Fall Branch School
GREAT FIRST WEEK! Appreciate everyone's commitment to making students feel valued.
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
The above quote is metaphor of "dirty feet" used by Mahatma Gandhi to symbolize the negative thoughts and attitudes of others.
How do you maintain a growth mindset and protect yourself of negative influences?
Monday - Cindy Hayes will be available during planning times throughout the year at each school. These visits are informal. Monday, August 12th will be the first day at our school. Swing by Misha's room to say hello.
Tuesday - PLCs - Leads for this week will drive the meeting.
Wednesday - Coaches Meeting 1:30-2:30
Thursday - College Shirt
Friday - Cardinal Shirt
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim Wernke
Finance
Frontline use: Starting July 1 WCDE is implementing the use of Frontline for all employee absences. Employees that are out sick should put their sick time in Frontline the day they return back to work. Once a day has been put into Frontline as sick, personal etc. the day cannot be changed. If adjustments need to be made they must come through the payroll department 753-1105.
Grants
About the Tennessee Rural STEM Collaborative
The Tennessee Rural STEM Collaborative (TRSC) is a year-long cohort of educators from across Tennessee that works towards ensuring that all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities in STEM by exposing them to 21st Century Skills and local STEM career pathways.
Cohort members interact with work-alike groups that concentrate on a specific area of focus: Community & Post Secondary Partnerships, STEM Integrated Curriculum & Instruction, Family Engagement, Career Awareness, and Computer Science Integrated Curriculum & Instruction. For each area of focus, participants will engage in targeted professional development and have the opportunity to meet experts in the field.
You can read teacher perspectives of the program here.
Educators will receive a stipend for participating. The amount will be announced soon.
Applications for the 2025 cohort of the TN Rural STEM Collaborative close August 12, 2024.
Information for the application if teachers are interested.
Information Based on National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Washington County Schools Locale: Suburb: Midsize (22)
Boones Creek Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
Fall Branch Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
Grandview Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
Lamar Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
South Central Locale: Rural: Distant (42)
Sulphur Springs Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
West View Locale: Rural: Fringe (41)
LINK https://www.tsin.org/tennessee-rural-stem-collaborative
Human Resources
Training Materials for Creating an Absence in Frontline
Absence Management Quick Start Guide
Frontline Absence Management Guide Slideshow
Required Legal Training - Certified Employees/All Support Staff (including IA's, Nurses, Custodians, Grounds, Mechanics, Maintenance, CO Staff, etc.)
The required legal training modules will take place like last year. Teachers can access these trainings through your Google Site immediately. There are two new trainings at the bottom of the page, so please take a look at these. Also, the trainings can be accessed on the new district training page from the staff page. There will be a separate page for support staff as they are also required to be trained annually. Also, once the data is sorted, Abbigail will send each of you an individual email with that information. More information on the new software for training is on the way. If you have any questions, please let Abbigail Kincaid or Felicia Strayhorn know.
Grow Your Own: If you have employees that may be interested in becoming a Middle School Math or Science Teacher or Middle School or High School Sped Teacher through the Grow Your Own program, have them complete the interest form through the "Request More Information" button in this link and email Jerry Whitaker and Cindy Percell.
Title IX: The State of TN along with several other states are challenging the 2024 Title IX regulations through litigation. Until we receive a final decision, we will continue to follow the 2020 Title IX regulations. Please be sure that you have completed your Title IX training via ICS's Title IX University as soon as possible. If you have not completed your training, you will not be able to serve as a Title IX Investigator or Decision Maker.
Employee Background Checks
The Tennessee Department of Education monitors us to see if we are compliant with the State requirement of ensuring all Certified employees obtain a background check every five (5) years. The State has notified us that we will be monitored again soon. Please look over your background check employee list and see who is overdue/coming due soon and make arrangements for these employees to get their background checks updated. The deadline for completion for employees in the overdue/coming due soon categories is August 31, 2024. This is not optional, it is mandatory. If assistance is needed with scheduling their appointments, ask them to contact your school designee or they can call the HR Department. The School Board is covering the cost of the 5 year background checks, a coupon code may be obtained by contacting the HR Department. If you have any employee who cannot meet the August 31, 2024 deadline, please have them email Cindy Percell ASAP. Thank you for your help.
Car Line: Thank you all for helping with the car line. It's moving a little faster each day. The car duty schedule will begin next week. Until Car Rider Pro is up and running, we will use the schedule below.