M2J0LzNGZz09

Meeting ID: 822 8348 1476
Passcode: qR19G0

Evaluations

This is just a reminder that the following evaluations are due February 15, 2021:

*Administrator Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Year 3
*Teacher – Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Off Cycle Evaluation

Please make sure that you get these completed in both iObservation and in TalentEd.  If you have any issues please reach out to Jared Alexander for iObservation and DeAndre Tuggle for TalentEd.

Student Services

Family Advocate day is Friday, and we want to remind all staff that we will continue to provide interpreter support during Family Advocacy scheduled for Friday, February 12. We will be providing interpretation services via over-the-phone. Please share the attached instructions to utilize Propio over-the-phone services with your building staff. This will be active ALL week and no prescheduling is needed to use this resource. We want to highlight that staff can add a Propio interpreter to a Zoom, Skype, or Webinar Meeting (audio only).  Here are the instructions:

How to Add an Interpreter to a Zoom Meeting (Audio Only)

On-Demand (Not Pre-Scheduled)

1. Launch the Zoom meeting on your desktop so that you can see your parent/student/patient.
2. Put the Zoom meeting on mute.
3. Prior to the meeting start time, use your phone to call Propio to connect to an interpreter.
4. Add the 3rd party: family/student/patient/parent to the meeting (two options):

• Option 1: Dial them in via 3-way call. With the interpreter on one line, tap “Add call” on your smartphone, call the webinar number, and then tap “Merge” to join the two lines. (On a landline, conference in the 3rd party.)
• Option 2: Have the interpreter dial-in.* Ask the interpreter to do a 3rd party dial-out to the webinar and provide them dial-in instructions (dial-in number, meeting ID, and passcode). Make sure your original call with the interpreter is placed on hold to maintain billing.

For those staff who filled out the Interpreter Request form for video calls, a confirmation email with the interpreter information will be sent soon. We want to remind you that the deadline to fill out the Interpreter Request form for video calls was Friday, February 5th. However, we kept the google form active and accepted requests until Monday, February 8th, for additional support. We received around 100 requests, and we are excited to announce that all have been assigned to an interpreter. Sending a major THANK YOU to the ESOL/Migrant department for their support.

Thank you so much for all the hard work you and your team do to increase participation during FA. If you, or anyone in your building,  have questions or need additional support, please do not hesitate to contact me:

Naomi Tolentino
naomi.tolentino@kckps.org
Cell:  (913) 568-0147

FAQ OPI Zoom and Scheduling Propio 2020 PDF

Propio – FA Week PDF

Business Office

Staffing allocations for the 2021-2022 school year will be the same as they were in 2020-2021 because we do not currently have an accurate student count from September 20th.  If there has been a major change in your student numbers, please bring the information for consideration to your budget meeting.  We plan on beginning the budget meetings in the near future.

Curriculum & Instruction

Equity and Inclusion

https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/black-history-month-teaching-beyond-slavery
https://brownmamas.com/teach-african-history-culture-kids/

Remember this month the Office of Equity and Inclusion is going to challenge you as a leader to reflect each week on the Black trailblazers in your life. How has this person impacted your life? Write a letter of appreciation to this person and send it to them, be sure to tell them the impact that they have had on you. Feel free to share your thoughts here about this experience with the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Diploma+

Congratulations to the following schools for reaching the first Connector goal of 25% of their staff sharing a live session with their students.

Claude Huyke – Colleen Dudley
Frances Willard – Dr. Cesar Alvarez
John Fiske – Dr. Joe Graham
JFK – Dr. Bob Wilcox
Lindbergh – Dr. Brooke Brutto
McKinley – Valerie Castillo
Noble Prentis – Rhonda Gavel
Quindaro – Shannon Shelton
Silver City – Zaneta Boles
Welborn – Collette Chaney
West Park – Dr. Angela Wright

Seven of these buildings were already over 40% on Jan. 22. Way to Go!!!

The next Connector goal is 50% of the staff hosting live sessions with students by February 26.

Feedback from the teachers has been overwhelming positive, with 92% of the teachers say YES they will host another session. Another 93% of them gave the session a 4/5 or 5/5.

