4J 2012 KICKOFF Apples

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From: "Kerry Delf" <delf_k@4j.lane.edu>
To: "4j priority mail" <4j_priority_mail@4j.lane.edu>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 3:46:20 PM
Subject: [4j_priority_mail] 4J 2012 Kickoff Conference: Shuttle buses,        attendance requirements & more

Dear colleagues,

4J's 2012 Kickoff Conference is now just a week away!  Here are the details you've been waiting for, including who is expected to stay for the afternoon breakout sessions.  

4J school buses will provide shuttle service from Churchill, North Eugene, Sheldon and South Eugene high schools (see details below).

2012 Kickoff Conference:
"Making Thinking Visible: Creating Pathways to College & Career" 

Thursday, August 30, 7:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Eugene Hilton

• 7:15–8:00 a.m. Breakfast social
• 8:00–11:30 a.m. Opening remarks and keynote speakers 
• 11:30–12:30 Lunch ($5 or bring your own)
• 12:30–4:00 p.m. Afternoon breakout sessions

WHO SHOULD ATTEND (NEW INFORMATION): 

• Morning: All staff working on August 30 are expected to attend until 11:30 a.m. All schools and offices will be closed that morning to allow this.  
• Afternoon: All licensed staff and school administrators are expected to attend the afternoon breakout sessions. Classified and central administrative staff who have been specifically asked by their principal or supervisor to attend an afternoon session also should attend. Other classified staff and central administrative staff may return to their regular duties at 11:30 a.m., but are welcome to stay to attend afternoon breakout sessions of their choosing, if their work allows. If you are uncertain whether you should remain for the afternoon, talk to your supervisor.
• Guest teachers and classified staff who are not scheduled to work on August 30 are welcome to attend all or part of the conference on their own time.

WHAT TO EXPECT: We have transformed our traditional opening-of-the-school-year welcome for staff into a powerful professional development conference focused on our key instructional initiatives. The conference will feature national education leaders Dave Conley and Jon Saphier. Continental breakfast, morning refreshments and afternoon refreshments will be provided. 

The participatory, interest-based afternoon breakout sessions (see attached) will include:

• Additional presentations by Jon Saphier and Dave Conley geared towards elementary and secondary teachers and staff
• Training in EdModo and Google Docs
• AVID workshops for Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies and other subjects
• Special sessions for Ed Support Services staff, librarians, counselors, essential skills coordinators, music teachers and International Baccalaureate teams. 

HOW TO GET THERE: 

• Bus: 4J school buses will provide shuttle service from Churchill, North Eugene, Sheldon and South Eugene high schools. Buses will depart for the Hilton from 6:30–7:30 a.m.  Return trips from the Hilton will depart from 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. for morning-only attendees, and from 3:45–4:15 p.m. for full-day attendees.  
• Car: If you choose to drive, you are encouraged to carpool.  Limited free parking (with validation) is available in the Hilton parking lot, and there is ample space in nearby parking structures for a small fee.  Parking fees and mileage will not be reimbursed.
• Bike: Bicycle parking is available at the Hilton.

WHAT TO BRING: 

• A sweater or light jacket to keep you comfortable in the air conditioned conference rooms
• A notebook and pen if you might want to take notes
• A sack lunch or $5 cash for the backyard barbecue buffet (RSVP ASAP, no later than Monday morning! RSVP@4j.lane.edu) if you are staying for lunch
• Your enthusiastic attitude and great smile!

THANKS: This special event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Eugene Education Foundation. EEF raises funds to support all 4J schools.

We look forward to seeing you next Thursday, and to the start of another great year!

Hanging Apples: Just In Apples

Hanging Apples: Just In Apples: Hmmm . . . I don't know why that happened but here is the invitation. All 4J guest teachers who have an email address listed with District...

