Monday, Nov. 13

Note concerning lock downs
On Friday, I tested the "siren" ring tone using the PA system.  People in larger/noisier areas like the gym and tech rooms could hear it pretty well, so we will run this for several seconds after the words "lock down" are spoken.  I'd love to have some sort of light system available.  That might be possible in the future as the phone system is replaced, but this will help for now.

If you don't hear this but still hear the words, it's still a lock down.  You never know what's happening (real or not), so we'll run this if humanly possible.

Rob's tech checks available
Rob's tech checks are stored in the folder linked above. Thanks Rob!

Proposed Mission and Vision Statements
Please click on the title for the proposed statements that I showed at our last faculty meeting. The document is set so that you can comment. You can also email me directly. Thanks for looking.

BOCES weekly bulletin - November 7
There are always some great opportunities from Barry and his crew.  Below are a few examples.

• BOCES Demonstration Classrooms
  Would you like to attend a classroom in the region where the teacher has volunteered for the demonstration classroom program?  Please see the link above. 
• PD catalog
  All BOCES PD events are listed here. 
• Workshop: THE LADDER OF PREJUDICE: FROM NAME CALLING TO GENOCIDE
  December 6, 4:00 - 6:00 
• Plenty of other opportunities in the weekly bulletin linked above. Take advantage! 

BOCES 2017-2018 Creativity Contest

November 1-April 30

Student Submission Link

Guidebook












Debate Across the Curriculum Opportunity via Cornell
Cornell University is making their debate program available for schools. See the notes from my principal meeting here:
Jennifer Rudolph (Director of Pre College Opportunity Programs, Cornell) shared the work that she helps facilitate in many schools in our region, such as the Upward Bound Program and the STEP Program.  It is in this capacity that she was able to connect us with Ming-Hao’s invitation.  Ming-Hao Shiao invited students and teachers in the region to connect with Cornell University Speech and Debate Society, which is working in collaboration with TST BOCES, to identify one or two pilot projects and/or schools to implement for winter/spring 2018.  Their work focuses on the skills of argumentation, speech, and debate.  The pilot projects may include student-facing initiatives or educator professional development training.  The Speech and Debate Society will determine an evaluative and assessment framework to measure outcomes and effectiveness of pilot projects and link to existing criteria already being measured in the classroom, as well as Identifying resource gaps, opportunities, and funding channels, if necessary.  Click the title above for more information. 
Contact Ming-Hao directly if you or any of your teachers are interested.  Her email is ms2572@cornell.edu.

Standards Introductions
.... for ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and the Arts.

Memo from last week
*See the note about a grade being changed to a 50.  50 is the correct number. 

IMPORTANT DATES

• November 9^th  -End of the first marking period
• November 15^th  –First quarter grades/comments are due in Schooltool.    Please check your grades and comment codes in Schooltool and make any necessary changes.  Please sign and return the attached acknowledgment form to the Guidance Office by the end of the day.  Phil Owens will be here from 9-2 on November 15^th to help troubleshoot with any teachers who may have questions.  Please try to submit your grades early in case you have any issues and need to utilize his assistance.
• November 16^th –Reports are printed

REMINDERS

• Students should receive numerical grades and comments for all courses.
• High School- to place a student on the restricted list, use comment codes 114-121.  Students with two or more failing or incomplete classes will be put on the Academic Warning List.  If a student is receiving an Incomplete, please use the grade note “Incomplete” to show this otherwise they will not be added to the Academic Warning List.  All incompletes must be made up by November 29^th or they will be changed to a 50.
• Comment code lists can be printed out of Schooltool if you need a hard copy.  Please use comment code #235 “see enclosed report for details” if you are adding a report to be mailed with the student’s report card.

If you want to include any information or additional reports, we must receive it by Tuesday, November 14.

January testing notes
I had previously mentioned that Monday, January 22 would be a "T" day and that we could move all remaining letter days for the year forward by one day. That won't be necessary, so the 22nd will be an A day, Tuesday a B, and so on down the line.