CWCS November 2007 ES Agenda

Please read the agenda, along with each of its links (all links available in ES Manual for future reference).

The agenda quiz must be completed in your ES WEBfiles by 3:00 pm the day before the ES meeting.

 

CWCS Goals:

Improve student achievement in reading and writing

Improve student achievement in mathematics

Improve STAR attendance to 100 %

 

 

1) Dates to Remember and Dated Duties

a) November 7th: Worldstrides extension- Registration/information packets were sent to all 7th and 8th grade students. The actual deadline extension is posted as Nov. 7th (although Worldstrides will accept registration up to final payment date of 1/3/08). Registration information is included in the packets, or contact Shanda Rickman or (209) 380-8745.

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b) November 9th: ES Evaluation Goals for the 2008 school year-Enter into WEBfiles, on the ES Detail Screen, by this date for your Advisor to review, a brief written progress report on how you have met your ES 2008 goals to date and what you expect to do next semester. If you are a new ES this year, this will not apply to you. Please date your entry!

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c) November 13-16, 2007: 2nd Quarter Benchmark Exams and Writing Prompts- Provide and explain to parents during this week or at the learning record closest to these dates, and collect at the following learning record meeting. 2nd Quarter Benchmark Exams and Writing Prompts. Kindergarten students must have a Writing Prompt sample too. Terry Souza has prepared a Kindergarten Writing Prompt guide that is posted on the CW Writing Prompts link.

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d) November 15, 2007: EOC (End of Course) entry deadline for STAR. See Assessment news below for more info.

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e) November 16, 2007: 2nd Semester Student Agreements-

-The 2nd Semester Student Agreements will need to be postmarked to IEM Student Records by November 16th.

Remember to add the HQT designation to your report cards.

Another Assessment Confirmation form is NOT required for the second semester, just the student agreement.

Please remember to staple the two pages together to help the records department. Thank you!

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f) November 16, 2007: December Potential Grads Report Cards- Complete report cards with estimated 1st semester grades and credits due for all potential December graduates. Potential December Grads who have not yet passed the CAHSEE and would like to continue next semester if they do not pass, should have a student agreement completed for next semester. Hold these in the student's file and only mail them in if the student does not pass the CAHSEE and is going to enroll for next semester.

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g) November 30, 2007: Graduation Packets for December 2007 grads to be posted to your ES Advisor by this date. If you have a potential graduate that does not yet have a copy of their final and complete transcript in WEBfiles, please be sure to ask your advisor for assistance in how to obtain a transcript from a previous school. (If you have a student graduating in May, you should be checking that their transcript has all previous schools listed now, so there is not a problem when preparing the grad packets for next semester.)

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h) November 30, 2007: Deadline for Assessment information to be entered in WEBfiles. See Assessment News below for more information

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i) December 13, 2007: Graduation Ceremony Participation- Graduation participation forms are posted on the Guidance Page.(8th Grade, Senior/Cap and Gown.). Please give these to your potential December and May graduates now, as they are due no later than December 13th. (Remember to mark in WEBfiles if they are participating or not when you collect the forms.)

Note: (8th grade graduates must be in 8th grade according to birth date)

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j) February 5 & 6, 2008: CAHSEE

-All 10th graders MUST attend the February 5 and 6th CAHSEE administration.

-All 10th graders must have CAHSEE prep materials.

-It is the ES's responsibility to remind their parents of these dates! Please review this with all 10th graders this month if you haven’t already done so.

Our goal is to have 80% of our 10 graders pass the CAHSEE this year. Use 10th Grade CAHSEE Prep for any student that may need assistance.

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k) February 25 & 26, 2008: All ES Meeting and Parent Training will be held at the San Joaquin Office of Education, 2707 Transworld Dr., Stockton, CA. Monday, February 25th will be for ESes only. Tuesday, February 26th will be for ESes and Parent Training, and will include the Career Expo. Let your parents know and have them reserve this date!

