NEWS & UPDATES

September 2006 News and Updates

Welcome back! We love this time of year at the Sub Desk. True, it is crazy busy for us. Yes, there are stacks of work waiting to be done, with more reliably streaming in. Undeniably, we’re multi-tasking like there was no tomorrow. Nevertheless, we like it! We like the buzz around the district, the excitement of gearing up for a new year, and we love that everything wonderful seems possible when that first bell rings in September. Mind you, we’re not facing ten months of backpacks full of homework to do or desks full of homework to correct. Still, it’s a great time of year. Along with the inevitable homework we look forward to kids playing fall sports on fields scattered with autumn leaves, school bands and orchestras practicing during the misty morning hours, and those elementary school field trips to pick ripe apples. Ah, we could go on and on, but we’d better get back to business.

Most importantly is that the first day of school is Tuesday September 5. You can keep up to date (yes, it’s a pun … we apologize, sometimes we can’t help ourselves) by downloading the 2006-2007 school year calendar, available by clicking the following link: http://www.spokaneschools.org/Welcome/Calendar2006-07.pdf  The Spokane Public Schools calendar is a work of art (in our humble opinion) with loads of helpful information, including holidays, non-compulsory days and the always delightful truncated days during elementary conference week. Download yours today!

Just to refresh your memory school start times are as follows:

• High Schools – 8:00 am
• Middle Schools – 8:45 am
• Elementary Schools – 9:00 am

Remember, that teaching substitutes should arrive one half hour before the start of school. Thursdays are late start days at most schools, but teaching substitutes should arrive as for a regular day. If you’d like a more comprehensive listing of school start times, including collaboration day scheduling, please download the following PDF for everything you could possibly need to know and more: http://www.spokaneschools.org/ParentResources/06-07SCHOOLTIMESCHEDULE.pdf

When you’re a sub there are a lot of ways to make a good impression and punctuality is a great first step. One of the main frustrations expressed by school staff is subs who breeze in late. Late arrivals are a cause of anxiety in the office as staff watch the clock wondering if and when they’re going to get a sub. Subs who skip out early also leave a bad impression, so please, practice your best workplace manners – make us proud!

Some substitutes have called asking us how to get a long term or sub start position. Long term and sub start teachers are hired differently from teachers who apply for, and are hired for, contract positions. With the input of the absent teacher, Principals request a specific substitute. Following approval by Staci Vesneski, Executive Director for Human Resources the sub is then contacted by the substitute office for a long term or sub start.  Sub start positions become available when we are concerned that enrollment may not reach projected levels. These positions can be heartbreakers for substitutes who start the year out with children and set up a classroom that they may lose due to enrollment shifts, classroom collapses and employee transfers among other perils of administering a shifting population of students. Nevertheless, keep in mind, if you are chosen for a long term sub or a sub start you are gaining excellent experience and the opportunity for evaluation.

Speaking of shifting populations and collapsing classrooms, if you are subbing during the first couple of weeks in September, keep in mind that the kids are making not only the transition from the glorious freedom of summer, but often have to switch classes or teachers as we settle into the new year. Please be gentle, kind, understanding and above all flexible as schools and kids “knock the edges off” and get into the groove of this shiny new year.

Big news this fall is the reopening of the three elementary schools that have been under construction since June 2004. Lidgerwood, Ridgeview and Lincoln Heights students bused to various host schools throughout the district all last year are coming home, and what a homecoming! The new schools are beautiful. You are invited celebrate their re-opening at public dedication ceremonies Sept. 5:

1. Lincoln Heights, 3322 E. 22nd, 10:30 a.m.
2. Lidgerwood, 5510 N. Lidgerwood, 1 p.m.
3. Ridgeview, 5610 N. Maple, 2:15 p.m.

Ribbon cuttings will be held at each school at 8:30 a.m. and public tours will run from 4-8 p.m. that day as well.

You’ll notice that in these updates we will often provide you with a link to a file that can be found elsewhere on the Spokane Public Schools website. We’re always on the lookout for informative pages that will help you out in the field. If you’re clicking around and find a link to one of our pages that we haven’t noticed, please send it along. While you’re at it, if you are looking for information that doesn’t seem to be there, feel free to send Kate (katem@spokaneschools.org)  a request and she’ll move heaven and earth, and hound the district tech geniuses until we get a link built. And, hey, as long as we’re making offers, if there’s information that you think would help you or others which you haven’t been able to find on-line, in your substitute handbook or through our orientation go on ahead and request that too!

Also new this fall are some changes in several Special Education programs, some of which have been relocated. Most pertinent, from the perspective of a traveling substitute, are:

1. Hillyard CAPE Preschool is now housed at Roosevelt Elementary School
2. Middle School ABLE is now housed at Shaw Middle School

As Spokane Public Schools employees, substitutes are eligible to purchase GSL season passes at a reduced price. Those passes are now on available.  They can be purchased through Cathy Agrella on the 4th floor of the district administration building or any high school business office.  The price is $30 for current employees, substitutes, or retirees and $30 for their spouse/significant other.  A maximum of two can be purchased at this price.  Price for the general public is $50.  Please note that the GSL accepts cash or checks made out to "GSL" but are not set up to accept credit cards.

Orientations for new substitutes are held approximately twice a month. These are by invitation only for new hires, but if you’ve been on the sub list for a while and are looking for a refresher, please feel free to drop in.
 

Take time during the hectic days ahead to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of approaching autumn. If you’re new to the area, don’t miss the dazzling show in Manito Park and Riverfront park as the trees take on their fall color. Make a point of heading up to Greenbluff to pick the best apples you’ll ever taste. Take yourself to a high-school cross country meet or football game to watch our kids give their best on local playing fields. Oh yes, we’re glad you’re here, have a terrific year!

Archived Updates

August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006