Harwood Staff Blog update, May

Summer Is getting closer -

Together we can make it....

We want to ensure you know what is at the top of our list.

• Ending the year safely and strong

• Spirit week planning/creation - our vision is to keep it as simple as possible.

• Graduation planning/execution

• Ensuring we start next year strong

• 2021-2022 Schedule creation

• Hiring 

• Finalizing our action steps to drive our 5 year goals

• Finalizing our 2021-2022 leadership teams 

THANK YOU for your work to end this year strong by keeping our students safe!

Please ensure all your TA students are signed up for ELO every Tuesday/Friday.

Gratitudes for the week:

• Jodie, Vicki and Dana for their leadership

• Chelsea and Sarah for their advocacy and partnership

• Stefanie for an amazing last virtual assembly

• Marcus for the care of his Dep’t and partnership

• Alex for always leaning in to creating a positive culture and climate for our students

• For Amanda and Tracy for their hard work one very complex, crazy and hopefully once in a lifetime year

• Eric for covering the nurse's office when they need some asisstance

In partnership and gratitude for you all,

Meg

Curious  

Topics	Information/Links	Tasks/Point people
Have a question - need an answer?	Add it to the Q&A.	Laurie, Meg and Duane
Hiring Update	We are hiring for a total of 25 staff at Harwood for 21-22’.  Thank you all for your patience and support during this process.   New Hires this week: Innovation Teacher Student Support Staff Social Worker    Positions Posted this week: Director of Counseling    This week: Nurse interviews  Initial History interview meetings  Initial Math interview meetings   Next week: Initial PFE teacher interviews History Sample lessons Math Sample lessons	Meg and Laurie

Topics 

Information/Links

Tasks/Point people 

Have a question - need an answer?

Add it to the Q&A.

Laurie, Meg and Duane  

Hiring Update

We are hiring for a total of 25 staff at Harwood for 21-22’.  Thank you all for your patience and support during this process.

 

New Hires this week:

• Innovation Teacher

• Student Support Staff

• Social Worker 

 

Positions Posted this week:

• Director of Counseling 

 

This week:

• Nurse interviews 

• Initial History interview meetings 

• Initial Math interview meetings  

Next week:

• Initial PFE teacher interviews

• History Sample lessons

• Math Sample lessons   

Meg and Laurie 

Caring 

Topics	Information/Links	Tasks/Point people
Reminders from the Nurses’ office	Please continue to be vigilant as we have seen an increase in the number of positive cases in our district. What we need to be doing to maintain a safe environment for staff and students: Ensure that you have completed your screening before coming to school. We ask that you contact your school nurse for further guidance if you have been a close contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have a fever.   Stay home when sick. COVID symptoms are very similar to other illnesses, including seasonal allergies. Stay home with any symptoms and follow up with your doctor or school nurse for the next steps.  Encourage all students to maintain a 3-6 foot distance from others in their classroom. A 6-foot distance is maintained between students when eating. Make sure students are PROPERLY wearing a mask. If students are having a hard time keeping their mask above their nose and mouth, provide a reminder to pull the mask up. If the problem persists, follow up with the nurses and administration.   Increase ventilation by holding classes outside or opening classroom windows as able.  Encourage students to wash their hands.  Sign up for a vaccine if you have not already done so.	Tracy and Amanda
Teacher Advisory	Here are this week’s offering of  CASEL’s 3 signature Practices Playbook: Welcoming/Inclusion Activities Engaging Strategies Optimistic Closing Welcoming/Inclusion Strategies: Word Association Everyone stands in a circle and the first student says a word, any word.  The next student must say a word that is connected with the first.  This continues around the group.  For example, if the first student says “sun,” the second may say “sky,” as the sun is in the sky.   To this, the third might say “blue,” as the sky is blue.  To make it more difficult a time element can be introduced to force the students to think quickly. Engaging Strategies: Animal Roundup (iowastate.edu) Tell group members to silently think of an animal Then tell group members that without talking, they need to arrange themselves from smallest to largest animal Group members can use gestures and the noise of their animal After they are lined up have group members share what animal they were to see if it was accurate Optimistic Closing: One Word Whip Around Prepare a statement or question prompt that is aligned to the content of the class or relating to an activity in advisory. For example, “Think of one word about how you are feeling now that you have participated in this engagement,” or “Share one word that sums up your learning for today.” You can also process questions related to the week: “What was the best part of this week?” (Friday); “What was the best part of your weekend?” (Monday) 2. Invite participants to stand in a circle. 3. State the prompt, explain that everyone should prepare a one-word response, and allow a minute of think time. 4. Ask for a volunteer to start off by sharing their word. The volunteer then chooses a direction to go in (left or right), and participants continue to respond in turn around the circle. As always, it’s okay to pass by saying, “Pass.” 5. If time allows, debrief the activity by asking participants if they noticed any themes or similar responses and ask what that might that tell us about the engagement or participants. End of Year Reflection (EOYR) Next week is conference week! If your students would like some structure, here is an agenda outlining the  process. At the suggestion of our excellent lead TA teachers I have created this rationale/purpose document that could serve as a teacher introduction at the start of the conferences. This is NOT required of you. It is simply offered as a resource if you find it useful.  The final step in communication is to confirm your meeting time and share the zoom link with families.  Please let me know if I can support you in any way.	Ellen Berrings

