The Blackhawk Weekly
Volume 2, Issue 10: October 23, 2023
--------------- Love. Care. Encouragement. ---------------
Image of the Week
Ability Grouping: What Does a Top Researcher Say About It?
A conversation topic that has popped up on few occasions is the notion of ability grouping. Does it work? Is so, in what ways? John Hattie, a professor of education, has conducted numerous studies, notably synthesizing over 2,100 meta-analyses related to achievement, in search of some of the most effective practices in education, offering insight to those practices through the use of statistical effect sizes. You can see a snapshot of his "barometer of effectiveness" down below. His work can be valuable in framing our conversation.
Recently, the video clip below was shared with me. It's less than 3 minutes long, and in it John Hattie hypothesizes on why ability grouping has had little statistical effect on achievement, putting a huge emphasis on equity. And while I don't think for a minute that any teacher is consciously trying to create a system of "apartheid" among our students, he does shine a light on unintentional impacts of our processes and practices that can exacerbate existing social issues in our communities.
I thought it would be great to forward it to all of us as an added ingredient to our topics of conversation. Whether you watch this with an accepting or critical lens, I hope you approach it with an open-mind and find it interesting. Don't forget, even the greatest researchers will acknowledge that the strongest studies will its limitations. However, those limitations do not necessarily discount the value of its findings. Together we can continue to figure out how to best serve all of our learners and maximize their growth!
Beck Trek Updates
Regular Building Hours for 2023-2024
Building Access Hours
Just a recap of building access hours:
- Mondays - Fridays: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Saturdays: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sundays: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Great Things and Shout Outs
Thank you! Dziękuję! Merci! Danke! 謝謝! Gracias! mulțumesc! ευχαριστώ! Дякую тобі!
Coverages Last Week
Parent Intervention Night
PTO Fall Family Fest
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Fall Family Fest at Elizabeth Farms
Nuts and Bolts
Student of the Months are Due on Monday!
Red Ribbon Week 2023
Toy Drive for Warwick Strong 2023
Here at John Beck, we will promote this as a "fill the cruiser" initiative. On November 20th, WarwickStrong Day, NLCRPD plans to come by with a big trailer to see how much of it we are able to fill! Additionally, on November 20th, local first responders will be invited to come and have lunch with students in the cafeteria, enjoying a lunch meal courtesy of the district (yes, turkey-shaped chicken nuggets for the win!!).
Kindergarten Alphabet Parade on Friday
Come out into the hallways this Friday at 9:15 AM to watch our kindergarten students parade around as we showcase how hard we have been working on learning our alphabet!
John Beck PTO Spirit Wear Sale (Starts Wednesday)
Updated Guidelines for Professional Dress
Family Conferences 2023-2024
Warwick and the WEA worked collaboratively on a solution to provide a consistent method for scheduling family conferences PK-12. This way, families would select times using the same tool, even if their children attended several of our buildings. We chose Google Calendar appointment slots to provide ease and flexibility for everyone. Thank you to all for completing the Google Calendar Sign Ups and adding them to the shared document along with your email address.
Fire Safety Month
CFO Visit by Nate Wertsch on October 26
Mr. Wertsch (Warwick SD's Chief Financial Officer) will visit John Beck to meet with staff on Thursday, October 26th between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. If you would like to meet with him, please sign up for a 15 minute time slot by using the link the below.
These meetings are made available for staff to ask questions, catch up, or share concerns.
Appointments can be seen only by Mr. Wertsch and the staff member. Staff members will also receive an email reminder/confirmation of the appointment.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Warwick Release Time Begins This Week for 3rd and 4th Grade Students
Game Plan for 3rd Grade:
- 10:30: Packers should meet Kathy Miller in the lobby. Lunch buyers need to report to the cafeteria by 10:30 to pick up their lunches. They should let existing lines know that they are with Release Time, at which point they should be moved to the front of the line to collect their meal and check out.
- 10:35: Bus Departure to WRT
- 11:35: 3rd Grade Students Return to Beck
Game Plan for 4th Grade:
- 11:05: Packers should meet Kathy Miller in the lobby. Lunch buyers need to report to the cafeteria by 10:30 to pick up their lunches. They should let existing lines know that they are with Release Time, at which point they should be moved to the front of the line to collect their meal and check out.
