The River Way, Every Day!
November 13, 2023
Staff Links
DPS Central (curriculum resources)
Bernard Sterling bernard_sterling@dpsnc.net Please email Mr. Sterling for custodial issues.
Susan Diaz susan_diaz@dpsnc.net for language support needs. Schedule support for conferences here.
Electronic Forms Web Links
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- LR Supply Request (click Here)
HR Forms – Sick/Vacation Leave Forms
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- Link to the HR Forms Web Page (Click Here)
- Next, scroll/click on Leave_Form_short_version.pdf
- Complete the form and sent to Dr. Hogans electronically
Payroll
- TACS Time Adjustments (Click Here)
From Cory’s Desk
- November Holiday Energy Shutdown As DPS continues it’s commitment to energy conservation as it approaches the Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving long weekends: closing blinds, turning off displays, setting back thermostats, and turning off the lights before closing doors are simple steps that can yield big results for the district. Keep track of the effort here: DPS Energy Dashboard Please review November Level I Holiday Shutdown Instructions to help prepare our school for holiday conservation. (Note: Buildings on automation will be setback remotely.)
- NC YOUNG AUTHORS’ K-12 WRITING CONTEST All Durham Public Schools’ students have the opportunity to participate in “Reflections: Celebrating the Me I See” the 2023-2024 NCRA Young Authors’ Writing and Art Contest. See how to submit student entries here to the Bull City Literacy Council (BCLC) local contest. The deadline for entries is December 30th, 2023. Student entries may be selected to be published in the North Carolina State anthology.
- ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) DATA REVIEW COMMITTEE (DRC) ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is offering regional school districts an opportunity to participate on a Data Review Committee that will unpack and discuss the current ELA Standard Course of Study. DRC members will review collected and compiled data from Standard-by-Standard surveys, regional focus groups, and interviews, as well as research, policies, and legislation that pertain to English Language Arts (ELA). The DRC will also analyze the feedback and make recommendations to drive both the review and revision phases of the work. Interested individuals may submit applications through November 30, 2023. DRC members will be chosen from across the state’s eight regions and represent varying perspectives and experiences regarding the current ELA Standard Course of Study. Please contact Dr. Cicily McCrimmon if you need additional information. Apply here if you are interested in participating.
- NEW SIS Announcement from NCDPI The North Carolina State Board of Education voted to award a new contract to Infinite Campus to modernize the state’s Student Information System (SIS) in compliance with North Carolina state law. The new system will replace PowerSchool. The process of implementing this new system state-wide will occur over the next two school years. Information will continue to be shared when received as we work collaboratively with the implementation.
- Weekend/Afterhours Access-Nov 10, 18-19
- PLC Agenda (Admin) Items
- Data Wall/Beaver Binders
- Office Depot Gift
From Andy’s Desk
Wavemaker by Habit (google.com)
From Colleen’s Desk
- MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
Applications for scholarships are open now, and due by November 22, 2023. Each scholarship recipient receives 2 weeks of camp, which includes daily lunch and extended care from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Awards are made based on financial need. You can find more information about our camps and links to Spanish and English language applications : https://summercamp.lifeandscience.org/camp-scholarships/. Please forward this information to your families.
- Please remember to sign in and complete attendance after each PLC. The link is available at the bottom of each agenda.
- DPS wants to hear from you regarding upcoming PD. If you have suggestions or areas of need, please use the link and provide input.
- Grades 3-8 mid year benchmarks will be here before we know it. Mark your calendars for December 4-12 during which time we will be administering required assessments in ELA, Math, and Science( grades 5 & 8 ). More information will be forthcoming next week.
- K-5 Math Quarterly Assessments are attached here.
- Use this link for future LETRS training dates ( read it carefully as there are dates for Year 1 and Year 2 )
- K-5 ELA Quarterly Assessment calendar is attached here. This calendar provides you with the dates for Progress Monitoring along with other information
Monday (11/13/23) Encore Day B
- Anti-Bully Week
- World Kindness/Sadie Hawkins/Indian Pudding Day
Tuesday (11/14/23) Encore Day C
- Montessori Training
- Fall Pics Make-up
- Pickle/Spicy Guacamole/Loosen Up Lighten Up Day
Wednesday (11/15/23) Encore Day D
- Education Support Professionals/ Recycling/Bundt Cake Day
Thursday (11/16/23) Encore Day E
- Court Cares MS Field Trip
- Day of Tolerance/Philosophy/Fast Food/Beaujolais Nouveau Day
Friday (11/17/23) Encore Day F
- Children in Need/Baklava/Hiking/Homemade Bread/Zinfandel Day
Up Coming Dates
11/18 – DPS Showcase of Schools
11/22 – 11/24 – Thanksgiving Break
11/30 – Montessori Training
12/4 – PTO Meeting 6pm
12/5 – Progress Reports
12/8 – Ugly Sweater Day
12/12 – Montessori Training
12/13 – Staff Meeting 2:45
12/19 – Pajama Day
12/20 – 1/1 Winter Break
Sunday Bulletin:
Good evening Beavers! This is Ms. Moose for Principal Hogans with some notes for this week. We hope that each of you has had a great holiday weekend.
- Thank you to everyone who came out to our school PTO meeting last week. Our School Improvement Team also met last week as well. Please visit our school website to read meeting minutes to learn more about our school growth as well as to view our annual Title 1 notification.
- Families with students in K through 2nd grade, by now you should have received a letter from the Student Assignment office about the new 2024-25 Elementary Student Assignment Plan. The letter is your official notice of your child’s zoned neighborhood school for next year. Please be reminded of our online resource for learning more about your school choices. Visit dpsnc.net/possibilities to see what schools are in your region. If you want to learn even more about your school possibilities, make plans to attend the Showcase of Schools on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Durham Convention Center. Find all the details online at dpsnc.net/possibilities.
- This next note is for parents of fifth and seventh graders to share with you about an upcoming survey that all fifth and seventh graders will be asked to take to tell us how they feel about attending Durham Public Schools. It’s called a Climate Survey and we administer it every year. We want to know what makes them feel good or proud to be a DPS student, and if there are things we need to improve so that they can feel good about learning in DPS. We would appreciate your consent using the Google form that you should have received via email on Friday, November 10. The climate survey will be administered between Monday, November 20 and Tuesday December 19. Please call or email Dr. Hogansl if you have questions or concerns so that we may answer them. Thank you for your consideration.
That is all for now. Thank you, parents for scheduling conferences with your child’s teacher about the first quarter. Report cards were sent home last week. Remember: it is with your help we ‘bridge’ home and school for our students!