Words from Grace
For those of you who celebrate, happy Hanukkah; it's the time of year when light is sought after through lit candles or extra lights hung inside and outside of our homes. This is the darkest time of the year; slowly, the amount of daylight increases along with hope and renewal for the future.
I joined the PLCs led by Courtney (MTSS) and Cynthia (Excellent Instruction) on Thursday. It was wonderful to observe leaders engaging in instructional conversations and thinking about dismantling systems that have kept the majority of our students from demonstrating their genius. The white supremacy culture are new to me; I was glad to have another opportunity to think about how being "polite," fear of conflict, keeping the peace... hinders improving outcomes for students or put another way, tells some students they are capable and others they are not.
During our region meeting we discussed "going with the flow," that flowing water that goes over and around rock creates change over time. Even when rocks are thrown in, the water keeps flowing. It's hard to know when we need to stop getting along to achieve the change that needs to happen... although the system is what it is... you and your staff have the power to plant seeds of genius in every student (and every potential leader). That one student or one leader could make a difference we never could imagine - so don't ever give up.
Important Dates
December 16 - Boston School Committee Meeting
December 20 - Fall Trimester Grading Window Closes (grades K-5, K-6, K-8)
December 24 - January 4 - Winter Recess
January 5 - students return to school
January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Division of Academics
2021 February Virtual Externships are here!
Externships are designed to equip participating educators and school-based staff with experience and a social network that addresses real-world, problem-based tasks that guide learning experiences for students to enter into a rapidly changing workforce and the world at large.
Boston Public School's Office of Expanded Learning Opportunities is co-designing in partnership with BoSTEM, the Boston Opportunity Agenda and UnitedWay to launch this February's program. We are excited to be able to offer two incredible experiences open to BPS educators and school-based staff to join the February 2021 program.
1. Life Sciences Externship
2. Computer Science Externship
We're excited to offer new and improved versions of the Externships we offered last February. You're welcome to apply to participate in an Externship you may have already completed, we only ask that you bring a friend!
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Email externships@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.
Middle School 2019 YRBS Results
The Office of Health and Wellness is excited to share results from the most recent Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MS YRBS). BPS began administering the MS YRBS in 2013 to supplement the results of the long-running High School YRBS. BPS uses the surveys to gather population data on priority issues impacting student health. We also review the results to assess changes in youth health behaviors over time, inform our programs, policies, and practices, and measure our progress towards eliminating health disparities that impact learning and individual and community health.
Similar to the High School report released last month, the MS YRBS report is a compilation of fact sheets that highlight significant results in critical health behavior areas. Each section begins with an overall snapshot of key findings, followed by trend data, and a closer look at substantial differences by demographic student groups and ends with crucial intervention strategies.
Additional results tables disaggregated by key student demographic subgroups, including sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, grade level, academic achievement, and links to other CDC YRBS resources, are also available on the Health & Wellness website. All MS YRBS data were processed and analyzed by the CDC, and the Office of Health & Wellness created reports.
Visit the 2019 Boston MS YRBS Webpage: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/7330.
ACCESS Testing Window Extension
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has recently extended the ACCESS test administration window: January 7 through May 20, 2021.
Please note that:
Results will be returned in late summer.
Schools may assess students at any time during the window; however, results for all students will be returned at the same time.
Resources:
School Preparations for In-Person ACCESS Testing: WIDA’s “Assessment Best Practices During COVID-19” is available here and in the WIDA Secure Portal (login to a WIDA Personal Account is required). Contact cnguyen@bostonpublicschools.org if you have additional recommendations for BPS-specific guidance.
ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator Training: DESE’s 2021 ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator Training Workshop Fall 2020 presentation slides are now available on the Massachusetts page on the WIDA website in the “Manuals, Guides and Workshops” dropdown window (click “+” to expand).
ACCESS Test Setup Window Now Open: Schools begin ACCESS Test Setup in WIDA AMS to verify/update student test sessions, update student demographic information (including accommodations), and edit information for students who are newly enrolled or have transferred out since October SIMS data was reported to DESE. The student Pre-ID files used for test setup are available in the DropBox Central application under “ACCESS 2021” in the Security Portal. More information on managing test sessions is available in the WIDA AMS User Guide beginning on p. 68.
OEL OST RFP Reminder
Looking for additional ways to support your English Learner students? The Office of English Learners is seeking school proposals to implement out of school time programs that will start in January. RFPs are due 12/14 to launch programs in January.
FY22 Title I EL Budget Plans
BPS will upload schools’ FY22 Title I EL Budget Plans to each school’s budget folder. Principals will need to submit their plans before their Budget Collab.
