Building Connections

🍂 Welcome to November: Focus, Gratitude & Purpose

As we step into Week 13, Days 58-62, we also welcome November, a season filled with change, reflection, and gratitude. Just as fall reminds us that growth often comes through change, this is a meaningful moment to pause and recognize how far we have come while remaining focused on the important work still ahead.

💙 Leading with Gratitude

To each of our principals, thank you.

Thank you for staying focused on the mission amid the many demands competing for your attention. Thank you for lifting your teachers, supporting your teams, solving problems, celebrating progress, and continuing to create the conditions where students can thrive.

Your leadership matters, and your consistency is making a difference.

🎯 14 Instructional Days to PM2

With the PM2 window opening in just 14 instructional days, our opportunity is clear. These next days are precious instructional time to deepen knowledge, address misconceptions, strengthen student thinking, and respond to evidence of learning.

As you lead this week, keep asking:

🔹 What are students thinking, saying, writing, and doing that demonstrates learning?
🔹 What does evidence of learning look like in every classroom?
🔹 Do teachers know which students understand and which students need something different?
🔹 How are we adjusting now so that every remaining instructional day has maximum impact?

🌟 Stay Focused on What Matters Most

There will always be noise. Our challenge is to remain anchored in the work that matters most.

14 days. Stay focused. Support your people. Strengthen the learning. Celebrate the progress.

As we enter this season of gratitude, please know how grateful we are for you, for the leadership you provide each day and for your unwavering commitment to our students, teachers, families, and schools.

Welcome to November. Let's make the next 14 instructional days count! 🍁💙📚🎯

Building Connections | November 2-6, 2026

Week 13 | Days 58-62

INSTRUCTIONAL NUGGET:

Please help us spread the word by sharing the attached flyer with your school community regarding Peggy Choudry's (D1 Commissioner) 6th Annual Anti-Bullying Event, "Chalk Away Hate," taking place on November 7, 2026.

This meaningful event promotes kindness, inclusion, and standing up against bullying while providing students and families with an opportunity to make a positive impact in their community. We encourage you to share the flyer with staff, students, and families to help maximize participation and awareness.

Thank you!

Principals,

As part of the site-based budgeting process, you may request the transfer of salary savings generated by vacant positions to support other operational needs.

The request form for the first quarter of the fiscal year is now available here:

SALARY SAVINGS REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST - Q1

Please submit requests by Friday, November 13th, for current positions that were vacant between July 1 and September 30, 2026. Positions that were reduced as part of the Day 15 budget adjustments are not eligible.

You will need the information below to complete the form:

• Position title and position number
• Dates the position was vacant, including start and end dates
• Reason for the vacancy (e.g., unfilled, FMLA, leave of absence, etc.)

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Budget Department at budget@osceolaschools.net.

The Space Academy recently highlighted in Building Connections is not a new standalone program, but rather an initiative designed to enhance and support existing trade and cybersecurity programs. Through Space Academy, participating programs gain access to ORBIT, a platform that connects students and educators with Florida’s growing space industry and the wide range of career opportunities it offers. This access helps bridge classroom learning with real-world industry pathways, providing valuable resources, industry insights, and workforce connections. In addition, the program offers promotional materials and educational resources that increase awareness of the space industry and help inspire students to explore careers that support Florida’s expanding aerospace and technology sectors.

To help clarify the timeline for industry certification testing, it is perfectly acceptable to begin the testing process during the latter part of the first semester, provided students have demonstrated readiness. Students who are returning to a program and have already developed the necessary knowledge and skills may test as soon as they are prepared. As always, we should continue to follow the established process of ensuring students successfully pass a practice exam prior to sitting for the industry certification exam. This approach helps verify student readiness, supports higher pass rates, and ensures certifications are earned when students are fully prepared to be successful.

By new Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) requirements, all industry certification exams must be administered on a secure, locked-down testing platform. This measure helps maintain the integrity of the testing process by preventing students from accessing artificial intelligence tools, internet resources, or other unauthorized applications during an exam. Our certification partners, along with the District Information Services Department, are working closely with us to ensure that the necessary systems and procedures are in place so that we remain fully compliant with these requirements while providing a smooth testing experience for students.

Happy Halloween

Tim, Stephen, and Joe.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department is excited to announce Osceola County’s 5th Annual High School Culinary Competition! Please save the date as our talented student chefs prepare to showcase their creativity, teamwork, and culinary skills.

March 9, 2027
Osceola Heritage Park
1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744

From appetizers to desserts, this event celebrates the talent and dedication of students in our high school culinary programs. Competition categories will include:

• Knife Skills
• Dessert
• Mystery Menu
• Waiters Relay
• Appetizers
• Tablescaping

We’re also adding a brand-new event to this year’s lineup—stay tuned for the reveal!

Please see the attached Save the Date flyer and mark your calendars. Additional details will follow as we get ready to celebrate our students and the educators who help them shine.

We look forward to sharing what’s cooking in CTE!

As we move deeper into the school year, school leaders must maintain a clear connection between school goals, teacher goals, student performance, and instructional actions.

During the November meeting, principals and assistant principals will discuss the following artifacts and share how data is driving decisions for students, teachers, and school improvement efforts:

• One schoolwide proficiency goal in a state-tested area
• Aligned teacher goals for the selected area
• Student proficiency projections based on:
• PM1 or Quarter 1 data
• Unit assessments
• Additional progress monitoring data (e.g., Progress Learning)
• A summary showing:
• Students projected proficient
• Students projected not proficient
• Progress toward the school goal
• Teacher-level data displaying:
• Progress toward teacher goals
• Projected proficiency rates
• A targeted list of students not currently projected to meet proficiency but needed to achieve the school goal

Be prepared to discuss selected students, including:

• Why the student is off track
• Identified instructional gaps
• Current interventions and supports
• Tutoring, acceleration, or enrichment opportunities
• Progress-monitoring measures
• Next steps and timelines

Additionally, provide evidence that these plans are regularly monitored through PLCs, data chats, leadership meetings, or other problem-solving structures.

