Booker T Washington Staff News
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
April 22, 2024
School Mission
To challenge our scholars academically at high levels, develop them socially, and uplift them emotionally.
School Vision
Tichenor's Reflection
BTW Family!
Spring Break was an opportunity to relax, refresh, rejuvenate and reflect on the year so far. I spent time at home for the first time in years. It made me realize how easy it is to get caught in the hustle and bustle of life and the expectation of going all the time. I have a new appreciation for the simpler things :-). I also came across a few books that I rarely have the extra time to read. One in particular was by Suzanne Dailey. Below are a few timely nuggets I think we all can identify with. Welcome Back!
‘Tis the Season
“Try to enjoy every moment. Because everything from here on out is a season. So if it’s hard, know that it will pass eventually. And if it’s good, savor it, because it won’t last forever.”
It’s about being a rational optimist: Rationally we recognize that things continue to be challenging, exhausting, confusing, and just plain hard, but optimistically, we recognize that just about everything in this life is temporary. When it’s good, we should savor it. When it’s hard, we should rest assured it will eventually pass. Either way, we will continue to grow and move on.
This school year may seem l-o-n-g. If you can appreciate where you are in this journey, even if it’s not exactly where you want to be yet, you’ll learn that every season serves a purpose before the next.
Your invitation this week is to reground yourself by recognizing and accepting that you are in a season, and like any season, it has a definite beginning and end. You’re getting there.
One way to do this is by adding the words right now to any negative feelings you may be having. Give it a try:
- I am frustrated right now.
- I am really sad right now.
- I am overwhelmed right now.
Do you see the shift? When you add right now, you are acknowledging that the discomfort you feel is temporary. Better times are coming.
Now switch gears. What if you try adding right now to your positive feelings?
- I am joyful right now.
- I am so excited right now.
- I am grateful right now.
When you add right now to the positive feelings, you are emphasizing the moment. This can really help you lean into and appreciate it.
Whether you are anxious, happy, or something in between, by adding right now to your feelings, you can zoom out of your emotions to see the bigger picture.
Right now, I am so appreciative of the hard work and commitment that you each show every day to help kids grow and achieve to be the best versions of themselves.
#WEGOTTHIS
Donte’ Tichenor
Staff Announcements
- Formative Data must be entered weekly. See Ms. Mitchell or Ms. Dyer if you have any questions.
- 4/8- No school/ Flex Day
- 4/9 - Staff Meeting- Admin Code and Inclusion Training (Dr. Brooke Stinson)
- Classified staff who work with Kindergarten- 5th grade students must attend the staff meeting. You will be paid for your time.
- 4/11- PLC's
- 4/15 - April PBIS Meeting
- 4/16- Brief Staff Meeting to discuss TIPS procedures
- 4/17 and 4/18- TIPS (KSA Practice Testing)
- 4/19- M/Power Rhythm (African Drum Assembly) 1:00 pm
- 4/19- Tiger Tailgate (Hosted by Sped Teachers/Paras, Preschool Teachers and Paras)
- 4/26- Club day will be moved to April 26th. This Friday was too soon. Ms. Jenkins will send out more information next week.
- Don't forget to document all parental conversations in the contact log in eOS or the PLP in IC
- 4/30 SBDM 3:15 in Library
- Food Truck- If you have a request, see Ms. Davis. She is responsible for booking food trucks the remainder of the year!
- Replenish Emergency Lesson Plans if you haven't done so already.
- Your evaluator will be reaching out to schedule formal observations soon.
- Remember to call/ Text/ Email both Ms. Mitchell and myself when you are going to be absent or late.
- Please continue to stand outside your doors in the morning greeting students. Thank you!
- Learning Intentions, Success criteria should be posted daily on White boards
- Please respond to families within 24 hours per district policy. Document conversation in the contact log located in eOS.
- Email Ms. Chrystal and copy me if you are in need of any custodial assistance.
- Be on time to your supervision post.
Student Support Team Updates
Tier 1 Attendance: Action Steps for Contacting Parents When a Student Misses School
Follow up with a phone call:
The classroom teacher should make a phone call to ensure the parent is aware of the student's absence and to gather any necessary information, provide necessary assignments or offer make- up work.
If the parent does not respond to the phone call, write a brief note or email to the parent concerning the student's absence.
Maintain a record of all communication: Keep a log of each attempt to contact the parent and any responses received in PLP.
If the student continues to be absent regularly, please make a Focus referral to collaborate with the school social worker or support staff.
The teacher and student support staff will explore possible underlying issues and develop a plan to address them, i.e. scheduling a parent conference, making a home visit and offering interventions.
Clinic Updates
Field Trip Reminders
- It is required by FCPS to provide the RN notice of a field trip two weeks prior to the scheduled trip.
- There must be at least ONE medication trained staff memeber going on the field trip. If one is not avaliable to go, the trip must be canceled and rescheduled for when a trained staff member is able to go.
Medication traning can be done anytime throughout the school year. The training is avaliable on SafeSchools. Complete the training and online exam. Once you've passed the exam, print off your certificate of completion and email 165.ashleyatkins@fayette.kyschools.us to schedule a skills check off. This will take approximately 10 minutes at the most.
Medication traning must be done on an annual basis. If you completed the training for the 22-23 school year, it is no longer valid for this school year.
Front Office Reminders
- Please remember to post student attendance in Infinite Campus as well as on the roster in the purple folders by 8AM daily. If you mark a student absent after 8:15AM, if you need changes to be made, please email Ms. Hernandez as soon as possible.
- IOUs from the Staff Bistro are all due at the end of the pay period.
- Please submit your leave forms as soon as you return from being out.
- All absences need to be entered in Smartfind which can be found under the Staff Tab on our website.
- In order to request a personal day, please click here and complete the form. You will receive an email with a response if approved or denied. If approved, please remember to submit your absence in AESOP/Frontline and complete a leave form prior to your leave.
- Submit supply request using the form in the BTW resources drive. Please do not simply help yourself. This allows us to keep accurate inventory and order more supplies when they run low.
Staff Shout Out
April Staff Birthdays
Marie DeBiase - 18
JerRicas Gentry - 21
Kathy Brooks - 21
Kristen Segebarth - 30