Just In Apples

Hmmm . . . I don't know why that happened but here is the invitation. All 4J guest teachers who have an email address listed with District 4J have received one but I thought I would post it here just cuz. Is anyone impressed that I had a feeling it would be here any day now? I swear I started having that feeling about three days ago. 

What do you all think of the topic of the inservice? Classroom management strategies are always appreciated by many of our guest teachers but I am not sure how pertinent academic interventions are for many of us. It will certainly be helpful for those in our ranks who eventually get their own classroom as well as any of us who is lucky enough to pick up long term and temporary assignments.!

Anyway, see you there!

 

You are invited to attend:

2012 4J Guest Teacher                       

In-Service Day

The Topic:

Academic Interventions & Classroom Management Strategies

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

South Eugene High School Cafeteria

400 East 19th Avenue

Eugene, OR 97401

Please RSVP* to Genessa Waite, waite_g@4j.lane.edu, with the subject “2012 4J Guest Teacher In-Service RSVP”

           

*As per contract language, Article 11.A, each substitute teacher who attends this one half-day (1/2) in-service, up to a maximum of two hundred (200) substitute teachers, shall be paid at the per diem rate for a half day.  Guest teachers must sign-in and attend entire in-service to receive compensation.

Hanging Apples: Saturday Apples

Hanging Apples: Saturday Apples: I am back so soon because I have added the information on that district kickoff event. The scoop is: 2012 Kickoff: Staff Back-to-School Ev...

Saturday Apples

I am back so soon because I have added the information on that district kickoff event. The scoop is:

2012 Kickoff: Staff Back-to-School Event

Date: 

August 30, 2012 - 7:30am - 4:00pm

4J is planning a conference-style event for this year's back-to-school staff gathering on August 30. Mark your calendars! All staff working on August 30 are expected to attend this important professional development. All schools and offices will be closed to allow staff to attend. Guest teachers and classified staff who are not scheduled to work on August 30 are welcome to attend the kickoff on their own time if they wish.

What: 2012 Kick-off
When: Thursday, August 30, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Where: Eugene Hilton
Who: Keynotes by Dave Conley and Jon Saphier

You will:• Get a chance to mingle and reconnect with colleagues
• Learn more about the core instructional ideas that will guide every school in our district for years to come
• Choose among afternoon break-out sessions on special topics 

A more detailed schedule will be posted later this summer. 

Notice the beginning of sentence five, fourth line (did I do the math right?), "Guest teachers . . . "?

I am having trouble getting the schedule into a format I can post here. I will work on it or maybe I will be able to track down a link so that  folks can better decide if they want to spend a summer day at the Hilton -- think climate controlled comfort.  Also, I have asked Kerry Delf, with District 4J about continuing professional development units (CPDUs) for our guest teachers who attend the meeting/break-out sessions; hope to have some answers by the middle of next week. Just my opinion but I can't imagine we will not given professional development units (PDUs) for taking part in this event.  What do you think?

Check back often and have a great August Saturday!

Hanging Apples: Waiting for Apples . . . Again

Hanging Apples: Waiting for Apples . . . Again: I can't hardly believe I am here after such a long time and as usual I have no good excuse. I had expected that by now I would have some n...

Waiting for Apples . . . Again

I can't hardly believe I am here after such a long time and as usual I have no good excuse.

I had expected that by now I would have some news on the annual Guest Teacher Inservice but nope. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. No progress has been made in that direction -- at least, none that I know about. But, I have tried to make contact, am waiting for a reply to the latest inquiry. I'll keep you all posted on the Eugene Guest Teachers page on facebook and will make an effort to get the information on this blog as well.

There is a district kickoff event for the teachers (we are welcome to attend but will not be paid for the time) and I've posted the information and links on the facebook page so go check it out. It's an all day thing but looks like it will be well worth the time. I have emailed the district contact person a couple questions. The main question is if we can earn continuing professional development for attending the sessions in the afternoon and I am pretty sure the answer will be yes.

