Teaching & Learning

• March 9th: Early Release
• March 20-April 28 KAP Assessments(ELA, Math, Science)
• March 6th, 7th, 9th LETRS training
• March 13th-17th: Spring Break
• March 20th: Inventory specialists from Asset Inventory Management will be in the district to conduct an on-site inventory. More information can be found here, Fixed Asset inventory

Assessments:

KELPA Testing Window January 30th-March 10th

KELPA Scoring Window January 30th-March 31st

District Assessment Schedule

Professional Learning Timeline

Each year, we must conduct a needs assessment in the area of professional learning. The feedback you provide assists in summer professional learning opportunities as well as throughout the year. If you have not already done so, please give your feedback here, https://forms.office.com/r/j22pH3gPjR. We are asking that this be completed by Friday, March 24th.

This notice is being sent in preparation for potential Horizontal Salary Movement for the 2023-24 Contract year. You are required to notify Human Resources if you intend to move Horizontally on the Certified Salary Schedule for the 2023-24 Contract Year by filling out the Electronic Form here: https://forms.office.com/r/WzU16AUNLU.

This form helps us gather information regarding any Continuing Education Graduate Credit, and/or Professional Development Points you have earned since your last Horizontal move. June 1st is the deadline but the sooner your information is received, the quicker we can process and validate your information; May 1, 2023, as the PRIORITY DEADLINE.

PLEASE NOTE: Per the most recent round of HNEA Negotiations, this is the LAST YEAR that you can advance Horizontally using only "Knowledge" points. Effective June 2, 2023, PDC points will have to be for "Application" and/or "Impact". Per associated negotiations, there are also updates regarding Micro Credentials and a new threshold for the number of PDC points that can be applied per year for Horizontal Salary Movement. These new guidelines are applicable in preparation for 2024-25 school year. It is highly recommended to click the link below for the details: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1196/USD_489/2817660/Horizontal_Movement_2023-2025.pdf

Buller has been selected for Cosmosphere’s 2023 LaunchLearning Fellowship. She is a 6th grade science teacher at Hays Middle School. The teachers selected for the fellowship demonstrate outstanding commitment to excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Rupp was recently named the 2022-23 Kansas Middle School Athletic Director of the Year Award by Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association (KIAAA).

Braun was recently named KS Master Teacher of the Year 2023. He teaches gifted students throughout the district.

Tyler Smith, Wilson Elementary, is using Read&Write for speech to text and the prediction tool. He likes how he can write longer sentences, and he thinks the keyboard looks cool!

Heather Wellbrock is a Resource Teacher at Wilson Elementary. Heather loves how using Read&Write helps her students access grade level content. She especially loves how great it works when doing research projects!

We've all been told that to take care of others, we first have to take care of ourselves, yet most of us are terrible at this concept. Our hearts bleed for those who need us; if we aren't careful, the cost of caring may be your health and happiness. As you continue to read, I want you to consider what credits and debits you incur in your self-care account...READ MORE HERE

Left to right: Anna Schonthaler & Shelly Westhusin, Brittany Baldwin & Karen Smith, Yvette Moritz & Rebekah Rork

If you have been with the district for some time, you might remember Thinking Maps by David Hyerle – see pic below. I’d love to get my hands on this product, so if you have it in your files, please let Shanna Dinkel know, sdinkel@usd489.com. Thanks!

Please read the following information regarding travel.

REGULATIONS FOR TRAVEL

Our business office ran an audit of the first nine weeks of school and found the following:

• 48 Professional Meeting Absences were not entered into Skyward
• 50 Sick Leave (illness, personal, funeral) absences were not entered into Skyward

All leave tracking and balances are maintained in Skyward and, therefore ALL leave must be requested in Skyward. This includes allocated leaves (sick leave, personal leave etc.) uncharged leaves (professional development, student activity, etc.), as well as special leaves (Family Serious Illness, Jury Duty, etc.). Linked here is a document outlining the process for requesting ANY type of leave.

CLICK HERE!

This is a great workshop for teachers to attend. They will receive a stipend for attending and also for travel and lodging. Click here for more information.

Students will be assessed in the spring with a summative assessment for ELA, Math, and Science. History Government Social Studies will administer a Classroom-Based Assessment. See this 2022-23 Kansas Assessment Program Overview for specific grade levels and testing windows.

PLC Chair Members

Subject Area Committee Members

ELA & Math SAC updates can be found here

March 2023

On behalf of Dr. Paul Adams, please find attached flyers that detail options for professional learning opportunities for teachers at FHSU. These are great opportunities for your teachers to take advantage of, and they do offer college credit. If you happen to have any teachers interested, please go to our SMEI website to sign up. www.fhsu.edu/smei If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

CLICK HERE FOR FLYERS

A family member of a HMS student who works at the National Weather Service Training Center in Kansas City, MO, reached out to offer this information – the NWS Outreach program has created NWS Virtual Talks to bring the excitement of the Weather Service to students K-12. More info can be found at this link, https://www.weather.gov/education/school-outreach.

