tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4408431320902325031..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86931489792818456142015-09-19T21:26:46.717-07:002015-09-19T21:26:46.717-07:00I am also a parent of senior at Hale. My son tell...I am also a parent of senior at Hale. My son tells me that there are ~45 students in his AP Calculus class and 34/35 in his Physics class. He is also one of the students taking both Physics and AP Environmental Science. He says that the limit for Physics is 32 students. <br /><br />I agree with Teachers Rock that the district should ensure they have teachers hired to offer these classes to their students. I'm sure every student in these classes is interested in going to college and taking the requisite courses to be best prepared. It is such a shame that this is happening. It shouldn't be like Survivor...who's going to get voted off the island?<br /><br />Parent @ HaleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2590614150781844772015-09-19T19:01:10.882-07:002015-09-19T19:01:10.882-07:00How big is the class? At Ingraham, my D has 37 kid...How big is the class? At Ingraham, my D has 37 kids in at least one class. Harder with Physics of course than Lit or History or language. The strategy there seems to be overload some classes to let the kids' schedules work but try to give the teachers small sections in other periods to balance their load. One year, they taught history in the library to about 45 students. To make as many schedules work as possible.Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77274170571076877492015-09-19T18:55:57.161-07:002015-09-19T18:55:57.161-07:00
Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson, at the ...<br />Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson, at the request of private charter school operators, has agreed to petition the court to reconsider its decision, allowing these private charter schools to continue to receive public taxpayer dollars.<br /><br />Please consider signing petition asking Bob Ferguson to drop charter school motion:<br /><br /><br />http://action.washingtonea.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11649Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84360123352936258802015-09-19T18:55:29.980-07:002015-09-19T18:55:29.980-07:00Wow, HP
Is that Dr. Nyland's embodiment of &...Wow, HP<br /><br /><br />Is that Dr. Nyland's embodiment of "Excellence for ALL?" (except for the ones who have the temerity to want to take Physics and Environmental Sciences?)??<br /><br />Oh, wait, is the current catch phrase something like Every Student. Every Day. Every Something. Or is it 53,000 journeys? I can't remember.<br /><br />But this is crap. This is an EMERGENCY. This is getting ready for College, Career, Life. They should find the money NOW to hire another teacher for Hale RIGHT NOW. Remember the scramble to keep the Latin teacher at Garfeild last year? Why do we scramble for actual teachers when the District hires $100K+ whosits to do not-so-clear-what while principals scramble for budget?<br /><br />This is so unacceptable. The amount of energy Nyland spent on preschool or charter schools this last year, and yet actual K-12 kids NEED A TEACHER TO TAKE A COURSE, and they get shown the door?<br /><br />Fire the new head of the heads of the principals... and/or Charles Wright, and, use those dollars for the Hale teacher.<br /><br />I am disgusted at this District. If funding is that bad, then we have to do without something, and that something should be the costly bodies hanging around the glass palace who are not directly making this ship go. Bye bye, Mr. Wright! <br /><br />I am so, so sorry, and, this may seem counter-intuitive, but, I will be voting to fail the levy. That is the only way to thin out superfluous at the glass palace. The only way. They will truly have to prioritize if we spank them this way. Then, and only then, and with a supremely angry, petulant and entitled attitude of a surly teenager, will they "RIF" the deputies and extra executives, and once they do I will happily pass the levy 6 months later. We will never get their attention so long as we dutifully pass the levy. We will never get them to shed the high honchos who feed at the trough as long as the green keeps filling the trough. Tough love time, for the sake of the kids, who need a science teacher.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Teachers Rock<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68200506989920536752015-09-19T16:09:10.760-07:002015-09-19T16:09:10.760-07:00Update on the Hale scheduling nightmare for the se...Update on the Hale scheduling nightmare for the seniors. There are more kids who want to take Physics than there are spaces so they are kicking kids out of Physics if they are also signed up for Environmental Science. Hale has one Physics teacher. You would think they would hire another Physics teacher. Kids signed up for their classes last year. You would think they could plan ahead.<br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42010538521961153572015-09-19T14:05:12.350-07:002015-09-19T14:05:12.350-07:00Maureen, I think the difference is that students d...Maureen, I think the difference is that students don't submit their own info to the yearbook for the individual student photos -- the school provides it. Or at least, the photographer does on behalf of the school. That's the efficient way to do it, of course, the way that makes sense. Can you imagine the poor annual staff trying to consolidate the submissions of 1400 different students?<br /><br />I do wonder about the inclusion of photos from around school, from sporting events, group photos for teams, performance photos from band, choir, drama, drumline, etc. They aren't being released by the school per se, although they are released as part of a school publication. GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25755753855609980802015-09-19T13:46:48.981-07:002015-09-19T13:46:48.981-07:00Re photos, what do they do about sports programs? ...Re photos, what do they do about sports programs? (I know,they don't require releases for drama programs)--my assumption is that if a student submits a photo and bio they are authorizing release. Why would a yearbook be different?Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42552454077245590552015-09-19T11:09:32.194-07:002015-09-19T11:09:32.194-07:00Re FERPA & photo releases.