Well, school starts September 5 so it won't be long before we will have to find ourselves checking Aesop, SubFinder or waiting for the phone to ring -- I really don't like that part of the profession. Just sayin'.

Cheap Apples

Once again, it has been a very long time and this entry is long overdue.

Early in June EAST held their end of the school year, 'learn, greet and eat meeting'. That one is always a big deal because it is the last time, before the district guest teacher inservice, most of us will see each other. Since we pretty much all go our separate ways and guest teachers don't have a 'base' school site it isn't until that inservice that nearly 200 of us get together in one large room and have a chance to catch up.

The end of year meeting of EAST in June was significant for another reason and only a couple of my guest teacher colleagues know the reason. I am talking about the fact that the EAST budget has been cut, for the second time in as many years, and we will be working with less than half what we had two years ago. This is a blow because while the teacher's unit seems to be shrinking our numbers are increasing and we now have to make do on what feels like less than a shoestring.

That being the case, I felt it was incumbent on me to go out -- so to speak -- with a bang. Of course I wanted to spend every penny of our already limited budget on the food and drawing prizes and I came close. Since I have to front the money for everything for these events it can be challenge to avoid using the credit card and pay cash. Luckily, this time, I had just been paid for the month of May so I had money in my pocket. First I took myself to Costco the day before the meeting and picked up an array of yummy stuff that I would never buy for my own family -- I was kinda throwing caution to the wind -- but because I avoided meats I was able to provide a pretty good variety of filling quality victuals for our guest teachers. I short trip to Freddy's for some mini-croissants and a bag of ice filled the table to capacity. As for the drawing prizes, well, suffice it to say, I love clearance bins! Oh, don't jump to conclusions, it was all quality stuff. Actually, I only found one item in the clearance bin because I got lucky with sales and had a gift card with a bit left and a coupon. But, what will I do next time? Maybe a potluck? Thank goodness that is a bridge yet to be crossed.

Long Time Absent (again) Apples

I haven't published a thing since April! What a bad blogger I am, huh?

I don't have a good excuse -- a number of poor ones -- for being so inconstant with my blogging and as a guest teacher friend often says "It is what it is.", whatever that means in this instance.  Since I make very little as a guest teacher I cannot afford to invest in the years of therapy that would be needed to get to the bottom of my lack of motivation and inspiration to keep up with my blogging. I will state, for the record, that I enjoy the process and so, will blog on.

On that note, Eugene Association of Substitute Teachers (EAST) meets today for the last time this school year. So far there are only 22 guest teachers confirmed to attend with 10 thinking about it, 10 have replied with a 'no'. So, where are the rest of our guest teacher colleagues? I don't know but 122 of those we have email addresses for have not replied to the evite. That number makes me wonder, are most of our emailed messages going into the 'trash' rather than regular email? I feel a need to get to the bottom of this situation and would love to hear from guest teachers on where they are finding (too late) the EAST emailings because we want as many of our folks in attendance as possible because . . . We have a lot of information to cover in the EAST meetings these days -- and have had -- what with the change in the teacher license renewal rules in regards to the drop in recency (days worked) and the move to a CPD (continued professional development) requirement for all licensed teachers in the state. Big change and not an easy requirement for all 'unemployed' teachers to meet.

For a number of years we have been fortunate to have access to CPD via both the Eugene Education Association Professional Development Seminar Series and Lane ESD. On occasion, I know that there are times when our guest teachers can take part in school site professional development when working and Eugene School District 4J workshops and seminars sometimes fit our schedules but I anticipate a bit of a CPD log jamb coming up in the next few years.

I see a great (well, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration) rush for CPD when all substitute teachers realize they really do have to have 25 PDUs (professional development units) for each year of their license to renew; 10 PDUs/year for substitute teacher and some provisional teacher licenses. I feel fairly certain that at this moment many more of our colleagues know little or nothing about this recent turn of events than those who do. As is often the case and, I believe it is human nature we tend to be skeptical when first told of something we don't want to face. Oh, don't get me wrong, I believe we are all 'lifelong learners' and embrace the opportunity to learn, take professional enrichment and be informed but on our own terms and, I predict reluctance to take the situation seriously today will lead to a sudden rush to fulfill the requirement tomorrow.