Goal: Clearly demonstrate how student performance data is informing instructional decisions and how leadership teams are strategically supporting students toward proficiency.

Educational research consistently identifies the systematic tracking of student achievement data by teachers and students as an effective instructional practice. When implemented well, data tracking helps teachers identify student needs, adjust instruction, evaluate interventions, and collaborate effectively. It also helps students understand expectations, recognize their growth, reflect on their learning, and take greater ownership of their progress.

Thank you for maintaining the expectation that data tracking be a shared responsibility between teachers and students and is incorporated appropriately into the instructional process.

Know that management maintains the right to establish and enforce data tracking expectations consistent with conditions of the Instructional Employees Contract, School Board Policy, and applicable state and federal laws. Within those parameters, management also retains the authority to determine the format, processes, and tools used to support this high-leverage instructional practice. As you implement and monitor these expectations at your schools, please ensure the following to remain within parameters of policy:

• Teachers cannot be required to directly transpose student data that already exists in a currently available state or School District data platform. Section 5.08-5 of the Teacher Contract specifically addresses this requirement. Any current practice requiring teachers to directly transpose existing data from one platform to another template should cease.

• Student privacy must be protected. Student-specific achievement or progress data displayed publicly in classrooms or other public areas should not include student names, initials, or other information that could identify an individual student.

• De-identified or aggregated data may be used to communicate and monitor academic progress when individual students cannot reasonably be identified.

Potential Revision:

Student-specific achievement or progress data displayed publicly in classrooms or other public areas should not include student names, initials, or other information that could identify an individual student.

Our expectation is not to eliminate meaningful data tracking. Rather, we want to ensure that this high-leverage instructional practice is implemented in a manner that is instructionally meaningful, efficient for teachers, engaging for students, consistent with contractual requirements, and protective of student privacy.

Please see the attached memorandum regarding the Thanksgiving Break Closure and Early Release time.

• On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, schools will follow the normal Wednesday bell schedule with students dismissed one hour early.

• On Friday, November 20, 2026, schools will also follow the Wednesday bell schedule with students dismissed one hour early.

• Thanksgiving Break Closure: All Osceola County public schools, departments, and district administrative offices will be closed Monday, November 23, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026. The district and all schools will reopen Monday, November 30, 2026.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Chief of Staff and Strategy Office at 407-518-2901.

Please review the attached memorandum regarding Early Release prior to Veterans Day. Should you have any questions, please reach out to the Office of Chief of Staff and Strategy at 407-518-2901. Thank you!

Florida provides registered voters multiple opportunities to vote, such as mail-in ballots and early voting locations as well as polls on Election Days.

Please also be aware of the following contract language that permits employees to leave work after student dismissal on Election Day.

This information was first shared in the Proactive Labor Relations Memo [attachment; Item 23, page 30].

Article VI: Teaching Days and Hours

6.12 Election Days

On election days, teachers may leave at the close of the student day after the safe dismissal of students for the purpose of voting. No teacher shall be required to stay beyond the regular workday on election days.

The school administration shall not schedule a school-related event after the regular workday on election days, with the exception of an FHSAA event or other similar event beyond the control of the school administrator. In cases where such an event is scheduled, the school administrator and the teacher may schedule in advance as feasible a date for the teacher to leave early for the purposes of early voting.

Education Staff Professionals Employees’ Contract

Article XIII: Hours of Work

Section K. Election Days

On election days, professional support staff employees may leave at the close of the student day after the safe dismissal of students for the purpose of voting. No professional support staff employee shall be required to stay beyond the regular workday on election days except employees who may be assigned on a rotating basis to cover the work site front office in order to provide essential services to parents and the general public.

The school administration shall not schedule a school-related event after the regular workday on election days, with the exception of an FHSAA event or other similar event beyond the control of the school administrator. In cases where such an event is scheduled and a professional support staff employee is required to attend, the school administrator and the employee may schedule in advance as feasible a date for the employee to leave early for the purposes of early voting.

Principals are encouraged to share this opportunity with paraprofessionals and other staff interested in becoming teachers. Through the Rollins College Pathways to Teaching Program, eligible employees can earn a bachelor's degree (at a very discounted rate) in education while continuing their employment with SDOC. Interested staff can learn more about program requirements, benefits, and register for an informational session on November 12 using the link below.

Rollins Pathways to Teaching program

Probationary and Annual Contracts will be placed in each school’s OneDrive folder on Monday, October 19, 2026. Please have your secretary distribute two copies to each teacher: one for the teacher’s record and one to be signed and returned to the school secretary.

Administration is asked to monitor the return of contracts. If a teacher does not return their signed contract, administration is asked to make direct, face-to-face contact with the teacher to obtain the signed contract. Once all contracts have been returned, secretaries are asked to please upload the signed contracts, in alphabetical order, to your school’s OneDrive folder.

In accordance with Florida Statute 1012.335, instructional personnel are issued Probationary or Annual Contracts based on their applicable contract status. The deadline for returning signed contracts is Monday, November 2, 2026. Please ensure that all contracts are signed and returned prior to the deadline.

Thank you for your assistance in ensuring that all contracts are completed and returned in a timely manner.

Please review and follow the checklist below before you contact Human Resources.

1. Current School Year?

Did the employee complete the SDOC Employee Orientation Annual Requirement for the current school year? Completion in a previous school year does not satisfy the recurring annual requirement.

☐ YES ☐ NO

2. Correct Link?

Did the employee go to the appropriate SDOC Employee Orientation Annual Requirement link that appears in the SDOC Employee Orientation Flyer [e.g., page 6 of this document]?

☐ YES ☐ NO

3. All Modules?

Did the employee follow the directions on the SDOC Employee Orientation Microsoft Form correctly to complete all modules and click on the final “Submit” button of the SDOC Employee Orientation Microsoft Form?

☐ YES ☐ NO

4. Correct Employee ID Number?

Did the employee enter the correct Employee ID Number (EIDN) [e.g., no inverted digits]?