The all-new Gizmos experience is coming next school year—and we’ve got all-new help resources to get you ready!

• Intro video (3:26 minutes) about essential features of the new Gizmos experience
• Teacher Quick Start Guide with step-by-step instructions for creating classes, rostering students, and more (for accounts not using rostering services)
• Admin Quick Start Guide with step-by-step instructions for inviting educators, setting up student rosters, and more (for accounts not using rostering services)
• Gizmos Adventurer Basecamp free virtual learning community where Gizmos users share with and learn from each other (and our PD team)

We can’t wait to get you hands-on with the new Gizmos experience. Watch for even more help resources in August and learn more at our Help Center.

-The ExploreLearning Team

District Reading Materials folder

March 2023

The best phonics instruction is explicit, systematic, and engaging. The recent national conversation around Science of Reading clarifies the important role of phonics in early reading development. Download these three research eBooks by Wiley Blevins, author of From Phonics to Reading for Grades K–3, and discover the importance of strong phonics instruction.

The Effects of Using Decodable Texts with Systematic Instruction

Learn what Wiley Blevins found in his research study on the potential impact decodable texts have on early reading and spelling growth as well as motivation to read

Phonics Instructional Guide: Multiple Tiers for Success

The phonics instruction we deliver must be based on our awareness of grade-level reading demands while simultaneously meeting students where they are.

The Phonics Instructional Guide: Multisensory/Multimodal Instruction

Effective and efficient phonics lessons incorporate multimodal instruction. Activities should engage a student’s multiple senses, yet focus on a direct connection to authentic reading and writing experiences.

K-5 teachers, please complete this form, https://forms.office.com/r/fmkpFuxzSm, in regards to instructional materials used, needed for next year.

If interested in attending, contact Shanna Dinkel.

Join us on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Emporia State University for our annual math conference. At this all-day conference, participants will network with preschool through post-secondary educators and select breakout sessions in the following strands:

• Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices
• Math Connections in STEAM
• Math and Social Emotional Learning or Trauma-Informed Practices
• Addressing the Needs of Students with Learning Exceptionalities

Breakfast and snacks will be provided. Graduate-level credit will be available.

Go to our events page to register! www.katm.org/events

MARCH 2023

KS Department of Education: https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx

Speech/Language Pathologist: https://www.ksha.org/licensing.php

KS Board of Nursing: https://www.kansas.gov/ksbn-verifications/search/records

KS Board of Healing Arts: Link does not work. Go to website.

KS Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board: https://licensing.ks.gov/Verification_BSRB/Search.aspx

Staff should be able to submit maintenance tickets through ClassLink.

Once logged into ClassLink, staff should see a maintenance helpdesk icon. If you don’t see the helpdesk, you may need to switch your profile.

IT shared these steps to follow:

Switching Profiles

1. Click on profile dropdown arrow on top right by your picture
2. Select profile menu
3. Select appropriate profile - either Teacher or Staff

Free Lessons

Click here for more information!

For More Information: HirePaths - Connect Your Kids to In-Demand Careers

For more information and FAQ's, click here

Our Purpose: Provide educators with assistance so students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be successful...read more here

WCKSEC Lending Library.xlsx: Contact - Shaley Sciacca

Curriculum Library: Contact - Gabriela Schmidt

Events & Resources

• March: The Incredible 5-pt Scale
• April: Classroom Strategies

IF YOU MISSED A TRAINING, CLICK HERE FOR HANDOUTS & VIDEOS

• Logging into FastBridge for the First Time
• Forgotten Password
• FAST Assessment Estimated Administration Times
• Quick Sheets, Student Materials and Demo Videos can be Accessed on the Assessment Page HERE
• How To Access the List of Student Usernames & Passwords for Your Building
  

Creating an Incident in eduClimber

Link to Seesaw’s info about the new messaging feature (including short videos).

The "one app" piece still requires you to sign out as a "teacher" and sign in as a "student" to see things in the class Marie and Allison made (on cell phone or iPad). But the rest of that part about the updated app is still correct.

A Teaching and Learning SeeSaw (elementary) and Canvas (secondary) page has been created and shared with teachers throughout the district. The goal for creating these courses is to share resources, dates, and general information in a one-stop-shop method. In the course you will find a calendar with PD dates, assessment windows, days off, early releases, etc. You will also find resource folders/modules with several tutorials or info for FastBridge, eduCLIMBER, ELA, Math, Progress Monitoring, and more. If there is anything you would like to see added to this page let Allison or Marie know.