I hope each and every one of you has relaxing and rejuvenating spring break.  I hope you take time for yourself, your loved ones and your friends.  Wishing you time to play, to laugh, and to be happy. 

 

Learning Walks...  On Thursday, April 14, district and secondary administrative staff will participate in a Learning Walk at Venture High School from 7:00 until 10:00.  They will visit classrooms and give us feedback around how we are implementing the Teaching Framework with students.

They will be invited to walk around the school and visit any classrooms.  During passing periods they may ask you questions seeking out more information about the Teaching Framework, student engagement and any challenges or successes.

In my classroom walkthroughs, I routinely see elements of the framework in every classroom.  This would be a great day to show case the work we are doing with students and also to get feedback to help us improve that process.  

Bus/Parking lot duty: Spring Break

Monday 3/28 - Friday 4/1

Bus/Parking lot duty: Gonzalez and Gaynor

Monday4/4:  Non Work Day

Tuesday  4/5: 

Wednesday 4/6:

Thursday 4/7: Extended learning

Friday 4/8: Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs; Kaiser out @ am , Wellness

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 4/11: Certified PD Day Kaiser in Boise

Tuesday  4/12: Kaiser in Boise

Wednesday 4/13: Kaiser in Boise SAT DAY No School 9, 10, 12--SAT for 11th Grade

Thursday 4/14: DO/Secondary Learning Walks at Venture; Extended learning

Friday 4/15: Wellness

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 4/18:  Non-work day

Tuesday  4/19: 

Wednesday 4/20:

Thursday 4/21: Extended learning

Friday 4/22: Wellness

 

By Ukrainian Artist, Maria Prymachenko - A Dove Asks for Peace, 1982

Congratulations, Kevin Mahoney!  We are so proud that you are the district and high school teacher of the year!

Opportunity Knocks...

The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) is seeking administrators and educators to participate at our Standard Setting Meetings. Panelists in these meetings will determine the proficiency standards for the ISAT science assessment and the IDAA ELA/L, Mathematics, and Science assessments. The proficiency standards will assign scale score cuts between Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 achievement levels.

The Standard Setting Meetings will be held in-person (in or near Boise, Idaho) the week of July 18th, 2022. See specific dates for specific assessments, below. Hotel accommodations will be provided and travel and dinner per diem will be offered to panelists traveling more than 50 miles. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all panelists during meeting days. All applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. MDT on or before May 13th, 2022 will be considered for participation.

Specific dates and times by assessment:

• ISAT Science: 7/18/22 to 7/20/22; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm MT

• IDAA ELA/L: 7/19/22 to 7/22/22; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm MT

• IDAA Math: 7/19/22 to 7/22/22; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm MT

• IDAA Science: 7/20/22 to 7/22/22; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm MT

Use this link to apply to participate.

Bus/Parking lot duty: Pavlik and Penske

Monday 3/21:  Non work Day

Tuesday  3/22: 

Wednesday 3/23:

Thursday 3/24:

Friday 3/25:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Spring Break

Monday 3/28 - Friday 4/1

Bus/Parking lot duty: Gonzalez and Gaynor

Monday4/4:  Non Work Day

Tuesday  4/5: 

Wednesday 4/6:

Thursday 4/7:

Friday 4/8: Hard Hats and Hot Dots; Kaiser out @ am

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 4/11: Certified PD Day Kaiser in Boise

Tuesday  4/12: Kaiser in Boise

Wednesday 4/13: Kaiser in Boise SAT DAY No School 9, 10, 12--SAT for 11th Grade

Thursday 4/14:

Friday 4/15:

 

And the Venture High School Teacher of the Year Award Goes To.....

Kevin Mahoney

You were selected by your peers to represent Venture High School as an educator of the year for the Coeur d'Alene School District.  You have earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, students and families.  We all appreciate everything you do for our Venture community!  Congratulations Kevin!!! 

School Social Work Week:  A huge thank you to Alexandra Siron (Aleigh) for joining the Venture team as our MSW!  Aleigh, your work with students, families, and staff has already made a difference, especially for our TSC kids and especially for Mantz!  You are AWESOME, Aleigh, and we are so glad you are at Venture!

Student attendance is by far our top concern for students.  The leadership team is making this our number one priority.  We will have a full plan to roll out for next year that involves education for students and families along with incentives and consequences to encourage high rates of attendance.  For third term we will:

• address attendance at our celebration assembly (yes that is coming back)
• Gayle will be working with students and families beginning with the 4th absence to make them up immediately rather than letting students do them at the end of the semester.  This was always the plan, but tricky to monitor. With Gayle managing this process, I feel confident that we will see improvement.
• When students fail to make up their work or their absences to the point that their infrequent attendance disrupts class, they will be enrolled in an Edmentum/PLATO class.  Their current teacher will be the teacher of record, but the lesson content will come from PLATO.  To facilitate this process, teachers who have an additional prep during the day will be assigned PLATO students.

More on struggling learners... The MTSS team is writing iplans for students who are behind in two or more classes.  Rather than wait for referrals, we are combing through student grades and creating plans to ensure students are getting additional assistance.  You probably already know that Venture is a Title school.  As such, we have additional funding to hire a Title teacher (Diane) and two Title paras (Marita and Gayle)  When students are behind, our Title professionals work individually with students to complete missing work and fill learning gaps.  Andy also plays an essential role in our efforts to help students graduate on time with necessary skills for successful living.  Andy's position is funded from a different source, but her function continues to be very similar to that of the Title paras.  You've likely already been talking to Diane, Andy, Gayle and Marita and providing them with information so they can help students get caught up.  Working together, we can be much more intentional in our efforts to help students graduate on time.

