Thursday, August 31, 2023
Welcome Back
Lead Learners,
Something Personal
This week was filled with new lead learners getting acclimated to the district and the building, relentless 12-month staff putting the finishing touches on the building, and veteran 10 month lead learners going above and beyond to ensure they are ready to roll. Seeing this in action, and from 10 thousand feet, is a reminder that it takes all of us to be an awesome school. Each of us has a part.
As we embark on a new year, don't forgot the power of your impact. Every interaction you have with a child's family, with children, and even with one another, matters more than we realize. Make it count.
Crimson would like to welcome the new lead learners that were in getting acclimated to QUEST this week!
And please join me in giving a gigantic thank you to our 12-month lead learners. The school is sparkling, organized, and ready for our #1 customers...the kids!
Something Professional
- September 5th: Opening Day
At the conclusion of the morning events, we will have a brief staff meeting in the cafe. Listen for the announcement as it will begin once all are back from the High School.
Also, please remember that from 1:30-3:30 our newest K students will be in the building checking out their classrooms and meeting their teacher! Please join me in welcoming them to QUEST!
Want to join the staff remind?
I will continue to use Remind to sound out meeting Reminders and other various bits of information. If you are not part of our class, and want to receive these messages on your phone, please:
Another reminder: Required Trainings Through GCN
Below is the list of courses that must be completed by November 30, 2023.
- Bloodborne Pathogens (20 minutes)
- Dignity for All Students Act/Code of Conduct—NY (9 minutes)
- Emergency Response Video – Hilton Central SD (6 minutes)
- Hazard Communications (29 minutes)
- Reporting Child Abuse in an Educational Setting (SAVE Act NY) (40 minutes)
- Sexual Harassment NY-State Mandated (25 minutes)
- Student Data Privacy (NY State Ed Law 2 D) (20 minutes)
To access these courses, please click on the link: https://site.gcntraining.com/
The Organization ID is: Hilton
Note: A PDF with screenshots is attached for your reference. If you do not know your User ID, click the red box “I was not given a User ID or I forgot my User ID”.
Members of the HCSTA will complete these outside of their workday per previous communication from Pam. As in the past, those SRPs who cannot complete the trainings during their workdays (bus drivers, bus attendants, lunch monitors, possibly some 1:1 aides) have been approved for additional time to complete the GCNs outside of their workday. In the past, most other SRPs have been given time here and there to complete the 20-30 minute GCNs. Scott Ziobrowski will work with all of the Food Service Employees to complete these courses. (The GCNs should take no more than 2 hours and thirty minutes). If any SRP has a schedule that does not provide them with the time, they should work with their supervisor to get the GCNs done outside of their workday for compensation of up to 2 hours and thirty minutes.
Please feel free to reach out to me or your supervisor with any questions.
Thank you.
Ned Dale
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
PD Option Again!
Two Items to Help Organize
The start and the end of a school year can make us feel overloaded. It is my hope the the following two items provide some clarity and helps eschew the overwhelm.
Item #1: Check out the back-to-school check list!
Item #2: The QUEST Playbook--where we improve as a school this year!
Monday, August 21, 2023
Welcome Back(ish)!
Lead Learners,
Isn't summer wonderful for rejuvenating the mind? I genuinely hope you've had the chance to disconnect, be fully present, and create cherished memories with your loved ones. Although our time apart is drawing to a close, there's still ample opportunity to make the most of the remaining summer days. Savor every moment!
Something Personal
This summer, my family took our first "big trip" since Bennett was born, and we retreated to Anna Maria Island for a week of relaxation, salt water, and sun. It was warm--okay, it was hot-- but the heat was beat with the ocean breeze and Stanley protected ice water (thanks, trendy Mrs. Warren!).
The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the last day. Throughout the week, my daughters reminded me of the true essence of childhood: they organized sand dollar search parties, eagerly woke up early to collect shells for research, and indulged in friendly competition between imagined ice cream shops, all serving Perry's finest creations made from the pristine white sand of Florida. However, it was on the final day that something truly remarkable occurred, captivating even my adult self with a sense of child-like wonder and awe.
It was in this moment that I realized the true power of allowing children to embrace their curiosity. Learning became a living, breathing entity, and their young minds were receptive and open to new experiences. So I challenge you: how do you create these conditions, the conditions where learning can thrive, within your own learning space? How can you make learning come to life? Curiosity doesn't have to stop because we are confined to the walls of a school--their young brains are primed and built to wonder...capture it!
As a new school year approaches, it brings with it a sense of renewal for our students, families, and, of course, for you. Take the time to create a curious classroom or workspace, one in which students are allowed to create, problem solve, be cognitively stretched, question...that is our charge!
I hope you ride the wave of this fresh start for as long as possible, but remember that how we begin sets the tone for the entire year. The investment we make in a great start will make for an even better year!
Let's do this!
Something Professional
Two Items to Help Organize
The start and the end of a school year can make us feel overloaded. It is my hope the the following two items provide some clarity and helps eschew the overwhelm.
