Week 24

 

Great Things We've Noticed

• Spending time talking to you all in our meetings this week!  
• A teacher that has filled her room with students of the "feathered" variety! 
• Erin hosting Edu-Protocols for you!  
• Christina organizing ELPAC!
• AN EDU-PROTOCOL BOOK FOR EVERYONE!!  Just stop by the front office if you want your copy! 

Nuts and Bolts: 

• ATTENTION: We have moved the next distribution date to 2/8-2/12 to allow you to include Valentine treats or art projects for your students. Have all Treat bags and extra supplies to the office by 2/5.
• It is very important that you sign in each day when you are on campus. This helps us with contract tracing and making sure we have accurate numbers. Here is the link in case you need it https://forms.gle/wXJeFGReFU3eKMgY6
• We are partnering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters to connect our students with mentors in the community! If you have a student (grades 1-6) that is disconnected, unmotivated, lonely or depressed send me or Angelica their names and we will place the referral.
• Check out the ILE site RUSD Engage for some great tips from fellow teachers on engagement! http://bit.ly/rusdengage
• Updated Staff/Team/Leadership meeting dates HERE
• Digital Resources for Valentines Day:
• https://jenniferfindley.com/free-digital-valentines-day-exchange/
• https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Findley/PreK-12-Subject-Area/Valentines-Day/Category/-Digital-Resources-427507?ref=filter/subject
• https://sites.google.com/riversideunified.org/techtips/holiday-theme-activities

Cultural Acknowledgements/Month

• National African American History Month - celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.  

• National Freedom Day (Feb 1) – Commemorates the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.

• Paper Tutoring Update
• Currently we have over 4,600 students using Paper tutoring! We are excited to announce that a decision has been made to purchase Paper for our fourth grade students for the remainder of the school year. Now all 5th-12th grade students will receive free chat based tutoring with highly qualified tutors.  Please remind students that they have unlimited one-on-one tutoring in all subjects and essay reviews.  Students can access help 24/7 in both English and Spanish.  CLICK HERE to see a short introduction video.  Additional parent and student information can be found on the Family Technology Resource site at bit.ly/rusdfam20. All tutorials are available in English and Spanish.  
• If you have questions please reach out to Christalle Hart, Staff Development Specialist at chart@riversideunified.org.

• Arts Now Riverside Event - A Conversation with Sara Trail: Equity through Arts Education **Share with your communities and sites**
• Tuesday, Feb. 2, 4pm
• RUSD staff, principals, arts teachers, parents, student arts leaders, community partners, and all arts advocates are invited to join us in for this special Arts Now Riverside event to learn about the social Justice Sewing Academy and its work in our community and around the nation to promote equity through arts. This online event will also include brief remarks from Mayor Lock-Dawson and RUSD Board Member, Kathy Allavie. RSVP and more info

• Empower You Edutainment: Auditions for Virtual Performance: “Sankofa” TK-12 **Please encourage your students TK-12 to participate!***
• Be a part of the virtual play “Sankofa------ A Journey of our Past.” Auditions are for elementary, middle school, and High school RUSD Students. The play "Sankofa" will Pay homage to the rich African American History through acting, song, dance, and storytelling. All practices and performance are online. Auditions will be Fri. Feb. 5, 6pm.  Register for auditions here or contact 213-359-8639 or 951-640-1650 for more info. 

• Elementary Teacher Newsletter Elementary Teacher Newsletter for the Week of 1-25-2021
• Elementary Math1st Grade MOY District Math Assessment
• data must be entered into Illuminate by 2/5/2021. 
• Elementary ELA/SLA
• MOY Reading Comprehension Assessment
• The 2nd Grade MOY Reading Comprehension Assessment “enter by” date has been extended to 2/22/2021.
• 2nd-6th grade students will take the assessment via Illuminate (direct links will be provided to put into Google Classroom). Information and materials will be emailed to teachers next week.
• Multiple choice questions will be automatically scored. Teachers will need to hand score the “short answer” question.
• ELA/SLA Site: The Elementary ELA/SLA site has been updated. We hope that it is easier to navigate and more user friendly.
• RIMS AE Virtual Resources

Personalized Learning Ideas from ILE:

Six examples of Personalized Learning

This post is a couple of years old, but it has some great reminders for incorporating goal-setting and self reflection for students.  I particularly like the last example for engaging students in grading conversations.

