1.14.25 Staff Blog
Happy rainy Friday! Wishing you a wonderful electives afternoon, please see the schedule below.
Quick Look:
*for more information, see below
UPCOMING PD WITH DR. SANCHEZ: ACTION
The event on 11/19 is now open for registration. The deadline to register is November 19, but I strongly encourage staff to sign up as soon as possible. Same-day registration may lead to issues that we won’t be able to resolve on the spot, but the registration deadline is firm.
If staff are unable to 'see' the course for enrollment, please have them clear filters as this solves about 99% of the issue:
Finally, the required evaluation will be available on 1/14. To evaluate they can follow this Quick Start guide.
PD OPPORTUNITY: HELPFUL
Amplify Text and Elevate Students' Writing and Speaking through a Black Excellence Unit: (flyer here) Earn up to 12 Equity clock hours as you learn about (or review) powerful and engaging GLAD strategies that get students reading, writing, and speaking. Strategies learned in this course can be used independently throughout the teaching day or used together to explicitly teach informative content writing within a Black Excellence unit. This simplified unit can be modified to suit the needs of different grade-levels and is designed to be used with the whole class. Pre-printed materials provided. No previous GLAD experience necessary. 4 sessions (Dec. 11, 18, Jan 5, 15)
RACE AND EQUITY 101 OPPORTUNITY: HELPFUL
The Equity and Family Engagement Department is excited to share an upcoming training opportunity that you may be interested in. This optional training is open to both Classified and Certificated staff.
Please refer to the attached flyer for full details—most of your questions will be answered there.
We hope you’ll take advantage of this valuable opportunity. Please note that registration is required and space is limited.
SAFE SCHOOLS:ACTION
Reminder! It is time to finish your Safe Schools training (due Nov. 30). Here is the link.
ETHNIC STUDIES COHORT: HELPFUL/ACTION
In Summer 2020, the Shoreline School Board passed the Ethnic Studies Resolution..."We affirm our belief that the integration and addition of Ethnic Studies into the education of Shoreline School District’s students can have a positive impact on eliminating opportunity gaps."
Accepting Applications for Cohort #6 from Certificated Staff . Administrators strongly encouraged to apply! Because this training is not the same as previous cohorts, you may re-apply if you were in Cohorts #1-5.
Unfortunately, subs and Leave Replacements are not eligible for this program.
New Facilitation by Fernell Miller, The Root of Us.
Fernell Miller’s Bio:
Fernell Miller (she/her) is the Founder and CEO of The Root Of Us LLC, a racial educator, circle keeper, keynote, coach and mentor. She holds 40 years of experience confronting systemic racism in public schools to improve the lives of our students. Her mission of racial and social justice starts with championing children, especially children furthest from racial and education justice, and requires partnership with policy makers, educational leaders, and civic leaders at the federal, state and local level. Fernell strives to manifest all three aspects of emancipatory education as described by Jeff Duncan-Andrade, “Critical pedagogies must impact identity development, and civic engagement” to provide a foundation for social justice, equity, and empowerment.
About the Program:
Did you know we talk about race all the time? We speak even louder with our silence, unspoken rules and expectations in every way we engage the world. The restrictive codes, along with the permissions of oppression and privilege that uphold the construct of race, racism and systemic racism in America, and worldwide, are hidden in plain sight.
When truth is spoken, we're open to unlearn and relearn things about ourselves and each other, allowing us to show up authentically in our relationships, which helps expose the injustices, just like a blacklight reveals our surroundings hidden in plain sight. So, talking about race, with honesty and humility, actually empowers us to have a clearer understanding of ourselves and how we move through the world. And even though starting conversation about race may be difficult, it's just one tool to begin healing. Healing race, racism and systemic racism is the only way to restore us to our full humanity.
Join us for intentional conversations about . . .
Are you happy with your relationship with Blackness?
How are you healing from Whiteness?
How do you recover from harm you’ve caused, and/or the harm you’ve received?
Who are you accountable to in your practice of anti-racism, and blackness and anti-oppression?
Where are you practicing your humanity?
Sessions will be from 4:30-6:00 over Zoom. Equity Clock hours are available. This is not a drop in program and you should be able to attend all sessions. The facilitator requires that your camera is on and engaged with the other participants.
