December 2016

From the Desk of Dr. Cotton

December is a whirlwind of activity in our schools. If you're not already planning to attend a concert or celebration this month, put one on your calendar. The busy-ness of testing and activities can make the three weeks before winter break go by in a blur...I challenge you to slow down and enjoy time with your colleagues, our students, and their families. As you transition from the first semester to a holiday break, be sure to participate in events that allow you to experience the talents of our students. Your presence will be a gift to you both!


Computer Science in Your Class

Computer Science Education Week is December 5-11. An initiative of Computer Science for All, the Hour of Code is a nationwide time to integrate coding - an important skill of the future for students - into every content area. Have questions about how to integrate coding into your class? Talk with your ITRT for innovative ideas. Be sure to share your photos and coding activities via social media using #HCPSpride!


Are You Ready?

The January 6 Teaching and Learning Conference will again focus on best practices in our classrooms. We will hear from HCPS alum Natalie Hodge, author of The Biggest BUT in the World, and collaborate with colleagues to ensure that the spring semester is our best yet! Plan to enjoy lunch from local restaurants who will have booths set up around the school. The conference program and session information will be shared prior to winter break...we're looking forward to another great conference day at Bassett High School!


Important Benefits Information

Hybrid employees should have received a mailer from VRS describing the Auto-Escalation set to take place January 1, 2017. This is a reminder that all employees who were hired between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2016, are hybridmembers, and are not currently contributing the maximum 4.0% will be AUTOMATICALLY escalated 0.5% on January 1, 2017.

This is an effort by VRS to help members maximize their Deferred Comp Plan. Increasing voluntary contributions helps to build your retirement account by allowing you to save more. Henry County Public Schools will match your contributions up to 2.5%. The Auto-Escalation process will increase your contributions by 0.5% every 3 years, until you are contributing the full 4.0%. You can also choose to change your contributions at anytime through your online account. If you choose to manually increase your contributions between now and December 15, 2016, you will be exempt from the auto-escalation on January 1, 2017. 

This is not mandatory and you do have the option to opt-out of the escalation. To do so, you will need to either go online to www.varetire.org/hybrid or call Investor Services at 1-877-327-5261 and select option 1. **HUMAN RESOURCES DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES** Changes need to be made with VRS by December 15, 2016.

Feedback Wanted

A draft 2017-2018 school year calendar has been created based on input from parents, students, and staff members who serve on Superintendent's Cabinets. Suggestions from those groups included mid-week start of school, regular breaks and professional development time, ensuring that the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving break remains a student/teacher holiday, ending the first semester prior to winter break, and ending the spring semester prior to Memorial Day. Flex days and unassigned contract days are currently planned to operate in the same manner as those in 2016-2017. Please take a few moments to review the draft calendar for the 2017-2018 school year and provide suggestions for improvement by December 20, 2016 by completing this form. If you have questions regarding the calendar, please email mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us

DRAFT

Interested in Earning an Advanced Degree?

If you are operating with a provisional license or are seeking an advanced degree in the field of education you can complete your master’s degree to increase your salary and other benefits. Earning your Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) as part of the online program at Bluefield College will add remarkable breadth, depth and value to your services as a professional educator.

The Bluefield College School of Education builds its reputation on the success of its graduates, who are highly sought after throughout the region and country. Indeed, they are some of the finest principals, school superintendents, teachers, assistant principals, librarians, and administrators in education today.

The 30-hour program is fully online and based on an Engage-Apply-Reflect philosophy. At $460 per credit hour, the program is designed to fit your life and your budget. Click here for more information about the MAEd program.

If you plan to start work on your degree this Spring, it’s time to start the application process.  It can take a few weeks to receive and evaluate your transcripts, process your application, and get you registered for classes. Click here to apply now.

                                 

The Spring registration deadline is January 3^rd and classes begin on January 9^th. 

Professional Development Opportunities

Looking for good PD on a flexible schedule? Check out this month's free webinar offerings from EdWeb! Save your certificates from each webinar and send them to mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us to earn recertification points.

ETC

November 2016

From the Desk of Dr. Cotton

It has been a busy and exciting month in Henry County Public Schools! Bengal Tech Academy of Global Studies (#BTAGS) opened their new space this month. If you haven't had a chance to visit, be sure to look in during our January Teaching and Learning Conference! Our Teacher Cabinet, Parent Cabinet, Support Staff Cabinet, and Equity Council have all been meeting and working to improve education in our community. If you haven't been keeping up with their work, be sure to view their meeting minutes on my Chalkboard page. Footers are being poured and construction on the new Meadow View Elementary School building has begun. You can follow the progress by visiting the construction album. There's a lot happening in HCPS - I'm so glad that we're celebrating it together!


