Shout Out
Shout out to Christina Santos, Cara Hins, Sharon Ennis, Rose Rodriguez and Heide Signes for their patience and support when no subs took jobs this morning/subs did not show up. Thank you for your quick communication and ideas on how to solve the problem.
SIS
Check out SIS and see the new feature with students photos. This is very helpful for a large school and all of us learning to get to know one another. Sign on to SIS, click on any student, then click photo at the top next to demographic and you can see your students photos. (Thank you to Waverly for letting us use Lili for this example.)
SSC
Our next SSC Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 10th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in room 209. This will be our regularly scheduled meeting.
Winter Reading Benchmark Window (Grades 3-8 Only)
The winter reading benchmark period for ALL students is open from Wednesday, January 4th through Friday, January 13th. Winter benchmark activity can be scheduled during WIN block or other convenient time. To begin the assessment, students log into “STAR Reading” and begin testing. You can access the assessment at:https://hosted200.renlearn.com/8570/default.aspx
The site has been added as a favorite to the bookmarks on all Chromebooks. Testing should take 15-20 minutes. You should reserve computer carts in advance to assure that all testing is completed no later than January 13th. The data we are collecting provides valuable insight into students’ reading abilities. Please remind students of the importance of this testing and be sure that students are provided a quiet, distraction-free environment so that they can do their best.
Please contact Eileen Cronin if you have any questions.
Staff Social
Please join us for our January Staff Social on Friday, January 6th from 3pm-6pm at Costello's.
SPED & ESL Pathways
Are you interested in seeking ESL and SPED certifications?
The application deadline is Wednesday, January 18. Early consideration will be given to applications submitted on or before January 13. Programs begin at the end of January. These two programs, plus the Severe Disabilities Pathway, will be posted on My Learning Plan shortly. Please let Katie know if you are applying.
It's Party Time
2nd Annual Smile and Say Cheers New Year's Party
January 13, 2017 at 4:30pm Bella Luna
See your climate rep for more details.
2nd Annual Smile and Say Cheers New Year's Party
January 13, 2017 at 4:30pm Bella Luna
See your climate rep for more details.ACCESS Testing
Staff It is that time of year again to prepare for ACCESS: For people who were certified in grades K-3 last year for the paper-based test, kindergarten, and/or alternate ACCESS, only need to re-certify for the Speaking since we are administering the paper-based test again. All teachers in Grades 4-8 need to take the online training module.
New Staff or those who did not takes the training last year.
You will need to create an account on www.wida.us using username Massachusetts, password patriot. Create an account and follow the steps below.
Teachers in Kindergarten: sign into www.wida.us your account and take the kindergarten training module and quiz.
- Teachers in Grades 1-3: sign into www.wida.us and take the speaking grades 1-6 and paper administration modules and quizzes.
- All Teacher in grades 4-8: Sign into www.wida.us and take the online administration test.
- All teachers that have or service students that are ACCESS ALT will need to sign into their account and take the testing listed above as well as the Alternate ACCESS quiz.
- Any new non-teaching staff and administrators need to take kindergarten, speaking 1-6, paper and online. Once you have taken and passed the quizzes please bring in the completed certification to Kathy or Madeline by Friday January 6th 2017.
If you have any questions feel free to ask Waverly.
Staff It is that time of year again to prepare for ACCESS: For people who were certified in grades K-3 last year for the paper-based test, kindergarten, and/or alternate ACCESS, only need to re-certify for the Speaking since we are administering the paper-based test again. All teachers in Grades 4-8 need to take the online training module.
New Staff or those who did not takes the training last year.
You will need to create an account on www.wida.us using username Massachusetts, password patriot. Create an account and follow the steps below.
Teachers in Kindergarten: sign into www.wida.us your account and take the kindergarten training module and quiz.
Teachers in Kindergarten: sign into www.wida.us your account and take the kindergarten training module and quiz.
- Teachers in Grades 1-3: sign into www.wida.us and take the speaking grades 1-6 and paper administration modules and quizzes.
- All Teacher in grades 4-8: Sign into www.wida.us and take the online administration test.
- All teachers that have or service students that are ACCESS ALT will need to sign into their account and take the testing listed above as well as the Alternate ACCESS quiz.
- Any new non-teaching staff and administrators need to take kindergarten, speaking 1-6, paper and online. Once you have taken and passed the quizzes please bring in the completed certification to Kathy or Madeline by Friday January 6th 2017.
If you have any questions feel free to ask Waverly.
