Month: January 2021

Tech this out!

Camilo Machado Uncategorized

tech updates

 

Tech Updates!

In case you missed it….

Check out the latest updates from the Digital Literacy Coaches about Classroom Relay (custom messaging!) There is a short video on the page that takes you through the various features of Classroom Relay such as how to view classes, block sites (YouTube and games), close student tabs, lock screens, push out sites and send messages to individual students.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
–
Mercy
Digital Learning Coach

ACCESS Information for Parents [Action Required]

Camilo Machado Uncategorized ,
Hello Sharks,

We are writing to share some details regarding ACCESS testing with you. As you all know, ACCESS testing will be taking place this year and the testing window has been extended until May 20, 2021. In Chelsea, we are taking the position that any student who wants to participate in the test should be given the opportunity to do so. For any student or family who does not want to come in and take the test, that is okay.  Attendance does not count against us in any way this year and we do not want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

 

In order to make a plan for when and how testing will happen, the district needs to gather initial information from parents as to whether or not they would like their child to participate in this test. The numbers we get from this initial form will guide decisions on scheduling the test. If for any reasons our numbers are large and we do need help from staff for proctoring, it will be on a voluntary basis. 

 

HERE is a flyer with information for parents on the ACCESS test. And here are the interest forms in ENGLISH, SPANISH, and PORTUGUESE.  This will be our main mode of collecting parent interest data. We need your assistance by directing parents of ELs to this form. Parents should fill out the form even if they are not interested. 

 

[Action Required]

Please forward the flyers and forms to your EL families using class dojo private message or other places you use for parent communication by Friday, 1/29. We understand this is a short notice request however we encourage you to leverage your family outreach time today and tomorrow.

 

All 4 elementary schools will also be communicating to parents of ELs via a Blackboard call/message and will direct them to look in class postings for more information and for the form link.

 

For all other questions, you can direct parents to call the Sokolowski office. Administrators, clerks, and parent liaisons will be ready to help parents with any questions they may have and/or fill out the form on behalf of parents. Feel free to fill out the form in case a parent communicates their interest to you directly.

 

Please reach out to Nate and Cam if you need any support completing this by Friday.

 

Thank you! 

 

P.S. Below is a sample message that you can simply copy & paste and forward to all your EL students’ families. 

 

____

 
[Attach all 3 flyers as a picture here]
 
Dear parent,
 
Chelsea Public Schools will offer in-person ACCESS test for English language learners who are interested in participating. Check the flyer above to know more about the ACCESS test and its benefits. 
 
Please use the form below to let us know whether or not you want your child to take the test.
 
English: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctC8HgKEr2_vPkYCpy9nbQII5OWNrYZw6ZwIweABhzPuEPSg/viewform
Spanish: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUYP12WJKhh1MFImuqYbOaRAZrMGrds4u247OKe4d9V5wwsQ/viewform
Portuguese: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVin_RZ5y4-QREGOIeelEz49C0zVtxaIrmDZsG17AFhGe1MQ/viewform
 
If you have any questions, please call the Sokolowski office at (617) 466-5450
 

Imagine Learning Benchmark Updates!

Camilo Machado Uncategorized

 

  • The second benchmark window is open and will stay open until February 28th. If your students haven’t started the assessment yet, they will automatically get it 90 calendar days from when they FINISHED the first benchmark.
  • Imagine Learning is requiring more bandwidth and this is causing loading issues for students, both during everyday use and with the benchmark. Some things to try to help with this are:
    • Make sure students have no other tabs open on their chromebooks
    • If students get the white screen: restart and wait for it to load (sometimes it can take 2-3 minutes)
    • Have students use the program off of Zoom. While this is not ideal, especially since it is nice to be able to monitor the benchmark in a synchronous session, the bandwidth required for both Zoom and IL is many times too much for our student’s internet
    • If there are students you feel strongly need to be monitored, try using Google Meet instead. Google Meet requires far less bandwidth than Zoom.
    • Parents can also powerwash the chromebooks to clear cookies and restore default settings
    • Parents can also run an internet speed test. To test the internet speed, www.speedtest.net —make sure they are getting reasonable values– at least 4Mbps download and upload
  • If students in your class are experiencing issues with a digital platform (not just IL) such as trouble logging in, the site not loading etc. please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. We will use the information provided to work with IT to resolve the issues. Please, DO NOT report Chromebook issues here.

