Shout Out
Shout out to John Carey on the birth of his first granddaughter, Daisy Grace. Her big brother Dylan is very excited about her arrival.
Shout out to Team PACE for opening their classrooms and practice to BPS for a walkthrough on Friday. It is amazing to see the progress that has been made in the last few years and how many of our students are now included for parts of or the whole day. Thank you to your dedication to students with ASD and for always having high expectations for them!
International Week Update
Hopefully you have all scheduled International Week exchanges for this week… please remember to take photos and send 2-3 of your favorites to Amika as soon as possible! She will be around to collect stamps and room signs by the end of the day on Wednesday. If you do not see her, please leave them (and any other resources borrowed) in the teacher’s room before you leave for the long weekend.
Early Release
We will dismiss early on Wednesday, November 23rd for the Thanksgiving Holiday at 12:30pm. A schedule for the day can be found here. Please email David Diaz with any questions or concerns.
Are You Thankful for Someone?
This year one of the Climate Team’s goals is to foster deeper connections among staff. Therefore, we’ll be sending out periodic connection challenges. To kick off these challenges, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’ll be leaving a “Thank You” card in your mailbox. We encourage you to send one to a colleague. We’d like to get each adult in the building a card. Teachers, we’ve left a card in your box, but if you have other adults in your room, please grab extra cards from either office. Supplies are limited so please only take one per adult. Thank you in advance for taking on this challenge and spreading the good will around the upcoming holiday. - Climate Team
New Staff Member
Caroline Braun (cab251@mail.harvard.edu) will be joining us for the next two months as she seeks her administrative license. Below is a picture and bio of her. Please welcome her into your classroom and meetings.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Caroline F. Braun earned her BA in English and Modern Foreign Languages - Spanish from the James Madison University in Virginia. Upon graduating, Caroline joined Teach For America and taught Spanish, English, ESL, and math intervention at a charter high school and middle and high turnaround schools in the Bay Area of California. In her tenure as a teacher, Caroline worked as a department chair and grade-level lead, as a new teacher mentor and master teacher, and as the teacher liaison on the professional development committee and school improvement/accountability professional learning community. Currently, Caroline is pursuing an Ed.M. in School Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and hopes to work in school administration next year.
Artifacts
All artifacts must be uploaded to EDFS by December 15th. Administrators need time to review artifacts prior to writing Formatives. Please remember that 2-3 items should be uploaded for each goal (Student Learning & Professional Practice) AND each standard (I, II, III, IV). This means around 12-18 artifacts, we know you are doing many amazing things but uploading more than that makes it challenging to review each item thoroughly. Be sure that there is evidence tagged to each goal and standard. Also note that it is just as important to include a thorough description of what you uploaded. Do no assume that the evaluator will know why you choose to upload a particular document. Please let your evaluator know if you have any questions.
STAR Math Assessment Window(Gr. 3-8 Only)
The winter screening window for the STAR Math Assessment is December 5 – 9. This assessment will give us growth data for our students. Please make sure that you have looked at the data from the first assessment to identify students in the urgent intervention and intervention category. Use Stars data analysis to begin thinking of ways to support these students growth so that they can start to move out of urgent intervention to intervention and intervention to on watch. If as a grade level you need support doing this please email Sean Guthrie to schedule a grade level meeting. The STAR website can be accessed by all students using the STAR bookmark on Chromebooks. Student user names and passwords are the same as STAR Reading. Students can use blank scratch paper and a pencil while testing, but no calculators or reference materials are allowed. Just a reminder, students must sign into Chromebooks using their email address and password – not as “guest”. Grade level teams should arrange to share access to Chromecarts so that all students are tested during the screening window. Please contact Sean Guthrie if you have any questions.Arts Team Fundraiser
Most (homeroom) teachers have received their students order forms. If you have not yet handed them out to the students please do so as soon as you can.Couple logistics:
- If you get orders please send them to Mrs. Youman's (004 upper school) room or put them in my box. I will leave it up to you whether you want to keep collecting them and then give them to me all at once or if you want to send them down as you receive the order.
- Paper order forms due MONDAY NOVEMBER 21 by the end of the day.
- Orders can be done online until WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23.
- Missing work: There are some students that may be missing an order form- I have blank order forms printed (and have attached a digital copy) and students may submit a work of art (8.5 x 11) and the order form by next Monday and their order will be processed in the same manner as the rest. There is also a letter explaining how to include their student attached.
