January 24, 2024 edition

Share appreciation and gratitude for a fellow CIS employee. Giving a shout out is a great way to recognize an individual or group for their extra effort and talent, and to contribute to a culture of appreciation, community, and kindness.  

Nominate someone for Employee Excellence. Click here for the form and here to learn about employee recognition & appreciation at CIS of Central Texas. 

Let’s Talk Series: Postponement and Equity Fundamentals Series:

In the interim, our internal Let’s Talk Series will remain postponed until we hire our Sr. Director of Human Resources. Instead, we encourage staff to attend the Equity Fundamentals Series hosted by CIS National. The Equity Fundamentals Series will delve deeper into critical areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Here is a look at the sessions:

• February 1, Mestizaje from Borders to Windows & Mirrors

• February 15, Community-Centric Fundraising: Raising Money without Sacrificing Community Dignity

• February 29, How Can School Professionals Create an Inclusive Environment for Students and Caregivers Impacted by Invisible Disabilities

• March 14, The Future of Leadership is Queer

To register for the series please follow this link, https://communitiesinschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkcuqurzMpHNWBsU3dDxpiivka57Zp3JR6#/registration

Finance Department Update:

W2s have been mailed. Keep an eye out for them in your mailbox.

Note that all Bill.com transactions (f/k/a Divvy) through January 19 should be completed and approved.

Human Resource Department Updates:

New Background Screening Process

CISCT has experienced changes in background screening and fingerprint processes this school year. One change starting this January, and every January thereafter, CISCT will conduct background screenings through JDP screening services for all staff, AmeriCorps Members and Interns working on campus, Central or other sites.

Who: All staff, AmeriCorps members and Interns are expected to complete this clearance. Staff who completed the JDP background check as part of their onboarding process in December or January will not need to complete the JDP screening again.

For individuals working on campus, the JDP screening differs from the screening and fingerprint process conducted by school districts. If you work on a campus you will continue to follow the campus guidelines provided to you and complete the JDP background check. If you have any questions about JDP, campus background screening or the fingerprint process, please contact Yreen Ortiz at [email protected] or Dr. Hunt at [email protected].

Fees: The JDP background screenings are paid by CISCT.

What to expect: The JDP screening takes minutes to complete and results are received by HR within 24 hours.

For further information: Attend the next In the Know scheduled on February 12.

When: On Thursday, January 25 you will receive an email from Yreen Ortiz that will look like the one below. Please complete this check immediately, no later than February 16, 2024. 

GRADING PERIOD 2 PRINCIPAL REPORTS - GUIDANCE COMING FRIDAY

We are planning to have final guidance available for running Grading Period 2 Principal Reports by the end of this week. This guidance will be shared via email with all Direct Service Staff, and in next week's Apple. Please note that we are incorporating several changes into this new version, including updated progress tracking widgets showing preliminary student outcomes, as well as an easier way to capture Program Highlights (thanks for all the feedback!). 

***Remember that you can see when grades and Principal Reports are due from your Campus Account record, under 'School Calendar': 

REMINDER: DO NOT CREATE PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT RECORDS

When entering new Grading Periods, the student's Program Engagement record might not auto-populate in your 'recently used' list. Please remember to search for the Program Engagement using the First Initial. Last Name of the student, rather than creating a new Program Engagement (see example below).

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY

These new versions are informed by direct service staff and student and family feedback, and can be found on Sharefile at S:\Shared Folders\Members Only Documents\Campus Based Programs\Campus Based Programming Forms\Community Feedback Surveys. Please read through the Administration Guide before using the Community Feedback Survey! 

INACTIVATION GUIDE

As we move into reassessment, we know that many folks may be transitioning students off caseload. Please review this Inactivation Guide that details all the information you need to know about inactivating students in Apollo, including detailed screen shot guides for downloading ABA documentation for your district.