 

  • REASSIGN TEST: Some good news is that we no longer have to go through IL to reset student’s benchmark assessments! However, please do not reassign a student’s test without checking in with the Literacy Coach in your building. Some things to note about Reassigning a test:
    • A test can be reassigned AFTER the student has completed the benchmark and before the benchmark window closes (before February 28th)
    • A test can only be reassigned ONCE per student.
    • In order to reassign a test you need to click into the individual student account in the Growth Section and up by the bar that says Benchmark Test/ Reading Level Assessment/Scaled Score there is a Reassign Test button on the far right. (see picture below)

Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 2.27.47 PM.png

Please be in touch with any questions
—
Katie Schubmehl

 

Updates for the week of 1/25/21

Nate Meyers Uncategorized , , , ,

Happy Friday! I hope you have a restful weekend.

Enjoy this news clip of Estela Diaz Santos’ 4th grader in Ms. Hyvernat’s room. She was interviewed about the inauguration and what she would tell Kamala Harris! Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, Shannon! https://cbsloc.al/3iysjTX

Here are a few announcements to help you start your week.

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Staff Meeting

We have our second staff meeting of the month Tuesday, 1/26, from 3-4. We will have time to take the survey (see below), explore UDL resources, and explore resources to use for Black History Month.

Link: https://chelseaschools.zoom.us/j/2217735515 

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Material Distribution Update

* We are in the process of coordinating another distribution of materials, which will include school supplies, PE supplies, and art supplies. The goal is to have bags prepared by the end of the week. We will message out more specific details as we get closer to the distribution days. In the meantime, if you want something specific or wanted to provide something to your students, please find time to come into school or let me know your plan. 

* The supply closet is out of markers, crayons, and sharpies. I will be looking in classroom cabinets next week. If you know of any unused packs, please let me know so we can use them for material bags.

* Shout out to Alma and JZ for already putting together 1st-grade bags that include: 1math journal, 1 literacy journal, 1 box of pencils, 1 dry erase marker, 1 dry erase sleeve, 1 sketchbook.

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CPS Pandemic Response Survey: Equity and Inclusion

Thank you for all your work on the first round of the Winter administration of the CPS Pandemic Response Surveys. The results will be available when the surveys close. A second wave will begin on Monday, January 25 and be open until Friday, February 5. The Equity and Inclusion Survey will include new questions that have not been asked before of our Gr. 3 – 12 students and staff.

  • Gr. 3-12 Students will access the Equity and Inclusion Survey by visiting https://surveys.panoramaed.com/chelseama and entering their student ID as their access code. The link will take them to the correct grade band and school. This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
    • NOTE: this student link is the same as was used to administer the SEL student survey over the last two weeks. If a student did not complete the SEL survey, they will be able access both surveys when they log in.
    • Here is a link to the student survey proctor guide again.
  • Staff can access their Equity and Inclusion survey by visiting https://surveys.panoramaed.com/chelsea ma/winter2021equity, selecting the school they work at, and answering the questions. This survey takes about 6 minutes to complete. 
  • PK-2 Students will not participate in the Equity and Inclusion Survey because teacher perception would not be accurate. The PK-2 SEL survey will be closing at the end of the day on Tuesday, January 26 due to an extension request.

If any teachers, staff, or students have difficulty accessing the survey, please send an email to support+chelseama@panoramaed.com for support.  

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Updated PLT Schedule

The Youth Poet Laureate that left the country speechless!

