March 5 - And the march begins...

 

It's time to start re-imagining Peoples Academy and thinking about what our school could look and feel like when we move into a new normal.......maybe, hopefully, by this fall?! We have an opportunity to learn from our experiences during the Pandemic/Hybrid Learning and reshape how we do things. 

Thus, during Best Practice this week we will begin to reflect more deeply and purposefully on our experiences with Hybrid Learning. As a heads up, You will be given time during Best Practice to complete this Hybrid Learning Questionnaire. Then, we will split into small groups for deeper discussion. We will likely do this a few more times this Spring.  If you like to do your thinking and reflecting on your own time and ahead of time, you can pop into the above linked form and answer the questions whenever you want (but save your answers). We think it will take you 15 +/- minutes to complete the questions. 

The above described step, reflecting and talking amongst ourselves, is part of a bigger process that will include gathering feedback and ideas from PA students and parents. The purpose of this work is to gather as much information and ideas as possible to influence our thinking and planning for reimagining a new normal at PA. 

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This Week's Link(s): 

30 Strategies to Engage students in Zoom (or Google Meet): For those of you who are meeting with classes for extended time in Google Meet or want to do more of it, check out the above link for some good ideas. 

Simple ways to self monitor for Bias : Before reading this brief article, think about the various marginalized students in your classes from race to socio-economic to gender and all others. Consider applying this broad lens to the article. 

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Updates: 

REDO Procedures:  Thanks for your comments and ideas related to our use of Redo Procedures. While we still have work to do to make best use of this procedure and other elements of PBL, for the time being, please ensure the following with your students: 

    - Make sure your students know there is a redo procedure in your classes

     - Make sure it is accessible to all of your students, especially those who might struggle to advocate for themselves or struggle with process/executive functioning

     - Be clear with your students that redo is about giving students more opportunity to demonstrate a skill or understanding that they didn’t earlier. Thus, redo requires more demonstration of practice before attempting a mastery assessment. 

     - Consider getting feedback from your students on how you approach redo

Example questions

- Do you know my procedure?

- Do you take advantage of it?

- Do you have suggestions for changing the procedure or anything you’d like me to know?

- Example Form to gather info quickly from your students

Summer Opportunity: We are beginning to consider summer proficiency recovery options for students. If you are interested in helping with flexible summer opportunities for teaching, please  speak with the PA guidance department. 

REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE: Please be advised that reimbursements for purchases using personal funds will now require a bank/credit card statement in addition to the receipt of payment.  If you need to make purchases please follow the PO process and the latest memo from central office.  Thanks

BUDGET FREEZE:  Please start thinking about your 2nd semester movement of department funds.  April 1 is the date that funds will be frozen.  Ideally, it would be preferable to have all requisitions submitted PRIOR to MARCH 26.  

REMINDER: As of Dec. 31st COVID days are NO longer available to use in Frontline.  The option is currently there due to technical hurdles, which is confusing.  Please use Personal, Sick, Vacation, etc. to enter days missed with pertaining information in the Notes section.  Thank you!

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Calendar

3/10 -  Best Practice 8:00 am Theme: a favorite book

3/16 - Best Practice 8am

3/16 - SBAC testing window opens

3/18 - Early Release

3/18-19 - Conferences and In-service

3/31 - 3rd Quarter Ends

4/2 - Early Release - Grading

4/19-23 - April Spring Break

 PA Weekly Athletics Schedule

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TA (Teacher Advisory) 

Activity: Announcements & short video,  then.......at 9:10 SCHOOLWIDE KAHOOT created by the Culture Committee: players will need both a computer/chromebook and a separate device to play the Kahoot. Dan will send a google meet link out and the game code, once the Kahoot is completed and this will be in the challenge write up in TA announcements. 

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Schoolwide Happenings: 

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Celebrations: 

A big THANK YOU to Sheila, Michele and Tarah for the fresh new look in the faculty room!

Congratulations Dylan Haskins!  Dylan has been chosen to represent Vermont in the 46th Lions Twin State Soccer game on July 17th.  He will join other boys and girls from Vermont to play against seniors representing New Hampshire. 

Happy Birthday

Matt Yoskowitz  Mar. 2

Dixie Bolio  Mar. 9