Administrators' Notice

Communications

Click here to download the CARES flyer, a helpful reference guide with contact information for community support organizations.

Curriculum & Instruction

Attn:  Middle School Administrators and Head Custodians

Re:  Middle School Amplify Science Materials Delivery

Each middle school will be receiving an additional shipment of Amplify Science Kits prior to winter break.  By adding these kits, it will minimize the need to share materials across so many different classrooms.  

Delivery carriers will be contacting the head custodian/school to schedule a delivery date.  These materials will be delivered on pallets. Delivery drivers will bring a pallet jack in order to bring the materials into the building at a single drop point just inside the school.  This shipping information sheet will provide more specifics on the number of pallets and number of boxes (see rows 32 and 33 on the first tab) that will be included in the delivery.  Once materials have arrived, please use the shipping information sheet and the packing list for the shipment (found in a clear plastic envelope affixed to the outside of one of the boxes) to confirm receipt of the expected materials.  Please email Tresia Hassan (tresia.hassan@kckps.org) and Spencer Martin (spencer.martin@kckps.org) to confirm delivery and report any discrepancies.  

Please ensure that your science teachers are also made aware of when these materials arrive so that they can access any needed materials for upcoming units of study and store materials that may not be needed until next school year.  

Please reach out to Spencer Martin, Secondary Science Instructional Coach (spencer.martin@kckps.org)  or Suzie Legg, Curriculum Coordinator (suzie.legg@kckps.org) with any questions.

Human Resources

There is one item that was not in today’s newsletter due to syntax; it is posted below, from Human Resources:

We are going to implement a HR Power Hour for Building Admins and IIO’s.  It will be a zoom call that we host once a week or bi weekly and they have the option to log-in and chat with HR about any questions they may have.  Your attendance is voluntary but we are asking that if you have any questions you can think of and have the time to please plan on attending.  Please use the link below to join:

Wednesday, December 9, 9;30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85441584131?pwd=RG5MRE8vdmlhQnpCeFUwOHdmU09QQT09

Meeting ID: 854 4158 4131
Passcode: 7TxbWu

Instructional Technology

December 8, 2020 KCKPS Mobile Minute – please take a few minutes to look through this week’s Mobile Minute. It includes information regarding the Canvas rollout, training opportunities and much more! This week’s Mobile Minute will also be posted in Canvas and emailed to all staff Wednesday.

Curriculum & Instruction

Elementary Principals

RE: K-5 Math GVC Cadre

The Curriculum and Instruction Department is seeking participants to represent K-5th grade in work around the 2021-2022 Math GVC. As we begin to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, it is imperative that we create a collaborative process. Through collaboration and the work of the Math GVC Cadre, refinements will be made to the current GVC. Based on feedback from the field and needed updates, this cadre will make the necessary refinements that need to be completed for the 21-22 school year.  The cadre will update the K-5th grade curriculum calendar, review the pacing guide and student evidence documents, and refine and identify priority standards embedded within the GVC. If you have any teachers who would be a great fit for the cadre, please encourage them to apply using the link below. Coaches, SPED, and ESL teachers are also encouraged to apply. Multiple perspectives will ensure that the needs of all of our students are continuously at the forefront. 

Applications are due December 18, 2020. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact (marica.rhone@kckps.org).

Criteria For Selection:

1. Ability to meet with your team a majority (90%) of the time.
2. Ability to work collaboratively with a group of educators from various buildings.
3. Ability to complete tasks by the given deadlines.
4. Ability to advocate for the needs of students.
5. Success utilizing the GVC to impact student learning.

Time Commitment: A maximum of 10 hours distributed over five 2-hour sessions. 

(Cadre members will be paid at the extra duty rate.)

2021-2022 Math GVC Cadre Application

NEW ITEM:\

Quarterly Midpoint Progress Reports Reminder

ALL School Administrators

Per Board Policy IHA, report cards for all students shall be sent home and posted in the online grade book four times a year at the end of the quarter (please see district calendar for the end of quarter dates). In addition, progress reports for all students shall be issued at the midpoint of each quarter. 

