truly inspired learningWe were blown away by the amazing learning experiences educators across the district organized for last week's Inspired Learning Day! From amazing POL-focused activities at the elementary schools, to Nature Walks and Cultural celebrations at the middle school, to field trips and simulations at the high school, MURSD created experiences for learners that truly inspired. Collaborating verticallyWhen we are able to collaborate vertically we can think about how students learn and grow throughout their whole PK-12 MURSD journey. This year the Health/PE department has been reviewing their curriculum vertically because of the release of new state standards. The elementary schools have focused on developing vertically aligned writing rubrics. The Art Department has been leading the way in vertically aligning the POL Competencies. At the high school, the math department has been adjusting how and when they deliver instruction on functions from grade to grade in response to data inquiry cycles. Leading up to our March 5th PD day, Department Leaders will be meeting to provide administrators with feedback on our pandemic-adjusted curriculum review cycles and to help us plan to use the time to collaborate vertically. We're looking forward to having the entire district together that day to re-establish curriculum review cycles and spend some valuable time collaborating across grades in each department. LSDO Spring PD offeringsLSDO, one of our local curriculum consortia, is offering several professional learning seminars this spring, most of which satisfy licensure requirements in the areas of Special Education and SEI. MURSD gets 2 spots in each course and the rest of the spots open on first-come-first served basis, so register ASAP. See below for brief descriptions and reach out to me or Brittany O'Neil ([email protected]) if you have questions. Understanding Identities: Unpacking Whiteness and Heteronormativity These courses engages PK-12 staff in conversations that develop our understanding of identity, including race, gender, and LGBTQ+ as well as bias, privilege, and systemic discrimination. We will evaluate the biases within our talk, our curriculum, and our policies, and through expanding our lenses with reading, discussing, and self-reflection, we will gain valuable strategies and resources to incorporate into our professional and personal lives. 12 PDPs per class. Presenter: Kate Kelly ([email protected] Course 1: Unpacking Heteronormativity in Education: A focus on gender and LGBTQ Wednesdays: 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27/24 from 3:30 - 6:30pm Registration Link Course 2: Unpacking Whiteness in Education: A focus on race and racism Wednesdays: 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22/24 from 3:30 - 6:30pm Registration Link Location: Bellingham Town Hall Upper Room, 2 Mechanic Street, Bellingham, MA 02019 Help, I'm not an EL Teacher! Teaching Academic and Linguistic Supports to ELs in the General Ed Classroom Pk-12 general education teachers will learn practical and applicable strategies to provide best practices for culturally and linguistically diverse students. This series will broaden teachers’ expertise on design and sequence scaffolding tasks that allow teachers to engage students in rigorous and challenging learning activities that promote the deep, sustained learning of language and academic practices used in listening, reading, writing, and speaking about both literary and informational texts in an academic context. Educators will build capacity in enacting high-challenge, high-support lessons that weave conceptual, analytical, and language practices seamlessly. Next, educators explore how to expand listening, speaking, reading, and writing to increase academic vocabulary and increase rigor. Then, educators will analyze general education activities, assignments, and assessments to put instructional differentiation skills into practice. For the final project, participants will create a series of scaffolded activities and an assessment that aligns with various WIDA leveled English proficiencies. 15 SEI PDPs. Presenter: Dr. Ronilee Mooney. Registration Link Dates:
Supporting Students with Trauma: 2-part PD series This is a two-part series of in-person sessions designed to provide Pk-5 educators an overview of what trauma is, how to support students and strategies to help students self-manage their emotions. Participants will learn how a community approach to support students is vital for the students who have experienced trauma and how it supports their colleagues as well. 5 PDPs. Presenters: The Delaney School Mental Health team. Registration Link. Dates: Session 1: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:30 - 6:00 PM (What is trauma? How do I support my students experiencing trauma?) Session 2: Monday, March 4, 2024 3:30 - 6:00 PM (Creating a community approach within the classroom and school) Location: Raymond Library at the Roderick