Thank you so much for getting our school year off to a great start for our students! Knowing you have plenty on your plate going into the second week of school, I wanted to share a fun video of appreciation from "Teaching Center" to start your week off right. Have a great week!
Monday, September 7, 2015
Teaching Center
Staff,
Thank you so much for getting our school year off to a great start for our students! Knowing you have plenty on your plate going into the second week of school, I wanted to share a fun video of appreciation from "Teaching Center" to start your week off right. Have a great week!
Thank you so much for getting our school year off to a great start for our students! Knowing you have plenty on your plate going into the second week of school, I wanted to share a fun video of appreciation from "Teaching Center" to start your week off right. Have a great week!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Welcome Back!!!
Staff,
Tomorrow the students will be here, and by the end of the week you'll probably feel like you had never left for summer vacation. When thinking about the start of the year, I forgot to talk to you all about one way to begin to build positive relationships with your students: greeting them each morning as they enter your classroom. Not only does create a built in connecting time with your students, it can also give you insight regarding what a child's evening or morning may have been like prior to coming to school.
At the district Welcome Back, you had an opportunity to learn more about Dr. Nick Oullette and his beliefs and values around education. I wanted to share with you his introductory letter regarding his goals for this year. If you have an event you'd like him to attend, he'd love to receive an email from you. If he can make the event, he will.
"I am excited to begin the 2015-16 school year with a dedicated team who are committed to providing the best education for Hudson's students. I have three goals in mind as I set out upon my first year as Superintendent of the Hudson School District. First, I would like to listen and learn about the school district and the goals set forth to ensure a successful and seamless transition as Superintendent. Second, I would like to get to know all the stakeholders in the Hudson community. From the students who count on our education to prepare them for their future, to the parents who have entrusted us with their children, their most valued asset. From the staff that have dedicated their lives to the service of our kids, to the community members who rely upon us to be good stewards of both their tax dollars and their trust. Each of these groups is an important part of a successful school district. Lastly, I want to ensure that the community and all stakeholders believe in what we are doing as a school district. I want to build upon the great successes of the district and rally community support around an organization that truly has the best interest of all that it serves. Understanding where we want to go, hearing from those to help set the direction, and building trust and belief in what we are doing sums up what I want to work towards this first year.
I want to thank the Board of Education for the opportunity to lead such an outstanding school district. My family and I look forward to being active members of Hudson's vibrant community which clearly takes pride in Hudson School District's tradition of academic success."
Dr. Nick Ouellette
Superintendent of Schools
Tomorrow the students will be here, and by the end of the week you'll probably feel like you had never left for summer vacation. When thinking about the start of the year, I forgot to talk to you all about one way to begin to build positive relationships with your students: greeting them each morning as they enter your classroom. Not only does create a built in connecting time with your students, it can also give you insight regarding what a child's evening or morning may have been like prior to coming to school.
At the district Welcome Back, you had an opportunity to learn more about Dr. Nick Oullette and his beliefs and values around education. I wanted to share with you his introductory letter regarding his goals for this year. If you have an event you'd like him to attend, he'd love to receive an email from you. If he can make the event, he will.
"I am excited to begin the 2015-16 school year with a dedicated team who are committed to providing the best education for Hudson's students. I have three goals in mind as I set out upon my first year as Superintendent of the Hudson School District. First, I would like to listen and learn about the school district and the goals set forth to ensure a successful and seamless transition as Superintendent. Second, I would like to get to know all the stakeholders in the Hudson community. From the students who count on our education to prepare them for their future, to the parents who have entrusted us with their children, their most valued asset. From the staff that have dedicated their lives to the service of our kids, to the community members who rely upon us to be good stewards of both their tax dollars and their trust. Each of these groups is an important part of a successful school district. Lastly, I want to ensure that the community and all stakeholders believe in what we are doing as a school district. I want to build upon the great successes of the district and rally community support around an organization that truly has the best interest of all that it serves. Understanding where we want to go, hearing from those to help set the direction, and building trust and belief in what we are doing sums up what I want to work towards this first year.
I want to thank the Board of Education for the opportunity to lead such an outstanding school district. My family and I look forward to being active members of Hudson's vibrant community which clearly takes pride in Hudson School District's tradition of academic success."
