Teacher Talk - 2/28/22

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Message from Dr. Reilly

The Office of Teaching and Learning recently added two new platforms in the Clever Student Portal for elementary students and educators.

1. Literacy Footprints provides online access to Pioneer Valley books and other literacy resources for teachers and students. The majority of the guided reading books listed in the matrix for grades 1 and 2 can be accessed here. Professional Learning videos are available for you to observe lesson components in action, along with helpful instructional tips that can easily be implemented in your classroom. 
2. myOn Reader gives students access to more than 6,000 enhanced digital books. Students take a brief interest inventory when they log on and are linked to books that match their interests and grade. Titles are available in English and Spanish. Students can access these books from anywhere and should be encouraged to use this platform to explore different genres, authors, and titles.

Both platforms can be accessed using the Clever Student Portal. Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of the video resources available on Literacy Footprints. ELA supervisors are available during office hours and via email, if you would like individual support. 

If you have questions regarding any of the technology-based platforms please reach out to Tim Nellegar (tnellegar@nps.k12.nj.us).

- Dr. Reilly

NEW ITEMS 

• The 1st Annual Women's Leadership Conference (Updated)
• Newark NAACP Black History Month Teacher Honor Roll Celebration (New)
• Read Across America Day 2022 - Partnered with Prudential (New)
• March 9, 2022-Staff Development Day (New)
• Office of Special Education Updates (New)
• 2022 Parent University - March ’22 Courses (New)
• March is National Nutrition Month (New)
• Expanding Schools Roles (New)
• The Writing Revolution Teacher Residency - Grade 2 Teachers (New)
• Gizmos Refresher Session (New)
• Alphabet Letter Tracing Books -Grades K & 1 (New)
• Heggerty’s Bridge the Gap - Phonics Resource (Grade 3 Teachers) (New)
• ELA March Office Hours (New)
• Extended School Survey (New)

• COMING SOON! Transfer to our New and Expanding Schools 
• Homework Hotline Available for Students 
• Submit Student Artwork to Hope, Healing and Resistance Statewide 
• New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment Update: Cut Scores 
• New Teacher Induction - March 2nd 
• Bootstrap Algebra and Data Science 
• Spring Break COVID-19 Testing Strategy 
• Certified Bilingual/World Language Teachers Needed for Translation 
• Rethink Ed SEL & Mental Health PLC Series 

NBOE IN THE NEWS

Stay informed on everything happening within Newark Public Schools and the Newark Board of Education! Read up on all of the many ways the district is garnering media coverage.  

• 2 Busy Intersections Near Newark Schools Get Safety Upgrades
• Growing Future Teachers
• University over Newark Central - Girls basketball - Newark Public Schools - Final
• Newark Public Schools awarded $6.4 million for emergent and capital maintenance projects

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The 1st Annual Women's Leadership Conference (Updated)
Contact: Matthew Brewster, Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

Current and Aspiring Women Leaders:

Register for the 1st Annual Women’s Leadership Conference Embrace-Empower - Elevate presented by Deputy Superintendent, Nicole T. Johnson.

The virtual conference will open at 9:00 AM with greetings and special messages from a panel of distinguished leaders and guests. The keynote address by Judge Victoria Pratt will begin at 9:45 AM. The first breakout window is 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM and the second breakout window is 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM.

The registration deadline is Friday, March 11, 2022.

Registration Link
Women's Leadership Conference Flyer (NEW FLYER ATTACHED)

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Newark NAACP Black History Month Teacher Honor Roll Celebration (New)

The Newark branch of the NAACP will be streaming their Black History Month event- focused on the Amistad Law & curriculum live on Facebook. Join us in recognizing three of Newark's very own educators who have centered Black History into the education of Newark Children. We are proud of Dr. Jazmin Puicon of Bard High School, Richard Eugene Muldrow III of Malcolm X. Shabazz High School, and Janine Suggs of Oliver Street School. 