I don’t believe th...Re FERPA & photo releases.<br /><br />I don’t believe this is a subversive attempt from the district to widen the net of student data that can be released. (And I have students in SPS.) From what I understand, when people “opt-in” and sign a separate release giving permission for their child’s photo to be used in yearbook or other document, that release will need to be kept for the entire time the photo is in district use. Since each school typically keeps a copy of their past yearbooks, this means these releases would need to be kept for years and years – a record keeping nightmare! <br /><br />FERPA states that unless parent signs form to opt-out, the district default is to release; FERPA is really an opt-out form. We’re told that law doesn’t require keeping opt-out forms from year to year, so FERPAs do not need to be kept after the end of any school year. By having the FERPA rule all photo release (including yearbook), each school should have less paper/records to manage from year to year.<br /><br />I agree that it’s a shame that it impacts yearbook inclusion. I’m not sure what the best solution is for this? It seems that district is trying (in this case) to minimize potential violation and legal exposure?<br /><br />School Office Staff<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30673679898538923502015-09-19T05:07:27.024-07:002015-09-19T05:07:27.024-07:00If you thought the Bellevue High School football s...If you thought the Bellevue High School football scandal was troubling then try this<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/sports/football/high-school-football-inc.html?ref=sports&_r=0" rel="nofollow"><b>High School Football Inc.</b></a><br /><br />From a NY Times Sept. 18, 2015 article ....<br /><br />The latest experiment in prep football is taking<br />root, and coaches and officials around the<br />country are watching with curiosity and wariness.<br /><br />The huge beyond big bucks "IMG" football academy.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75326468467230129252015-09-19T00:23:08.618-07:002015-09-19T00:23:08.618-07:00So much to talk about since the strike! My princip...So much to talk about since the strike! My principal said Spectrum is over after this year for several schools but did enroll a first-grade spectrum class. That makes no sense to me. When I asked, I was told the cohort for each grade would be dissolved next year. But, we do get mixed signals from our principal so I'm not guaranteeing that statement.<br /><br />Schoology: just one more marketed program/communication tool to learn. I understood Source and used it. I barely understood Fusion and rarely used it. Schoology - back to school for me. Maybe this one will be better. Do you have any idea how much time learning and using technology takes up for a teacher? I'm not anti-tech nor am I tech-ignorant. The reality is it takes a lot of time esp. in a school that can't afford to keep it working.nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59872575394395228802015-09-18T21:09:46.117-07:002015-09-18T21:09:46.117-07:00Seattle Citizen,
I totally agree. The June trainer...Seattle Citizen,<br />I totally agree. The June trainers called it schoo-ology, but we were informed in the fall that it is supposed to be called school-igy. Seems affected to me!<br />LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87558934535410974772015-09-18T20:51:07.327-07:002015-09-18T20:51:07.327-07:00Why does the vendor, and those rolling out Schoolo...Why does the vendor, and those rolling out Schoology, pronounce it "school-igy" instead of "schoo-ology"? Isn't the latter more academic sounding ( -ology: the study of...)? The former sounds like a cute marketing name for something that comes squeezes out of a tube.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30793541272923108012015-09-18T20:50:44.521-07:002015-09-18T20:50:44.521-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8610180166694328452015-09-18T19:13:05.255-07:002015-09-18T19:13:05.255-07:00Our school has always allowed for yearbook waiver....Our school has always allowed for yearbook waiver. If they don't allow that, people should complain BIG TIME. <br />The rainy day policy is for each school to work out. Space, staff, etc. will limit the options available. My experience is that most schools send kids out for recess unless the rain is torrential. We are in the northwest after all.<br />-JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76065298218941387142015-09-18T19:10:00.063-07:002015-09-18T19:10:00.063-07:00Thank you MW for asking.