Topics 

Information/Links

Tasks/Point people 

Reminders from the Nurses’ office

Please continue to be vigilant as we have seen an increase in the number of positive cases in our district.

What we need to be doing to maintain a safe environment for staff and students:

• Ensure that you have completed your screening before coming to school. We ask that you contact your school nurse for further guidance if you have been a close contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have a fever.  

• Stay home when sick. COVID symptoms are very similar to other illnesses, including seasonal allergies. Stay home with any symptoms and follow up with your doctor or school nurse for the next steps. 

• Encourage all students to maintain a 3-6 foot distance from others in their classroom. A 6-foot distance is maintained between students when eating.

• Make sure students are PROPERLY wearing a mask. If students are having a hard time keeping their mask above their nose and mouth, provide a reminder to pull the mask up. If the problem persists, follow up with the nurses and administration.  

• Increase ventilation by holding classes outside or opening classroom windows as able. 

• Encourage students to wash their hands. 

• Sign up for a vaccine if you have not already done so.

Tracy and Amanda 

Teacher Advisory

Here are this week’s offering of 

CASEL’s 3 signature Practices Playbook:

1. Welcoming/Inclusion Activities

2. Engaging Strategies

3. Optimistic Closing

Welcoming/Inclusion Strategies:

Word Association

Everyone stands in a circle and the first student says a word, any word.  The next student must say a word that is connected with the first.  This continues around the group.  For example, if the first student says “sun,” the second may say “sky,” as the sun is in the sky.   To this, the third might say “blue,” as the sky is blue.  To make it more difficult a time element can be introduced to force the students to think quickly.

Engaging Strategies:

Animal Roundup (iowastate.edu)

• Tell group members to silently think of an animal

• Then tell group members that without talking, they need to arrange themselves from smallest to largest animal

• Group members can use gestures and the noise of their animal

• After they are lined up have group members share what animal they were to see if it was accurate

Optimistic Closing:

One Word Whip Around

Prepare a statement or question prompt that is aligned to the content of the class or relating to an activity in advisory. For example, “Think of one word about how you are feeling now that you have participated in this engagement,” or “Share one word that sums up your learning for today.” You can also process questions related to the week: “What was the best part of this week?” (Friday); “What was the best part of your weekend?” (Monday)

2. Invite participants to stand in a circle.

3. State the prompt, explain that everyone should prepare a one-word response, and allow a minute of think time.

4. Ask for a volunteer to start off by sharing their word. The volunteer then chooses a direction to go in (left or right), and participants continue to respond in turn around the circle. As always, it’s okay to pass by saying, “Pass.”