School, Wrentham, MA 02093 - Use 110 Randall Road on your GPS Embracing Equity: The Neuroscience of Social-Emotional Learning and Inclusive Practices Behavioral health, transformative social emotional learning, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are critical aspects of students’ ability to engage with learning. However, these topics are often discussed independently of each other. In this workshop, we will discuss the intersection of the three, as well as share latest research and practice suggestions for the integration of these topics to create healthy, safe classroom and school climates where students are able to learn and thrive. This is a 5-part series on the following dates from 3:30-5:00, with work in between for 15 PDPs in Special Education. Presenter: Dr. Nadja Lopez, Executive Director of William James College Center for Behavioral Health. Registration link. Tuesday, March 26 3:30 - 5 pm (live zoom session): Intersection of behavioral health, SEL and DEIB practices Tuesday, April 9 3:30 - 5pm (live zoom session): Consultation and discussion of integration of SEL into instructional practice Tuesday, April 30 3:30 - 5pm (live zoom session): Neuroscience and how this relates to classroom practice. Tuesday, May 7 3:30 - 5pm (live zoom session): Consultation and discussion of integration of SEL into instructional practice Tuesday, May 21 3:30 - 5pm (live zoom session): Clinical concepts to address dysregulation in the classroom Tech Tips for YOu to TryDo you like to use polls and quizzes in your class? Do you want to be able to make them a part of your Google Slides? If so, check out https://ahaslides.com/. Do you want to give your students or yourself a look into how other people live? The site Dollar Street can do just that. The sites combines photos of the everyday lives of families in more than 52 countries with income data to provide a fact-based worldview that everyone can understand. I think you will find this a fascinating site! Your Help MattersPlease take a moment and fill out this brief form to assist us with examining some of the technology tools you use on a regular basis. If you would like to be part of the team to further analyze our technology use please reach out to Colleen. Professional development for youDuring February vacation MassCUE is offering STEM education professional development at the Museum of Science called CUEcamps. The CUEcamps will be held on Tuesday, February 20th and Friday, February 23rd from 8:30 to 3:00. The CUEcamp is designed to provide engaging exploration of collaborative challenges and interactive sessions designed to kindle creativity and problem-solving skills. Educators will immerse themselves in a variety of hands-on activities, where they will collaborate and share ideas with fellow educators. These sessions are designed to ignite innovative approaches, providing practical and impactful ways to seamlessly integrate STEM concepts into the classroom. Find out more information and register at https://www.masscue.org/event/winter2024cuecampboston1/?event_date=2024-02-20. Miscoe Hill VolleyballFrom Bill McInnis--- Below is a picture of members of the 2023 Miscoe Hill volleyball team. These teammates are embarking on a full year project to sustain and strengthen volleyball at Miscoe Hill Middle School and for the youth of our communities. Another part of their project is to give back to our community. On February 16th, during the last period of the day, they will take their perfect season record and challenge the faculty at our school. Not only will this be a great send off before February vacation but there will be a collection for the Mendon Food Pantry. They will be collecting nonperishable food items and toiletries for people in need. They hope that students, families and faculty will help with this endeavor. This week, starting Monday February 12th to Thursday February 15th, students can bring in their donations for the Mendon Food Pantry. The members of the girls volleyball team wanted to make this collection a friendly competition between all home rooms. The homeroom with the most donations will receive an ice cream sundae social in the spring. All they have to do is give their donations to their home room teacher by Thursday and the team will select the homeroom with the biggest donation on Friday. The winner will be announced Friday during the volleyball game. Items Needed: Shampoo and conditioner Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard Brownie mix Crushed Tomatoes Deodorant Tomato Paste Shaving cream Whole Tomatoes Cereal- Cheerios and Raisin Bran Juice boxes Flour Instant Coffee Sugar Snacks Many thanks from the 2023 Miscoe Hill Volleyball Team! Team members from left to right: Dahnia Chalak, Caitlin DeBoer, (Capt) Lianna Vasilakeris, (Capt) Sadia Daigle, (Capt) Charlotte Leitch, (Capt) Maya Vercruysse, Hayden Darragh, and Ava Cardin. Laughter is the best medicine
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