Flyer
Date: Monday, February 28th 
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Facebook page: Newark NAACP - Home | Facebook

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Read Across America Day 2022 - Partnered with Prudential (New)
Contact: Elisa Lee, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA
Email: e1lee@nps.k12.nj.us

On March 2nd, Newark Board of Education and Prudential’s LCBE Volunteerism Committee are partnering to celebrate the joy of reading with our Pre-K through Grade 5 students. Volunteers will be reading to our students in six 30-minute sessions—one school per 30-minute session from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Please see the attached flyer for additional details, activities, and schedule.

Read-Across-America-2022.pdf

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March 9, 2022-Staff Development Day (New)
Contact: Matthew Brewster, Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

Please review the Professional Development Calendar for March 9, 2022. Please seek approval from your principal/department head to determine which professional development session(s) you should attend.

Thank you!

Professional Development Calendar Link

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Office of Special Education Updates (New)
Contact: Aida Vasquez, The Office of Special Education
Email: avasquez@nps.k12.nj.us

Important DLM PD Information for the April Spring Assessment. These PD sessions are for teachers who instruct students in which their IEP indicates participation in the DLM assessment. There are two types of mandated DLM PD that teachers must complete in order to administer the DLM Assessments. A DLM OSE Mandated PD Session will be presented during the March 9th Staff Development Day. Please see the registration link to determine if you must attend this PD session.

March is Social Workers Awareness Month!

See link for March OSE PD.

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2022 Parent University - March ’22 Courses (New)
Contact: Mariah Alston, Office of Federal Programs & Grants
Email: m1alston@nps.k12.nj.us

Please share the March flyer for Parent University with your students and their families to spread the word. We want to have as many parents as possible benefit from what is being offered.

NBOE Parent University is a system-wide learning program to provide resources, learning opportunities, and linkages for ongoing parent and family involvement and community engagement that supports student learning. We have an abundance of courses being offered in the Month of March. View here.

PU-Spring-2022-Courses.pdf
PU-Spring-22-PU-Calendar-Overview.pdf
MARCH-Schedule-PU-Spring-22.pdf

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March is National Nutrition Month (New)
Contact: Randy Schrader, Human Resource Services
Email: rschrader@nps.k12.nj.us

Eat well, feel great.
Eat healthier, be healthier.
A healthy diet can help you avoid heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.

Perfect plate:
Half fruits and vegetables.
Half grains and lean proteins.

Health boosters:
Fill up on color, like kale, beets, carrots and red peppers.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit.
Cook with healthier fats, like olive, coconut, canola or peanut oil.
Choose healthy protein sources, like fish, beans, seeds and nuts.
Go for whole grains, like oatmeal or brown rice.

More: Eat Healthy on a Budget

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Expanding Schools Roles (New)
Contact: Jessica Scafe, Human Resource Services
Email: jscafe@nps.k12.nj.us

The Newark Board of Education is expanding several of our newer schools, and we would like to share that we are currently hiring for the specialized roles found in the link provided!

To view our specialized roles and vacancies, visit this link. 

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The Writing Revolution Teacher Residency - Grade 2 Teachers (New)
Contact: Heather Lieberman, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA
Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us

This is a paid teacher residency where participants will learn and create content-based writing instruction based on The Writing Revolution. Participants must commit to all 8 sessions and will be paid $656 upon completion. Limited to 30 Grade 2 Classroom Teachers.

This is for 8 weeks, 3/30/22 – 5/25/22 from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (No meeting Spring Break week)

Apply using the link on the attached document.

The-Writing-Revolution-Teacher-Residency-Grade-2.pdf

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Gizmos Refresher Session (New)
Contact: Kathleen Tierney, Office of Science
Email: ktierney@nps.k12.nj.us

There will be a refresher on Gizmos for any high school science teacher who would like to attend. The session will take place on March 14th at 3 pm via the link below. Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity- to learn about how Gizmos can be incorporated into science lessons, to hear how other teachers are using Gizmos in their classrooms, and to ask questions about the platform.