- 11:10: Bus Departure to WRT
- 12:10: 4th Grade Students Return to Beck
Lititz Public Library: BrainFuse Online Tutoring
The Lititz Public librarians and staff recently had the opportunity to view an one hour webinar on Brainfuse’s HelpNow. This is an online tutoring resource that the Lancaster Library System has purchased for the county libraries. It is set up to help students K-12/adults, and it is free to access with a Lancaster County library card.
Some highlights of the program include:
- K-12 students are able to connect with a live tutor (7days a week, 2:00-11:00 pm EDT) in variety of subjects.
- Students can submit papers for review in the writing lab.
- College Entrance test prep
- Live FAFSA help
- Resume writing lab
- Parent Corner for assistance on how to help their student with their studies
To locate Brainfuse HelpNow on the Lititz Public Library’s website (lititzlibrary.org):
- Click on the eResource tab on the library’s home page.
- Click on Databases
- Enter your library card number (without spaces)
- Scroll down to Brainfuse Help Now
Seesaw Logo Change
Seesaw's Explanation as to Why They Chose to Rebrand
We began over a decade ago and our product has continued to grow based on the needs and feedback from our educator community. Our solution has evolved to become a Learning Experience Platform for elementary schools.
The Seesaw features you know and love will not change, but will only be enhanced. Seesaw will soon offer additional solutions with more inclusive features, admin insights, and new curricula to support a whole elementary learning experience. Our dedication to teachers, students, and families will remain the same.
Why did you make these changes? Our goal is to bring all elementary students, teachers, administrators, and families into the learning loop, ensuring that everyone can easily participate, support and celebrate each child’s learning experience. We wanted our new brand to represent our core mission of providing an inclusive, connected, and joyful learning experience. Our new fonts, colors, and marketing website are WCAG-compliant to demonstrate our commitment to accessibility.
What is changing? We have a new app icon and logo that integrates the learning loop imagery.
Seesaw will still be the same product you know and love, but inside you’ll see refreshed colors including a new touch of purple that meets WCAG accessibility standards.
We are also launching our new marketing website to make it easier for teachers, administrators, and families to find inspirational resources, printables, tutorials, and more. This new site will launch on October 27, 2023.
Using Zearn in Your Classroom
As a reminder, all students K-6 have access to Zearn and your classroom has been set up for you. As you know, we have upgraded to the paid version this year. The paid version has much more to offer in terms of reports on individual student pacing, skill, and more. Printable resources are included as well.
For those of you who are new, Zearn is aligned to Eureka, the core of our math curriculum material. Because of that, we would like to have consistent usage among students from kindergarten through 6th grade. If your students have not yet logged in, please try to do so this week.
Effective Usage in Class
Based on their internal research, the team at Zearn shared that they have discovered students have the best chance to make at least one year's worth of growth (if not more) when teachers ensure the following:
- Students engage in Zearn bout about 90 min per week
- Students complete 3 lessons per week
Small Group Stations
One recommendation for implementing the use of Zearn would be to have students engage with the program during a station rotations, small group time, and/or math tier time, etc. If you need support with implementation, feel free to reach out to Melissa Vulopas or me.
Students Who are Significantly Below Level
For students who are not on grade level, there are ways where we can change leveling. There are also some intervention resources that could be used for small groups.
Additional Resources (Please Review by the End of October)
Our Tech Team was able to review the training materials for Zearn. To help teachers, they have created a module to support teachers as we look to benefit from the new resources available through our paid Zearn subscription.
You can access the training by joining our new WSD Tech Warriors Google Classroom. The join code is v6vkaxp. See the attached image for directions.
There are 4 short modules to explain new features and ways to view students strengths and needs within the programming. Please use the time from 2:45-3:20 by the end of October to review this information.
Our tech coaches are also great resources if you are seeking additional support.
Approval for Personal Days
Junior Achievement (Message from Mia Welaish on 9/6/23)
Hello!
We hope you had a nice summer, and your school year is off to a great start!
As we begin the 23/24 school year, we have a few requests to get Junior Achievement implemented in your classroom this year.
Please note: If you have already emailed me regarding assigning a volunteer to your classroom for this school year, you can disregard this email.
