CWCS September 2007 ES Agenda
Please read the
agenda, along with each of its links (all links available in ES Manual
for future reference).
Complete the
September Agenda Quiz in
WEBfiles
CWCS Goals:
Improve student achievement in reading and
writing
Improve student achievement in mathematics
Improve STAR attendance to 100 %
_
We are pleased to announce that the Academic
Performance Index (API) reveals that we had a 46 point increase from the previous
year! These are unprecedented results! Our growth target was 9 points and
we exceeded the mark. This was truly a team effort and I thank each of you.
Without everyone working together this wouldn’t have happened! We are showing
the state of California and our district that providing choices and flexibility
does work to educate children! Keep up the good work!
1) Dates to Remember
and Dated Duties
a) September 14, 2007: Check WEBfiles for accuracy for each student
•check for any new contact
info (address, phone, e-mail, etc.) for the families. To change a student’s
address or phone number, please e-mail stuaddresschange@ieminc.org (note
new email address). ESs do not contact parent support for this service.
•check that Instructional
Funds were deposited for each student
•check that correct courses
are listed on report cards
•for any 2007 potential graduates
that didn't graduate, change their grad date to 2008
_
b) September
17th: Constitution Day- Federal legislation
requires that schools receiving federal funds teach or give a program about
the Constitution. Please forward these links to your families:
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/gencurres/cresource/ConstitDaywebsite.pdf
http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=constitution_day
_
c) September
17-21:
•Benchmark
Exams/Writing Prompts: The Benchmark
Exams are optional and can be used as test prep and portfolio samples, but
the Writing Prompts are required and MUST be included as a portfolio sample..
You may access the exams by
following the directions in the Edusoft Information
Sheet.
Please understand that since
you are all using individualized curriculum that these tests are not aligned
to your curriculum but are aligned to our benchmark schedule.
You may have your student take the entire test this week or when your student
has covered the California Standards being assessed. This is particularly
true of the algebra I exam where most standards have not yet been covered.
Also, don’t forget to include the writing assessment portion of the benchmarks.
The writing prompts can be found in the Writing Prompt Booklet. Thank
you Sara Jefferson for the collection of prompts for 10th
and 12th graders who would otherwise have had to repeat the
prompts from the previous year.
•Due
to the IEW conference at the Modesto Learning Center, we will not
be scheduling Scantron Appointments the week of Sept. 17 - 21st.
_
d) September
28:
•Deadline for entering
info from Graduation Requirements Agreements, checking report cards and transcripts,
and for completing and entering all info from parent checklist.
•Due
to Sherri Nelson per the all ES listserve message: "If you have been
assigned a high school student who went through intake May-August 9th
or you have completed the enrollment paperwork because they are a sibling
of a current student, please have them complete the Enrollment
Contract Form. I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause
you. From now on all high school students who go through intake will
complete this form and then it will be sent to me directly. Please complete
this form and send it to the Waterford office, Attn: Sherri Nelson
by September 28th. Mary
Halter has designated all students who are on academic probation in the
database."
_
e) September
30: Worldstrides
Washington, D.C. Trip- ESs,
please inform your 7th and 8th graders of the Washington, D.C. trip if you
haven’t done so already. Registration packets are available at both learning
centers or Shanda Rickman can mail one to them. Registration deadline is Sept.
30th. Interested parents can be directed to Shanda Rickman, 209-380-8745 or
srickman@connectingwaters.org.
_
f) October 2
and 3: CAHSEE for 11th and 12th
graders. CAHSEE Prep Courses offered at each Learning Center.
MLC/CLC
_
g) October 8: Scantron
Pre-tests completed for all students. Please
check your Scantron list of students before scheduling to test a student.
If the student is not on your Scantron list email cwcstestclerk@connectingwaters.org least one week before your testing appointment to have them added.
_
h) December 13: 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 the database
if they are participating or not when you collect the forms.)
Please remember, Students who desire to participate in the graduation ceremony
must take the first three sessions of the CAHSEE (and pass
the test) during their senior year (unless exam has been passed). March
test results will be received by graduation.
_
2) Things to Do
a) Portfolios:
According to the Paperwork Timetable
for 2008, all first semester portfolios will be reviewed at the December
ES Meeting. Begin preparing them now!
Note the additional clarification
in the Portfolio policy
regarding K-8 portfolios (clarification bolded for your reference).
“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.”
Note the addition to
the portfolio label requirement. ESs must use the school provided labels,
and if are more needed they should contact their Area Facilitator.
