4 Weeks until Christmas Break!
Thought of the Week: When we think about rigor in our classrooms, the notion of Bloom’s Taxonomy (revised) comes to mind, as rigor is evident in classrooms where deep student thinking is taking place (a culture of thinking, rather than a culture of doing). Have a review of the following definitions that explain Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. What level of rigor do you see evident in the work that students are engaged in? What do students tell you when you ask them to identify “what they are learning”? How do we move through the gradual release of responsibility to move further up Bloom’s Taxonomy so that students are engaged in higher order thinking (analyzing, evaluating, creating)?
Updates/Reminders
Health and Safety Act Reminders: What is Workplace Violence and Harassment?
“Workplace violence” is defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as:
- The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker.
- An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker, and a
- A statement or behaviour that a worker could reasonably interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
“workplace harassment” is engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in the workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known or to be unwelcome.
Risk Assessment The risk of violence or harassment occurring in the workplace is linked to a number of factors, including the nature of the workplace, the type of work, or conditions of the work. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Location of the workplace
• Parking
• Access to workplace
• Handling cash
• Working alone
Thursday Morning Teleconferences: CHANGE – due to school conflicts Scheduled for 9:30-10:10 (unless there is a settlement for ESS) on December 3rd and 10th.
Elementary Catch Up Session – is scheduled for Monday, November 30 from 9:00-11:00. We will hold this date for another week and re-evaluate then. Please let me know if this new time WILL NOT work for you by Tuesday. Thanks everyone.
Director’s Newsletter – please send photos and good news items to Dave this week please!
Leadership Meeting – November 27 – Postponed
Carried Over from Last Week
P/VP Handbook Review for December –will take place Wednesday, December 2, 3:30-4:30 Please use my dial in and access code.
Nicki’s Schedule for this Week:
Mon – GOPS, Board Meeting at 6:30 pm
Tues – Board Agenda Planning in am, GOPS in pm
Wed – GOPS
Thurs – GOPS
Fri – Travel to Marathon in am, Board Office in pm
Upcoming Dates
Monday, November 23, 2015 Violence in Workplace Action Plans Due
Monday, November 23, 2015 – IEPS completed
Monday, November 23, 2015 Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 3:30 Director’s Update
Friday, November 27, 2015 – Leadership Meeting in Marathon
Monday, November 30, 2015 POP Feedback Round 1 Completed
Monday, November 30, 2015 – Bully Action Plans due to NMC
Monday, November 30, 2015 – Progress Reports Due to the Office
Monday, December 7, 2015 – Progress Reports Sent Home
Monday, December 7 – Inaugural Board Meeting – at Board Office all day.
Tuesday, December 8 – Director’s Update
Wednesday, December 9 – ALPs for teachers on improvement plan or Performance Appraisal year are due
Modelling the Conditions for Learning 