1. Hilliard City Schools
March, 2012
A Monthly Bulletin from the Offices of Curriculum and Instruction
The Curriculum Connection
Teacher Evaluation Training
The information for the Ohio Teacher Evaluation Training will appear in STARS as written below and be available for administrators to
register beginning on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Please be sure to register at that time.
NAME OF EVENT/TRAINING (PPS TITLE): Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) Evaluator Training
ODE Contact Hours for Attending: 21
SESSION INFORMATION/DESCRIPTION OF EVENT TO PARTICIPANTS—Appears on main page of STARS: The Ohio Teacher
Evaluation System (OTES) Evaluator Training will prepare an evaluator of teachers, as defined by the role you serve in a Local
Educational Agency (LEA), for effective, high quality and consistent staff evaluation using the OTES Model which is aligned to the
OTES Framework as adopted by the State Board of Education in November, 2011. To become a credentialed evaluator of teachers in
the State of Ohio, an individual must be properly licensed or LEA approved as a peer evaluator, participate in the three-day state-
sponsored evaluator training and pass an online credentialing assessment. Upon successful completion of the training, participants
will have access to the online assessment. The three-day state-sponsored OTES training will provide a better understanding of the
OTES Framework, including the Summative Matrix and Model, allow practice of skills such as scripting, evidence analysis/
categorizing and coaching, and allow for sharing of resources and best practices in educator evaluation. Lunch is provided on-site for
training participants.
SEATING CAPACITY: 50
DATE(s) OF EVENT: June 20-22, 2012
NAME/ADDRESS OF LOCATION (include room numbers or any additional information): Hilliard City School District- CO Annex
START/END TIMES: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Please note: Three additional Ohio Teacher Evaluation System trainings are being offered in June. If you are unable to attend the
training in the HCSD, you can register for one of these:
June 6-8- Delaware Area Career Center
June 6-8- Educational Service Center of Central Ohio
June 11-13- Worthington Education Center
District Data Teams
The April 12th District Data Team time will be used to reflect on the implementation of the 2011-2012 CIP at the building level.
Principals will be asked to share one piece of evidence, an initiative, and/or a success story that supports the progress their building
made towards one of the action steps within the CIP.
Kim and Mike will be providing more details this week.

2. The Curriculum Connection
Electronic Walkthroughs
Is your device ready to use the electronic walkthrough template? Have you been trained to use the electronic template? Please be
reminded that the expectation is for all building administrators to be ready to use the electronic template to record walkthrough visits
beginning the first day of the 2012-2013 school year.
The next training session is Tuesday, April 3rd from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. in the annex.
Please contact the Technology Helpdesk (Betsy) @ 921-7777 if there are any questions, as she is coordinating the device setups.
Feel free to also contact Rich, Mark or Jerry, if needed.
Value-Added Training
All elementary, 6th grade, and middle school administrators participated in a three hour district value-added training on March 6th and
14th. The purpose was to solidify your understanding of the value-added growth metric, show resources on the Ohio Student
Progress Portal, and provide an overview of the upcoming Roster Verification/Linkage process.
As a reminder, the second district value-added training will be a linkage work session on April 26th and May 2nd at the SSF
computer lab. You are reminded to complete the electronic staff template located in Dropbox “Value-added Training” folder.
Principals must complete their portion of the linkage process by May 8th. Teachers complete roster verification from May 8th-23rd.
Grades 6—8 Course Appeal Information
All appeals must be submitted to Mike McDonough by Monday, April 9th. Forms can be found at http://www.hilliardschools.org/
departments/currMSInformation.cfm#appeal.
All schools will be notified of the number of students appealing each course in preparation for the master schedule.
High School State of the Department Meetings
High School State of the Department meetings will occur on the following dates:
Darby: Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Bradley: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Davidson: Wednesday, April 11, 2012
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3. The Curriculum Connection
iGeneration Seminar Field Trip
Administrators who participated in the iGeneration Seminar will culminate their year-long study of the 21st century learner by
participating in a field trip to the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) on April 13th. The ACCAD is located
on The Ohio State University’s Science and Technology Campus alongside the Ohio Supercomputer Center.
The facility is a collaborative think space where professors and their students conduct research centered on the use and integration of
emerging arts technologies. It has become internationally recognized as one of the original and leading centers of its kind,
distinguished by the multidisciplinary approach to research and teaching, which is so central to its identity. The ACCAD is a creative
hub for scholars and practitioners of the digital arts and science to collaborate for thinking, creating, imagining, and above all
connecting.
The HCSD group will tour the center and physically interact with demos that will include: digital media performances, educational
games, 3D animated films, virtual worlds, 3D tracking, motion capture technology and more.
