Harwood Staff Blog update, October 29. 2021

Introductory Paragraph:  

Thank you for filling the suggestion box! 

We heard you and did our best to respond accordingly:

• Collective Effort and support around hallways, lunches and bathrooms - we will continue to increase our presence in classrooms and hallways and are working with students to address the inappropriate use of bathrooms and how we can work as a community to make these spaces safe for all.  

• Fac/Staff Calendar has been updated 

• Staff meeting will end at 8:20 to allow for transition time to your classrooms to greet students

• The Middle School team will have as much staff meeting time as possible.  The staff meeting calendar has been updated to reflect it accordingly.

• Administration will be included in the daily Staff in/out list.

• From one of your colleagues - a call to us all:  ​​”that all faculty use student bathrooms and always check in with kids hanging out there, even if they don't look in distress. I just always say "hi" as I go into stall and "you doing okay?" as I wash hands.”

• The Blog will go out Thursday night to ensure all are able to read it prior to Monday morning.

• Reassurance that we recognize all are doing their best and empathy and support as we continue to navigate these challenging times.

• Duane will be present in the Gallery from 8:15 - 8:40 each morning to supervise ariving students.   

• TIME - we continue to look at inservice schedules, staff meetings and tasks and prioritize only the essential.  We recognize there is no one size fits all for everyone but are continually challenging ourselves to ensure that we prioritize:

• TA in order to support the much needed SEL of our community

• Safety

• Systems

• Dep’t & Team time  

We are all doing what we can.

Let’s work to support each other and assume the best of our students and each other.

With gratitude and in partnership,

Meg, Laurie and Duane 

Important Information 

11/02 Inservice Schedule	A new addition for those in need of license renewal support. 8:30 - 9:30 in room 123 - Tedin and Jeannie will be holding a workshop/Informational session.
Sub Coordinator	April Rule will be taking over as the sub coordinator as of Monday, November 1st.  A HUGE thank you to Lynda for all her work the last 6 weeks! If you need to reach April at home, her number is 802-388-0837. (Please note this is a land line phone and not a cell phone).
The week of 11/1	There is no ELO on Wednesday 11/3. Because 11/2 is inservice (no school for students), Wednesday 11/3 will run like a Tuesday.

11/02 Inservice Schedule

A new addition for those in need of license renewal support.

8:30 - 9:30 in room 123 - Tedin and Jeannie will be holding a workshop/Informational session.

Sub Coordinator 

April Rule will be taking over as the sub coordinator as of Monday, November 1st.  A HUGE thank you to Lynda for all her work the last 6 weeks! If you need to reach April at home, her number is 802-388-0837. (Please note this is a land line phone and not a cell phone). 

The week of 11/1

There is no ELO on Wednesday 11/3. Because 11/2 is inservice (no school for students), Wednesday 11/3 will run like a Tuesday.

 Calendar Update

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri
Morning		Inservice - NO students	Run as a Tuesday schedule	10:35 - lock down drill
Afternoon
Evening

Staff Member	Appreciations
Brian Anderson	For picking up trash out front in order to support our community in feeling a sense of pride.  Thank you for modeling for all of us what collective effort looks like.
Kristi McKnight	For your leadership of the 9th grade team and your insight.
Andrew Reid	For helping us all pause and breath at the start of assembly this week and for your encouragement to dress up for Halloween to bring some positive energy to the community.
Molly, Bruce, Chris and Steve	For your incredible work on the ground and behind the scenes of Assembly.
Chelsea	For your continued candor, honesty, important feedback and consequent partnership as we work towards ensuring all our students feel safe - seen, heard, respected and understood.
Matt Henchen	For leaning in - opening up the conversation, listening deeply, sharing candidly and for your trust.
Jen , Elizabeth ., Jodie C.  and Skylar B	For your extraordinary efforts in handling some of the pressing behavioral challenges in the middle school.  It is very much appreciated!
Kevin	For your honesty, suggestions and your positive energy at all times.
Becky Busker	For being a person students trust and ensuring they feel safe - seen, heard, respected and understood.
Alex Rawson	For his attention to building a positive community for students and staff