Click the link here. 

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Alphabet Letter Tracing Books -Grades K & 1 (New)
Contact: Lisa Trobaugh, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA
Email: ltrobaugh@nps.k12.nj.us

Letter tracing booklets have been sent to each school for students in Kindergarten and First Grade. Please make sure each student in Kindergarten receives a copy. First grade students who still need support with writing letters should also receive a copy.

Alphabet-Tracing-Books-Grades-K-1.pdf

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Heggerty’s Bridge the Gap - Phonics Resource (Grade 3 Teachers) (New)
Contact: Heather Lieberman, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA
Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us

All grade 3 teachers have been sent a phonics intervention resource, Heggerty’s Bridge the Gap. This is for use during small groups as a supplement to your guided reading lesson with specific identified students. There will be additional training provided on Tuesday, March 8th at 11:30am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00pm.

In addition we are sharing the presentation and slides to help gain familiarity with the program. See the attached document for the meeting link and resources.

Heggertys-Bridge-the-Gap-Resources-1.pdf

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ELA March Office Hours (New)
Contact: Heather Lieberman, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA
Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us

The ELA Department is offering Office Hours for teachers. There are a variety of available day/time options to choose from.

In the month of March K-5 will focus on small group instruction. As always, any questions or areas of concern are welcome.

Please see the document for dates and times.

ELA-Office-Hours-21-22-2.pdf

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Extended School Year Survey (New)
Contact: Candice Wells, The Office of Special Education
Email: c1wells@nps.k12.nj.us

In preparation for the 2022 Extended School Year program, the Office of Special Education has created a survey to plan for staffing and services this summer. Your responses will assist in determining the number of teachers, CST, SLS and support staff interested in working this summer. There will be opportunities for the morning and afternoon.

Additional opportunities includes PD that will be offered during the summer. OSE appreciates your input, please complete the link here.

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COMING SOON! Transfer to our New and Expanding Schools 

Contact: Jessica Scafe, Human Resource Services
Email: jscafe@nps.k12.nj.us

Have you heard? The Newark Board of Education is opening a new elementary school, as well as expanding several of our newer schools, and we would like you to help us fully staff them! No action is necessary at this time as additional information about the process to apply will be shared soon; however, we wanted to provide you with information about the new schools and what opportunities are coming.

To learn more about our schools and the positions available, visit here.

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Homework Hotline Reminder for All Students 

Contact: Timothy Nellegar, Teaching and Learning 
Email: tnellegar@nps.k12.nj.us

As we continue to find ways to assist our students we want to continue encouraging you to utilize the Homework Hotline. Live NBOE Teachers are available to assist students in a myriad of areas every Monday - Thursday from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm. The full list of subject areas and tutor numbers can be found here.

Our teachers are excited and ready to work with your students! Please encourage your students to reach out!

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Submit Student Artwork to Hope, Healing and Resistance Statewide 

Contact: Margaret El, Visual and Performing Arts
Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us

Submissions accepted through March 31, 2022. The NJDOE, in collaboration with Arts Ed NJ and the Art Educators of New Jersey, invites New Jersey students to participate in the Hope, Healing and Resilience through the COVID-19 Pandemic Art Showcase & Installation Project. Students from preschool to 12th grade are encouraged to submit a photo of original piece of two-dimensional (2-D) art that conveys positive messages of hope, healing, and resilience created after March 2020. Selected artwork will be displayed on the NJDOE website and in NJDOE offices.

Project Information
ArtInstallationBroadcast.pdf

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New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment Update: Cut Scores 

Contact: Vernon Pullins Jr, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: vpullins@nps.k12.nj.us

Dear Educators,

Attached, please find the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) Update: Cut Scores and English Language Arts and Mathematics Resources for your immediate perusal. Additionally, below you will find links for NJGPA and class of 2023-2025 HS Graduation Assessment requirements updated Feb. 2022.

