The Quarterly District Newsletter November 2021

Inside This Issue: Joy! Read the latest news and greatest stories from CPS!

The second quarter may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean we’re slowing down. Get informed. Be inspired. Find joy.

Let’s finish 2021 strong!

In This Issue… A Super Update .......................................................2

News You Can Use ...................................................3

Academics and Curriculum ......................................5

Athletics and Arts....................................................6

By the Numbers .......................................................6

Parent Resources .....................................................7 Above: Students maintain Aiken High School’s nature trail.

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A SUPER UPDATE

At CPS, We Are ALL In for ALL Kids!

Dear families, employees, neighbors and partners, The second quarter is in full swing—and so is our focus on JOY and healing!

I am especially proud of our staff and their commitment to keeping schools open for the 2021 –2022 academic year! We have had 99.9% compliance with our staff vaccine policy that was approved by the CPS Board of Education in September! Even more impressive, 87% of staff are now vaccinated, and this number continues to grow. Those who are not vaccinated are tested weekly. We have already seen a significant decline in cases at CPS. Thank you for helping make sure we keep our schools open and safe for students and staff.

We remain focused on accelerated learning and have launched CPS: ALL In for ALL Kids! to take equity in education to the next level. CPS: ALL In for ALL Kids! means ensuring that ALL CPS students, regardless of school or classroom, are being taught on-grade level, teacher-recommended and board-approved curriculum, inclusive of short-cycle assessment.

Why are short-cycle, two-week assessments considered best practice? Because they connect directly to the curriculum being taught, and this data gives CPS teachers the tools they need to provide personalized support for each student. There’s no need to wait until midterms, report cards or state test results. Teachers can do what they do best—inspire and teach—armed with the information they need to keep our students on track.

As we emerge from the pandemic, and work to get our students caught up from the last academic year, it’s critical that we lead with equity and that all students are included in the process. As we embark on this journey together, I have a few shout outs!

• Teachers and administrators—THANK YOU for your recognition that ALL CPS students are brilliant and for your commitment to be ALL In for ALL Kids!

• Parents, caregivers and guardians —THANK YOU for all of your continued partnership and support —we couldn’t do it without you!

If you are interested in additional details about CPS: ALL In for ALL Kids! or our Accelerated Learning Plan, please check out the CPS website.

As the holiday season approaches, I hope you’re enjoying fall activities and that you’ll have a wonderful next few months. See page 7 for a list of upcoming holidays and other “no-school” dates. Visit cps-k12.org/community/ community-resources if you need help over the holidays or any time of year.

It’s hard to believe that we are heading into winter and 2022 already! Speaking of cold weather, snow days are back! See the article on page 7 and check out details on the CPS website.

Have a joyful and safe remainder of 2021 and beginning of 2022!

Tianay Amat Interim Superintendent

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SECTION HD

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Stay Healthy!

Make Sure Your Child:

• Stays home if they feel sick • Wears a mask while aboard the bus • Washes their hands frequently • Maintains 3-feet minimum social distancing • Doesn’t share food or drinks • Covers their mouth and nose with a tissue when

coughing or sneezing when not wearing a mask • Washes their face mask daily

Your Child Was in “Close Contact” with Someone Who Tested Positive if:

• They have been within less than 3–6 feet of the individual for 15 minutes or more

• They had direct physical contact with the individual

They must quarantine for the full 10 days since they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, but some students in quarantine may attend school.

Your Child Can Attend School if They Had Close Contact if:

• They were exposed to an individual in the classroom AND • They maintained at least 3-feet social distancing and

If they were exposed to COVID-19 in school, regardless if they are continuing in-person learning, they cannot participate in community activities:

• Ride Metro • Participate in non-school sports (i.e., at the local

recreation center) • Participate in activities outside of school, such as private

music lessons • Attend before- or after-school care

Your Child Cannot Attend School if They Had Close Contact if:

• They were exposed to COVID-19 in the community, CPS athletics, home or extracurricular activities outside of school, such as a private music lesson

• They are not fully vaccinated • They have symptoms of COVID-19 or signs of illness

If Your Child Had No Close Contact But is Displaying Symptoms:

Your child must have:

• A negative test result AND have symptom improvement to return to school OR

• A negative test result with an alternate diagnosis from their doctor, such as allergies

COVID-19 PCR test is preferred but rapid tests are accepted. No home tests are accepted.

were wearing a mask AND • They have no symptoms or are fully vaccinated (must

show proof of vaccination)

If they were exposed to COVID-19 in school and, based on the above, determined they can continue attending in person, they can participate in school-related activities:

• Ride the yellow bus • Participate in CPS athletics • Participate in extracurricular activities at school, such as

yearbook or chess club

Staff, Co-located Partners Vaccine Policy We’re making CPS as safe as possible! As of October 1, all CPS employees and co-located partners —such as health partners, resource coordinators, school resource officers and others who work in district buildings —are required to be fully vaccinated or submit a negative COVID-19 test weekly.

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NEWS YOU CAN USE

Dec. 7: Lotteries Open for 2022 –23 School Year CPS has simplified our lottery process. Magnet, high school and out-of-neighborhood lotteries now will have only one extended application period: December 7, 2021–March 11, 2022.

Previously, each lottery had multiple rounds throughout the year.

To participate, visit cps-k12.org/enroll. You’ll be prompted to create an account if you do not already have one.

Only one application may be submitted per child per school year. Placements are random. You may designate up to three school preferences. Approximately six weeks after the lotteries close, we will notify you of your child’s placement and provide registration instructions.

For families who participated in our early Montessori high school lottery: We will notify you of your placement by Nov. 30. You also may participate in the high school lottery and select a non-Montessori high school.

For more information, visit cps-k12.org/enroll.

Partner News! We’re excited to announce our new Community Learning Center (CLC) lead agencies:

• Elementz: Hip hop cultural arts center that encourages positive change through civic engagement.

• Heartfelt Tidbits: Provides support to refugees and recent immigrants.

• Learning Through Art: Teaches literacy and arts education.

Our lead agencies not only provide funding assistance, but they help meet our CLCs’ goals through programming.

In addition, several partners have expanded their CPS support, including Activities Beyond the Classroom, GRAD Cincinnati and Inspiring Service. Miami University, Western Governors University, Skool Aid and Talbert House will expand their services with the district soon.

Thank you for all you do for CPS students and families!

Schools Benefit from Full-Time Social Workers Through increased state and federal funding, there are now 71 full-time social workers (including 38 hired this school year) across almost every CPS school.

The social workers support the district’s social and emotional learning (SEL) initiatives through group sessions, home visits and crisis support and make referrals to community agencies. They also help families maintain consistent attendance.

To reach the social worker at your child’s school, please contact the school office.

CPS Hires First DEI Manager Meet Michelle Baltam, our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) manager. In this new role, Baltam will ensure every CPS student and employee feels included, respected and represented by working on district DEI policy and curriculum. She’ll also

work directly with students and staff.

“In every decision our district makes, we need to make sure every student and staff member is represented,” Baltam shared. “That’s what I’m here to do.”

Baltam is working on her PhD in social-developmental psychology from the University of Kentucky.

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SECTION HD

ACADEMICS AND CURRICULUM

Developing Critical Thinkers Does your child come home asking questions?

Our English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum challenges students to ponder questions about themselves and the world. Roughly each quarter, they study a different module, or theme. Each poses an “essential question” and has its own supporting lessons and texts.

In K –6, every module’s lesson includes a welcome, launch, learn/education period, land (student reflection), brief wrap

and a deep dive, when small groups share learnings with their teacher.

Right now, first graders are pondering, “What can we discover about animals’ unique features?” in their creature features module, while sixth graders discuss the significance of a hero’s journey.

Questions become more complex in high school. In their Holocaust module, eighth graders reflect on how we remember tragic events. How do we respond? How do we move on without forgetting? Twelfth graders consider what makes someone a hero and will face the question: “Is it sacrifice or success?”

What does this mean for your child? They’re becoming a deep, critical thinker. They’re learning to question the world and broaden their perspectives—to ask questions that don’t have easy answers.

When your child comes home asking the next big question from their ELA class, engage them in conversation even if you don’t have the answers yourself. If you ever need support, reach out to your child’s teacher.

School ‘Leaps’ Ahead with First-Grade Reading When Dale Alexander passed his literacy assessments in December 2020, two things happened:

1. He became a certified reader. 2. LEAP Academy became the first school to identify a

reader under CPS’ every-first-grader-reads goal.

LEAP Academy identified many more readers through the end of 2020–21. Principal David Conger credits several factors: engaged parents, weekly staff meetings to monitor growth, maintaining high expectations, celebrating student success and students tracking their own progress.

He also recognized teachers Katie Abney, Hope Cleland and Miranda Forsythe.

Help your aspiring reader! Principal Conger encourages families to dedicate 20 minutes to reading every night. If your child’s teacher uses Geode books, which align with what they’re learning in school, start there!

Career Tech Update For the first time ever, there are 16 full-time career coordinators serving all CPS high schools year-round.

The coordinators will ensure students receive work-based learning opportunities based on their career trajectory.

“We are now able to reach down deep at the school level and approach individual students with a very organized, dedicated plan,” said Career and Technical Education Manager Mike Turner.

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ATHLETICS AND ARTS

Alumni Go Pro! Need a new favorite NBA team? We’ve got you covered.

MaCio Teague (Walnut Hills High School, ’15) and Carlik Jones (Aiken High School, ’16) signed with the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks, respectively, this year.

Both are point and shooting guards.

