Thought of the Week: Technology Champions
I was fortunate to be at George O’Neill for Wednesday afternoon as this provided me with the opportunity to hear and see the energy of our SGDSB Technology Champions. Wow. I cannot describe the positive energy and total commitment to change that I witnessed in the few brief moments that I was in the Seminar Room. These individuals are self-directed learners who are truly focusing on the use of technology as a tool to make learning and thinking visible in a “different” way. I had to hand out the summary of the Global Competencies to them at the end of their day as they themselves are exemplifying these competencies. I commend Stacey on her vision and leadership of this group of educators and learners. As they left, I heard (from my office) the echos of appreciation and excitement for next year! Be sure that your Technology Champion is given the opportunity to lead in your school – it will pay off!
Health and Safety Reminders: As a result of the following, we will have to enhance our SGDSB policy. Please note:
Passage of Bill 132: An Act to amend various statutes with respect to sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence and related matters.
Occupational Health and Safety Act has changed:
New definition of workplace sexual harassment:
(a) engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace because of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, where the course of comment or conduct is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome, or
(b) making a sexual solicitation or advance where the person making the solicitation or advance is in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement to the worker and the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the solicitation or advance is unwelcome;
(3) Section 1 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Workplace harassment (4) A reasonable action taken by an employer or supervisor relating to the management and direction of workers or the workplace is not workplace harassment.
Duties re harassment 32.0.7 (1) To protect a worker from workplace harassment, an employer shall ensure that, (a) an investigation is conducted into incidents and complaints of workplace harassment that is appropriate in the circumstances;
Duties re harassment 32.0.7 (1) To protect a worker from workplace harassment, an employer shall ensure that, (b) the worker who has allegedly experienced workplace harassment and the alleged harasser, if he or she is a worker of the employer, are informed in writing of the results of the investigation and of any corrective action that has been taken or that will be taken as a result of the investigation;
Other Points of Interest School leaders must now take seriously and investigate anonymous complaints Relevant as school leaders not just potential respondents.
Updates
Dr Jean Clinton – My sincere thanks to Debbie, Heidi, Kellie and Kathleen for their strong leadership in ensuring that each of these events was a huge success. I also thank each of you for helping out and truly making SGDSB shine in our communities. It was such an important event and I am truly grateful to each of you.
NTIP – A reminder to ensure that you have met with your NTIP teachers to update their Individual Strategy Form and the PD Form. The completion of these templates is a requirement for the successful completion of NTIP (to receive the NTIP designation). Please ensure that you are paying special attention to these processes as they are critical for these teachers. These must be sent to Shelley by June 10. A reminder that all TPAs, including NTIP also need to be completed and signed off by June 10. As you know, each NTIP teacher requires two Performance Appraisals. The feedback in these appraisals is critical to their growth; as teachers move from school to school, it is imperative that we engage fully in the NTIP processes to support growth and development of new teachers.
Pearson Efficacy – We have enough participants for the Monday, May 16th (11:15-12:15 timeslot), however Tuesday, May 17 is not going to work. We will find another date when we meet on Monday. Thanks everyone.
TMT – Jody and Will are on deck to share their SLP evidence next week, thus there will be little time for operational sharing. We will finish off on May 26 with Hillary and Sara’s sharing. That will be our final TMT of the year.
Carried Over from Last Week
Criteria for Effective Staff Meetings – We are practicing the Assessment for Learning Framework with our staff meeting success criteria. I am asking that you apply this criteria to one of your staff meeting agendas with a critical friend.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eptu9LxT9K2myANzq32cIqSnZk8FKhCuHcI_P4wKaZw/edit
- Working in teams, apply the criteria to you staff meeting agenda.
- What feedback would you give yourself? Your partner?
- Based upon the feedback, what is your next goal?
- Add to/enhance the success criteria based upon your thinking.
We will bring our final success criteria to our PD session on June 6. Thanks everyone!
Sharing of Space – Just a reminder to engage in these meeting with your partners as you begin planning for next year. Please evaluate the extent to which you achieved your goals for this year and begin to think about what you want to work on next to move further towards integration. A great question that always comes up is the use of the gym and how this is balanced between the two organizations in the best interest of students!
Nicki’s Schedule
Mon – GOPS (NTIP meeting, Pearson Meeting)
Tues – LSHS Google Session
Wed – PLK 3 Pedagogical Meeting – Valhalla Inn
Thurs – DSSAB/Board Meeting
Fri – Vacation day (will be in Minneapolis all weekend) out of the district
Happy May Long Weekend!!!
Upcoming Dates
May 16 – NTIP Steering Committee Meeting (9:00-10:30)
May 16 – Pearson Efficacy Meeting 11:15-12:15
May 18 – Pedagogical Leadership Session for Team of 10
May 20 – All Inquiry/PLC release days completed
May 24th- Elementary TWEA opens – staff to verify class set up by Friday, May 27th and email Raj necessary changes (Principal sends one email with all changes).
May 24 – Board Meeting (rescheduled)
May 26- Parent Involvement Committee Meeting
May 27 – Learning Fair Google Slides completed
May 31 – Early Primary Math PLCs Face to Face at GOPs
Jun 1-8 EQAO Window – no PD During this time (except PD Day! lol)
June 6 – PD DAy – Reporting Day for elementary teachers and ECEs, PD Session for elementary Principals at GOPs
June 7 – Board Policy Review Meeting
June 10 – all Teacher Performance Appraisals are complete and signed off on (and sent to the Board Office to Val Nakani’s attention in hard copy).
June 13 – Leads’ Meeting face to face at GOPS
June 15 – Fair Start Completed
June 21 – National Aboriginal Day
June 24 – school schedules due to Nicki
June 28 – School Learning Plan Evaluations Due to NMC (with school team input!!)
Learning Fair Celebration Dates – The Elementary Learning Celebration Fair will take place on Friday, May 27, 2016 at GOPS.
Modelling the Conditions for Learning 