Kindergarten Screening
The 2012-2013 Kindergarten Screening appointments have taken over SSF for five weeks and are concluding. We have two last
screening opportunities on Thursday, April 5th and Wednesday, May 16th for families that were not able to attend the building’s
previous date. A 60-minute appointment time can be scheduled with Jan Hemsworth, secretary in the Department of Curriculum and
Instruction at 921-7051.
During the Screening, children are assessed in hearing, vision, academic readiness, and social/emotional readiness. School
personnel use this information to form kindergarten class rosters.
Performing Arts Course of Study Revision Update
The district’s Performing Arts Course of Study revision process continues with selected K-12 music and theatre teachers. The 28
member team of vocal, instrumental, and theatre teachers represents all levels and most buildings. The team will continue their work
sessions on May 8-9, 2012. The tentative timeline for implementation of the new Course of Study for grades K-5 is 2012-2013,
followed by grades 6-12 implementation in 2013-2014.
Social Studies Update
Throughout the 2011 – 2012 school year, the Social Studies Curriculum Revision Committee has been hard at work planning for our
upcoming course of revision at the Secondary level to be implemented in the 2013 – 2014 school year. As a part of this work, we have
developed a new course, Creating America, to begin in the 2012 – 2013 school year. Creating America will be offered to qualified
8th grade students for high school credit.
The course has been developed around the seven key events/themes: (Colonial America; Revolutionary War; Creating the U.S.
Government; The First Seven Presidents; Westward Expansion; Causes of the Civil War; and Civil War and Reconstruction) that have
helped shaped U.S. History. Additionally, these seven themes will be tied to 20th and 21st Century events to show that history repeats
itself. The course will embed PBL units throughout, and will expose students to a “hybrid” delivery model in which students will be
utilizing technology on a regular basis.
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4. The Curriculum Connection
PE Assessments
Senate Bill 210 identifies components that will make up a new measure related to health and wellness that will appear on Local and
State Report Cards for 2012-2013. These components include benchmark evaluation results using state-mandated assessments in
physical education.
Assessments have been developed for each grade band (K – 2, 3 – 5, 6 – 8, 9 – 12) for each benchmark of the Ohio Physical
Education Academic Content Standards. Beginning with the 2012 – 2013 school year, these benchmark assessments will be part of a
school’s report card. Local districts must select the best opportunity to assess student learning within each grade band.
In preparation for these new assessments, we have formed a committee of seven (7) PE teachers (2 HS, 2 MS, 3 Elementary) to
analyze our current curriculum and identify where/when the assessments will be implemented within each grade band. This
committee will assist in delivering the information and necessary training to their PE colleagues throughout the 2012 – 2013 school
year. Per state requirements, these assessments must be implemented during the 2012-2013 school year.
New Standards
Hilliard educators continue to phase in the new Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics and Ohio’s
Academic Content Standards in Science and Social Studies. Kindergarten and 1st grade is implementing all four content areas this
year.
In preparation for the 2012-2013 implementation, professional development will occur on Tuesday, April 24th (2nd grade) and
Thursday, May 3rd (3rd grade) with classroom teachers, intervention specialists, and gifted intervention specialists.
2012—2013 CIP
Work is beginning in the development of the District’s 2012-2013 continuous improvement plan. Because of the format of
administrative retreat this year and requests from principals to get the plan sooner, we will be sharing and discussing the CIP during
May District Data Team meetings.
Diagnostic Assessments
In preparation for the implementation of new standards and assessments, the district Social Studies Diagnostic Assessments have
been eliminated in grades 3, 4, 5 for May, 2012. We will continue to administer the Science Diagnostic Assessments in grades 3, 4
and 7.
The testing window will be earlier than published on the District Testing Calendar for grades 3 & 4 so that item analysis reports can
be returned and used by the buildings prior to the end of the school year. The district’s Science testing window will be May 3 or 4
to align closely to 5th grade OAA Science. The 7th grade science diagnostic will be given during the OAA testing window.
We will discuss reinstating the social studies assessments once we get further clarification on the structure/format of new state
assessments.
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5. The Curriculum Connection
Late Start Day—April 26
The fifth and final Late Start Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, 2012. During the one hour district portion of the professional
development time, teachers will engage in the “Connecting the Work” activity that was introduced during the last webinar and
principals’ meeting.
Our goal is for staff to understand that all of the strategies, techniques, assessments, and interventions that have been implemented
over the last few years are closely connected. Each helps us to ensure that all students are learning. Schools will not know whether
students are learning unless they are first clear on what students must learn. They also need to know where students are in the
learning process, and then how to intervene to ensure success for all. John Hattie suggests that we consider five (5) critical
questions when planning instructional units. When we consider these, it will help us to decide which tools in our toolkit to use, when
to use them, and how all the work connects.
1. What is it that we want our students to know and be able to do as a result of this unit?
2. How will students demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills?
3. What instructional plan will we develop to engage students and create a meaningful learning
experience?
4. How will we intervene for students who struggle and enrich the learning for those who are proficient?
5. How can we use the evidence of student learning to improve our individual and collective professional
practice?