Blog Post

RUSD 21 Day Step Challenge - Join Longi and I in the Step Challenge!

We will be walking at work and at home STRIVING for 10,000 steps a day...

You can find more about the benefits of walking and the challenge HERE

(make sure you watch in "present" mode for all the slides!).

You can sign up HERE

Not only can you earn raffle tickets for the RUSD challenge, but we will have our own HAWTHORNE Challenge so make sure you sign up on the spread sheet!

Hawthorne Challenge:

1. Join the RUSD challenge by adding your name to THIS spreadsheet

2. Log your steps each week

3. Simply logging your steps gets 1 raffle ticket

4. Logging at least 10,000 get's an additional raffle ticket

5. Challenge begins on January 25 and ends on 2/14

6. Steps will be checked EVERY FRIDAY!

Monday 2/15 we will announce the WINNERS!

Dr. Hansen's Call To Action: 

Common RUSD Goal:

To create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all

Our Call to Action:

1. Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.

2. Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).

3. Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).

4. Go out and ACT NOW!

Black History Month Resources:

Please see this list of resources for Black History Month.  There are resources for all grade levels and a variety of content areas.  These have also been provided to teachers through the weekly Elementary Newsletter and HSS Newsletter (for secondary).

Upcoming Events: 

2/1 - 2/5 Student of the Month Presentations

2/2 - RUSD Employee Check-In 8:00 and 3:30

2/2 - Groundhog Day 

2/4 - (NEW DAY) RUSD School Board Meeting

Birthdays: 

1/30 - Erin Masi - TOSA Intervention/Teacher Support

2/1 - Suzanne Armas - Preschool Teacher 

Great Things We Noticed: 

• A great visit with Renee Hill - Thank you to all the teachers! 
• Angelica and Jennifer's presentation at the staff meeting!
• Teams working in collaboration!

Nuts and Bolts: 

• Erin and Christina are offering office hours to review EduProtocols and ELPAC strategies - Wednesday 1/27 from 1-2
• It's time for Teacher of the Year Nominations - All Teachers Virtual and In Person
• https://forms.gle/97Mv4ExTLtjtpf1x6
• We are partnering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters to connect our students with mentors in the community! If you have a student (grades 1-6) that is disconnected, unmotivated, lonely or depressed send me or Angelica their names and we will place the referral.
• Check out the ILE site RUSD Engage for some great tips from fellow teachers on engagement! http://bit.ly/rusdengage
• Updated Staff/Team/Leadership meeting dates HERE
• We will be holding "Data Meetings" for you students the week of January 25th.
• 30 minute sessions/individual - Bring the Data that works for you
• Monday 1/25-1/29 
• Calendy Link for sign up 
• 3-5 students - Academic, Engagement, and/or Emotional Concerns
• We want this time to be and opportunity for us to connect and talk about the students you are most concerned about. 
• This is for ALL teachers Virtual and IP 

• Updated Staff/Team/Leadership meeting dates HERE

• Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 
  The Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest is designed to inspire creativity in youth, ages 4-15, and help them imagine the future of mobility. Cash prizes for winners. Submissions due Jan. 31. More info 
• Elementary Newsletter
• Personalized Learning Ideas: 
• Google forms branching option
• Create customized lessons and formative assessments for students using the branching option in Google Forms. Watch Video HERE
• Goal setting with Dreambox
• Use the Student Overview report when meeting with students. Let students choose a gap that they would like to fill in.  The teacher can give an assignment based on the student’s goal.  This allows student to pick what they want to work on and set goals to complete appropriate assignments.

Focus:

Here is a great article about connecting with students:

https://www.teacher2teacher.education/2021/01/14/4-ways-we-can-show-more-grace-empathy-and-compassion-in-our-school-communities/?utm_source=als&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=whole.teacher&utm_content=teacher.perspectives

RUSD 21 Day Step Challenge - Join Longi and I in the Step Challenge!

We will be walking at work and at home STRIVING for 10,000 steps a day...

You can find more about the benefits of walking and the challenge HERE

(make sure you watch in "present" mode for all the slides!).

You can sign up HERE

Not only can you earn raffle tickets for the RUSD challenge, but we will have our own HAWTHORNE Challenge so make sure you sign up on the spread sheet!