_
b) Summer School Grade Levels
Please check your high school
students’ transcripts to ensure that, if they attended summer school, the
correct grade level is entered on the transcript. Our school policy states
"a student shall be considered to be enrolled in a grade immediately
upon completion of the preceding grade." For example, a student who completed
9th grade on May 18th, 2007, should have been enrolled in 10th
grade for summer school.
If you note a problem on the
transcript, email the problem and the requested change to your advisor. It
is important to have this information accurately entered on the transcripts
because of the effect on GPA, especially for CalGrant purposes.
_
3) Training Items
a) HQT 2007/2008
*New HQT Report Card info:
Some of you may have noticed the
below info in the High School Report Card. This is still being worked on
and
will be available for 2nd semester...
"When creating a Report Card, to the
right of Work Level, there is a box called “NCLB Teacher of Record”. Choose
from one of the following:
1) ES is Certified (only if you are certified
as the HQT for this course)
2) Online Course: HQT Elluminate course
and approved online courses (pending approval)
3) HQT SME CP Course (choose this if it
is an HQT course or a HQT CP course, SME is an acronym used by other IEM schools
and does not pertain to us).
4) Community College.
5) HQT Tutor Vendor
6) HQT Parent Denied (note in LR)"
*Assigning Credits/ Grade
for HQT: ES Responsibilities beginning Fall 2007/2008:
- ESs need to Log in to www.nicenet.org and sign up
as a class member.
- Check nicenet for announcements or students’ assignments.
- Daily work assignments to be graded by parent or
ES
- Sign off and date class assignment sheet on syllabus
at each learning record meeting, and keep for records.
- Email monthly progress sheet to Department ES after
each learning record meeting.
- Contact Department ES if student is dropping the
course, or having any difficulties
- Department ES will give 100% of grade based on ES/parent
input and assigned work, etc.
*Elluminate Updates:
•Elluminate Quick Launch: Jamie Tinley has
tested the quick
launch feature which should be helpful to all students who access Elluminate
through dial up. Please keep in mind that we have families with varying computer
situations and dial up providers so this may not solve everyone’s issue. Please
let Jamie know how this works for your student or if you have any questions
email him at jtinley@connectingwaters.org. We also appreciate all of Jamie’s
hard work to help resolve some of your Elluminate issues! (Each learning center
has 5 cds with these downloads available for ES checkout for any student that
has dial up and has trouble downloading the quick launch features.)
•Elluminate
Reminder!: Head-sets Are Mandatory-students
must have to participate! This is reminder that all of your students who
are
signed up for a HQT course are required to have and use their headset. They
need a headset in order to participate in the Elluminate session. Some of
your students are saying that they do not have a headset. If you have not
done so, please order your student a headset immediately. Here are vendors
that you can order from:
-Vendor: Data Computers
Item: MP-017B Juster Stereo Headset W/Microphone
(Black) Price: 9.00
-Office Depot: 362168 Mono Noise-Can.
Headset/Boom Mic Price:$13.49
•Students accessing Elluminate on Learning
Center Computers: Students are welcome to use the Learning
Center computers to access Elluminate classes with a scheduled appointment.
Since the Learning Center clerks have not been trained in using Elluminate,
ESs should not expect clerks to assist students if they are having problems
getting on. Please tell your students to call you if they need assistance
with Elluminate at the Learning Centers.
These classes are just like any other Contract
Programs Course:
• All students who are enrolled in a Elluminate class must use the books assigned
to the class in order to obtain credit and attend the class. Please see the
department schedule at our website.
• Monthly progress reports are due to the HQT by the 15th of each month
Sample of a Monthly Elluminate Progress Report. The first is due September
15th. You may give this to your student/parent to fill out and you can validate
and pick up at the learning record or have it emailed to you.
• Students will only receive a-g credit if the text is used and listed in
the learning record
• Students can only receive a-g biology credit if they take a biology lab
along with the Elluminate course.
• Students will only be allowed to attend office hours if the class is full
or there is a proven class conflict. Those who attend office hours must be
following the course syllabus and using the course curriculum. In order to
receive HQT designation they will also need to complete the midterm and final
of the class.
• Some students may need extra help in order to be successful in a class.
Please use tutors and the Personal
Professor archived lessons
• Drop Policy- After two unexcused missed sessions a student will be dropped
from the Elluminate session. The Es will be notified who will need to drop
the student from webfiles.
*New Approved Science Department
Tutor
New Approved Chemistry Tutor:
Kristen Bayley
209-883-1283
Please contact her to set
up tutoring sessions and complete the Contract Programs Set Up in Filemaker.
*Updated HQT CAHSEE Tutor List.
Cher Silva has been added
to the HQT CAHSEE
tutor list.
_
b) Criteria for Materials Purchased with Instructional
Funds:
Review the Criteria for Materials,
we have had a lot of orders with requests for items that are sectarian, and
also small storage type of boxes, files cabinets,
etc. These are not permitted.. If the ES is unfamiliar with an item, they
should research it before ordering.
_
c) Learning Record Meetings: Although ESs often meet with parents “in passing” at
the learning centers or at school functions, it is important that an official
learning record meeting take place with both the parent and the student present
(unless it is an AESS B situation). The learning record policy
highlights what should occur at a learning record meeting. It is possible
that the parent emailed details of the learning in an email, and therefore
it may be tempting to just get an attendance roll sheet signature and be on
your way…but time should be taken to assess the student’s work, verify that
adequate progress has been made, and provide educational support and counsel.
Please review the policy and remember how very much parents appreciate your
time and attention.
_
d) Mileage Stipend: A note has been added to the mileage stipend
policy and the learning record policy regarding the following:
“Please note that because
the ES receives a mileage stipend and the parent does not, the first option
for learning record meetings is to go to the parents home. Meeting at a public
place is used only when it is only by mutual agreement between the ES and
the parent, when the home is not a safe place to meet or when the ES has agreed
to take the family because they were not in their zip code area but meet them
at a mutually agreed upon location.”
_
e) Centralized Intake Curriculum/a-g courses: A note has been added to the Centralized
Intake Curriculum index, indicating
that generally "the materials given to the high school students at
intake are not a-g materials. These texts will need to be ordered by the
ES." Please also note that if it is recommended that a student take an
a-g course, the materials given to the student at intake are generally
not a-g! The ES must order the texts from the a-g
list, and record them
in the LR in order for the student to receive a-g credit.
_
f) Work Permit: A note has been added to the Work Permit E-mail
template, indicating that the GPA calculation is the total GPA, not just
the most recent semester’s GPA.
_
g) “Blank” or Problem Rollsheets: A new feature has been added to WEBfiles and a note has
been added to the Rollsheet Corrections
Policy.
For “Blank” or Rollsheets
with Problems: Go to WEBfiles and click View All Students. You will see a
column titled “Rollsheets Overdue”, and a number will appear if there are
any rollsheets are overdue. There will also be a red link to the right of
this column titled “BadRS” that when you click on it, it will tell you if
you have any Rollsheets that have problems and what the problems are.
_
h) Special Ed IEP Preparation: Jill Brogan in Special Ed has added a list of items that
an ES needs to prepare before attending the IEP meeting.
_
i) CP Course Procedure: A note has been added to the CP Courses Policy
and Procedure that states "when creating a class the Course Key field
should only be used for a Nicenet Key."
_
j) Computer Serial Numbers and Computer Tracking
Form: Remember when ordering and receiving a computer
for a family, that the Computer
Tracking paperwork from WEBfiles (which includes an internet usage agreement)
must be completed. It is also very important that you remember to go back
into the PO after it is processed, to enter the serial number prior to giving
the computer system to the family.
_
k) Grade Placement: Several ESs asked to have the Grade Placement
Activity from the August All ES meeting repeated with the answers listed
in the document. If you have any questions on how these answers were derived,
please consult your ES advisor. Thank you for your suggestion for changing
the chart.
Please note: When creating report cards for students under typical
high school age, you will never put any course grade level on the transcript
less than grade 9.
_
l) Algebra I: A note has been made in the Algebra
I page in the
ES manual stating that if an ES needs clarification on credits assigned
by other schools, the ES will need to contact their ES Advisor or
Mary Halter for clarification. Another addition states that the Algebra
Essentials 1-6 information is specifically for Modesto City Schools.
_
m) CWCS September Newsletter: The CWCS
September Newsletter is posted for you and your families to read. Please
encourage them to read it and use it as a resource for upcoming events.
_
n) Networking Compilation from August Meeting.
_
o) Waiting List: Please note that we now have a waiting
list for student enrollment. Encourage people to still enroll as the school
year has just begun and we will likely have more drops in the next few weeks.
We also will have senior grads in December.
_
4) Messages from School
Departments
a) ASSESSMENT:
•STAR Incentives: When encouraging your students with STAR Incentives, the top score for
STAR is 600, so those students that are proficient or advanced should still
be challenged to improve. Information is being gathered and we hope to
begin distributing awards this month. Please be patient as this is our first
year with this program. Thank you ES/AF Cathy Moretto for writing directions
on how to do a longitudinal
analysis in Edusoft.
