I want to take a quick moment to congratulate you once more for what we have accomplished in the past 4 months. I keep hearing from many of you about how different the school culture feels in terms of safety and engagement on the part of the students. I am confident in saying that our school is the safest in all of MMSD. Your consistent efforts to hold students to high expectations is the key to making this happen. Thank you.
I also appreciate your willingness to analyze your teaching practices, put yourselves out there and take risks. Grade level team meetings continue to be powerful venues for aligning and improving the quality of instruction taking place in the classroom. Sitting down with me and analyzing your own teaching on video is well outside the comfort zone of many. Thank you for taking risks and keeping an open, analytical mindset.
When I take a step back and consider the school from a bird's eye view, I see movement in the right direction. We still have many roadblocks to clear, but I'm confident in the expertise and dedication of those in this building to keep this complicated work moving forward.
Get rest, recharge your batteries, and prepare for the second leg of our journey together this year.
To paraphrase Pat Benatar, You are the Warrior!
Happy Holidays!
-Josh
Updates
- Delia Hurtado has accepted an SEA position at Orchard Ridge. We are sad to see her go, but this is a more convenient commute and there are significant needs at this school that will benefit greatly from Delia's expertise. Please join me in thanking Delia for her years of service for the students of Nuestro Mundo. Her last day will be January 10.
- Mayra Falcon Pineda, an SEA from Hawthorne, has been hired to replace Delia. She will begin on January 13.
- A teacher reported that some magazines she ordered for her class were taken from the work room. Please do not take anything from the work room that has someone else's name on it, regardless of how long it has been there. If you know where these magazines are, please return them to Luz Celedon or to the bookroom.
- The printer known as Q8, in the office near Marissa's desk, has been decommissioned. Please use Q5 instead of Q8.
- The staff bathrooms near the lounge are starting to look like a beauty salon. Please do not leave items on the shelves in the staff bathrooms. The shelves are meant to hold items a teacher may have with them in the moment. Please remove personal items from these bathrooms.
- To reiterate Jorge's message--Please do not leave food in your rooms to attract unwanted visitors. Anything left in the refrigerator at the end of the day will be thrown away.
Kudos
- Chris Powers for a fantastic 2/3 concert!
- Kristen Scott for being nominated for the Kohl Teacher Fellowship!
- Jorge Araujo for hosting the Christmas party!
Charter Renewal Update
As some of you may know, Nuestro Mundo's charter must be renewed by the MMSD Board of Education every five years, and we are now in year 5 of our second contract with the district. Nuestro Mundo, Inc. has been working hard preparing a term report to reflect on the last 5 years and present a plan for the next 5 years for the MMSD Board of Education to consider. The following is a timeline of what comes next in this process.
- 12/16/13--NMI submits revised term report to MMSD
- 12/27/13--NMCS renewal report materials sent to BOE for review
- 1/6/14--NMCS renewal report reviewed at BOE Instruction Work Group
- 1/27/14--NMI renewal report sent to larger BOE for review and vote (this is where they vote to continue the charter for 5 more years)
- 2/3/14--NMI contract reviewed at BOE Instruction Work Group
- 2/24/14--Final vote at BOE regular meeting on contract (this is where they vote on the particulars of the contract)
Please plan to attend the BOE Regular Meeting on January 27th if you are able.
Light Reading
- Interested in learning more about the Smarter Balanced Assessment that will replace the WKCE next year? Click here.
