Harwood Staff Blog, September 7, 2021

COVID safety protocol reminders

As we go into this week:

• Students know where their classes are 

• Up Time has been distributed and is being approved by student

• CVCC students have started their classes 

• Buses are rolling in on time in the a.m. to start TA by 8:40

Thank you all for your continued flexibility and efforts to ensure a smooth take off this week!

In ongoing partnership,

Duane, Laurie and Meg

Important Information 

Flex block Update	Flex block will start 9/10.  Thank you all for  your patience and flexibility as we get it up  and running. Flex time on 9/8 will be TA time.  Assembly  will run during this time again as well.
PLEASE Remember:	Before leaving the building with students AT ANY TIME  (including lunch) ensure you have everyone on your  roster & double check when you  arrive at your destination and again  back in your classroom.

Staff Member	Appreciations
Steve, Justin, Bruce & the assembly crew	For kicking off the year with Harwood Pride and bringing us together as an entire community
TA Leads	For your dedication to supporting our ENTIRE community in having a TA where all feel safe - seen, heard, understood and respected
Special Educators	For taking on extra caseloads to start this school year!

Staff Member 

Appreciations 

Steve, Justin, Bruce & the assembly crew

For kicking off the year with Harwood Pride and bringing us together as an entire community

TA Leads

For your dedication to supporting our ENTIRE community in having a TA where all feel safe - seen, heard, understood and respected

Special Educators

For taking on extra caseloads to start this school year!  

Curious

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
TA plan for next week	Appreciation! To all of the TA teachers for your creativity this week. We had some extra time with our students and lots of folks came up with great activities! Genevieve for organizing and managing the 9th Grade TA photos and Anissa for freeing her up to be able to do this! Advisory Slideshows: Tuesday we will be meeting in our TA teacher groups at 7:20. This will be an opportunity to review/improve the blueprint for the month. The slideshows will be updated this weekend! OngoingTA Slideshows: Middle School           9th Grade       10th Grade          11th Grade          12th Grade Cell Phone Resources: As we work to maintain our commitment to keep advisory time cell phone free, here are some resources for you to check out. The information is quite compelling on the importance of managing cell phone and social media use.  Article: 7 Scary Things You Never Knew About Cell Phone Addiction Videos: Why Our Screens Make Us Less Happy (9:29) The video describes how much we have increased our screen time over a 10 year period (2007-2017). The viewer is reminded of how precious our free time is and how screens are taking away from the activities that actually make us happy. He also discusses strategies to separate from our technology. It is not an indictment on technology; rather it encourages controlled use of screens to enhance rather than dominate our lives.  Is Social Media Hacking Your Brain? (6:04)-Addresses the science of the brain and the use of reinforcement techniques to hook students through reward schedules. Offers examples of how companies are using this knowledge. It ends with suggestions on how to take more control over media use. Smartphone Effect/Psychology of Phone Addiction (3:57)-video description: “This video explores the psychology of phone addiction, the so called "Smartphone effect." Topics discussed include: -The manipulative tactics of app designs -The hardwiring of our brains that enable smartphone addiction” ***NEW THIS WEEK! (I will add a check in activity to the blog each week!) Monday Check Activity: Bragger or Bummer: This very simple activity asks each person to share something great (bragger) or something not-so-great (bummer) about their weekend.  Team/Community Building Resources of the week: Does your TA like trivia?  Here is a great Trivia Resource: 1000+Trivia Questions and answers with lots of categories! Collaborative Drawing Distribute paper and writing utensils to everyone that will be playing. Make sure that the players are sitting in some sort of orderly fashion such as a circle or in straight lines. Instruct each person to fold their paper into four equal sections, as you would fold a letter. They should then unfold the paper so that it is flat again. Players are then told to draw a head for their drawing in the uppermost section. It doesn’t matter what kind of head they draw or where on the upper section it is, as long as the neck connects to the top of the second section on the paper. Instruct players to fold their paper over in order to hide the head they drew, leaving only the very bottom of the neck showing to help the next player in their drawing. All players pass their folded papers to their left and accept the paper being handed from their right side. Each time a new paper is given to each player, they must draw the missing section, connecting it to the other person’s previous section without actually looking to see what it looks like. This process will be repeated for all three of the other remaining sections: torso, legs, and feet. Make sure that all the players know to leave the very bottom of their drawing visible so that the next person can continue on. Each section should be timed to avoid spending too long on this game. Once the drawings are all completed, open up the papers and check out the crazy creatures or people that are featured there!	Ellen & TA leads
Flex Block updates	We’re almost there! Thank you to everyone for coming up with creative, engaging Flex Block options for the students. Here is how Flex Block will roll out this week: An ELO/Flex Block slideshow will be shared to use in TA on Wednesday so that students can log in to PowerSchool Adaptive Scheduler to see their Flex Block assignments. Students will start attending their quarter 1 Flex Block on this Friday 9/10. Teacher Reminders -   View your rosters and take attendance for Flex Block through Adaptive Scheduler (see me if you need a primer or refresher on this) Performance Indicator 10.02 (Actively engage in learning activities with focus and independence) will be assessed for all students in Flex Block.  If you are assessing any additional indicators, please plan to assess them summatively at least twice. We will not use JumpRope for Flex Block scoring. I will communicate out instructions for scoring at a later date.	Jess and Jon B.
ELO updates	We’re getting closer! The first high school ELO Wednesday will be 9/15. In preparation: Students will view a slideshow and log in to PowerSchool in TA this Wednesday. ELO blocks will be created and set up in Adaptive Scheduler next week. Once this is complete teachers can start booking students. Keep in mind: You will find your full classes pre-booked to you every third week. You can book full classes more frequently if you would like. (You can create and use “groups” in Adaptive Scheduler to do this quickly - reach out if you want me to show you). You have up to 3pm on Mondays to book students from your course blocks (i.e. block 1 to ELO). Each week, book at least 5 students for each course block. Monday afternoon til Tuesday morning is “open season booking” where any faculty can book non-course students. Students will book themselves for their remaining open blocks on Tuesday in TA. TA teachers are responsible for checking all student schedules to ensure they are fully booked, and booking them for available options if they are not.	Jessica
Harwood Building Access	7a.m - 9p.m. with your swipe	Ray
Lunch from the Cafeteria for Staff	Per state and federal calculator, we need to increase our staff/adult lunch price. The calculation is done based on federal reimbursement and the value of USDA Foods.  Moving forward adult meals will be $5.00	Erika
Students email passwords	Password Syntax: (all lower case) <first initial><last initial><Powerschool ID><first initial of the school> Example: John Smith, Powerschool ID 12345, attending Harwood Password = js12345h	Phil Hayes
Student Schedule Update	Please NOTE - Drop/Add period is over.  Students are expected to now follow their schedules as published in powerschool.	Counseling office
Bus - arrival and departure update	Moving forward dismissal will NOT be staggered.  Students will be dismissed at 3:20. Friendly reminder that students going to Waterbury and CBMS must leave school immediately and board bus 8 or 4 - these buses will roll out immediately.

