Updates and Reminders for 2-6-02 from the Office of Instruction and School Improvement...
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE. NOTE DEADLINES BELOW.
===================================
All Principal Meeting; Friday, February 8th @ 1:15, Room 23 of the Administration Center
===================================
Latest agenda available at --> http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/principal_meetings/2-08-02agenda.htm
===================================
Koalaty Kid Conference and Training Update!
===================================
The District has grant funds to send up to 20 participants to the National Koalaty Kid conference in Schaumburg, IL (April 21-23, 2002). This would be an excellent opportunity to have you and some of your staff gain first hand knowledge of what Koalaty Kid is, network with other Koalaty Kid schools and view "best practices" and real examples of P-D-S-A. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.asq.org/ed/conferences/koalatykid/index.html. Please contact me if you and/or your staff are interested in attending. The deadline to contact me if interested is Wednesday, February 20th.
The District will be offering training for up to 3 building leadership team to be trained in the Koalaty Kid approach to continuous improvement. Tentative training dates for training are: April 18t
h, 19th, May 2nd, 3rd, during the school day and (summer) June 20th. These dates are flexible and dependent on interested school/participant schedules. The deadline to contact me if interested is Wednesday, February 20th.
========================= ==========
SOAR Training and Materials Available (grades 3-6)!
===================================
Many of you expressed interest in having staff be trained in SOAR to Success. Concern was also expressed about the expense of the materials. Have you considered using this grades 3-6 strategy as part of your plan for academic intervention? The District will cover the cost to train up to 16 people and provide all necessary training materials to implement this program ($1000.00 value) in your school. The Soar training dates are: February 18th and 19th (8:15 - 3:30) in the Admin Center. Please email me with the names of any interested participants from your building. Priority should be given to those teachers who will use the training and materials as part of your school's plan for academic intervention. Learn more about Soar To Success at http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/soar/index.html . The deadline to contact me if interested is Wednesday, February 13th.
===================================
Early Success/FROG Training and Materials Available (grade K-2)!
===================================
Early Success/FROG training will be held in mid-late February (1/2 day). Have you considered using this grades K-2 strategy as part of your plan for academic intervention? The District will cover the cost to train people and provide all necessary training materials to implement this program ($1000.00 value) in your school. The Early Success/FROG training dates have not yet been set (will probably occur in late February). Please email me with the names of any interested participants from your building. Priority should be given to those teachers who will use the training and materials as part of your school's plan for academic intervention. Learn more about Early Success at http://www.eduplace.com/lds/interv/esuccess.html . To learn more about FROG visit http://209.35.47.242/4blocks2/FROG/frog.html . The deadline to contact me if interested is Wednesday, February 13th.
===================================
Tool of the Week Now Online!
===================================
Visit http://curriculum.risd41.org/documents/koalaty/hanson/tools/tools.htm to view the "tool of the week" as shared by your colleagues. As tools are shared, I will attempt to archive the files on our website for your convenience. Please send me any files you have (if you have already presented a tool) and if you are scheduled to present a tool, send the files in advance so they can be posted.
===================================
Electronic School Improvement Plan (SIP) Template Feedback Requested
===================================
To view the new SIP format that will be used and other links and resources to school improvement, visit our site at --> http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/school_improvement/school_improvement.htm . Please take some time to review the documents and send your feedback (as these documents are only in "DRAFT" format). You comments are necessary to create an effective and user friendly SIP process. All feedback is due to our office by Friday, February 15th.
===================================
Now Accepting Proposals For Academic Intervention
===================================
On February 8th, all principals will receive an overview of the application process. There will be time to share ideas, ask questions and clarify the process. It would be helpful for each principal to take a few minutes to review the process and materials prior to February 8th. We will begin approving proposals as early as this week (if you are anxious to begin implementing activities). Here is a summary of the process:
Buildings will want to check the allocated amount available for academic intervention activities at http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/intersession/funding_formula.htm
1.) Download the "Academic Intervention Proposal Application" at http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/intersession/Academic_Intervention.doc . This is a word document that contains directions, a District framework/pedagogy and the proposal application. Please word process your proposal following the instructions carefully. Buildings will want to involve the Building Leadership Team and others as proposals are being developed. Proposals should also be aligned with the buildings School Improvement Plan. It is acceptable to complete two separate applications (one application for the regular school year intervention activities, and one application for "intersession only" activities). The same form can be used for both.
2.) Next, download the "Academic Intervention Budget Summary" at http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/intersession/budget.xls . This is an Excel spreadsheet document that asks you to prepare a budget for your proposal. Please complete the budget summary in Excel. It is important that buildings account for all funds required to deliver the intervention activities. Buildings are encouraged to submit only one budget summary (that shows expenditures for both regular school year and intersession academic intervention activities).
3.) Next, make a copy of both the application form and budget summary, sign and send to the Office of Instruction and School Improvement for approval.
4.) Upon approval, begin implementing your plan for academic intervention activities.
More information will be shared on February 8th. Thanks again to all committee members!
===================================
Science Curriculum Alignment Committee Update
===================================
For the latest updates, forms and information regarding science material evaluation review, visit our site at http://curriculum.risd41.org/committee/science/science.htm
Updates:
1.) I will be meeting with each building's science committee representative to go over the process for having all staff review the two science materials we are evaluating: FOSS and McGraw-Hill. Those representative have the option of attend either Thursday (2-7) or Friday (2-8) at 3:30 in the Admin center to receive instructions and information regarding the process for building science material evaluation. To view the list of building reps... go here --> http://curriculum.risd41.org/committee/science/update-materialreview.htm
2.) The scheduled February 21st science meeting has been changed to February 28th. Please note the change. Staff need to contact the H.R. department if they have already called or sent in the leave of absence form.
3.) Middle school and High school members of the committee will not need to meet on February 28th (originally scheduled for February 21st). Kay will send out further communication to staff in the near future.
View past "Updates and Reminders" at... http://curriculum.risd41.org/admin/updates/updates_and_reminders.htm
Jay
Excellence Every Day!
------------------------------------
Jay Marino
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction & School Improvement
Rock Island-Milan Public Schools
2101 Sixth Avenue- Admin Center - Rock Island, IL 61201
Voice: 309-793-5900 ext. 253 - Fax: 309-793-5905
jay.marino@risd41.org - http://www.risd41.org
Instruction/ School Improvement Site: http://curriculum.risd41.org/
Personal Web Site: http://www.jmarino.ws
------------------------------------