If your building needs any support reach out the Renee Freers or join her zoom office hours this Wed., Feb. 10^th from 8:00-10:00 am.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88252990880?pwd=QkV2Qy8rR3grd2lUbTUwelE1R2l5Zz09

Meeting ID: 882 5299 0880

Passcode: 2B8v0w

Federal Programs

ALL SCHOOLS

Subject:  School Improvement Plans Submitted to KSDE, May 2021

Many conversations, coaching sessions and planning sheets indicate GREAT School Improvement Planning is occurring at EVERY building.  This is exciting and fabulous!

In order to make sure these AMAZING EFFORTS are captured and shared with KSDE, we need to adjust course by entering ALL of this documentation into KansaStar, rather than a separate Google Doc or Planning sheet.  This isn’t just about compliance, but COHERENCE!

Here are the benefits –

• A written plan provides clarity to all stakeholders – One plan, One effort;
• A written plan helps keep people grounded and focused on things that are important;
• A written plan will clarify the most important priorities;
• A written plan is an essential communication tool;
• A written plan keeps a team from spending time on tasks that won’t get them closer to their goal.

At the end of this year, each of you will SUBMIT your SIP in KansaStar to KSDE.  Your submitted SIP will impact our District KESA accreditation, as well as our ability to access additional funding set aside for CSI and TSI schools.

Here’s HOW to GET STARTED: DO THIS, Not That!

Contact Lisa Walker or Kacie Olson if you need some 1:1 KansaStar/SIP assistance for you, your team, or your process manager.  We’re happy to help!

Subject: KCKPS Elementary Principals Present at National ESEA Conference

KUDOS to three of our phenomenal KCKPS principals who are scheduled to facilitate sessions at the National ESEA Conference!  Dr. Heather Calvert will present a session called “Data Cycles: A Method for Effective Data Analysis” and Katie Egidy and Collete Chaney will co-facilitate a session called “Get Lit Now: The Tools!”  Be sure to get these on your calendars so we can SHOW UP as they SHOW OUT!

TITLE I SCHOOLS ONLY

Subject: NearPod Approved Now for Title I Funding

After further review of the NearPod resource, we are going to classify it as an “online interactive platform” and not a content specific curriculum resource that must meet the evidence-based practices lists.  If you purchased NearPod earlier using general funds, please reach out to Bridgette DeSmet so a journal transfer can occur to the Title funding stream.

Health Services

Immunization Compliance and Health Assessments

As we approach the return of in-person students to our buildings, it is important to remember that there are certain state requirements for school attendance. These include being current on their immunizations (all ages) and having provided proof of a health assessment (physical) for students under 9.

Board policy JGCB Inoculations states that “all students enrolling in any district school shall provide the building principal with proof of immunization of certain diseases or furnish documents to satisfy statutory requirements.” Also see Kansas statute K.S.A. 72-6262. Health tests and inoculations.

Students who have not met the state requirements for school attendance, at the discretion of the Superintendent, may be subject to exclusion. Parents should make every effort to provide the required documentation by the first day of in-person attendance. Parents will have 30 days to either submit proof of compliance or provide the date of an appointment when they become compliant or begin a catch-up schedule. Failure to keep this appointment or provide proof of immunization compliance may result in exclusion from in-person learning. It will be the responsibility of the school nurse to continue attempts to obtain documentation prior to the 1st day of attendance and throughout the 30-day grace period. The principal will be kept informed of any students who are approaching the exclusion deadline.

Human Resources

Power Hour

We will be having our next zoom session February 11, 2020 from 9:30am – 10:30am.  During this time any questions that Building Administrators or IIO’s may have they can ask our HR Staff.  Also, from an HR Standpoint, we will share any announcements or updates we may have.  We also have notes available from our last meeting on Thursday, January 28^th  here.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82283481476?pwd=U1V2b3BGSTZlc1ZSbmR2M2J0LzNGZz09

Meeting ID: 822 8348 1476
Passcode: qR19G0

Evaluations

This is just a reminder that the following evaluations are due February 15, 2021:

*Administrator Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Year 3
*Teacher – Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Off Cycle Evaluation

Please make sure that you get these completed in both iObservation and in TalentEd.  If you have any issues please reach out to Jared Alexander for iObservation and DeAndre Tuggle for TalentEd.

IIOs

K-5 Elementary Building Principals, we are looking at the district building’s current Kindergarten Round-up practices to streamline the process across the system. Please complete the survey below—due February 10th. 