Item #1: Check out the back-to-school check list!
Item #2: The QUEST Playbook--where we improve as a school this year!
Summer Day Goodies
WHEN: August 23 from 8-3. (meet in cafe at 8:15 am)
WHERE: Q-TOWN Café
WHAT: Summer Day for Lead Learners (teaching)
MATERIALS: Please bring a pen and a laptop.
Please join the Google Classroom for the presentation and related materials (please note this classroom is under construction until summer day begins for those early birds that go in!): CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
AGENDA:
- Connect before Content
- Hallway/Team work
- IB Updates
- Office of Instruction Update
- Time in room (optional Remind training 2:30-3!)
Vertical Teams and Committee Shifts
QUEST is adding vertical teams to staff meeting times, and this will take the place of what was formerly committee work.
What does this mean?
- All schools have a staff elected and paid SIT team. SIT will work on school-wide goals, but will also address non-contractual needs (like management team did). We will not need a management team due to this.
- We still need people for PTSO. I encourage a rotating sharing of these meetings...that always seems to work best!
- We will have three vertical teams that will meet during every other staff meeting. If you are required to attend staff meetings, you should join one of these vertical teams. All meetings will be in the café so we can do a share out round table at the end. We will have a Health Team, an SEL Team (piloting Zones of Regulation this year), and an IB Team.
- If you plan a school event (Feast, Culture Day, Science Fun Day, etc.) you can peel off of vertical teams when we get close to the event in order to have some staff meeting time for you and your small team to plan the event.
Why do this?
- With the shift with SIT, level leaders added, committees needed to adjust a bit in terms of sharing the work.
- Our school continues to value collaboration, yet the vertical collaboration is always an area where we want to improve. This fosters vertical alignment and greater collaboration.
- According to the leadership survey last year, it was expressed that Derek is unable to get to each "committee" meeting. I'll be in the room and will be able to jump from vertical team to vertical team, better allowing consistent work that is supported.
- According to the staff meeting survey last year, most value staff meetings where planning and action happens versus sit and get. This fosters that!
If you are required to attend staff meetings, you can sign up for a vertical team here!
New Team Members (a couple remaining)
Here are a few of our newest team members, with a few more who will be shared openly on August 23rd after BOE approval. Welcome to QUEST!
Kayla Reese (she's back!), Intermediate
Kennedy Shurtleff (she's back!), K
Jacquelynn Smith, Intermediate
Tracey D'Alonzo, Special Education Consultant
Remind...Reminder
For those new to Hilton, our district piloted a couple communication tools last year with the goal of selecting one that could be used by staff as a support and supplement. Remind was chosen because of its ability to meet many needs/wants.
Why would a district narrow it down to having one communication tool when so many are on the market?
- The end user, the family, could have several kids, or simply one child, involved in many different classes, and have all these different apps and tools that get used to communicate. This can create confusion for the end user (our customers...the family/child).
- This purchased account allows you to have an archive of communication that falls under the district.
For those looking for a clever way to combine a weekly newsletter with Remind, check out this video!
Want to join the staff remind?
I will continue to use Remind to sound out meeting Reminders and other various bits of information. If you are not part of our class, and want to receive these messages on your phone, please:
Until we see you around the school, be well and take great care of you. Here's to a great year.
Be well,
Derek
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Required Trainings Through GCN
Below is the list of courses that must be completed by November 30, 2023.
- Bloodborne Pathogens (20
minutes)
- Dignity for All Students
Act/Code of Conduct—NY (9 minutes)
- Emergency Response Video
– Hilton Central SD (6 minutes)
- Hazard Communications
(29 minutes)
- Reporting Child Abuse in
an Educational Setting (SAVE Act NY) (40 minutes)
- Sexual Harassment
NY-State Mandated (25 minutes)
- Student Data Privacy (NY State Ed Law 2 D) (20 minutes)
To access these courses, please
click on the link: https://site.gcntraining.com/
The Organization ID is: Hilton
Note: A PDF with screenshots is attached for your reference. If you do not know your User ID, click the red box “I was not given a User ID or I forgot my User ID”.
Members of the HCSTA will complete these outside of their workday per previous communication from Pam. As in the past, those SRPs who cannot complete the trainings during their workdays (bus drivers, bus attendants, lunch monitors, possibly some 1:1 aides) have been approved for additional time to complete the GCNs outside of their workday. In the past, most other SRPs have been given time here and there to complete the 20-30 minute GCNs. Scott Ziobrowski will work with all of the Food Service Employees to complete these courses. (The GCNs should take no more than 2 hours and thirty minutes). If any SRP has a schedule that does not provide them with the time, they should work with their supervisor to get the GCNs done outside of their workday for compensation of up to 2 hours and thirty minutes.
Please feel free to reach out to me or your supervisor with any questions.
Thank you.
Ned Dale
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
(585)392-1000 Ext. 7021
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