The following weeks will be dedicated to sending home Quarterly Midpoint Progress Reports:

Quarter 2- Week of December 14-18, 2020

Quarter 3- Week of February 22-26, 2021

Quarter 4- Week of April 26-30, 2021
REPEAT ITEM:1st Quarter Grade Adjustments Due by Friday, December 4th

ALL School Administrators

• Please share this information with teachers and counselors. 

This is a friendly reminder that 1st quarter grade adjustments are due by the end of the day Friday, December 4th. To correct the issue of changing grades for 1^st Quarter we had to close the window for High Schools and Middle Schools in Infinite Campus.  Since all middle school gradebooks are built on the semester, any new assignments or scores would impact the first quarter grade.  Teachers at the Middle and High Schools should still update scores on missing or regraded assignments for 1st quarter, and if it impacts the student’s 1^st quarter grade, please turn that into the counselor so they can change it for the course.

Grades and credits will not be posted to the transcript until we are done with all updates, so Counselors do not have to enter grades twice.
Elementary teachers can update scores and post again, it will not affect the second quarter since their grade books are built on the quarter.

Diploma+

Connector training sessions are happening throughout the district elementary schools and requests are coming in for new sessions with industry professionals. The contest continues…..which ever building reaches 25% of their staff hosting requested sessions first will win a prize for all. The overall goal for the school year is:

Competitions Begins – 1st Elementary to 25% using will receive a Prize

Celebrate a great year of sharing industry speakers with our students!

Why is this so important, you may ask.

• “Institutional leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists recognize that it is no longer enough to ensure that students make it to graduation. Rather, if education is to serve a as tool for social and economic mobility, it matters what students are graduating into. Jobs-and ultimately careers-are an important metric of whether a K-12 and postsecondary education are expanding opportunity or simply reproducing the status quo.” Unlocking Career Potential
• According to researchers, 94% of parents approve of expanding access to Career Technical Education and other vocational programs that prepare students for job, with 60% strongly approving. Phi Delta Kappa
• In 2016 Arkansas found that students who concentrated in CTE programs were 21% more likely to graduate from high school than their peers. What the Research Says by ACTEAZ

Elementary Specials Grades

Elementary Administrators

• Please share this information with your elementary specials teachers.

We understand that the amount of time a specials teacher has with students to fully engage them with the content and standards on a weekly basis is very limited. This limited amount of time makes it difficult to submit a weekly grade (Board Policy). Therefore, to allow more time for specials teachers to teach and students to engage in learning around the content and standards, we are suspending the weekly grade submission for elementary specials until further notice.  Specials teachers will submit a grade every other week which would equate to 4-5 grades per student per quarter.

Human Resources

Notice for Upcoming District Board Policy Review  
Greetings,
This is a notice of upcoming training starting February 2021. HR along with other departments is working on putting together a series of district board policies that need to be reviewed throughout the school year. Beginning in February, staff will be assigned to activities on Frontline that will include various videos covering district polices. We ask that as you begin to plan your professional development you include time for staff to complete these trainings.
More information will be shared including a schedule and instructions on how to access the activities. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ana Perez-Sievert at Ana.Perez-Sievert@kckps.org.

Operations

The Board of Education supported the administration’s revised proposal to postpone the reopening of schools in January 2021 due to the increase in the COVID-19 positivity rates in the county.  Due to the delayed reopening of in-person instruction, the administration has also made recommendations to implement rotating work schedules for some hourly operational staff while we continue to refine our reentry plan to meet the requirements of the Unified Government Public Health Department.

The temporary rotation schedule for in-person, remote, and standby work for hourly operational staff includes the following employee groups:

• Transportation
• Nutritional Services
• Shop and Custodial staff

Some of these employee groups have been temporarily assigned in your buildings to other job functions; we wanted to make you aware that our temporary rotation will begin on Monday, December 7, 2020 and will impact those employee’s temporary assignment.

These employee groups will be contacted by the end of business day on Friday, December 4, 2020 with rotation details.  Should you need additional information from Operations to help support your building affairs, please contact Lenora Miller for assistance.

Curriculum & Instruction

1st Quarter Grade Adjustments Due by Friday, December 4th

ALL School Administrators

• Please share this information with teachers and counselors. 