5. If time allows, debrief the activity by asking participants if they noticed any themes or similar responses and ask what that might that tell us about the engagement or participants.

End of Year Reflection (EOYR)

Next week is conference week! If your students would like some structure, here is an agenda outlining the 

process. At the suggestion of our excellent lead TA teachers I have created this rationale/purpose document that could serve as a teacher introduction at the start of the conferences. This is NOT required of you. It is simply offered as a resource if you find it useful. 

The final step in communication is to confirm your meeting time and share the zoom link with families. 

Please let me know if I can support you in any way.

Ellen Berrings 

Connected 

Topics	Information/Links	Tasks/Point people
FYI : Kate’s Garden Reserved 5/24	Please note that Kate’s  Garden is reserved on Monday, 5/24 from 2-3pm for an NHS event.
ELO / FLEX	Use of Adaptive Scheduler - includes teacher screen casts for how-tos and the link to the updated student demo If you are out for the day, please be sure to include block 4 (whether Flex or ELO) in your sub plans.   We need all the ELO spaces available in order to schedule all students! Please make sure ALL your students are signed up for ELO before leaving TA on Tuesday and Friday.	Lisa T
Student Support Team Update	Bernadette, John, Eric, Melody, Laurie, Meg, Duane -  Check out our listserv so you can reach the entire team at the same time!  huhs-student-support@huusd.org New Updates Highlights from The Week: Thank you to staff who have recently requested restorative circles to address behaviors that have caused harm between students. We had a great circle on May 11th with positive outcomes. We have scheduled another circle for Monday for a group of high school students. Restorative Educational In-School Support Days (REISS): This week, we had 3 high school students who served their Restorative Educational In-School Support Day resulting from school policy violations. Thank you to all the teachers, Mara (SAP), school counselors, co-principals, and student support specialists who participated in the students’ full day schedule. This approach vs. the traditional in-school suspension, is supported highly by research to have better overall outcomes and effectiveness. Log Entries: MAY:  20 - High School; 1 - Middle School. Please reach out to Melody if you need any guidance with completing a log entry. Student Support Wellness Plans (SSWP):  There are no new SSWPs We currently have 2 high school students on Tier 2 Cell Phone Plans. If you have any questions about particular students, you have questions about plans, or haven't heard directly from us about a “plan” you’ve heard of, please reach out to the Student Support Team. The number of these tier 2 plans are being monitored and will not significantly increase. There will always be a small percentage of students needing increased supervision and structure to support safety and academic engagement and success. We are working to standardize these plans so that for that group - it’s the same approach and set of expectations. Co-Curricular Students: We are continuing to work with holding our student-athletes and co-curricular students accountable. They are missing practices and/or games for cutting, repeated tardies, unexcused absences, and behaviors.  Please feel free to write a log entry; and connect with Joh, Bernadette, or Melody if there is a student you would like to discuss. Also - feel free to also connect with Chris Langevin, as he will follow up with you.  Thank you for your ongoing support as we work to hold high expectations and support our students in meeting those.  Special note for Flex Block: We realize that you do not have full PowerSchool access for all students on your Flex rosters.  During this time only, please use the following email (huhs-student-support@huusd.org) to report any behavior concerns. Log Entries For Class Cut or Behavior: Please complete a log entry for any:  Class cuts (leaving after class has begun, without permission; or absent for an unacceptable amount of time) Behaviors Student Support will connect with students, and with staff. If appropriate, teachers should follow up with parent/caregiver Melody will be setting up a time when we return from break for any new or returning staff to review how to complete a log entry on PowerSchool Log Entries are our documentation and allows the Support team to make sure we are closing the follow up loop with students and teachers. **If you have not received follow up from a Log Entry or call to Nancy, please let a member of the Student Support team know. We are working hard to follow up on all student support needs as they arise. Attendance: Important Reminders For Staff If a student is tardy or not present in your class within the first 10 minutes (unexcused) and was noted as being present earlier in the day, please immediately call Nancy (who will connect with student support) If a student leaves your class without permission (Class cut), please immediately call Nancy If a student is out for an unusual amount of time, please immediately call Nancy Cell Phones As students are adjusting and acclimating, we may see increased use of cell phones. As a non-negotiable, the first time we address it is a reminder, the second we remove the phone for the block, and the third is removed for the day. Feel free to have a Student Support Team member hold on to the phone for the day. If you need additional support with cell phones, don’t hesitate to reach out to John or Bernadette.  Here is a Script to encourage students in advance of class starting, if they are struggling with expectations: Script: Hey “Student,” I’ve noticed that you have been struggling with the phone in the class lately. I’m wondering if you think it would be helpful for me to hold your phone for the block so it’s not an issue? I’ll give it back at the end of class. I know it’s been hard for many students so you are not alone, and want to support you, Just a reminder that if I have to address it again, I will ask Student Support to keep it for the day. I really don’t want that for you. What do you think? Do you think that would be helpful? What do you think you can manage for today?	Melody
Upcoming Dates	05/25 & 5/27 - Parent/TA conferences  06/07 - 06/11 - Spirit week 06/04 - All Summatives for S2/Q4 need to be complete  06/09 - JumpRope finalized for the year with a printed copy of course scores delivered to Susan by 8 am 06/10. 06/11 - Last day of school 06/12 - Harwood Graduation 10 a.m.  *more details forthcoming Staff Meeting Calendar	Duane and Laurie, Meg
5/26 Staff	Objective: To provide clarity of what 2021 Spirit week will look like and what your role and responsibility will be this year. Running Agenda Zoom Information:   Meeting ID: 858 1626 1603 Passcode: 9M1Hus	Laurie, Meg and Duane
Tech Updates	To continue to meet the tech support needs at HU moving forward (and to support Justin with any increased demands for his assistance), please submit all tech-related requests through our new "ticket" system. Technicians from across the district access all requests and will be able to support as needed.  The link to the site is: https://huusd.freshdesk.com/support/home	Justin

