Stafford School Buzz - November 2016 by Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford School Buzz NOVEMBER 2016

In This Issue 2

Upcoming Events

Department News

Professional Development

Band Together to Fight Hunger

Native American and Alaska Native

Heritage Month Activities

Parent & Community Connection

Fun run

C5W On Display at SCPS 5K

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News & Events

upcoming events S

Student Expression Night Brooke Point High School, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. BPHS’s literary magazine, The Collective Mind hosts Student Expression Night. Students will perform a variety of acts, including singing, playing musical instruments, dancing and citing poetry. Tickets are $5/person. Proceeds benefit the literary magazine for printing costs.

Middle School County Band Concert Stafford High School, 3:00 p.m. Featuring students from our eight middle school band programs. Free admission.

Band Together to Fight Hunger Mountain View High School, Gates Open 5:30 p.m., Performances Begin 7:00 p.m. Stafford County Public Schools Band Parents Association presents the 6th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger. Stafford’s five high school marching bands will perform their shows and collect canned food for local families. The event will conclude when the students at all five schools “band together” for a grand finale. Bring your canned food donation for entry.

Election Day/Professional Day - No School for Students Please see Department News for Strategic Communication & Community Engagement for more information on staff expectations on Election Day.

School Board Work Session Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, Executive Session Room, 5:30 p.m. Middle & High School All County Chorus Concert Colonial Forge High School, 6:00 p.m. Annual Service Pin Recipient Commemoration Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, Lobby of School Board Chambers, 6:30 p.m. We honor Stafford County Public Schools employees who have served the division for 25 or more years. Eligible employees received an invitation in October. Please RSVP with Samantha Bates at batessm@staffordschools.net. School Board Meeting - Budget Public Hearing Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, School Board Chambers, 7:00 p.m.

10 Discipline Committee Meeting

Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, Executive Session Room, 3:00 p.m.

11 Veterans Day - All Schools & Offices Closed 14-18 American Education Week

American Education Week presents all Americans with an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. This year’s theme is “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility.” For more information, visit http://www.nea.org/grants/19823.htm.

14 Old Dominion University - Educational Leadership Program

Two Sessions: 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Are you interested in earning your PK-12 Administration and Supervision licensure in Virginia and becoming an educational leader? The Educational Leadership Program at Old Dominion University offers a live, web-based program that provides an opportunity for outstanding educators to earn a Master’s or Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and obtain PK-12 Administration and Supervision licensure in Virginia. Join ODU for an upcoming webinar session to learn more about the different program options. Register for one of the two sessions at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DSM82Z7.

15 Early Release - Elementary Schools 2

November 2016 • Stafford School Buzz

News & events

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16 National Career Development Day

National Career Development Association promotes career development through its annual celebration. Every November, career development professionals are encouraged to celebrate with career related activities. For more information, visit http://www.ncda.org/ aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth Finance and Budget Committee Meeting Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, 5:30 p.m.

17 Scared and Worried! Anxiety Workshop for Parents

Hartwood Elementary School, 6:30 p.m. Dr. James Crist presents ways to help your child cope with anxiety. Dr. Crist is the Clinical Director as well as a child and adolescent psychologist at the Child and Family Counseling Center in Woodbridge, VA. Snacks and drinks sponsored by Chick-Fil-A and HES.

18 Education Support Professionals Day

National ESP Day honors and recognizes the contributions education support professionals (ESPs) make to public education. It is a time to strengthen support and show respect for ESPs, who are equal and essential partners in public education.

23-25 Thanksgiving Break - No School for Students

Offices close at 12 p.m. Wednesday, November 23. All schools and offices closed Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25.

29 School Board Work Session

Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex, Executive Session Room, 6:00 p.m.

department news Facility Planning, Design & Construction

PDC Meeting Rooms When using the Professional Development Center (PDC) for meetings, please leave the room clean and free of all leftover food and drink. The custodians will empty trash cans, but will not touch any leftover food. We appreciate your assistance.