☐ YES ☐ NO

5. Confirmation E-Mail?

Did the employee request and receive the confirmation e-mail that verifies completion? A screenshot is never acceptable, and the employee must forward the confirmation e-mail to you. The original e-mail must contain a date within the current school year.

☐ YES ☐ NO

6. Completion After Date of Data Retrieval?

Did the employee complete the SDOC Employee Orientation Microsoft Form before the date and time the data was extracted for the report (e.g., the date in the report file title)?

☐ YES ☐ NO

7. Final Determination

If the answer to all of the above questions is “Yes,” then please e-mail the employee’s name and Employee ID Number to John Boyd [john.boyd@osceolaschools.net] for verification.

☐ YES ☐ NO

Access Steps for Current and Newly Hired Employees

• Only employees with an Active Directory account may access and complete our 2026-27 SDOC Employee Orientation Microsoft Form.

• Newly hired employees without an Active Directory account may:

• access and/ or download a digital copy of our new 2026-27 SDOC Employee Orientation Companion Guide on our SDOC Employee Orientation webpage of our School District’s public website at: https://www.osceolaschools.net/23247_4;
• follow the links within this document or the links on our webpage itself to watch all related training module videos; and
• complete our 2026-27 SDOC Employee Orientation Microsoft Form after receiving an SDOC Active Directory account.

• Remember that all employees must use the new link to our new form:

https://forms.office.com/r/VDYL5t1tda

• Human Resources remains committed to assist site administrators, supervisors, and managers with HR procedures and concerns.
• The following communication protocol applies to all employee investigations, including calls to DCF, and progressive discipline.
• The purpose of this protocol is to ensure administrators receive efficient and effective support.
• All employees, including but not limited to administrators, of the School District of Osceola County who know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused, abandoned, or neglected child shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Florida Abuse Hotline (1-800-96-ABUSE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Prior authorization to call DCF is NOT required.
• Before you contact Human Resources, administrators are expected to locate and review related procedures. This step alone may answer your questions because all HR procedures documents list required steps and link to appropriate forms. As part of annual training, administrators acknowledged this requirement within the corresponding Microsoft Form.

o SDOC Employee Investigation Procedures Checklist

o SDOC Progressive Discipline Procedures Checklist

• Questions for HR should be about specific details of a complaint, concern, or incident that may require more support beyond the procedures, not about routines or forms.

• After you have reviewed HR procedures, if you still have questions, contact specific HR staff listed below in the following numerical order (unless state law or School District policy requires you to report information to the Chief Human Resources Officer directly):

1. Ruth McConnell-Bailey, District HR Investigator, ext. 65031
2. Sadaris Cheatham, Coordinator of Employee Relations, ext. 65016
3. John Boyd, Executive Director of Government and Labor Relations, ext. 65041
4. Dr. Karyle Green, Chief Human Resources Officer, ext. 65005

• If the HR contact listed is not available, then you may proceed to the next level contact for support.

• Once you begin receiving support from one of the above contacts, continue with the same contact unless the HR contact refers you to another HR contact.

• Polling for different answers from different HR contacts is not appropriate and may create legal risk and may be subject to progressive discipline.

As our school district prepares for the upcoming Choice Fair, I am asking every school to display a Choice Fair message on your school marquee from November 6 through November 19. Our Choice Fair is one of the most important opportunities we have to showcase the outstanding educational options available throughout the Osceola School District, and consistent communication on our marquees across the county helps ensure families, who have children in our schools or not, are informed about the opportunity.

This effort is about more than promoting an event—it is about promoting our district. Every school benefits when we work together to highlight the high-quality programs, dedicated staff, and unique opportunities that make Osceola public schools a destination district for families. A unified message across all marquees demonstrates our collective commitment to serving students and supporting informed school choice decisions.

Thank you in advance for your partnership and for helping us send a strong, consistent message to our community. Several samples of marquee wording from which to choose from are included below. Please ensure it is displayed continuously from November 6-19.

Explore School Choice

School Choice Fair • Nov. 19

Osceola Heritage Park • 5-7:30 PM

Discover What Osceola Schools Offer

School Choice Fair • Nov. 19 • 5-7:30 PM

Osceola Heritage Park

One Night. Endless Program Possibilities.

Visit SDOC School Choice Fair

Nov. 19 5-7:30 PM Osceola Heritage Park

**Extra-short marquee version (for character-limited signs):

School Choice Fair • Nov. 19 • OHP • 5-7:30 PM

The countdown is on! With just three weeks remaining until the School Choice Fair, now is the perfect time for schools and departments to make sure they are ready to engage, inform, and inspire families. The Choice Fair provides an incredible opportunity to showcase your school's unique programs, celebrate student success, and help families explore the educational opportunities available throughout our district.

To ensure a successful event, we encourage all participating schools to review the checklist below and complete any remaining tasks as soon as possible.

Choice Fair 3-Week Countdown Checklist

I. ‎Marketing & Promotion

1. Promote the Choice Fair on your school's website

2. Share Choice Fair information on social media platforms

3. Include Choice Fair details in school newsletters and parent communications

4. Encourage staff, students, and families to attend

II. Booth & Display Preparation

1. Confirm that backdrop, retractable banner, tablecloths are ready

2. Confirm that giveaways and promotional items are ready

3. Ensure displays highlight your school's unique programs, achievements, and opportunities

4. Test any technology, videos, or presentations you plan to use

5. Prepare interactive activities to engage families and students

III. Printed Materials

1. Order or print brochures, business cards, flyers, and handouts (Printshop)

2. Verify all information is accurate and up to date

3. Include QR codes linking families to your school's website, Choice website, or Choice district website application information

4. Bring enough materials for the anticipated attendance

IV. Staffing & Logistics

1. Confirm booth staff and attendance schedules

2. Ensure team members are familiar with Choice application procedures and timelines

3. Assign responsibilities for setup, family engagement, and breakdown @7:30 PM

4. Share arrival, parking, and event logistics with participating staff - Use the BACK DOOR of the EVENT CENTER

V. Family Engagement

1. Highlight academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and school culture

2. Be ready to discuss transportation, application deadlines, and enrollment requirement parents and students knows

3. Create a welcoming and engaging experience for families

VI. Help Us Spread the Word!

As we enter the final three-week countdown, we ask all schools to help maximize community awareness by sharing Choice Fair information through your communication channels. Every post, newsletter article, website update, and family reminder helps ensure that parents and students are informed about the many educational opportunities available across our district.