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

TA plan for next week

Appreciation!

To all of the TA teachers for your creativity this week. We had some extra time with our students and lots of folks came up with great activities!

Genevieve for organizing and managing the 9th Grade TA photos and Anissa for freeing her up to be able to do this!

Advisory Slideshows:

Tuesday we will be meeting in our TA teacher groups at 7:20. This will be an opportunity to review/improve the blueprint for the month. The slideshows will be updated this weekend!

OngoingTA Slideshows:

Middle School           9th Grade       10th Grade          11th Grade          12th Grade

Cell Phone Resources:

As we work to maintain our commitment to keep advisory time cell phone free, here are some resources for you to check out. The information is quite compelling on the importance of managing cell phone and social media use. 

Article: 7 Scary Things You Never Knew About Cell Phone Addiction

Videos:

Why Our Screens Make Us Less Happy (9:29) The video describes how much we have increased our screen time over a 10 year period (2007-2017). The viewer is reminded of how precious our free time is and how screens are taking away from the activities that actually make us happy. He also discusses strategies to separate from our technology. It is not an indictment on technology; rather it encourages controlled use of screens to enhance rather than dominate our lives. 

Is Social Media Hacking Your Brain? (6:04)-Addresses the science of the brain and the use of reinforcement techniques to hook students through reward schedules. Offers examples of how companies are using this knowledge. It ends with suggestions on how to take more control over media use.

Smartphone Effect/Psychology of Phone Addiction (3:57)-video description:

“This video explores the psychology of phone addiction, the so called "Smartphone effect." Topics discussed include:

-The manipulative tactics of app designs

-The hardwiring of our brains that enable smartphone addiction”

***NEW THIS WEEK! (I will add a check in activity to the blog each week!)

Monday Check Activity:

Bragger or Bummer:

This very simple activity asks each person to share something great (bragger) or something not-so-great (bummer) about their weekend. 

Team/Community Building Resources of the week:

Does your TA like trivia? 

Here is a great Trivia Resource: 1000+Trivia Questions and answers with lots of categories!