This is a friendly reminder that 1st quarter grade adjustments are due by the end of the day Friday, December 4th. To correct the issue of changing grades for 1^st Quarter we had to close the window for High Schools and Middle Schools in Infinite Campus.  Since all middle school gradebooks are built on the semester, any new assignments or scores would impact the first quarter grade.  Teachers at the Middle and High Schools should still update scores on missing or regraded assignments for 1st quarter, and if it impacts the student’s 1^st quarter grade, please turn that into the counselor so they can change it for the course.

Grades and credits will not be posted to the transcript until we are done with all updates, so Counselors do not have to enter grades twice.
Elementary teachers can update scores and post again, it will not affect the second quarter since their grade books are built on the quarter.

Elementary Specials Grades

Elementary Administrators

• Please share this information with your elementary specials teachers.

We understand that the amount of time a specials teacher has with students to fully engage them with the content and standards on a weekly basis is very limited. This limited amount of time makes it difficult to submit a weekly grade (Board Policy). Therefore, to allow more time for specials teachers to teach and students to engage in learning around the content and standards, we are suspending the weekly grade submission for elementary specials until further notice.  Specials teachers will submit a grade every other week which would equate to 4-5 grades per student per quarter.

All Principals

Reminder that Leanna Harris will be virtually in-district on Wednesday to work with coaches. You are invited to attend the session along with your coach. 

SESSION 2: Structures for Launching and Organizing Coaching

December 2; 8:30 – 10:00

• Learn a variety of structures for coaching: coaching cycles, mini coaching cycles, unit planning, and lesson planning
• Plan how coaching will be organized and what practices will be used
• Share tools for launching and communicating about coaching

Homework for coaches:

• Before the session, read Using Mini Coaching Cycles to take Student-Centered Coaching Deeper (Sweeney and Harris)
• Use the planning tool (Start, Stop, Continue, Change)  to determine your next steps.

ZOOM LINK: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82121286978?pwd=Y3I3MXNFNyt6eWhPUzJWQzBnQkQ1QT09

Passcode: kckps

Instructional Technology

KCKPS Mobile Minute

Canvas

All Principals:

Tutorial for getting to the trainings via Canvas

Here is a link to the video:
https://www.loom.com/share/0e81694a4cf64f75bc4dd76a574b0cc3

And here is the link to google slides used in the video:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yHYikBSNRmzL-UU2Xjdd6R3QEyC5Z_vgzBHpJ_-5_1w/edit?usp=sharing

Communications

Internal Communications to Principals
Explaining Flyer Connect and the Technology Needs Assessment Survey

Dear Principals,

As you are aware, there has been a great deal of conversation throughout the district on how we can enhance our communication efforts to increase engagement among some of our hard to reach and diverse parent groups.

Thanks to a grant made available through the Kansas City, Kansas Schools Foundation for Excellence, the district is partnering with LeanLab Education and Flyer Connect to launch and distribute a Technology Needs Assessment to our families on November 30^th – December 21, 2020. The assessment will assist us in our efforts to create an effective learning environment that leads to academic success for our students.

The goal is for every household to complete a short survey describing their current situation and needs so we may respond with support. In addition to this being notice to inform you about this survey, we will need your help to disseminate information about the survey to your school community and parents.

The assessment will be delivered through the Flyer Connect mobile app which will allow any family with a smartphone of tablet to complete the survey. The app will translate the survey into the family’s language and results will be translated back into English.  In addition, the app has ancillary benefits including translated communication, a directory of our academic learning tools, behavioral/SEL resources and social wellness partners to meet basic needs.

Below is a brief list of events to support the assessment:

November 23^rd

Families will receive the first notification about the Technology Needs Survey from the District and asked to look for an invite on December 1 (Email, Text and Robocall) 

November 30^th
Families will receive the second notification about the Technology Needs Survey from the school and asked to look for an invite on December 1 (Email, Text and Robocall)

December 1^st

• Families will receive a text invite from your school asking them to download the app and enter a code (included with the text message) to access the survey.
• Digital assets including website and social media will be updated to build awareness of the assessment

December 12-21
Continued communication via the app, text, call, email and social media will be delivered to drive families to complete the assessment.

