Bulldog Weekly Update
October 11th - October 15th
Culture of Achievement
Notes from the Principal's Desk
As we enter week two of October, content delivery and classroom learning is in full swing. Across subjects, October marks the start of a new, in-depth unit. In between learning and content deep-dives, students are still asking for mask (and brain) breaks. Here, students take time during the last five minutes of class to relax while creating some seasonal fare. Work hard, play hard! As students build up their stamina they need periods of respite and in those moments as well, we are working to build community, develop student's social-emotional skill, and provide them with opportunities for self-exploration.
Save the Date
Next Saturday 10/16 11:00-2:00p is the Welcome Back BBQ for our students and families. It’s a wonderful time to socialize—not just with our students and families—but with colleagues as well. The work is hard but it’s during these opportunities that we reinforce the fabric of 360-degree investment in our students. Attendance is entirely voluntary but of course, we hope you can make it!
Please see a few notes from my desk below.
THANK YOU- To our PTO President Alyson Dumas. She is an asset to our school community with her passion and dedication. She took time on her day off to finish the bulldog painting in our main hallway.
Hallway Presence - Please remember to be at your post in the hallway. As students become more and more comfortable we must be vigilant and present in the hallways.
Bathroom protocol: 10-minute expectation- Bathrooms will remain lock 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 - Will go home on October 18th. X2 posting is open from September 30th - October 13th at 10 am.
ELL Paperwork - Deirdre will be putting some ELL paperwork in teachers' boxes this week. These documents need to go home with Progress Reports. Documents include 2021 ACCESS Reports plus translation and Annual Letters (C2). Please reach out with any questions. Thank you.
NEED YOUR HELP- We have para positions still open, if you know anyone please let me know.
Week at a Glance
Monday 10/11
NO SCHOOL
Tuesday 10/12
- 8:30 Student Support Team
- Picture day (All staff must get your picture taken for a school ID)
- RJLT Meeting - 3 -4:30
- 21st Century Afterschool programming starts (3-5)
Wednesday 10/13
Pool testing
Thursday 10/14
Cross Country Meet 4:30 Shedd Park
Friday 10/15
Fun FriYAY! Wear your favorite superhero t-shirt to channel your teacher superpower or wear your Butler Pride gear
SATURDAY, October 16th FAMILY BBQ 11:00 - 2:00
(all staff are invited to attend and show support for our families)
ILT Updates
Discussions around inclusive practice and culturally responsive teaching continue to find their way into formal and informal conversations among teachers and admin. An environment focused on fostering a sense of belonging within our students has ignited and is catching across the school. While Butler has always held among its core values a priority of holistic, 360-degree development for its youth, we are now collectively and uniformly addressing the need to create learning spaces that provide psychological and emotional safety. Kudos to the learners and leaders out there at BMS who are diving into culturally responsive practice with an open heart and mind.
RJLT (click Bulldog to see video)
Creating a culture of communication to resolve conflict
"Rules without relationship inspire rebellion".
Taken from Amplify RJ
If you want a rabbit to get into a hole, you smack it with a stick. You can also use motivation and dangle a carrot over the opening until the rabbit is tricked and falls into the hole. But neither of these teaches the rabbit the value of going into the hole. Neither method makes the rabbit actually want to go into the hole. Further, both tactics are a bit unfair; the rabbit doesn't see the hole until he falls into it. Likewise, our current systems either force or incentivize students to change. They don't teach the students the reason for the change - and they don't ask why the students were acting the way they were in the first place. Simply put, we must find a way to make students want the change, instead of forcing it on them. We need to hear what they're trying to tell us through their behavior and use that to guide them in a different direction. By saying "Let's Talk" and by asking questions, we demonstrate that this meeting is not a punishment it is a conversation.
See Lori Casey for SEL assistance.
PBIS
Routines and Rituals are essential to building classroom community. See your PBIS grade level representative for assistance
"Go to https://tinyurl.com/butlerpawsshop to take a sneak peek at the Butler PAWS shop, coming in Q2!"
Coaches Corner
DESSA Update:
https://vimeo.com/607620980
This is the slide deck that goes along with the video.
Time will be provided during Admin CPT on Wednesday, October 13th for all teachers to be able to review these videos.
The DESSA window will be open: October 18th- October 29th. Staff will be provided time to complete their ratings during Admin. CPT on Wednesday, October 20th
Monthly Motivation
It's always great to start on an inspiring note.
Staff Birthday Shoutouts ~ October
Adrianna Anstiss - 10/3
Colleen Farrell - 10/3
Mae Watkins - 10/4
Chelsea Ewing - 10/8
Kevin Gibson - 10/14
Fernanda Lopes - 10/15
Gerry Manolopoulos - 10/19
Karen Tanguay - 10/20
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/