Friday Memo - 2/26/21

Important dates

March 1 - Department meetings
March 2 - Transition Task Force meeting, 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
March 3 - Cbabi Bayoc begins painting mural 2 at Hixson
March 5 - End of grading window
March 8 - Faculty Meeting with Dr. Bettina Love
March 16 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
March 17 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
March 19 - NO SCHOOL due to Parent Teacher Conferences
March 22-26 - Spring Break

Parent Teacher Conferences
Dr. Vogt sent the information for parent teacher conferences to parents last night. She forwarded that message to staff this morning so you are aware of what they received. 

Throughout the year, there have been questions raised about why Hixson seems to have so many hours of parent teacher conference time scheduled compared to the high school. After doing some research, I learned that the district has two main expectations regarding conferences: 1) We must conference with 100% of parents in the fall, and 2) Hixson and WGHS are required to schedule two four hour evenings, or a total of eight hours, in the fall and spring for parent teacher conferences. In an attempt to schedule enough time to meet the district's expectation of 100% parent participation during fall conferences, Hixson added a 7 hour no student day to the fall conference window. This day takes place during the school day and does not warrant and additional comp day. For spring, Hixson holds two 4 hour evenings. 

Hixson exceeds the district's expectation of 8 hours of conference time in the fall, and meets the district's expectation in the spring. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about parent teacher conferences. 

MAP Testing
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is requiring schools to participate in MAP Testing this year. Virtual students will be required take the test in person. The district sent preliminary information out to parents yesterday regarding MAP. That communication explained the in person testing requirement for virtual students. 

We anticipate push back on this requirement from virtual parents. If a parent contacts you to express frustration or to refuse testing, please have them reach out to me directly. Please do not tell them to contact Tim Brown or anyone in Central Office. I have the "Documentation of Non-Participation in State-Wide Testing for Virtual Students" form that they need to sign and return to Hixson if they refuse. My message to parents will be, "I understand your concern with your student taking the MAP test in person. We are simply following the law set by the State of Missouri regarding standardized testing. If you refuse the test, our only request is that you fill out a form so that we can provide documentation of your refusal to the state." 

More information about Hixson's MAP Testing schedule will be forthcoming. 

DOMAIN 1: HIXSON & COVID-19

Revised plan for supporting students who are quarantined
Click HERE to view our revised plan for supporting students who are quarantined. If you need to change your plan, please let me know as soon as possible so I can update the document. Be sure to let your students know about the change.

Protocol for teaching remotely 
Click HERE to access the protocol for teaching remotely.

Protocol for substitute teachers who will cover virtual classes
Click HERE to access the protocol for substitute teachers who will cover virtual classes.

DOMAIN 2: HIXSON & EQUITY

Diversity in the STEM 
There is an exciting STEM webinar happening tomorrow morning! If you are interested in learning about how black male educators are creating an equitable and inclusive STEM future, please register for the event below!

Register HERE.

The Compliments/Spread the Love Project
I came across an article about The Compliments/Spread the Love Project last year when I was an assistant principal. It is an authentic way to build relationships and create a positive and supportive learning environment. Being intentional about building positive relationships will move us closer to equity because ALL students deserve to have positive relationships and a strong connection to their school. 

What if EVERY Hixson student and staff member had the opportunity to be in the "hot seat" in the Spread the Love project, especially during such challenging times? How would this shift our mindsets and therefore the culture of our school?

SPREAD THE LOVE PROJECT