IEM August ES Agenda 2010/11

Please read the agenda, along with each of its links (all links available in ES Handbook for future reference) before your ES Group meeting and take any questions with you to the meeting. The agenda quiz must be completed in your ES WEBfiles BEFORE attending your ES meeting! This agenda has been posted 8/13/2010 and the agenda quiz is due 8/16/2010.

Please note that if you must miss your ES meeting, you should inform your Area Facilitator and ES Advisor and make arrangements with another AF to attend another meeting that month. (All meeting times and dates are posted in the ES handbook along with AF e-mail addresses and meeting date, time, and location). Your AF is listed in ES Webfiles on the ES Welcome page. If you miss the meeting altogether, you will be reminded of your responsibility to attend and will be held responsible for the information given at the meeting by your ES Advisor. If you miss another meeting, it will become a discipline issue and may result in a drop in your student load. We do not believe that you can effectively serve your students if you miss critical information about the school and your job. Thank you for making these meetings a priority as you schedule your time for this school year! The ES Support Department.

1) Dates to Remember and Dated Duties

a) All ES Meeting:

· The date of your school’s All ES meeting should be on your calendar already (SSCS-August 17, 2010; OGCS-August 25, 2010) for 7:20am to 5:00pm. If you have not received the listserve emails regarding this day, contact your ES Advisor for info. Every ES is required to attend as a part of their job duties. If you cannot make the day of your school’s meeting, you are invited to attend the other school’s meeting; there are no other make-ups for this meeting; all ESs must attend in person on one of these 2 dates. Let your advisor know if you expect to attend the other school’s meeting so we are prepared for you, as some information is school specific!

· Lunch and snacks will be provided.

· All ESs (even if you have one already for last year): Print out a new ID card for this year from View/ES Detail, ID card button. Attach a picture and bring with you to the meeting. At the check-in table, the school secretary will be ready to laminate your card. Remember to pick it up after the last session before you head home.

b) August 16, 2010: First day of school! Be sure you have talked to all of your families on or before this date to be sure they are set to start the school year. You may now place any orders over $150 you have waited to place if they in fact are in attendance. Do plan to deliver needed educational materials that have arrived over the summer on our before this date. Our All ES meetings are NOT on this date so that you may have the day to deliver any curriculum you have received over the summer--we do not want to receive calls from any of our parents saying that they do not have anything to do on the first day of school! (If curriculum has not arrived, dip into your teacher resources, or use the curriculum free websites info.)

c) CAHSEE: Check your school calendar (posted on the school webpage) and inform the students needing CAHSEE (11^th and 12^th graders who have not passed both sections—no 10^th graders allowed in the Fall session) to save those dates now, inform their employers, start arranging for transportation, whatever they need to do NOW in order to be there for their critical test session. Remind those who will need school ID cards to send in their pictures for those cards ASAP.

d) Scantron/WRAT 4 Info:  Begin Scantron testing all new and returning students now! Remember our school policy is that ALL 2^nd graders WRAT4 test and only on request can they Scantron test.  E-mail Sara at scantron@ieminc.org if you would like to Scantron any 2^nd graders.  If you have a child that is having trouble taking the Scantron in any other grade, please e-mail Becky at bcote@ieminc.org, with a request to exempt them and your reasons.  If she does exempt your student from Scantron, then you will be required to give them the WRAT4 test instead.  All students must be tested at the close of the Scantron window, October 22, 2010.  You can find your Scantron site ID number and password in FRED under View/ES Detail/Passwords tab.  Every week the Scantron information will be uploaded into FRED.  Remember, it is critical for our NCLB compliance and future charter renewals that the ES proctors all Scantron online assessments, or send them to one of our approved vendors for the testing. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A PARENT OR STUDENT BE GIVEN ACCOUNT ACCESS and/or take a test without you there to proctor! (They can test as often as they want to, but only in your presence.)

e) Constitution Day, Friday, September 17^th: In 2004, Congress passed a provision requiring every school to teach about the Constitution on September 17^th, the day the document was adopted in 1787. In response to this mandate, we have posted to our school’s website some links to website lesson plans, informational articles, museums, institutions, and books that you will find interesting and helpful for your teaching on Constitution Day, September 17^th. Order materials and/or inform your families NOW so there is time to prepare. Go to this website: http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/gencurres/month_specific_curric/september/ConstitDaywebsite.pdf

f) Preliminary Graduate Assessment due before September 24, 2010: All 1st semester 2011 graduates preliminary assessment (See Grad Procedure in ES Resources) must be emailed to your ES Advisor prior to September 24, 2010.

g) Payroll Snapshot date: August 18, 2010

h) HH Info forms to be postmarked to the office per instructions below by October 1, 2010.

2) Things to Do

a) Paperwork Timetable: Print out a copy of your school’s paperwork timetable for 2011 from the school website (if you did not do this in May--nothing has changed) and place important dates on your calendar now! Many are using the Outlook calendar or other computer reminder system with great success!

b) Computer Preparation: Now is the time to prepare your computer prepared for the school year.

· Install or update Primo pdf. Set it as your default printer so that when you enter FRED, you will be able to print all documents to pdf, then print out copies from there. This works best for all.

· Install or update a virus scan program—we recommend AVG.