Tomorrow starts in 2013. The phase in for this change begins in January, 2013 so anyone renewing their teacher license next must have a year's worth of CPD. Mark my words, people will be caught unaware and unprepared. That is one of the reasons I am concerned when so few of our guest teachers take advantage of their association and miss the meetings. Folks! Use your association or risk losing its benefits.          

Wednesday Apples

Sunday and Monday were like summer days. They started warm and stayed that way into the late afternoon on Monday when the wind started to kick up and cool us down as clouds rolled in. I heard that the Oakridge area had a thunder-dunder and that there was a storm watch warning scrolling across the TV screen -- potentially serious stuff. But the sun and heat have retreated somewhat and a few outlets are calling for rain again. Thank goodness; hubby wants to drag out the hose and oscillating sprinkler and start watering the yard. Too soon I say.

Monday was a big day for me. Not only did I break a 'perspiration' due to the summer-like heat while getting ready for my guest teaching assignment that AM but EAST was finally able to meet after the big March, Twenty-Twelve snow storm postponed us. While the turnout was not what I had hoped -- I think the summery weather lured some of our guest teachers away -- we were able to cover all the same subjects as planned for the March meeting and got it done in the time allotted. Yea. Mr. Kokubu with Westgate Corporation spoke on the subject of teaching English in Tokyo, Japan -- FUN and EXCITING opportunity -- and was well received. There were lots of good questions asked and answered so I know our guest teachers were interested and paying attention to what Mr. Kokubu was saying. I wonder if we should have him back when we have a better turn out expected, the end of the school year meeting perhaps? Hmmm . . . definitely something to think about.

Next on the meeting agenda our latest NEA Uniserv Constultant, Nancy Sheehan gave the professional development presentation on our rights as guest teachers under our contract with the district. As was stressed by Nancy, if we don't use our contract when the situation calls for it we are paying a disservice to the fine people who bargained the first one so many years ago. Eugene Association of Guest Teachers is one of only three recognized substitute teacher associations in Oregon . . . heck, one of the few in the country! The existence of EAST is significant but it can be difficult to convey to our guest teachers the importance of familiarizing themselves with the contract and the valuable rights it guarantees. Education is the key and EAST needs to step up and get their guest teachers informed!

Wrap-up was a short discussion of a couple issues that need more 'air' time but that can wait for the next meeting. I look forward to that one being as productive as the latest; date to be announced soon so watch this spot.     

Birthday (not mine) Apples

Beverly Cleary will celebrate her 96th birthday on Wednesday, April 12. Born in McMinnville, Oregon her family moved to Northeast Portland, in 1922, where she attended Grant High School. In 1950 she wrote "Henry Huggins", who 'lived' on NE Klickitat Street. Through the years, Cleary introduced us to a collection of lovable characters wrapping up with "Ramona's World" in 1999. Her books still sell over 2 million copies a year with an estimated 90 million in total to date. Amazing!

Let's all think of Beverly Cleary, who now lives in Carmel, California, on her birthday next week.

Snow Day Apples

OMG(oodness)! What craziness is this?!? Another snow day and that means the scheduled EAST meeting is now 'UNscheduled' and will have to be rescheduled. There just is NO predicting the weather sometimes! I will get back to our guest teachers with a new date as soon as I can put us on the EEA calendar.

I anticipated this turn of events yesterday -- with the first snow day under way -- so laid in fewer supplies. Since I had a full day assignment today (also cancelled) I had to pick up 'meeting snacks' yesterday. I usually overdo the snacks but I didn't want to be stuck with a bunch of yummies and no one to eat them. I can utilize some of the goodies I picked up but may have to talk my son into taking a few of them off my hands so they don't go bad. What really bothers me about this is that we have no mechanism in place that can effectively notify all of our guest teachers of the cancellation. I don't want people traveling to the EEA offices only to find no meeting when they get there.  

