CBT for Middle School ELA Grade 7 2022-2023

Our middle schools (Central Park, Mont Pleasant, and Oneida) are implementing computer-based testing for Grade 7 ELA this year. Let's support them in this effort. CBT Simulations will take place from January 17 - January 27.

Data Requests:

As mentioned in the daily announcements, the Data Team is processing Infinite Campus issues/questions and Data Requests as well as Classlink through Let’s Talk. This allows the Data Team to efficiently monitor requests and ensure timelines are met.

Online Registration:

We have launched Online Registration in collaboration with the Registration Office.

New Data Visualizations:

Behavior Errors:

Index>Data Visualization>School Dashboard>Behavior Audit Reports

Schoolzilla:

Update on ELA Interims Tile: We are working with Schoolzilla to get new tiles and it may take longer than expected but is in progress

Student Support Staff should have received an invite to Schoolzilla. Please reach out to the Data Team through Let’s Talk for assistance. We are also looking at scheduling additional PD days for those that missed any training sessions from Schoolzilla.

Training:

If you would like training or a refresher on topics regarding Infinite Campus please reach out to the Data Team through Let’s Talk-Infinite Campus.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBER - Megha Patil - Data Team Secretary!

As our after school and recess activities continue to blossom, transportation has grown their services to support our students' needs. These programs include: 21st Century, Empire, Chime, Acting Academy, Theatre Tech, Steam (during recess weeks), and Athletics. We do our best to ensure our students receive safe, efficient, and timely transportation to these activities.

In addition, there is a new program that we are now working to support with transportation that will introduce our students to the food service industry. More to come!

We are excited to provide these transportation services for our students!

K-12 registration for September 2023 will begin March 1st, 2023. Get ready!! Watch for updates.

Right now our Pre-k slots are full; however, please tell parents to go to our website for Central Registration and click on Pre-K registration and then complete the online application

UPK timeline for 2023-2024 is coming soon...

Staff: If you have a Professional Teaching Certificate, please be sure to print all CTLE certificates for events that occur during your five year window for re-certification.

Administrators and Principals: Please remember to Certify all observations in a timely manner.

Contact Natasha Bangaroo at bangarooh@schenectadyschools.org with questions.

Home School/Instruction continues to be supported for 2022-2023! If you have interested families looking for information, please provide them with the following:

Questions regarding home instruction should be directed to Connie Miller at 518-464-3982 and/or homeschooling@neric.org.

When submitting home school/instruction documents, please be sure to include the following information:

• Student's Name

• DOB

• Grade Level

• Parent/Guardian's Names(s)

• District: SCSD

Documents may be submitted via email to homeschooling@neric.org or hard copies mailed to the address below:

Attn: Connie Miller

Capital Region BOCES

900 Watervliet Shaker Road

Albany, NY 12205

Quiet time for grants right now....

REMINDER - ALL schools have designated dollars within the Consolidated Application for Title Funding that is open and available. Each building Principal will receive an email from OPA about this funding availability - in supplies and might be a best source for Participatory Budget (for CSI Schools) items for 22-23 (see below).

Please contact Tracy Angelini at angelinit@schenectady.k12.ny.us if you have any questions.

Each school year, all Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools must implement a Participatory Budgeting process or select from an approved list of alternatives to Participatory Budgeting designed to increase student and family participation in decision making.

In order to meet the NYSED Participatory Budgeting requirements for identified schools, the district has mapped out the following guideline for compliance. (If you are able to complete your work ahead of this schedule that is fine.)

Timeline for 2021-2022 Participatory Budgeting

1. By January 31, 2023, all PB teams will be identified and the process has begun.

2. By March 30, 2023, PB teams will have completed their work. The project(s) have been selected by the students and parents via voting and the results shared with the Assistant Director of Grants.

3. By April 4, 2023, all requisitions for the winning projects are entered and the PO’s are in the process for approval.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a process that allows community members to decide together how to spend part of a public budget. The process is intended to strengthen public input and deepen public engagement in the civic organizations designed to service the public. Often decision-making rests in the hands of leaders identified to represent their constituencies. The PB model supports direct democracy, allowing parents and students to vote for the projects to be funded.

PB allows schools to engage students, parents, teachers, and community members in choosing a school program or improvement to fund. The process builds understanding of stakeholder perspectives, directs funds to pressing needs and innovative ideas, and helps students and other community members learn democracy and active citizenship.

How Participatory Budgeting Works in Schools- PB often follows a defined model that consists of multiple stages:

1. First, the school identifies the amount of money to be set aside for PB. CSI schools have available funding in their SCEP budgets and/or Title I Funding (depending on what is being purchased).

2. Next, parents, students, and teachers brainstorm ideas and develop proposals on how they money may be spent to improve the school.

3. Then, a Steering Committee reviews the proposals and identifies the final proposals that will appear on the school ballot.

4. Finally, the student body and the parents of the school vote on the proposals. The proposal(s) with the most votes are funded.

Approved Alternatives

CSI schools have the opportunity to implement any of the approved alternatives to Participatory Budgeting. The alternatives build on essential components of Participatory Budgeting: expanding stakeholder voice, providing opportunities to practice democracy, and promoting civic engagement. A current list of approved alternatives can be found here: Approved Alternatives for Participatory Budgeting

Start the process (if you have not already) TODAY! Tracy will be reaching out mid-January to see if you have questions about this process.

Please contact Tracy Angelini at angelinit@schenectady.k12.ny.us if you have any questions.