Link: https://forms.gle/ptWKLJJLEauXcBa66

Student Services

Trauma Sensitive Tuesday – please share with all staff

We have another great TST coming your way on Tuesday, February 9th from 12-1pm. This TST will feature information, tips, and resources on returning to physical school after a collective trauma.

Crowdcast: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/tst292021

Frontline: https://www.mylearningplan.com/LearningPlan/ActivityProfile.asp?I=3723977

Administrative SIT Overview 2/4/2021 

Thank you so much for your time at yesterday’s principals meeting. Your time, attention, and feedback is appreciated as we continue to work to support you and your communities around the problem solving process and student improvement teams.

PDF of the presentation: SIT Overview Principal’s Meeting 2/4/2021 

Folder with SIT resources, training videos/PDFs, etc: SIT Building Coordinator Resource Folder 

International SEL Day- March 26th 

Studies show that SEL improves well-being and academic outcomes, builds positive school climate, and provides children with the necessary skills to excel in today’s workforce. This is an opportunity to spread the word about the importance and impact of social emotional learning.  Sign up to join here: https://selday.org/sign-up/?source=kckps

RAK Week is February 14th-20th and RAK Day is February 17th 

From our RedCard KC partner: Kindness is an essential value of the RED CARD anti-bullying campaign. As a result, we would like to take this opportunity to challenge our community, our school partners and our own employees to BE KIND KC! Even the smallest act of kindness can change a life! To sign up, access lesson plans, activities, and tools kits please visit:  https://www.randomactsofkindness.org. RED CARD will also be sharing Random Acts of Kindness content on both the Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy social media channels during the week. We are bringing the challenge to each of our employees, at both organizations, as well.   #bekindKC and #RedCardKC

Optional Edgenuity Info Sessions 

Edgenuity has added a social emotional content suite for grades 6-12, information on which be found here. KCKPS currently utilizes the Edgenuity platform for credit recovery in our high schools. We are exploring options for utilizing the SEL content Edgenuity is offering and would like to offer two optional informational and feedback sessions for building Principals, Dean of Students, Recovery Room/ISS monitors, counselors, and social workers on March 2^nd at 9:30am and 3:30pm. During these sessions, ideas for implementation will be presented as well as opportunities to view SEL course content. Each of the optional info sessions will cover the same information. Zoom information is below.

Join Edgenuity Info session:

https://zoom.us/j/3121611730?pwd=T1Fiekh1NjZ0RmZkQ28vTzBhMk9IZz09&from=addon

Meeting ID: 312 161 1730

Passcode: DS6fu5

Curriculum & Instruction

Secondary Building Principals

Equity and Inclusion

As you know, Monday was the first day of February which means Black History Month has begun. Black History Month actually started as a week by Carter G. Woodson in 1926. He chose the second week of February because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s birthdays both fall during this week. In 1976, President Ford officially recognized Black History Month. Since 1976, every president has chosen a theme for the month. 2021’s theme is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity”.  One could see this as how far we have come, while others will see this as a misconception of progress (History.com).

We know that Black History is American History. We will acknowledge and celebrate the significance of this month while also ensuring that Black history is taught the other 11 months of the year. To not acknowledge this month or to be passive about this month (and all other heritage months/days) sends a message to our kids that we do not see them or value their lived experiences.

Classroom ideas to consider:

1. Use this year’s theme as a starting point.
2. Use student voice and experience to guide discussions.
   1. Students, even young ones, are aware of the roles that race, gender, and identity play in America.
3. The role other communities of color play(ed) in Black History.
4. Present events and figures as more than one dimensional
   1. King’s commitment to civil rights yet his opposition to the Vietnam War.
5. Talk about history in context of today.
   1. Presenting three light system developed by Garret Morgan along with what life would be like with only stop and go. How does the yellow light help?
6. Talk about Race, power, privilege, oppression, and the systemic nature of them all.

As administrator, have these conversations with your staff.
This month the Office of Equity and Inclusion is going to challenge you as a leader to reflect each week on the Black trailblazers in your life. How has this person impacted your life? Write a letter of appreciation to this person and send it to them, be sure to tell them the impact that they have had on you. Feel free to share your thoughts here about this experience with the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Further reading and resources on the topic can be found here:

https://www.tolerance.org/the-moment/january-28-2019-teaching-black-history-month

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/black-history-month-teaching-the-complete-history

https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-black-history-culturally-responsive-ways

Federal Programs

ALL Building Administrators & Department Directors

Subject: 3rd Quarter Title IX Coordinator Training Coming Your Way!