Instructional Technology and Information Services

Principals and key school staff have received information on this project’s status. The Office of Technology anticipates moving a middle and a high school shortly after they analyze the implementation strategy at Hartwood. Following successful implementation at the first three schools during the fall and winter, staff will develop a timeline for the remainder of the division. It is the intention to move the remainder of the division to the Google domain prior to the start of the 2017-18 school year. Dave Mirra Executive Director for Technology

Introduction of G-Suite for Education The Office of Technology has developed a plan to begin the migration of schools to the Google platform for email, instructional files, and collaborative documents. Some schools have independently begun to use G Suite for Education (formerly Google Applications for Education) over the last few years, and each school is at a different level of implementation. The migration is most complex for the schools that are more heavily invested in the Google environment. The implementation strategy has taken this into account as well as input from school staff on when would be the best time to move into the new environment. Hartwood Elementary School is the first school being moved because they have not established an extensive Google presence and are piloting the division domain. Staff training is occurring in early November, with migration of staff email to occur on November 15.

Stafford School Buzz • November 2016

Assistive Technology (AT) What is AIM-VA? AIM-VA is a free program sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education. AIM-VA provides accessible instructional materials to K-12 students in Virginia to promote meaningful and equal access to the general curriculum. Accessible instructional materials are alternate print materials, (e.g., braille, electronic files) used by students who are not able to use traditional print formats. Who Qualifies? Students in Virginia with: • An Individual Education Plan (IEP) that specifies the need for print related accessible instructional materials AND • Existing or new signed documentation from a medical doctor that indicates a physical limitation, visual impairment or an organic dysfunction, such as dyslexia.

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NEWS & EVENTS

department news The Role of Assistive Technology A student with a print disability may need assistive technology (AT) equipment or software to access a book in braille, audio or digital format. Visit AIM-VA online at www.aimva.org for information about their services and resources. Learn more about Print Disability through the PDS workshops being offered in MyLearningPlan. Visit www.mylearningplan.com or contact the Assistive Technology staff. Kathy Vining Assistive Technology Coordinator Susan Anderson Assistive Technology Paraprofessional

Learning & Organizational Development

Career & Technical Education CANstruction 2017 This is to officially announce that registration for CANstruction 2017 is OPEN! This year’s theme is Driving Out Hunger. Canstruction is a unique competition showcasing colossal structures made entirely of full cans of food. After the structures are built, the creations are on display to the public as a giant art exhibition. Students, veterans, community, and business leaders will form a five person team to build sculptures out of canned goods depicting how one can make a difference in the lives of the hungry right here in our community. Participants will use art/design, mathematics and problem solving skills to create fantastic, innovative structures using full cans of food. Why get involved- HUNGER: • 1/9 of Humanity is undernourished. That’s 795 million people. • $1 on average will buy you two cans of food. The event will take place January 12-16, 2017 at the Spotsylvania Towne Center, 137 Spotsylvania Mall Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. The public will participate in the “People’s Choice Award” through the donation of $1 or one canned good per vote on Saturday and Sunday with the official judging for all other categories taking place on Monday, January 16, 2017.

Winners are announced at the official awards ceremony beginning at center court in the mall at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2017. All proceeds benefit the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. For more information or to register your team, contact Cynthia LuceroChavez: clucero@staffordschools.net or https://goo.gl/forms/77uM806g6R14YGVI3 It starts with one CAN. To lift the spirit. To change the world. To END Hunger!

