Create & Connect

This month, we’re gearing up to celebrate student growth and get ready for conferences! Inside, you’ll find everything you need to finalize grades in PowerSchool—whether you’re a reg ed, learning support, or unified arts teacher—plus tools and tips for sharing student progress. Discover how to showcase portfolios created in Canva or Seesaw, and get important reminders for using Microsoft Teams for seamless virtual conferences. Let’s make this conference season smooth, organized, and impactful!

• Grades must be finalized in PowerTeacher Pro by December 5th at 8 am.
• After Data Processing completes the drafts, principals will share PDF copies with all teachers.
• 👉 This year, it’s especially important to review your report cards carefully to ensure all data is accurate and reported as expected during the Verification Window.
• Any necessary changes in PowerTeacher Pro can be made through December 8th.

As we wrap up the trimester, here’s a reminder about finalizing grades in PowerTeacher Pro:

• PowerTeacher Pro automatically calculates grades, but the final report card grade is always up to teacher's professional judgment.

• How PowerTeacher Pro Calculates Grades:

  • The average of the last three assignments in each standard rolls up to a gradebook/child standard average.

  • Each gradebook/child standard is then averaged to determine the final reporting standard grade, which appears on the report card.

• Manually entering N/A: If a reporting standard (parent) was not assessed this trimester (e.g., Measurement & Data), you can manually input N/A in the gradebook for that reporting standard.

Get step-by-step directions and quick video tutorials for finalizing grades in PowerTeacher Pro. This one-pager has everything you need to ensure your grades are accurate, complete, and ready for report cards—no guesswork required!

Wondering what parents see in Parent Portal? Using Quick Lookup, you can sneak a peak.

Watch this quick tutorial.

Hosting conferences virtually? Be sure to review our Microsoft Teams Resources for important settings and tips to ensure smooth meetings with families. From managing permissions to setting up links correctly, this quick reference will help you avoid any last-minute hiccups and keep your conferences running seamlessly.

As we wrap up the trimester, empower students to take the lead in sharing their glows and grows through digital portfolios. Whether created in Canva or Seesaw, portfolios give students a voice in reflecting on their learning, celebrating progress, and setting goals for what’s next.

Highlights Collection

• Subject-specific portfolios (Math, ELA, Science, etc.)
• Holistic portfolios for overall progress
• Editable templates to streamline and focus on key growth areas

This trimester, students will have the chance to reflect on their own learning behaviors using language that makes sense to them. The K–2 report card categories have been rewritten in student-friendly terms, helping young learners recognize their strengths and areas for growth. This process encourages self-awareness, responsibility, and a positive classroom culture focused on reflection and improvement.

Canva makes creating student portfolios easy with ready-made templates (like the ones below), allowing students to quickly personalize their work. The voice-over and record-yourself features let students add their own reflections, making each portfolio unique and engaging.

We’re looking for teachers and staff interested in being part of our AI pilot program. The interest form will close on November 7th, so don’t miss your chance to get involved! The pilot will explore how AI tools like MagicSchool Enterprise and SchoolAI can enhance lesson planning, differentiation, and student engagement across WCASD. All grade levels, subjects, and experience levels are welcome, and ongoing support will be provided throughout the pilot.

Key Details:

• Express your interest by completing the AI Pilot Interest Form by Friday, November 7th at 4 pm.
• Open to all teachers and staff—diverse participation encouraged.
• Pilot includes professional development, training, and ongoing support from ITCs and platform experts.
• Explore and compare MagicSchool AI and SchoolAI during separate pilot periods.
• Selected participants will be notified on Monday, November 10th.
• Required kickoff Teams meeting: Wednesday, November 12th.
• All 17 schools will be represented in the pilot.