Dear Colleagues,

Ropes with knots six feet apart, bathroom monitors, social stories on Covid 19, traffic patterns for high schools, desks in cafes and gyms for lunch spaced 6 feet apart, scheduling cohorts- this has been your life this summer! And this does not include your preparation for staff PD and teaching and learning. I continue to be in awe of your positive, can do attitudes and your remarkable work.

We had a great week of sharing this week in our Ring Central Gatherings and, as we get closer to opening the school year, the sharing of ideas and strategies will continue to be invaluable. Please join us at your appropriate level and of course at the All Level Gathering on Thursdays at 9 AM. Be on the lookout for the weekly email with the links!

I have reorganized the Matters Newsletter which I hope will make it even easier to navigate! I have made sections which you will see below. The categories include MSAA's PD offerings timely articles, a resources section, a partners section and a section with our national organization links.

Be on the lookout for a special edition of MSAA Matters next week with the questions and answers from the meeting with DESE Commissioner, Jeff Riley and the MSAA Finance Board. The virtual meeting with out leadership team is taking place tomorrow.

DESE would like to call your attention to My Career and Academic Plan (MYCAP) special information session on Wednesday, August 12th at 9 AM. See below for a summary of the session and description of MYCAP's work.

On a final note I have included two good reads (thanks Marty Geoghegan) in the Timely Article Section. One is on building strong relationships, which outlines the principles needed, and the second article is on implementing new learning models for the 2020-2021 school year.

On behalf of MSAA and Executive Director, Bill Gaine: Stay safe, stay strong and take time for yourself.

Warm Regards,

Beth

Beth Wittcoff

MSAA Assistant Executive Director

MSAA Matters Newsletter

Middle Level and Elementary Committee Liaison

Social Media

Principal's Information Session

Wednesday August 12th @ 9:00-9:45

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96140749981?pwd=cnlQRTl3aExZYURxbWZlQWFLZG9jUT09

Dear Secondary School Principals;

Life has changed for our students. An abrupt end to in-school learning has caused uncertainty and anxiety to become a norm. Students ask “how can I plan for the future when I don’t know what tomorrow will bring?” MyCAP is a holistic process and a tool that engages students in self-discovery and personal development. It helps students understand the value of their education as the foundation for future success by accessing labor market information while experiencing career awareness, exploration and immersion activities so as to envision a satisfying career. MyCAP helps students make sense of and align course taking with their identified career interests. MyCAP creates a post-secondary plan for success after high school. MyCAP is the vehicle to instill hope and allow students to envision that future while promoting student agency, setting individual goals, honing decision-making skills, and creating their individual plan for post-secondary success.

Please join the meeting for more information.

See member email for links to these gatherings!

MSAA High School Gatherings Mondays ​ @ 9:00 AM

MSAA PK - 6 Gatherings Tuesdays @ 9:00 AM

MSAA Assistant Principals Tuesday @10:00 AM

MSAA Special Education Gatherings Tuesdays @ 11:00 AM

MSAA PK-K Gatherings Tuesdays @ 1:00 PM

MSAA Middle Level Gatherings Wednesdays @ 10:00 AM

MSAA All Levels Gathering Thursdays @ 9:00 AM

July and August Professional Development

Wednesday, 7/29 and Thursday, 7/30, Transitioning Students from Middle School to High School in a Pandemic, Ted Hall, 10:00am to 11:30am each day, Synchronous Online Workshop, Register

Monday, August 3; Wednesday, August 5; and Friday, August 7, 2020, Returning to School During a Time of Crisis: Classroom Practices for Promoting Healing and Hope, Katie Gray and Karen Harrington, 9 am to 10:30 am each day, Synchronous Online Workshop, Register

Thursday, August 6, 2020; Monday, August 10, 2020; and Tuesday, August 11, 2020, Building Positive Race and Ethnic Relations in the Current Political Climate, Richard W. Cole, Esq., 10am to 12pm each day, Synchronous Online Workshop, Register

Tuesday, August 11, 2020; Wednesday, August 12, 2020; and Thursday, August 13 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm each day, Designing Distance Learning: 7 Best Virtual Learning Practices to Maximize Student Engagement, Dr. Nicole L'Etoile, Synchronous Online Workshop, Registration Closed

Three-Asynchronous Online: registrations are accepted through August 15, 2020, and the workshop portals close August 30, 2020.

1. Succeeding with English Language Learners Approved by DESE for Use toward the 15 PDPs in ELL for License Renewal for Teachers, School Clinicians, and Administrators, Dr. Cindy Crimmin; Running currently through August 30;

Register here for all five modules; Register

For individual modules:

· Succeeding with English Language Learners, MODULE 1: Overview of the English Language Learner Running currently through August 30; use this registration for Module 1 only; Register

· Succeeding with English Language Learners, MODULE 2: Questioning and Assessment for Non-English Speaking Students Running currently through August 30; use this registration for Module 2 only; Register

· Succeeding with English Language Learners, MODULE 3: Teacher Language and Social-Emotional Learning Running currently through August 30; use this registration for Module 3 only; Register

· Succeeding with English Language Learners, MODULE 4: Special Education and English Language Learners Running currently through August 30; use this registration for Module 4 only; Register

· Succeeding with English Language Learners, MODULE 5: Where Culture and Language Intersect Running currently through August 30; use this registration for Module 5 only; Register