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Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, January 3, 2022
Welcome Back! Myself and the entire WTU team hope you had a wonderful Winter Break. I am extremely disappointed in DCPS’s decisions to continue in-person learning prior to the break exposing many of you and our students to COVID-19 and I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. We will continue to press our case with the Mayor, Chancellor and City Council members for additional protections for you and our students as we return from Winter Break, including specific, written details on what thresholds of staff or student absences will result in a school transitioning to virtual learning. We also have requested that COVID- leave be reinstated for any staff who are required to quarantine.
As outlined in a message sent to WTU members yesterday, the chancellor and mayor announced a safety plan last week that includes testing requirements for all school staff and students. Key elements of this plan include:
- On Monday, Jan. 3, all DCPS school staff must pick up a free rapid COVID-19 self-test before 12 noon (or their own testing option) at their DCPS school and administer it by 1 p.m. on Monday.
- Students, parents or guardians must pick up a test at a DCPS school or at a Test-Yourself pickup site on Monday, Jan. 3, between 1 pm – 4 pm or on Tuesday, Jan. 4, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Students’ tests must be uploaded by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
- School starts Wed., Jan. 5. Everyone returning to DCPS schools must show a negative test result before coming back to school.
- School staff will receive KN-95 masks.
We plan to host a WTU Town Hall in the coming days to provide additional information and answer your questions. In the meantime, please report any concerns to your Field Representatives.
Health and Safety Complaint Process
OSSE has established a website linked here for individuals who wish to notify OSSE that a pre-K-Grade 12 or adult education school may not be adhering to the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement (see DC Health Guidance for Schools and Mayor’s Order 2021-109).
After all the required information is entered in the portal, OSSE will acknowledge receipt of the notification and share the information provided with the school. If notified of a complaint, schools are expected to acknowledge receipt of the information, review the information, and, if needed, take any follow-up corrective action. For additional information, email osse.[email protected].
REMINDER: Please report any COVID related problems to the Situation Room and OSSE
OSSE Online Complaint Form (dc.gov)
Situation Room: http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings
Deadline Extended: Invitation to Apply for 2022-23 Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre
OSSE is recruiting elementary teachers/educator leaders from schools across the District that serve pre-K through Grade 5 to participate in the Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre. The application deadline has been extended to Jan. 5, 2022.
Established in February 2016, OSSE’s Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre is a group of individuals from elementary schools across the District who will be responsible for developing a plan to implement the Environmental Literacy Framework at their schools and coordinating its implementation. Participants will meet to (a) receive comprehensive professional development related to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), (b) develop and implement a school-based environmental literacy program using the Environmental Literacy Framework, (c) discuss existing supports and make recommendations regarding environmental literacy implementation in elementary schools, and (d) disseminate information about environmental literacy to their community and garner feedback on the school-based environmental literacy program.
Visit OSSE’s website for more information. Interested educators should complete and submit an application online by Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. For more information or questions, please contact Grace Manubay at (202) 654-6116.
Community Event for MLK Jr Day
WTU, AFT, DCAEYC are partnering with Washington Tennis & Education Foundation in Ward 7 to give away 40,000 books and other school supplies. Download the full flyer here.
Tutoring opportunity from Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid
Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid, through a grant with City Bridge, SYC/W6MA will be launching an in-person Math tutoring program for 60 Middle School Students. We are looking to hire 30 tutors who will be responsible for tutoring 2-3 students following a guided curriculum. This is a paid part-time position, for 6 months, starting in January 2022. The full position description can be found on Idealist here and on Indeed here.
Additionally, SYC is still recruiting for volunteer virtual tutors. Commitment is 1-3 hours a week depending on availability. We are requesting tutors for all subjects and all ages. Link to sign up and more info can be found here: www.bit.ly/sycvolunteertutor
AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Professional Development
PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog
WTU Spring 2022 Course Offerings
WTU’s professional development courses are all research-based, peer-to-peer and solution-driven. All WTU courses are aligned to the DCPS IMPACT Teaching and Learning Framework and Essential Practices Standards 1 through 5. We invite you to check out our Spring 2022 Course offerings and earn credits towards your certification.
Click here to learn more about WTU's Professional Learning Program.
Click here for Spring 2022 course descriptions and registration links.
Upcoming Events
Special Education Teachers and Case Managers
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 03:00 PM. Join Via Zoom. Meeting ID: 939 669 4583
Partner events and other upcoming events of interest are also posted to the AMBrew Blog.
Reminders:
Report unsafe conditions at http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings
As part of the MOA, the WTU and DCPS teams will meet weekly to review and find solutions to any violations of the #ReopenStrong: School Building Readiness Checklist. If you see something out of compliance, please report it at http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings. As you click on an area of the form, a drop-down box will appear to allow you to enter comments. Or simply complete the text box at the end of the form. All reports will remain confidential and no identifying information will be provided to DCPS.
IMPACT
Thank you to everyone who completed the IMPACT survey. The WTU is working with the AFT to create a teacher development and evaluation system that is fair to teachers and good for students. We are looking for members who would like to be part of a team that is writing the strands for Teacher Observation, Student Performance and Professional Growth. If you would like to help with this effort, please email Regina Bell at [email protected]
ICYMI: DC Educator Wellness Center
In partnership with EVERFI, a social impact educational technology company, the WTU is pleased to share with you the DC Educator Wellness Center. The funding for the DC Educator Wellness Center is provided by Johnson & Johnson. In the DC Educator Wellness Center you will find access to a prevention-forward, self-guided, digital microlearning experience designed to provide you with on-demand content related to mental health. The growing list of topics includes Mental Health Basics, Managing Mental Health Challenges, Developing Resilience, Supporting Loved Ones With Mental Health Challenges, and Mindful Living. You can read more here.
We’re continuing to update our database.
Please help us ensure we have your current personal contact information on file. Email [email protected] to provide us with updated information.