Here we are, four full days into the second semester of the school year. It's hard to believe the calendar has turned once again to January...always a month that brings some excitement about being in the second half of the school year! There is MUCH to do between now an the last day of classes on May 24th, and the new CRSD website is one way teachers, students, parents, and community members can be better informed about what is happening district-wide.

The new EMPLOYEE PORTAL should be one of the first places CRSD staff members "stop" each day...or make it your home page, as there are links to the tools you use in your classroom throughout the day right there on the page. BOARD REPORTS are also available online.

For all of you Pinterest addicts out there, the CRSD Pinterest page has a bunch of board dedicated to collecting great ideas for teaching and learning. And don't forget to "LIKE" the Copper River School District Facebook page...and follow us on Twitter!

Academic rigor requires intellectual and academic struggle. Grappling with complex texts and problems means students (even those who typically do NOT have to "work" very hard in school) will face challenges...and that's a good thing!  Listen in to a recent radio story: "Struggle for Smarts? How Eastern And Western Cultures Tackle Learning"

Check out the latest post on the CRSD Common Core Curriculum page for new resources related to Open Court for grades 3-5!

Did you notice the nifty little "Common Core App" icon on the far right side of each and every CRSD Teaching & Learning webpage? Click on it to expand a full set of Common Core Standards.
In addition to ALL of the standards for Language Arts and Math, the app includes resources on how to read the standards, college and career ready information, and key design considerations. Thanks to Mastery Connect for making this handy tool available to all of us!

Teachers and administrators:  Click on the image at left to download a copy of the Discovery Education Assessment Quick Reference Guide!

• Click HERE to access the training assessment.
• PPP from early-release workshop
• Informational flier for parents
  
• School CFA Schedule - download below (Complete & email to Tammy -- ONE schedule per school!)

A postcard with basic in-service information was mailed to all certified and classified staff on August 8th.  Here are some additional details regarding what's happening on August 15-22:

• Wednesday, August 15: New Employee Orientation Day
  All new administrators, teachers, instructional aides, and office staff will gather for a full day of orientation activities. Our day will begin at Kenny Lake School at 9:00 a.m.  Glennallen and Copper Center staff members: please contact your building principal for more information about transportation for the day! During the day, we will visit all CRSD schools (either in person or through "virtual" tours), meet the principals, learn about CRSD initiatives and current projects, and complete a variety of paperwork tasks and mandatory trainings. The day will wrap up between 3:30 and 4:00.  For more information, contact your building principal or Tammy Van Wyhe, Director of Teaching & Learning, at 822-8533.
• Thursday and Friday, Aug. 16 & 17: Excellence in the CRSD
  Location:  Glennallen School MPR.  All administrators and teachers will attend workshops on the 16th and 17th focusing on the role of quality and excellence district-wide in the CRSD. Teachers will work in grade-band teams to articulate their visions for what "excellence" looks like at their grade levels. Standards updates, Common Core quarterly focus standards, common formative assessments, and online tools to support planning and assessment will be explored, with ample time for grade-band team collaboration and planning.  Continental breakfast will be provided each morning from 8:00-8:30.  Workshops sessions will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. daily. Lunch will be provided each day, and sessions will wrap up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.  BRING YOUR LAPTOP!
• Monday, August 20:  Let's Talk TECHNOLOGY (certified staff) and Literacy Trainings (classified staff)
  Location:  Glennallen School MPR.  Administrators and teachers will participate in a full day of training related to SharpSchool, the district's new Content Management System (website and learning management tools).  Teacher-Leaders who took part in training last May will assist in providing hands-on assistance and demonstrations of sites they built over the summer.  Classified staff will participate in literacy training with emphasis on intervention programs and assessment tools. ALL staff will participate in some really, really fun mandatory trainings. :-)  Continental breakfast will be provided each morning from 8:00-8:30.  Workshops sessions will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. daily. Lunch will be provided each day, and sessions will wrap up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 21:  Site-Based Back-to-School Planning Meetings and Workshops
  All certified and classified staff report to their school sites for a full day of planning for the upcoming school year.  Regular contract hours. Check with your principal for additional details!
• Wednesday, August 22:  Work Day
  Site-based work day in preparation of opening day for students on August 23rd.