Join us for an optional drop-in session on December 17 from 4-5 pm (Zoom meeting link) or sign up for office hours support with Title I EL Coordinator Nicole Mendoza nmendoza@bostonpublicschools.org
December LATF Newsletter
Please click here for the most recent LAT-F newsletter and to see archived newsletters from this school year. Materials from last week’s LAT-F meeting can be found here.
Spring RETELL Courses
Do you or your teachers need their SEI Endorsement? We have now added Spring RETELL courses starting in February. Registration is via TeachPoint.Division of Accountability
Student, Teacher, and Family Surveys
Please ensure high participation rates for your school community. Teachers and Families have been emailed links to the survey. All grade 3-12 students who have not completed the survey will be emailed a link directly by 12/18. Response rates, completion lists, and more are included in the Leader/Coordinator Guide in the Panorama Resources Folder.
If you'd like your students to receive the survey via email prior to 12/18 or have any other questions, please reach out to: rc069@bostonpublicschools.org or support+bps@panoramaed.com
Panorama Weekly Update: Did you know that 25% of BPS students (12,807 of 51,287) are currently chronically absent. 6% of BPS students (2,846 of 51,2287) currently have Attendance Success Plans (ASP) in Panorama. This week, we return to important details around this work. Please see a reminder about expectations here:
*Panorama Attendance Success Plans
Division of Equity, Strategy, & Opportunity
$5000 Stipend for Transformative Mentoring in the Middle Grades
The BPS Division of Equity, Strategy & Opportunity Gaps is excited to launch our Transformative Mentoring program, which will provide intensive relational mentoring and college, career and life planning support for our students in the middle grades (6-9). It will not only help students succeed through the current crisis during these critical years of development, but will be a foundational component of our forward-moving redesigned model of college, career and life readiness for all grades. Mentors will receive training and support to become skilled in My Career and Academic Planning (MyCAP) tools, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices (CLSP), and transformative social emotional learning (TSEL). They will have an opportunity to support students and assist them in building networks that support their growth in their individual identities and connections with the world around them.
Application Information:
- Click HERE for application
- Schools and teacher teams and/or individual staff will receive a stipend
- Any school, teacher team or staff member can apply
- Submit application as: entire school, teacher or staff team (teacher teams considered to be grade level teams), an individual.
- Preference will be given to whole schools or teacher teams that apply.
- Preference given to those who sign up first (stipends are limited)
- Question and Answer sessions on December 14th at 4pm, 16th at 1pm, 21st at 3pm
- Application is due no later than January 11th at 5pm
- Orientation session held on January 13th at 3pm
- Please email: Eva Mitchell (emitchell@bostonpublicschools.org) and Erin (ejaques@gse.harvard.edu) with any questions
Male Educators of Color (MEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program - SY20-21
The BPS Male Educators of Color (MEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program is a 9-month program designed to increase engagement, retention and leadership rates for the male staff of color within Boston Public Schools. Each session is led and facilitated by current and former male leaders of color from the Boston Public Schools. Participants will receive a valuable combination of executive coaching, research-based content as well as a natural balance between self-reflection and peer interactions. The program will guide participants to focus on key levers of effective educational leadership and also support the development of innovative, research-based solutions to key problems of practice. For more details, click here. Deadline has been extended until January 15, 2021
Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program - SY20-21
The BPS Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program is a 9-month program designed to increase engagement, retention and leadership rates for female staff of color within Boston Public Schools. Each session is led and facilitated by current and former female leaders of color from the Boston Public Schools. Participants will receive a valuable combination of executive coaching, research-based content as well as a natural balance between self-reflection and peer interactions. The program will guide participants to focus on key levers of effective educational leadership and also support the development of innovative, research-based solutions to key problems of practice. Our leadership initiative supports a network of women of color focused on collaborating to succeed. For more details, click here. Deadline has been extended until January 15, 2021
Join us for our next monthly ALANA event on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 5pm sponsored by DUET-Southern New Hampshire University. Register here.
Division of Human Capital
Reminder Update Name and Home Addresses
As the City of Boston prepares to send out the W2s in January, we are reminding all employees to verify their personal information specifically their name and address on Employee Self Service. All employees are required to have a home address listed. You can add a mailing address if it is different from your home address. The request is particularly important with regards to ensuring tax documents being produced are using the employee's correct name and sent to the correct address.
If you have had a name change, missing a personal email, or have a new home or mailing address, you can update through Employee Self Service. Simply click this link to login to ESS Portal. It is mobile friendly and easy to use right on your smart phone. You can using the URL: https://access.boston.gov
Once there click on each tile to review the details and make sure it is all up to date.