APOLLO 201: REPORTS & DASHBOARDS TRAINING 

Itching to learn reports and dashboards? Need a refresher on bulk service deliveries? Spring 2024- Apollo Training Session List.pdf for a flyer that shows all the Apollo training dates for the rest of the school year! Sign-ups are available now on Auzmor for these monthly training events.

RESOURCES & SUPPORTS 

• PMD Office Hours are Mondays 3-4pm and Fridays 8-9am via Teams. 
• Email [email protected] if you need support, have questions, or have a feature request/suggestion. 
•  Apollo FAQs.docx is a document that contains answers to commonly asked questions. PMD updates this on a weekly basis. 
• Video Walkthrough Links.docx is a list of common Apollo functions (everything covered in 101/102 and then some!) 
• PMD Apple Updates Archive.docx is a new document that lists out all of PMD's Apple updates for the year! Thanks for bearing with us as we streamline our communications. 

A Special Shout Out: Crystal Chilcoat

Program Manager Crystal Chilcoat at Decker Elementary School was awarded staff of the month! She was nominated by her principal and the Manor ISD Board presented her with the award at a ceremony last night. 

CISCT Job Openings



Click here for a list of available positions!

33rd Texas School of Social Workers Conference

Community Outreach Department Update:



The COD will be closing volunteer applications for community and service-learning volunteer applications this Spring semester on February 1^st. All volunteers who apply before this day will be on-boarded and placed on a campus. This deadline will help the Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships as she steps in to support the community outreach specialist role and department. If you have any questions about the volunteer process or volunteers in general, please reach out to Cami Warren.

PD Training for Volunteers and CIS Staff:

Description: The CIS Community Outreach Department and the Mental Health Department are partnering up to provide our first PD opportunity for our volunteer community. We are opening the training to any CIS staff who would like to attend. Please complete sign-up sheet below if you would like to attend. See flyer here. Lunch and Learn Sign Up.

Summer 2024 Youth Employment Opportunity!

Resources

NAMI Ask the Expert Presents:

An Evidence-Based Conversation on Violence and Mental Illness

Join us and guest speaker, Eric Elbogen, Ph.D., for the first Ask the Expert of the year as we discuss and empower you with facts about the relationship between violence and mental illness.

• Learn how social stigma and cognitive biases fuel false beliefs about mental illness and violence.
• Discover evidence-based research that demonstrates why the scientific link between violence and mental illness is weaker than commonly believed.
• Gain insight into how over-emphasizing mental illness as a risk factor can overshadow more pressing issues like poverty, substance abuse and lack of empathy.
• Explore promising approaches and interventions that can truly prevent violence and create a safer society for everyone.

Register Here!

Claudia Garate wanted to share this upcoming virtual conference (free!) that one of her friends puts on. There are generally great topics related to the field of education!

Please join us on Saturday March 2nd for our FREE spring 2024 UnConference 10- 2PM CST. The theme for our spring 2024 UnConference is “Igniting Change: (Re)-Building Our Collective Capacity as Anti-Racist Educators.” Please click here to register on Eventbrite. Detailed session information will be shared in the next few weeks and will be available on our website. 

We can't wait to see you on Saturday March 2nd for a fantastic day of learning!

Educators In Solidarity

Shannon from SAFE Expect Respect shared love is respect’s materials for 2024 Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). February is National teen dating and violence prevention and awareness month.

This year’s theme, “Love Like That,” was selected by the love is respect’s National Youth Council. The theme “Love Like That” is meant to uplift positive, healthy relationships by defining what “that” looks like; which is different for each person, community, and individual relationship. Shannon also shared that the materials were actually vetted by teens

You can download the 2024 TDVAM action guide here.  

Congrats this weeks Winner of a Panera Bread Gift Card is: Letsvia Reyes!

This past weekend the Cantù family enjoyed the Lego Monster Truck Show after being selected by CIS. Here is a picture of Higher Education Coach Gracy's student with his family (brothers and grandma) before going in to find their seats. This was a great opportunity for them to do something fun together that would distract them from what life has brought before them.

Communities In Schools of Central Texas surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.