CSA Lincoln Newsletter
Friday, April 13th
Principal's Notes and Highlights
Happy Friday!
Going to school for five days in a row is brutal. All jokes aside, the incredible weather we have had over the past two days has been a wonderful surprise. I'm excited to share some great news about one of our students, Melia Hubbard (photo). Melia was recognized at the FFY Annual Board Meeting as the Volleyball Athlete of the Year! Her positive attitude, encouragement of teammates, and leadership skills were all noted for reasons she received the award. Melia is a great example of what a HUSKY should strive to be. We are very proud of her!
I have three big pieces of information to share with you this week.
1. Building positive relationships with our students is extremely important. Positive relationships are the foundation of a great team, student success, and school culture. We decided that we should take steps to see how well we are achieving this goal and included it in our school improvement plan. Every quarter I conduct an anonymous survey with your students. The teacher leaves the room and I walk them through a Student Climate Survey (K-2 paper/pencil, 3-6 online).
The survey has three questions/prompts.
1. Do you like your teacher? (Yes or No)
2. My teacher wants me to be successful. (Yes or No)
3. What adult can you talk to if you need something? This question is used to gauge whether students feel like they have an ally in the building. Students also have the opportunity to send me a note if they want to talk with me.
We set a goal of achieving a 97% approval rating by the end of the school year. This approval rating would be an average of questions #1 and #2. We know you hold us to high expectations and it is important that you know we hold ourselves to the same high expectations. Having your student's "grade" you can be a little unnerving, but necessary to knowing how you are truly performing. Here are the results thus far.
Student Climate Survey Approval Rating
Quarter 1- 96.36%
Quarter 2- 97.59%
Quarter 3- 97.71%
We are pleased with the results and the data shows that we continue to build more relationships as the year progresses. This will be something that we will continue with next year and set higher goals.
2. It is that time of the year again. Staffing. We are sad to say goodbye to two teachers this year. Miss Manuel is getting married and moving to Chicago, Ill. Mr. Sterling has an opportunity to stay home with his daughter. While I really hate to see them both leave, I know they are leaving for very good reasons. We want to wish them the very best! The CIC interviewed several candidates over the past two weeks from a pool of over 30 applicants. We also have made some internal grade level changes.
- Mrs. Biehle will be moving to second grade. Before coming to CSA Lincoln, she taught first grade for many years. This opportunity will allow her to move back into a primary position.
- Miss Fenske will be moving to third grade to teach with Mr. Wright. Miss Fenske previously student-taught in third grade and is excited about the opportunity.
- Mrs. George will be moving from second grade to fifth grade and will take over Mr. Sterling's spot. She had previously taught third grade here before becoming a district instructional coach. We are SO HAPPY to get Mrs. George back and she is thrilled about the opportunity to teach fifth grade.
- We hired two new teachers. Mrs. Janice Sickels (fourth grade) and Miss Brittany Busack (fifth grade) will be joining us next year! These two candidates were our top choices. They have shared a message with you and I've included my notes about them as well.
Kindergarten- Miss Deyerling and Mrs. Aldrich
First Grade- Mrs. Cash and Mrs. Newton
Second Grade- Mrs. Biehle and Mrs. Roberts
Third Grade- Mr. Wright and Miss Fenske
Fourth Grade- Mrs. Sickels and Miss Moore
Fifth Grade- Mrs. George and Miss Busack
6th Grade- Mr. Shipley and Miss Cook
Reminder that we do not take teacher requests, BUT current grade level teachers have started working on next year's class rosters. You are welcome to contact your current teacher to share any input with them. Their rosters are due to me in mid-May before they are finalized. Let me say that I am really excited about our lineup for next year. Losing Morgan and David will be tough, but we have some great people coming in and the internal changes we made will make us even better.
3. ISTEP testing starts next week! The students erupted at Town Hall Meeting when I announced that we were bringing back the prize wheel! Theme days are listed below and please encourage them to do their best. Almost done!
Have a great weekend!
Brett
Please Welcome Miss Brittany Busack- Fifth Grade
안녕하세요! My name is Ms. Brittany Busack. I am SO excited to be joining CSA Lincoln this fall. I grew up in Columbus and graduated from IUPUC in May 2017. For the past year, I have been living on a gorgeous island off the coast of South Korea and teaching at an international school.
I love being out in nature, playing board games, a good cup of coffee, and spending quality time with loved ones. I look forward to an awesome year!
Mr. Findley's Notes: I've known Brittany for two years and wasn't surprised when the interview committee fell in love with her personality. She is a go-getter who is going to give her students 100% every day. She did her field experience two years ago in a sixth grade classroom at Southside and was offered the opportunity to teach in South Korea on a one year contract. She will be returning to Columbus in early July. Please welcome Miss Busack!
