Harwood Staff Blog update October 11, 2021

 

Team Harwood:

During our Staff meeting on Tuesday morning we will be taking time to reflect and identify our individual professional goals for 2021-2022.  

Much has changed in the world of education during COVID - some powerful, others challenging but all impactful.  Our hope is that our collaboration only grows as we move towards accomplishing our goals of:

1. cultivating and maintaining a community where all students, staff and families feel safe - seen, heard, understood and respected.  

2. strengthening and sustaining a rigorous and robust academic program that provides access and meaning for ALL students. 

3. creating and maintaining a physical environment that reflects a positive school climate and culture.

To that end, we look forward to kicking off the “Supervision and Evaluation process” in order to support this collaborative cycle of reflection and growth.

Please find the HUUSD process here.  You can find which cycle you are on this year here.  For those on the comprehensive cycle Laurie, Duane, Melody and I will be reaching out within the week to begin scheduling our pre-observations.  

In ongoing partnership,

Duane, Meg and Laurie 

Important Information 

Fire Drill plan for 10/14	Map & Attendance lists Fire Egress Directions
Fire Drill Feedback	Please use this google form to note any questions or suggestions for change.
504 case management	The current systems of 504 support at Harwood should allow for the appropriate accommodations for students qualifying under this accommodation plan. There are times, as stated in the statute, when specific related services are provided to students on 504 plans.  Some examples of this would include vision services through VABVI for a student with a vision need or a hearing consult for students who are deaf and or hard of hearing. It may also, on occasion, include counseling services for a student diagnosed with depression, anxiety or other mental health disability. Given that 504 law is a regular education statute intended to protect students with disabilities from being discriminated against, it does not necessarily include direct support and or services from a special educator. Many of the current supports and accommodations such as extra time for completion of assignments or an alternative work space with minimal distractions can be provided during the built in ELO blocks, during Flex block time or can be accommodated through the implementation of UDL strategies in the classroom.

Fire Drill plan for 10/14

Map & Attendance lists

Fire Egress Directions 

Fire Drill Feedback

Please use this google form to note any questions or suggestions for change.

504 case management  

The current systems of 504 support at Harwood should allow for the appropriate accommodations for students qualifying under this accommodation plan. There are times, as stated in the statute, when specific related services are provided to students on 504 plans.  Some examples of this would include vision services through VABVI for a student with a vision need or a hearing consult for students who are deaf and or hard of hearing. It may also, on occasion, include counseling services for a student diagnosed with depression, anxiety or other mental health disability. Given that 504 law is a regular education statute intended to protect students with disabilities from being discriminated against, it does not necessarily include direct support and or services from a special educator. Many of the current supports and accommodations such as extra time for completion of assignments or an alternative work space with minimal distractions can be provided during the built in ELO blocks, during Flex block time or can be accommodated through the implementation of UDL strategies in the classroom.

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri
Morning	No School - Indigenous people day	Staff Meeting  11:00 - Assembly & Club Fair		8:40 - Fire drill
Afternoon
Evening

Staff Member	Appreciations
To all those who stepped in to substitute when we were in need of more people!
Paul Kramer	For your collaboration with students to identify a common activity for students to participate in on Thursday while you have individual academic check ins with students.
Molly and Steve	For your continued enthusiasm and commitment to the Assembly program.
Ellen Berrings	For all your extra work to support Clubs in getting up and running.
Nathaniel Furlong	For your strong support and advocacy of your TA students.
Mari Pratt	For helping with breakfast in the morning and busses in the afternoon