Links:
NJGPA
Class of 2023-2025 HS Graduation Assessment Requirements (Updated February 2022)

Thank you,
Office of Student Life

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New Teacher Induction - March 2nd 

Contact: Dana Moore Mishoe, Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

The March New Teacher Induction session will take place on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022 between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Teachers who are new to Newark (regardless of previous experience) are expected to attend 7 of the 9 monthly sessions. The Office of Science will facilitate this session which will focus on how to develop 3 dimensional Science tasks.

Please use the following Calendar Link to view all New Teacher Development sessions offered on March 2nd as well as the New Teacher Development Resource Folder for incredible past PD resources.

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Bootstrap Algebra and Data Science 

Contact: Darleen Gearhart, Office of Mathematics
Email: dgearhart@nps.k12.nj.us

Bootstrap is a supplemental curriculum in which students learn to program their own video games using algebraic language and explore cutting-edge on algebra education. This program will be implemented in select classrooms using the Data Science (grade 7) and Algebra curriculum (Alg 1 teachers). Participants must attend all 3 sessions of which Saturdays are reimbursed at the NTU contracted rate. Session dates are:

March 9, 2022
April 2, 2022
May 21, 2022

Email dgearhart@nps.k12.nj.us if you are a grade 7, 8, or Algebra 1 math teacher and interested in this curriculum.

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Spring Break COVID-19 Testing Strategy 

Contact: Shamere Williams, Office of the Deputy Superintendent
Email: s21williams@nps.k12.nj.us

Greetings,

In accordance with the guidance shared by the Superintendent, all students and school staff will be required to test for COVID-19 prior to return from Spring Break. For your convenience, all schools will receive a Spring Break COVID-19 Testing Kit to distribute to each student and employee the week of April 11th. Each kit will include rapid tests and a set of instructions to process the test.
 
Students and school staff must complete the test on Sunday, April 24th prior to returning to school on Monday, April 25, 2022.
 
Staff must follow the process of notifying Health Services of positive test results. Parents of students must notify their school nurse of positive test results. Additional details will be provided closer to Spring Break.

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Certified Bilingual/World Language Teachers Needed for Translation 

Contact: Julianne Bello, Office of Extended Learning Time
Email: jbello@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Extended Learning Time continues to partner with the Office of Student Life to provide virtual support for families to complete FAFSA applications in the evenings and on weekends. While counselors support the families in the completion of the application, certified bilingual/world language teachers are needed to assist with translation.

Please contact Julianne Bello, jbello@nps.k12.nj.us for more information.

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Rethink Ed SEL & Mental Health PLC Series 

Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, Office of Federal Programs & Grants
Email: j20rodriguez@nps.k12.nj.us

The Rethink SEL & Mental Health PLC series is now open for registration in Whetstone. The PLC series is offered for K-12 teachers and support staff from January 25 through March 17 every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

One topic per week will be offered. Participants will receive the contractual supplemental pay. Please see the session descriptions and access the registration links in the attached calendar. For more information, contact j20rodriguez@nps.k12.nj.us.

SEL-Mental-Wellness-PLC-Calendar.pdf

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Teacher Talk will be delivered every other Monday.

• The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

NPS Mobile App! 

The district's NPS Mobile App is now available for download for both Apple iOS and Android. With this app you, can:

• Receive Push Notifications when there is inclement weather and school closings

• Track news feeds (powered by your school web site, Facebook and Twitter accounts) at the district and school level

• Look up commonly-sought information directly from the mobile app

Contact Us

To support and encourage highly effective instruction, Teacher Talk synthesizes information and resources that will help NPS teachers meet the expectations of the framework for effective teaching. Teacher Talk is typically published every other Monday. Please open the form with Firefox or Chrome in order to add attachments.

You may submit items for inclusion in the Teacher Talk newsletter via this form:
https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/departments/communications/teacher-talk-form/

The submission deadline is Thursday by 5:00 p.m.