AMSTI Staff Updates: July 13, 2012

July 13, 2012

There is a new travel form. Please begin using the new form. It is on our shared drive. "G" drive
Any travel (other than travel to schools) requires an agenda to be submitted with the request for reimbursement.

For recording keeping purposes, please submit travel to schools seperate from travel to state meetings.

My assumption is that unless I receive an "invite" from you on Google calendar, that you are here from 8-430 or 7-330 (guys 6-230).

Please, please, please, please remember to "invite Kay and Tanya" to any event that will take you out of the office/school regardless if it is NCD, annual leave, sick leave, using time spent/worked during summer training, etc. If your event is after hours (after 3:30 or 4:30 depending on whether you arrive at 7 or 8) then we do not need to be invited. I can not stress the importance of this enough. This is very important.This has to become a habit for everyone. The invites need to be in advance and not last minute unless something comes up. Please keep your calendar updated at least weekly. As soon as you know you are going to need to be out of the office, please place it on the calendar.
I think it would be a good idea to print your calendar each month at the end of the month and keep a copy. Google calendar does NOT keep dates forever.
I am open to any other way that you may think of in order for you to "request/document" time off. We do not "sign in" or have any other record therefore our Google Calendar is our documentation.

I can keep a calendar in my office and you can come write you dates down in it.
I can create a form that you submit to me for days you are going to be off for whatever reason.
Regardless of what method we decide upon for you to let me know that you are requesting to be out of work, your Google Calendar will have to be up to date as our documentation of days worked.

August 3, 2012 meeting - RSS: We will need to travel on August 2nd because as I understand it, the meeting begins at 8 am and is in Montgomery. We do not have details. As soon as I have details, I will share them with you.

August 6, 2012 : Staff meeting, debrief from August 3rd and make any adjustment to plans based on what we heard on August 3rd. 9:00 am
Be prepared/forewarned: Something was shared with me that I feel the need to pass on to you. The SDE boss, not anyone with AMSTI, from here on out, regardless of our plans, if we are asked to attend a meeting, (SDE) then we will have to change our plans and be there. The SDE person in charge excepts no excuses and is not polite about it. We were advised to tell everyone that they had to be there on August 3rd. Steve is the one that is giving us permission for those on vacation not to be there.

August 29-30, 2012 meeting: RSS, We will need to travel on August 28th.
The other RSS meetings should be in our InService Region. We will know more after August 3, and 29-30.

September 10, 2012 : Staff meeting if needed to debrief from August 29-30 RSS meeting. We will plan to debrief as needed after each of these meetings. 9:00 am

September 4-6, 2012: 7 Habits PD for all staff. AMSTI JSU employees who have never had the 7 habits PD will receive a workbook. Those of us who have been through it before, bring your workbook you used previously and we will use a journal for the writing. If you want to clip it in the workbook you can or you can just use the journal.

The session is open to all AMSTI sites in case in one from another site contacts you. They need to register through the InService Center and provide their own 7 Habits Workbook.

I need everyone to look up 7 schools and enter their data on a spreadsheet (that I will provide) for any year that we do not have their ARMT scores (levels 1, 2, 3, and 4). You can work on past years scores now and add in this years scores when they are posted. I will add the spreadsheet to a google document next week and you can work on it whenever you can.

More changes for Calhoun County: According to the Annsiston Star, July 11 edition:

Crystal Sparks (formerly AP at Weaver Elementary) is the new AP at Alexandria HS.
Jonathan Gilbert (formerly AP at White Plains E) is new Principal at White Plains HS. Polly will remember him as one of our LAMST teachers from Anniston. (Golden Springs E, maybe)

Mark Proper (formerly AP at Pleasant Valley HS) is the new Principal at Pleasant Valley HS.

I have created a Google Document. Please record the serial number and the location (building and room where you are located) of all equipment issue to you. Laptops, desktops, any printer you use. (shared printers need to be listed only once.) If there is a JSU sticker on it, please record that number.
Auditors will make random walk through checks.
Barry, please include the "Big Joe" and any other equipment in the warehouse that is pricey

Pictures: So, everytime I thought we would have picture day, I forgot. So.... if someone will get a camera from 3170 and set a day for picture day, if you want your AMSTI.org picture updated, you can get a new picture made. Who will volunteer to be the photographer? Just let me know and set a date for picture day.
Dr. Carr's retirement: We have received an invitation to attend Dr. Carr's retirement reception on july 23, 2012 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at the Houston Cole Library 12th floor.
August 6 and 7th: Science year 1 kit training: K, 2nd, and 4th
August 8 and 9th: Science year 1 kit training: 1st, 3rd, and 5th

Friday, July 13, 2012