Week of October 1

How to Escape Education's Death Valley

This quote from the video really stuck with me:
"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move." - Benjamin Franklin

Bus/Parking lot duty: Eastman and Mahoney

Monday 10/1:  Non Work Day Conference/Kaiser

Tuesday 10/2:  Kaiser at a conference

Wednesday 10/3:  Fehling and Thomas QPR Training in Library

Thursday 10/4:   Fehling and Thomas QPR Training in Library; Evening Conferences  

Friday 10/5:  Flex day - non work day

Bus/Parking lot duty: Meeks and Hook

Monday 10/8:  Non Work Day

Tuesday 10/9:  Hamill and Doering QPR Training in Library

Wednesday 10/10:  College Readiness Day PSAT

Thursday 10/11:Hamill and Doering QPR Training in Library Kaiser and Eastman in Boise

Friday 10/12:  Kaiser and Eastman in Boise Extended Learning Schedule

Bus/Parking lot duty: Beck and Doering

Monday 10/15:  Collaboration Monday - Secondary Departments cross district at 7:00am

Tuesday 10/16: 

Wednesday 10/17:   Eastman and Meeks QPR Training in Library

Thursday 10/18: Kaiser - Admin mtg am. Eastman and Meeks QPR Training in Library

Friday 10/19: 

Extended Learning
If students are completely caught up in all classes, they should take their pass to the commons area or to the gym for free time.  Otherwise, they should be working with a teacher.  Even if they finish their work early, please do not send them to the commons or the gym.  The reason for this is that kids coming and going makes it nearly impossible to monitor when kids slip in that don't have passes.  

Books

Please make and record your book decision on the chart in the staff room by Monday before you go home.  If you need me to order a book, because the one you want is taken, please email me the title and author of the book.  Thank you!
Here is a sheet explaining the criteria for the book talk:  
Please sign up for the book talk - sign up sheet is in the staff room.
Most books are being read by 2 or 3 people so we should have plenty of spaces available.

Credits
There are book credits in the library - these are earned by reading your selected book and completing the criteria.  The other credit is for collaboration. This is typically a credit for people on the leadership and MTSS teams; however, everyone in the building is involved in training and collaboration so any one of us can get this credit.

Week of September 24

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 9/24:  Collaboration Monday
Tuesday 9/25:  Kaiser a.m. Admin meeting 
Wednesday 9/26:  
Thursday 9/27:   
Friday 9/28:  Extended Learning Schedule

Bus/Parking lot duty: Eastman and Mahoney

Monday 10/1:  Non Work Day Conference/Kaiser

Tuesday 10/2:  Kaiser at a conference

Wednesday 10/3:  Fehling and Thomas QPR Training in Library

Thursday 10/4:   Fehling and Thomas QPR Training in Library; Evening Conferences  

Friday 10/5:  Flex day - non work day

Bus/Parking lot duty: Meeks and Hook

Monday 10/8:  Collaboration Monday

Tuesday 10/9:  Hamill and Doering QPR Training in Library

Wednesday 10/10:  College Readiness Day PSAT

Thursday 10/11:Hamill and Doering QPR Training in Library Kaiser and Eastman in Boise

Friday 10/12:  Kaiser and Eastman in Boise Extended Learning Schedule

Conferences

Evening conferences will be October 4 from 2:30 - 6:30.  What are some things we can do  to showcase student learning at Venture? We will discuss this during our staff meeting on Monday and the conversation will be more productive if everyone has already given it some thought.

QPR Training
We need every student to go through QPR training by Thanksgiving.  Connie and Gina from Heritage Health will train advisory classes.  These trainings will be conducted by putting two advisories together in the library.
Here is the schedule.

