Birdneck Briefing 2019-2020
Jan 27-31
Tentative: Upcoming Dates and Events
Jan. 27 - No students/Staff Day: grades due 5:00
Jan. 28 - Motivation and Courage Assembly grades 3-5 Cafeteria. 1:15pm
Jan. 29 - Gifted Application Parent meeting. Flex learning space 12:00-1:30
Jan. 31 - Movie Night : Aladdin 6:00-8:30 pm (rescheduled from Jan 17)
Upcoming:
February - National African American History month.
Feb. 3 - Report cards go home
Feb. 7 - 5th grade dance
Feb. 25 - Pizza Bingo
Feb. 28 - VOYA: Education Retirement Specialist appointments
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Birdneck Family,
Congrats on making it to the 3rd quarter. We had the pleasure of easing into the new year with two 4 day weeks in a row.
I want to thank all of our staff that joined us at Tempt for our staff holiday party. The food was excellent and the company was even better. Our next event is Soup-R-Bowl coming up this Friday. Please check your email with details about lunch on Friday.
It was great seeing students recognizing SOAR behavior of teachers on Friday. This helped students reflect on their own behaviors.
Here's an example:
Student: I want to give an egg to a teacher for walking in the hallway.
Teacher: Do teachers usually run in the hallway?
Student: No I've never seen a teacher running.
Teacher: Do you think they should get an egg for what they are expected to do?
This opened up an amazing discussion about what behaviors are acceptable, exceptional, or unacceptable. Hopefully you will be able to have similar conversations with your class about our SOAR expectations. The videos including the one we used in the assembly are resources available that can help guide these discussions.
Captain out,
RV Yoshida
You Make a Difference
You can see her anywhere in the building
Exemplifying the SOAR behavior
Walking from class to class
Making sure everyone has what they need
She is a joy to be around
And I am glad to have found
A great coworker, and friend
In Mrs. Lyanne Firmino
You Make A Difference!!!!
SHOUT OUTS!!!!!
Thank you to Mrs. Stewart for organizing our staff party and for all staff who joined us on Saturday.
Shout out to our office staff for doing so many things behind the scenes to be sure our school runs well.
Printing Changes
PaperCut Implementation Next Steps for Staff
The division is implementing a new printing application called, PaperCut, to replace Equitrac.
Changes were made to the Xeroxs at our school by DOT today.
Please follow these directions to continue to print, and to print securely when necessary.
First, Staff only need to enter their WISE# to copy/print/scan at the Xerox Copier/MFD. Previous Equitrac PIN # previously issued are no longer needed. (These PIN #s will be replaced in the near future. Watch for more details from DOT/TST very soon.)
Second, DOT removed our Xerox machines from the Equitrac “Follow Me” secure printing.
Keeping print jobs confidential is of utmost importance in many cases...
To print securely, you will need to:
- Open our school’s I: drive, navigate to Network Print Scripts folder.
- Double click the appropriate FindMe print queue (Elementary, Middle, High1, High2, Admin) and wait for message indicating the printer was installed successfully.
- When ready to print. Select File-Print any document and select your installed FindMe printer from the printer list dropdown menu.
- Go to nearest Xerox in building and login and release print job when prompted.
Third, and also very important.
Your existing printers need to be removed and reinstalled within 2 weeks to avoid printing interruptions. (local usb printers not affected)
- Type Printers and Devices in the Search bar.
- Click on the name of the printer(s) you have been using currently.
- Click Remove Device
Youtube
The purpose of this memo is to inform you of changes that are being implemented to the process for approving restricted YouTube videos. Currently, all school staff can approve restricted YouTube videos. However, Effective Feb. 10, in order to provide for a more consistent application of the restricted video approval process, approver rights will be restricted to the positions listed below:
● Superintendent ● All Chief Officers ● All Directors ● All Coordinators ● All Central Office Instructional Specialists ● All Principals ● All Assistant Principals ● All Instructional Technology Specialists (ITS) ● All Library Media Specialists (LMS) ● Grade Level Chairs/Department Chairs
Approvers have broader access to YouTube content and are able to view and approve videos that are restricted for the general audience. All other Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) staff and all students access YouTube in Restricted Mode. As a result, and according to YouTube’s policies, they are unable to view videos containing potentially mature content unless approved. This includes YouTube videos in one of the categories below. How a video is categorized is dependent upon the person who uploaded the video.
● Drugs and alcohol ● Sexual situations ● Violence ● Mature subjects
All Principals Page 2 Jan. 23, 2020
● Profane and mature language ● Incendiary and demeaning content ● Uncategorized
As part of this change, all restricted videos that were previously approved after February 2019 have been disapproved, thus requiring reapproval if an instructional need for their use exists. If a member of your staff in one of the positions/roles listed above does not have YouTube approver rights, please submit a Service Desk request ticket to resolve.
2020 Digital Citizenship Contest
The Office of Instructional Technology is proud to sponsor the 2020 Digital Citizenship Contest. This contest begins Jan. 16 and ends with the announcement of the city-wide winners on March 13. All entries must be original creations and must follow the contest guidelines. Schools can share and participate in this contest in any way and should choose the winners by Feb. 21. Winners will be chosen in each school building for the following levels:
Individual School Entries
•Kindergarten – grade two
•Grade three – grade five
•Middle school (grades six – eight)
•High school (grades nine – 12)
All school level winning submissions should then be uploaded to the Google Form (link provided on Digital Citizenship Contest Site) by Feb. 28. Each of the school level winners will be submitted for city-wide judging, and one (1) city-wide winner will be chosen from each of the following levels:
Employee input survey
In the spirit of continuous improvement, we are asking all employees to complete the 2020 Employee Input Survey. The survey is being administered to all Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ employees as a way to gather input on issues that directly affect them as employees of the division. This survey serves as part of the Employee Input Process, referenced in School Board Policy 4-8, by providing employees with the opportunity to offer their opinions. Your responses will help guide continuous improvement throughout the division.