· Go to your control panel on your computer, go to "add/remove programs" remove (uninstall) all Acrobat Reader versions. Restart your computer, go to the Adobe Reader Website and download the most recent update of Acrobat Reader (9.3.3). It is a free program that you need to keep updated YEARLY! Or, you may instead Nuance pdf reader (a new favorite of many).

· If you have not installed the program for IT Support, please do so now! Pick one main work computer for the installation.

· Download or update the Webex Player applicable to your computer system from the ES protected page, video link.

· We recommend that you have some system for computer backup for your school files; either a flash drive, an external hard drive, or another system. Some ESs who have been “too busy” to consistently back up their computers have had to redo work…

· Clean out your Outlook account by archiving older emails, delete large files, set up a personal file that resides on your local computer, etc. Watch the Webex on this called: Creating a Personal Outlook Folder .

c) It is critical that you check and update the information in your ES Webfiles, Student Detail Screens before September 24, 2010, conferring with your families if needed for the following:

· Check for any new contact info (address, phone, e-mail, etc.) for the families

· Check the student grade level- tests will be ordered early using this information. Remember to check high schoolers transcripts for their correct grade level. Review ALL RED grade levels to get them corrected ASAP!

· Check that Instructional Funds were deposited for each student in the correct amount according to the IF calc chart and their grade level. If the student is “active” and IF has not been deposited, email jmarsh@ieminc.org.

· Check that your AESS contracts are marked as "in" for your AESS students.

· Check that Immunizations, Student Agreement, Charter, etc. are all marked "in" for each student

· For any 2010 potential graduates that didn't graduate, change their grad date to 2011

· Enter grad date info for any new students or make changes for any continuing students

· If a new student is repeating Kindergarten this year, complete the K Retention form ASAP and mail to the office!

· If you have any address changes for the student detail page, please e-mail stuchange@ieminc.org.

d) Check your ES Detail Screens today for accurate contact information.

· Please note the place for you to list an alternate e-mail address (Email2), so we can reach you if the school's e-mail server is ever not functioning.

· Be sure we have a shipping address for you (you can enter or change it here), or your orders will not be sent out to you from the vendors.

· Enter your work cell phone, as this is the one that the office will then use to contact you, instead of your home phone.

· Look to see what NCLB certifications are entered for you. If you have not mailed back forms, please send those to Linette asap (or bring to her at the All ES Meeting). You will need to sign any students up for SME’s now based on what Webfiles shows for you.

e) Items to complete with or give to your Returning Parents at your first meeting:

· See the new student’s paperwork link for new students to be sure all is done and use this checklist: http://www.sscs.cc /genericforms/eschklistogss.pdf .

· First Meeting Information Sheet: Remember to complete a First Meeting Information Sheet (Webfiles form) with each of your families, both new and returning. These forms are kept by the ES, but be prepared give them to your advisor or the school office if they are needed. Some of the key items listed on this First Meeting Information Sheet for all students:

o Graduation Requirements Agreement and Graduation Requirements Worksheet: Please do a Graduation Requirements Agreements for all of your new 9th graders and for any high school student new to our school, planning out your student’s high school career. This information should then be inputted in WEBfiles by going to View/Students, clicking on the student number, adding the information regarding the expected grad date, ceremony participant (if appl.), and after grad plans. Please highlight the new information at the bottom of the form regarding Basic Courses. After marking it complete on the Student Checklist in WEBfiles, this form should then be kept in your student's file for future reference, and passed on to the next ES in case of a transfer.

o General Information Sheet: Print out a General Information Sheets from WEBfiles for each of your families from Webfiles. This gives them information they need to have throughout the year, so be sure they keep it in a prominent place. Yes, the Webfiles form is now updated with this year’s information, and can be printed out beginning the first day of school!

o State Standards: A copy of the parent overview of the state standards for the appropriate grade level for each of your students.

o School-wide Writing Assignment Info: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/writing_2011/wr_exp_index_11.dwt is posted on the Curriculum Home Page website and more info will be given at the All ES Inservice and September ES meeting. Let your parents know NOW about this 2^nd – 11^th grade required assignment, due to you at the December LR. The writing assignment is also required for 12^th grade students who have not yet passed the CAHSEE ELA.

o Scantron testing Window: For returning students: 8/16/10-10/22/10. For new students, within 30 days of enrollment (after the first day of school).

· Household Information collection form: Follow the direction at this link for which form to use with each family: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/studentenrollment/HHinfo.pdf . Print the forms to take with you and purchase envelopes with your stipend monies. The parent should be asked to complete the form that day and return it to you at the learning record meeting in the sealed envelope. Remember the information is confidential! ESs send the completed forms (all in one large envelope) to IEM, 1166 Broadway, Ste. Q, Placerville, CA. 95667 by October 1, 2010.

f) Parent Checklist in WEBfiles: Remember to enter the info in the Parent Checklist in WEBfiles when you have completed the required forms and paperwork! Your advisor will be checking to see that this has been completed after your first visit this school year, and may routinely ask ESs to bring copies of forms to ES meetings for random checking.