Aw . . . well . . .

We'll talk later, right? Bye.

A Bit O' Green Apples

Did you partake of the 'GREEN' on St. Paddy's Day?


I wore a bit o' green myself and cooked up a tasty and lean corned beef brisket with cabbage, potatoes and carrots . . . YUM!


Well, we are looking at White today! White in the form of unseasonable snow. The crashing of breaking limbs woke me at 5:13 this AM but it wasn't until I looked out the window that I realized what the noise was. We were being visited by a blanket of heavy soft snow. After confirming school closures -- Just why did it take so long for that decision to be made? -- I settled in for a day free of Aesop and associated obligations.  


At almost 11 AM the snow is still sitting there but it looks like it has mostly stopped falling from the sky. I am always a bit melancholic when the lovely white stuff melts and I am trying to avoid that inevitable event by writing to my blog. I could be cleaning closets and drawers or . . . No, nuh-uh, maybe later.


I hope EAST has a good turnout for the meeting/CPD opportunity Thursday, March 23rd. Nancy Sheehan, EEA Uniserv Consultant will be giving us a refresher course on our rights as guest teachers under the contract and with our membership in the local, state and national education associations. This promises to be a valuable little class for our guest teachers because few of us are really aware of what our rights are and some of our guest teachers don't give them a thought until they are in hot water, so-to-speak. 


We will also have the pleasure of hearing about overseas teaching opportunities. Hideki Kokubu, Westgate USA, Inc. is scheduled to share, in the first 20 minutes, details of what his company has to offer qualified educators interested in teaching in Japan. This sounds like a great way to see and experience a beautiful country, its culture and people; if you have ever hankered to get away for awhile don't miss this EAST meeting.


Still on the subject of the EAST meeting. I picked up a few drawing prizes. I promised a special prize drawing for guest teachers who bring a newbie (a guest teacher who is new to EAST meetings) to this meeting but, the 'newbie' guest teacher gets to enter a special prize drawing too! And, if you are a 'newbie' yourself you can enter both drawings! Crazy, huh? Not bringing a 'newbie'? We have a few prizes for you to try for too. 

Last Minute Apples

Got a call at 9:10 AM to work at the middle school a couple blocks away so jumped in my car -- they needed me right away or I would have walked -- and made a productive morning of the situation. Early release so I got only the half day but it was something; not a lot but something. It was music but the kiddos were watching videos. Looked like it was videos yesterday and will be Monday by the sub plans I could find on the desk. I don't know why I was getting a call so late and the office staff were surprised that a guest teacher had not been in the system for the assignment already. My lucky Friday!

The last group straightened the room up beautifully. I looked around after they had scooted out to lunch and then the buses and I was impressed! All the stands were lined up in front of all the chairs and the chairs were all on their lines -- a thing of beauty. During the students' lunch a young lady came in to pick up sheet music she needed for the weekend and what a treat it was to have her in the music room. She was so polite, very bright and articulate; gives me hope for our future when I meet young folks like her.

To make my morning even more wonderful the sun was out, the birds were chirping in the trees and the day held such promise! Ah, then the sky clobbered up again and . . . here we are in the grey and overcast state of existence we are so accustomed to this time of year. Oh well, spring break begins in a week, maybe the weather will shape up by then.

Hurry Up Apples

Yikes! I had a job show up on the 'thingy' and couldn't click on it fast enough. Bummed. Remember the saying, "When it rains it pours?" from the salt box? Well, that is what usually happens to me. The days I have a job I get several offers but can only take one at a time. Now, if those could be distributed more evenly . . .  No work today and nothing in the hopper for tomorrow. To complicate matters, I find myself, after a couple days of no work, planning what I will do around the house the next day. I make elaborate plans to go through 'that' closet or go over all the porcelain fixtures with a toothbrush (yeah, right) then I get a job. Good excuse for NOT cleaning house, huh?  I do have a promise of something on Friday. Yipee! 

