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Vol. IV, No. 9 | January 26, 2011
Strengthening Our Community Through Excellence in Education
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Message from Superintendent Francois
Dear Northshore Staff,
Last week, the Northshore School District Board of Directors piloted the first of what I hope will be many newly structured school visits to learn firsthand about the great work occurring to improve student achievement and success across our district. This three-hour visit at Woodmoor Elementary included a thorough review of the school's demographic, assessment, and accountability data; a review of the school's improvement plan and progress; classroom visits; and an opportunity to de-brief and synthesize the days' learning with building and district staff. Woodmoor is a wonderfully complex and diverse school making great gains in meeting the needs of all students. It was a great place to start.
In the coming months, the Board will conduct similar visits at Timbercrest Junior High, Inglemoor High School, Kokanee Elementary and Woodin Elementary. My hope is that such visits will become a regular part of the Board's interaction with our schools and will serve to better inform their governance role in establishing goals, setting policy and monitoring the outcomes for our students.
The Board has always been actively engaged with schools and school improvement efforts. Board members regularly visited schools and until this year reserved a time at each of their meetings for a presentation on a school's pursuit of district goals. But school visits did not always have a consistent focus, and the time constraints of Board meetings did not enable a detailed and thoughtful review of a school's challenges, opportunities and successes in pursuit of high standards of achievement for all students. The Board wanted an improved structure which enabled a deeper understanding of the most important work occurring across our district.
As resources - whether in time, money, or energy - become scarcer, decisions about where to focus our improvement efforts to achieve the most meaningful outcomes become that much more important. I applaud the Board's commitment to investing their time "in the trenches," so to speak, to understand how their priorities and decisions can best support high levels of learning for all students.
January is traditionally School Board Appreciation Month. As uncompensated volunteers who spend countless hours working for the betterment of our school community, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our Board of Directors - Dawn McCravey, Julia Lacey, Sandy Hayes, Janet Quinn, and Todd Banks - for their service and dedication.
Truly,
Larry Francois, Superintendent
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School Board Meeting Information
The Board was recognized for their dedication
and service to the students, staff and families of the Northshore School District. John Roper's Canyon Park Jr. High Video Production class created a video on "What a School Board Does" that was shared at the meeting. view video
The next school board meeting is Feb. 8, 4 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room. To view agenda or read minutes of past school board meetings, please
click here.
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National Board Certification Informational Meeting Rescheduled for Feb. 7
The National Board informational meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 7, from 4-5 p.m. in the Administrative Center Board Room.
The
meeting will include information about triggering candidacy, support
options and a panel of existing Northshore NBCT's to answer any
questions about the process.
For more information,
please contact Anne Davidson.
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Wall of Honor 2011 Nominations Now Being Accepted
Nominations
for the district's Wall of Honor 2011 inductees are now being
accepted. The Wall of Honor recognizes the rich history of outstanding
achievements of district alumni, personnel and volunteers who have made
significant contributions to our community, state, nation or world. Nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.nsd.org/wallofhonor.
The submission deadline is March 31.
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Update Your Contact Information-Stay Informed on School Schedule Changes
Winter weather conditions continue to impact school schedules. In the event of a school delay or closure, the district sends a telephone message to families and employees. We discovered many inaccurate employee home telephone numbers.
Please take a moment to log onto
Employee Online
to review and update your contact information if needed.
Northshore employees follow certain procedures regarding their work days when weather impacts school schedules. For emergency closure procedure information, please
click here
.
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Northshore Schools Foundation Innovative Teacher Grant Applications Now Available
Innovative classroom grant applications from Northshore Schools Foundation are now available. Applications are due in early April. There is a free grant writing training for teachers and PTA leaders on Jan. 26 and Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Woodmoor Elementary library.
Information is available at www.northshoreschoolsfoundation.org. |
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January 2011 Contribution Rate Flexibility for TRS Plan 3 Members
TRS Plan 3 members have an opportunity to change their contribution rate selection during January 2011. To change your TRS Plan 3 contribution rate, submit the TRS Plan 3 Contribution Rate Change form to your employer. Otherwise your current rate will remain in effect.
This option is being offered according to provisions granted to TRS Plan 3 by the IRS. The contribution rate option selected should be considered binding and can only be changed when changing employers or during rate change windows as permitted by the IRS.
Deadline: The form must be completed and submitted to the Benefits Office by Jan. 31.
Please contact Toni Damron for more information. |
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IMPORTANT CHANGES TO SECTION 125 FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT FOR 2011
Effective Jan. 1, you will only be reimbursed for over-the-counter drugs if they are prescribed by a physician. IRS rules will not allow participants to change their elections mid-year because of this new requirement. Section 125 debit cards will decline any over-the-counter drug and medicine purchases at point of sale. You will need to submit the receipt, voucher and medical practitioner's prescription to American Fidelity to be reimbursed for these types of purchases. |
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Important Retirement Reminder-Plan 2 to Plan 3 Transfer Opportunity
During January 2011, eligible TRS Plan 2 and SERS Plan 2 members have the opportunity to transfer to Plan 3. It is important to remember that the decision to transfer to Plan 3 is irrevocable. The Department of Retirement Systems Web site provides valuable information to help with this decision. The completed transfer form must be submitted to the Benefits Office by Jan. 31. (transfer form) |
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New Roth 403(B) Option for NSD Employees
Effective
with January 2011 payroll, Northshore employees will have the option to
contribute by payroll deduction to Roth 403(b) accounts established
with a vendor on the approved vendor list. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars. This can be done in lieu
of pretax elective deferrals or in addition to pretax dollars. Qualified distributions from a Roth account are not included in gross
income. The current contribution limits set by the IRS apply to the
combined amount of all elective 403(b) contributions (pre-tax and
after-tax). If you choose to contribute to a Roth 403(b) account, a new
account must be established with that vendor prior to filling out the Salary Reduction Agreement.
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Teacher Opportunities Web Page
Don't forget to check out the latest listings for grants and professional development opportunities for teachers on the Teacher Opportunities Web page in the Teacher's Toolbox. |
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Follow us on Facebook!
Here's another way to stay connected to Northshore School District news and information: Follow us on Facebook! Log onto Facebook and search "Northshore School District."
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BRAVOS to Northshore Staff!
Know a Northshore staff member that has gone above and beyond in their job or in the community? Honor them and let the community know about their good works by
nominating them for a BRAVO!
It's easy.
Selected nominees will be featured in Staff BRAVOS
on Northshore's Web site. Be sure to visit
Staff BRAVOS
to read about the wonderful accomplishments of our staff, departments and buildings.
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On the Web
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Calendar
Jan. 31:
NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day
Feb. 8:
School Board Meeting, 4 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room
Feb. 8:
WA State Special Election, Remember to Vote
Feb. 16:
SEPAC Presentation: State of the District II, 7 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room
Feb. 21:
NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day
Feb. 22 - 25:
NO SCHOOL - Mid-Winter Break, district offices open
2010-11 District Calendars and Planner
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Northshore e-News is
published and delivered to your e-mail box every other week during the
school year, (once in July, February and December). It is designed to
inform employees about the strategic direction of the Northshore School
District as well as provide routine information of interest to district
employees. To submit items for e-News, please send them to e-News
Editor by Tuesday of each School Board meeting.
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