Staff Bulletin – September 10, 2012

Calendar/Important Dates

September 10^th  SRI Begins –see schedule from Ms Austin

PTSA Meeting 7-9 p.m., Library

September 12^th  Minimum Day 1:05 dismissal, 1:50 PD (SLC’s)

September 14^th  Mock Williams Audit

Football vs. Pittman @OT, 4 & 7

Future Planning (See the Calendar on oaklandtech.com website) Please submit your calendar items to Ms. Andujar 1 month prior to the event.

September 17^th  Staff Meeting, 3:40-5:00, Library

Goals & Objectives due (Evaluatees)

September 18^th  Health Academy StudentAssembly

September 19^th  Minimum Day 1:05 Dismissal, 1:50 PD (Special Education Presesntation)

September 20^th  Williams Audit all day

Department Chair Meeting, 3:40-5:00

September 22^nd  Heroes Blood Drive, Studio One , 10-4

September 24-28 Dance Week

September 24^th State/Federal Compliance Audit-all day

Vision & Hearing Tests, 10^th grade History classes

PTSA Parent Workshop, 6-8:30

September 25^th  Vision & Hearing Tests, 10^th grade History classes

September 27^th   Back To School Night 6-8:30 p.m.

PTSA Mini-Maxi Grant Deadline

Vision & Hearing Tests, 10^th grade History classes

September 28^th   SRI Closes-All grade levels

Evaluatee’s Conference deadline

Football vs. Benecia @ OT, 4 & 7

Recognitions/Appreciations: Thank you to Leadership Students, Mr. Price, Ms. Whisenton, Ms. Page, and, Ms. Williams, Mr. Raeke, Mr. Fairly, Ms. Morrison, for organizing and presenting our first assembly of the year!  The information and expectations for student success that was presented during the grade level assemblies must be reinforced throughout the year. You can find this information in the Student/Parent Handbook, located in the counseling office.

Announcements/Information

1.               Bully Project: From Superintendent Smith:

“I’m pleased to announce that Oakland has been selected as a city in the U.S. where Bully’s filmmakers are arranging for every middle and high school student to see the movie free-of-charge. From September 17 through October 4, each OUSD middle and high school will take a field trip to the Regal Theatres in Jack London Square for a private screening sponsored by the people behind the film. This is a huge coup for our kids and I’m tremendously excited about the opportunity to use Bully as a way to further engage students in an anti-violence culture and move us closer to the strategic plan goal of establishing schools as safe, healthy and supportive communities. I recognize that the timeline is short and the logistical challenges are significant, but we are working to address these issues and the benefit for children justifies the effort. More specifics, particularly the day when your school is scheduled to see the movie, permission slips and transportation details, will be provided early next week.”  In the meantime, please take a moment to visit the movie’s website atwww.thebullyproject.com and familiarize yourself with the award-winning movie and the role its playing in the movement to end bullying. Thank you for your support and care for our children! Tony Smith, Ph.D., Superintendent.

Ms. Andujar will provide specific information as soon as it becomes available, hopefully early this week.

2.               6-week lesson plans and syllabi are due to Ms. Andujar Monday, September 10^th.  Templates can be found in the handbook. I will be keeping an electronic file of your 6 week lesson plans, therefore, I request that you either email an attachment or use google docs. Please see me if you need assistance.

3.               Textbook Distribution: Please follow the schedule that Ms. Williams has provided for textbook pick-up.

4.               Williams Mock Audit: will be Friday, September 14th. The actual Williams Audit will be Thursday, September 20^th. Please make sure that you have posted all required postings in the different languages by the end of the week. The postings will be in your box this week.  Please remind your students to bring their textbooks to class.

5.               ABI Attendance best practice: Please take attendance on ABI each day and at the beginning of every period. This will allow for accurate attendance accounting. Ms. Thomas prepares a daily report indicating which teachers have not submitted attendance for the

previous day. When this occurs, attendance must be submitted manually and results in unnecessary paperwork. Thank you.

6.               ABI Gradebook: Have you set up your ABI gradebook? As we enter The third week of school, it is expected that you will have your gradebook updated and available for students and families to view a minimum of every three weeks. If you need assistance with setting up your gradebook, please contact your Department Chair or Mr. Fairly.

7.               Peer tutors: Students interested in serving as peer tutors need to see Ms.Page for an application. Teachers who would like to request a peer tutor should contact Ms. Page.  Students will no longer be placed as an IWE with a teacher’s signature; students need to apply to be a peer tutor.  Remember that our Peer Tutors will serve as “Culture Keepers”.

8.               The Health Academy is having an assembly, Tuesday, Sept 18 during Second Period, in the library. Students who are not in second period Health Academy classes, will be given a permission slip to be signed by their second period teacher, to be used as a pass to get into the assembly. We will issue a list of students who attended the assembly. It is each teacher’s prerogative to give permission. We appreciate your support of our academy program. -Maureen Nixon-Holtan

9.               The Health Academy students are helping at the 102 Heroes Blood Drive at Studio One (365 45th St) on Saturday, Sept 22 from 10am to 4pm. There will be free food, an art show, raffle prizes and more. We invite you to sign up to give blood also – you can sign up for an appointment at   www.bloodheroes.com, click on Donate Blood, and enter the sponsor code:102HEROES. We need 102 heroes to donate!  We thank those parents, staff and students who supported our June 1st Blood Drive at Tech. Our goal was 38 units and we collected 44 units!  Hope to see you on Sept 22!

10.           From Mr. Fairly: PTSA has made a very generous offer to provide items that you need in your classes to get started. This information was provided to you on August 23, but only 4 teachers have gone forward with creating their lists. They are now anxious to report what they have donated at the PTSA meeting on Monday, but the list is really short at the moment. Here are the instructions that we provided for setting up your wish lists:

The PTSA is offering to provide donations to teachers of items on the teachers’ Wish List. To create a wish list:

• Log into your account on the oaklandtech.com website.
• Create a post that lists your wish list items.
• Check the box next to Wish List to assign your post to the Wish List category.
• The wish list will be displayed on the Directory page like this:
  http://oaklandtech.com/staff/about-tech/general-information/directory?dirCat=WishList
• Parents can go to this page to see what teachers’ wish lists are.
• Teachers should post a new updated wish list regularly as they receive items.

Reminders:

*Staff Emergency Cards: Please submit to Ms. Clacher today.

*Continue to submit your class count to Ms. Page, daily (either electronically or using the form provided).  These counts will be used to reconcile enrollment numbers, adjust the master schedule and to balance your classes.  Please keep students in class even if you are over your limit. We will work quickly to be in compliance with the contractual class size limit.

*Dismissing Students: Please do not dismiss students from class before the bell.

*Greeting students at your door: Whenever possible, please stand at your door at the beginning of class. This practice sets a positive tone for hallway and classroom behavior.