Team Westport
As you can see there are some drastic changes to the Newsletter. This change is designed to help make reading the newsletter more user friendly, while also making sure we have all the information you need in your hands. This format and the links may take a few weeks to be completed, and there may be minor tweaks made as all the Westport contributors adjust to the submission differences, so please be patient and give the team some grace.
Now on the right side panel will be the following:
Week at a Glance (WAAG)
Social Committee Connection
Cooperative Learning Corner
Counseling Corner
Must Do/ May Do
Nurses Corner
Wellness Window
Elementary PBIS
Middle School PBIS2
Attendance (includes class winners & buddies)
Monthly Staff & Student Spotlight
Monthly Instructional Focus
Westport Mission & Vision
Mission: Leverage the strengths of the Westport community to ensure academic growth for ALL!
Vision: Westport will be a venue for academic success!
Westport’s Collective Commitments: Our Team will:
Make decisions which are student-centered and aligned to our WHY!
Be present to model consistent processes and expectations!
Leverage learning opportunities to increase instructional minutes!
Presume positive intent in order to maintain positive mindsets!
Staff #Read2Succeed Support
ACTION REQUIRED: Lots of staff read alouds are still needed! Here is the LINK for your read aloud video submission. #Read2Succeed
Guiding Coalition Update
The guiding coalition met at the end of October to share building feedback on ideas around planning for Instruction. Specifically, members shared their thoughts around instructional planning and the use of Focus Boards & Lesson Planning. This information was then shared with Dr. Lathan and was used to establish the essential expectations for what should be visible for students in the classroom. The feedback provided from across the building helped to frame expectations we will maintain for the school year.
Between now and Thanksgiving Break, the guiding coalition will share with you. This will be done either briefly in PLTs or at an upcoming staff meeting. Provided in this information will be examples and a brief Q & A if necessary.
Community of Practice Feedback
Thank you all for welcoming leadership from around the district into our community. Their perspectives were insightful and provided our instructional team the ability to view our building and classrooms from a different perspective.
Below is a synopsis of the noticings and wonderings the team compiled (click on slide image, then use pdf viewer online to open). Our guiding coalition's next steps are to take this analysis and begin implementing practices, which will support our work as we become a venue for academic success.
District Announcements
Early Incentive
Springfield Public Schools is dedicated to retaining, supporting and recruiting the best teachers, leaders and staff to meet the needs of students. Identifying potential vacancies for the upcoming school year as early as possible helps SPS fill these positions with qualified candidates.
SPS already has in place, for eligible employees, an early notification incentive for contracted (under either a Teacher, Administrator or Professional Employment Contract) and for non-contracted employees per Board Policy GCPB and Collective Bargaining Agreement requirements, as applicable to the position.
This year, it is also critical to identify staffing needs early to support the ongoing work of developing next year's budget, which is anticipated to require a $7.5 million reduction in expenditures. A $1,500 one-time incentive has been approved for early notification of separation submitted by Nov. 30, 2024, for employees who meet eligibility criteria. Review all eligibility requirements for this incentive here. Employees who do not meet these eligibility requirements may still be eligible for one of the early notification incentives per Board Policy GCPB.
Family Support Service Office Transition
The following individuals have taken over the roles listed below as the Family Support Office transitions.
Homebound Services - Health Services & SPED (Lee Ann Neill)
Attendance Services - Student Services (Courtney Martin)
Family Resource Distribution - Health Services (Lee Ann Neill)
District Events - Communications (Jessica Blake/Ben Hackenwerth)
OFH & Backpack Program - Counseling Services (Alison Roffers)
Juvenile Justice/Youth Gun Violence Collaborative - (Michelle Gavel)
SCPTA District Rep - Access and Opportunity (Michelle Gavel)
Wrap Around Services Liaison (Ben Hackenwerth)
Thanksgiving Break
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I want to share with you plans for employee work schedules that week. SPS students are scheduled to be out of school the entire week of Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-29. District offices will be closed Nov. 27-29.
To allow employees some flexibility, work schedules will be modified the week of Thanksgiving. As duties allow, employees who are scheduled to work Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, may work remotely. Some employees (i.e. custodial, maintenance, school police, technology) will be required to report to work on Monday for necessary onsite responsibilities, but they will have the day off on Tuesday. These individuals will receive details about their work schedule from their supervisors.
District offices will remain open and office staff will work remotely Nov. 25-26. SPS will post the holiday schedule with district contact information through Let’s Talk at all SPS buildings. Administrative office buildings will also remain open to employees who may need to access the buildings on these days.
Please note: If you are already scheduled to be absent (PTO, Illness, Vacation, FMLA, etc.) your absence will be processed accordingly. If you do not want to be available for remote work Nov. 25-26, you must enter an absence into Frontline per board policy. Please refer any questions to your direct supervisor or Human Resources.
Math Curriculum Update
No comments:
Post a Comment