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l) March 4, 2008: Science Fair- New this year! CWCS will have it's first science fair scheduled for open house, March 4, 2008. Any ESs who are interested in being judges please contact Sofia Oldmark soldmark@connectingwaters.org. We are expecting a donation of project boards that can be given to each participant.

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m) April 22, 2008: WASC Visitation. This is a one day visit only. Remember to discuss the ESLRS/Growth areas each time you meet with your students. If they are not on the parent listserve bring them a copy of the ESLR of the month!

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2) Things to Do

a) 1st Semester Portfolios due at December ES Meeting.

Please consult Portfolio Information, Portfolio Review, and Sample Q&As.

*Remember, “A portfolio is one work sample for each learning area covered that semester if the student is in grades K-8 (if a K-8 student has learning recorded in growth area on the learning record, a sample for that growth area must be included) and one work sample per COURSE per semester for 9th to 12th. Students doing a mixture of K-8 and 9-12 may include all samples in the same envelope, listing the samples correctly on the Portfolio Checklist.”

Although not explicitly stated in the policy, it is expected that a K-8 student will be working in at least 5 growth areas, and therefore will have at least 5 samples per semester.

*Another reminder, the Writing Prompt samples should NOT be typed, but if desired, the typed final copy can be attached to the students first draft. Even HQT classes that have typed documents turned in, must have a handwritten first draft. HQTs may not be collecting the first draft, ESes must be sure to obtain this.

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b) HQT and a-g Courses: Information on HQT and a-g Courses was sent out on the all ES listserve. A listing of possible CW HQT Access teachers was included as an attachment. The "CW HQT Access" option has been added to the report card drop down for HQT, and will be included as an option in the HQT Overview in the ES manual.

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c) 2nd semester funding: We expect to deposit 2nd semester funding approximately November 16th. Funding should be available at that time for you to begin placing orders for materials, services, and activities for 2nd semester. Remember to consult the IF chart in WEBfiles ("View" IF Calcs) for any students enrolling after this date. (AESS charges for next semester have been deducted. Remember to submit an AESS contract with a termination date if your student will no longer be receiving AESS.)

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d) POs and CPs for second semester: As soon as funding is deposited, don't forget to submit service POs for 2nd semester and set up any continuing classes in CP setup for 2nd semester. You can find the class from the 1st semester, click the “duplicate” button at the top of the layout, and make any needed changes to dates, standards, etc. This duplication is not for POs, but is only for CP set ups. Students in Elluminate courses do not have to re-enroll for 2nd semester. They will be automatically enrolled (except for Economics and Government).

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e) November Book Return at Learning Centers: An ES listserve was sent with directions for the November Book Return at the learning centers.

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f) December Graduates’ Scantron- Learning Centers’ Proctor Schedule: You must post-test all of your December graduates by December 19, even if 12 weeks have not passed since their pre-test. All other students will begin post-testing in January. Please refer to the Scantron Testing Window in the ES Manual to determine post-testing dates for your students.

December Grad Scantron Proctor Schedule at Modesto Learning Center:

Tuesday Dec. 4th, and 7th

Friday Dec 11th and 14th

Appointment times each day: 9:00; 10:30; 12:30; 2:00

 

December Grad Scantron Proctor Schedule at Ceres Learning Center:

Monday, Dec. 3rd and 10th

Friday, Dec 7th and 14th

Appointment times each day: 9:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm.

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g) Grade Levels Changes for Remedial High School Students: Remedial high school students should have their grade level evaluated at the beginning of each semester. If the grade level changes mid-year, the advisor must approve, and assessment cwcsassessment@connectingwaters.org and student records studentrecords@ieminc.org must be notified so that the correct STAR tests can be ordered and the database updated.

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h) Learning Center Prospective Spring Classes: Ceres Learning Center and Modesto Learning Center Prospective Spring classes have been posted to the Learning Center page.

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i) CWCS Revised Action Plan: Please read through the CWCS Revised Action Plan. If you have any suggestions for changes or edits, please email cwcs@connectingwaters.org.