Together, we can make this year's Choice Fair another successful event. Thank you for your partnership and commitment to helping families discover their School Choice options.

• Please share the 3-week countdown: https://canva.link/5rxa7sz2620o4ko

• Giveaways reel: https://canva.link/xqq9bznubgrrysy

For those who would like to review it, below is the link to the presentation from the last Principal Meeting.

• https://canva.link/6v96wrslh9d6bml

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to educational excellence. Through innovation, collaboration, and Choice, we ensure that every student has the opportunity to belong, learn, and lead.

For questions, please email Adriana Casillas.

The School District of Osceola County (SDOC) Grants Management Department has been selected for a full onsite federal audit during the 2027–2028 school year. The audit will include Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title IX, and UniSIG grants.

Preparing for this review is a shared responsibility. Schools and departments that manage or use these grant funds play an essential role in maintaining accurate records, following required procedures, and documenting how expenditures support approved grant activities.

To support our preparation, Grants Management will share practical guidance in Building Connections through a series of audit preparation articles. Each article will highlight a key requirement and steps staff can take to strengthen daily grant practices.

We begin with Grants Management Audit: Preparation Tip #1: Grant Expenditures—Prior Approval Is Essential.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring that grant funds are managed responsibly and used effectively to support our students and schools.

As stewards of grant funds, principals and department leaders play an essential role in ensuring that expenditures support our students while meeting district procedures and grant requirements. All grant-funded expenditure requests must be submitted through the established Grants Management approval process before purchases are made or financial commitments are incurred. Submitting a request does not constitute approval; the required approvals must be obtained before proceeding.

A corrective action form is not a substitute for prior approval. When a purchase occurs outside established procedures, completing a form does not erase the incident, retroactively authorize the expenditure, or automatically resolve the compliance concern. Corrective action documents the issue and the steps needed to prevent recurrence; the expenditure still requires review and may require additional resolution.

These expectations are especially important as SDOC prepares for a major federal audit of all grants during the 2027–2028 school year. Consistent adherence to expenditure protocols, complete supporting documentation, and timely approvals help demonstrate strong internal controls and responsible stewardship of grant funds. Audit readiness depends on the practices we follow every day.

Please share this reminder with staff who initiate or process grant-funded purchases and allow sufficient time for review and approval. If you are unsure whether an expenditure is allowable or which approval process applies, contact Grants Management before moving forward. Thank you for your partnership in protecting district resources and ensuring that grant funds continue to serve our students effectively.

Grants Management Contacts

• Valerie Martin x65366
• Elizabeth Gonzalez x65373
• Carol Ramos-Torres x65025

The SDOC Grants Management Department now has a Grants Management Procedures Manual to support schools and departments in administering grant funds. This resource provides guidance to help staff understand procedures, fulfill their grant responsibilities, and maintain consistent practices.

We encourage you to bookmark the Grants Management Procedures Manual and refer to it regularly. For questions or assistance, please contact the Grants Management Department.

For additional guidance related to Preparation Tip #1, please consult the Grants Management Procedures Manual: Section 2, “Internal Expenditure Procedures for Grant Funds,” pp. 12–15 and remember expenditure requests must be approved before initiating grant-funded expenditures.

Thank you for your assistance and support. We greatly appreciate your help. Please let us know if you have any questions or if any additional information is needed.

Have a wonderful day!

🍂 SDOC Basket Brigade Returns for Its 4th Annual Event! 🦃

Great News! The Grants Management Department is excited to once again coordinate the 4th Annual SDOC Basket Brigade, bringing our school district and community together to support SDOC students and families during the Thanksgiving season.

📅 Event Date: November 21, 2026
🕣 Time: 8:30 a.m.
📍 Location: Transportation East, 5750 Nova Road, St. Cloud, FL 34771

This year, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. Through the generosity of SDOC departments, schools, and community partners, our goal is to provide more than 1,000 customized Thanksgiving food baskets to students and families in need.

Of those baskets:

• Over 600 baskets will be filled with donated food items provided by the Boy Scouts of America.
• 400 baskets will be donated and assembled by SDOC departments and schools.

How Your School/Department Can Help

We invite your school/department to be part of this meaningful tradition by sponsoring and filling Thanksgiving baskets with non-perishable food items.

Beginning this week, Grants Management staff will deliver baskets to participating departments upon request.

In addition, we kindly ask each school/department include a $10-$15 gift card to help families purchase a protein item for their Thanksgiving meal.

Get Involved

To request baskets, volunteer to assist with basket deliveries, or learn more about participating, please contact:

Lizette Robles
📞 Ext. 65361
📧 Lizette.Robles@osceolaschools.net

When contacting Lizette, please include:

• The number of baskets your department would like to sponsor
• A department contact name
• Whether you are interested in volunteering for basket deliveries

Feel free to share the attached informational flyers which include a list of suggested items for each basket and how to volunteer.

Additional instructions regarding completed baskets will be provided during the week of November 9, 2026. Thank You!

Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of our students and families. Your generosity and commitment to serving our community embody the spirit of Thanksgiving and demonstrate the incredible compassion of the SDOC family.

Watch Last Year's SDOC Basket Brigade in Action!

🎥 https://youtu.be/bwunp6_X0C0

Together, we can make this year's Basket Brigade our most successful yet! 🍂🧡

As part of our ongoing efforts to protect the District’s network and information systems, we are working to ensure that all District-managed devices are running a supported version of Windows.