Curious

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Next book club meeting	A friendly reminder that we’ll be gathering back together on 10/18 to discuss Chapter 3 in our small PLC groups.   We are excited that we’ll continue to do this work as a full faculty.  Support Staff should plan to submit their timesheets to Lisa for this time.
ELO & Flex updates	Flex Block - There are six sessions left (although two of them include an assembly). ELO - Three things:  Reminder that even though we don’t have school on Monday, you should pre-book students for your ELOs before TA on Tuesday!  Thank you so much for your survey feedback. Surveys will be going out to students and families this week, and then the ELO committee will be doing a deep dive into the data. Stay tuned for results and any next steps. FAQ: What should I do when I know I’m going to be out on a Wednesday? Thanks for asking! We are NOT blocking ELOs this year (we simply don’t have enough other places for students to go). If you know you are going to be out, please still pre-book students as you usually would, and then provide sub plans for what they should work on. We will work to make sure that your ELO is covered. Thank you!	Jess Deane
Assembly & Club Fair logistics	Assembly Calendar  Oct. 12th Assembly 11:00-11:50  11:00-11:05 Whole School Gather Outside and Transition  11:05-11:25 10th/12th grade at the club fair in the gym, 9th/11th in assembly outside 11:25-11:30 Transition  11:30-11:50 9th/11th grade at the club fair in the gym, 10th/12th grade in assembly outside      Teacher Roles:  We are asking 12th grade TA teachers to cover all of the exits in the gym and 10th grade teachers to be outside the gym to monitor students using the restroom and for the passing time when the students will be exiting the gym to head to the second session of the assembly. Students will be exiting the main door of the gym, traveling down the hallway to the lobby and exiting the main door.  For the second session of the club fair: We are asking 11th Grade TA teachers to cover the exits and the 9th grade TA teachers to be in the hall outside of the gym.	Molly Clark, Steve Rand and Ellen Berrings
November Conferences	Details: November 11th (Thurs) and 16th (Tues) Plan to use the same google sign up you used for the start of the year conferences. Conferences are held for your TA.   We will have time at the 11/02 inservice to prepare. You can hold these conferences in person (as long as there is proof of vaccination) or via Zoom. You can remain on-site for Zoom conferences, or can hold them from home.	Ellen
EST Process	Blog Copy of EST Process Includes LINKS to EST for HS, 7th Grade, 8th Grade	Jon Berliner
When students arrive…	When student’s buses arrive High School students can remain outside or go into the Cafeteria and Middle School students can go to the MS gallery or remain outside.  Students who go to the cafeteria are expected to remain there until 8:25.  At 8:25 the bell will dismiss all students to head to their TA and grab breakfast on their way.	Meg, Laurie and Meg

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Next book club meeting 

A friendly reminder that we’ll be gathering back together on 10/18 to discuss Chapter 3 in our small PLC groups.  

We are excited that we’ll continue to do this work as a full faculty.  Support Staff should plan to submit their timesheets to Lisa for this time.  

ELO & Flex updates 

Flex Block - There are six sessions left (although two of them include an assembly).

ELO - Three things: 

1. Reminder that even though we don’t have school on Monday, you should pre-book students for your ELOs before TA on Tuesday! 

2. Thank you so much for your survey feedback. Surveys will be going out to students and families this week, and then the ELO committee will be doing a deep dive into the data. Stay tuned for results and any next steps.

3. FAQ: What should I do when I know I’m going to be out on a Wednesday? Thanks for asking! We are NOT blocking ELOs this year (we simply don’t have enough other places for students to go). If you know you are going to be out, please still pre-book students as you usually would, and then provide sub plans for what they should work on. We will work to make sure that your ELO is covered. Thank you!

Jess Deane

Assembly & Club Fair logistics 

Assembly Calendar 

Oct. 12th Assembly 11:00-11:50 

11:00-11:05 Whole School Gather Outside and Transition 

11:05-11:25 10th/12th grade at the club fair in the gym, 9th/11th in assembly outside

11:25-11:30 Transition 

11:30-11:50 9th/11th grade at the club fair in the gym, 10th/12th grade in assembly outside   

 

Teacher Roles: 

We are asking 12th grade TA teachers to cover all of the exits in the gym and 10th grade teachers to be outside the gym to monitor students using the restroom and for the passing time when the students will be exiting the gym to head to the second session of the assembly. Students will be exiting the main door of the gym, traveling down the hallway to the lobby and exiting the main door. 

For the second session of the club fair: We are asking 11th Grade TA teachers to cover the exits and the 9th grade TA teachers to be in the hall outside of the gym.

Molly Clark, Steve Rand and Ellen Berrings 

November Conferences 

Details:

• November 11th (Thurs) and 16th (Tues)

• Plan to use the same google sign up you used for the start of the year conferences.

• Conferences are held for your TA.  

• We will have time at the 11/02 inservice to prepare.

• You can hold these conferences in person (as long as there is proof of vaccination) or via Zoom. You can remain on-site for Zoom conferences, or can hold them from home.