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j) November CWCS Newsletter and a Yearbook Cover Contest for you to share with your families.

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k) October ES Compilation 

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3) Training Items

a) E-mail responses: According to the ES job description and the CWCS Employee Handbook, ESes must respond to e-mails within 24 hours on workdays. This applies to e-mails from all school sources: all employees (certificated and classified), parents, and IEM personnel. Thank you!

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b) Communication Protocol: The following has been added to the CW Communication Protocol.

"If a student/parent has a complaint about an instructor or employee, they should talk to the instructor/employee first so that they can fully understand the person's intent regarding the issue. If there is still a problem then they should talk to the direct supervisor of the person. If the problem still is not resolved then they should talk to the executive director, Sherri Nelson." This applies to all CP courses including HQT classes, Learning Centers, and school offices, etc.

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c) Rollsheet Corrections: An ES group asked for further clarification from Attendance at IEM regarding which corrections on a rollsheet could be initialed and which required a new rollsheet. The additions have been made to the Rollsheet Correction document in the ES manual. Good suggestion, thank you!

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d) Surpass Library Notified: An addition has been added to the Surpass Library Info and the Missing Materials document in the ES manual that states: "When a student drops, the drop email will be cc'd to the learning centers and they will check the Surpass Library for any items still checked out by the student. An email will be sent to the ES for assistance in collecting the items for the center."

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e) Starline Press: Additional errors have been found in the Starline Math books. ESes should not purchase their math materials due to serious errors. (ESes should also be aware that the Starline English books have errors too...). If you have any suggestions for other standards aligned grade level curriculum that is similar to Starline, please email lofreeman@connectingwaters.org

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f) ES Contact of newly enrolled students: An ES must contact a student that has just been enrolled through intake within 24 hours from the time that the e-mail is sent by student assignments. This has been added to the Intake Policy. The following was sent on the ES listserve::

AESS Students: Many students will need AESS services from their ES in order to be successful in our school. According to the AESS policy and procedure, each ES must be willing to service up to at least 5 AESS students if asked by their families. Sherri Nelson, the intake Specialist, and/or Mary Halter will often recommend AESS and put the recommendation on the student's intake information. The ES must present these families with the AESS options, however, once you meet with the family you both may determine that tutoring would be more beneficial for the student rather than AESS. We have done some research to determine how many ESes service AESS students. If you still need students on your student list and are already servicing your maximum number of AESS students then you will need to have your student count lowered as most students applying at this time need AESS. Email stuassign@ieminc.org and cc your advisor to have your count lowered, otherwise, you will be assigned an AESS student and expected to serve them. We need to do everything that we can to help these students succeed. If a newly enrolled student does not have enough funding for AESS, but would like to have the service, submit an Instructional Funds Request for additional funding.

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g) Parent Involvement Policy: A Parent Involvement Policy has been posted to the Parent Council page of the CW website.

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h) First Meeting Information Sheet: The First Meeting Information Sheet is required for all continuing students at the beginning of the school year. Students that have gone through Centralized Intake, do not need the First Meeting Information Sheet completed, but will do the Post Intake Meeting Checklist in its place.

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i) Special Ed IEP Stipend: An addition was made to the "What to bring to an IEP" document that reminds an ES to complete a timesheet for a stipend.

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4) Messages from School Departments

Assessment News from Leita Barlow and Jodi Leonardo

* November Assessment News

* STAR Subject Tests per Grade Make certain that all of your 4th and 7th graders are aware that they must attend the writing portion of the STAR.

* 10th Grade CAHSEE Prep

* Assembly Bill (AB) 347 regarding providing instruction to students that have not passed the CAHSEE but have met all other graduation requirements.

* Please be sure to communicate to your parents that students will not be allowed to take the STAR or CAHSEE tests in their homes unless their IEP or 504 plan specifically states such a need or there are extreme extenuating circumstances. Please contact Leita, lbarlow@connectingwaters.org or 916-202-3609,  with any questions or concerns regarding this.