- Please review the Educator Overview Here. Educator Q & A
- Teachers, please complete the Program Request Form by 9/21/23. Elementary Program Request Form
The link below can be shared with your parents either via email, digital newsletter, or on your website. The brochure contains a short video, Q & A, and an electronic volunteer sign up form. This sign-up form is sent directly to JA.
Junior Achievement Volunteer Overview
- Send any names and email addresses of interested volunteers to me. I will follow up with the interested volunteer. Once you have a volunteer assigned, I will send a confirmation email to you.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know.
We look forward to providing your students with a Junior Achievement program this year.
Standing Information
Children and Youth Referrals
- File a report whenever abuse or neglect is suspected and inform your supervisor.
- File the report online via Child Line (preferred) or using the hotline
- Provide only facts in the report (leave out personal bias and opinions)
- Print out and submit to Susan Shinn-Thomas your Child Line report. If the report was made using the hotline, please complete and submit the CY47 form (Click Here)
For your reviewing convenience, I have linked the Pennsylvania Mandated Reporter FAQ down below.
Procedure for Receiving Donations
Standing Links
PTO Meetings
The next meeting will take place on November 6 (6:00-7:00 PM). If there is something you would like to bring up on behalf of the teachers and staff, please let the following teachers know:
- Kirstin Loperena
- Maddy Molignoni
- Mandy Myers
- Becky Heller
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
This Week
Monday, October 23 (Day D):
- Red Ribbon Week: Red Day - Warwick Warriors Wear Red
- Students/Class of the Month Due
- Science Curriculum Writing (Grades K-2): (7:30-3:20)
Tuesday, October 24 (Day A):
- Red Ribbon Week: Silly Hat/Hair Day - Our Brains Are Special
- Case Management Day
Wednesday, October 25 (Day B):
- Red Ribbon Week: Dress As You Would For Your Favorite Hobby - Healthy Hobbies Keep Our Minds Healthy
- Kickoff of PTO Spiritwear Sale
Thursday, October 26 (Day C):
- Red Ribbon Week: Wear Orange - Unity Day to promote anti-bullying
- Beck and Call Blurbs Due: Counselor, Reading Specialist, Nurse, Specials
- CFO Nate Wertsch Building Visit: (7:30-3:00) If you'd like to meet with him, please sign up HERE.
- Character Building Assembly: (1:50)
- Music Club: (2:45-3:30)
Friday, October 27 (Day D):
- Red Ribbon Week: Age Day, Dress as Any Age - Promise to Make Healthy Choices Our Whole Lives
- 5th Grade Milk and Cookies (Time TBD)
- Kindergarten Alphabet Fashion Show: (9:15)
- Core Team Meeting: (1:00)
UPCOMING EVENTS AND NOTICES
The Near Future
Monday, October 30 (Day A):
Tuesday, October 31 (Day B):
- Deadline for 5th and 6th Grade Student Council Applications
- MTSS Meeting: For invited staff reps
Wednesday, November 1 (Day C):
Thursday, November 2 (Day D):
- Music Club: (2:45-3:30)
Friday, November 3 (Day A):
- Core Team Meeting: (1:00)
Sunday, November 5:
- Daylight Saving Time Ends: "Fall Back" 1 hour
Monday, November 6 (Day B):
- Faculty Meeting (extended): (2:45-4:00)
- PTO Meeting: (6:00)
Tuesday, November 7 (Day C):
- Elementary Principals Meeting: (9:00-3:00)
Wednesday, November 8 (Day D):
- Picture Retakes
- District Spelling Bee: (Time TBD)
Thursday, November 9 (Day A):
- Grade Level Meetings: with Substitutes
Friday, November 10 (Day B):
- Veteran's Day Breakfast: (6:45-7:45)
- Core Team Meeting: (1:00)
The John Beck Promise.
------- LOVE. CARE. ENCOURAGEMENT. -------
Love is kind, even if we must be tough.
Care is essential, even if we must be honest.
Encouragement builds agency, even when it can be challenging.
Email: slin@warwicksd.org
Website: https://www.warwicksd.org/website/school.php?schoolid=0002
Location: 418 East Lexington Road, Lititz, PA, USA
Phone: 717-626-3704
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnBeckPTO
Twitter: @JohnBeckWSD