Please Welcome Mrs. Janice Sickels- Fourth Grade
Greetings!
My name is Janice Sickels. I’m delighted to be joining the CSA Lincoln team! I am originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Concordia University in Chicago. I’ve been teaching in Cape Coral, Florida, for the past 15 years. I taught for 5 years in third grade and the last 10 years in fourth grade.
I’m married to John Sickels and we are proud of our grown-up family: Whitney (35), John Jr. (26), Michael (25), and Maxwell (21, and in the photo). I love nature, cooking, hanging out with family/friends, and dogs.
We’ll see you soon!
Mr. Findley's Notes: Having an opportunity to add a ten year veteran to fourth grade who has experience with standards-based grading was a steal. Janice is full of personality, passionate about her students, and has a record of students performing at a high level. We couldn't complete the hiring process fast enough. Please welcome Mrs. Sickels!
ISTEP Theme Days
Wednesday (4/18)- Neon- Our students are so bright!
Thursday (4/19)- Gym Clothes- Day 3 of testing. Starting to work up a sweat, but we've got this! Bring back the sweatbands!
Tuesday (4/24)- Jersey Day- Tackle, dunk, score, (insert sports analogy here) on ISTEP!
Wednesday (4/26)- Blackout- Make your mark heavy and dark!
Thursday (4/27)- Hawaiian Gear-Sunglasses, sandals, and the ever popular Hawaiian shirts are welcome as it is time for a vacation after all that testing!
Looking Ahead- Put these dates on your calendar!
- ISTEP Round 2- April 17-19, 24-26 Please try to have them in school on these dates!
- April 26th- 6th Grade Band Sign-ups 6:30-7:30 p.m. @ CSA Lincoln
- May 5th- Shipley/Sparks Wedding
- May 17-18th 6th Grade Chicago Trip
- May 25th- Kindergarten Promotion- 1 pm
- May 29th- "Move Up" Day (More details to come next Friday)
- May 29th- 6th Grade Promotion- 10 a.m.
- May 29th- CSA Graduation Walk (HS students)- 11 a.m.
- May 30th- Last Student Day @ Donner Park- We will need volunteers!
Colts Play 60 Challenge at CSA Lincoln!
As part of the Colts Play 60 Challenge, Colts Youth Football is bringing their interactive camp to CSA Lincoln (CMS football field). On the morning of May 8th, students in grades 2nd-5th will be invited to come participate in the Big Blue Football Camp. In order to participate, each students will need a signed release on file. You may fill out a paper copy of the form or you also have the option of filling out the online release here:
If you wish to volunteer for the event, please contact Mrs. Netser at netsers@bcsc.k12.in.us
Husky Gram Winners
Harper Patterson
Nolan Mugg
Sophia Wills
Michael Larson
Cayden Denton
Isaiah Holbrook
Jack Warble
Samuel Lanam
Izabella Kimberlin
Andy Bays
Adam Dye
Wyatt Pate
Ethan Hall
Derek Davis
Calling All Artists!
Hello CSA Lincoln Families!
We are currently looking for local artists to participate in this year’s Art Show! We would love to find several artists with a wide range of artistic talents to perform “live demonstrations” during our Art Show in May.
If you have a relative, neighbor, friend, etc. who has an artistic skill that they would like to share with our students, please have them email Mrs. Blackerby at morrowme@bcsc.k12.in.us.
PTO Update
CYD Family Engagement Survey
The Council for Youth Development Family Engagement Workgroup has developed the CYD Family Engagement Survey to collect the input of as many Bartholomew County residents currently raising our youth. CYD's goal is to collect this valuable feedback and use this information to better plan their future work in expanding Developmental Assets outreach to Bartholomew County families.
Below are links to the survey in three languages:
English - Family Engagement Survey: https://goo.gl/forms/ribXMr6CaX0htvPz1
Spanish - Family Engagement Survey: https://goo.gl/forms/Q9Ps0pMrPbfu7gyB3
Japanese - Family Engagement Survey: https://goo.gl/forms/nL9UGUft0nMiHJPL2
CSA Lincoln on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter
Instagram: CSA_Lincoln
Facebook: CSA Lincoln Community
Twitter: @csaprincipal
Brett Findley
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Email: findleyb@bcsc.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.bcsc.k12.in.us/site/default.aspx?DomainID=788
Location: Columbus Signature Academy Lincoln Campus, 5th Street, Columbus, IN, United States
Phone: 812-376-4447
Facebook: facebook.com/CSALincoln
Twitter: @csaprincipal
Grades 3-6 Passions
K-2 Passion
Check out the work Kreigh (1st Grade) did for his eLearning Day Passion! Kreigh's Bluebird House