*Test prep materials Reminder from October ES Agenda: "Test Prep Materials should have already been ordered for all students grade 2-11. Please be sure that all of your families have their materials by their November learning record meetings. The Learning Centers have some test prep materials available. Please send an email by the end of November, to your advisor, indicating that you have ordered and delivered test prep materials to all of your families. (10th grade students must have CAHSEE prep materials, if the student is a 10th grader, include this in the email along with a note that the materials were CAHSEE prep.)"

 

Curriculum News from Lori Freeman

* November Curriculum News

* Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has new Curriculum pages. See CW Themepark for more information.

* New Vendor: Music Infusion- Homeschooling Music Instrument and Accessories Resource and Facts on the Benefits of Learning Music.

*Vendor for STAR prep/tutoring- Tree of Knowledge HQT approved tutor for subjects listed on flyer.

*ALEKS is a low-cost online math program which provides supplemental instruction for elementary thru high school courses. They also offer a CAHSEE Math Prep course! Prices range from $20 per student for 1 month up to $35 per student for 40 weeks. http://www.aleks.com/k12

 

Guidance News from Mary Halter

*November Guidance News

* Upcoming Issues with a-g courses:

UC staff and faculty are working to establish a policy that would govern the instructional conditions under which a non-classroom-based, independent study program/school would be eligible to establish and maintain a UC-certified "a-g" course list. We are hoping to have the details within the next few months but we are expecting the policy to include contact with a Highly Qualified Teacher, that coursework must include unit tests and a final, and that student work is evaluated by a professional other than the parent.

* a-g Lab Course Reminder: a-g Lab Science courses must include at least 20% laboratory work. The University of California does not allow our a-g lab science courses to be completed in a home environment nor can “lab kits” sufficiently provide students with the lab experience that UC is expecting from our students. Please make sure your families are informed that a-g Biology, a-g Chemistry, a-g Physics and a-g Anatomy/Physiology must have an on site type/formal lab component. Options include taking the course at community college or taking supplemental labs at our Modesto Learning Center offered by Lecia Leige.

 

Language Arts News from Terry Souza

* New English/Language Arts Checklist for Struggling Students

* Spelling Bee Finalists- Congratulations! Thank you Jeni Richline, our spelling bee coordinator, and Terry Souza for making our second spelling bee a wonderful success. Eighteen students participated in our local spelling bee

* How to Use Assessments to Drive Instruction November 14,2007

* Writing Workshop November 28, 2007

Please make sure that your parents are aware of these workshops. These workshops for ESes ,parents, and students.

 

Math News from Debbie Kutz-

* November Math News

 

IT

*AESS Students on Attendance Sheets: Now when ESes go to print attendance sheets for families, if the family has any AESS students, those student numbers are automatically listed in the bottom right hand portion where the students need to sign.

*CP Sign up List: The student’s phone number is now available for easy acces in the CP sign up layout. The status of the student has also been added so that ESes can determine whether or not their student has been dropped, if requested.

*Truant Letter Notification: Fields were linked so that when a truant letter is printed and checked off by an ES, that check appears in the student checklist.

*PO Autofill: One ES group suggested that the quantity, grade level, etc. on a PO request automatically fill on with preset values that can be changed if needed. This has been done, and autofill should occur each time a new line is begun in the PO request file.

* LR Printout with standards: IT has prepared a new layout for the learning record parent print out with standards that requires less paper and is much easier to read. Thank you HeatherAnn Dawson!

 

Vendor Relations- Vendor #IEM3211 Lodi Arts Commission has the following comment in the vendor notes: "This vendor will only accept one PO per/session. Typically, this will be on a monthly basis. Vendor requests that parents call ahead for student pre-registration 24 hrs prior to classes beginning!" However the students are not being preregistered and as a result the vendor is not happy. Please remind your parents to call ahead by making a note on your calendar and giving them a reminder call. Thank you!

 

5) ES Networking

a) Technology Plan Networking

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