· 11.19.25
· 12.10.25
· 1.14.26
· 2.4.26
· 3.18.26
· 4.15.26
· 5.13.26
Please fill out this google application for consideration into Cohort 6. Email Kim Darcy for questions or clarification..
NEW CONTRACT LANGUAGE REGARDING EDUCATOR SELECTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: HELPFUL
Per the SEA Collective Bargaining Agreement:
Each certificated staff member may access up to 1.5 days of substitute time (or the equivalent in cost paid at the certificated hourly rate) to support educator–selected professional development; or engage in other forms of self-selected, paid, professional growth outside of the contract day (CBA section 32.1).
During the two-week period prior to fall elementary conference week, grades 4 and 5 teachers are provided with one half-day release day at the teacher’s discretion to prepare for or conduct conferences (CBA section 34.5)
Grades 1 and 2 teachers are provided with 8 hours of release time to support assessment administration (CBA section 35.18).
Procedures for each of the above can be found here.
Information about Educator Selected PD will be sent directly to teachers.
Additionally, since some of these processes are new or have not been used for several years, we may need to make adjustments as we implement them. If any changes are needed, we will communicate them promptly.
STAFF MEETING SCHEDULE:HELPFUL
I have added all of our staff and team meetings to our shared CK-8 calendar. In case it is helpful for you to have a list, I am linking it here. Please note that this is a living document, so printing it out may lead to confusion (especially with snow closures or other delays). I recommend either bookmarking it, or making it your practice to frequently check our Systems and Procedures document where it is linked under the heading “schedules”. As a reminder, that Systems and procedures document is linked at the top of the blog each week.
ASSESSMENT: HELPFUL
District Assessment Calendar: See the calendar for assessment windows. Updated regularly and on our district website. Please note that for District Assessments (i.e., DIBELS, i-Ready), the district sets a window for which these assessments need to be completed, but individual buildings may set more specific timelines for completion within that window. Please check with your building administrator for clarification.
Assessment Resources: Google folder with resources for assessment.
WONDERS ONLINE ACCESS: HELPFUL
As we shared last fall, the cost to continue annual Wonders digital licenses and current usage continue to make the purchase of these licenses prohibitive. Although our Wonders digital licenses have expired, teachers may access digital content by visiting the following website:
https://my.mheducation.com/login
Username: wonders
Password: MGH26literacy
This is a shared platform, so teachers should not create their own class, or assign content to students. However, access to the website will allow teachers who use Wonders materials to see the content digitally for planning or presentation purposes. If you have any questions or need further guidance on using Wonders materials, please feel free to contact Rachel Trudelle, ELA TOSA.
COMMUNITY MEETING SIGN UP: ACTION
Please consider signing up to present a mini lesson at a community meeting. Families have given very positive feedback each time our staff is willing to share the amazing work we are doing with students. The presentation does not need to be long (10-15 minutes), and will be at the start of the agenda in case you need to leave afterwards.
HICAP SERVICES TIMELINE:HELPFUL
UPDATED LISTS of ELIGIBLE STUDENTS FOR 25-26 - AVAILABLE NOW!
To help you with your planning for next year, the Highly Capable Department has updated the master spreadsheet of eligible students for the 25-26 school year.
Below are spreadsheets of Highly Capable Students by School for the 2025-26 School Year
Please make note of those students who have NO PARENTAL CONSENT in Column “L”.
Until the HiCap office receives parental consent, that student cannot receive hi-cap services.
Consent forms can be found on the Highly Capable website
NOTE:
This spreadsheet is live and will reflect changes as students are identified during the summer testing session. Make sure to check your school spreadsheet at the end of August for updated lists of students eligible for services or class placements.
25-26 Eligible Students
PTSA GRANTS:HELPFUL
Grants are back!! Here is the information you will need:
Here is a grant link. Cascade K-8 PTSA Grant Application - Google Forms
This year we have $5K in grants available for use in the 24/25 school year budget. Any staff that has interest in applying can fill out the application form. It will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and recommendations will be presented to and voted on during RepBod meetings. All funds must be used before the end of the school year.
The purpose of this program is: To nurture creativity and enthusiasm by awarding grants to members of the Cascade K-8 community to benefit the students in unique ways that improve or enrich their learning experience, when funds are not otherwise available.
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