September 4, 2007

Welcome Back!

We hope the first day of classes went well and that you had a restful Labor Day weekend!  As you know,  the ELL theme for this year is a World of Welcome - and that extends to making you feel welcome too.  Please let us know what we can do to assist you in any way throughout the year.  We are here to help you. 

Aesop's Fables?

Implementation efforts are on schedule for the Aesop, the District’s new automated service for reporting absences and requesting substitutes.   Additional communications are in process to ensure principals, teachers and substitute teachers are informed as this new system is implemented. Implementation is scheduled for fall 2007.   

The "Atlas"

This year's staff handbook is entitled "the Atlas:  A Handbook for Staff."  This supports our theme of "A World of Welcome."  The Atlas will have a PDF of the entire file you can download, but we are waiting for some final testing information before we make the PDF of the entire handbook. 

Until then, all parts of the handbook are available on-line.  They are merged into the website in appropriate places.  However, there is a Handbook Table of Contents page that will link you to the various elements of the handbook.  Each of these sections will have an individual PDF attached so that you can download parts of the handbook as needed. 

Elementary TOSA Opening / Transitions in the ELL Department

We currently have an opening for an elementary TOSA.  If you are interested in applying, please go to the Human Resources website for more details.   HR will add the posting to the website sometime early this week.

This position  replaces Anh Tran who is our new ELL Program Manager.  Anh accepted the position last Thursday. 

Other Transitions

Heidi covered most of the changes in our Department during the Opening Week meetings - but for those of you that were not at the meeting,

Bounthavy Kiatoukaysy is working with us as the Hmong Community Specialist.  She replaces Mai Vang who is now with the Office of Academics. 

Joanne Vang has returned to us as the Hmong Translation Specialist.  She is replacing Bee Vang who has accepted a position with the University of Minnesota as a Hmong language instructor. 

Concha Fernández del Rey has replaced Pangjua Xiong as one of our elementary TOSAs.  Concha will be working with Ames, American Indian, Battle Creek Elementary, Groveland, Jackson, Nokomis, North End, Prosperity Heights, Randolph Heights, and World Cultures.  

Pangjua Xiong is our new Hmong Program Manager.  She is replacing Bee Lee who as accepted a position with the Superintendent's Office has the Special Projects Officer.

Congratulations to all of these people in their new positions!

Note that an updated ELL Department Staffing list will be available when we fill the TOSA position. 

Eligibility Chart

The updated ELL Eligibility Chart has been posted. 

Testing Accommodations Chart

The updated ELL Testing Chart has been posted.  

Notification Forms

Notification forms are required by state and federal law.  They will be generated and sent centrally this year.  If you have any questions, contact Phi Vu (phi.vu@spps.org). 

Refusal Forms

Please keep in mind that there is more that one type of refusal form.  There are four types of refusal forms:

• The ELL Service Refusal Form:  This form is for all ELL programs.  It is valid for only one year.  It is available at the Student Placement Center and/or  may be requested from the individual schools who should contact their TOSA for more information.  Parents can change this form at will. 
  
  ELL Service Refusal Forms should be distributed by request only and are not valid until the signed copy has been received by Bonnie Lawrence (bonnie.lawrence@spps.org) at the Student Placement Center.

• The Language Academy Refusal Form:  This form is for  students who are eligible for LA but do not wish to participate in the program.  It is signed once and is valid from year to year.  Parents can change this form at will.  It is typically signed at the Student Placement Center. 

• English Language Center Refusal Form: This form is for  students who are eligible for ELC but do not wish to participate in the program.   It is signed once and is valid from year to year.  Parents (and students 18+) can change this form at will. It is typically signed at the Student Placement Center.
  

• ELL Test Refusal Form:  This form is used by parents who do not wish to have their children participate in ELL testing.  Please keep in mind that NCLB requires 95% participation in ELL testing.  A few students refusing testing may be enough to put small schools on AYP for test participation.  Please explain this to parents requesting their students not participate in ELL testing. 
  

Home Language Codes

State law requires a Home Language Questionnaire for ALL students.  Students who have no home language on file will be requested to return a signed form. 

A list of home languages is available by language code and language name.

