Beasley Weekly Bulletin
Week of January 4, 2016
Happy New Year Beasley!!!
This year our goal is for Beasley to become a Level 1+ school. I am very grateful that we have achieved Level 1 again but what we have yet to achieve is Level 1+. This can be done by focusing on our goals. 80% or more student growth in reading, 60-65% or more growth in math, and 60% or more student attainment.
On a personal note - This is my 5th year at Beasley and when I look down the hallways of this school from when I started back in 2011 it is so very different now. Our enrollment is high (1,436). Our school has shown its resiliency from moving from a Level 2 to a Level 1 school. Our CPC has received the highest quality rating from the state (Gold). Our current student attendance rates are excellent at 96%. Our hallways are colorful and affirming the high expectations we have for our students. We have more technology in the building than we ever had. Capital improvements to our gym, library, and a new digital marquee. We have so many community partnerships to include: Ravinia, Communities in Schools, Kitchen Community and more. We even have our own Beasley bottled water!
There is so much more that I envision for our school and that includes the CPC. Thank you for your continued support of my leadership at Beasley. I respect and value all of you and what you do for our school. Hoping you all come back refreshed and renewed for a great new year!
Beasley New Year's Resolution - The Importance of Teacher/Staff Influence
My goal as your principal is to make sure that you have a voice in these areas that are heard and respected. Given these points, Mrs. Haynes, Asst. Principal will be asking you to complete a Needs Assessment Survey the week when you return from winter break in order for us to get a better understanding about ways we can help you in your classrooms.
Over the break our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) has met and determined that you may need more but we do not want to guess as to what those things are. For example, we know that some classes have Science Foss Kits but is that enough? Do you have a preference about our new K-5 Social Studies Curriculum that we intend to purchase? Do you prefer McGraw-Hill, Holt, or something different? We have ordered more technology for Industrial Arts but can added technology in our other Resource Classes be beneficial? Some teachers have attended professional development (PD) training that we were more than happy to support i.e. Mrs. Bertoncini (1st) and Ms. Robins (1st) are scheduled to attend a 1st Grade Conference in January. Are there any PDs that you would like to attend? WE ARE GIVING THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT AND WE ARE LISTENING. PLEASE LET US KNOW.
Quote- "Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best." -Bob Talbert
As a progress Monitoring strategy we ask you to implement the following:
1. Algebra word problems that are incorrect that allows students to argue, defend and warrant their analysis. Please ask members from the Beasley ILT if you would like more information.
2. Teach poetry devices and complex poetry to build comprehension. Attached is a copy of a poem titled "A girl named jack." Challenge students to find different devices that are used in order to build their comprehension. Did the students notice that the poem could be about the author? Why are some lines in italics? Do students know what is a memoir? Why is the title in lower case? What else could be taught?
a girl named jack
Good enough name for me, my father said
the day I was born.
Don't see why
she can't have it, too.
But the women said no.
My mother first.
Then each aunt, pulling my pink blanket back
patting the crop of thick curls
tugging at my new toes
touching my cheeks.
We won't have a girl named Jack, my mother said.
And my father's sisters whispered,
A boy named Jack was bad enough.
But only so my mother could hear.
Name a girl Jack, my father said,
and she can't help but
grow up strong.
Raise her right, my father said,
and she'll make that name her own.
Name a girl Jack
and people will look at her twice, my father said.
For no good reason but to ask if her parents
were crazy, my mother said.
And back and forth it went until I was Jackie
and my father left the hospital mad.
My mother said to my aunts,
Hand me that pen, wrote
Jacqueline where it asked for a name.
Jacqueline, just in case
someone thought to drop the ie.
Jacqueline, just in case
I grew up and wanted something a little bit longer
and further away from
Jack.
Beasley Emergency Management Meeting Wednesday, January 6th, 2016 @ 7:45 am
Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.
In a separate email, please see the attached is a copy of our customized Beasley Emergency Management Plan Checklist. The purpose of this checklist is to organize our meeting about topics to be addressed.
Emergency Management Meeting
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2016, 07:45 AM
Beasley Elementary School, South State Street, Chicago, IL, United States
Student Progress Monitoring
1. K-4th Pull-Out/Small Group Instruction with Resource Teacher Support Staff - CIWP 1
2. Quarterly On/Off Track Data Parent/Student Reports - CIWP 1 and 2
3. MTSS Student Grouping by NWEA Data for Targeted Differentiation - CIWP 6
4. Argument-Centered Literacy Approach - CIWP 1 and 2
5. Emphasis on Algebra K-8th - CIWP 1 and 2
6. Quarterly ILT Literacy and Math Assessments
Our next steps are to get more granular about instructional needs by grade band. Because Beasley is so large and diverse a 'one-size fits all approach' may not always work or apply to all grade level areas. Practical and workable solutions are needed as long as it indicates a strong coherence and intentional purpose within grade bands. I have learned some very interesting points of views according to my administrative team and they are as follows:
K-2 - How can we improve the Progress Monitoring process to improve TRC/DIBELS proficiency? - AP Haynes
3rd-5th - How should homework be viewed to support student growth? AP Wilson
6th-8th - How can we sustain student accountability? How can we cultivate students' intrinsic motivation to become better student learners? Principal Dr. BC
These essential questions are something that should drive your collaboration for your upcoming Teacher Team Meetings. Please make sure these questions are under your Problem of Practice (POP) on your Teacher Team Meeting Agendas.
Beasley Science Fair & Whitney Young H.S. Collaboration (High School Readiness)
Uncle Remos Saucy Fried Chicken Coat Donation for STLS Students (Community Partner)
After School Matters Presents "Move Me Soul" Beasley Alumna Debut Performance" (Creative Arts)
Banking on Our Future (Career Readiness)
Know Your Heritage (Black History Academic Bowl)
Every year we put on a big performance, play or musical for Black History Month. This year we intend to host a Know Your Heritage Academic Competition K-8th students. A Know Your Heritage Committee needs to be comprised. I am inviting any Beasley teacher or staff members to attend a paid first meeting to be held on Friday, January 8th at 7:45 am in the LRC.