New Health and Wellness Policy
Starting January 2017, the Curley K-8 Community is implementing a Celebration and Reward Policy focused on the health and wellness of our community. This policy uses tools for academic success to recognize important events, exceptional behavior and teamwork in place of food and candy. At the Curley K-8 the majority of celebrations (holidays, birthdays, end of school year etc.) will be recognized without food/candy in the classroom. At the Curley K-8 exceptional behavior and/or teamwork will also be recognized without food/candy. This policy will be followed in after-school, school spots/clubs etc., the one exception to this is the PACE program. Please communicate this policy with students and families when we return from winter break and at the beginning of each academic year. The policy has been mentioned to families in the Paw Prints and a memo about it will go home in backpacks. The detailed policy is attached which includes ideas to recognize these events without food/candy and what to do in the event a family brings in treats for a classroom birthday celebration. We are also asking teachers to develop a way to recognize these events that is uniform across each grade level. Thank you for your support to help take care of our community.
Starting January 2017, the Curley K-8 Community is implementing a Celebration and Reward Policy focused on the health and wellness of our community. This policy uses tools for academic success to recognize important events, exceptional behavior and teamwork in place of food and candy. At the Curley K-8 the majority of celebrations (holidays, birthdays, end of school year etc.) will be recognized without food/candy in the classroom. At the Curley K-8 exceptional behavior and/or teamwork will also be recognized without food/candy. This policy will be followed in after-school, school spots/clubs etc., the one exception to this is the PACE program. Please communicate this policy with students and families when we return from winter break and at the beginning of each academic year. The policy has been mentioned to families in the Paw Prints and a memo about it will go home in backpacks. The detailed policy is attached which includes ideas to recognize these events without food/candy and what to do in the event a family brings in treats for a classroom birthday celebration. We are also asking teachers to develop a way to recognize these events that is uniform across each grade level. Thank you for your support to help take care of our community.
Wanted – Samples of Student Work That Address Instructional Focus
STOP! Before you send home all that work from the last four months, please see if you have any samples of student work that address our instructional focus and put them aside for the new year. We will be creating a bulletin board to showcase how Curley students are able to “express a clear and organized idea”. Cross-content examples of student work are particularly welcomed! More details will be forthcoming after winter break. Please contact Eileen Cronin with any questions.
STOP! Before you send home all that work from the last four months, please see if you have any samples of student work that address our instructional focus and put them aside for the new year. We will be creating a bulletin board to showcase how Curley students are able to “express a clear and organized idea”. Cross-content examples of student work are particularly welcomed! More details will be forthcoming after winter break. Please contact Eileen Cronin with any questions.
Special Education Report Update
To all Staff,
In order to maintain compliance with DESE and Boston Public Schools requirements, As of January 4th ,2017, Jessica and I will be requiring all reports by 8AM two days before the IEP meeting. We sincerely appreciate all your hard work and we understand sometimes deadlines are difficult however reports must, by law, be available to parents and other TEAM members by that two day deadline. Thank you in advance. This is necessary to adhere to state guidelines and for coordinators to ensure that the necessary paperwork is complete and services are in place before the meetings. This also helps us prepare for OR/RE/URs.
For example:
- Monday meetings -- by 8AM the Thursday before
- Tuesday meetings -- by 8AM the Friday before
- Wednesday meetings -- by 8 AM Monday
- Thursday meetings -- by 8AM Tuesday
- Friday meetings -- by 8 AM Wednesday
Thank you - Karen and Jessica
To all Staff,
In order to maintain compliance with DESE and Boston Public Schools requirements, As of January 4th ,2017, Jessica and I will be requiring all reports by 8AM two days before the IEP meeting. We sincerely appreciate all your hard work and we understand sometimes deadlines are difficult however reports must, by law, be available to parents and other TEAM members by that two day deadline. Thank you in advance. This is necessary to adhere to state guidelines and for coordinators to ensure that the necessary paperwork is complete and services are in place before the meetings. This also helps us prepare for OR/RE/URs.
For example:
- Monday meetings -- by 8AM the Thursday before
- Tuesday meetings -- by 8AM the Friday before
- Wednesday meetings -- by 8 AM Monday
- Thursday meetings -- by 8AM Tuesday
- Friday meetings -- by 8 AM Wednesday
Thank you - Karen and Jessica
School Previews
We are looking for family volunteers to support our upcoming School Previews. These are building tours for perspective families and Curley families help to lead and share information from a parent’s point of view. All families are welcome to participate and no prior experience is necessary (we will partner you up with others). The preview dates will take place on Friday, January 13th from 9am-1pm and Monday, January 23rd from 3pm-4pm. Please email Arusha Hollister (arusha_h@yahoo.com) if you Doodle Poll: Doodle: Curley Preview Tours
We are looking for family volunteers to support our upcoming School Previews. These are building tours for perspective families and Curley families help to lead and share information from a parent’s point of view. All families are welcome to participate and no prior experience is necessary (we will partner you up with others). The preview dates will take place on Friday, January 13th from 9am-1pm and Monday, January 23rd from 3pm-4pm. Please email Arusha Hollister (arusha_h@yahoo.com) if you Doodle Poll: Doodle: Curley Preview Tours
$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.
http://d31hzlhk6di2h5.
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.
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.
http://d31hzlhk6di2h5.
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
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