2012 Innovative Learning Environments Conference
The 2012 Innovative Learning Environments Conference will feature a diverse blend of expert keynotes and practical breakout
sessions that focus on:
• Inquiry-Based Instruction and Assessment
• Transformative Leadership
• Global Education
• College, Career and Community Connections
• Technology Supported Learning
Featured Speakers Include:
July 30th Will Richardson, David Conley, Sara Hallerman/Buck Institute
for Education (PBL)
July 31st James Popham, Robyn Jackson, Mark Weston
August 1st Ken O’Connor, Karen Cator (USDOE), Jim Blascovich
August 2nd Kristin Kipp (National Online Teacher of the Year), Ricardo
LeBlanc-Esparza, Heather Singmaster/Asia Society
August 3rd Jack Berckemeyer, Sara Kajder, Andrew Miller/Buck Institute
For Education (PBL)
Registration will be available by mid-April:
Teachers are eligible to receive one or two daily stipends of $110 per day ($220 maximum). Teachers who wish to receive a stipend
must still pay registration fees. Stipends are awarded from the Ohio Department of Education after the conference to teachers
registered in advance, employed in an Ohio school, and in full attendance each conference day (daily sign-in required).
If a one- or two-day stipend is received for attending the ILE Conference, those days may not be used for the COI Day switch.
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6. The Curriculum Connection
Summer Academy
Classes are now posted on PDExpress for the Summer Professional Learning Academy “Opening Doors X”. The classes run for three
weeks in June: June 4-8, June 11-15, and June 18-22.
Additionally, technology classes are posted for August and run from the 7th through the 15th.
When viewing these classes, please note the letters COI “in red”. This signals that a class can be traded for a non-work day on
October 19, 2012 (COI Day).
Workshop strands focus on:
• Implementing the Common Core/State Standards
• Best practices in instructional design
• Providing students with effective interventions to address areas of need (using the RTI tiered approach)
• Utilizing differentiated instruction strategies to maximize student engagement
• Integrating technology into classroom practice.
April, 2012 Calendar Dates:
April 2—7:45-10:45 Journalism Course Development (A, B)
April 3—KG Screening @ SSF; 1-2:00 Electronic Walkthroughs/Instructional Rounds Training (Lg Annex)
April 4—KG Screening @ SSF; Gr 6-12 LEAP Collaborative (Lg Annex)
April 5—KG Screening @ SSF (overflow day); 7:45-2:45 Writer’s Craft Course Development (A, B, C)
April 6—GOOD FRIDAY—NO SCHOOL
April 9—Gr 9 MAP Window Opens; 1:00-3:00 HS Dept Facilitators (A, B, C); 3:00 & 4:30 Project Based Learning Cohort Meeting
April 10—7:45-2:45 Honors English 9 / Writer’s Craft Course Development (Lg Annex)
April 11—7:45-2:45 Social Studies Course of Study (Gr 7-12) (SSF 1/2)
April 12—7:45-2:45 Social Studies Course of Study (Gr 7-12) (SSF 1/2); 8:00-11:00 Pre K-12 Administrative Meeting (Annex);
3:30-4:45 Resident Educator Mtg (Lg Annex)
April 13—KG DIBELS Window Opens; K-5 Interims; Gr 6 MAP Window Closes; 7:45-2:45 Journalism Course Development (A, B);
10:00-12:00 The iGeneration Seminar (Lg Annex)
April 16—7:45-2:45 Public Speaking Course Development (Lg Annex)
April 17—7:45-2:45 Public Speaking Course Development (Lg Annex); 10:00-6:00 LPDC Meeting (SSF Comp Lab)
April 18—7:45-2:45 Middle School Personal Decisions Course Development (Lg Annex)
April 19—7:30-9:00 Celebrating Excellence Breakfast at Heritage Country Club; 9:00-11:00 Secondary Guidance Meeting (A, B)
4:00-6:00 K/1 iDiscovery SUM Group (WSH Rm 68)
April 20—KG DIBELS Window Closes; LC Meeting
April 23—Gr 2 District Reading Assessment; 1:00-3:00 HS Dept Facilitators
April 23-April 27—Grade 6 MAP
April 24—8:45-3:30 Gr 2 Standards Implementation (Lg Annex)
April 25—OAA READING (Gr. 3-5, 7-8)
April 26—LATE START DAY #5; 7:30-12:00 Gr 7-8 Language Arts Collaborative (Lg Annex); 12:30-3:30 Principal Value Added
Linkage Training (SSF Computer Lab)
April 27—F&P Window Opens; Gr 9 MAP Window Closes; 6-12 Interims; Master Teacher Portfolio Due; 7:45-10:45 Journalism
Course Development (A, B)
April 30—12:00-3:00 PDPC Master Teacher Review (Lg Annex)
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