Welcome to The Assist 2020!
Wendy Zdeb, Executive Director, MASSP
There has never been a more challenging time to be a school administrator. All of you are going above and beyond on a daily basis and many of the critical tasks that keep students learning and everyone safe are responsibilities that often fall on the Assistant Principal. If you happen to have the task of being the scheduler, this has been an incredibly difficult year as it is likely you have re-run the schedule with a variety of options and had to produce a final version in record time. Those of you who aren’t the scheduler were probably involved with measuring desks, moving furniture, putting tape down in hallways, securing signs, food/tech distribution and making instructional videos
to set expectations. The to-do list has now shifted with many having students and staff back on campus and it is likely the list will grow as circumstances change on a daily basis. Please know the MASSP staff recognizes the sacrifices you have been making and we greatly appreciate everything you do to make school function. You are unsung heroes in many cases and MASSP is proud to support and represent you as members. As you read this e-newsletter will get some great perspectives from Jennifer
Thunberg, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Bay City Central HS, Andy Kowalczyk the Current President of MASSP and an Assistant Principal also at Bay City Central High School and Steve Forsberg Assistant Principal at Ludington High School. All three of these talented APs were willing to write articles and share their ideas with all of you. If you are interested in contributing an article for our upcoming editions of The Assist, we would love to hear from you. Our members love to learn from each other, and member written articles always have the highest click rates. Click the button below this article to learn how to contribute to The Assist and to view past editions!
Pandemic Leadership
at Its Best
Jennifer Thunberg, Assistant Principal, Bay City Central High School & MASSP Board of Directors Representative
I am pretty sure that none of us were prepared during our training to become administrators for a pandemic. The ever-changing target over the past 6 months has had every administrator in Michigan scrambling to stay up to date on the newest executive order, health department guideline, or CDC recommendation. Some of us are now 3 to 4 weeks into a new school year that looks anything but normal. I am not writing anything that you don’t know at this point – but I think there are some keys things that we forget as we get stuck in the hamster wheel right now. You are not alone. Read more >
Esports =
Student Engagement
Andy Kowalczyk, Assistant Principal, Bay City Central & 2020-21 MASSP Board of Directors President
MASSP recently announced a new opportunity for students to get involved with Esports. When I say “new opportunity” I mean from the perspective of a statewide league with a playoff and championship structure- the concept of Esports is certainly not new for our students. I can say with almost 100% certainty if you sent a communication to your student body and asked how many students play SMITE, Rocket League and/or League of Legends you will get many “yups” in response. These games will be the
options for those who choose to compete in the newly formed Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL). Read more >
Upcoming Important Dates:
Registration Closes: Oct-16
Fall Season Start: Oct-19
2020-21 Mantra: Safety, Flexibility and Strong Individualized Academics: Pandemic Approach Q & A with Ludington High School
Steve Forsberg, Assistant Principal, Ludington High School & MASSP Board of Directors Representative
Check out MASSP's Q & A with Steve Forsberg and learn how Ludington High is approaching the pandemic, creatively communicating with the community and what they have learned along the way! - What does your schedule look like for face-to-face students? How are you serving remote students (what % selected remote)? Do you have a hybrid
option (what % selected this)?
- How did you communicate these options to families?
- I've noticed you shoot a lot of videos to communicate. How do you get those out? Do you see a high view rate? What video seemed to get the most views or attention?
- What has been the biggest challenge presented by the pandemic?
- What do you see as a potential silver lining or something you've learned since the pandemic started?
Read
Steve's Responses >
Check out Ludington High's "What you need to know..." videos to communicate with families about the learning options being offered.
Unmasking the New Dress Code: Considerations for Student Face Coverings
Jessica E. McNamara, Thrun Law Firm
Assistant principals often have the (un)enviable duty to enforce the student dress code. This year, your school’s dress code should include a new addition: face coverings. With limited exceptions, schools in Phase 4 must require face coverings for all students kindergarten through 12th grade when in classrooms, hallways, and indoor common areas and when on a school bus. In Phase 5, student face covering requirements shift from “required” to “strongly recommended.” Learn more regarding student's refusal to wear face coverings, medical and religious exemptions, and some final thoughts. Read more >
School Athletics during
COVID-19
Piotr Matusiak, Thrun Law Firm
School athletics during COVID-19 is a hot-button issue. Some schools have cancelled fall sports, while those that are offering fall sports are pondering potential implications. For assistant principals involved in school athletics, whether as coaches or coach supervisors, becoming and remaining familiar with applicable Executive Orders and agency guidance is essential to ensuring your school’s athletic events are legally compliant and guided by the most current safety standards. While governmental immunity and liability waivers may offer some protection from potential liability, your conduct will be measured against an unsettled and evolving legal landscape. The potential liability of assistant principals involved in school sports for COVID-related illnesses or injuries will turn, in part, upon the perceived reasonableness or recklessness of their conduct. That perception will likely depend upon compliance with governmental mandates and guidance. Read more >
Principals will want to be aware that school safety drill requirements are still in effect – at least for now – for the 2020-21 school year. If you weren't aware of this, your misunderstanding is understandable since most of the other state laws that were suspended for this past spring remain suspended until September 30, but safety drills are the exception. The confusion comes because EO 2020-142 only extended the provisions in the School Aid Act and the Revised School Code and the safety drill requirements are in Michigan's Fire Prevention Code (MCL 29.19). Read the exact language and get a breakdown of the requirements! Read More >
Reminder: Safety Drill Requirements Still in Place
Bob Kefgen, MASSP Director of Government Relations
Are you new (0-3 years) to administration, new to your position or simply in need of support? MASSP's New Principal Connect series is FREE and will address key topics 6 times this year in 60-minute sessions. Topics include: Communication, Building Culture, Collaboration, Difficult Conversations, Student Voice and Parent Relationships.The pandemic has made the difficult job of a building administrator even more complex. When you are new and overwhelmed it can be difficult to find a mentor and develop a support network. Principal Connect allows you to make these important connections with statewide colleagues from your desk and are designed for you as assistant principals, deans, and principals of both middle and high school.
Build your skillset, each Zoom session is from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
First Session starts Oct-7.
Don't Forget About YOUR OWN Professional Growth
Learn about the variety of courses DLN offers ASSIST YOU!
Questions? Ryan Cayce, MASSP Director of Digital Learning Phone 810.404.3322 or email ryan@michiganprincipals.org
Learning for both students and teachers looks incredibly different this school year. With so many new learning environments to accommodate remote, virtual or hybrid instruction, your staff has been learning new skills to ensure student success. But what about YOU? It’s incredibly important that
administrators are staying informed and planning your own professional learning to ensure student and teacher success. Why not stay current and move forward in your career and walk the talk by taking online classes yourself in order to gain the experience that your students are also going through? MASSP has you covered! In order to assist with the new learning experiences many are facing, we have expanded our online course offerings through the Digital Learning Network. Read more for just a few courses that offer relevant content to your role as an Assistant Principal or Dean of Students, while being flexible and self-paced so you can decide when the best time is to log in and
learn. Read more >
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