Below you will find a unique link to the survey, which you may access from either your home or work computer. To ensure your opportunity to participate, please do not forward this email. Click on the link below to begin the survey. Please respond to the survey by Friday, February 14, 2020.
Career Teacher Application
The Career Teacher Application for 2020 will be available for downloading from the Intranet (Forms/Human Resources/Career Teacher Application) beginning Feb. 3, 2020.
The VBCPS Career Teacher Allowance is a three (3) year renewable allowance. Minimum requirements for eligibility of the Career Teacher Allowance are as follows:
• Hold an active Virginia Department of Education 5 or 10 year renewable teaching license, or a Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology license, or hold National Board Certification (NBC) issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and
• Be on a continuing contract with the VBCPS; and
• Have completed 10 years of total teaching experience or hold National Board Certification (NBC) issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards regardless of the years of service; and
• Have received ratings of “Proficient” or higher for each standard on the most recent evaluation and have not been on a Performance Improvement Plan within the (three) 3 year career teacher activity cycle; and
• Have demonstrated balanced professional involvement over the course of three (3) years immediately preceding the initial or renewal application by earning a minimum of 100 points with having at least 20 points earned in each of the four (4) categories: Teaching and Learning; Building Leadership Capacity; Professional Development; and Community Relations.
Full program details including the full list of requirements can be found on the intranet, Career Teacher Allowance page.
Teachers requesting consideration for a Career Teacher allowance should:
• Complete the 2020 Career Teacher Application.
• Collect supporting documentation as directed by the building principal to verify actions in each of the four categories of the form. (Teachers should keep all of the supporting documentation with a copy of the completed application for their records.)
• Request the signature of the building principal on the cover sheet between Feb. 3, 2020, and the last day of school, June 12, 2020.
• If applicable to the application, include a copy of the National Board Certification if not already on file with the Department of Human Resources.
Those teachers with questions about the Career Teacher Application, or those who need assistance with the completion of the application, may contact John Ogden, Human Resources Specialist, in the Department of Human Resources at 263-1062 or John.Ogden@vbschools.com.
FLE
Regarding Family Life instruction, administrators are asked to remind teachers there should be no deviations from the prescribed curriculum or procedures for either FLE or opt-out instructions. All materials are available for principals to review in Schoology using the group code 4FVZ-5TNW-VXWB4.
If you have any questions please contact Sheila Jones, K-12 health and physical education coordinator, at Sheila.Jones@vbschools.com or 757-263-1469. Thank you.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers
Please keep Mrs. Stauch's husband in your thoughts and prayers as he has surgery.
Computer Science Instruction Plan Writer Request
We are asking computer science leaders and instructional specialists to assist in the writing of Computer Science Instructional Plans (CSIPs). These instructional plans will be developed to support teachers as they integrate Computer Science instruction.
When recommending teachers, we would like you to consider the following:
1. Experience: we would prefer that teachers have a minimum of three years of teaching experience.
2. Lesson plan development experience.
3. Ability to address special populations when developing lesson plans (SPED, EL, etc)
4. Experience developing lesson plans that are cross disciplinary in nature (particularly at elementary) or address a STEM transdisciplinary approach to instruction, as appropriate for the standard.
The plans that will be generated through this group will be informed by best practices in computer science education. CSIP writers will be selected to represent the different superintendents regions as well as different division sizes/characteristics. Writers will be paid a $1000 stipend to write lesson plans aligned to the bullets at each grade level. We will select three writers per grade level with one lead instructional plan developer per grade band.
Responsibilities of selected writers include:
1. Development of lesson plans aligned to the bullets at assigned grade level. Lesson plan structure must align to the format indicated by VDOE.
2. Collaboration with grade band lead developer to ensure alignment and feasibility of plans.
3. Commitment to attend a two day work session at VDOE. Lodging, travel, and a per Diem for food will be provided to writers.
4. Optional: We would like to create videos of lessons being implemented in the classroom. A stipend will be provided to those teachers that have been selected by the VDOE team and that are willing to work with us in the creation of these videos.
Lesson plans created through this process will be posted on the VDOE website as well as in the Open Education Repository. VDOE staff reserve the right to modify any lessons developed in this process as needed.
Please send this email to teachers in your division that would meet the criteria outlined in this email and that you would recommend to this process. Applicants need to complete the Computer Science Instructional Plan Writer Application to be considered. Be aware that as part of the screening process, VDOE will contact the supervisors of chosen applicants.
Thanks for your consideration,
Timothy Ellis
Computer Science Specialist
Virginia Department of Education
Office of STEM and Innovation
101 N 14th Street
James Monroe Building, 23rd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)-225-3489
Join our PTA
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Join the PTA! Our goal is to have 100% Staff participation!!!!!!!!!
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BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Twitter@BNESeagles
BIRDNECK MISSION
Mission: We build relationships to encourage, inspire and empower others to meet the challenges of today and to foster the love of learning.
BIRDNECK VISION
Vision: We are dedicated to nurturing an inclusive environment to ensure engaging, student-centered learning resulting in confident independent learners.
BIRDNECK BELIEFS
We believe in a collaborative community in which teachers, administrators, students, and parents work together for student success.
We believe in creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment in which all students can strive for excellence and achieve their individual potential.
We believe we will prepare our students for success by providing 21st century learning and developing within our students critical thinking, effective communications and problem solving skills.
Website: http://www.birdneckes.vbschools.com/
Location: 957 South Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2120