From VDOE

The Virginia Department of Education is asking parents, educators and other citizens interested in the commonwealth’s public schools to complete a brief online survey on school quality and accountability. Results from the survey will help inform the development of the commonwealth’s plan to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act, the 2015 federal education law that replaced No Child Left Behind.

“We are asking parents and other members of the public to tell us what they think is important when evaluating how well a school is serving students,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. “We’re asking them to think about achievement on state tests, graduation and dropout rates, absenteeism, parent satisfaction and other indicators of school quality and then tell us which of these they think are extremely important, moderately important and so forth.”  

The four-item survey may be accessed from the homepage of the VDOE website or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESSAinVA. The survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete and will remain active through Wednesday, November 9.

The survey is anonymous and participants are not asked to provide identifying information beyond describing themselves (e.g., parent, teacher, business professional) and where they live (e.g., Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Southwest Virginia).  

The Every Student Succeeds Act, also known as ESSA, provides states with new flexibility to improve their accountability systems, assessment programs and overall approaches to closing achievement gaps and school improvement. The state Board of Education is expected to approve Virginia’s implementation plan in time for submission to the U.S. Department of Education in March 2017.   

Practical Application

What are your students making? As we look for ways to integrate making into our classrooms, join the Maker Promise email list at MakerPromise.org. This resource will provide ideas and tips on including making in every subject area. Want some local advice? Contact Phyllis Meade at pmeade@henry.k12.va.us for maker ideas and information.

Tracking Recertification Points

Edivate is now making it easier than ever to track recertifcation points. Beginning with July 2016, all school-wide and division professional development activities will be cataloged in Edivate. Participants can log in to Edivate, click Learning Targets, and go to Catalogs to register for activities. Facilitators will confirm participation and points will be applied to a transcript that can be printed at the end of each school year or at the end of a 5-year recertification cycle. No more saving certificates! Questions about Edivate and PD points? Email Monica at mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us

Looking for some flexible PD for a great price? EdWeb offers regular PD webinars for teachers - for free! Check out this month's offerings and explore options that fit your schedule.

Are you using devices to the fullest each day? Visit Apple Teacher Center and learn more about ways to earn recertification points by completing Badges for iPad and Badges for Mac. Send your completion email to eadkins@henry.k12.va.us and points will be applied to your recertification transcript in Edivate.

You can also sign up for Apple Education class and earn PD points - be sure to register in Edivate: go to Learning Targets, then click catalogs.

October 2016

From the Desk of Dr. Cotton

 Did you have an opportunity to see our staff and students from Bassett and Magna Vista High Schools on WSLS's 1st and 10 Kickoff this month? 

We were honored to have Erin Brookshier visit both schools for early morning pep rallies that included cheerleaders, football players, marching band members, student cheering sections, a mascot, and the MVHS choir demonstrating school pride. What great representatives of our community and school division! 

It is so exciting to work with each of you as we foster that pride in our students. Your efforts in developing positive relationships with students and their families is ensuring that our students have the support they need from their team and that is making lasting impressions on who they are.

As we move forward through the semester, be sure to spend some time enjoying our students' school pride at a competition or game - it is a great time to be a Bengal and a Warrior! #HCPSpride


Conference Time is Coming!

Are there topics you would like to see covered at the January 6 Teaching and Learning Conference? Take a moment to share your suggestions with the planning team as they work to craft a conference that is of greatest benefit to you and your students.



Call for Proposals

Do you have a great idea or strategy to share with your colleagues? HCPS staff members are encouraged to consider sharing their expertise by presenting a session at the January Teaching and Learning Conference. If you have a presentation to share, e-mail mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us to learn more about the benefits of being a conference presenter.


Planning for the Future

It is time to begin planning the 2017-2018 HCPS calendar. If you would like to be part of the calendar committee, please respond to the meeting poll here to help schedule the committee's first session. Questions about the calendar or the calendar committee? E-mail mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us




Need Ideas for Motivating Students?

How can educators motivate students? Learn three strategies from Edward Deci and Richard Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory on how to help students get and stay motivated by watching their video.



