It's almost September and we are gearing up for a great year of teaching and learning. We hope that your summer has been relaxing and you were able to find some time to enjoy family, friends, and most of all, yourself.

As many know, there have been many changes within our department over the past few years. It has been a busy summer with hiring. We are excited that we are starting the school year off with a full staff!! This newsletter is meant to be a source of information for you as we begin the new school year.

We have been busy this summer hiring within our department. We want to wish a warm welcome to the following new staff members:

Elementary School

Megan Carpenter - Teacher Aide, UPK

Sharlene Voss - Teacher Aide

Samantha Vanson - Teacher Aide

Lisa Lane - Teacher Aide

High School

Sara Trejo - Teacher Aide, HS

In addition, we want to welcome our current staff members shifting roles and/or buildings:

Elementary School:

Tawnya Dolgos - Move to Teaching Assistant, Grades 1-4

Emma Vitello - Move to Special Class, Grades 3-4

Giovanna Messina -Move to Special Class, Grades K-2

Middle School

Kimberly Hyde - Teacher Aide - MS (Move from HS)

September first is a way for us all to reconnect and focus on the work for the upcoming school year. At times, the first day back can elicit different emotions, especially for those who are joining our community for the first time.

This year, there will be a continental breakfast outside the auditorium. We are inviting any new staff, especially our teaching assistants and aides to join us for a meet and greet before heading down for breakfast and the opening remarks. We will meet in the CSE conference room. I will be there at about 7:30. The CSE Conference room is located in the MS. When you enter the MS you will take a left and another left. The conference room is the second room on your left!

Finally, I tried to break down the day of learning as Assistants and Aide's will be working with Christina Ecklund and myself for a period of time. Please still refer to the master schedule that will come from your building principals or Christina Ecklund for any additional information.

September 23, 2022

Late arrival Day

October 7, 2022

Full Day Professional Learning - TA's must attend. Teaching Aides is voluntary. We would love to have you present and you will get paid if you would like to plan on attending.

October 10, 2022

Holiday- No School

There are two different ways in which we provide professional learning within our district; Full and Partial Conference Days.

• Teaching assistants attend both the full and partial learning days.
• Teacher aides attend the partial learning days. The full learning days are based on the learning that is taking place. We will let you know in advance if you should try to attend the full day training.
• September 1st is a day that ALL staff are required to attend.

I will try to periodically send out opporutnities for learning. All new TA's and aides should sign up for TCIS once the days are released. This is such a valuable for all staff UPK-12 and I strongly encourage you to look into it.

TCIS: Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (Levels I & II)

The Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) training program for child and youth care staff presents a framework for implementing a crisis and management system that reduces the need to rely on high-risk interventions. The TCI framework complements the Response to Intervention (RTI) approach and also includes aspects of trauma-informed care. Staff who are trained in the TCI program are provided a crisis prevention and intervention model designed to teach staff how to help children learn constructive ways to proactively diminish crisis and also support students and staff to react to a crisis. The skills, knowledge, and professional judgment of staff in responding to crises are critical factors in helping young people learn constructive and adaptive ways to deal with frustration, failure, anger, rejection, hurt, and depression. Program objectives include learning to proactively prevent and/or de-escalate a potential crisis situation with a child or young person, manage a crisis situation in a therapeutic manner, and if necessary, intervene physically in a manner that reduces the risk of harm to children and staff and process the crisis event with children and young people to help improve their coping strategies. Upon completion, this training will certify attendee in Levels I & II Certification.

Attendance is required for all four days to receive certification.

Link coming soon - Dates to be determined

Email: klevine@avoncsd.org
Website: https://www.avoncsd.org/page/pupil-personnel-services
Location: Avon Middle School at 191 Clinton St, Avon, NY 14414.
Phone: (585) 226-2455