As FERPA is a national l...Thank you MW for asking.<br /><br />As FERPA is a national law it just strikes me as super odd that an individual principal could give a thumbs up or down on compliance. It would be more believable to me that a) The District didn't want to hassle with extra paperwork so pressured principals to float the "No Opt In" for Yearbooks to parents, b) Principals don't want to hassle with the extra paperwork and/or want to get along with the District, c) The District views selling our kids personal information as a way to add funds to their coffer.<br /><br />I would love to hear from an attorney about what the true legal rights we parents have. Can we 'Opt. In' to the Yearbook even if we check "No" to the District selling our kids info.? I suspect many parents would be willing to join together for expert advice.<br /><br />-StepJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20135032498366924542015-09-18T18:36:01.263-07:002015-09-18T18:36:01.263-07:00What's the rainy day policy with the 30 minute...What's the rainy day policy with the 30 minutes of recess for elementary? Ie does it call out what schools should do to meet guideline given inclement weather? I hope it's PE or other space time, but that's not space feasible in all schools.<br /><br />- BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15959176312789971312015-09-18T18:18:37.233-07:002015-09-18T18:18:37.233-07:00I was told this was principal discretion but it ma...I was told this was principal discretion but it may have changed (without notice). I will ask.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55469796548640911422015-09-18T18:07:07.190-07:002015-09-18T18:07:07.190-07:00I am planning to opt out of information sharing pe...I am planning to opt out of information sharing per FERPA, but would really like to have my child's name and picture in the yearbook. Any suggestions for USEFUL SPS contact people we could write to, to bring back the yearbook waiver/opt-in that has worked in the past? <br /><br />Another AnnoyedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74016547316759237562015-09-18T17:45:38.961-07:002015-09-18T17:45:38.961-07:00Re yearbook/FERPA, if that is correct @ not IT guy...Re yearbook/FERPA, if that is correct @ not IT guy, all I can say is wow, way to go SPS! Punish kids who's parents don't want their kids educational information distributed to military recruiters, education vendors, and who know who else, by leaving them out of their school yearbooks. <br />Now SPS is making it so you can't have an innocent photo with your name and class in a yearbook that distributed at your own school unless you also allow them to give your kids (and therefore your) name, address, contact details, photo, grade, employment status, awards, sports teams, etc to ANYONE, including but NOT LIMITED to the media, colleges, military recruiters, youth groups?!!! Cause that is like, totally the same thing, right?!<br />This was never the case before - i have always checked the 'no' box and my kids have always been in the yearbook. How can they do that?? What can we do about it?<br />If SPS thinks its can pull this fast one to ride over my FERPA rights, well sorry, it's not gonna work for me and I hope other families won't be sucked in either.<br /><br />Even more annoyed<br /><br /><br />Even more annoyedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53511971850344305062015-09-18T17:19:49.262-07:002015-09-18T17:19:49.262-07:00So one of the issues up for debate regarding the c...So one of the issues up for debate regarding the contract was the evaluations of Teachers using test and these VAM scoring.<br /><br />Anyway here is the group that devised much of this.. The Danielson Group after Charlotte Danielson. http://danielsongroup.org/charlotte-danielson/<br /><br />Question is there actually a Charlotte. Apparently she quite renown and a very distant picture of a woman receiving a diploma is on her site Then what looks like a stock photo of a nice woman very "teacher like" <br /><br />Then I read this in Huffington Post asking who is Charlotte Danielson? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/who-is-charlotte-danielso_b_3415034.html<br /><br />Diane Ravitch linked to the story and the comments are interesting yet who is this woman and what the hell is going on http://dianeravitch.net/2013/06/15/alan-singer-who-is-charlotte-danielson/<br /><br /><br />Lord is the biggest hoax since Howard Hughes diary?<br /><br />I love the quotes on the website that go "The Danielson group saved my teaching.." - A TEACHER 2014. How specific "teacher" no names no actual people signing anything that documents their involvement. And they all seem rather recent although the HUFFPO piece was 2013. <br /><br />Well I was looking for a career change. I am going to consult. <br /><br />- SPS Ignored Staff <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31053082337861766362015-09-18T17:12:42.783-07:002015-09-18T17:12:42.783-07:00The schools and the district will continue to step...The schools and the district will continue to step all over Spectrum students until Spectrum families stand up and fight.<br />Call them out on their lies. Make them show you how they are differentiating instruction. Demand rubrics. Picket the schools. Hold your children out of school testing activities. Especially that. Boycott tests en masse until they fulfill their promises.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6444153625485419242015-09-18T16:46:08.486-07:002015-09-18T16:46:08.486-07:00@Annoyed: My understanding is, yes, not ever. Unle...@Annoyed: My understanding is, yes, not ever. Unless the district comes back with a clarification that sounds like we can send out a supplemental yearbook release, my reading of their request is not ever.<br /><br />Not IT guyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5996663528078955602015-09-18T16:42:30.155-07:002015-09-18T16:42:30.155-07:00Melissa, I was looking for transportation, but I&#...Melissa, I was looking for transportation, but I'm guessing there might be other people who might want to find other dept heads sometime too.<br /><br />AnnoyedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60347930216900299602015-09-18T16:18:53.296-07:002015-09-18T16:18:53.296-07:00Annoyed, which departments are you looking for? A...Annoyed, which departments are you looking for? AL or Sped or what? Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9542032338997542082015-09-18T16:16:15.314-07:002015-09-18T16:16:15.314-07:00@ Not IT guy - does that mean ever? ie, not even ...@ Not IT guy - does that mean ever? ie, not even later in the year? If we don't get a yearbook release at some point I suspect our school anyway (I don't think many parents will be signing away their kids FERPA rights here) will have a very thin yearbook this year. I certainly hope not but nothing would surprise me about SPS. Why make this change all of a sudden - I wonder who wants the data and what are they offering SPS? <br /><br />AnnoyedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com