Topics 

Information/Links

Tasks/Point people 

FYI : Kate’s Garden Reserved 5/24

Please note that Kate’s  Garden is reserved on Monday, 5/24 from 2-3pm for an NHS event.

ELO / FLEX

Use of Adaptive Scheduler - includes teacher screen casts for how-tos and the link to the updated student demo

If you are out for the day, please be sure to include block 4 (whether Flex or ELO) in your sub plans.  

We need all the ELO spaces available in order to schedule all students!

Please make sure ALL your students are signed up for ELO before leaving TA on Tuesday and Friday.

Lisa T

Student Support Team Update

Bernadette, John, Eric, Melody, Laurie, Meg, Duane - 

Check out our listserv so you can reach the entire team at the same time!  huhs-student-support@huusd.org

New Updates

Highlights from The Week: Thank you to staff who have recently requested restorative circles to address behaviors that have caused harm between students. We had a great circle on May 11th with positive outcomes. We have scheduled another circle for Monday for a group of high school students.

Restorative Educational In-School Support Days (REISS): This week, we had 3 high school students who served their Restorative Educational In-School Support Day resulting from school policy violations. Thank you to all the teachers, Mara (SAP), school counselors, co-principals, and student support specialists who participated in the students’ full day schedule. This approach vs. the traditional in-school suspension, is supported highly by research to have better overall outcomes and effectiveness.

Log Entries: MAY: 

20 - High School; 1 - Middle School. Please reach out to Melody if you need any guidance with completing a log entry.

Student Support Wellness Plans (SSWP): 

• There are no new SSWPs

• We currently have 2 high school students on Tier 2 Cell Phone Plans.

