ESU 4 Special Education - November 15, 2010

Monday Memo
November 15, 2010

“If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.” ~Nora Roberts

 

(Note: I liked this quote so much that I decided to give it additional time! -ES)

 

TIME and EXPENSE SHEETS ARE DUE ...

 

It's Go Solutions Time!!! The Time Study begins today...  Monday, November 15th, and will conclude on Friday, November 19th. Be sure to complete your time studies on-line. I'd like them finalized by Monday, November 22nd. Thanks! 

 

Self Evaluations/Goals-action plans/Individual Development Plans... I am still missing self-evaluations and goals/development plans from Kathy N. 

LESSON REFLECTIONS are due THIS WEEK!!!... As part of our new evaluation process, I indicated that I'd be asking each of the certificated staff to complete a "Lesson Reflection" each semester. I think it's a good time to start thinking about this... I'd like you to complete a "Lesson Reflection" worksheet on a lesson, unit, or activity that you taught to a student or group of students. The worksheet is behind the "Lesson Reflection" tab and is page 84. You may want to make a copy of page 84 so you can repeat this activity next semester. You get to choose the lesson, unit or activity. Please include a description of the lesson, unit or activity upon which you are reflecting. I would ask that this reflection be submitted to me by Friday, November 19th. (PS... thanks to Gail Palmer, who was first in submitting her reflections!)

Requests for Professional Development/Workshops...Send in a leave request WITH your original request to attend the training; sometimes we get your registration information but I really need that leave sheet. (This might help us in being more accurate and timely with leave forms as well.) Also, be wise in making your requests as I am being asked to pay close attention to the costs associated with professional development among ESU 4 staff. If I can use grant funds, I will and your requests will most likely be approved. If I cannot use grant funds, it might be iffy! 

According to the New York Times, there is no scientific research that proves that life is serious.
So... Lighten up!!! 

TIME SHEETS AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT... It's time to start thinking about completing and turning in your time sheets and expense requests for November... remember that they are due shortly after November 14th! Some of you submit your time sheets and expense reimbursements electronically. We've been informed that we need to have you physically sign your time sheets and requests so you will NOT be able to submit them electronically, unless you sign the forms and make them into a PDF document. (However, a PDF of the time sheet form may not be legible for us.) The best bet would be to submit them via the van mail... you can drop them off at any ESU 4 school! We begin to process these forms as soon as we get them together but we are having to create a deadline. If you don't get your time sheets and leave requests in by the 20th of each month, we won't be able to process your request and your reimbursement for mileage and expenses will be delayed by at least a month.

LEAVE FORMS... Please, please, please submit leave forms as soon as you know about your leave! We are having trouble with getting all the forms we need, when we need. Also, if you are submitting a leave form so that you may attend a meeting/workshop, please attach a copy of the workshop flyer with the leave request. That will allow us to make sure we've got you registered! I don't want to be repetitive here (but I will!), your leave requests really need to match your professional goals. If I don't have your goals, I can't okay leave requests! Turn them in by the 15th of each month!!

AdvancED...  We'll be talking with you about the External team's report at our December 10th Inservice. We're excited to get the report... we don't have it yet! And, we'll be working on ways to implement the recommendations of our team. It's nice to know that we are actually already implementing at least one of the recommendations! 

Now begins the challenge of maintaining that 'awesome-ness' and moving forward!
We'll be celebrating!

Speaking of AdvancED and our December Inservice... Plans for an Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest are underway. I'm just telling you so that you can start preparing... remember, there will be prizes!!! 

Tentative Agenda for 12/10/10...
 - 8:30 - Welcome and Review of AdvancED Report 
 - 9:15 - Communication... Creating Collaborative Relationships
 - 10:30 - Technology with Gregg
 - 11:30 - Update from our Hartford Agent!
 - 12:00 - LUNCH!
 - 12:45 - More with Technology
 - 2:45 - Announcing the winner of the Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest! 

HUSKER NATION: 

GO Huskers!!!

Isn't it a great day to be a Husker fan????
The correct answer is... ALWAYS!!!9-1... Pretty Darn Good!!!And how 'bout that Volleyball team???

Never stop playing the game! Go BIG RED! GO Big RED! GO BIG Red! GO BIG RED  Educational Service Unit #4, Auburn, Nebraska