Safety, Security & Risk Management

Managing Stress Since stress impacts people in different ways, it is important that we identify those situations that cause stress for us personally. Once we identify our personal stressors, we need to recheck to see which of those stressors we really have any control over. If we are being honest with ourselves, it is apparent that we only have control over our own attitudes and behaviors. We become responsible for our own choices, and the need to change our outlook and attitudes. There are actions we can take to help us achieve this change. The most simple and direct action we can take is to become aware of our breathing. Most of us breathe in a very shallow way, never moving the stale air out of our lungs, using only the upper lobes of the lungs. Since most of us are not inclined to go long distance running, a good start is the practice of deep breathing. Initially practice this exercise sitting down. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a slow count of three, breathe out and hold the lungs empty for a count of three. Repeat this exercise five to ten times. Do this exercise sitting in a chair and as you become accustomed to the increase in oxygen in the lungs, you may then coordinate it with your steps when you go walking. • • • •

There are some skills we can practice to reduce stress. Clear communications can reduce misunderstanding and potentially hazardous behavior. Time management skills can help work proceed in a smooth manner and reduce stress by prioritizing our workload and creating a manageable schedule. As stress can impair our sense of humor, keeping humorous calendars, or funny sayings, or cartoons available can assist by giving us a “funny bone” break. Using our assertiveness skills and practicing relaxation and stress reduction exercises is also beneficial in reducing stress.

Greg Martin Specialist

November 2016 • Stafford School Buzz

News & events

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department news Fall is a beautiful time of year when it is an adjective. Don’t make it a verb! Beware of the falling leaves. Wet leaves and frost are slippery. With colder weather we spend more time inside. Be careful of where you walk inside with spills and foreign objects in your path. Annette Hall Safety & Workers Compensation Loss Control Manager Thanks for your participation in the Great SouthEast Shake Out. Happy Thanksgiving. Linda Powell Administrative Assistant

Strategic Communication & Community Engagement

Mobile App Launches November 1 SCPS is pleased to announce our new mobile app designed specifically to keep our families better informed and connected to what’s going on in our schools. The new SCPS mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android smartphones. The app will deliver real time school news to a smartphone for fast, upto-date access. The app will feature: • The latest district and school news • Push notifications about breaking news, closures, weather, events and more • Photos from school events • Maps with school locations, phone numbers, and staff information. The app is FREE and available for download today: 1. From a smartphone, go to the iTunes App Store or Google Play 2. Search Stafford County PS 3. Select the Stafford County PS app for free download. This is a soft launch for the mobile app. We hope to have staff members use and evaluate the app prior to a full launch. This will allow time to address any issues before launching to families. Election Day Flex Time for All SCPS Staff The upcoming election on November 8 is expected to result in a large voter turnout. SCPS is pleased to support our community by providing unrestrained access to schools where voting takes place. These schools will remain open to administration, 11 and 12 month administrative assistants, and custodial staff. Teachers and other personnel are accommodated with flextime and flexplace hours for the work day, November 8. Non-polling schools remain accessible to all employees. Similarly, we will accommodate all schools; therefore, non-administrative staff members that are on teacher contracts will have flexible work hours and flexible work location privileges on November 8. Employees may choose when and where they complete their work. Scheduled work hours for faculty and staff shall total 7.5 hours. Scheduled work hours for administrators shall total eight hours. All work shall be relevant to the usual and customary work assignments of the position held by the employee. All service employees shall include such completed time on their required timesheets and note such as authorized flextime and flexplace work hours, i.e., “Authorized Flex Hours”.

Stafford School Buzz • November 2016

Central Office and Wyatt Lane facilities are not included in this schedule adjustment. This authorization is granted only for November 8 and shall not be transferred to a future date unless approved in advance by the superintendent or designee. Firefighters Deliver New Winter Coats to SCPS Students On a cold Wednesday morning, the bay doors of Stafford County Fire and Rescue Station 12 opened to tables of over 600 donated new coats. The Coats for Kids tagging event was in support of the Operations Warm initiative to provide new winter coats to children throughout America. Stafford County Public School (SCPS) counselors worked with Stafford Professional Figherfighter Association Local 4012 to identify and provide coats to students. SCPS principals and staff from Anne E. Moncure Elementary, Conway Elementary, Ferry Farm Elementary,