Our District Title IX and Legal Teams have planned another round of Title IX Coordinator training for BUILDING & DEPARTMENT Title IX Coordinators for 3rd quarter.  (HS/MS principals and other department leaders are not required, but can choose to attend.) This training will provide more time for dialogue around Title IX procedures and documenting investigations, as well as real-world scenarios to practice processing student and staff employee misconduct. Additionally, updated and new Title IX forms will be reviewed.  A calendar invitation with Zoom link has been sent to all School Title IX Coordinators.

Department Title IX Coordinators can click on the link below to sign up for the training session you wish to attend.  (Please note the sign-up sheet has the Zoom link to place on your calendar for the training session you select.  Please be sure to note the date/time of training on the bottom of each sheet, to ensure you sign up for the correct training!

3/2/21: 9:30AM – 11:00AM – Elementary Title IX Coordinator (Wash/Wyan) /Department Director

3/3/21: 9:30AM – 11:00AM – Elementary Title IX Coordinator (Harm/Schla) /Department Director

3/11/21: 8:30AM – 10:00AM – HS/Alt Title IX Coordinator (Wash/Wyan) /Department Director

3/11/21: 1:00AM – 2:30PM – MS/Alt Title IX Coordinator (Wash/Wyan) /Department Director

Subject: Grants, Donations, Funding Opportunities and Requests

The Federal Programs Department has developed new, streamlined procedures to support staff members seeking funding from outside of the district for projects that enhance learning.

Click the link below if you wish to view the guidelines, procedures, and forms for accepting donations, applying for grants, posting donation requests on Donors Choose, or researching grant opportunities.

Please reach out to KCKPS Grant Writer, Juli O’Mealey Simmons, at juli.omealeysimmons@kckps.org or by phone at 816-863-4353 with questions or to discuss funding applications.

To view the procedures and forms, click the link below.

Guidelines and Procedures for Seeking External Funding

Human Resources

Kansas Leadership Center Cohorts

The Kansas Leadership Center is starting more cohorts for KCKPS. There are three sessions that will occur in the following order:

• Your Leadership Edge – 2 days
• Lead for Change – 6 weekly sessions
• Equip to Lead – 2 days

There are ten cohorts that will begin this year, beginning with Your Leadership Edge.  Participants may select when to begin from the following dates:

• February 3-4 (too late for this one)
• March 3-4
• April 14-15
• May 5-6
• June 2-3
• July 7-8
• August 4-5
• October 6-7
• November 3-4

Any administrator or teacher leaders are invited to participate.  This leadership workshop is being offered for free to KCKPS staff, and the books will also be provided at no cost.

Anyone interested should send an email to Sherrie Piedimonte.  Please include your name, school and the date of the first session you want to attend.

sherrie.piedimonte@kckps.org

913.235.8902

Power Hour

We will be having our next zoom session February 11, 2020 from 9:30am – 10:30am.  During this time any questions that Building Administrators or IIO’s may have they can ask our HR Staff.  Also, from an HR Standpoint, we will share any announcements or updates we may have.  We also have notes available from our last meeting on Thursday, January 28^th  here.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82283481476?pwd=U1V2b3BGSTZlc1ZSbmR2M2J0LzNGZz09

Meeting ID: 822 8348 1476
Passcode: qR19G0

Evaluations

This is just a reminder that the following evaluations are due February 15, 2021:

*Administrator Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Year 3
*Teacher – Evaluation Year
*Teacher – Off Cycle Evaluation

Please make sure that you get these completed in both iObservation and in TalentEd.  If you have any issues please reach out to Jared Alexander for iObservation and DeAndre Tuggle for TalentEd.

Student Services

KCKPS Administrators and Staff,

After careful discussion and review, it has been decided to continue the Infinite Campus automatic process to change all ‘unknown’ or pending absences to ‘unexcused’ absences.  This means that: 

• All current ‘Unknown’ absences will change to ‘Unexcused’ after three daysof pending status.  This will be changed automatically by our IC system.

o    Any changes after the 3 day window can be updated by Attendance Clerks when needed.

• BrightArrow automated voice-message system will continue to be deactivated.

Hope this automated process will help to alleviate some of the work. Attendance Clerks will NOT have to do this manually. We conduct a further discussion during our next check-in scheduled for- Wednesday, February 3^rd.