Microsoft has ended support for Windows 10, which means Windows 10 devices no longer receive regular security updates or technical support from Microsoft. Continuing to use unsupported operating systems can increase the risk of security vulnerabilities and potential threats to our network.

To help maintain a secure computing environment, all remaining Windows 10 devices must be upgraded to the latest supported version of Windows 11 by November 20, 2026.

What you need to know:
If your District device is still running Windows 10, please complete the Windows 11 upgrade as soon as possible.

Beginning November 20, 2026, any remaining Windows 10 devices will be network contained and will no longer be able to access District network resources until the device has been upgraded to Windows 11.

If you are unsure whether your device is running Windows 10 or Windows 11, or if you need assistance completing the upgrade, please contact the IT Department for assistance.

We understand that upgrades can sometimes be inconvenient, and we appreciate your cooperation as we work to keep our District systems, staff, and students protected.

Thank you for helping us maintain a secure and supported technology environment.

The Media and Instructional Technology Department is currently undergoing a complete integrity review of all library media collections. This review includes classroom libraries. All teachers must review their classroom libraries and submit their books in the Beanstack Classroom Connector for library review. Each time a teacher brings a new book into their classroom, it must be submitted for review.

Principals will need to verify with each teacher on campus that all classroom library books have been submitted. Principals will then submit a verification form stating that all classroom library books have been submitted to the Classroom Connector tool. Classroom Library Books Verification – Fill out form

The media specialist will then review each title in the classroom libraries. In addition to the classroom library review, media specialists are required to analyze their library collection on site to ensure statutory compliance. Media Specialists need to be given adequate time during their contract hours to complete these review tasks, with assistance from the Media and Instructional Technology Department.

Principal verification must be completed by Friday, November 6, 2026. The Media and Instructional Technology Department anticipates the full integrity review will be completed by December 11 2026.

Help keep our schools safe. If you see a concerning social media post, threat, or suspicious message, report it immediately to local law enforcement, school administrators, or appropriate authorities. Do not repost, share, or circulate the content using various social media platforms, as doing so can spread fear, create confusion, and hinder ongoing investigations.

School and law enforcement officials take every threat seriously and work together to investigate and assess potential risks. Your cooperation helps ensure accurate information is received promptly and allows investigators to respond effectively.

Together, we can maintain a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for all students and staff.

Prepare to enhance your holiday celebrations with the District Diner catering service from School Nutrition Services! Our catering is ideal for any gathering and features a carefully curated menu of seasonal favorites that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. With limited availability, be sure to secure your order soon!

Please remember that all orders are for pick-up only, so you can enjoy the freshest flavors straight from our kitchen to your table. You will be given insulated coolers to transport your meal and all we ask is you return them to the closest SNS kitchen after your event. Reserve your spot today for a memorable holiday feast for you and your staff! Review the attached document for menus and reservation information.

With the completion of our first progress monitoring window and universal screening of second-grade students using the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Screener (NNAT), we are entering an important phase of the gifted identification process.

We encourage school administrators and instructional teams to review student performance data and consider students who consistently demonstrate characteristics of advanced cognitive ability. This should include students who earned a Level 5 on both PM1 FAST Reading and Mathematics assessments, as these students may be strong candidates for a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation to determine gifted eligibility.

• Next Steps
• Collaborate with your school counselor to review student data.
• Identify students who meet district criteria and may be eligible to move forward with a comprehensive evaluation.
• Submit referrals according to established district procedures.

Did You Know? Each student identified as gifted generates approximately $2,100 in FTE funding for the district, with approximately $1,680 allocated directly to the school's site-based budget.

Gifted Education Week | November 2-6, 2026

• Give your teachers a well-deserved shout-out for the work they do to support and challenge gifted learners each day.
• Celebrate your gifted students with a special recognition, activity, or opportunity that highlights their unique talents and contributions.
• Take time this week to make students feel seen, valued, and appreciated for who they are and all they bring to your school community.

Let's celebrate the learners, educators, and programs that help gifted students thrive! 🎉🌟

AP Exam Ordering Deadlines

📅 AP Exam Order Deadline: November 13, 2026

• Place orders early and make adjustments as needed before the deadline.
• Include students eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) when possible to maximize available fee reductions and support your testing budget.
• FRL status may be updated in AP Registration and Ordering through April 30, 2027.

📅 Accommodation Deadline: January 22, 2027

• SSD Coordinators must submit accommodation requests and supporting documentation through SSD Online.

💲 Late Order Fee: $40 per student

Planning ahead now can help avoid additional costs and ensure all students receive the supports they need.

MTSS K-12 Systems Check

Intervention Overview

• Are you reviewing the Intervention Overview during your direct report meetings each week?
• The best way to ensure interventions are being implemented with fidelity is to monitor them consistently.
• Review academic and behavior progress monitoring data weekly and use the information to guide decisions, identify barriers, and adjust supports as needed.

Meetings Feature

• Are you utilizing the Meetings feature for both PST Leadership Team meetings and PST meetings with teachers?
• This feature increases transparency by keeping meeting notes, student data, action items, and follow-up tasks in one location.
• Additional benefits include:
• Automated email notifications
• Task and to-do list creation
• Improved accountability for assigned actions
• Easier monitoring of implementation and follow-through

Data Walls

• Are your data walls only being used by your leadership team?
• Remember, for teachers to truly own the data, they must have access to it and be supported in using it to drive instructional and intervention decisions.
• Have you identified students whose percentile rank has decreased by 25% or more?
• Have you completed a PM3-to-PM1 benchmark comparison data wall?
• Have you identified the specific benchmarks that are limiting student growth and learning gains?

Elementary & K-8 Compliance- Florida Statute 1008.25

• All substantial deficient students K-3 Reading & K-4 Math were tagged, and deficiency letters were created (IIP)
• REA and the Transformation office are going through all letters to ensure that interventions are set up and that the intervention has progress monitoring data
• Mr. Ballone will follow up with any schools that does not have progress monitoring data for a substantial deficient student.
• Individual Intervention Plan (IIP) letters will be sent out starting today.