Dr. Nick Ouellette
Superintendent of Schools
Finally as you utilize my blog for the 15-16 school year, I wanted to point out some resources I've linked through the use of tabs at the top of this entry. You'll now have direct access to the HSD PD site, HSD Educator Effectiveness Resources which includes the timeline for the 15-16 school year, as well as your requirements over your three year evaluation cycle for both teachers and specialists (two separate documents). I've included the calendar for scheduling substitutes for District PD, support for new teachers, Amanda McCarthy's blog and a PBIS website the PBIS Tier I team will be using this year to assist teachers with additional Tier I and Tier II techniques.
I look forward to having you all back in the building tomorrow, and wish you a great start to the year cultivating another crop of students!
Dolf
Monday, June 1, 2015
Summer Reading and Wednesday's Staff Meeting
Staff,
Here's the final blog for the 14-15 school year, even if it is a day late. Kelli has organized a reboot of the summer book check out from our media center. Sue will highlight this in Thursday Folder this week, and I'll also mention it at our All School Meeting on Friday. The book check out will occur on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30am, and Kelli is supervising most of these dates. However, there are three dates we could use volunteers: June 16th, July 21st and August 4th. If you are interested in facilitating the book check out on one of these dates, please sign up on the check out schedule in the office. Thanks Kelli for your work on this!
Also a reminder regarding our short celebratory staff meeting this Wednesday at 8:05am. After the celebration instead of cleaning Rice Lake (which you'll still need to do as part of check out) Kelli will be videotaping the staff goodbyes for the end of the year All School Meeting. Be thinking about your goodbye choreography before this meeting. Great job facilitating another wonderful year for our students!
Here's the final blog for the 14-15 school year, even if it is a day late. Kelli has organized a reboot of the summer book check out from our media center. Sue will highlight this in Thursday Folder this week, and I'll also mention it at our All School Meeting on Friday. The book check out will occur on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30am, and Kelli is supervising most of these dates. However, there are three dates we could use volunteers: June 16th, July 21st and August 4th. If you are interested in facilitating the book check out on one of these dates, please sign up on the check out schedule in the office. Thanks Kelli for your work on this!
Also a reminder regarding our short celebratory staff meeting this Wednesday at 8:05am. After the celebration instead of cleaning Rice Lake (which you'll still need to do as part of check out) Kelli will be videotaping the staff goodbyes for the end of the year All School Meeting. Be thinking about your goodbye choreography before this meeting. Great job facilitating another wonderful year for our students!
Monday, May 25, 2015
Writers' Extravaganza, SLOS and ELA Curriculum MAPS
Staff,
Tomorrow is our third annual Writers' Extravaganza starting at 2:30pm for first through fifth grades. Thank you for all the work you've put in with your students to get ready to share their writing with family and friends!
On Friday, I was able to meet with some grade level teams who had their end of year data completed to discuss SLO results. Teachers who are not on cycle, you can submit your Goal Setting Review document once you have completed the End of Interval SLO Review and uploaded your end of year data as a file. Tuesday, June 2nd is set aside as a Day 6 for classroom teachers to finalize SLOs for the 2014-2015 school year. A reminder for non-classroom teachers who are not on cycle for evaluation this year you can submit your SLO electronically, but if you would like to meet directly with me, please schedule a meeting during the next two weeks through Sue.
This week's staff meeting is on Thursday instead of Tuesday. Amy Wise will be leading the staffing meeting familiarizing you all with the ELA curriculum maps for the 15-16 school year. Wishing you all a great two last weeks to cap off a wonderful school year!
Tomorrow is our third annual Writers' Extravaganza starting at 2:30pm for first through fifth grades. Thank you for all the work you've put in with your students to get ready to share their writing with family and friends!
On Friday, I was able to meet with some grade level teams who had their end of year data completed to discuss SLO results. Teachers who are not on cycle, you can submit your Goal Setting Review document once you have completed the End of Interval SLO Review and uploaded your end of year data as a file. Tuesday, June 2nd is set aside as a Day 6 for classroom teachers to finalize SLOs for the 2014-2015 school year. A reminder for non-classroom teachers who are not on cycle for evaluation this year you can submit your SLO electronically, but if you would like to meet directly with me, please schedule a meeting during the next two weeks through Sue.
This week's staff meeting is on Thursday instead of Tuesday. Amy Wise will be leading the staffing meeting familiarizing you all with the ELA curriculum maps for the 15-16 school year. Wishing you all a great two last weeks to cap off a wonderful school year!