Collaborative Drawing

1. Distribute paper and writing utensils to everyone that will be playing. Make sure that the players are sitting in some sort of orderly fashion such as a circle or in straight lines.

2. Instruct each person to fold their paper into four equal sections, as you would fold a letter. They should then unfold the paper so that it is flat again.

3. Players are then told to draw a head for their drawing in the uppermost section. It doesn’t matter what kind of head they draw or where on the upper section it is, as long as the neck connects to the top of the second section on the paper.

4. Instruct players to fold their paper over in order to hide the head they drew, leaving only the very bottom of the neck showing to help the next player in their drawing.

5. All players pass their folded papers to their left and accept the paper being handed from their right side. Each time a new paper is given to each player, they must draw the missing section, connecting it to the other person’s previous section without actually looking to see what it looks like. This process will be repeated for all three of the other remaining sections: torso, legs, and feet. Make sure that all the players know to leave the very bottom of their drawing visible so that the next person can continue on. Each section should be timed to avoid spending too long on this game.

6. Once the drawings are all completed, open up the papers and check out the crazy creatures or people that are featured there!

Ellen & TA leads

Flex Block updates

We’re almost there! Thank you to everyone for coming up with creative, engaging Flex Block options for the students. Here is how Flex Block will roll out this week:

1. An ELO/Flex Block slideshow will be shared to use in TA on Wednesday so that students can log in to PowerSchool Adaptive Scheduler to see their Flex Block assignments.

2. Students will start attending their quarter 1 Flex Block on this Friday 9/10.

3. Teacher Reminders -  

1. View your rosters and take attendance for Flex Block through Adaptive Scheduler (see me if you need a primer or refresher on this)

2. Performance Indicator 10.02 (Actively engage in learning activities with focus and independence) will be assessed for all students in Flex Block. 

3. If you are assessing any additional indicators, please plan to assess them summatively at least twice.

4. We will not use JumpRope for Flex Block scoring. I will communicate out instructions for scoring at a later date.

Jess and Jon B.

ELO updates 

We’re getting closer! The first high school ELO Wednesday will be 9/15. In preparation:

1. Students will view a slideshow and log in to PowerSchool in TA this Wednesday.

2. ELO blocks will be created and set up in Adaptive Scheduler next week. Once this is complete teachers can start booking students. Keep in mind:

1. You will find your full classes pre-booked to you every third week. You can book full classes more frequently if you would like. (You can create and use “groups” in Adaptive Scheduler to do this quickly - reach out if you want me to show you).

2. You have up to 3pm on Mondays to book students from your course blocks (i.e. block 1 to ELO). Each week, book at least 5 students for each course block.

3. Monday afternoon til Tuesday morning is “open season booking” where any faculty can book non-course students.

4. Students will book themselves for their remaining open blocks on Tuesday in TA. TA teachers are responsible for checking all student schedules to ensure they are fully booked, and booking them for available options if they are not.

Jessica 

Harwood Building Access

7a.m - 9p.m. with your swipe

Ray 

Lunch from the Cafeteria for Staff

Per state and federal calculator, we need to increase our staff/adult lunch price. The calculation is done based on federal reimbursement and the value of USDA Foods.  Moving forward adult meals will be $5.00

Erika 

Students email passwords 

Password Syntax:

(all lower case) <first initial><last initial><Powerschool ID><first initial of the school>

Example: John Smith, Powerschool ID 12345, attending Harwood

Password = js12345h

Phil Hayes 

Student Schedule Update

Please NOTE - Drop/Add period is over.  Students are expected to now follow their schedules as published in powerschool.

Counseling office 

Bus - arrival and departure update 

Moving forward dismissal will NOT be staggered.  Students will be dismissed at 3:20.

Friendly reminder that students going to Waterbury and CBMS must leave school immediately and board bus 8 or 4 - these buses will roll out immediately.