All this talk of working and not working reminds me, I sure hope, since I am not getting much work, all (100) of those new guest teachers are working.

Looks like the postcard to be sent to our guest teachers inviting them to the upcoming meeting is just about ready to be runoff and mailed. So glad that we have Julie to do such beautiful and fast work. She is amazing! I wish I was rich or something so I could treat her to a dream vacay or some such thing; at least a spa day! Anyway, be sure to look for the postcard in your mailbox -- if we have your address -- and a follow up email.

Pain in the Apples

Don't like Jobulator. Don't like the annoying ring that goes off every time I turn on the computer and the too few times it actually has a job to offer. I also don't like the big thing sitting on my screen so I always 'tuck' it away so then when it rings I have to scramble to look at and accept the job. I usually get there just as the job is taken by someone else. Boo.

Speaking of jobs, I had the unthinkable happen to me yesterday; not being the intended guest teacher. I have heard from a number (dozens?) of guest teachers about how they accepted a job on Aesop only to show up at the school site and be told that they are not needed because another guest teacher was meant to fill the assignment. A guest teacher is paid for a half day when this happens but then they have to find something to do or be sent running around to various places where they may or may not be needed. The standard is to eventually wind up in the library shelving books or reading shelves. I stayed in the classroom for the first 80 minute period of my half day then . . . wait for it . . . went to the library to read shelves. The time in the classroom wasn't bad. Neither myself or the the intended guest teacher were really in charge because there was some retired teacher in there as a volunteer who ran the show so it was a no pressure situation. It was actually kind of fun. My time in the library was tedious and boring and I got through only 9 shelves of books.

Well, enough of me complaining. Hoping tomorrow will be no worse if not better.  

New Apples

EAST will meet at 4:15 PM on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the EEA offices on Coburg Road. We have a full agenda with Westgate USA, Inc. Exectutive Vice President, Hideki Kokubu there to speak about teaching in Japan and NEA Uniserv Consultant, Nancy Sheehan giving a workshop* on the rights of guest teachers and contract language. There will be an update on the new Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Law change for all licensed teachers.

Also, there will be a special prize drawing for bringing a ‘new’ (to EAST meetings) guest teacher to the meeting. Even if you have never been to a meeting of EAST and you bring yourself you can enter the special ‘Newbie’ drawing. And, the newbies can enter a separate prize drawing – so, if you do bring yourself you can enter two prize drawings.  There will be snacks to carry you through to dinner and plenty of information.

*Attendees will be given one professional development unit for taking part in the workshop.

I will start the conversation here on the continuing professional development situation with: Yes, all teachers – even those working on a restricted license, for instance a Substitute Teacher License – are required to earn CPD in order to renew.  Teacher license holders will need to earn 25 CPD per year of the life of their license. That means either 75 PDUs for a 3 year license or 125 for a 5 year license and restricted license holders 10 PDUs for every year of their license.  But don’t worry; the requirement will be phased in in some way that will be workable. At Oregon TSPC the meeting of February 20 there was extensive discussion of what should constitute CPD and the argument for days worked is not getting a favorable reception with the Commission. Commission Chair, Robert W. Sconce, Jr., at that meeting, did not see value in guest teachers’ time in a variety of classrooms using a wide variety of curricula, classroom technology and lesson plans. It is EASTs position that the time guest teachers spend in the classroom is valuable and enriching, leading to a great deal of learning so I asked the Commission to consider a 10 for 1 deal where a guest teacher can earn one PDU for each ten days worked up to a limit of 5 PDUs total per year of the life of their license. I hope that reason prevails and we are giving some credit for the hard work we do as guest teachers. I will have more details and handouts at the EAST meeting of Thursday, March 22.