Teaching & Learning Newsletter
May 20, 2016
C2E
Empowering Yourself to Change
When you enter competitive situations, demanding work or performance environments, or highly charged emotional contexts, the number of potential distractions increases substantially. But you decide whether you let those things distract you, upset you, lower your confidence, put you in a negative frame of mind, take you out of your best focus, or interfere with your best performance. How you respond to challenges is your choice.
Terry Orlick, PhD, In Pursuit of Excellence
Affirmations
Secondary Principals
Thank you to all of the principals, Social Studies ICs, and 7th grade teachers who were instrumental in ensuring that all 7th graders in the district were able to attend Washington-on-the-Brazos field trip.
Coaching Tip
One of the most important and most frequently overlooked practices that IC's can employ is the simple task of reading, writing and synthesizing what they plan to tell teachers. If an IC does not have a deep knowledge of the interventions he or she shares, the chances of having a positive impact on children are severely diminished.
Jim Knight, Focus on Teaching
Action Required Items
Important reminders regarding SSI and Summer School deadlines. Click here to view action required items
All Principals
Curriculum Revisions
Curriculum revisions are underway as we prepare for the 2016-2017 school year. This means that this year's curriculum documents will be modified. The new curriculum documents will be uploaded this summer into Eduphoria. We will notify you when that process has been completed so teachers can begin working on their 2016-2017 plans.
IC Coaching Dates for 2016-2017
IC Calendar for beginning of school:
Aug 1 - District Day - Peter Dewitt
Aug 2 - District Day - Bernabei for ELA Coaches/IC with Coordinators
Aug 3 - District Day - Seidlitz training for coaches
Aug 4 - District Day - ICs with Coordinators
Aug 5 - District Day - ICs with Coordinators
Aug 8 - District Day - Morning with Coordinator, 12:45-4:00 - PBIS training BHS Blue
Aug 9 - IC Campus Day
Aug 10 -District Day ICs at Campus with new teachers
Aug 11 - ICs at Campus (teacher workday)
Aug 12 - IC Campus day
Aug 15 - IC Campus day
Aug 16 - AM Convocation, PM at Campus
Aug 17 - ICs involved in delivery of district-wide training
Aug 18 - ICs involved in delivery of district-wide training
Aug 19 - IC Campus PD Day
Last DDRT
The last DDRT for the 2015-2016 school year will be held on Monday May 23. Thank you to all for participating in this process! Link to sign up for DDRT.
Summer School Program Information
Campus, location, and facilitator information is located at this LINK.
High Schools
High School EOC Acceleration
In continuing efforts to promote student attendance at EOC Acceleration courses during summer school, high school campuses, with the assistance of the Campus Testing Coordinator, will send out an EOC Retest Letter along with Summer School EOC Acceleration Information by June 3. Campuses are also asked to send out a Parent Link call. Please access Summer School Procedures for High School for more information.
Middle Schools
7th Grade Early Notification of At-Risk Students
According to the SSI manual regarding Early Notification of At-Risk Students (p. 40), parents must be notified that their student has been identified to be at risk of failure on the first administration of a reading assessment in an SSI grade. There is a sample letter for this located in Team Connect. Please send this letter out with the Confidential Student Reports to the 7th graders who did not pass STAAR Reading.
SSI and GPC Reminders
Aware forms for 2016 GPC meetings and Accelerated Instruction Plans are now available in Aware Student Forms under the GPC heading.
After Round 2 results arrive, be sure to complete the student list for failures on the 2016 GPC 8th Results Spring/Summer spreadsheet. There is a procedures tab on this spreadsheet with reminders for documentation. Also, schedule the July/August GPC meetings using the 2016 Summer GPC Schedule.
After Round 3, these spreadsheets will need to be updated.
2015-2016 Algebra Pre-Entry Program
Important deadlines are on the horizon. See the link below to ensure your campus is on the right track. Click here
Elementary Schools
End of Year Procedures for DRA/EDL and Writing Portfolios
· DRA/EDL Tests: The final test copy for DRA/EDL will be placed in each student’s writing portfolio. If a child has made progress during the last month of school in K-2, a running record of a child reading at the new level will be stapled onto the top of the DRA/EDL test. This will help communicate with the teacher in the upcoming year about the student’s progress.
· Writing Portfolios: The writing portfolios will be collected by the campus and saved for the upcoming school year. They will be sent to new campuses if a child moves within BISD. Fifth grade portfolios may be sent home with the child.
TEA Reading/Math Academies
Our district has been given limited number of spaces for our teachers to attend the TEA Reading/Math Academies. Because of this limited number, we would like for those to go to be able to come back to BISD and share the information with teachers. The number of teachers that can attend are listed below. The fliers that tell when and where the trainings will be held is attached. The two reading academies will be held here in Bryan.
The only way to make this fair is for us to share this information with you and then keep a running list of the names that you submit in order - first come, first go scenario. Please send one name for Kinder and first grade reading. You may send two names for math with the understanding that only 1 or 2 campuses will be able to actually send two people. Please send in the names to JoLyn Bricker as soon as possible. **** Do not have your teachers sign up with the service center until you hear back from JoLyn Bricker because of the limited number of slots available for Bryan. Thank you for your help in filling these spots.