December 31
The district will receive the analysis of the assessment.

Student Services is available to support families who may have questions or need support regarding the assessment. You may freely direct questions to them. Thank you so much for all you do and helping us get our families connected!

Curriculum & Instruction

All Principals:

Please remind appropriate staff.

Session 2: Student-Centered Coaching Training (instructional coaches, curriculum coaches, ESL coaches, SPED lead teachers)

All Principals:

Priority standards have been identified and are found in the grade-level/content GVC for teachers to use for remote and/or hybrid planning. The purpose of priority standards is to prioritize certain standards and performance indicators, rather than give each of them an equal amount of  attention in the curriculum and on assessments. The key is “prioritization” not “elimination.”  By giving priority to certain standards, teachers can provide in- depth instruction and target their support for students.

Special Education

Chief of Staff/IIOs

In October, the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board of Education made arrangements with Spectrum to provide reliable internet service to a number of homes in the Kansas City, Kansas area. Numerous households received a letter informing them that they would be receiving the service in the coming weeks, and we just want to send you an update on this partnership.

Due to some unforeseen issues, there is a service installation delay. The district is working hard to get the matter resolved with Spectrum to ensure our students do not have any disruptions from continuing their education, and we ask that you bear with us during this process.

If families are still having issues with internet service and have not done so already, the district encourages them to pick up a mobile hot spot. If that is not an option, or the hotspot does not work in their area, we encourage you to speak with them about enrolling in your connectivity hub program.

Once again, we are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause your school community and we will update you as soon as we learn more.  Households have been notified of this delay via letters were mailed on November 13th.

Diploma+

Elementary schools are scheduling their teacher Connector training, have you? Two schools are tied for first place in the number of teachers using the Connector: Frank Rushton and Noble Prentis are in the lead.

Facilities/Purchasing/Print Shop

Elementary and Early Childhood desk shields are available for ordering from the KCKPS storeroom.  They will have a product identification number, and you may order through Business Plus.

• Please only order what you need. If we are looking at the Hybrid model, order only what you need to cover the social distanced student desks.  (You may order some spares if you have a need).

• • To be installed on Student and Teacher Desks/Tables (Static)
  • T-brackets w/adhesive included
  • Product ID’s for these shields are 93283 (EC and Elementary)

Secondary student desk shields are available for ordering from the KCKPS storeroom.  They will have a product identification number, and you may order through Business Plus.

• Please only order what you need. If we are looking at the Hybrid model, order only what you need to cover the social distanced student desks. (You may order some spares if you have a need).

• • Initially intended to be carried by Students/Teachers, but they can be attached to a desk by included T-brackets.
  • Product ID’s for these shields are 93287 (Middle School and High School).

We have been experiencing over-ordering with the elementary shields, please do a sweep of your building to find unused stacks of shields and return as necessary.

Transactional Desk Shields for Staff are being installed the week of November 16, 2020.  If you should need additional shields in the building, please simply measure the area of the desk top, side to side, and send your requests to the Building Administration so that they may collaborate with Purchasing Department; as a building need, not a single need.  This type of shield is 36 inch standard in height and will need to be processed via Purchasing.

As a courtesy reminder, the KCKPS print shop can make directional wall/floor signs for your sites as you are preparing your buildings for staff/students re-entry.  You can order directly through the Print Shop as you would normally order a print job.

Following is the latest list of Covid related items available from the Storeroom at no cost.

Please only order what you need, do not over order – Thank you for your cooperation.

Human Resources

The list of mentors and mentees needs to be updated.  Please click on this link  which will take you to a Google doc.  Please look at your school’s mentees and mentors.  In BRIGHT GREEN, please mark changes, additions and/or deletions.   Please have this done by end of business day on Tuesday, November 24th.  Thank you.

Instructional Technology

Join us for an Overview of Canvas in KCKPS Tuesday, November 24 at 9:30 or 1:00. Click this link to register!