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NEWS & EVENTS

department news Rocky Run Elementary, Shirley C. Heim Middle and H.H. Poole took part in tagging and sorting coats for all schools. Business partner representatives from Apple Federal Credit Union, Mission BBQ and Walmart assisted with raising money and acquiring gloves and hats. Concluding the event, fireman delivered coats to 28 SCPS schools and Head Start. Click the links below to read more about the event. Stafford firefighters gather nearly 700 coats for kids in need VIDEO: Stafford Fire & Rescue Coats ‘16 Listening Tour On October 27, over 40 parents and community members attended the first of three Superintendent and School Board Listening Tours. Director Strategic Communication and Community Engagement Sherrie Johnson moderated questions and shared concerns from parents in attendance. The listening panel included Superintendent Dr. Bruce Benson and School Board Members Holly Hazard, Dewayne McOsker Jr., Scott Hirons, Melissa Ayers and Irene Egan. School officials answered every question provided during the event. A few questions from the Listening Tour included: • • • •

Is there an effort to have more collaboration between upper elementary teachers and middle school teachers for expectations and preparations for students? What is expected of faculty and staff to help students get into college? Some school districts and most colleges offer “Study Skills” strategies and techniques. Would SCPS add study skills as an area of study for the students? When looking at how to save money in our school system, I think we should reevaluate the need for purchasing books.

Are We Following You? Has your school or department recently created a social media page? Make sure we’re following you! Our division-level Facebook and Twitter pages will follow your school or department and occasionally share your posts. Send your social media links to Samantha Bates at batessm@ staffordschools.net and we’ll “like” you! Sign Up for Blackboard Staff Alerts In order to ensure all staff are receiving Blackboard alerts, you must sign up for a New Account via this Staff Portal: https://staffordcountystaffportal.bbcportal.com/Entry/Logout Signing up for a new account gives you the new functionality to update and maintain your contact information at your leisure! Even if you have an account and are receiving alerts, please sign up for a new account. If you have any questions, please contact Sharina Mendoza at mendozaso@staffordschools.net. Join Us for Weekly Web Training Weekly training sessions for the new website are offered in the Professional Development Center. For information on upcoming sessions, contact Sharina Mendoza at mendozaso@staffordschools.net.

November 2016 • Stafford School Buzz

Professional Development Autism Paraprofessionials Attend Training at VCU

Laurie McCullough Coaches ITRTs

Dr. Laurie McCullough visited Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRTs) at their October 17 meeting for a lesson in coaching. On Wednesday, August 31 and Monday, October 10, all of SCPS’s autism Dr. McCullough emphasized the importance of coaches and discussed paraprofessionals attended a training program provided by Virginia Commonwalth University’s Autism Center of Excellence. The training, three levels of coaching: directive (teacher requires much assistance), titled Autism Spectrum Disorder for Paraprofessionals: Providing collaborative (building partnerships, with equal input from teacher and Effective Instruction & Supports, addressed topics needed to work coach), and facilitative (teacher is in charge with support from coach). with students with autism including communication, characteristics of autism, behavior, and instruction. Each of the over 100 paraprofessionals Dr. McCullough currently serves as the Executive Director of the Virginia worked directly with their own school-based teams during the training, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD), a helping to promote development and strengthening of teams. Each professional organization whose mission is to advance excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership in Virginia. She works with teachers participant receives a certificate of completion from VCU. and school leaders on a variety of topics, including instructional coaching.

Online University Courses Virtual Education Software, Inc. (VESI) courses are convenient, relevant and affordable. Convenient because these interactive courses provide expert instruction at a pace that fits your schedule. Relevant to the significant educational and social issues in today’s schools, as well as to the requirements you need to meet for re-licensure or career advancement. Affordable because our format allows us to keep quality high and prices low. Courses are offered through Old Dominion University and Shenandoah University. Click the links below for more information. Old Dominion University Shenandoah University