If you have any questions about particular students, you have questions about plans, or haven't heard directly from us about a “plan” you’ve heard of, please reach out to the Student Support Team.

The number of these tier 2 plans are being monitored and will not significantly increase. There will always be a small percentage of students needing increased supervision and structure to support safety and academic engagement and success. We are working to standardize these plans so that for that group - it’s the same approach and set of expectations.

Co-Curricular Students: We are continuing to work with holding our student-athletes and co-curricular students accountable. They are missing practices and/or games for cutting, repeated tardies, unexcused absences, and behaviors. 

Please feel free to write a log entry; and connect with Joh, Bernadette, or Melody if there is a student you would like to discuss. Also - feel free to also connect with Chris Langevin, as he will follow up with you. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work to hold high expectations and support our students in meeting those. 

Special note for Flex Block:

We realize that you do not have full PowerSchool access for all students on your Flex rosters.  During this time only, please use the following email (huhs-student-support@huusd.org) to report any behavior concerns.

Log Entries For Class Cut or Behavior:

1. Please complete a log entry for any: 

1. Class cuts (leaving after class has begun, without permission; or absent for an unacceptable amount of time)

2. Behaviors

2. Student Support will connect with students, and with staff. If appropriate, teachers should follow up with parent/caregiver

3. Melody will be setting up a time when we return from break for any new or returning staff to review how to complete a log entry on PowerSchool

1. Log Entries are our documentation and allows the Support team to make sure we are closing the follow up loop with students and teachers.

**If you have not received follow up from a Log Entry or call to Nancy, please let a member of the Student Support team know. We are working hard to follow up on all student support needs as they arise.

Attendance: Important Reminders For Staff

1. If a student is tardy or not present in your class within the first 10 minutes (unexcused) and was noted as being present earlier in the day, please immediately call Nancy (who will connect with student support)

2. If a student leaves your class without permission (Class cut), please immediately call Nancy

3. If a student is out for an unusual amount of time, please immediately call Nancy

Cell Phones

As students are adjusting and acclimating, we may see increased use of cell phones. As a non-negotiable, the first time we address it is a reminder, the second we remove the phone for the block, and the third is removed for the day. Feel free to have a Student Support Team member hold on to the phone for the day. If you need additional support with cell phones, don’t hesitate to reach out to John or Bernadette. 

Here is a Script to encourage students in advance of class starting, if they are struggling with expectations:

Script: Hey “Student,” I’ve noticed that you have been struggling with the phone in the class lately. I’m wondering if you think it would be helpful for me to hold your phone for the block so it’s not an issue? I’ll give it back at the end of class. I know it’s been hard for many students so you are not alone, and want to support you, Just a reminder that if I have to address it again, I will ask Student Support to keep it for the day. I really don’t want that for you. What do you think? Do you think that would be helpful? What do you think you can manage for today?

Melody

Upcoming Dates 

• 05/25 & 5/27 - Parent/TA conferences 

• 06/07 - 06/11 - Spirit week

• 06/04 - All Summatives for S2/Q4 need to be complete 

• 06/09 - JumpRope finalized for the year with a printed copy of course scores delivered to Susan by 8 am 06/10.

• 06/11 - Last day of school

• 06/12 - Harwood Graduation 10 a.m. 

*more details forthcoming

Staff Meeting Calendar

Duane and Laurie, Meg

5/26 Staff 

Objective: To provide clarity of what 2021 Spirit week will look like and what your role and responsibility will be this year.

Running Agenda

Zoom Information:  

Meeting ID: 858 1626 1603

Passcode: 9M1Hus

Laurie, Meg and Duane

Tech Updates

To continue to meet the tech support needs at HU moving forward (and to support Justin with any increased demands for his assistance), please submit all tech-related requests through our new "ticket" system. Technicians from across the district access all requests and will be able to support as needed.  The link to the site is: https://huusd.freshdesk.com/support/home

Justin