Week of September 17

Bus/Parking lot duty:   Fehling and Hamill
Monday 9/17 Non Work Day
Tuesday 9/18: 
Wednesday 9/19:  
Thursday 9/20:   Kaiser: a.m. admin meeting
Friday 9/21:  Picture Day

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 9/24:  Collaboration Monday
Tuesday 9/25:  Kaiser a.m. Admin meeting 
Wednesday 9/26:  
Thursday 9/27:   
Friday 9/28:  Extended Learning Schedule

Bus/Parking lot duty: Eastman and Mahoney

Monday 10/1:  Non Work Day
Tuesday 10/2:  
Wednesday 10/3:  
Thursday 10/4: Evening Conferences  
Friday 10/5:  Flex day - non work day

Monday Collaboration: 9/24
8:00:  Staff meeting/PD Library
10:15- 1l:00:  Advisory Planning/ Library
11:00 - 12:00: Baked Potato Lunch in Angie's room
12:15 - Department Meetings (15-30 minute nuts and bolts, then departmental collaboration)
1:00 - Math Planning - math teachers/Ryan
1:00 - ELA Planning - ELA teachers/Kaiser

Check Out the New Pages...
Look at the top of the blog page - next to Home is a new page, "Century 21 Skills."  This is where I will link the information that Keeth Matheney sends us for the advisory class every week.  This week I took his email, and fixed some of the broken links etc. with the goal of making it easier for you to read and see what lies ahead for the 21st Century Skills class every week.  My hope is that you can scan through and find things you need easily.

Bus Duty
The bus duty schedule was adjusted to because we have fewer people available for duty this year.  The new schedule is under helpful links ---->

Online Evaluations in Homeroom
This will involve some learning, but it should save paperwork and time once we all get familiar with the process.  Please go into Homeroom and check it out using the following instructions.  The first task is to enter your goals.  This is essentially the same thing that we did last year, but the process is housed in one place for convenience.

Access

Evaluators and teachers click the Homeroom link on My CDA Schools.

 - There is an icon on your desktop to go to My CDA Schools or for out-of-district access, navigate to https://my.cdaschools.org

Login

Your login and password are the same as your district username (not email address) and password.

Launching Evaluations

Evaluators and teachers on the launcher/waffle in the upper-right corner and choose "Evaluations"

What Teachers Can Do Now

Teachers can log into Evaluations to fill out a professional growth plan for this year. It provides the opportunity upload files and identify SMART goals for each of the Danielson Framework domains:

Evaluators will be able to see the teachers' plans once submitted (and the task appears as complete on your dashboard).

Week of September 10

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Cooley

Monday 9/10:  Collaboration Monday
Tuesday 9/11: 
Wednesday 9/12  2:30- Mandatory Health Education in Library 
Thursday 9/13:   
Friday 9/14:  

Bus/Parking lot duty:   Fehling and Hamill

Monday 9/17 Non Work day
Tuesday 9/18: 
Wednesday 9/19:  IMEN School Visit
Thursday 9/20:   Kaiser: a.m. admin meeting
Friday 9/21:  Picture Day


Monday's Collaboration Schedule:
Click here for Monday's Schedule

7:13- 7:35 - Department Head Meeting (Conference room) (Lex, Angie, Adam)

7:40 - 8:40 - Design Team Meeting - (Conference Room)

Great First Week!

This might have been the best first week of school I have ever experienced.  Even through some challenging circumstances, everyone pulled together and the week was successful!  You do not hear this enough - THANK YOU!!!

So much of education is about figuring out how to do a better job with things that don't matter.  This year, our focus is on creating learning experiences that make a difference. 

Thank you for giving so many kids a second chance and a shot at an education that was designed for THEM!

Absences:
Please keep in communication with Valorie so we can track students making up time.  If a student in your classroom is behind, call parents to let them know their students are staying after school to retake tests or get additional help.

Extended Learning Friday
The first extended learning Friday will be September 28.  This time cannot be used to make up time from unexcused absences.

Credit Audits:
By Monday, I will have put the credit audits and transcripts for all junior and senior advisories in your box.  Please make copies of them so you have one and they have one.  You can use these with students to help them see what classes they still need to take.

Thank YOU for a WONDERFUL School Year!!!!!

Bryan Alexander... We are all going to miss you!  When you go to Arizona know that our best wishes for your success and happiness go with you.  You have been an amazing advocate for students and staff at Venture.  Thank  you for everything you've done for all of us.  Wishing you travelling mercies and a lifetime of happiness!