Teague helped Baylor University win the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship. At Walnut Hills, he maintained a solid GPA while breaking basketball records.

An alum of Radford University and the University of Louisville, Jones earned an invitation to the NBA Summer League by his impressive play during the NBA G League Elite Camp. Self-proclaimed “hometown boy,” Jones led Aiken to a state final four appearance in 2016.

“MaCio and Carlik have proven you can achieve your dreams with persistence and hard work,” shared Athletic Director Josh Hardin.

Curriculum & Instruction

104 103 new K–12 ELA lessons languages accessible on aligned to social the TalkingPoints texting justice and social tool, allowing teachers emotional standards. and non-English speaking

students to communicate with each other.

12 world languages taught across CPS.

CPS Launches Black Music of America Program

When visiting one of 20 participating elementary schools across the district, you just might hear the sounds of gospel, blues, ragtime, jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae, soul and hip hop in the hallway thanks to our new Black Music of America Elementary School Initiative.

Every week, guest artists of color meet with fourth graders to teach them about Black music. Each classroom is stocked with instruments like guitars, basses, drum sets, keyboards and brass and woodwind instruments —allowing students without access to band or strings programs to practice music and develop new skills.

Athletics

$14K 12 across 7 academic varsity sports offered scholarships have been during the fall season. awarded by CPS Athletics Each high school over the last 4 years. participates in an average

of 4 varsity athletic contests per week.

BY THE NUMBERS

We Keep Things Local, Local, Local

63.4% of our produce has been purchased from local farms since July 2021 (as of this printing).

PARENT RESOURCES

Numbers & Sites to Know Academics: 513-363-0126

Athletics: 513-363-9501

Calendar: cps-k12.org/ news/calendar

Career & Technical Programs: 513-363-0207

Community Learning Centers: 513-363-0154

Community Resources: cps-k12.org/community/ community-resources

Early Childhood Education (Preschool): 513-363-0240

English Language Learners: 513-363-3251

Enrollment— Customer Care Center: 513-363-0123

Fine Arts: 513-363-0126

PowerSchool: cps-k12. org/families-students/ technology-tools/ powerschool

Schoology: cps-k12. org/families-students/ technology-tools/schoology

Student Dining Services: 513-363-0800

Technology Support: 513-363-0390

Transportation: 513-363-RIDE (7433)

Please update your contact information. One of the most critical steps you can take today is to ensure your home address, phone and email are updated. Please call Customer Care at 513-363-0123 or email CPSHelp@cps-k12.org.

IT Support Visit our new YouTube channel for help using CPS’ technology platforms, including Schoology, PowerSchool and the registration portal. Visit YouTube.com and search

“CPS Family Technology Support.”

Resources & Reminders • Students: Remember! You’ll need your fully charged

school-issued device every day. For help, visit cps-k12.org/families-students/technology-tools.

• Free internet is available to students and families through the Connect our Students program with Cincinnati Bell. Call 513-566-3895 or visit cps-k12.org to learn more.

• The Family Technology Support Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. M – F when school is in session. Support is available in English and Spanish. For assistance, call 513-363-0688 or email fts@cps-k12.org.

The Board of Education

Cincinnati Board of Education members are, from left, Pamela Bowers, Mike Moroski, Board President Carolyn Jones, Eve Bolton, Ben Lindy, Melanie Bates and Board Vice President Ryan Messer.

Severe Weather Protocol CPS will again observe snow days. In the event of inclement weather, students will not attend school and will not have distance learning.

When severe weather is predicted, parents should check the banner at the top of cps-k12.org or local television and radio stations for announcements.

Q2 & Q3 2021 – 22 Calendar • Nov. 24: Conference Day (no students) • Nov. 25 – 26: Thanksgiving Break (no school) • Dec. 7: Magnet, high school, out-of-neighborhood

lotteries open • Dec. 17: Last Day of Second Quarter • Dec. 20 – 31: Winter Recess (no school) • Jan. 10: Staff Professional Development Day

(no students) • Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school) • Feb. 7: Conference Day (no students) • Feb. 21: Presidents’ Day (no school) • March 7: Staff Professional Development Day

(no students) • March 11: Last Day of Third Quarter

For Cincinnati Board of Education meeting dates, please visit cps-k12.org/about-cps/board-of-education. Find all important, districtwide dates at cps-k12.org/news/calendar.

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Stay in touch!

Website: cps-k12.org

Customer Care: 513-363-0123

Facebook: @CincinnatiPublicSchools

Cincinnati Public Schools P.O. Box 5381

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Cincinnati, Ohio Permit No. 7397

Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5381

cps-k12.org

Twitter: @IamCPS

Instagram: @IamCPS

Hashtag: #CPSConnectNews

Issue 2, Volume 1

Inside This Issue: Joy!

The Quarterly District Newsletter November 2021

Marching band practice is underway for Gilbert A. Dater High School and Western Hills University High School students.