Communication Tool for Teachers and Parents
A parent shared this communication tool with me (SR). It looks interesting so I thought I would share it. It's free. https://www.bloomz.net/ (10/29) - Updated: Please let me know if you try this app out. I am interested in what you think.
Safety Concerns?
The Safety Committee will meet on Monday, November 9. If you see or have seen any campus safety issues please send an email to Leslie with a brief description and she will put it on the agenda for discussion. (10/29)
Whatever happened to the topic of Learning Intentions 2.0?
To close the loop on this topic, I was hoping we would focus attention on this aspect of assessment capable learners during this school year. I checked in with the Leadership Team and they chose not to recommend this as a focus this year given the focus on building the vision statements and action plans. With Eureka in its second year and ReadyGen implementation, we will hold off on formal expectations for now. (10/29)
To close the loop on this topic, I was hoping we would focus attention on this aspect of assessment capable learners during this school year. I checked in with the Leadership Team and they chose not to recommend this as a focus this year given the focus on building the vision statements and action plans. With Eureka in its second year and ReadyGen implementation, we will hold off on formal expectations for now. (10/29)
BSD Diversity Partnership - 2nd Request -
The Diversity Partnership Committee will be meeting for the first time this year on at the Pierce County Skills Center from. The committee will be meeting four times during the 15-16 school year. They are needing a representative from each building to be a part of Diversity Partnership. Please let Stephen know if you would be willing to join this committee to help the district with diversity related discussions. The first meeting has taken place already but we could use representation for the remaining three meetings. (10/28)
Popcorn Envelopes
PTA has distributed popcorn money envelopes to classroom teachers. Popcorn Friday will occur once a trimester; the first one is this Friday. Popcorn is $.50 per bag with a limit of two bags per student. Teachers may buy for their whole class. Please collect the popcorn $ in your envelope and write the total popcorns needed on the outside of the envelope (you will need to keep track of who ordered). Send the envelope to the office on Friday morning with your office folder. PTA will deliver your popcorn to your room before release on Friday. Remind your students that they cannot eat popcorn on the bus. (10/28)
Blog Adjustments:
1) On the right side of the blog home page is a week at a glance of upcoming meetings and building events.
2) On the left side of the blog is a place for upcoming due dates of assessments and things. (10/23)
Progress Monitoring:
Progress Monitoring is due to Tawnia by Friday 10/29. Names of students who are barely benchmark
that you would like to progress monitor with ORF or DAZE still need to be
submitted. Training is still available
if there are any volunteers you would like trained. Happy Monitoring! (10/23)
The Diversity Partnership Committee will be meeting for the first time this year on at the Pierce County Skills Center from. The committee will be meeting four times during the 15-16 school year. They are needing a representative from each building to be a part of Diversity Partnership. Please let Stephen know if you would be willing to join this committee to help the district with diversity related discussions. The first meeting has taken place already but we could use representation for the remaining three meetings. (10/28)
PTA has distributed popcorn money envelopes to classroom teachers. Popcorn Friday will occur once a trimester; the first one is this Friday. Popcorn is $.50 per bag with a limit of two bags per student. Teachers may buy for their whole class. Please collect the popcorn $ in your envelope and write the total popcorns needed on the outside of the envelope (you will need to keep track of who ordered). Send the envelope to the office on Friday morning with your office folder. PTA will deliver your popcorn to your room before release on Friday. Remind your students that they cannot eat popcorn on the bus. (10/28)
Blog Adjustments:
Attention Teachers:
Please be sure you:
1) Have your sub folder completed and turned in to the office
2) Sign your contract
3) Have submitted a copy of your conference schedule (we will get calls!)
4) Have given Leslie information about items you wish to surplus
During conference week please try and collect any missing Federal Survey forms.
Also, you will receive a stack of bright orange emergency information forms, one for each student. As time allows, please ask parents to look at the information on the forms and make any needed changes. This is the only update we get all year; it's really helpful. Remember that the information on these forms is confidential, and only the primary guardians can make changes to emergency information. Many thanks! (10/22/15)
Contracts
Certificated contracts are here. Please stop by the office to read/sign yours. (10/16)
Surplus
It's time to identify items to send to surplus. Please send Leslie a list of your surplus items by 10/17/15. We just need the paperwork now; items will be picked up during winter break. (10/13)
Late Arrival Agenda
The Late Arrival agenda is posted online. Please remember to come prepared with a grade level assessment report that has the whole grade level shown as meeting standard and not meeting standard both as a percentage and raw numbers of students. (10/13)
Get Ready to Shake Out!