Classroom Management

Looking for new ways to redirect and refocus students when it's time to get quiet? Edutopia recently re-posted some great ideas from blogger Todd Finley. Interested in other classroom management ideas? Check out their Big List of Classroom Management Resources.

Are Your Students Doing Horse Math?

Have you seen this Algebra teaser? Our #TeachLikeAPirate friend, Dave Burgess, shares Horse Math in this month's blog.

Looking for Regular Ideas for Enhancing the Classroom Experience?

Subscribe to the Edutopia Newsletter and receive regular resources in your inbox.

From the Secretary of Education

Dear Colleagues,

As a former high school social studies teacher and middle school principal, I know that the start of school always brings a mix of jitters and excitement. So much potential — and so much responsibility — lie in our hands as educators. I hope your summer left you renewed and revitalized for your incredibly important work with students. This year, there is so much at stake. The progress we have made together could either set the foundation for greater gains or be hastily undone if we take our eye off the ball. 

Over the past eight years, teachers and principals have worked hard to implement more rigorous, college- and career-ready standards for all students. We’ve set a new record for high school graduation and enabled a million more African American and Hispanic students to make it to college. And thanks to your vocal feedback, the White House and the Department have called on states and districts to eliminate unnecessary and low-quality tests.

We gain new momentum from our nation’s new education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and begins to go into effect this year. It stays true to the civil rights legacy of the ESEA signed by President Johnson in 1965, extending the promise of an excellent, well-rounded education to every student, regardless of race, family income, home language, immigration status, disability, or any other circumstance. But a lot rides on its implementation. ESSA provides the opportunity for educators to have new flexibility to allow for innovation and to accommodate local needs, but we must ensure that, whatever we do, we’re addressing the needs of all students. Earlier this summer, I reminded state and local leaders of their obligation to gather broad input — including from educators — in the design of their ESSA plans as well as their implementation. I now encourage you to find ways to get involved and provide input to ensure that your state’s plan reflects your expertise from the classroom and school levels.

When I came into this office in January, I knew my time was short, but the opportunity to make a difference was great. So, I am focusing my attention on three issues that are critically important, and also where I think we can still make progress: equity and excellence for every student; lifting up the teaching profession; and ensuring that all students not only make it to college, but complete college. I lost both parents by the time I turned 12, but my teachers in New York City’s public schools never gave up on me. 

Instead, they held me to high expectations and made me believe that I could accomplish anything. Every young person deserves teachers who will do the same for them, and we must ensure that our schools are safe, welcoming, and inclusive places for every student, regardless of whatever challenges they may be facing. 

The Department has worked to provide state educational agencies with more and better information to support students, but I want to share these resources directly with you as well. This summer, we released guidance on how ESSA protects students in foster care or those experiencing homelessness. Separately, we reminded states and districts of their obligation toprotect students from discrimination on the basis of their religion. We also clarified their obligation to provide appropriate behavioral interventions and supports to students with disabilities where necessary to receive free appropriate public education and placement in the least restrictive environment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Part of providing a supportive environment is giving students the tools and space to have honest conversations — which is especially needed following the string of violent events across the nation this summer. How can our schools build trust and understanding and create communities where every child can thrive? I remain hopeful that Congress will continue building momentum toward the President’s Stronger Together budget proposal to advance school diversity. In the meantime, I hope your district will explore ways to increase diversity in schools, cultivate a diverse educator workforce, and take advantage of our resources for engaging families and communities.

While we still have a long way to go as a nation in confronting deep-seated issues around race and bias, I was inspired anew at a Teach to Lead summit in Minneapolis, where I saw educators deeply committed to equity and energized to develop and put into practice their own solutions to the myriad issues that affect student success.

I can’t help but think that more of this spirit of leadership and collaboration is needed across America. As educators, we can turn fragile moments for our nation into moments of opportunity. Thank you for your commitment to America’s students, and best of luck this school year.

Sincerely,

John B. King, Jr.

From the Community

September 2016

From the Desk of Dr. Cotton

What a great start to the school year! Thanks to each of you, students and their families are learning and growing. It has been such a pleasure to visit your schools and see meaningful learning taking place, as well as to hear the excitement from your students as they describe what they're doing in class. They are truly engaged and I know that their joy for learning is going to lead them to growth and success this year. Thank you for working to ensure that they each have the support they need on this journey. 