Student Services

KCTC- Middle School and High School Principals 

Between November 2020and January 29, 2021, our district’s 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grade students will be participating in the KCTC survey and we are asking for your help in doing this. KCTC and KCKPS Flyer. Resources for the 2020-2021 KCTC can be found here: KCTC Administration Folder 

Our timeline for implementing the KCTC survey:

• November 2020
  • 11/18/20 Student Services will meet with MS/HS counselors to discuss implementation
  • Counselors will work with building leadership to develop communication and implementation plan
  • Buildings provide communication to Middle and High School students
    • SEL Coordinator will work with Building KCTC Teams, Counselors, and/or Building Representative
  • Building teams will send out parent permission slip google form
• December 2020
  • Gather permission slips via google form  from all 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grade students
  • Start proctoring the KCTC as your school community feels ready and collects permission slips
• January 2021
  • Continue to proctor the KCTC survey
  • The KCTC survey window closes January 29

First Call 

KCKPS has partnered with First Call to bring their prevention services to our KCKPS community! First Call provides clinical, educational and prevention services to individuals and families in Greater Kansas City impacted by substance use disorders. Our counselors and social workers have the opportunity to hear from First Call on 12/7/20 at 9am or 12/10/20 at 3pm to learn more about their free school based prevention programs and how to schedule them for your school community.  First Call Prevention Services Flyer

Trauma Sensitive Tuesday – Boundaries and Limit Setting (Please share with all staff ) 

11/24/20 12:00-1:00pm 

Boundaries are essential to healthy relationships and a healthy life. During our 11/24/20 TST, we will learn the effects of unhealthy boundaries, tools for setting boundaries, and discuss how to empower ourselves via boundaries and limit setting. Sign up here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/tst112420

Notification of Language Support

We understand that language support is more important than ever as we continue to navigate Remote Learning. The district has both internal and contracted interpretation services to support buildings and provide language support to families via zoom meetings, phone calls, and more.

If any staff members need support contacting families the first step would be to reach out to the  Advocate/Community Outreach staff in the ESOL Department. This link contains a list of Bilingual Outreach Workers by cluster with the language they support. Please reach out to the Staff assigned to your school cluster first.  They can support calling families (three-way calls), zoom meetings, email/text, and more. This might require some planning ahead since they are not always available on the spot. However, not only can they provide language support, but their role is to support ELL families.

Student Services has additional resources to provide support for: translation of documents, FA, massive phone calls, and other services the ESOL staff does not have the capacity to support. We work with various agencies that provide different kinds of services. Staff and buildings can fill out this Interpreter Request Form or email Naomi Tolentino in Student Services to request support and be directed to the right resources.  Please keep in mind that the translation of documents can take up to two weeks.

In addition, other Departments like  Special Education, Early Childhood, Headstart, and ESOL, manage their own interpretation services for specific needs related to their department. Some of their Propio codes had been changed, but please know that Propio is Not Canceled and is still available. To request that information please contact the Director from that Department.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need to utilize any of the interpreter resources please contact Naomi Tolentino

TIS

Starting on Friday, November 20th KCKPS Tech Support will be moving locations in preparation for the winter months.

What this is means is that anyone needing assistance with broken IPads or computers, or replacement charging devices will still go to 2220 N. 59th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. Go down the stairs to left of the blue awning located on the north side of the building and push the buzzer for assistance.

Face masks will be required, and if there is a line, social distancing will be required.

To access TIS, Go down these stairs:

Once at the bottom of the stairs, press the buzzer for entry:

KCKPS technology experts will be available to assist you Monday thu Friday from 9am until 4pm. If you need assistance upon arrival you can call 913-627-3320.

Additional Questions

What if we still do not have internet at our house?

The district has purchased additional hotspots for students who do not currently have internet in their home. Parents should contact their child’s school for a hotspot.

How much does it cost if my device is broken or I need a replacement part?

Fee Chart:

iPads and Chromebooks

• Physical damage $25
• Missing charger $25
• Device missing or stolen $50

MacBook Air

• LCD/Screen damage $50 (or 7 hours of community service)
• Keyboard damage $40 (or 5 hours of community service)
• Damaged/missing charger $25 (or 4 hours of community service)
• Liquid spill, lost, stolen $150

** some fees may be waived on a case to case basis**

Posted November 19, 2020