Hawthorne Challenge:

1. Join the RUSD challenge by adding your name to THIS spreadsheet

2. Log your steps each week

3. Simply logging your steps gets 1 raffle ticket

4. Logging at least 10,000 get's an additional raffle ticket

5. Challenge begins on January 25 and ends on 2/14

6. Steps will be checked EVERY FRIDAY!

Monday 2/15 we will announce the WINNERS!

Dr. Hansen's Call To Action: 

Common RUSD Goal:

To create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all

Our Call to Action:

1. Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.

2. Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).

3. Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).

4. Go out and ACT NOW!

Resources for teaching Amanda Gorman's inspiring poem "The Hill We Climb" can be found HERE and HERE

The video of her presentation can be found HERE 

The transcript of the poem can be found HERE

Upcoming Events: 

1/25-1/29 Data Meetings

1/25-2/14 Steps Challenge

1/26 School Site Council Meeting

1/26 RUSD Employee Check In 8:00 and 3:30

1/27 - ELD/ELPAC office hours 1-2

1/27 - DELAC
1/27 - Team Meeting 3-4 

Birthdays: 

1/25 - Ioana Borza - 1st Grade Virtual

1/30 - Erin Masi - Title I Intervention Teacher

Week 22

Great Things We Noticed: 

• Hillery staying consistent with her data collection and monitoring student growth! 
• Brianna forging strong partnerships with her families and completing a VERY LONG IEP!
• Finished progress reports! 

Nuts and Bolts: 

• It's time for Teacher of the Year Nominations - All Teachers Virutal and In Person
• https://forms.gle/97Mv4ExTLtjtpf1x6
• We are partnering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters to connect our students with mentors in the community! If you have a student (grades 1-6) that is disconnected, unmotivated, lonely or depressed send me or Angelica their names and we will place the referral.
• Check out the ILE site RUSD Engage for some great tips from fellow teachers on engagement! http://bit.ly/rusdengage
• Lunch Distribution will no longer be happening at our site.  Our families can go to Arlington High School for their lunches. 
• Updated Staff/Team/Leadership meeting dates HERE
• We will be holding "Data Meetings" for you students the week of January 25th.
• 30 minute sessions/individual - Bring the Data that works for you
• Monday 1/25-1/29 
• Calendy Link for sign up 
• 3-5 students - Academic, Engagement, and/or Emotional Concerns
• We want this time to be and opportunity for us to connect and talk about the students you are most concerned about. 
• This is for ALL teachers Virtual and IP 
• Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program: Girls Who Code is looking for incoming 10-12th grade girls and non-binary students. This program teaches students computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs, and join a supportive sisterhood of girls in tech. The Summer Immersion Program is a FREE 2 week virtual program this summer. To learn more and apply, visit https://girlswhocode.com/programs/summer-immersion-program. 

• If you need resources for discussing stressful and/or important topics in the coming weeks please let us know.
• You can also find resources with these articles
• Ensuring Student Well Being in the Context of the 2020 Election
• Resources for Parents
• Resources for Educators
• Teaching Tolerance "When Bad Things Happen"
• Education Week "Caring for Students in the Wake of a Traumatic Event"
• Check out Gen-Z Media for the short podcasts Kristi is using for listening comprehension practice... and the stories are GREAT!

• Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 
  The Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest is designed to inspire creativity in youth, ages 4-15, and help them imagine the future of mobility. Cash prizes for winners. Submissions due Jan. 31. More info 
• Together Journal 
  Open to all RUSD students, staff, and families, the RUSD Arts and Wellness departments invite you to participate in the RUSD Together Journal, an online districtwide arts journal to share thoughts and experiences. The theme for Nov. 30 - Jan. 22 is “Family and Friends from a Distance.” Submissions are welcome in any art form: visual art, music, spoken word, dance, poetry, creative writing, theater, or mixed media, and a new theme will be announced every two months. Select submissions will be shared at bit.ly/rusdarts and other RUSD platforms. Submissions due for this theme on Jan. 22. More info: bit.ly/togetherjournal 

• Distribution

  The next distribution will be the week of January 19.  This will be distribution of only teacher items.  Families can pick up Monday-Friday form 8-3.
• Check out the latest RUSD Arts Newsletter with lots of opportunities and resources.  More Info.
• Riverside Arts Academy Online Afterschool & Saturday Programs
  The Riverside Arts Academy in partnership with RUSD are pleased to offer free online afterschool and Saturday music classes to ALL RUSD 3rd through 6th grade students January - May 2021. Classes provide music instruction, mentoring, live online teaching with RAA teaching artists, and social emotional learning. Enroll by Wed. Jan. 20. More info. | Flyer
• Elementary Newsletter
• Personlized Learning Ideas: 
• Quick Tips to personalize SeeSaw
• Quick Tipes to personalize Kami

 

Dr. Hansen's Call To Action: 

Common RUSD Goal:

To create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all

Our Call to Action:

1. Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.

2. Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).

3. Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).

4. Go out and ACT NOW!

A note on current events:

When major events happen, workplace spillover is inevitable. I know I felt scared and overwhelmed while watching the news on January 6. While many are unsure about how to discuss current events that elicit strong emotions and opinions and may say nothing or make only a passing comment, I want to provide some guidelines to help focus our discussions at the workplace.

Here are some things to keep in mind when having these conversations with colleagues:

1. Political views may vary, but there is no tolerance for anything that is not in line up with the RUSD Core Values. Find the Mission and Values Here, take note that Equity is a Core Value of RUSD.

2. Remember that each person's context is unique. For example, based on past experiences during protests or with Law Enforcement people may have different emotional reaction to what happened at the Capitol.

I want you to know that you are always on my mind and the most difficult part of distance learning for me is not being able to "check the pulse" of our school community and see how everyone is doing. I want you to be able to bring your whole-self to work and not ignore the things that impact you outside of the workplace. Remember we have resources available if you should need it and we are here to support you in any way we can.

SHATTERING INEQUITIES:

Shattering Inequities Book Study with Leadership!

The Hawthorne Grade Level Leadership Team will be diving into Shattering Inequities over the remainder of the year. If you are interested in joining in on the conversation come to the February 9th meeting at 3:00.

This month we are reading the introduction and Chapter 1 (about 20 pages)

Our guiding question this month is:

Reflect on your beliefs as an equity leader. How do you demonstrate your beliefs to your staff, students, and/or school community?  

Upcoming Events:

1/18 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/19 - RUSD Employee Check in 8:00 and 3:30

1/19 - School Site Council 3:10

1/20 - Hawthorne Staff Meeting - 3:00-4:00 - Trauma Informed Practices

1/20 - RUSD Employee Wellness - Vision Casting with Janet Sewell and Josue Reyna - 3:30

1/21 - RUSD Employee Wellness - Chasing the Impossible... Making Big Dreams Reality

1/22 - 6th Grade IAB Math Deadline

1/22 - Check in with Carrie and Longi - Optional Office Hour 11:30-12:30

1/22 - Steps Challenge Meeting - 21 Day Steps Challenge with Trisha Tran (Let's DO THIS!) - Informational meetings at 8:00 and 3:30

Birthdays:

1/22 - Patrick Wible - 5th Grade

Week 21

 

Great Things We Noticed: 

• 2nd Graders mastering the Read, Draw, Write in their place value application problems!
• Mr. Carrasco sticking to the AVID strategies that work! 
• Kristi using 6 minute podcasts to practice listening comprehension! 
• Tina taking the time to talk about current events with her students! 
• Judid engaging making her students Crew Members and tapping into their interests! 
• Show and Tell in Ms. Gallegos' class.
• Awesome levels of engagement and attendance in SO MANY CLASSES! 

Nuts and Bolts: 

• If you need resources for discussing stressful and/or important topics in the coming weeks please let us know.
• You can also find resources with these articles
• Ensuring Student Well Being in the Context of the 2020 Election
• Resources for Parents
• Resources for Educators
• Teaching Tolerance "When Bad Things Happen"
• Education Week "Caring for Students in the Wake of a Traumatic Event"
• Check out Gen-Z Media for the short podcasts Kristi is using for listening comprehension practice... and the stories are GREAT!
• Progress Reports are due 1/13
• Find progress report Guidance HERE
• Writing Assessment Info
  The last day to input score into Illuminate is January 8th.  
  Scoring: Each grade level will be scoring and reporting 2 rubric scores as stated in the Administration Protocols.
  K - Writing Purpose and Language Conventions
  1-2 - Organization/Purpose and Language Conventions
  3-6 - Writing Organization and Evidence/Elaboration
• Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 

  The Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest is designed to inspire creativity in youth, ages 4-15, and help them imagine the future of mobility. Cash prizes for winners. Submissions due Jan. 31. More info 
• Together Journal 