Recognize a Colleague

In an effort to showcase some of the remarkable individuals working for HCPS, school community members are again encouraged to recognize staff members by nominating them for a Superintendent's Starfish Award. The Starfish Award is an award for substantive achievement, to be given throughout the year, to individual staff members of HCPS who have been nominated by their peers or supervisors for performing tasks or services in an exemplary manner, or have improved the quality of life in a department or school. Take a moment to nominate one of your colleagues today!


Professional Learning Opportunities

Click here to register

Thinking about what to do on the November Flex Day? The Department of Special Education is offering a professional development option to the first 40 participants to register. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training will be offered on Tuesday, November 8 from 8:00-5:00. Contact Emily Roop at eroop@henry.k12.va.us for more information.

Professional Development is changing! As members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, HCPS has the opportunity to offer a wider variety of professional learning opportunities for staff - including micro-credentials. 

The first opportunity for earning a micro-credential this school year is on student Financial Literacy. Learn more about how you can incorporate financial literacy into your classroom by visiting Digital Promise's platform and starting your micro-credential journey.

Interested in learning more about professional learning with micro-credentials in HCPS? Contact Monica Hatchett at mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us.

Did you Miss the Brain and Body Boosts/Brain Breaks Webinar from Focused Fitness? The WELNET® Brain and Body Boosts module is a collection of videos to allow children the movement breaks they need to increase cognitive performance, concentration and fitness. These high-quality educational videos and teaching resources provide an engaging and dynamic learning environment for all students and are free for HCPS use thanks to grant funding. Click here for ideas and tips on incorporating physical activity into your classes. 




Resources


Need additional opportunities to ensure that BYOT is properly integrated into your classes? Check out these tips from our colleagues in Forsyth, GA and start using technology to your advantage! 



Have your students joined the Pokemon Go craze? Thinking about ways to engage students using what they know about Pokemon Go? "There's a 100% chance that many of your students are involved."  You may be as well! Henry County Public Schools' favorite pirate, Dave Burgess, has blogged about how to use Pokemon Go to your advantage in the classroom. Read his practical tips and learn more on what all the fuss is about! 

#TLAP



Through a partnership with Donors Choose, Target is building on its commitment to wellness and continuing to support youth, both in and out of school by investing up to $5 million and reaching up to 200,000 students nationwide by bringing to life their ideas to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity. Think school vegetable gardens planted and tended by kids or playground improvements that focus on fitness and fun. The possibilities - like a kid's imagination - are endless. Starting today, kids and their teachers can work together to submit ideas. Target will fund all ideas that meet the program criteria on an ongoing, first-come basis. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 1, 2016, or until the full $5 million has been awarded.

Food for Thought

During his Teaching and Learning Conference presentation, Dr. John Almarode referred to a study conducted by Hattie and Yates which asserted that there is not recognized evidence suggesting that knowing or diagnosing learning styles will help teachers teach students any better than not knowing their learning style/preference.

He says, "It isn't possible to say learning preferences don't exist, as people can express/self-report clear preferences on a learning styles inventory. There is, however, no proven relationship between what people say on those inventories and how they genuinely learn. Because preferences don't necessarily indicate learning, it is important to include variety in the classroom to engage students." 

In HCPS, we recognize the importance of knowing the way students learn so that we can help them process content and relate learning to previous experiences. As Tomlinson and Willis asserted, "Instruction geared toward students’ preferred learning styles is more likely to evoke positive emotional responses, engaging affective filters to open access to the brain’s processing centers. When lessons are adapted for multiple intelligences, the content is more likely to be personally meaningful, students move the content to their relational memories for successful patterning and long term retention. As a result, students will be better able to access the material at test time. Most important, the information will reach the frontal lobe regions where the highest levels of cognitive processing take place— where learned information becomes wisdom." We know that learning based on student strengths will help them to grow.

What do you think? How do you use learning preferences information in your classroom?

From the Community

Henry County Education Association requests your participation in an informational survey for the school community. Share your feedback with the group as they plan for future endeavors.

Curves of Collinsville would like to extend a special discount to Henry County Public Schools employees with a $0.00 service fee and 1 month free! At Curves, strong is about so much more than building muscles... Curves works to build strength, manage pain, and control weight, all while improving your health. Curves is a facility specially designed for women featuring a complete 30 min. workout that’s fun, fast and safe! Also includes Jillian Michaels Classes and specialty class such as boxing classes, balance classes and more!!!!