Please be aware that district provided consumable materials for 5th grade cursive writing instruction have been shipped to schools. Materials were addressed to the attention of the school principal.

As part of the K-12 Mathematics Instructional Materials Adoption process, each school is asked to identify and submit its Textbook Adoption Committee representative(s). Representative selection should be a collaborative decision between school administration and instructional staff, with teachers comprising the majority of committee membership.

To ensure equitable representation and meaningful districtwide input, each school must designate at least one representative. Schools may designate up to one teacher representative for each grade-level band taught at the school:

• Elementary: Grades K-5
• Middle: Grades 6-8
• High School Group 1: Algebra 1A, Algebra 1, Geometry

• High School Group 2: Algebra 2, MCA, MDFL

Selected representatives will participate in the District Textbook Adoption Committee Review Day on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. This full-day event will include publisher presentations, opportunities to review instructional materials, and collaboration with district committee members. Substitute costs for teacher representatives will be funded by Curriculum & Instruction.

Following the district review process, committee representatives will serve as the lead facilitators of their school's instructional materials review process. In this role, they will:

• Facilitate school-based review activities;
• Gather stakeholder feedback;
• Support the development of a school consensus; and
• Coordinate submission of the school's final recommendation.

Please click here to complete the representative submission form by no later than Friday, November 6, 2026.

Thank you for supporting this important process and ensuring educator voice is represented in the selection of future mathematics instructional materials.

Questions? Contact Kelsey Bergh, K-12 Mathematics Coordinator, at

Kelsey.Bergh@osceolaschools.net or ext. 65809

ESE Administrators: Please ensure that all ESE staff receive the attached communication and procedure regarding student transfers. Once all ESE staff have been notified, please upload the communication at the link below, with your school's name, as evidence of completion of this requirement from the DOE. All uploads should be completed by close of business on November 6, 2026.

2026-0405C - ESE Action Item – Fill out form

Restraint Procedures:

Recently, school staff have deemed mechanical and/or physical restraints necessary in certain circumstances. Attached is the checklist outlining the required district procedures. Please use the email indicated in the checklist as the notification rather than a call to the office; this ensures that those having access to the reporting system are properly notified, and it also better documents the notification and feedback loop. This applies to both ESE and non-ESE students - all restraints should be reported, and our department processes all restraint occurrences.

Committed to excellence in ESE,

Hilary DeLuca

Updated college and career resources and data are now available. The College and Career Counseling Scope and Sequence has been developed to provide guidance for CCC programming and direct report discussions. Please ensure work aligns with district strategic plan goals, with a focus on Confirmed Plans for all graduating seniors and completion of College and Career Exploration (Xello) activities.

Our high schools have had a strong start with Xello lessons and confirmed post-secondary plans.

Any questions contact Summer Zevallos.

The University of Florida Lastinger Center Micro-Credential application window opens on Monday, November 2, 2026. The Micro-Credential course satisfies Reading Endorsement Competency 1, the 40-hour reading renewal requirement, and allows teachers to teach intensive reading intervention, while supervised. The course will run from December 7, 2026 - February 23, 2027. Please share the attached flyer and link below with teachers needing to meet this certification requirement.

https://lastingerlearning.com/literacy-micro-credentials/

Be sure to check out the latest issue of Mentor Monthly News, your one-stop resource for instructional mentoring updates, tools, and celebrations across the district. This month's edition highlights strategies for supporting new teachers with lesson planning, important PLCP updates, upcoming mentor learning opportunities, and a spotlight on the innovative work at Narcoossee Middle School, where a growth-focused approach is turning classroom walkthroughs into meaningful partnerships for teacher development. We encourage principals to share the newsletter with instructional mentors and leadership teams to support consistent, high-quality mentoring practices across our schools.

We’re excited to share several enhancements to the My Professional Learning Growth System (MyPGS) on October 31st. These updates are designed to provide a more streamlined, user-friendly experience for all employees while making it easier to access, manage, and track professional learning opportunities.

What to Expect

✅ Updated User Interface (UI) with New Features

• A streamlined top navigation menu will include a new Professional Learning tab.
• The Professional Learning tab will provide a convenient left-hand navigation menu with the following options:
• Catalog – View all available courses and register for professional learning opportunities.
• My Professional Learning – Access your registered courses, completed learning activities, and transcripts.
• Instruct – Instructor dashboard for managing courses and participants.
• Build – Enables Course Creators to create new courses and sections.

✅ External PD Remains Unchanged

• The External PD tab will remain the same at this time.
• Additional updates to the External PD experience are anticipated in December 2026.

MyPGS Course Creator Help Sessions

To ensure a smooth transition to the updated Professional Learning experience, Course Creators are encouraged to attend one of the live help sessions to learn how to navigate the new interface, create and manage courses, and support employees at their respective school or department sites.

✅ Live Help Sessions

• Course Creators should plan to attend one of the help sessions on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to learn about the system upgrades, and create and manage courses in the updated system. These sessions will provide Course Creators with the knowledge and resources needed to confidently support staff and serve as local points of contact during the transition to the enhanced MyPGS platform.
• Sessions will be recorded and made available for those unable to participate in a live session.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

10:00 a.m.

• Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2542583688432956?p=JQCl18WrMClVmWFru6

2:00 p.m.

• Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2455017958289130?p=0J86BIyXylNgNxUQRB

These improvements are intended to make it easier to find, manage, create, and track professional learning opportunities. Additional information and implementation details will be shared as they become available.

Thank you for your continued commitment to professional growth and learning!

The Professional Learning Department, Ext: 65050

To request data or a report from REA, please use Incident IQ and follow the instructions below.

Click “New Ticket,” choose “I’ll Submit My Own Ticket” instead of describing your request in the box, then select “Support Request,” and select “REA Data Reports” to ensure your ticket is routed to the REA team.

School based administrators (black badge) are required to monitor active test sessions during each administration and document observation activities on the Test Session Observation Form. Minimum of 2 forms per grade level, per subject, per administration window, but they should be actively monitoring all rooms. Each observation is on a new form.

