July 2013 archive

When Dirty is Not a Dirty Word

If you have not had an opportunity to read Mel Riddle’s NASSP blogsite, The Principal Difference  this month, please do take a few minutes to review the July 26 entries. The blog “When Dirty is NOT a Dirty  Word” written by Stuart Singer is worth your time. The title comes from commentary by Mike Rowe, …

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Virginia State Board of Education Meeting – July 25, 2013

The Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education met on Wednesday, July 25, 2013. Several items under the Action/Discussion categories followed by reports were reviewed publicly by the Board. The following are items of interest for VASSP members: Agenda Item B: Final Review of Proposed Growth Indicators in Response to the 2013 Acts of Assembly Since …

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Changing Responsibilities and Changing Evaluations – Help for Building Principals

Those of us who can trace our administrative experiences to the 1980’s and even earlier have memories of limited staff developemt or training for the job other than a graduate program and then  “on the job training.”  Principal evaluation seemed to be connected to limited number of student discipline issues and reports due to the central office …

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Transformative Classroom Management (TCM)

The Virginia Department of Education has just posted an announcement (Principals Memo #1009-13) regarding the the implementation of a new online tool, Transformative Classroom Management (TCM) to help classroom teachers create positive conditions for teaching and learning. Access to this memo will provide you with further contact information. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/principals_memos/2013/1009-13.shtml

Information Sites to Share for Your 2013-2014 School Year

If you are reading this in July, you most likely are ready to tackle new or different instructional/ management  ideas for your upcoming school year.   Now is the time for planning some different events and activities that will take place for your staff, your students and your parents.  Whether you begin school in middle August or after Labor …

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Virginia High Schools Again Among the Top in U.S.

Virginia is one of seven states to receive an A in a national study of state efforts to produce financially literate high school graduates. The National Report Card on State Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in High Schools, produced by Champlain College’s Center for Financial Literacy, relies on data from all 50 states as well …

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AP Test Results Available Online

In an interesting twist, students may now review their AP test scores from spring 2013 online rather than checking the mailbox until the envelope arrives. Students and parents are now able to obtain the scores by visiting apscore.org. You may access more information regarding this service at:  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2013/07/ap_test_results_available_online_starting_today.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

2013 General Assembly Revisions to SOQ

As you prepare for the 2013-2014 school year, you may wish to review a final update of the revisions to the SOQ which affect building administrators and central office staff, including superintendents. Among the standards listed below are the requirements for safety training, staffing guidelines(very much needed), algebra readiness intervention for grades six through nine …

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VASSP Administrators Recognized at Summer Conference/Exposition

Three Virginia school administrators were recognized at the 86th Annual Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference and Exposition in June.  The Homestead was our conference location this year and to add to the grandeur of the resort was the special recognition of three of Virginia’s finest school administrators. These award winners were selected through a …

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Student Absenteeism: The Elephant in Your Building

If you have not had an opportunity to read Mel’s latest NASSP blog, The Principal Difference regarding student absenteeism, it is well worth reading about and rethinking it’s impact. The entry is based on an event in Washington D.C entitled “Absenteeism in the Middle Grades: The Prevalence, the Impact and Turning it Around.”  Student attendance issues …

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