Dear Venture Staff,

The third trimester is off to a really good start.  Thanks for everything you've done to make that happen.

As a staff, we need to complete our HRS level two survey. This survey is vital for helping us focus and refine our collective work, as well as aligning it with district initiatives. Please ensure that you fill this out before Spring Break.

Additionally, there is a student survey available on Clever. Please plan on giving this survey by Thursday, March 20.  This allows some time to know the students (which often leads to more accurate responses) and it allows for make up time before spring break starts.  

Please talk to students and explain that we use this information to find out how they're doing and to make improvements to our program.  You could have a bit of a class conversation where they talk about things that are going really well for them.  They can do an "ink, pair, share"  where they write the good stuff on a sticky note, then share it with a partner, then they can share with the class.  Then they can come up with one reasonable suggestion for improvement and share that. Be sure to collect these.  

Then the next day they could do the survey.  This small step, or one similar to it, is incredibly impactful on how seriously students take the survey.  

Thank you for your attention to these important tasks.

 

Thank You for a Fantastic Venture Community Night!

A huge thank you to our incredible staff for all the hard work that went into making Venture Community Night such a success! We had an excellent turnout, and families had great interactions with vendors representing a variety of community resources. The success of the evening was made possible by the efforts of everyone on our staff, and we are truly grateful.

A special shout-out to some who put in a particularly valiant effort:

• Becky – Thank you for building networks with our community partners. The relationships you’ve fostered truly benefit our students, helping them feel supported by the broader community.

• Val, Marybeth, Tony, Eliseo, and Shelly – Thank you for creating an opportunity for students to make and serve healthy snacks. The fruit smoothies and tacos were delicious, and everything was homemade—even the salsa and guacamole!

• Christy and the leadership students – Your thrift shop setup gave students a chance to pick out new outfits, adding an extra layer of excitement and support to the evening.

And to the entire staff—your teamwork and dedication made this a memorable evening of fun and community. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate everything you do to make Venture a special place.

Thank you all!

Setting the Tone: Building Community on Day One

As we wrap up our second term and head into a new trimester, I want to take a minute to recognize the work each of you has been doing. As a district, we’ve agreed that the instructional framework is our primary focus for improving learning, and I  believe that Venture teachers are ahead of the game at the secondary level. Your efforts to incorporate the workshop model, discussion protocols, thinking strategies and opportunities for deep thinking have made a difference for so many students.  You are helping young people become learners and critical thinkers.  Thank you for setting these priorities in your own classrooms and for working with colleagues so we can collectively grow our repertoire of instructional strategies.

Since the first day of the term sets the tone for all the learning that will follow, I want to encourage you to be intentional about building a strong classroom community right from the start. In Phenomenal Teaching, Wendy Ward Hoffer reminds us that students thrive when they feel seen, heard, and valued. I’d love for you to review Chapter 3 on Community and consider:

• How are you welcoming students? Are they greeted in a way that makes them feel like they belong?
• How are you setting the tone for engagement? Are you making expectations clear and inviting them into the learning?
• How are you co-creating classroom norms? Are students involved in setting expectations for how they will interact, collaborate, and engage in learning? 
• How are you encouraging student voice? Are students getting a chance to share, ask questions, and feel like their contributions matter? What are the specific protocols you want to use this term?
• How are you establishing purpose? Do students leave class understanding why what they’re learning is meaningful?

It doesn’t have to be complicated—small, intentional choices can make a huge difference. A warm welcome, a quick community-building activity, or a meaningful conversation can go a long way.

As we continue growing our skillset together, I’d love to hear from you—how can I support you in this work? Let me know what you need, whether it’s resources, brainstorming time, or anything else.

Thanks for everything you do for our students. Here’s to a great start to the new term!

Week of  March 10
Bus Duty: Njoku
Monday:  
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Trent visiting Venture
Friday: Non work day

Week of  March 17
Bus Duty: Mahoney
Monday:  St. Patrick's day!
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  Kennedy out@am
Thursday: Trent visiting Venture
Friday: Certified Collaboration Day; Breakfast-themed potluck.

Week of  March 24
Bus Duty: Mazhon
Monday:  
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  Awards Assembly
Thursday: Trent visiting Venture
Friday: Non work day

Week of  March 31
Spring Break!

Week of  April 7
Bus Duty: Nettles
Monday:  
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Trent visiting Venture
Friday: Non work day

Week of  April 14
Bus Duty: Tacke
Monday:  
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Trent visiting Venture
Friday: Non work day