Camilo Machado Uncategorized

 

“Now this is an expert learner!  Important for us all to remember the power of our students’ words, including our students who may have a harder time than others expressing themselves right now (for whatever reason)…”  Carla Eaton

Check out this ARTICLE about everything Amanda Gorman had to overcome in order to become the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history.

Seizure Training for Non-Medical Staff

Nate Meyers Uncategorized ,

Staff will be trained in the basics of seizures and first aid and will be able to recognize seizure activity and have knowledge of the appropriate emergency response protocol.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 1 in 26 people have a lifetime risk of developing a seizure at any point in time, which is why it is important to understand seizure first aid and possessing the knowledge and bringing awareness about seizure first aid training to staff.  Understanding seizures will benefit the staff and in turn benefits the student, since seizures affect the brain as well as side effects of medication may result in problems with learning and school performance. 

The course is FREE and allows staff to be certified for 2 years. We recommend all staff take the training.  It is a 75-minute virtual live course. We are not allowed to record the training because staff become certified.  Once you complete the course, please print a copy of the certificate for yourself and for your school nurse.

What will I learn during the course?

School personnel will be able to:

  •         Recognize 3 common seizure types
  •         Describe 3 seizure first aid steps to assist a student having a seizure

          Recognize 3 key factors that would make a seizure a medical emergency

  •         Describe 3 ways to support student living with epilepsy

 Here are the newest dates for the live virtual trainings through the Epilepsy Foundation.  They will continue to offer these monthly and staff can look for upcoming dates on their website for the trainings at: www.epilepsynewengland.org/events

Dates of Upcoming Trainings

Monday, January 25th

4:00 PM

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lce-rrzgpHdRjTtq0_sbf2PFPg5fCawZ1

 

Monday, February 22nd

4:00 PM

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcuqqqTwvGNVg8reAj_jqTiXfMUvnPRwK

 The Epilepsy Foundation is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 1.5 total Category I contact education contact hours.

 If you are not a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES/MCHES) you may use the certificate of completion to apply for continuing education credits within your profession.

ENOUGH! Show Your Hand. Take a Stand. Pledge to prevent sexual abuse in schools.

Nate Meyers Uncategorized ,

Enough! Is an e-learning course on preventing child sexual abuse in schools. This course is open to any Chelsea Schools employee that is interested.  It is especially important for social workers and teachers to become familiar with recognizing behaviors, signs and symptoms as well as how to deal with children of sexual abuse. You have until June to complete this course and will receive a certificate of completion at the end. SW will receive 1 CEU for participation.  Nurses have completed this and highly recommend it.   The video is 1 hour. 

Please read instructions for access.  When completed, please email/fax /interoffice mail your certificate to ferraridirestad@chelseaschools.com /fax to 617-884-3695/CAMS Suite 422

 Dear Chelsea Public Schools Staff Members,

Your school has recently chosen to purchase the e-learning course, Enough! Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in My School for school employees to view. In order to view the course, go to:

https://elearning.enoughabuse.org/products/enough-preventing-child-sexual-abuse-in-my-school-chelsea-public-schools 

Then,

  1.   Click Register
  2.     Click Create Account
  3.     Fill in the information and click Submit.
  4.     You are registered! Click About You, then Fill Out Survey, scroll down to answer all the questions, then click the green Finish button.
  5.   Click Pre-Test, then click Take Quiz and complete the Pre-test.
  6. Click Enough! Course, then click View Course, hit Launch on the pop-up window, and drag the window’s corner so you can see the full course window. Then follow the instructions to complete the course, clicking Start to begin.
  7. Once you get to the final slide, click “Exit” in the top right corner and wait for your browser to return to the learning management system page.
  8. Click Post-test, then click Take Quiz and complete the post-test. You have four attempts to take the post -test. If you do not achieve the required number of correct answers to move forward, you can click on “view results” to view the correct answers before taking it again.
  9.  Click Evaluation, then click Fill Out Survey to view the Evaluation.
  10.  Click Certificate of Completion, then click View/Print your Certificate to  download/view.