Curious

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Wrapping up Q1	Quarter 1 is DONE! (For both middle and high school.) Here are a few important reminders and dates to keep in mind. Action items are highlighted. All semester classes and year-long classes continue, but the first Flex block ends (new assignments are in Adaptive Scheduler). Please fill out and return your pink Flex block score sheet to me by the end of the day Tuesday, November 2. Scores in courses are all ongoing (nothing "closes" at the end of Q1), but we ask all scores to be as up-to-date as possible so that we can take a "snapshot" of how students are doing. In JumpRope, please include a comment for any student who is not currently meeting course expectations (any 9th grader with course score <1.8, any 10-12th grader with course score <2.6). To add comments, go to the "class comments" tab. All updates in JumpRope must be completed by the end of the day Thursday, November 4. DO NOT enter any scores for new assessments (those with a due date after 10/29) in JumpRope until we have notified you (by email) that progress reports have been sent.	Jess Deane
Assembly	Next Assembly Nov. 9th at 10:45 & 11:20	Steve Rand and Molly Clark

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Wrapping up Q1 

Quarter 1 is DONE! (For both middle and high school.) Here are a few important reminders and dates to keep in mind. Action items are highlighted.

• All semester classes and year-long classes continue, but the first Flex block ends (new assignments are in Adaptive Scheduler).

• Please fill out and return your pink Flex block score sheet to me by the end of the day Tuesday, November 2.

• Scores in courses are all ongoing (nothing "closes" at the end of Q1), but we ask all scores to be as up-to-date as possible so that we can take a "snapshot" of how students are doing.

• In JumpRope, please include a comment for any student who is not currently meeting course expectations (any 9th grader with course score <1.8, any 10-12th grader with course score <2.6). To add comments, go to the "class comments" tab.

• All updates in JumpRope must be completed by the end of the day Thursday, November 4.

• DO NOT enter any scores for new assessments (those with a due date after 10/29) in JumpRope until we have notified you (by email) that progress reports have been sent.

Jess Deane

Assembly 

Next Assembly Nov. 9th at 10:45 & 11:20 

Steve Rand and Molly Clark 

Caring 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
Updates from our Health Office	COVID Surveillance Testing: Monday, 11/1:  Staff testing 7:30-9 (Ok to come later) HS testing 9-11 (in front of HS gym) MS testing 11-12 (in MS Common room) New testing programs are on the horizon. We will keep you posted as these evolve.   Thank you for all of your help!	Magge & Phil

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

Updates from our Health Office 

COVID Surveillance Testing: Monday, 11/1: 

Staff testing 7:30-9 (Ok to come later)

HS testing 9-11 (in front of HS gym)

MS testing 11-12 (in MS Common room)

New testing programs are on the horizon. We will keep you posted as these evolve.  

Thank you for all of your help! 

Magge & Phil 

Connected 

Topics	Information/Links	Contact(s)
FYI re: entrance to the cafeteria	On November 2nd - the blue tile outside the cafeteria will be waxed. Please access  the cafeteria  through Kate's Garden hallway only.	Ray
Tech Update	​​New staff devices arrived yesterday! We will be sending out a form by the end of the day to verify the devices staff currently have before dispersing the new ones. Our focus is on those with the greatest need but we want to collect as many laptop asset tags as possible. We would like everyone who has a school issued laptop (Chromebook, PC, Mac, Windows) device to complete the form.	Peter Deiderich
Secure the Building	On Thursday at 10:35 we will do a Secure the Building drill. Time is allocated on Tuesday to review the plan and prepare but in case you want a sneak peek here are the details.	Duane
November conference details	When? Thursday, November 11 or Tuesday, November 16, from 3:30-7:00 TA form letter to send out to parents in order to schedule conferences. How do I sign up? Select the date, time and method of meeting that works best for you on this document *time is allocated on Tuesday to send out communication and prepare.

Topics 

Information/Links

Contact(s) 

FYI re: entrance to the cafeteria

On November 2nd - the blue tile outside the cafeteria will be waxed. Please access  the cafeteria  through Kate's Garden hallway only.

Ray

Tech Update 

• ​​New staff devices arrived yesterday! We will be sending out a form by the end of the day to verify the devices staff currently have before dispersing the new ones. Our focus is on those with the greatest need but we want to collect as many laptop asset tags as possible. We would like everyone who has a school issued laptop (Chromebook, PC, Mac, Windows) device to complete the form. 

Peter Deiderich

Secure the Building 

On Thursday at 10:35 we will do a Secure the Building drill. Time is allocated on Tuesday to review the plan and prepare but in case you want a sneak peek here are the details.

Duane 

November conference details 

When? Thursday, November 11 or Tuesday, November 16, from 3:30-7:00

TA form letter to send out to parents in order to schedule conferences.

How do I sign up? Select the date, time and method of meeting that works best for you on this document

*time is allocated on Tuesday to send out communication and prepare.