Sunday, May 10, 2015
End of Year SLO Planning and Reflection
Staff,
The next two Day 6s will be set aside for you to work on your end of year SLO reflection. If you have completed your SLO before these dates, we can use one of these Day 6s to review it. Teachers not on cycle for evaluation can choose to submit your SLO electronically, or meet as a team, if your team members also are not on cycle. Teachers on cycle, your SLO review will be done as an individual conference with me with, or separate from, your summative evaluation review.
Below is the end of the year SLO review Kevin Moore and I created. I do have two things I need to clarify from the video though because they were stated incorrectly in our tutorial.
The first narrative box in the end of year SLO is the end of year status of goal. This is where you give your final update on your data. The next narrative box is the evidence of goal completion, and this is where you talk about the practices you've put into place and the progress of individual/groups of students have made as evidence of goal completion. I recommend also looking back at how you filled out these two boxes from your mid year SLO as a reminder. Please also remember to attach your year end data using the add file. By doing this, your data will stay within your SLO document, instead of flowing into your documentation log under standard four.
The next two Day 6s will be set aside for you to work on your end of year SLO reflection. If you have completed your SLO before these dates, we can use one of these Day 6s to review it. Teachers not on cycle for evaluation can choose to submit your SLO electronically, or meet as a team, if your team members also are not on cycle. Teachers on cycle, your SLO review will be done as an individual conference with me with, or separate from, your summative evaluation review.
Below is the end of the year SLO review Kevin Moore and I created. I do have two things I need to clarify from the video though because they were stated incorrectly in our tutorial.
The first narrative box in the end of year SLO is the end of year status of goal. This is where you give your final update on your data. The next narrative box is the evidence of goal completion, and this is where you talk about the practices you've put into place and the progress of individual/groups of students have made as evidence of goal completion. I recommend also looking back at how you filled out these two boxes from your mid year SLO as a reminder. Please also remember to attach your year end data using the add file. By doing this, your data will stay within your SLO document, instead of flowing into your documentation log under standard four.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Late Start Focus, Volunteer Appreciation, Professional Practice Goal and SLOS
Staff,
This Thursday's late start will set aside for information sharing regarding the new salary structure model. I will be out a math conference during the late start, but I wanted to remind you of the breakfast option from 7:30-8:00am in the high school cafeteria followed by the elementary and high school staff salary structure meeting from 8-9am in the HHS auditorium. I'm more than happy to meet with any staff when I return on Monday who have questions about the new salary structure model.
After the late start presentation, the remaining late start will be back at the building set aside to work on My Learning Plan and team collaboration. Specialists (art, music, physical education, counselors, media and reading) are welcome to meet (K-5) at a preferred location or back at the building to also work on My Learning Plan.
I also wanted to remind you of the volunteer breakfast on Tuesday morning (8:05am) in the media center. Please stop down and have some breakfast while showing your appreciation for all of our wonderful volunteers. Also K-4 teachers make sure your pink/blue class placement cards are ready for our meetings on Tuesday.
Below I have a video tutorial regarding the reflection you'll do this Wednesday on your SLO PPG during your Day 6 Collaboration. I wanted to give you time to complete this portion of the SLO before you have your end of year data and were working on the majority of the End of Year SLO Review. Next Sunday, I will be sharing a video Kevin Moore and I created to review the steps to complete your End of Year SLO review, including teacher self-scoring using the SLO rubric.
This Thursday's late start will set aside for information sharing regarding the new salary structure model. I will be out a math conference during the late start, but I wanted to remind you of the breakfast option from 7:30-8:00am in the high school cafeteria followed by the elementary and high school staff salary structure meeting from 8-9am in the HHS auditorium. I'm more than happy to meet with any staff when I return on Monday who have questions about the new salary structure model.
After the late start presentation, the remaining late start will be back at the building set aside to work on My Learning Plan and team collaboration. Specialists (art, music, physical education, counselors, media and reading) are welcome to meet (K-5) at a preferred location or back at the building to also work on My Learning Plan.
I also wanted to remind you of the volunteer breakfast on Tuesday morning (8:05am) in the media center. Please stop down and have some breakfast while showing your appreciation for all of our wonderful volunteers. Also K-4 teachers make sure your pink/blue class placement cards are ready for our meetings on Tuesday.