We'll be conducting a earthquake/lockdown drill on Thursday, 10/15, at 2:35 p.m. Be prepared! (10/13)
Computer Cart Survey
The Site Council discussed the issue of computer cart access. We have had good success with getting technology-based experiences into the hands of students. However, there was a need for revising the scheduling of carts for two reasons. 1.) We have fewer laptops to work with as the equivalent of 1/2 of the computers on a cart have died. 2.) There were differing needs for when the laptops were needed throughout the week. In order to make computer cart access consistent, fair and equitable the following approach will be used regarding scheduling of carts/lab. Each grade will get the computers during their RTI time with exception of K-1 who will be put into the rotation after Winter Break and 5th Grade who will have it at different time blocks. The schedule will be a consistent time every day, every week.
Even with the set schedules, there we will still have open slots for staff to sign up for. You are about to receive a survey asking for what days and times you would like want to use the cart. You will have until the end of the week to respond and then we will use that information to create additional set times based on your requests. Please respond ASAP to the survey so that we can get this schedule in place for you to have access as you require for your instructional program. (10/13)
Reminder - Stipends and Extended Day Opportunities - Reminder
This is a reminder that we are inviting certificated and classified staff to share proposals for working with students. Activity Stipends are for any student centered activities, not just core academic classes. The Extended Day stipend comes from the DoDEA grant and has to be used exclusively for reading instruction. Last year's extended day included fluency practice with Read Naturally and a fluency program we purchased for this purpose. At this point we have had one certificated staff member show interest in the Activity Stipend and two teachers show interest in the DoDEA grant. Email Stephen if you are interest in either or both opportunities. (10/8)
Conference Slips
Please send conference slips home on Tuesday, 10/13. (10/7)
Student Growth Goals and Due Dates
I updated the dates on the checklist. Please look at it so that you are informed on when things are due.
eVal...Marking the Rubrics
In order to mark the rubric for the self-assessment or the reflection after an observation, you will need to be able to "right-click" with a mouse or on your laptop trackpad. To set the trackpad follow these steps...
- Open System preferences
- Trackpad
- Point and Click Tab
- Secondary Click: Select the option that works best for you in the dropdown arrow to the right. I recommend choosing the right corner option because it is similar to the right click on a mouse. (10/5)
SBA Results Reports for Parents
You will be receiving copies of reports for parents regarding each student's performance on the state test. These documents are to be shared with parents during conferences.
In addition, there is a page on Brian Loffer's BSD Assessment Canvas site with many resources for sharing scores with parents. These include an interactive link for parents to help them understand scores (from ReadyWA and GreatSchools), sample score reports, handouts for parents from ReadyWA about SBA and Learning standards and a short video.
If you are not already enrolled in this canvas site, you can enroll by going to MyBethel and selecting the "BSD Teaching and Learning Resources" link.
Once in the canvas site, select "Elementary Assessment" --> Communicating State Test Scores with Parents. (10/5)
In addition, there is a page on Brian Loffer's BSD Assessment Canvas site with many resources for sharing scores with parents. These include an interactive link for parents to help them understand scores (from ReadyWA and GreatSchools), sample score reports, handouts for parents from ReadyWA about SBA and Learning standards and a short video.
Once in the canvas site, select "Elementary Assessment" --> Communicating State Test Scores with Parents. (10/5)
BSD Diversity Partnership
The Diversity Partnership Committee will be meeting for the first time this year on at the Pierce County Skills Center from. The committee will be meeting four times during the 15-16 school year. They are needing a representative from each building to be a part of Diversity Partnership. Please let Stephen know if you would be willing to join this committee to help the district with diversity related discussions. (10/2)
Sub Folders
Now that things have settled down, it's time to get serious about getting your sub folder ready! Please have your sub folders turned in to the office by October 15. (10/2)
Agendas online
Agendas online for the next LI, Site Council and Late Arrival are ready for staff to review. Note that the Site Council meeting time was not listed correctly on the meeting calendar. We will meet for 60 minutes not 30 minutes from 4:15 - 5:15. (10/2)
Conference Scheduling
Because of a conflict with district-level SLT training, conference scheduling will be held on Thursday, 10/8, at 8:45 in the Library.
Lanyards for Sale Monday
The Bethel Transition LAB will be here Monday morning before school selling their wares. The prices are as follows: Lanyards $10.00, Necklaces $5.00, Earrings $5.00, Cards $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Please stop by the staff lunchroom Monday morning and check it out. (10/1)
Federal Forms
Please use your collection envelopes to track your federal forms. Contact the office if you need forms in Spanish (or another language). Very important to collect a form for each student registered on 10/1/15. Thanks for your help. (10/1)Federal Forms
Port-O-Potty??
Students are not to play around or use port-o-potties on campus. These are placed here for Bethel Rec. If a student needs to use the restroom, remind them that they need to take care of that inside the building. (10/1)