A huge THANK YOU to every staff member at Venture High School.  Together you helped 29 kids graduate and many, many more earn credits and learn important skills for functioning socially and professionally.  The front courtyard looks AMAZING - Thank you Angie, Ben, Tony and everyone else who played a role in transforming this area.  So many people have commented on the wonderful graduation last night.  Trina said they were the best student speeches she's ever heard.  Thanks to all of you for making this a success for our kids and community. Flieger - beautifully organized!  Lex - excellent speeches!  Val - wonderful cupcakes and reception!

And a huge thank you to all of you that helped with preparation and with making sure parents and kids had a great time!  Lena - Beautiful photography! The pictures were WONDERFUL!  The kids loved getting a copy of them when they graduated and the shots you took last night were perfect!  Val- Senior breakfast was perfect!  Fun for the kids and fun for all of us to celebrate with the kids.  Marsha - you have done an AMAZING job ensuring that every student had all the supplies they needed to graduate. You have managed the most frustrating purchasing issues with incredible skill and you helped ensure that a 100 details went smoothly last night!  Amy- thank you for fielding the phone calls and soothing the panic throughout the entire graduation process!

The Venture Staff is the absolute best!

Hope you all have a wonderful and restful summer break!!!!!

Senior Class Events

May 30th:  Senior Trip- CANCELLED

Senior trip @ Triple Play from 10AM-2PM.  T

June 7th:  Graduation

8:00 AM: Senior breakfast served by your teachers.
Other students do not need to come until 9:00. If they ride
a bus, they will have to stay in the library until 9. No
first period on Thursday.
9:00 AM: Graduation practice (Bring Cap gown tassels).  

10:15 AM: Senior Picture with Cap & gowns on.  

10:30 AM: Seniors released.   

5:00 PM: Return to Venture to dress.  Meet in library.

6:00 PM: Ceremony @ Venture Gym.

Week of May 21

Bus/Parking Lot Duty: Meeks and Baker
Monday 5/21:Non Work Day
Tuesday 5/22:  Kaiser out for the day
Wednesday 5/23: 
Thursday 5/24
Friday 5/25 No School

Bus/Parking Lot Duty: Smith and Gaynor
Monday 5/28: Memorial Day
Tuesday 5/29:  
Wednesday 5/30:  Flieger/Gaynor/Kaiser at Restorative Practices training
Thursday 5/31  
Fri 6/1  

Bus/Parking Lot Duty:  All Hands on Deck - All around the building inside and out
Monday 6/4: Non workday
Tuesday 6/5:
Wednesday 6/6:
Thursday 6/7: 9:00 Senior Breakfast; 6:00 Graduation
Friday 6/8:  Last Day of School!!!!

Monday 6/11:  This is a certified work day.  
Tuesday 6/12:   Summer and freedom.  Unless you teach summer school.  Or you're a counselor, school secretary, principal or hold a position that requires a summer work schedule.  If you're one of those people, then this day holds no particular celebratory features.

Remember this?:
I need your student surveys and student achievement data by Wednesday May 23 at the absolute latest.  This is required by the SDE.  I have no control over it and my only role is to ensure it gets turned in - which I can't do if you don't get it to me.  Thanks!

Measurable student achievement:  The measurement of student academic achievement or growth within a given interval of instruction for those students who have been enrolled in and attended 80% of the interval of instruction.  Measurement will be chosen by supervisor with staff input using one or more of the assessments as checked below and provide summary of evidence. _____a.  Pre-post tests                                                                _____ j. Advanced placement exams _____b.  Idaho Standards achievement test                                _____k. Career Technical Exams _____c.  Student learning objectives _____d.  Formative assessments _____e.  Teacher-constructed assessment of student growth _____f.   Performance based assessments _____g.  IRI (Idaho reading indicators) _____h.  College entrance exams such as PSAT, SAT, or ACT _____i.   District adopted assessment(s); such as End-of-course exams (EOCs)