Kindergarten Literacy Academy - 8 BISD attendees
First Grade Literacy Academy - 12 BISD attendees
Second Grade Math Academy - 14 BISD attendees
Third Grade Math Academy - 13 BISD attendees
TEA Math Academies click here
TEA Reading Academies click here
4th Grade Early Notification of At-Risk Students
According to the SSI manual regarding Early Notification of At-Risk Students (p. 40), parents must be notified that their student has been identified to be at risk of failure on the first administration of a reading assessment in an SSI grade. There is a sample letter for this located in Team Connect. Please send this letter out with the Confidential Student Reports to the 4th graders who did not pass STAAR Reading.
SSI and GPC Reminders
Aware forms for 2016 GPC meetings, Accelerated Instruction Plans, and the Primary Reading Success Plan are now available in Aware Student Forms under the GPC heading. While the completion of a GPC form for non-SSI grades is not required, you are encouraged to use this for documentation.
After Round 2 results arrive, be sure to complete the student list for failures on the 2016 GPC 5th Results Spring/Summer spreadsheet. There is a procedures tab on this spreadsheet with reminders for documentation. Also, schedule the July/August GPC meetings using the 2016 Summer GPC Schedule.
After Round 3, these spreadsheets will need to be updated.
Primary Reading Success Plan GPC forms and EOY parent letters
- EOY Parent letters for PRSP plans are provided in English and Spanish for campuses to send home.
- The completed profile sheets for each child are to be placed in the academic folder in student permanent folders. Please contact JoLyn Bricker if you have any questions.
Pre-K Centralized Registration
The BISD Centralized Pre-K Registration will be held July 27 at Kemp-Carver from 8:30-6:30.
Pre-K Family Literacy Night
The Pre-K Family Literacy Night will be held June 23 at Kemp-Carver from 5:30-6:30. The first 100 Pre-K families will receive a backpack filled with books and a parent guide for summer activities. To support the event, the Pre-K Dept. request flyers to be sent home with all PreK students. Flyers will be delivered to the Pre-K campuses.
Professional Development
Principals & APs
T-TESS
Please take just a second and register for the T-TESS session you are attending this summer. Register for June 7-8-9 HERE and for June 14-15-16 HERE.
TE Days for Principals & APs
I know that it is sometimes a struggle to find quality PD to secure your TE Day credits during the small window of time that you are off-contract. We do have a few things available to you during the time that our 220s are off, but I have another opportunity that I want to share with you! I am going to create an online training for our administrators that will be designed to equip you with more tools to lead a campus that has students and families from poverty. If you do not already have 3 days planned for your TE Day credits, this will be something in which you can participate. I will release more info about the online class in the coming weeks. Hopefully this will help you in more ways than one.
Principals
Admin Meeting
Just a reminder that the admin. meeting for May has been canceled, but we will still meet on Tuesday, June 14 for our final admin. meeting of this school year. Please mark your calendars.
Advanced Academics
Scholars Academy
This June we will be offering Scholars Academy to 9th and 10th graders who wish to succeed on the PSAT exam in Fall 2016. We are trying to drive more participation in this program and really need your help. Please communicate to your teachers and students about this opportunity. Click here
Special Education
All Principals
Last LRE Meeting
The last LRE Meeting is Monday, May 23. Thank you to the campuses for the information provided on behalf your students. This is instrumental in order to provide each campus with the necessary support and to ensure that we as a district are doing what we can to support students in the least restrictive environment.
Bilingual Education
Elementary School Principals
Certification Exam Prep Courses
The Education and Human Development Department at Texas A & M will offer free online preparation courses this summer for the Bilingual certification exam (TExES #164) and the Bilingual Texas Language Proficiency Test (TExES #190). For additional information and registration please click on the link.
Bilingual Framework
The week of May 16 is a B week for the bilingual framework.
Upcoming Courses
Region 6 will be offering a preparation course for the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test this summer. This is the test required to become bilingual certified.
Course information: (BLTPT) (TExES #190). Click on the link for details.
There will also be a preparation course for the Supplemental Bilingual (TExES #164) certification exam. Both courses are free for Bryan ISD teachers. Please share the information and links with your teachers.
BTLPT Exam Prep Courses
Region 6 will offer a one day preparation class for the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) on July 8. This class is free for Bryan teachers. For registration and details, please click on the link.
All Principals
Professional Development Opportunity
On July 11th, Region 6 will offer a comprehensive bilingual education conference. Enjoy presentations covering a wide variety of topics on programs, strategies and other sessions related to curriculum and instruction for bilingual students.
Important Session Information: Portraits of Success/Retratos de éxito- The bilingual conference will highlight successes from the world of bilingual education. From the keynote speaker to the break-out sessions, enjoy a full day of celebrating successful practices in bilingual education. Additionally, there will be a vendor area to highlight products that may add to success for our bilingual students. A light breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. For more details click on the link.
ESL Certification Prep Courses
Region 6 will offer a one day mini academy to prepare for the ESL TExES Exam. This course is free for Bryan teachers, but a $15 book fee will apply. The class will be offered on June 14 and June 15 at the Brazos Center in Bryan. For more details and to register click on the link. Seats are limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis.
Curriculum & Instruction
Email: leslie.holtkamp@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049
Twitter: @bisdambassador