- We will receive all orders DECEMBER 16 and then pass them out so the students will have their orders before winter break.
Teach Plus Classes and Programs
DeWe know that you must have the opportunity to learn from and share information with each other. You are invited to join a dynamic group of educators as part of the Teacher-Led Practice Network. Through these Collaborative Networks, you will acquire new resources, strategies, and information that will empower you to refine your instructional practices. Together, you will learn, apply, reflect and adjust to create meaningful impact for your students. Joining a Collaborative Network is free and offers the opportunity to earn graduate credit from UMass Boston or PDPs, plus, free dinner.Warmly,
Sasha Zuflacht
Senior Program Coordinator, Massachusetts
How does it work?
The Teacher-Led Practice Network is a series of teacher-led, collaborative learning sessions.The TLPN focuses on improving your implementation of standards, instructional strategies, and practices in order to promote student learning and achievement. Network sessions are held once a month from December to May and cover a wide range of topics and content areas. Each session will result in new or improved standards- aligned practices and lessons for you to test in your classroom before the next monthly session. Collaborative Networks are listed below. Visit our website for full descriptions.- Click here to learn more and register now!
- Courses at the Mildred Avenue K-8 School in Mattapan
- Dates: Tuesdays from 4:30pm - 7:30pm, December 6, January 10, February 7, March 7, April 4, and May 2. Dinner provided.
- Early Childhood Student-Centered Collaborative Network (Grades K-2)
- Universal Design for Learning Collaborative Network (Grades 1-5)
- Differentiating to Include all Students Collaborative Network (Grades 3-12)
- Course at the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury
- Dates: Thursday from 4:30pm - 7:30pm, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 6 and May 4. Dinner provided. *Differentiating to Include all Students Collaborative Network (Grades 1-5) will run from 5:00pm - 8:00pm
- Universal Design for Learning Collaborative Network (Grades 5-8)
- Developing a Robust Understanding of Fractions Collaborative Network (Grades 3-5)
- Differentiating to Include all Students Collaborative Network (Grades 1-5)
- Do the Math: Getting Students Thinking and Talking about Math Collaborative Network (Grades 6-12)
WIT-Curley Partnership
Wellness in the Schools (WITs) is a national non-profit that inspires healthy eating, environmental awareness, and fitness as a way of life for kids in public schools. Through meaningful public-private partnerships, they work with schools to provide healthy, scratch-cooked meals, active recess periods, and fitness and nutrition education. Their partnership approach drives systemic, long-term change, shifting the entire culture of schools. In November, WITs completed a Needs Assessment of the Curley by touring the facility and interviewing students, staff, and district personnel. The Needs Assessment is used to determine the strengths and needs of our school. WITs have compiled the results of the Needs Assessment and would like to present this report to the community on Tuesday, Nov. 29 (3-5 pm). In order to facilitate school improvement, WITs would like for the Curley community to vote on the top three areas of change based on the report. Please join us to learn more about the outcome of the Needs Assessment and to vote on priority items. Babysitting will be available.
$1500 Early Retirement Incentive Out; Deadline January 13, 2017
In order to assist hiring for the 2017 - 2018 school year, the Boston Public Schools is offering a one-time incentive for early notification of termination to members of the BTU Teachers’ Unit.1. An individual must be a permanent BTU Teacher, have a minimum of ten (10) years of continuous service in the Boston Public Schools, and must meet the minimum age requirement of fifty-five (55) years.
2. Eligible employees presently on paid or unpaid leave of absence can apply.
3. The application, once accepted by the Office of Human Capital by execution of the Separation Agreement, is binding on both parties and irrevocable.
4. Applicants understand that the termination must be effective between June 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017.
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3. The application, once accepted by the Office of Human Capital by execution of the Separation Agreement, is binding on both parties and irrevocable.
4. Applicants understand that the termination must be effective between June 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017.
http://d31hzlhk6di2h5.
SPED PD Options
Below are some PD options being offered at the Curley during our contractual PD dates. Staff may want to include one or more of these into their team PD plan. Here is the link to sign up https://goo.gl/forms/
- Jan 19th --- Paperwork/IEP Progress Reports
- Feb 16th --- Tier 1 and Tier 2 Interventions/curriculum modification
- March 16th --- Behavior Supports
- April 27th --- Understanding Disabilities and Services available
- May 18th --- Middle School Transition/Life Skills
- June 1st --- Inclusion
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