  Open to all RUSD students, staff, and families, the RUSD Arts and Wellness departments invite you to participate in the RUSD Together Journal, an online districtwide arts journal to share thoughts and experiences. The theme for Nov. 30 - Jan. 22 is “Family and Friends from a Distance.” Submissions are welcome in any art form: visual art, music, spoken word, dance, poetry, creative writing, theater, or mixed media, and a new theme will be announced every two months. Select submissions will be shared at bit.ly/rusdarts and other RUSD platforms. Submissions due for this theme on Jan. 22. More info: bit.ly/togetherjournal 
• NEW! Conga Kids: Online Social Dance Program for Grades 3-6

  RUSD is excited to be partnering with Conga Kids to provide an online dance program. Dance lessons will explore dances of the African Diaspora (that count towards PE minutes!), and include supplemental worksheets,high quality asynchronous video lessons, teacher support, and more. Get started by attending one of two teacher info sessions (optional): Jan. 12 @ 3:30pm or Jan. 13 @ 2pm. Sign up to participate and visit here for more info.
• Elementary Math Trimester 2 District Math Assessment Information

  The information linked below was sent out to Kindergarten and 3rd grade teachers today. The other grade levels will receive similar information about their assessments when the due dates are closer.

  Kindergarten  Third Grade

• Distribution

  The next distribution will be the week of January 19.  If you have students from other schools that you need to get items to, please put through district mail the week of January 11.  This will be distribution of only teacher items.  Please let us know if you will have items for pickup.  Also if you need help from supervisors to put anything together, please let me know.
• Check out the latest RUSD Arts Newsletter with lots of opportunities and resources.  More Info.
• Riverside Arts Academy Online Afterschool & Saturday Programs

  The Riverside Arts Academy in partnership with RUSD are pleased to offer free online afterschool and Saturday

  music classes to ALL RUSD 3rd through 6th grade students January - May 2021. Classes provide music

  instruction, mentoring, live online teaching with RAA teaching artists, and social emotional learning. Enroll by

  Wed. Jan. 20. More info. | Flyer
• Elementary Newsletter

Dr. Hansen's Call To Action: 

Common RUSD Goal:

To create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all

Our Call to Action:

1. Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.

2. Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).

3. Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).

4. Go out and ACT NOW!

If you are looking for something to read over the break check out THIS Anti-Racism Book List.

Equity, Access and Community Engagement The Museum Of Tolerance offers year-round professional development programs on creating inclusive, equitable and just schools. They work with a variety of educational partners to bring you the latest research and hands-on tools on topics such as Skills for Difficult Conversations, School Culture and Climate, Anti-Bias Curriculum, and much more. Please feel free to reach out with questions to us at: educators@museumoftolerance.com. Information flyers: Working definition of Antisemitism, Action Plan, Action Plan Spanish, Lexicon of Hate

Over the past few months, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education have hosted a series of virtual classroom and educator professional development sessions that are designed to engage students, educators, and families in a wide-ranging dialogue about the many forms of bias young people face across California and ways schools can lead efforts to end discrimination. Please join us for the third part of our Education to End Hate Initiative series: Understanding and Countering Islamophobia.

Presenters:

• Ameena Jandali, Founding Member, Islamic Networks Group (ING)

• Ishaq Pathan, Bay Area Director, ING

Please register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zzhfqZvMSCm9B2TWVatXrg

The event will also be broadcast on the CDE Facebook Live page at https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation.

Upcoming Events: 

1/11 - Elementary Virtual Staff Meeting - 8:00 and 3:00

1/11 - RUSD Virtual Employee Wellness Special Talk - 3:30

1/12 - RUSD Employee Check In - 8:00-3:30

1/12 - Lunch Distribution 11:15-12:45

1/12 - Hawthorne Leadership Team Meeting 3-4

1/12 - AAPAC Meeting 6-7:30

1/13 - RUSD Virtual Employee Wellness Special Talk - 3:30

1/14 - Lunch Distribution 11:15-12:45

1/14 - RUSD Virtual Employee Wellness Special Talk - 3:30

1/15 - Weekly Mindfulness Small Group 6:30-7:30

1/15 - Hawthorne Site Visit - Renee Hill  - ALL CLASSES  10:30-12:30

1/15 - RUSD Virtual Employee Wellness Special Talk 3:30