g) Student Agreements and High School Courses: After your first family meeting, please check to see that the coursework on the report card/student agreement is accurate and change if needed. This information will be used for ordering STAR tests. Be sure to code the course names with the correct HQT. Do not mail in your high school student agreements until you have entered the student’s course names on the report card in WEBfiles, done a WEBfiles Student Agreement that lists the courses (which appear when the report card is done), and checked the accuracy of all of the dates and info on the SA. Do not mail an incomplete or handwritten SA to the office, and do not fax an SA to the office, as it cannot be accepted. The SA is an auditable document, and must be complete and totally accurate, and you will get a new SA Error message if your document is not error-free. You may begin work on 2^nd semester SAs at any time.

h) Computer Equipment Tracking: Remember that every family/student who receives a school computer and/or internet access provided by the school MUST SIGN a Computer Equipment Tracking form prior to a computer system being left in their home (print from webfiles) or prior to the internet account request being submitted. Check the Computer Equipment Tracking (CET) form button on the Materials detail screen for each computer system a family has checked out to them after you have the form filed in your ES Files. Please go back and check (select the "X" from the dropdown list) each family's materials list for computers, then check the box if you have the CET form in your possession. If you do not have a current CET form, please print one from Webfiles and have the family sign it ASAP. You can do a quick view of which families have a signed CET from your main materials webfiles page, but you cannot enter the check on that layout. If you transfer a computer to another family, go to your View/Materials list and change the family name to the current family in possession of the computer. If you are checking out a Netbook from the school to use with E-tech, you will need to complete these forms as well.

i) Portfolios: It is not too early to start collecting materials for your portfolios—in fact, please collect work samples at every meeting in addition to the portfolio sample with your students! Print out your portfolio checklist for each student right after completing their Report Card/SA. The portfolio label templates for the portfolio samples are for Avery Address Labels 5160 and for the envelope labels for Avery 5663. (There is a sample in your All ES Meeting packet that you can use to copy the labels.) It is best to purchase and print the labels now so that the portfolio samples can be labeled as you collect them. Remember we do pay a supply fund amount directly in your ES paychecks to cover supplies you may need to purchase for the job. We will be viewing 1^st semester portfolios at your December ES group meeting—we expect they should be mostly complete at that time, except for newly enrolled students. To make the complete portfolio collection time easier in March, have more than 1 sample per subject area in your file--in fact, collect several different types of activity samples per subject area per semester of enrollment. And yes, if a student enrolls even 1 day before the new semester, they must have work samples from that day.

j) School-wide Writing Assignment: The purpose of the mandatory yearly school-wide writing assignment is to promote writing among our students. We also hope this assignment will help prepare our students for their 7^th grade writing tests and CAHSEE ELA, prepare the school for our WASC visits, and give students resources and tools to prepare and practice for this writing genre.
--The writing assignment genre for 2011 is Expository writing.
--All students 2^nd to 11^th grade (or 12^th graders who have not yet passed the CAHSEE ELA) will be required to submit an Expository writing sample to their ES by their December LR meeting.
--It is optional for grades K-1, and 12th graders who have passed the CAHSEE ELA, but they can still choose to participate.
Please inform your families about this writing assignment right after your All ES meeting:
-Give them a hard copy of, and/or the links to the writing assignment, practice materials, writing rubrics, writing checklists, and writing resources located on the school website, http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/writing_2011/wr_exp_index_11.dwt
-Tell them that the writing assignment is due no later than the December LR meeting.
-Tell them that the ESs will score the writing sample in January using the school-provided rubric.
-Tell them that the original writing sample will be kept by the school and not returned, but they will receive the scored sheet in February.

k) IEM Employment Information Sheet for 2011 School Year: The info for this year is the same as for 2010: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/esjob/IEMesemployinfo2011.htm. Bring any questions on this section to the All ES Meeting for Janet Marsh’s session.

l) High School Transcript coding: Code any new high school transcripts as they are entered into the system. Returning students should now all have coded transcripts, current each semester.

m)Credential Renewals: If you are renewing this school year, START EARLY!! When you renew your credential with CCTC, you will have the opportunity to print your credential directly from the CTC website when it is approved. Please print to pdf, save in a folder on your computer for your future usage, and then forward a copy of your pdfed credential to Personnel (personnel@ieminc.org) and to the Training Clerk (iemtraining2@ieminc.org).

3) Training Items

a) IF and AESS Rates for 2011:

ü IF rates for 175 days for SSCS: K-8 = $1600; 9-12 = $2000 (Track C)

ü IF rates for 175 days for OGCS: K-8 = $1800; 9-12 = $2200 (Track D)

ü This year when you go to View/IF Calcs, select the following track for your school to view the amount of IF available on each day: SSCS: Track C; OGCS: Track D.

ü Remember to enter the amount for IF for the year on the General Info sheet based on the date they enroll! Do not enter the entire IF amount based on a full 175 day enrollment unless they start on the first day of school.

ü AESS rates for 175 days for SSCS & OGCS: K-8 = $500; 9-12 = $1000 (AESS Track C for both schools)

b) ES Monthly Required Meetings & PG for 2011:

- I need all ESs to attend their assigned ES Group meeting, unless there is a month with an emergency situation. ES groups are set up by ES population in a geographic area to be convenient to all ESs, and to have the groups be as small as possible for effective networking. As the ES population in a geographic area grows, I must add more groups to keep this small group climate. I know friendships and professional collaborations have developed, but this may be the time to branch out and share what you have learned with new colleagues. I may have to split up groups mid-year, if we continue with our current growth. You will meet with your assigned group at the All ES Meeting in August. Be prepared to work with this group to find 1 day/time each month you all can meet! (Remember that if you were in a classroom setting, I would be decreeing this date/time for meetings, and everyone would be expected to be there at that time—here you have flexibility, and I need everyone ready to do some flexing!)

-In an emergency situation, notify your AF that you will not be at that monthly meeting and why (brief), and then notify the AF of the group you plan to attend that you are coming, plus your ES Advisor.

-ES group meetings will be longer this year to allow for more of the profitable networking time you all appreciate and requested! ESs are expected to allow 3 hours for these 5 meetings: September, October, November, January, May. These meetings will be 2 1/2 hours: December and February. August (All ES meeting) and March (Regional meetings) will be all day meetings.

-March Portfolio Review 2011: This will be explained at your All ES meeting. Plan now & reserve a full day for this regional required group meeting on the indicated date for your group.

-Professional growth info for 2011: PG requirements for this school are posted at: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/esjob/iemprogroplan.htm . Bring questions to your meeting.

c)Attendance Rollsheets:

- First of all, print out and use the Attendance Rollsheet Checklist. Refresh your memory (veterans) or check yourself (new ESs) by going over each of your first couple month’s rollsheets by using this checklist. Remember to mail your rollsheets to your ES Advisor, until instructed to do otherwise. As auditable documents, these must be totally PERFECT!

• IF a student drops, draw one line through the rest of the dates on the rollsheets and write “drop” on the line for that student’

• If necessary, line through the end date and write the corrected end date, then initial that correction. (No whiteout!!)

• There can be no ES corrections to the X and O section, therefore, any changes made (where you cannot start over with a new rollsheet) must be initialed by the parent, not the ES (unless the student is AESS B, then the ES is the one to make those corrections).
• There is a box near the bottom of the right side for you to total all absences for all students for that rollsheet.
• If a student turns 18 during the rollsheet period, the parent must still sign that rollsheet, but does not need to sign after that.
• The person signing as the parent/guardian/caregiver MUST be listed on the student application, or we must have a caregiver affidavit on file.
• You must send in a Webfiles rollsheet, not a generic web one to the office. A handwritten one can be given out, but take a printed one to the LR meeting to have the parent transfer their attendance to it before you collect it.
• Reminder: Meet not more than 6 students in any one work day (except for the last day of school, if you wish to have a party)!
• For any specific rollsheet questions, please contact your advisor! They are happy to discuss any unusual situation with you prior to sending in a rollsheet (some call right from a student's home before they leave) instead of needing to work with you afterwards to correct an error rollsheet.

d) Materials

· Accountability: When ordering from vendors that sell both non-sectarian and sectarian materials, the items must be screened carefully by the ES before ordering. Please remember to check any items that you may be ordering, that you are unfamiliar with, to determine that they are items that can be purchased with Instructional Funds according to our IF Materials Policy. ESs are responsible to make sure that all items are Non-Sectarian before giving them to their students. Here is a helpful "watch list" for items that may not be ordered, and/or items to review carefully against school policy before placing an order.

· New FRED Files at View/Materials:

ü There will be Webexs to watch in your All ES meeting about this new feature of FRED. You may ask questions at that time. Please hold any questions you may have as you look around in FRED before your meeting.

ü A feature not trained yet and coming soon is the ability to request a UPS call tag from PO inquiries to have items shipped between ESs. Please only use this feature if you live far from each other and cannot make arrangements to meet to swap items.

ü Please do begin to use the bulletin board feature after your training, as this will eliminate the build up in your garages, and save our families funding. Very important for SSCS this year as they are on reduced IF for 2011.

ü Use the full value transfer of items by PO for those $150 orders you placed for families that did not show up to school this year. We need someone to cover those costs, therefore, you must use the full value of the item when making a transfer.

ü Items being transferred using a dollar amount that is not for a family that is a no-show will need your advisor approval before the transfer will be processed. Be ready to provide the reason for this money exchange when asked.

· PO Inquiries:

ü Remember to wait 3 weeks for an item to arrive before entering a PO Inquiry. This should always be done in Es Webfiles, not by an email! Go to View/PO's. Click on the PO number of the order you are concerned about. Click the yellow PO inquiry button, and be very clear about what the issue is with this PO or items on this PO.

ü Check back periodically (once a month--add to your calendar) on your list at View/PO's using the button "Sort Completed First". Scroll to those not completed and if the "submit" date is over 60 days, it will show up as red to indicate that you MUST now do a PO inquiry. This will then alert the PO department to check on that item and allow the monies to be unencumbered if the items will not be arriving.

e) Truancy Definition: Please read the Truancy Policy regarding the Definition of Truancy.

"The definition of 'truancy' for this charter School is defined in the policy below as a missed appointment/attendance period. This is not the same definition of "truancy" as defined by California Education Code, nor are the practices and procedure below defined by California Education Code, but by this charter school." If the student is attempting 25 credits for a semester, and does any school work on a school calendar day, they receive attendance credit. Do not confuse this attendance credit with grades and credits earned. New truant letters are being worked on for this school year that are more in line with our school and its policies. Bring your questions to the All Es meeting, Agenda session.

f) Where to find those Webfiles forms/Who to contact:

· You may want to print out this document and post near your computer: http://www.sscs.cc/genericforms/webfilefms.htm . Remember, the generic forms posted on the school website forms page are for emergency usage only. The forms to be mailed to the office are to be printed out of ES Webfiles. Hard copy forms that will only be accepted from WEBfiles are the auditable documents: Student agreement, attendance rollsheets, portfolio checklist, AESS Contracts.

· The Where do I go for Help link has been updated for this year: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/esjob/iemhelp1.pdf . Don’t assume everyone is doing the same jobs as last year, as this rarely happens from year to year....

g) Contract Programs courses for HQT SMT: If you are not a highly qualified teacher in any of the core subjects, foreign language, or visual and performing arts, you will need to enroll your student into a Highly Qualified Teacher Subject Matter Expert (HQT SME) Contract Program (CP) course.

· “Regular” courses being taken as an elective (after the required courses are already completed) do not require a highly qualified teacher.

· All a-g courses and a-g elective courses must have a “highly qualified teacher” (either you the ES, or a SME), regardless of where you are "counting" them.

· Please check with your advisor if you have any questions about whether or not you need to sign up your student for an HQT SME CP course, as there are too many “situations” to explain here.

· If you discover that you need to drop a student from an HQT SME CP course, you must email Shelley Ross, curriculum@ieminc.org, not CP. CP will only drop students from an HQT SME course with an email from Shelley Ross. Please include the name of the student, the name of the course, and the course number, and the reason for the drop.

· For the complete NCLB and HQT SME policies, go to, http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/NCLB/IEMNCLBplan.htm .

· Students doing HQT SME CP partial semester credits need to enroll at the beginning of the semester.  Email Shelley Ross, curriculum@ieminc.org  with the student’s name, the course number, and the number of credits being attempted so she can schedule the student’s drop date from the course.   On the date of the drop, Kirstine Larsen will email CP with the request to drop, and cc the ES and SME with the date of the drop.   

· FYI, there is no SME for K-8th multi-subjects courses. If you have a single subject credential and do not yet have your Multi-subject NCLB certification, you may only serve students in grades 9-12. Contact Linette Harris for your options (iemtraining2@ieminc.org).

h) Parent Calls to you: If parents call you about enrolling in the school (from a friend referral, a flyer you have posted, etc), you may refer them to the student application, you may ask them request you on the application, or you may refer them to our school secretary, but please do not:

· “answer all their questions”—you are not being paid for this, instead refer them to the school secretary, the website, and let them know that once they send in an application, they will have an appointment with an ES to get all their questions answered.

· “Promise them you have space to serve them”—by the time someone submits an application, it is possible they could be on a waiting list and not be able to get their requested ES, or be able to enroll in the school at this time, as open spaces may go to applicants who requested enrollment first. For everyone’s good, never make a promise of space available.

· “Agree to go to a meeting to talk to all of their friends”—instead refer them to our school liaison, who is being paid to do this, and does have the support of the school to do this. If you wish to go along with the liaison to a meeting of this type, let them know, as they usually welcome ESs to help!

· “Talk about other ESs”—any school information is confidential, and you should never become engaged in passing on “school gossip”. If the parent has an enrolled student, ask them to contact the advisor for those discussions, where help can be given immediately to any situation.

Also remember you may not talk to a parent who is currently being served by another ES for the purpose of soliciting them to request to work with you! This includes if the parent calls you.  If a parent calls you, wanting to change to you, please refer them to their ES Advisor, who is being paid to work out issues parents may be having with their ES and to facilitate the transfer they deem best for all involved.  Parents have the right to request a new ES at any time for no reason, but ESs may not solicit from their fellow ESs’ “parents”. ESs may only solicit new to the school students using the school approved flyer.

i) Science Course changes:

· We are discontinuing the “Physical Science” course name for 2011.  ESs will need to sign their physical science students up for “Earth Science”, which has state standards and a EOC assessment. They can still use Physical Science textbooks, or create their own courses for this, but we need to be in compliance with how the rest of the state has moved in this area.

· Environmental Science A & B have been discontinued, as the state has now incorporated the environmental science standards in all of the other science courses and now does not recognize it as a stand-alone course.

j) Employee Performance Improvement Plan: This will be trained in your All ES Meeting.

4) Messages from School Departments

a) IT

- New Materials files and features in FRED--see training above.

- ES Password Once Inside the ES Protected Website for OG only:The password used to enter the ES Protected website, is the same password asked for when you click on “Curriculum” or “ES Video.” You may be repeatedly asked for this same password even after entering the protected website area (depending on your local internet settings). It is the same password each time you get asked. Contact your advisor if you forget how to access this page, as it is not posted for security reasons. Do keep your access private--it is not for your parents/students, only you, the ES.

b) ASSESSMENT

STAR

Over the summer, all of the STAR results have been uploaded into FRED and a copy has been mailed to your families.  You might get some phone calls from parents asking questions regarding the results and what they mean to their child.  Please review the document at http://www.startest.org/pdfs/STAR.CST_interpretation_guide.2010.pdf to see how to read and explain the STAR results to your student's parents should they have any questions. Also, if the parents need the guide in a language other than English, they can print off one at this link, http://inet2.cde.ca.gov/cmd/translatedparentaldoc.aspx?docid=6815-6829.

SCANTRON

You may start Scantron testing anytime after the first day of school, August 16^th. DO NOT TEST YOUR STUDENTS BEFORE THEN! If you do, it will not count for this year and you will have to re-test them. You must have all of your students done with their initial test by October 15^th. Please begin scheduling your Scantron appointments with students as soon as possible. Remember that your login information is located at VIEW>ES DETAIL>PASSWORDS.

· For EL students: During the sign in process, your students will have the opportunity to change the language to Spanish, if it will make them more comfortable.  This will affect all instructions throughout the test, but NOT the test questions. This will help enable your EL students to focus on the test and not have to translate any instructions.

Email your advisor or scantron@ieminc.org with any questions about Scantron.

CAHSEE

CAHSEE INTERVENTION: The charter school is required by law to provide Math and/or ELA intervention for all students who have not yet passed the CAHSEE.

Starting the 2010-2011, all students who have failed the CAHSEE or a part of the CAHSEE and all the 10^th grade students who are not scoring proficient or above will be on a Master List on FRED. These students will be monitored by the Advisors and our CAHSEE Intervention Facilitator.

· All 10^th grade students need a CAHSEE plan for the February CAHSEE. If a student is Proficient or above, the student’s regular curriculum may be used for CAHSEE preparation.

· All new enrolled 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade students MUST be given a CAHSEE plan, unless there is a verified passing score. If there is not a verified score, please input plan into FRED under the Assessment/CAHSEE tab.

· ESs with 11^th and 12^th grade students who have not passed the CAHSEE are going to be getting a CAHSEE Intervention Packet with Released test questions that may be used as part of the Intervention Plan. There will also be a list of resources and curriculum.

· Each ES will be given a copy of their student’s CAHSEE results, then formulate a CAHSEE Intervention Plan which will be submitted electronically into FRED.

· CAHSEE Intervention needs to be included in the monthly learning records for ALL 10^th graders (except if student is Proficient or above) and ALL 11^th and 12^th graders who have not passed a portion or all of the CAHSEE.

· If you need any ideas or have questions regarding Intervention plans, please feel free to contact Teri Alves, the CAHSEE Intervention Facilitator or your Advisor.

· Learning record documentation will be reviewed by Advisors and the CAHSEE Intervention Facilitator.

Additional CAHSEE Prep

Materials, Online Courses, and Tutoring Vendors: For CAHSEE Prep Ordering and Pricing, go to: http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/gencurres/csuggest/cahsee/cahsee_ord-pricing.htm

CAHSEE Prep List of Vendors, go to: http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/gencurres/csuggest/cahsee/cahsee_ven.html

c) VENDOR RELATIONS

- When you cancel a PO for a service vendor, please remember to notify the vendor of the cancellation. The office does not do this--you the ES do.

- When you move, and you have placed a PO you have not yet received, complete a PO inquiry to see if the shipping address for the unreceived PO can be changed or not.  DO leave a forwarding address and have someone check for packages arriving at the last address.

- Watch List: Go to this link for important information on ordering curriculum that might be sectarian: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/purchase/watchlist.htm .The SSCS & OGCS VENDOR, PUBLISHER, CURRICULUM WATCH LIST should be consulted before ordering ANY items that might be questionable.  Order carefully and check with your Advisor about an item you are not sure about before placing the Purchase Order.

-New approved vendors since May 2010 are listed on this school link: OGCS SSCS

d)BENEFITS: OPEN ENROLLMENT IS SEPT 13 TO OCT 8, 2010

· Please see attached premium sheet for medical premiums 2010/2011. Please see over to the right of the form has the new 2011 rates that will take effect January 1^st, 2011. Open enrollment is from September 13-October 8^th 2010. Any changes made at this time will take effect January 1, 2011.

· Blue Shield Net Value HMO plan will be expanding into Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County , adding the central and southern portion of San Mateo County and San Francisco County.

· Info about Blue Shield Net Value:

The Blue Shield NetValue HMO is our value plan, designed to save members on rates and has no or low copayments, the same benefits, self-referral to specialists, health management programs, and value-added services.  Here are some additional highlights:

ü The NetValue network is comprised of the most efficient providers

ü Members have a lower monthly premium and smaller network – the quality of care to members is no different than Access+

ü Providers are interested in learning what criteria makes them eligible for inclusion in the NetValue network

ü NetValue has created the competition needed to drive some providers to reduce their rates and/or referral patterns in order to participate in this product; in some cases medical groups have re-negotiated rates in order to meet the criteria to be included in the network

ü To find the plans available in your zip code at this time below is the link. Once the 2011 info is added you will be able to change the button to 2011 to check available plans in your zip code.

ü http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/member/health/2010-health-info/zip-search/home.xml

· All employee’s that have medical insurance will receive open enrollment information in the mail. Usually by a post card that if you would like additional information you would send in the post card and a packet will be mailed to you.

e) CURRICULUM AND CP COURSES: (ESs: If you are teaching a CP course and wish your info to be included in a future agenda, please email a short info blurb AFTER the course is posted in Webfiles and ready for sign-ups. Send to Kirstine at iemtraining3@ieminc.org)

· EL School-Provided Tutoring – South Sutter Charter School only
Two instructors will be providing once-a-week EL tutoring to all South Sutter Charter School EL students (due to our large population of EL students). To collaborate with and/or to contact your student’s EL tutor:

Ø Nancy Thomas, nthomas@ieminc.org, cell 916 969-6867, home 916 514-1444, fax 916 482-6657

Ø Alison Garcia, agarcia@ieminc.org, cell 916-915-7726.

· Constitution Day links

· STANDARDS REVIEW

Below are two of the best and most inexpensive online standards review programs. Please encourage all of your students to be using one or both of them throughout the school year.
Study Island – Recommended best overall online vendor for standards review! See PO Notes. Year license is only $20.00 for all core subjects grades K-8 and CAHSEE Prep Math and ELA. The price is pro-rated down from there. Contact Study Island for pro-rated pricing before placing PO.
ALEKS – Most expeditious online math standards review vendor, grades 3-12 because of computer intelligence programming. Inexpensive: 52 weeks only $40, unlimited classes. Free trial. Re-teaching examples only; no video re-teaching tutorials. For Ordering and Pricing, go to http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/vendor/vendor_info_index.dwt

· ONLINE VENDOR INFORMATION
List of online vendors with their ordering and pricing information. BOOKMARK THIS LINK!
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/vendor/vendor_info_index.dwt
APEX CTV Courses – New course management system and pricing. Only $360 per year license, unlimited courses. Choose from among Literacy Advantage, Core, Honors, and AP. (License does not include CAHSEE Prep or AP Exam Review which are $25 per online course. We do not recommend their CAHSEE Prep courses). For ordering and Pricing, go to http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/vendor/vendor_info_index.dwt
Many APEX CTV courses are “principal approved” for a-g, http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/vendor/vendor_info_index.dwt
See complete APEX CTV a-g information in the Curriculum Handbook, http://www.ogcs.org/index_ssog.htm , then scroll to section on APEX CTV a-g courses, and read through the links. Email Shelley Ross if you are doing any APEX CTV for a-g so she can review with you what is required for those courses and make sure you understand what you need to order, any extra assignments that students need to complete, and the optional CP Teacher Support classes that are available.

· CA EDITION TEXTBOOK ORDERING & PRICINGFor textbook ordering and pricing, check first at this link, http://www.sscs.cc/currindex.dwt . Then email Shelley Ross, curriculum@ieminc.org, for help.
She will send you the link to the ordering and pricing information. Please stay off of the vendor’s websites for textbook information as it is difficult to obtain CA Edition information on their websites!

· E-TECH ACADEMY – ONLINE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM
ONLINE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM: YEAR COURSE REQUIRED FOR ALL AESS B STUDENTS.
ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME and ENCOURATED TO PARTICIPATE!!
Year Course $375 divided among two PO’s for students enrolled prior to September 30^th.
See PO Notes.
Fall Semester: Workplace Essentials – Tues/Thurs, 4pm-6pm
Spring Semester: Choose two Career Introduction Courses – Days/Times TBA
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/Vocational/vo_6-12.html
Students who do not have a computer will need to purchase a Netbook for this program and use a free Wi-Fi location.

· NETBOOKS
A limited number of Netbooks are available for purchase using the student’s IF for AESS B students enrolled in the e-Tech Academy Vocational Program who don’t have a computer.

· E-TECH ACADEMY – TEXTBOOK PURCHASING PROGRAM
Discounted new and used textbooks designed to help save your students money.
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/vendor/e-TechTextbkPurch.html

· FLEXBOOKS
Online free textbooks that are modifiable to meet the student’s needs.
http://www.ck12.org/
http://about.ck12.org/ca/freetextbooks

· PARENT WORKSHOPS 2011
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/gencurres/curric/parent_wkshp_2011.pdf

· VENDOR TRAININGS 2011
http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/Vocational/vo_6-12.html
Then scroll to Vendor Trainings 2010-2011 (in vendor section).

· TEACHING STRATEGIES
Lists of teaching strategies to show to your parents, listed by learning style, personality, and organizational/perceptual types.
http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/curriculum/teachingstrategies.htm.

f) GUIDANCE
-Teri Alves (guidance@ieminc.org) is the new Guidance Counselor.  Please feel free to contact her with any guidance questions that you or your families may have this year.
-COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT: The option of taking Community College courses while in high school is an excellent opportunity for a student to take advanced courses or trade-school courses, get a head start on their college coursework, and demonstrate “course rigor” to any future college.  Also, students can use their college coursework to satisfy high school graduation requirements and a-g requirements.  For example, if a student took HIST 310 “History of the United States” at Sacramento City College, you could enroll him in a-g US History 1A and 1B for that semester.  The coursework completed from his HIST 310 course would be collected by you and used in his learning record/portfolio for a-g US History 1A and 1B.  At the end of the semester, you would then assign a grade and credit value for a-g US History 1A and 1B.  Instructional funds can be used to purchase college textbooks and any course materials, but not tuition or enrollment fees. 

Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment:

· student must be enrolled in at least 20 credits at our charter school that are NOT related to the coursework that the student plans to take at the community college

· must have a minimum 2.7 GPA

complete and sign two forms and mail or fax to the Placerville office for signature and approval by the Guidance Counselor: 

1) concurrent enrollment form obtained from the community college admissions office 

2) our charter school pre-concurrent enrollment form http://www.sscs.cc/genericforms/conenrollmentiem.pdf Generally up to two college courses are an acceptable college course load each semester

· some community colleges have “restricted classes” for concurrently enrolled high school students – check with the community college for a list of these courses

-www.BRIDGES.com : THIS IS AMAZING!! Bridges inspires students to pursue more rigorous courses as they plan for high school and beyond. Easily add relevance to the classroom experience with thousands of activities that tie academics to occupational pursuits, integrated with the 16 Career Clusters.

Your Portfolio for Choices Explorer includes…

• Assessment and Quiz results

• Personal Information

• Careers

• High School Course Plans

• Post-Secondary Programs and Majors

• Recreation Ideas

• Volunteering Opportunities

• Buzz Articles

• Customize High School Course Plans and Pathways

*Ability Profiler, a computer-administered assessment adapted from the latest paper-based Ability Profiler.

This is a great resource for high school students to explore career interests, colleges, and scholarship information.  Our school has purchased a subscription for all of our students.   Detailed information about accessing Bridges will be forthcoming. Teachers and students access Bridges differently.

-A-G COURSES: (SSCS: http://www.sscs.cc/Handbook/Schoolspecific/ag/agindex.html; OGCS: http://www.ogcs.org/handbook/schoolspecific/ag/agindex.html )

Good new!!, A-G courses do not have to be book specific this year. While it’s preferred to use the suggested text listed in the syllabus, if your student would like to use curriculum that includes the same standards and rigor, then an alternate text may be used. Alternate curriculum needs to be approved – details to follow.

Our school should be really encouraging A-G courses because not only do these text books and rigor better prepare students for college and help their test scores, it also helps our school. Let’s really try and encourage higher level courses for the students who are ready!

g) SCHOOL LIAISON INFORMATION

·  Fundraising- Escrip and Quality of life cards help pay for graduation!

ü Escrip- Parents and ES’s can sign up for escrip by going to www.escrip.com and signing up their Safeway cards and also debit and credit cards. 

ü Parents and ES’s who are ALREADY signed up must go back to the escrip site and “recommit” their Safeway cards.  This keeps them from paying schools where parents have left. 

ü You can designate up to 3 organizations to receive escrip funds

ü Raley’s/Bel Air Quality of life cards- Will be available at the all ES meeting.  Parents need to follow instructions on the card to activate them.

· GEA’s for Fall

SSCS:

ü September- 9/28- Sacramento Zoo

ü October- 10/14- Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

ü November- 11/16 California Train Museum

ü December- 12/9-Nutcracker- Note Deadline of 8/30!

OGCS:

ü September 20 – 24, Mount Hermon Science Camp (CP closes September 3^rd). I am still looking for more chaperons!

ü November 8 – Story Telling with Jim Weiss

ü Opera free dress rehearsals –Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m.: Anna Karenina, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.: Tosca, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. The Barber of Seville, April 21, 7:30 p.m.: La Boheme (Spring Recess) First come, first serve. Parent must email me with number of tickets and send mailing address so I can send them their tickets one week before the opera. Parents are responsible for checking the Opera website (www.operasj.org) for appropriateness of content for their child.

·   Note changes to GEA Policy: GEA Cancellation Policy

ü Parents must inform the school Liaison directly within 48 hours of an event if they are unable to attend.

ü SSCS Liaison: Lisa Voss, ssliaison@ieminc.org; OGCS Liaison: Mary Ann Shapiro – ogliaison@ieminc.org

ü Families that are a "no show" for two GEA's in one school year will not be allowed to enroll in any GEA's for the rest of the school year.

ü The IF funds CANNOT be refunded back to the ES account for a late cancellation (past the sign-up date) or for a no-show.

· VPSS- A listserve will be sent out to let you know when VPSS classes come available. 

ü SSCS currently does not have remaining grant money to pay for your CSETS or VPSS classes. New SSCS ESs this year should contact Linette Harris.

ü OGCS has funding available until December 2010, or until the funds are depleted prior to that date. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, DON'T DELAY!

ü OGCS opportunity: SCCOE- Science Tier 1 ( 9-10-2010 to 10-30-2010), Science Tier 2 (11-5-2010 to 12-18-2010), English Tier 2 (9-4-2010 to 10-2-2010). Contact Linette and Mary Ann TODAY to sign up!

· BTSA- All teachers with preliminary SB2042 credentials need BTSA to clear your credentials.  If you even THINK you might need BTSA contact: SSCS- Lisa Voss at ssliaison@ieminc.org; OGCS- Mary Ann Shapiro at ogliaison@ieminc.org to find out.  BTSA gets going in mid to late August and you don’t want to start late as you will have lots of catching up to do!

· SSCS: Lisa’s new Work Number- (530) 308-4122

h) SPECIAL ED

See the handout in your packet for information from the Special Ed Department for the 2010 school year.

5) ES Networking: Come prepared to your ES meeting to discuss the following

a) No assignment this month, as we have our All ES meeting instead! Bring your questions with you for the Agenda session