A description (with links) of each language is also available. 

District Calendar and Directories, etc. 

District information is posted on the main SPPS website (www.spps.org).   There are links provided for district calendars,  staff directories, department listings as well as links to individual schools and websites.

ELL maintains its own calendar of events and a directories of the ELL Staff at 360 as well as teaching staff and bilingual educational assistants. 

Website Updates

The ELL Website has undergone many changes.  Not all of them have been completed, but we hope to have them all done by the end of the week. 

Last Opportunity for PreLAS Training

During the 2006-2007 school year, we conducted a survey and found that the administration of the PreLAS for kindergarten students varies widely from school to school.  In order to increase the reliability of the PreLAS results, the administration of the PreLAS has been standardized for more consistency throughout the district.  We request that ALL ELL teachers and Bilingual Educational Assistants who administer or might possibility administer the PreLAS attend a training session prior to when they plan to administer the PreLAS this fall, whether or not they have been trained in previous years.  

The last opportunity for training is Wednesday, September 5th, from 4:30 - 6:30 at 360 Colborne, Room D.  Please register on pdexpress.  If you have any questions, please contact Anh (anh.tran@spps.org)

Caught in the Act

Again this year, we will be taking photos of teachers caught in the act of good teaching.  If you have a photo you would like to submit, please contact your TOSA to have it included.

Language Through Content & Collaboration Professional Learning

ELL is offering a professional learning experience on teaching language through content and collaboration at the secondary level.  Participants will understand the benefits for ELL students in teaching language through content as well as the benefits and challenges of collaboration.  Use PDExpress to register for this exciting experience.  There are two options available.

Option 1:  One full day and 3 afternoons:

• September: Full Day (Sept. 12) 8:30-3:30 Collaboration
• September: 1 Afternoon (Sept. 19) 3:30-6:30 LTC
• October: 2 Afternoons (Oct. 10, 24) 3:30-6:30 LTCC

Option 2:  Three day plan:

• September: 1 full day (Sept. 20) 8:30-3:30 Collaboration
• October: 1 full day (Oct.17) 8:30-3:30 LTCC
• November: 1 full day  (Nov. 7) 8:30-3:30 LTCC

Caught in the Act

Again this year, we will be taking photos of teachers caught in the act of good teaching.  If you have a photo you would like to submit, please contact your TOSA to have it included.

Dual Language Programs

SPPS is proud to sponsor a variety of dual language programs in Hmong and Spanish.  There programs were previously listed under the title of Bilingual Programs, but we determined that Dual Language Programs was a more apt title.  At present, the programs that we offer are as follows:

• Adams Spanish Immersion (K-6/Spanish) note that there are articulated middle and senior school immersion programs at Highland Junior and Senior High Schools
• Cherokee Heights (K-1/Spanish)
• Homecroft (K-6/Spanish)
• Jackson Bilingual Program (Pre-K-2/Hmong)
  
• L'Étoile du Nord French Immersion (K-6/French).  note that there is a articulated middle school immersion program at Highland Junior High School
  
• Riverview (K-3/Spanish)
• Roosevelt (K-1/Spanish)
• Vento (K-3/Spanish)
• Wellstone (K-2/Spanish)

Look for more information on the dual language programs during the year. 

Dual Language Institute and New Teacher Training

During the summer, ELL offered professional learning opportunities in the form of a week long Dual Language Institute and a two-day new teacher training.  Further professional learning on this topic will be forthcoming. 

Information from the Mexican Consulate in Minnesota

The Mexican Consulate sends periodic information in English and Spanish to interested persons.  If you would like to receive this information, please send an email to Greg Anderson (greg.anderson@spps.org) and let him know to add you to the list of recipients. 

Ramadan Begins Next Week

Ramadan will begin next week.  Look for more information in next week's Facts.  As the beginning of Ramadan is calculated from the sighting of the moon in a particular circumstance, it is not know exactly when Ramadan will begin.  It will be either the evening of the 12th or the 13th.

Hmong Parent Advisory Committee

The Hmong Parent Advisory Committee will meet on September 10 from 6:30-8:30 at 360 Colborne.  The attached flier is in Hmong for distribution to parents.  

Download Flier PDF.