Bulldog Weekly Update
November 1st - November 5th
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Notes from the Principal's Desk
The Halloween dance in a haunted house took place this Thursday on October 28. Fifth & sixth grade and seventh & eighth grade had an opportunity to socialize with friends, dance to hip hop and contemporary music in the gym, and walk through a spooky haunted house set up along the hallway between the auditorium and front foyer. Many students and adults came in costumes, sharing in and contributing to the festivities. Thank you to the PTO for their tremendous efforts to pull this together, and to the many volunteers within the school, including students, who assisted with clean up. Take a look at some of our spooky and fun photos below.
A note of thanks to the many gifted and talented artists at Butler who amplified the advertisements for this dance around the school. There were many creative interpretations on how to market the dance to students and each was a welcomed addition to our classrooms and hallways. Kudos, Butler artists!
Classroom Highlights
Students in 7th Grade ELA are learning about The Day of the Dead, or El Dias de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican and Latin American holiday that starts the day after Halloween, on November 1st. The Day of the Dead is both a solemn and celebratory affair as families remember their deceased and pay homage to them through cemetery visitations and through memorials offered in the home. Similarly, students in the combined 5/6 class learned about El Dia de los Muertos earlier this month, including the bright, vibrant colors used in the celebration. Please see the student's creations from both classes below.
In 8th grade ELA, students wrapped up an important discussion on power dynamics after reading the first chapter of “The Hate U Give” in the class. Students analyzed the initial power structures and symbols of power used to establish the setting and tone of the story. They then extrapolated on that information to discuss the power dynamics they recognize within schools and institutions, and later, in society as a whole. The students are primed to delve deeper into “The Hate U Give,” a story about social and racial injustice, and how youth process and understand their roles in society juxtapose the systems of power and authority around them. (The example below also demonstrates a simultaneous goal for the lesson: teaching students to take notes effectively using the Cornell Note Taking model).
Awesome work to all!
Great Job to everyone as we continue to empower, encourage and educate!
Please see a few notes from my desk below
Q1 Progress Reports - Each HR should have collected signed Progress Reports from each student. HR teachers should keep the folder in case documentation is needed that parents were notified of their student's progress. If you are unable to collect from a student, please submit name with outreach documentation to Mae Watkins so Admin team can follow up.
Let's Stay Healthy- Please make sure all student desks are arranged in rows with each desk 3ft apart. Students need to sit and remain 3ft part at all times with masks on!!! You will need to continue to monitor the separation and keep a seating chart for close contact tracking. This will help us all stay healthy!
Hallway Presence - Please remember to be at your post in the hallway. We share a mutual responsibility to ensure student safety. If you hear something concerning, come out of your classroom, look, listen--and get involved.
Bathroom protocol: 10-minute expectation- Bathrooms will remain locked during the first and last 10 minutes of each period. Mr. Chhim and Mrs. Horm will be supporting classrooms and will not be providing additional supervision in hallways. Please make sure you have bathroom logs posted in your classroom for students to sign in and out of class when they leave your classroom. This expectation has been helpful when in place and when we need to follow up on hallway misconduct.
Progress Reports - Progress reports are to be signed and returned. Please create a system of checks and balances to ensure you receive all student's progress reports signed and returned. This is your documentation that parents received notification before report cards go home.
Week at a Glance
Monday 11/1
School Operation 3:15- 3:45 (in the small conference room)
Pena Leadership
Tuesday 11/2
- NO STUDENTS (ALL DAY PD)
Wednesday 11/3
Thursday 11/4
PBIS Team Mtg.
Friday 11/5
Fun FriYAY! Wear your favorite New England sportswear(Red Sox, Pats, Bruins) or wear your Butler Pride gear
ILT Updates
The leadership team has been focused on developing the language around our instructional priorities and related action steps for our teachpoint goals. These goals must also be in alignment with the school’s instructional focus as well as the 21-22 Sustainability Plan. Butler Middle school continues to have a laser-like focus on developing Culturally Responsive Practice and in using the DESE offered “Look Fors” of CRP as a foundation for successful lesson planning. More information about school-wide goals will be shared at the November 2nd professional training, where we will take a collective aerial view of the school’s current data before jumping into some team-lead analysis.
RJLT
The RJLT has been focused on school wide systems. We are working on developing a school wide reflectin sheet. More details to follow soon.
PBIS
Next Meeting November 4th
Monthly Motivation
It's always great to start on an inspiring note.
Staff Birthday Shoutouts ~ November
Deanna Goyette 11/9
Kevin Freeman 11/13
Kadeen Healy 11/15
Jennifer Fraser 11/25
Sharon Dowd 11/27
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/