Below I have a video tutorial regarding the reflection you'll do this Wednesday on your SLO PPG during your Day 6 Collaboration. I wanted to give you time to complete this portion of the SLO before you have your end of year data and were working on the majority of the End of Year SLO Review. Next Sunday, I will be sharing a video Kevin Moore and I created to review the steps to complete your End of Year SLO review, including teacher self-scoring using the SLO rubric.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Badger Exam Kick Off, Day 6 Planning and Six Practices for Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors.
Staff,
This Monday North Hudson Elementary kicks off the Badger Exam with third grade students taking the math session one in the morning and 5B and 5S taking their math session one in the pm. Test proctors remember to review your testing locations and the test directions you'll be giving your students (found in your accordion binder).
For Tuesday's Day 6, remember you can use this time as a team to complete mylearningplan requirements (teachers on cycle: documentation logs need to be submitted by the end of the day Thursday), planning for instruction using the google doc agenda or completing your pink/blue sheets for class placement day.
Finally I wanted to share with you an article from my educational leadership magazine: Principal regarding practices that support students who act out. Student behavior can be challenging this close to the end of the year, and the article reinforces six strategies (many of which we have built into our building/classroom cultures). Ranging from building strong relationships with students to teaching the behaviors we expect. Below is the link to the article.
This Monday North Hudson Elementary kicks off the Badger Exam with third grade students taking the math session one in the morning and 5B and 5S taking their math session one in the pm. Test proctors remember to review your testing locations and the test directions you'll be giving your students (found in your accordion binder).
For Tuesday's Day 6, remember you can use this time as a team to complete mylearningplan requirements (teachers on cycle: documentation logs need to be submitted by the end of the day Thursday), planning for instruction using the google doc agenda or completing your pink/blue sheets for class placement day.
Finally I wanted to share with you an article from my educational leadership magazine: Principal regarding practices that support students who act out. Student behavior can be challenging this close to the end of the year, and the article reinforces six strategies (many of which we have built into our building/classroom cultures). Ranging from building strong relationships with students to teaching the behaviors we expect. Below is the link to the article.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Earth Week, Power Up Challenge and Staff Meeting Action Items
Staff,
Thank you for all your help setting up or manning different stations during the Kids Karnival. The NH PTO truly appreciates all your help!
The following are reminders regarding the Earth Week activities, week three of our Power Up Challenge and completing artifact uploads and the LOTI survey. Don't forget to turn in your week two packets with completed student forms into the office from the Power Up Challenge.
Thank you for all your help setting up or manning different stations during the Kids Karnival. The NH PTO truly appreciates all your help!
The following are reminders regarding the Earth Week activities, week three of our Power Up Challenge and completing artifact uploads and the LOTI survey. Don't forget to turn in your week two packets with completed student forms into the office from the Power Up Challenge.
EARTH WEEK – April 19 -25
Monday, April 20 - White Out Day - Save Paper
Save to your computer rather than print; use Google; use less towels to dry your hands.
Sharing district building comparisons of duplicating trends; travel trophy goes to E.P. Rock for the most staff who DECREASED their duplicating amounts (2014 to 2015).
Tuesday, April 21 - Yellow Out - Save Energy
turn off sections of lights for the whole day; lights out for parts of the day; no devices?
Wednesday, April 22 - Green Out - Outdoor Learning
Work in school gardens / forest; clean up litter; go for nature hike; plant a tree or flowers. (Feel free to spend time learning in the NH courtyard or hiking through Webster Park)
EARTH STEWARD Announced (nomination form due Friday, April 17) Community recognition and gift certificate for staff and/or community member recognized for their efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle.
bring a re-usable water bottle; turn off faucets; river or lake clean-up; shorter showers
Friday, April 24 - Black Out - Save Fuel (carpool)
ride your bike; walk; ride with a friend or make a new friend
Teacher Tips
Q: What do I do with the coloring sheets?
A: These coloring sheets are for students to creatively color or draw how they have powered up with the School Challenge and how it has helped them to Try for 5! These works of art can fill the school hallways, plus be sent in at the end of the Challenge to PowerUp for a chance to win prizes and be on display!
Q: What happens now that the challenge is over?
A: The Challenge might be over, but the fruit and veggie fun doesn’t have to be!
· Your school will receive PowerUp Bucks to be used to improve the health and wellness at your school (The amount of dollars we receive is directly connected to the percentage of students participating during the three weeks.)
· You can use the PowerUp classroom prizes all year long to bring movement and activity to your classroom.
· In class or in the lunchroom, continuing to celebrate fruits and veggies is a wonderful way to encourage your kids to PowerUp all year long!
