Team,
“Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill
Have a great four-day weekend! Don’t forget, next Friday, September 5th, will be a normal school day.
Thank you for all that you do to inspire and uplift students.
- Johnathan Griffin
2025 - 2026 Growing Together: Inspiring Excellence Every Day!
What Do You Think? (WDYT?) is our Life School comprehensive listening program that creates a culture of building trust, valuing people and continuous improvement. Through this program the district offers multiple methods for listening and building trust with employees. Our campus is in need of a representative on the Superintendent Advisory Team.
If you are interested in representing our campus, please click here to visit the WDYT? Page of the Extranet. Click on the Advisory Teams link to select the team you are interested in and review the district-defined criteria and selection process. Be sure to complete the interest form by September 5th.
Please submit all compliance certificates to Mrs. Ramirez in the Front Office
Please see the attached State-Required Compliance Course List – July Release for a list of available courses to you now in Eduphoria.
You will find two attached documents. One is the State Required Compliance Course spreadsheet with links for each course required for your position. The second document is a step-by-step guide for registering, completing, and obtaining credit/certificates for the courses. For new hires who may not have access to Eduphoria just yet, please know you may go ahead and complete the courses directly through Region 10 in the meantime. Once you receive Eduphoria access, you may complete that step in the process.
Please note that all teachers new to T-TESS must complete the T-TESS Initial Training. Returning teachers will be refreshed on the evaluation process during campus in-service. If you have previously been in a district and have been evaluated under T-TESS and have a training certificate, you may submit it to your supervisor to be exempt from this requirement.
The documents will also be placed on the Life School Extranet under the Talent tab.
Smile for OCS Greatness!
Check out LifeLeader Smiles on the extranet and while you are there share a smile with someone!
August 28th: Goals Due in Eduphoria/Strive for Non-Instructional Staff
All Non-Instructional staff must submit 2 goals each year. These are due August 28th.
Click here to review what types of goals to write and how to submit them.
Signed Job Descriptions
On July 30th you received an email from lifeschool_forms@region10.org. This email has specific instructions for accepting your job description through Laserfiche. You can find the job description by individual role here. Your supervisor will receive a notification when you have submitted your job description. The deadline for completing is Thursday, August 14th. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Yvonne Horton at Yvonne.Horton@lifeschools.net.
Annual Employment Document Acknowledgement
On July 29th, you received an email to complete the annual employment document acknowledgment, completed through Laserfiche, using the link provided to access and acknowledge all forms. The deadline for completing all employment forms is Thursday, August 14th. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Yvonne Horton at Yvonne.Horton@lifeschools.net.
We want to get to know you better! Take a moment to share some of your favorite things by clicking the LINK. Your responses will help us celebrate and appreciate you throughout the year.
District LifeLeader Newsletter Staff Edition
ICYMI: Click here to view the August District LifeLeader newsletter. The newsletter includes quick links for staff, ParentSquare info and groups, CliftonStrengths resources, and accountability results.
WDYT? Virtual Suggestion Box
The best way to solve problems on campus is through one-on-one conversations with the people closest to the issue. If you have a question or concern about something that is impacting your daily work, please let me or someone on our campus admin team know. If you have ideas for district-level improvements, please take a moment to provide suggestions to be considered as part of the district comprehensive needs assessment. On any page of the website go to the Let’s Talk icon in the bottom right corner and select “Contact our Team” then choose the “What Do You Think?” topic.
Refer a Friend to Apply to Life School Today
If you have family or friends interested in attending Life School, please share their contact information by completing this referral form or have them visit our Life School Enrollment web page and request information.
Self-Care Benefits for Staff
Your benefits include coverage for mental health treatment. Find an expert who can help by logging into Blue Access for MembersSM, then click Find Care. You can also use digital mental health programs through Learn to LiveTM to help cope with stress and anxiety, depression, sleep problems, panic, resiliency or substance use. Learn to Live provides educational behavioral health programs; members considering further medical treatment should consult with a physician.
LifeLeader Resource Request
If you are in need of LifeLeader posters or cards please reach out to Angela Copeland at angela.copeland@lifeschools.net for assistance.
Student Shout-out on Classlink
Based on a suggestion submitted by a staff member, the Life School Marketing Team has created a new button on Classlink to allow teachers and staff to send LifeLeader Shout Outs to students. Recognition boosts students' motivation by validating their hard work and accomplishments. This motivation often translates into a stronger commitment to learning and academic success.
Through the AVID Elective class, students are learning Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR) Skills. These skills and strategies can also be taught in any classroom.
The AVID Team has created a Life School District AVID Site that includes a TEACHER RESOURCE page. This page contains a variety of teaching strategies and resources to use in your classroom.
Raptor Alert & Safety and Security Reminders
Please ensure you are able to log in to Raptor Alert on your cell phone. Click this link for the Raptor Alert refresher video. If you are having any issues logging into Raptor, please submit a ticket in HappyFox for IT.
Please remember the following important security policies:
All interior and exterior doors are to be closed and locked during school hours.
No exterior doors should be propped open at any time.
All staff and visitors must wear badges at all times. If you notice someone on campus without a badge, please ask how you can help and escort them to the office to receive a badge.
Commit to Inspiring Excellence Every Day This Week!
Lesson Plans entered by 8:00 am on the first day of the week
Maximize Instructional Time - Engage Students Bell-to-Bell each day
The end of the week should be as engaging as the beginning
HB 1481 - No Cellphones
Cellphones, earbuds, etc. should in backpack or purse not be visible during the school day
Start each period off strong
Greet students at the door
Each Lesson Should Follow the Lesson Cycle: (Components will shift slightly depending on the learning.)
Warm up / Bell Ringer
Present & Explain objective
Introduction to New Materials
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Closure: the end of class is purposeful and connects back to the objective.
Aggressively Monitor Student Work
Teachers should be up during direct instruction & monitoring during independent practice with laps as lesson/objective requires
Update Grades Weekly
On Duty This Week:
If you will be out, please remember to reach out to a teammate for coverage.
Porch:
Morning - Buster
Afternoon - Wesley
MS Crosswalk
Morning - Robles
Afternoon - Spencer
HS Crosswalk:
Hayslip
Portable Walkway:
O'Connor
Alleyway:
Denson
South Campus Courtyard:
Banda & Ahart
Breakfast:
Mitchell
Monday 9/1:
Student & Staff Holiday
Compliance Courses Due
Tuesday 9/2:
Business Casual
Wednesday 9/3:
Business Casual & College Shirts acceptable
Thursday 9/4:
Business Casual (Jeans are acceptable)
Friday 9/5:
Business Casual (Jeans are acceptable)
Friday - Normal School Day
Coming up:
8/28 – Non-Instructional Staff Goals Due
8/29 – Student & Staff Holiday
9/1 – Student & Staff Holiday
9/1 – Compliance Courses Due
9/5 – Friday - Normal School Day
9/10 – Progress Reports Posted by teachers (1F)
9/15 - 9/19 – Homecoming Week
9/19 – Homecoming Game
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Helpful Links for Staff