Summer Forecast #2
Summer is flying by. I hope you are savoring each and every moment. This was my view for the last four days. Alas our annual beach trip ends tomorrow and I will be heading back to reality. I am thankful for this time spent with family. I can't wait to catch up with each of you.
As I shared in my first Summer Forecast there is absolutely no expectation to read your emails or act upon anything. I just want to ensure I communicate for those who want to be updated...to each their own! I will send my final Weekly Forecast out Friday the 19th. It will include details about our first week back.
- It looks like we will need to shift gears for our Open House/Back to School this year. We had hoped to do it on the Friday prior to school starting (the 26th), however construction has been slow and things may not be 100% ready. Rather than trying to add additional stress to all of us trying to fit this in we will schedule a Back to School Night for sometime in mid-September. I am hoping to incorporate Title One, ELL, and TAG into the night's schedule to increase participation and take these off our plate later in the year.
- Since we have handed out school supplies on Back to School Night prior to school for the past four years we will have to make a shift here too. We will plan on handing out supplies to students the first two days of school. More info to follow.
- As a reminder we will be holding our PD at Edgefield on August 24th & 25th. The 25th we will also hold a staff social. At this time I am hoping to hold this at my home which is seven minutes from Edgefield. This social will take place directly after our PD on the 25th.
- As a reminder the district is offering paid PD for staff on the new adoptions. The following will be required for the 2022-23 school year.
K-8 Math- All K-5 classroom teachers and middle school math teachers
MS Social Studies- Middle school SS teachers
Here are additional trainings that are a bit more specific. MS Chinese (LA), MS PE, MS Health, MS Science, Counseling, MS ELD and finally, New Teachers (new to district).
- We went into the summer with a para and math teacher to hire for and had positions added. Most of my time this summer has centered around hiring. I am actually still actively in this process now. We have recommendations in to HR on all but one posted position at this time. Fingers crossed these positions go through and we are able to secure the best candidates. I will not share names, etc. until they are 100% locked in.
- It is bittersweet that I announce the departure of Pearson Kunz. Pearson will be heading to Mexico City to an IB high school where he will teach film and English . This is a huge opportunity for him and he will certainly be missed.
- Monica DiPietrantonio is also departing. Her position was cut to .75 and she is owed a full time position. She is heading to McDaniel High School. I may have shared this previously, but it is worth sharing again. This is a loss to our building and I know our families, staff and students will miss her.
- Construction is ongoing. It has been slowed by supply issues and the heat. Our office staff returns this Monday. They will be relocated for the time being to room 185 (under the stairs). Signage will be up to direct the community and families to head back there for registration needs etc. The office will officially open on the 15th. Naima and Shannon will be in the building on Monday and Tuesday, but will be busy getting their new space organized etc. The district is working on moving phones, the door cameras etc. for the short term. The office is not slated to be usable until the 26th or so. The permanent furniture and "completion" date will not be until late September, mid October.
- The lobby and cafeteria are also in process. I have not received an official update on their status and will catch up on this next week. The staff parking lot is slated to be finished by the 15th. Fingers crossed.
- With all of that being said, please remember the building is still closed to staff. If you have a need to enter the building please contact Emily or me. We will have a clearer picture this next week. We do feel it will be accessible to all staff a week prior to the 24th, or August 17th as is written in the PTA contract. I will keep you posted. My current mantra is, "It will be worth it in the end."
- While the office staff and admin return to work officially on the Monday the 8th, we will all be in trainings, Leadership, etc most of next week. I will plan on being "building present" beginning the 15th.
- Here is next year's schedule. Please note things may still shift a bit, but gives you a general idea. 2022-23HP Schedule. This was also in the last Summer Forecast. Duty schedules will be added soon.
- For those of you are bored and want to avoid this task once school is up and running the window for mandatory trainings is now open. You will receive some time during the school year for this purpose. If you get them out of the way now, that time would be yours for whatever you see fit. I am not putting pressure on anyone, but I know some people like to get it out of the way.
"You will be automatically assigned the 2022-23 courses under “My Current Courses” in Pepper, the District’s Professional Learning Management System. You can access Pepper at pepper.pps.net. See directions below. If you are receiving this notice outside of your work year, please be advised of this requirement once your work year begins. Additionally, you are not required to print your certificate.
*Exceptions:
PPS Athletic Coaches must complete the training sessions by August 12, 2022. If hired after August 15, 2022, coaches will have 1 week to complete the mandatory training.
Mandatory Online Trainings:
(PC1031) Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting
(PC1032) Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation
(PC1033) Emergency Preparedness Training
(PC1034) Employee Handbook
(PC1035) Supporting Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness
(PC1036) Risk Management and Hazard Communication
(PC1037) Adult Sexual Misconduct: Staff to Student/Title IX
(PC1038) Professional Conduct Training
(PC1039) Information Security Awareness training
(PC1040) School Suicide Prevention Training
Please follow the steps below to begin training:
Step 1: Click on the following link: pepper.pps.net.
Step 2: Enter your PPS username and password and click “Login & Access My Account.” If you need assistance with logging in, contact the IT Service Desk at support@pps.net.
If this is your first time logging into Pepper, you will be asked to create a profile and review the “Quick Start Guide to Pepper” in your “My Pepper Announcements.”
Step 4: Your mandatory courses are located in the upper right of the screen under “My Current Courses.”
Step 5: Each course will begin on the navigation instructions page. Please review these instructions as they may differ from course to course.
Step 6: After finishing all course requirements, be sure to check the “I have completed the course” box and then “Submit” in order to receive a certificate of completion.
Certificates are available under “Tools” on the main menu bar. To download your certificate, click on the certificate icon.
Step 7: To complete your remaining courses, return to the dashboard by clicking on the Pepper logo in the upper left of the screen.
Note: Partially completed courses will remain under the “My Current Courses” section until they are fully completed. The “My Progress” tab will display your courses in progress and the percentage that is completed. Once a course is fully completed, the course will be removed from the “My Current Course” section and a certificate is available under the Tools menu.
More information about Pepper learning can be found on the PPS website at https://www.pps.net/pepper.
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