Panther Press
Empathy and Engagement
PPO
We. have a PPO date- this Thursday, January 25th. This is my observation from the district- I am rated on the same scale as all of you- ineffective, developing, effective, highly effective- using a different rubric, called the MPPR. I am not going to ask for broad, temporary, performative gestures, That is not the point of the visit. We should feel ready for a PPO on any given day. Our instruction and systems should speak for themselves, and I genuinely think they do. I can't wait to host the superintendency- they will see a vibrant school that cares about and engages with our students in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
Please keep in mind:
- We are never 100% sure what rooms we will visit. We always have an idea, but the superintendency may go wherever they see fit. Please make sure:
- You have a lesson plan available for every period.
- You are actively teaching.
- Current student work is displayed/available.
- Rooms are neat/orderly.
- Let us know if you would like to volunteer to host, or if you have a program/project/student you would like to highlight- use this form to notify us.
Please reach out to your supervising administrator with questions.
Spirit Week
Please share with your students and help them celebrate!
Save the Date!
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad book talk
Join Dr. Gholdy Muhammad on January 24th at 5PM for a discussion on 'Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning.' In this follow-up to 'Cultivating Genius,' Dr. Muhammad adds a fifth pursuit—joy—to her groundbreaking framework.
Mid Year SANDI
- Mid Year SANDI will be administered this year from January 8th to February 9th.
Reminders
Find the indicator for each subject that most closely matches the actual IEP goal.
Set that indicator as the IEP flag. There should only be one flag per subtest. If a student has a new IEP, make sure to check that IEP flag.
Do not begin testing at number one. Even if a student is brand new. Test -/+ 10 minimally from the IEP flag for reading, writing, and math. For new students, do the same and go minimally -/+ 10 after setting the IEP flag. Then use the set basal/ceiling tools.
Test -/+ 5 minimally from the IEP flag for social-emotional, communication, and transition education.
After 5 zero's in a row, immediately stop testing. Everything after that is a zero.
Use the SANDI rubric when testing. The rubric accounts for both accuracy and prompting. The rubric is attached.
Do not over prompt and inflate scores.
Certify the scores when you are finished.
Teachers are required to complete the reading, writing, math, social emotional, and transition education SANDI subtests.
If a student has been present in the school, your priority is to complete SANDI testing with them.
Email Kat the names of absent students so that we can notate the absence on their accounts. If an absentee student comes in prior to the SANDI deadline, it is your priority to complete SANDI with that student.
Deadline is February 9, 2024.
BTC Literacy Indicators
Take special attention to the SANDI literacy indicators. These are the indicators that are specifically related to our school's literacy plan.
Literacy Indicators
Reading
Level 1 37, 39
Level 2 64, 67
Level 3 80, 94
Writing
Level 1 30
Level 2 32
Level 3 48
Communication
Level 1 21
Level 2 44
Level 3 55
MAPs Growth
All classes have to complete the SANDI first. Only after the SANDI is finished, if a student gets a score of 370 or higher on the reading SANDI, or a 350 or high on the math SANDI, then that student is required to complete the MAPs assessment for the subject that they qualified for. They do not need to complete both the reading and the math MAPs, unless they qualified for it after having competed SANDI.
If a student reached the MAPs threshold last year, but did not this year, then they do not need to complete MAPs. During all of the testing windows, you always start with SANDI though and then complete MAPs afterwards if that student qualifies.
Only the TASK and pre-TASK class do not start with completing the reading and math SANDI. They jump straight to MAPs. They are required to do all of the other SANDI subtests though (writing, social emotional, transition education, and communication).
Deadline is February 9, 2024.
Agency Tours
Post Graduation Tours will begin at 10 am.
Please have graduates sitting in the Zoom link prior to the start time so that the presenters can begin on time.
All tours are recorded and will be uploaded to the school website.
Zoom information:
https://zoom.us/j/96506100088?pwd=UE91RStkS1o2SGl1bGdCRU93M2UxQT09
Meeting ID 965 0610 0088
Password: 869584
1/24/24 THE LEAGUE TREATMENT CENTER
1/31/24 LIFESPIRE
2/7/24 CITY ACCESS
2/14/24 BLOCK INSTITUTE
2/28/24 ADAPT
Book/Podcast of the Week
When I first moved to New York, I carried Robert Caro's autiobiography of Robert Moses, The Power Broker, everywhere (before it started to make my back hurt). It is a 1200 page behemoth that outlines how Moses used urban planning and public works to amass power, splinter neighborhoods (including many that house our students), and reshape New York into the city we know today. It is an absolute feat of investigative journalism and insight into the public authorities that still control much of the city today.
In addition, the podcast 99% Invisible, which covers the brilliance and often invisible power of good design, has started a series on Caro and The Power Broker, including a fantastic interview with Caro about his meticulous process of writing.
Shout Outs
To our RSP staff- speech, OT/PT, guidance- you have been doing an insane amount of heavy lifting through COVID, the flu, and all of our day to day crises.
Thank you for your flexibility and willingness to jump in anywhere and help.
Song of the Week
As we prepare for the PPO, and for 2024-working together, we can do anything!