Staff Survey: if you haven't already, please complete the staff engagement survey:   https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/184204/p30861

Grades:  Please have grades in before leaving on March 14.  

Bus/Parking lot duty: Baker and Doering

Monday 3/7:  Non-Work Day

Tuesday  3/8: 

Wednesday 3/9:

Thursday 3/10: Exhibit Night!

Friday 3/11: Last Day of Term 2 Kaiser out @am

Bus/Parking lot duty: Mazhan and Posey

Monday 3/14:  Certified Staff PD Day; Student orientation 10:00 - 11:30

Tuesday  3/15: First Day of Term 3

Wednesday 3/16: Kaiser out @am

Thursday 3/17: St. Paddy's Day BBQ and Celebration Assembly (Tentative)

Friday 3/18:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Pavlik and Penske

Monday 3/21:  Non work Day

Tuesday  3/22: 

Wednesday 3/23:

Thursday 3/24:

Friday 3/25:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Spring Break

Monday 3/28 - Friday 4/1

 

Teaching might be the hardest job in the country right now.  For many kids, coming to school feels optional, mental health issues are on the rise in students and adults, and our own families have been affected.  In addition to academic gaps, we are reteaching the processes of being a student.  It may not always feel like it, but you are making a difference.  Thank you for being there for the kids and for each other.

Worth a read:  Dr. Paul Hansmann, our school psychologist shared this article with me.  I hope you can find a few minutes to peruse it.  It helps explain some of what we are seeing with students.

Attendance:

Gayle has emailed all parents of students with missing hours and has received a number of responses.  She will be asking teachers to fill her in with any information around time made up with teachers or deals you've made etc.  Gayle is also going to be available on Monday, March 14 for kids who still haven't made up their time.  Please DO NOT tell kids this - we don't want them waiting for that date. However, that will be last ditch effort to wrap up the make up hours and work for kids who are way behind.

ISATS:

To accommodate the ISAT schedule, we will have extended learning on Fridays when we return from Spring Break until May 13.  We will not have extended learning for the first two weeks of the third term.  We will return to the normal Thursday extended learning schedule starting May 19 until the end of the year.

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Cooley and Smith

Monday 2/28: Certified Staff PD Day; Agenda Note: begin at 8:00 am

Tuesday  3/1: 

Wednesday 3/2:

Thursday 3/3:

Friday 3/4:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Baker and Doering

Monday 3/7:  Non-Work Day

Tuesday  3/8: 

Wednesday 3/9: Kaiser out @ am

Thursday 3/10: Kaiser and Eastman out all day

Friday 3/11: Last Day of Term 2 Kaiser out @am

Bus/Parking lot duty: Mazhan and Posey

Monday 3/14:  Certified Staff PD Day

Tuesday  3/15: First Day of Term 3

Wednesday 3/16:

Thursday 3/17:

Friday 3/18:

 

Celebrating School Counselor Week:

Rachelle, thank you for EVERYTHING you do for Venture students and staff.  In addition to the usual scheduling and vocational planning, you help students with virtually every aspect of living and going to school.  You walk alongside students and families going through grief, trauma, homelessness, substance abuse, and countless other struggles.  You help students find clothes, food and resources so they are better able to learn and grow into their potential.  Your support of staff has helped ease many difficult moments and stressful days.  Your wisdom and insight help shape many decisions and help us stay focused on the best possible student outcomes.  You make a positive difference at Venture and we are so thankful for you!

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 2/7:  Non work day

Tuesday  2/8: 

Wednesday 2/9:

Thursday 2/10:

Friday 2/11: Kaiser out @ AM

Bus/Parking lot duty: Eastman and Mahoney

Monday 2/14:  Certified Staff PD Day: Agenda

Tuesday  2/15: 

Wednesday 2/16:

Thursday 2/17:

Friday 2/18: Flex Day - non work day

Bus/Parking lot duty: Hook and Fehling

Monday 2/21:  Presidents' Day

Tuesday  2/22: 

Wednesday 2/23:

Thursday 2/24: Kaiser in Boise

Friday 2/25: Kaiser in Boise

Week of January 24

 Apparently, Covid isn't quite over.

      I have nothing to say, but "Thank you".  Adults are sick.  Kids are sick. CDC rules change.  Community expectations are all over the map.  And yet, despite these challenges, each of you continues to show up in caring ways to support students so they can learn through all of these difficulties.  As I walk around Venture, I see clear evidence of elements of the Teaching Framework in classrooms.  Students are using thinking routines and other strategies to build background knowledge and process new learning.  Kids are creating projects to show their thinking and understanding of content.  Discussion protocols are used to ensure every voice is heard. Thank you for capitalizing on every minute that we have with every student.  Every day that a student is in the classroom is an opportunity to extend learning.  Thank you for not letting those valuable learning moments slip away. 

Remote Learning Possibility

There is a possibility that the district will move high schools to remote learning.  Although I would like for us to stay in person, we would not be able to because of the transportation issues.  For this reason, we will meet as a staff at 8:00 on Monday January 24th, but all other meetings are cancelled so you can prepare for the possibility of remote teaching.

Bus/Parking lot duty: Mazhan and Posey

Monday 1/17:  Martin Luther King Jr. Day No school

Tuesday  1/18: 

Wednesday 1/19:

Thursday 1/20:

Friday 1/21:

Bus/Parking lot duty: Pavlik and Penske

Monday 1/24:  Certified Staff PD Day

Tuesday  1/25: 

Wednesday 1/26:

Thursday 1/27:

Friday 1/28: Certified work day

Bus/Parking lot duty: Gonzalez and Gaynor

Monday 1/31:  Non work day

Tuesday  2/1: Kaiser out

Wednesday 2/2: Kaiser out

Thursday 2/3: Kaiser out

Friday 2/4: