Week of January 27

Student, Parent, Staff Engagement Surveys Coming Soon:
As part of our state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan, an annual engagement survey will be administered to students, parents, and staff.  The window for these assessments is February 18 to March 31, 2020.  Within the next few weeks, we will have specific links for each survey.  These links will be unique to each building.  The types of questions that will be asked are at the State Department of Education's website.    Looking at these questions now can help us think about how students might perceive the educational experiences students have at Venture.
These are our results from last year:
Student engagement survey 
Staff engagement survey
Parent engagement survey

Survey Administration Dates

Student Survey
February 18 - March 31, 2020

Staff Survey
February 18 - March 31, 2020

Parent Survey
February 18 - March 31, 2020

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gonzalez and Fehling

Monday 1/27:  PD Day: Agenda

Tuesday 1/28: Smotherman for DiTep Training
Wednesday 1/29: Smotherman for DiTep Training
Thursday 1/30: 1:00 lock down drill

Friday 1/31:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Hamill and Higgs

Monday 2/3:  Non-work day

Tuesday 2/4: Kaiser out @am
Wednesday 2/5: 
Thursday 2/6:

Friday 2/7:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Levy and Eastman

Monday 2/10:  PD day - Edmentum Training

Tuesday 2/11: 
Wednesday 2/12: 
Thursday 2/13:

Friday 2/14: Non Work day

Week of January 20

School Site Visit

Scott Murphy was here from PEBC for a school site visit, but the weather and another issue threw  the schedule off and we were too late to visit classrooms.  However, we did schedule March 17 for Learning Walks.  These Learning Walks are an opportunity for all of us, as a district, to grow in our awareness direction and focus of each school.  I have shared with Scott that our focus this year has been on creating rigorous and relevant learning experiences for students.  The vehicle for this can look like workshop model, or project-based learning or have a focus on creating solutions.

The observers will be giving us feedback on the following:

• What evidence do you see that students are doing the "heavy lifting" of learning?
• What are the processes/routines/protocols that you see are being used to process information?
• What evidence do you see that we value thinking and are developing a culture of thinking?

We will talk more about this as we get closer to the day, but I wanted to give you a heads-up that this was coming up.

Edmentum Training.... will be rescheduled for later this year - maybe February.  

Lock down Practice

We were going to talk about lock downs on Monday.  We will still do that, but I want you to see the memo that Jordan created now, in case we need it.  Memo

Please print it off, read it and make sure a copy of it is available in your classroom if you have a substitute. We will also be putting them in the sub folders.

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Smith and Cooley

Monday 1/20:  MLK Day

Tuesday 1/21: 
Wednesday 1/22: Celebration Assembly
Thursday 1/23: Evening Conferences 2:30 - 

Friday 1/24: No School: Certified Work Day

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gonzalez and Fehling

Monday 1/27:  PD Day

Tuesday 1/28: Kaiser, Smotherman for DiTep Training
Wednesday 1/29: Kaiser, Smotherman for DiTep Training
Thursday 1/30:

Friday 1/31:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Hamill and Higgs

Monday 2/3:  Non-work day

Tuesday 2/4: 
Wednesday 2/5: 
Thursday 2/6:

Friday 2/7:

Week of January 13

Busy Monday

We have a busy Monday planned with Edmentum Training (Agenda)  

A light lunch of salads and sandwiches (from Costco) will be provided.

School Site Visit

On Tuesday, January 14 Scott Murphy from PEBC and a few people from the district office will be visiting Venture for a site visit from 12:30 to 2:30.  I have shared with them that our focus is on high levels of student engagement and cultures of thinking.  You don't need to plan anything special or acknowledge us at all when we are in your rooms.  We will go into each room and, afterward, talk about our observations and ways that I can better support teachers in this process.  I am really excited by the minds-on, hands-on thinking/doing taking place in Venture classrooms and am looking forward to discussing ways to keep our good work moving forward.

Graduation Rates:

Here is a copy of our grad rates.  A huge thank you to Amy for following up on our students who have graduated (or not graduated) so we get credit for every graduate!

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Doering and Baker

Monday 1/13:  PD Day Agenda

Tuesday 1/14: Kaiser out @am
Wednesday 1/15: 
Thursday 1/16:

Friday 1/17:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Smith and Cooley

Monday 1/20:  MLK Day

Tuesday 1/21: 
Wednesday 1/22: Celebration Assembly
Thursday 1/23: Evening Conferences 2:30 - 

Friday 1/24: No School: Certified Work Day

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gonzalez and Fehling

Monday 1/27:  PD Day

Tuesday 1/28: 
Wednesday 1/29: 
Thursday 1/30:

Friday 1/31:

Week of December 16th

Twas the Week Before Christmas...
As we all know, holidays are not fun for all kids.  For many of our students, the holidays are a time of stress and tension around situations completely out of their control.  The SAMHSA website [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services] says it well: “During the holiday season, the need for a trauma-informed approach is critical. Everywhere we turn, we’re reminded that it is supposed to be ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ While for some that may be true, for others the holiday season is wrought with triggers such as songs, scents, and rituals. Then there is pressure to conform to particular social and familial expectations, increased presence of alcohol, and more interactions with family and friends. For those experiencing homelessness, the holidays may also serve as a reminder of what does not exist—a home in which to celebrate, cook, decorate, and rejoice. Loss, loneliness, and shame are powerful triggers.”
Try to avoid talking about holiday traditions and experiences as that often just accentuates the gap between a student's real experience and the social expectation for excessive merriment.  The best way to support our students is to maintain predictable routines and minimize unstructured time.  Regardless of how any individual student may experience the holidays, engaging lessons, problem-solving, and structured social interactions will help all kids during this hectic season.

To whomever brought the Keurig... Thank You!

Merry Christmas...
On Wednesday we will have sub sandwiches and salad for lunch as my thank you to all of you for the hard work and dedication you bring to Venture.  Each of you is appreciated for all you do to ensure that students have the best possible learning experience.

January 13:  Professional Development...
Edmentum is an online program that offers a wealth of opportunities for students to recover credits and for teachers to enrich their programs.  We will have an Edmentum trainer here on January 13th from 11:30 - 2:30.  I would like for all certified staff to attend that training so we all have a better idea of how we can implement the programs.  Prior to Jan. 13, please access your account by going to:

https://login.edmentum.com/

Account Login: CDSD271
User name (your CDA username)
Password:  PLATO271

Please Stay Healthy:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Hook and Beck

Monday 12/16:  Non-Work Day

Tuesday 12/17: 
Wednesday 12/18: 
Thursday 12/19: 

Friday 12/20: 

Lots of fun time off

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gaynor and Frame

Monday 1/6:  Non-Work Day

Tuesday 1/7: 
Wednesday 1/8 
Thursday 1/9:

Friday 1/10:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Doering and Baker

Monday 1/13:  PD Day

Tuesday 1/14: 
Wednesday 1/15: 
Thursday 1/16:

Friday 1/17: