Family Stem Night

All families are invited to join us for an engaging evening of STEM family projects as well as curriculum showcase.

●  This is an open-ended event. Families may stay as long as they wish.

●  The STEM Family Night includes a range of activities covering different STEM

topics.

●  The SEP robotics team will be demonstrating their 2018 robot design.

●  The evening provides challenges for students and families to complete together.

●  STEM Family Night is a Parent-Supervised Event.

●  The JH concessions will be open.

For more information, contact Jim Pifer, SEP Science Coordinator.

james.pifer@southeastpolk.org

  

TIME Day--All Means All T-Shirts

What a great day of learning on Friday!  Check out the Flipgrid for an impressive compilation of new learning, application, and creative innovation.  This tool will be a great resource for reference and continued learning.

Flipgrid--SEP TIME Day 2018

There is an opportunity to order Southeast Polk "All Means All" t-shirts.  Below you can see the print on the front, back, and sleeves.  They are printed on gray Gildan t-shirts, have a generous fit, and are available in sizes S-3XL and are $20 each.  If you are interested, please complete the form below by Friday, March 2nd.

all means ALL
southeastpolk.org

WE ARE SEP

When teachers grow....

...so do learners.

All Means All Shirt Order Form

TIME Day--Process for Collaborative Sharing

We are looking forward to TIME for professional learning on Friday.  I know many of you have identified your focus area for Genius Hour.  Below is the link for Genius hour possibilities.  Remember that these are just possibilities....you are encouraged to explore other ideas that match your needs and interests.  Please come to TIME day with your target area identified in order to keep your focus in one area.

Genius Hour Possibilities

When reviewing feedback, many teachers indicated that they would like more opportunities to share, not only with their collaborative team, but with other teachers across the district.  To help support this, we will be using the technology tool Flipgrid.  After you have researched your Genius Hour topic, we would like each teacher to upload a short video to Flipgrid.  On the link below, you will find categories connected to the Curriculum circles.  Choose the one that best matches your area of study (there is also an 'other' category).  Then briefly reflect on one thing that you learned during your genius hour related to the focus area.  During sharing time at the end of the day, you can not only get ideas from your collaborative team, but you may also review ideas from other colleagues.  The Flipgrid tool will take you through all of the prompts, but please contact us if you have any questions on how to use it.

Flipgrid SEP TIME Day Reflections

If you would like to see what Flipgrid looks like in action, please click on the link below to hear reflections from the SEP Professional Development Steering Committee on why Genius Hour is important for our learning.

Flipgrid Practice

Again, we are looking forward to Friday and learning from each other! 

National School Counseling Week--Resources to Support TIME Day

Happy Friday! As we close out this week, let's extend a 'thank you' to honor our wonderful counselors during National School Counseling Week.  We appreciate the many roles you serve to support our students.

TIME Day--February 16th

We are looking forward to school teams having the opportunity to explore, collaborate, and share new learning on our TIME day on February 16th. Below is a list of possibilities for Genius Hour.  These ideas are organized around key points from the curriculum plan (the circles). Please note that these are only possibilities--this list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.  You are encouraged to explore beyond these ideas and also invited to add any links under the provided categories.  Please come to Genius Hour with your your topic identified in order to keep your focus in one area. 

Genius Hour Possibilities

Below is information from last week's blog with details for TIME day.  Please stay tuned to the blog next week for information on a technology tool to help share and extend ideas from this day. 

Details

Date: February 16th

Hours: 8:00 AM-3:30 PM

Please report to the building you report to on Mondays.  If it makes sense to collaborate with a different team, please let the building principal know for attendance record-keeping. 

Please note that this is a day in addition to the contract.  Participation is optional for this day. Additional per diem payment (your hourly contract rate) is also available this day for those who participate.  Since this is not a contract day, there is no need to take leave if you are not able to attend.  If you do not participate on this day, please do not enter it into AESOP.  

Structure

The day will begin with a "Genius Hour." Ninety minutes will be provided for teachers to research and explore new and innovative teaching practices.  Later in the day you will have the opportunity to share your learning with your PLC and gather feedback on possible next steps. This Genius Hour will have 3 components: Identify, Learn, and Share.

Identify

Decide on a topic that you want to explore, research and implement that can further enhance teaching and learning in your classroom.  A list of possibilities for you to consider are listed above in the blog, although we encourage you to follow your own ideas and explore options beyond this. Please come to Genius Hour with your your topic identified in order to keep your focus in one area. 

Learn

For the first ninety minutes of the day, spend time exploring and researching your topic. Make plans on how you will carry it out.  The time is yours--innovate as you see fit!

Share

At the end of the day, you will meet with your PLC to share what you discovered and get feedback on next steps.  You will also get to hear more about what your colleagues explored.  We will be integrating some technology tools to share ideas across the district.  Look for more information on this in an upcoming blog.

The remainder of your day will be spent at the building level engaged in professional learning to support your school improvement plans.  We are looking forward to a day of meaningful learning!

TIME--February 16, 2018

Agenda

8:00-9:30 AM Genius Hour

9:30-11:30 Building Goals

11:30-12:30 Lunch

12:30-1:30 Building Goals

1:30-3:30 Genius Hour Sharing and Follow Up

TIME-Professional Learning, February 16th

TIME
Teacher Initiated Meaningful Engagement
February 16, 2018

Each year, an additional day is dedicated to professional learning for teachers.  Based on feedback from participants and the Professional Development Steering Committee, this blog will share the agenda and focus for this day. 

Details

Date: February 16th

Hours: 8:00 AM-3:30 PM

Please report to the building you report to on Mondays.  If it makes sense to collaborate with a different team, please let the building principal know for attendance record-keeping. 

Please note that this is a day in addition to the contract.  Participation is optional for this day. Additional per diem payment (your hourly contract rate) is also available this day for those who participate.  Since this is not a contract day, there is no need to take leave if you are not able to attend.  If you do not participate on this day, please do not enter it into AESOP.  

Structure

The day will begin with a "Genius Hour." Ninety minutes will be provided for teachers to research and explore new and innovative teaching practices.  Later in the day you will have the opportunity to share your learning with your PLC and gather feedback on possible next steps. This Genius Hour will have 3 components: Identify, Learn, and Share.

Identify

Decide on a topic that you want to explore, research and implement that can further enhance teaching and learning in your classroom.  A list of possibilities for you to consider will be in next week's blog, although we encourage you to follow your own ideas and explore options beyond this. Please come to Genius Hour with your your topic identified in order to keep your focus in one area. 

Learn

For the first ninety minutes of the day, spend time exploring and researching your topic. Make plans on how you will carry it out.  The time is yours--innovate as you see fit!

Share

At the end of the day, you will meet with your PLC to share what you discovered and get feedback on next steps.  You will also get to hear more about what your colleagues explored.  We will be integrating some technology tools to share ideas across the district.  Look for more information on this in an upcoming blog.

The remainder of your day will be spent at the building level engaged in professional learning to support your school improvement plans.  We are looking forward to a day of meaningful learning!

TIME--February 16, 2018

Agenda

8:00-9:30 AM Genius Hour

9:30-11:30 Building Goals

11:30-12:30 Lunch

12:30-1:30 Building Goals

1:30-3:30 Genius Hour Sharing and Follow Up