Stafford School Buzz • November 2016

Fun Run

SCPS Staff 5K Benef its Stafford Education Foundation What do superheroes, the Constitution, tutus, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich have in common? You could find them all at Colonial Forge High School on Saturday, October 29! Staff members came out in their C5W costumes for the SCPS 5K Fun Run/Walk benefitting the Stafford Education Foundation (SEF). Superintendent Dr. Bruce Benson, School Board Chair Holly Hazard, and SEF President Cathy Yablonski presented awards to the top C5W costumes. Thank you to our event sponsors: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Apple Federal Credit Union AT Nails Augustine Opticians Chick-Fil-A Costco Jostens Liberty Mutual McDonald’s MVP Awards Party City Pepsi Sprint Stafford Massage & Healing Arts Wawa Walmart Wegmans

November 2016 • Stafford School Buzz

Costume Contest Winners

Stafford School Buzz â&#x20AC;˘ November 2016

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month Activities From National Education Association November is Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Estimates of the population of the Western Hemisphere prior to the arrival of Europeans range from 8 million to more than 100 million. Cultures were as varied as the stationary Mayas in the Yucatan and the nomadic Plains Indians in North America. Explore Native American culture with the following lessons and activities. Lesson Plans Every Native Vote Counts: Teachers Guide & Lesson Plans Resources to revitalize civic engagement among native peoples including tailored curriculum and lesson plans for grades K-8 to teach youth about the unique history and importance of the Native vote. Diagram It! Identifying, Comparing, and Writing About Nonfiction Texts Students in grades K-2 use an interactive Venn diagram to compare nonfiction books and fiction about Native Americans. Create Your Own Native American Board Game Students in grades K-5 research and use basic elements of a selected Native American tribe to create an original board game. Native Americans Today Students in grades 3-5 compare prior knowledge of Native Americans with information gathered while reading about contemporary Native Americans. Alaska Native Stories: Using Narrative to Introduce Expository Text Students in grades 3-5 use traditional stories of Native peoples to begin a study of animals in Alaska. Weaving the Threads: Integrating Poetry Annotation and Web Technology Students in grades 6-8 read poems by modern Native American writers, research key words and phrases in a selected poem, and create hyperlinked informational text.

Stafford School Buzz • November 2016

Battling for Liberty: Tecumseh’s and Patrick Henry’s Language of Resistance Students in grades 6-8 compare Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech with ways Native Americans resisted oppression through rhetoric and action. Fighting Injustice by Studying Lessons of the Past Students in grades 6-8 compare the Holocaust, Japanese-American internment during World War II, and the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act Students in grades 8-12 examine the expansion of the United States in the Pacific Northwest from the Nez Perce perspective and assess the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 and its consequences. Making Connections to Myth and Folktale: The Many Ways to Rainy Mountain In this five part lesson, students in grades 9-12 write a three-voice narrative based on the structure in N. Scott Momaday’s The Way to Rainy Mountain. Activities Yesterday and Today (Grades K-2) Compare modern tools with ancient ones. Arctic Artifacts (Grades 3-8) What were these artifacts used for? Native American Vocabulary (Grades 3-8) Find the locations described by Native American place names. The Ancestral Pueblo People (Grades 6-12) Explore the world of Ancestral Pueblo people of New Mexico. Stories from The Past (Grades 6-12) Tell a story with rock art.

stafford school buzz

november 2016

We Value Your Input Let us know what’s happening in your department or school. Share your events, recognitions, and suggestions with us at SCPScommunications@staffordschools.net.

Stay Connected Stafford County Public Schools

December’s deadline is November 28.

parent & community

connection In mid-October, we debuted our first ever Parent & Community Connection, a newsletter for SCPS families and the community. Click here to view the October and November editions. Submit items for the Parent & Community Connection to Tiffany Twine at twinetn@staffordschools.net.

Central Office Selects “Top Chef of the Soup” Central Office held its annual United Way Top Chef of the Soup competition on Monday, October 31. Over 20 soups, stews and chilis were presented for judging by Central Office staff. The winners were: Top Chili: Andy Wolfenbarger Top Soup: Glenda Breninger Top Stew: Buffalo Chicken Overall Winner: Andy Wolfenbarger Through ticket sales and donations, over $400 was earned for the United Way campaign. Thank you to Rodney Redmon for organizing this event!