Example for Elementary Schools:

PM2 – Reading, 3rd grade – 2 rooms

PM2 – Reading, 4th grade – 2 rooms

PM2 – Reading, 5th grade – 2 rooms

PM2 –Math, 3rd grade – 2 rooms

PM2 –Math, 4th grade – 2 rooms

PM2 –Math, 5th grade – 2 rooms

Example for Winter EOCs for all subjects that students will be participating in:

Algebra – 2 rooms

Biology – 2 rooms

Civics – 2 rooms

FCLE – 2 rooms

Geometry – 2 rooms

US History – 2 rooms

ELA Reading Retake – 2 rooms

To ensure a smooth login experience with eduCLIMBER and SchoolCity for non-instructional staff, please submit an IncidentIQ ticket to REA with the following information for each staff member requiring access:

• Staff Member Name
• Employee ID
• Position

You may include multiple staff members in a single ticket.

REA will create non-functional SchoolCity accounts for non-instructional staff, such as paraprofessionals, to simplify the SchoolCity login process and improve access across district systems.

Please note that users granted enhanced access may have access to student PII. Ensure all staff members understand and follow district policies regarding student data confidentiality and security.

Attached is the 2026-2027 PD training schedule for Test Administrators and Test Coordinators.

Need a refresher on common K-2 FAST Topics? Register to attend several webinar sessions to support you in supporting your students.

Click on the attachment to access the registration.

Please see attached the 2026-27 Student Assessment Calendar. Thank you!

Website: SDOC - Elementary School Division Home
Location: 817 Bill Beck Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL, USA
Phone: 407-870-1485

11/02 - Staff Newsletter Due

11/17- Superintendent’s Administrative Meeting

11/19- Choice Fair

11/30- PM2 window opens

• PM2 TESTING SCHEDULE (Please upload HERE)
• PM2 INCENTIVES-POSTED, SHARED, LET’S HYPE IT UP!
• ANALYZE UNIT ASSESSMENT & QUARTERLY DATA

o Based on the data, what actions will you take to improve instruction?

• PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SCHOOL WEBSITE
• COMMIT TO MODELING PREMIUM ASSESSMENTS DURING EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION.

Please commit to that explicit Progress Learning instruction between now and PM2. This small step will strongly impact your PM2 outcomes! T-15 days!

To our dedicated assistant principals, thank you for joining us for instructional rounds at NPES. Your collaboration, insight, and willingness to learn alongside one another make us stronger.

To our host school NPES, specifically Jannine and Karla:

Thank you for opening your school and your leadership practice to your colleagues. Allowing others to see both the strengths and the opportunities within your school requires vulnerability, trust, and courage. Rather than viewing challenges as something to hide, you created an opportunity for leaders to learn together and identify next steps. That level of transparency strengthens your leadership and contributes to the growth of all of us across the district.

To our colleagues and friends at Student Services:

We recognize just how busy your office is and thank you for investing in our Elementary Team today.

How do you recognize teachers on your campus?

One of the fastest ways to accelerate implementation is to publicly recognize and celebrate the early adopters. When people see what success looks like and see others being recognized for it, momentum builds. Click here for inspiration from BCES!

How are we following up on the feedback provided to teachers through ThoughtExchange? Have you analyzed the feedback across content areas and grade levels? Is the feedback being intentionally revisited during PLTs?

It is imperative that this feedback does not simply remain feedback. It must be used to strengthen the “how” of instruction during collaborative planning and translate into observable practices in classrooms.

Own your impact by being clear about:

• What will you model for teachers?
• What will you coach during planning and classroom support?
• What will you monitor when you are in classrooms?
• How will you ensure alignment among instructional coaches and the leadership team so everyone is reinforcing the same expectations?
• What evidence of learning will you look for? When you enter a classroom, how will you know students actually understand the learning?
• What happens when the evidence is not there? If you cannot hear students explaining their thinking or see evidence of understanding in their work products, what specific coaching conversation will follow? Time is of the essence.

The expectation is not simply to provide feedback. The expectation is to close the feedback loop: analyze it, plan from it, model and coach it, monitor implementation, and determine whether it is improving student learning.

T-15 school days until PM2!

Monique, Stacy, Megan, & Eve

Email: michelle.henninger@osceolaschools.net
Website: SDOC - Middle & K-8 Schools Division Home
Location: 817 Bill Beck Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL, USA
Phone: 407-870-1485

11/3 – Virtual Principal/AP meeting @ 8:00

11/7 – SAT Save the Date

11/17 – Superintendent Meeting

11/19 – AP Meetings

11/19 – Osceola Magic Field Trip

11/19 – Choice Fair

11/30 – PM 2 window opens

12/8 – Superintendent Meeting

12/10 – AP Meetings

12/11 – Cat. 2 - First formal observation due Cat. 2

Team MSK8,

4 Days to PM2!

We have 14 instructional days until PM2 and several strong data sources to help us focus our attention, time, and resources on what matters most. Over the next three weeks, triangulate your data and be intentional about where you invest your resources and support.

• Unit and Quarterly Assessments: Which benchmarks are areas of concern? Which are on the bubble? Which are going well?
• Progress Learning: Does this data align with what you are seeing across your other assessment data? Where are there discrepancies that need a closer look?
• Grafana Dashboard: Where is the gap between your projected PM2 performance and your goal? Who are the students in that gap, and what are you doing differently for them over the next 14 days?
• Walkthrough Trend Data: How are you progressing on the instructional indicators you have been tracking and actively working to improve? Does what you are seeing in classrooms align with your student performance data?

The goal isn't to do more. It's to use the data to determine what matters most and then act with precision. Fourteen days gives us time to make an impact.

And don’t forget to Fall Back this weekend! What will you do with your extra hour? I’m going to take a walk. How about you? 😊

In service to each of you,
Michelle & Henry

Osceola TIPS – We have 236 students registered to take the SAT on Saturday, November 7th! Please plan on sending a team member to welcome students at the location that makes sense. Despite what we tell them, this is a high stress situation for many of them and a familiar face is always helpful.