•CAHSEE:
-CAHSEE study guides (math
and ELA) are available for you to pickup at the Ceres and Modesto Learning
Centers on Tuesday, August
28th to assist your High School students in passing the exams. These are the
state study guides. As stated in the August agenda, Test
prep materials must be ordered for all students. This includes CAHSEE
prep. Pick up the state study guides at the MLC, but also order additional
materials.
-People Publishers the
vendor for Measuring Up CAHSEE prep is currently allowing our teachers to
order single text and TEs. We don’t know how long they will continue to make
this option available.
-If you have copies of passing
CAHSEE scores for your student/s that are indicated in the database as not
passing, please fax or mail to the Waterford office and write on the top of
the paper:
Attn: CWCS Assessment
-Oct. CAHSEE test site letters
will be mailed on Sept. 15th.
- As soon as possible, please
indicate in the database any special considerations your student may need
regarding testing.
-There will be four opportunities
this year for CAHSEE, depending on the grade of the student. Grade 10 students
may only attempt one time per year and it must be in the spring. Grade 11
students may attempt two times per year. Grade 12 may attempt three times
per year. Students who desire to participate in the
graduation ceremony must take the first three sessions of
the CAHSEE during their senior year (unless exam has been passed). We
will not allow students to schedule for the makeup date in May unless it is
absolutely necessary. We will review the requests and grant them based on
their need.
_
b) CURRICULUM- Curriculum
News from Lori Freeman
•We
are in the process of obtaining a Unitedstreaming site license for ES use! This can be used in learning center classes,
Elluminate, learning record meetings, or with AESS students. It can not
be used by parents for home use; they must sign up and purchase the home-use
option. Log-on information for ESs
will be coming as soon once the license is set up.
•There
are several CAHSEE
Intensive Plan Options now available for our students! Seniors who have not passed the CAHSEE MUST
be enrolled in at least one of the options, but 10th and 11th graders can
participate if there is space. Any missed CAHSEE appointments will
be considered a truancy..
•A website
has been added to the curriculum page called ISBN
database to help you locate the correct ISBN number for books as it is
often difficult to read on Amazon/Border’s websites. Thank you ES Sue Hickok
for this suggestion.
•Curriculum
Office Hours are the 2nd and 4th Monday at the Modesto
Learning Center
from 10:00 -12:30
•Academic
Probation Policy - a small percentage of new students are being admitted to
CWCS on academic probation. The Guidance Department will be monitoring
student progress and gathering information/data for reports such as WASC.
If you have students on Academic Probation, AESS services are recommended
and you will need to closely monitor them. Academic Probation students
must pass 25 credits at the semester, must attain at least 70% in all classes,
and must not receive 2 truancies. Student must be dropped
if conditions are not met.
•New
look on transcripts! IT has been working hard to clean up our transcripts...both
the 4 yr and 5 yr printouts will have the same information on the bottom,
including the credit summary, and two GPA's will be reported...a Total GPA
and a CalGrant GPA.
•UCCP
now has courses open for free access to use as complimentary material for
your students! More information in the “Guidance News”.
_
d) IT
New Contract
Program course find feature.
You can find the HQT class by typing “HQT” in the Type field when searching
for a class.
_
e) MATH
DEPARTMENT- Math News from Debbie Kutz
Please encourage your families
(particularly those with elementary students) to attend Family
Math Night at the Modesto
Learning Center
on Tues., September 25th, 6:30-8:30pm. There will be a variety
of center activities for parents and their children to complete together at
their leisure. This event will hopefully inspire families with ideas
for hands-on activities that they can try at home.
_
f) PARENT SUPPORT- Parent Support News from Lori Porter
If
you would like to know if your families are on the Parent Listserve, send
me a list of those email addresses and I will check the Listserve database.
If they are not a member, I can add them at that time. Please use the
following email address: parentsupport@connectingwaters.org
_
g) VENDOR RELATIONS-
* Note from
Home Tutoring Plus
_
5) ES Networking
a) Truancy Training:
Please print out the following links and be prepared
to discuss these at your
meeting:
CW Truancy
Policy and Procedure
Parent Contact Letter
Truancy Scenario One
Truancy Scenario Two
Truancy Scenario Three
We will also discuss any particular situations you may be currently dealing
with or ones that you may frequently encounter.
_