Ellen 

EST Process 

Blog Copy of EST Process

• Includes LINKS to EST for HS, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

Jon Berliner 

When students arrive…

When student’s buses arrive High School students can remain outside or go into the Cafeteria and Middle School students can go to the MS gallery or remain outside.  Students who go to the cafeteria are expected to remain there until 8:25.  At 8:25 the bell will dismiss all students to head to their TA and grab breakfast on their way. 

Meg, Laurie and Meg

Caring 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Student Support Team Update SSTeam EMAIL	Outside Procedures:  Moving forward, if you are going to be NEAR/AROUND the building with your class outside, you DO NOT need a radio nor need to contact the front office.  IF you are taking the class AWAY from the building for a walk or across the street, DO HAVE a radio and let the front desk know.  BUDDY TA: If you are going to be absent for TA and your TA students will be joining the buddy TA, please put a note on your door the day before - as a reminder to students to go to the buddy TA classroom. For example - if I am out tomorrow, I will leave a note on my door:  TA - Monday 10/4, Reminder Dr. Melody’s TA will join Mr. Berliner’s buddy TA in Room 1,340 :)  Log Entries:  September Totals Middle School: 58 High School: 116, 4 Substance Use October:  Middle School: 14 High School: 40 EST Support Plans:  Middle School - 2 (Completed) (1 Coming this week) High School - 3 Completed; 2 Coming this week Cell Phone Plans - 1 (High School ONLY) EST Referrals: Thank you to ALL STAFF for incredible efforts with universal interventions and meeting our students needs through our numerous strategies, resources, and classroom	Melody Frank and Jon Berliner, Bernadette Bloom, Skylar Bradley (AKA Mr. B), Mari Pratt
Attendance Updates	Late Arriving Students: Please remember to not send students back into the hallway and out of class if they arrive to you without a pass. It will be marked UX. Our goal is to ensure safety, and then have students in the classroom! Thank you for your consistent use of the passes, for communicating to the front office via email or phone call! First 10 Minutes of Class: Please avoid taking your class outside in the first 10 minutes of class. We’ve learned that students arrive late (yes, their fault) but then wander because their class is not in the classroom. (We want feedback on this - is first 10 minutes really helpful to take that break? Is it really important to be able to do that? Do you have other ideas around this issue? Let us know!) Sign In/Out - Students must sign in and out. This includes seniors who want to maintain UPTIME privileges. This also includes CO-CURRICULAR early release	Melody Frank and Jon Berliner
Special Education	Communications around Behavior or Attendance: If you are writing up a log entry for attendance issues, or behaviors for a student who is on a general education 504 plan or a special education IEP - remember to copy and paste that entry and send home to the caregiver. PLEASE also CC the case manager/special educator.  This will allow our special educators to maintain awareness and understanding in the event follow up with student/caregiver is appropriate.  Thank you all! Quiet Space/Extended Time: We will not have a specific location, nor have the capacity to monitor a specific place. Please work with your case manager to identify what is needed with “extended time” and identifying a particular space if needed. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Vicki, Jon B, or Melody to ask about how we can collaborate	Vicki Hummer, Jon Berliner, Melody Frank
Updates from our Health Office	Coming soon as things seem to be always changing!	Magge & Phil
April Rule - our new Administrative Assistant  arrives	Join us 10/19 - come welcome her and enjoy some coffee and bagels at 7:15 in the cafeteria

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Student Support Team Update

SSTeam EMAIL

Outside Procedures: 

1. Moving forward, if you are going to be NEAR/AROUND the building with your class outside, you DO NOT need a radio nor need to contact the front office. 

2. IF you are taking the class AWAY from the building for a walk or across the street, DO HAVE a radio and let the front desk know. 