Website Updates: Thank you to all those who’ve updated. These should be complete by end of day October 30th.

We are counting down to the field trip on Thursday, November 19, 2026! Please continue to reach out if you have any questions or special scenarios you would like to discuss. Thank you for all you do to support this event!

Osceola Field Trip: Please see below for an update.

1. Field Trip Packet & Final Student Numbers

• This information was due to Alyssa Santiago by the end of the day on Friday, October 30, 2026.
• Final numbers will be submitted to the Osceola Magic team on Monday, November 2, 2026, to request tickets.
• Final numbers will be submitted to School Nutrition Services for lunches on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

2. Transportation - Please refer to Alyssa's email sent on October 29, 2026, regarding your school's charter bus assignment:

3. Digital Ticket Contacts - Alyssa will send a form on Monday, November 2, 2026, for each school to designate two chaperones who will scan the digital tickets on game day. Please complete the form by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

4. Teams Info Meeting - Please join in on Friday, November 6, 2026 at 10:00 am to go over field trip details and ask any questions you may have.

5. Frequently Asked Questions:

How many chaperones should attend? The ratio should be one chaperone for every 10 students.

Can parents serve as chaperones? As a general practice, we prefer that attending chaperones be school staff members. However, an exception may be considered if a student has specific medical needs and their parent is best suited to provide the necessary support during the trip. If this situation applies, we will need to be informed in advance, and the parent would be required to be OASIS-approved before attending, as they would be interacting with other students throughout the event.

Can a student bring their own lunch? You may choose to allow a student to bring their own lunch but please limit and don’t offer. If you do, please ensure that it is packed in the same bag as the other lunches from School Nutrition Services.

Unit Assessment Calendar –26_27 UNIT ASSESSMENT CALENDAR.xlsx

NEW MSK8 Notebook – 26-27 Team MSK8

Email: chundra.evens@osceolaschools.net
Website: SDOC - High School Division Home
Location: 817 Bill Beck Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL, USA

Phone: 407-870-4901

Greetings HS Administrators,

As we begin a new week, I encourage you to pause and reflect on the opportunities before us to inspire excellence in every classroom, every day. As we approach the holiday break, it is important that we remain focused on our core priorities: high-quality instruction, consistent implementation of district-aligned resources and materials, strong school safety practices, and daily student attendance.

Let us continue striving to be 1% better each day. Incremental growth leads to significant results, and progress, not perfection, remains our goal as we pursue continued greatness together.

Please remember that the PM2 assessment window opens on November 30. Our collective expectations remain clear: prioritize rigorous instruction, conduct in-the-moment checks for understanding, and ensure students receive actionable, specific feedback that advances learning. Equally important is verifying that the instructional shifts and adjustments previously communicated have been fully implemented and are evident in classroom practice.

As we prepare for PM2, the expectation is simple: treat PM2 with the same level of urgency, intentionality, and focus that we apply to PM3. The work we do today will directly impact the outcomes we achieve tomorrow.

Let’s continue pressing forward toward PM2!

Have an AWESOME week of Day Ones!

Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can assist in any way.

Dr. Evens & Ms. Brown

11/03/26: HS Principal PLTs (PLT Lead will provide location information)

11/10/26: Group A - Assistant Principal PLTs (PLT Lead will provide location information)

11/12/26: Group B - Assistant Principal PLTs (PLT Lead will provide location information)

11/13/26: College Board AP Exam Order Deadline

11/17/26: Superintendent’s Administrative Meeting (Principals)

11/19/26: Assistant Principal Meetings (AM/PM Sessions)

11/19/26: 2026 Choice Fair @Osceola Heritage Park

Please review the action item email that was forwarded to your attention by Dr. Evens on 10/22/26. Ensure that your school website information is updated by Friday, 10/30/26.

Remember, your school’s presence and appeal matter, both in person on your campus and electronically through your website and social media platforms. Please make sure you represent your school well by providing current, relevant information and highlighting upcoming events. This is also an excellent opportunity to showcase the great things happening on your campus. As a reminder, your principal message should be updated each quarter.

COMMUNICATING EXPECTATIONS REGARDING BEHAVIOR: Please make it a priority to continue communicating the following message to help reinforce with students about no tolerance for bullying, threats, or fighting during your morning and/or afternoon announcements:

“Physical intimidation, threats, or acts of violence of any kind will not be tolerated in our schools or in our community, whether on or off campus. Such behavior is fundamentally inconsistent with the values of our school district and the standards of conduct we expect from every student. We take these matters seriously, and there must be accountability when those expectations are violated.”

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this important matter and for your assistance in reinforcing these expectations with our students.

ThoughtExchange: Using Specific Feedback To Move Learning Forward (Q20)

The leadership priority is not simply increasing the amount of feedback given to students. The priority is ensuring that specific feedback is visible, actionable, and used by students to improve learning.

IDEAL STATE: Learners receive specific feedback connected to the learning target and use it to revise, improve, or extend learning.

Student Evidence

Students can answer:

• What am I learning?
• What feedback did I receive?
• What did I change because of the feedback?
• How did it improve my learning?

Teacher Evidence

• Feedback is aligned to the learning target.
• Students are given opportunities to act on feedback.
• Student work shows evidence of revision or improvement.

PLC Evidence

• Teams review student work samples.
• Teams identify misconceptions and next instructional steps.
• Formative assessment and feedback opportunities are documented in planning.

Leadership Focus & Reflection Questions:
VISIBLE → ACTIONABLE → USED

If students cannot explain the feedback they received and demonstrate how they used it, the feedback cycle is incomplete.

• Principal Question: What feedback are students receiving that tells them specifically how to improve?
• Principal Question: What are students doing differently because of the feedback they received?
• Principal Question: How did the evidence of student learning change what happens next?
• Principal Question: What evidence did I see today that students are using feedback to improve their learning?