Staff Meeting on Tuesday Bring Your Laptop
On Tuesday, there's time built into the staff meeting so you can work on completing your artifact uploading if you are off cycle or completing your documentation log if you are on cycle for evaluation this year. The following link is a video reminder for staff on cycle completing documentation logs created by Kevin Moore Uploading Artifacts to a Doc. Log Teachers on cycle, your documentation logs need to be submitted to me by Thursday, April 30th. If you are a year two probationary or non-probationary teacher, double check you've had your students/clients complete the second survey and you've submitted your survey analysis document through mylearningplan.
If you haven't already, you can choose to complete the LOTI survey during the staff meeting too. Here are the directions from Nancy Toll:
If you were in the Hudson School District last year and took this survey:
1. Go to http://www.lotilounge.com
2. Under "Member Login" type in your username and password. (In the past we encouraged everyone to use their school computer login name. If you do not remember the password you used, there is a link under the boxes, "Need help signing in?" Click here and then you will be able to click on "password request form" and have your password emailed to you.) If you don’t remember either, please email me and I can have an automatic email sent to you from the system with your user information in it.
3. Once you are logged in, click on "Take the LoTi Digital-Age Survey"
4. Select "2014-15 Digital-Age Survey for Teachers" if you are a teacher, specialist or counselor. Select "2014-15 Digital-Age Survey for Instructional Leaders" if you are a principal or associate principal.
5. Click on the “Start a New LoTi Digital Age Survey”
6. Continue on ... you may save and complete the survey at another time but it must be completed by May 29th.
7. At the end they have added many new results reports and recommendations with web links to resources that will help you grow professionally in digital age skills. Please take the time to explore and check these things out.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Substitute Support for Assessments and Power Up Challenge Teacher Tips Week Two
Staff,
Following the late start focused on the two spring state assessments: PALS and the Badger Exam, I wanted to remind you of of the substitute teacher support grade levels have for spring assessments (F+P and PALS). The following are the number of substitute days you've been allocated for the year. Please see Sue if you are unsure how much you've currently used: Kindergarten- second grade (one and a half to two full days), third-fifth grade (one day). The PALS window is May 11-22 and the F+P spring window closes on Friday, May 29th.
Teacher Tips
Q: How can I help keep my classroom Powered Up each week?
A: Here are just a few ideas:
· Use the PowerUp videos (found at PowerUp4Kids.org) each week to get kids excited about Trying for 5 and being active! Don’t forget about the brain break videos!
· Check out the PowerUp website for great ideas on how to incorporate fruits and veggies into your Math, Science, English, and Art lessons.
· Make sure to celebrate your success with the classroom prizes.
Q: How are families involved in the school challenge?
A: Every family received a Power Pack Family Fun Magazine full of tools and tips to help them PowerUp at home. Any way to help encourage parents to use the Power Pack or send your students home with dinnertime and weekend project ideas are welcomed (family cook- off anyone?).
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Power Up Challenge, Standard 4 Assessment and Late Start
Staff,
As we begin our first week of the Power Up Challenge here are the week one tips I sent out to you all at the end of the day on Friday. Remember to have your students track their fruits and vegetables each day and then at the end of the week collect all of their tracking sheets. Please place them in your designated envelope for the week.
As we begin our first week of the Power Up Challenge here are the week one tips I sent out to you all at the end of the day on Friday. Remember to have your students track their fruits and vegetables each day and then at the end of the week collect all of their tracking sheets. Please place them in your designated envelope for the week.
On Tuesday, with the help of our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Team (Maren and Jennifer), we are going to be digging into the Educator Effectiveness Standard 4: Assessment. This was a big part of their mid-year TLA district meeting, and will probably be a focus standard in the future regarding the district's compensation plan. As a result, I want us to continue to prepare ourselves by reflecting on teaching practices we are currently using, or could use in the future, aligned to the distinguished portion of the Standard 4 rubric. Below is the rubric language for both effective and distinguished practice within this standard.
Finally during the building based late start of Thursday, certified staff will be learning/planning regarding the following topics K-2 teachers/PALS, 3-5 teachers/Badger Exam and Educator Effectiveness Documentation for all other staff: Documentation Logs, year two Survey Analysis, SLOs, etc. I appreciate the time the district set aside so you can prepare for these state initiatives. Teachers involved in the Badger Exam, here is the DPI website with testing resources: Badger Exam Training Modules
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