BUDDY TA: If you are going to be absent for TA and your TA students will be joining the buddy TA, please put a note on your door the day before - as a reminder to students to go to the buddy TA classroom. For example - if I am out tomorrow, I will leave a note on my door: 

TA - Monday 10/4, Reminder Dr. Melody’s TA will join Mr. Berliner’s buddy TA in Room 1,340 :) 

Log Entries: 

September Totals

• Middle School: 58

• High School: 116, 4 Substance Use

October: 

• Middle School: 14

• High School: 40

EST Support Plans: 

Middle School - 2 (Completed) (1 Coming this week)

High School - 3 Completed; 2 Coming this week

Cell Phone Plans - 1 (High School ONLY)

EST Referrals: Thank you to ALL STAFF for incredible efforts with universal interventions and meeting our students needs through our numerous strategies, resources, and classroom 

Melody Frank and Jon Berliner, Bernadette Bloom, Skylar Bradley (AKA Mr. B), Mari Pratt

Attendance Updates

Late Arriving Students: Please remember to not send students back into the hallway and out of class if they arrive to you without a pass. It will be marked UX. Our goal is to ensure safety, and then have students in the classroom!

Thank you for your consistent use of the passes, for communicating to the front office via email or phone call!

First 10 Minutes of Class: Please avoid taking your class outside in the first 10 minutes of class. We’ve learned that students arrive late (yes, their fault) but then wander because their class is not in the classroom. (We want feedback on this - is first 10 minutes really helpful to take that break? Is it really important to be able to do that? Do you have other ideas around this issue? Let us know!)

Sign In/Out - Students must sign in and out. This includes seniors who want to maintain UPTIME privileges. This also includes CO-CURRICULAR early release

Melody Frank and Jon Berliner

Special Education

Communications around Behavior or Attendance:

If you are writing up a log entry for attendance issues, or behaviors for a student who is on a general education 504 plan or a special education IEP - remember to copy and paste that entry and send home to the caregiver. PLEASE also CC the case manager/special educator. 

• This will allow our special educators to maintain awareness and understanding in the event follow up with student/caregiver is appropriate. 

Thank you all!

Quiet Space/Extended Time: We will not have a specific location, nor have the capacity to monitor a specific place. Please work with your case manager to identify what is needed with “extended time” and identifying a particular space if needed. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Vicki, Jon B, or Melody to ask about how we can collaborate

Vicki Hummer, Jon Berliner, Melody Frank

Updates from our Health Office 

 Coming soon as things seem to be always changing! 

Magge & Phil 

April Rule - our new Administrative Assistant  arrives 

Join us 10/19 - come welcome her and enjoy some coffee and bagels at 7:15 in the cafeteria 

 

 

Connected 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Staff Meeting  10/12 7:30 - 8:30 We will start in the cafeteria together	Objective:  To identify our individual goal for 2021-2022 Staff Meeting Calendar  Staff Meeting Agenda	Duane, Laurie or Meg
Advisory	Appreciations: Meg and Laurie for visiting a lot of TA groups throughout the week! Maggie Weintraub for beginning her visits with the 9th grade and soliciting current status information with our 9th grade students.  Connection Activity for the Week: Chelsea’s slide show of check ins Since we won’t see students on Monday, you might want to do a quick check in on Tuesday after the long weekend. This might be a good week to choose something from Chelsea’s Slideshow of check ins! Community/Teambuilding Activity for the Week: Four Up Everyone starts seated in a chair except for four people who will remain standing. A person can stand for no more than 5 seconds and then must sit down. As one person sits, another must stand up as there must always be 4 people standing. This is a great activity to build communication in your group. It also has the potential to lead to lots of laughs! Archived: Connection and Fun Friday ideas

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Staff Meeting 

10/12

7:30 - 8:30

We will start in the cafeteria together 

Objective: 

• To identify our individual goal for 2021-2022

Staff Meeting Calendar 

Staff Meeting Agenda 

Duane, Laurie or Meg

Advisory

Appreciations:

Meg and Laurie for visiting a lot of TA groups throughout the week!

Maggie Weintraub for beginning her visits with the 9th grade and soliciting current status information with our 9th grade students. 

Connection Activity for the Week:

Chelsea’s slide show of check ins

Since we won’t see students on Monday, you might want to do a quick check in on Tuesday after the long weekend. This might be a good week to choose something from Chelsea’s Slideshow of check ins!

Community/Teambuilding Activity for the Week:

Four Up

Everyone starts seated in a chair except for four people who will remain standing. A person can stand for no more than 5 seconds and then must sit down. As one person sits, another must stand up as there must always be 4 people standing. This is a great activity to build communication in your group. It also has the potential to lead to lots of laughs!

Archived: Connection and Fun Friday ideas