Caring 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Book Club	Each month during staff meeting time we will be engaging with our PLC groups to discuss “So, you want to talk about Race.”  This work will continue what we started during inservice and compliment our ongoing work with Rebecca Haslam.  Books have arrived and are in your mailbox.	Meg
Surveillance Testing	Good afternoon HUUSD Families, Students, and Staff, The Harwood Unified Union School District will be offering free surveillance testing to School District staff and contracted service providers working in our buildings, and students attending HUUSD schools whether or not they are vaccinated.  This testing serves as an additional mitigation measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our school community.   Who is eligible? Anyone age 5 and older is eligible to participate whether or not they are vaccinated.  Students and staff who are symptomatic or who have been identified as close contacts may not participate in this testing at school.  Symptomatic individuals and those considered close contacts should not attend school.  How often and when will students and staff be testing? We anticipate testing weekly on Mondays.  We are working to launch testing on September 20, but will provide an update to the community if this date is delayed.   What is involved in a test? The test will be a PCR test used to detect the COVID-19 virus.  Collecting a test involves inserting a small swab, like a Q-tip, into the front of the nose.   How do I sign up for a test? This is an opt in testing program. Only those students who are pre registered for surveillance testing will be able to participate.  Parents are encouraged to sign up this week if they are interested in participating in weekly surveillance.	Nursing staff - Allison Conyers
Curriculum Camp Participants	If you have personal items in the curriculum folders please move to your personal files (these folders will be cleaned out this fall.)	Shannon Lesley

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Book Club

Each month during staff meeting time we will be engaging with our PLC groups to discuss “So, you want to talk about Race.”  This work will continue what we started during inservice and compliment our ongoing work with Rebecca Haslam. 

Books have arrived and are in your mailbox.

Meg

Surveillance Testing 

Good afternoon HUUSD Families, Students, and Staff,

The Harwood Unified Union School District will be offering free surveillance testing to School District staff and contracted service providers working in our buildings, and students attending HUUSD schools whether or not they are vaccinated.  This testing serves as an additional mitigation measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our school community.  

Who is eligible?

Anyone age 5 and older is eligible to participate whether or not they are vaccinated.  Students and staff who are symptomatic or who have been identified as close contacts may not participate in this testing at school.  Symptomatic individuals and those considered close contacts should not attend school. 

How often and when will students and staff be testing?

We anticipate testing weekly on Mondays.  We are working to launch testing on September 20, but will provide an update to the community if this date is delayed.  

What is involved in a test?

The test will be a PCR test used to detect the COVID-19 virus.  Collecting a test involves inserting a small swab, like a Q-tip, into the front of the nose.  

How do I sign up for a test?

This is an opt in testing program. Only those students who are pre registered for surveillance testing will be able to participate.  Parents are encouraged to sign up this week if they are interested in participating in weekly surveillance. 

Nursing staff - Allison Conyers 

Curriculum Camp Participants  

If you have personal items in the curriculum folders please move to your personal files (these folders will be cleaned out this fall.)

Shannon Lesley 

Connected 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
9/7 Assembly Details	Please exit the building to the lawn outside the swoosh starting at 10:55.  This week’s assembly will again be 20 min and run during TA.  Please sit by TA, masked and distanced. Those in the green please use the south entrance to exit. Those in the red please exit out the Front entrance. Those in the yellow please exit out the side entrance.	Laurie, Meg and Duane
Staff Meeting  9/7 7:15 - 8:15 We will start in the cafeteria together	Objective:  Staff will feel prepared and excited to run TA in the coming month. Special Educators - Given your current load this time will be used to complete SOP’s and case management paperwork.
Friendly reminder	Complete your TA conferences as soon as possible but no later than 9/23 Set up Google classroom Invite your supervisor including guardian invites by 9/10  (great instructions from Curtis here) Update syllabus using the 2021-2022 template and share in this folder by 9/10 Update your sub binder with your schedule and give to Shannon by 9/10 Submit your updated staff information here, if you haven't already. Complete mandatory trainings by 9/23 - please see list here by .  Additionally, you have received an email from HUUSD to prompt you to log in and complete your Safeschools online training.

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

9/7 Assembly Details 

Please exit the building to the lawn outside the swoosh starting at 10:55.  This week’s assembly will again be 20 min and run during TA.  Please sit by TA, masked and distanced.

• Those in the green please use the south entrance to exit.

• Those in the red please exit out the Front entrance.

• Those in the yellow please exit out the side entrance. 

Laurie, Meg and Duane 

Staff Meeting 

9/7

7:15 - 8:15

We will start in the cafeteria together 

Objective:  Staff will feel prepared and excited to run TA in the coming month.

Special Educators - Given your current load this time will be used to complete SOP’s and case management paperwork.

Friendly reminder 

• Complete your TA conferences as soon as possible but no later than 9/23

• Set up Google classroom

• Invite your supervisor

• including guardian invites by 9/10  (great instructions from Curtis here)

• Update syllabus using the 2021-2022 template and share in this folder by 9/10

• Update your sub binder with your schedule and give to Shannon by 9/10

• Submit your updated staff information here, if you haven't already.

• Complete mandatory trainings by 9/23 - please see list here by .  Additionally, you have received an email from HUUSD to prompt you to log in and complete your Safeschools online training.