BESTeam Tidbits
September 25, 2016
Data Days
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we will have our beginning of the year data days. These half-days will afford us time to delve into beginning of the year data to make instructional decisions for our Texans.
Goals
Organize systematic data binders for staff usage
Analyze beginning of the year data
Create flexible groups based on BOY data
- Create plans to meet students’ individual needs based on BOY data to use during PLT
If you have any binders in your classroom that you would like to repurpose for data binders, please bring them to Cathy's room. We will run copies of your BOY data. Please click here for a detailed agenda.
Looking forward to working with teams to make instructional decisions based on BOY as we continue to build an excellent school together!
Laps for Learning
During Friday's Laps for Learning, I encourage each of you to walk, jog, and/or run with our terrific Texans for a lap or forty! This is not a requirement, but if you would like to get out their with your students please do. There will be a prize for the top three staff members with the most laps.
Watch DOGS
Tuesday, 9/27
- David Billinger: Ethan & Owen/Hill&Ryan
- Open
Thursday, 9/29
- Drew Cashatt: Megan&Mason/Hockenbrough&Engle
- Open
Friday, 9/30
- Steve Namy: Michael/Mrs Vise
- Michael Rowntree: Hudson and Anna Rowntree, Mrs. Hill and Marino
- Matt Hammons: John (Hill) Luke (A. Kaufmann)
Tuesday, 10/4
- Nathan Cooper: Calla ~Hendry
- Ryan Nordell ~ Ella- Hill, Mila-Kaufman
Thursday, 10/6
- Patrick Lavery ~ John/marino
- William Digaetano ~ Aubrey/ Kaufield
Friday, 10/7
- Aaron Reed ~ Reed/Chapman
- Matt McNicholas ~ McNicholas/floyd
Sunshine Committee
Celebrations
- Thank you for taking time to meet with parents and share celebrations and growth opportunities!
- Thank you 4th grade for organizing our staff team building for the month of September!
- AMAZING staff response during Tuesday's fire alarm! Thank you to each of you for pitching in and ensuring the safety of all of our students and staff! Great teamwork!
- We had a great turn out for Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night! Thank you to all of our fantastic servers and bread-slingers!
- We made $187 at our Menchie's Spirit Night!
- Thank you for reaching deep into your pockets and donating to the Education Foundation! Every dollar donated stays in GCISD!
- Congratulations Hayden on the exciting news! We are so happy for you and Will!
To do...
- T-TESS Goals: Thank you for remembering to submit your T-TESS goals on Eduphoria. If you have a question about the goals, see Jamie or Tonya.
- Learning Commons Survey: Please complete the following Learning Commons survey https://docs.google.com/a/gcisd.net/forms/d/1Q4povvFv2jvgPTyFG83EqEWnnidh4HpYFi4V6jVm2-k/edit
- Calendars: Thank you for taking the time to schedule usage of the Science Lab and Computer Labs on the Google Calendar. If you need assistance with this, please let Jamie, Tonya, or Cathy know.
- Before/After School Activities: Are you planning on having a before/after school activity? Please complete this form so we can update our website with all of the great happenings of our campus. Thank you!
- Flex Learning: The new Flex program is ready for 2016-2017. Visiting the following link from the district website (http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/3804), you will see the requirements, understand why Flex is important to our profession, and get access to the site. Once you get to the actual Flex site, find the tab that represents your job so you know which modules to complete.
The due date for completing Flex is October 19, 2016. Remember that FLEX encompasses the compliance-type professional learning that is required each year (Bloodborne Pathogens, FERPA, etc.) Instructional staff receive 2 paid days (Flex Days) to complete the training. This way you can complete it when it is most convenient for you. Paraprofessionals will be afforded time during the week in August to complete Flex time.
Tech Super Power: Each of us have a super tech power, something we are really good at doing with technology, be it making a gallery on our website, starting blogs with our students, or creating a form to obtain student voice. We have a building full of experts in one or more things related to technology. Take a moment to tell us HERE what your super tech power is. We will share these powers with the staff so we know who to go to for answers to specific questions.
If The Walls Could Talk...
K-2 teachers met on Tuesday afternoon to reflect on the visual information displayed on our walls and how we are following the 80/20 guideline Jamie challenged us with before school started.
Before meeting, teachers were asked to read and be prepared to share out from one of the following blogs:
8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom
5 Signs Your Classroom is Over Decorated and How to Fix It
Teachers met in triads to share from their reading and discuss implications for our campus. We discovered 3 important take aways regarding what should be hanging on our walls. Artifacts should be learner focused, a resource used for teaching, and should include student voice and choice.
Using these three big ideas as the lenses for our observations, we walked the halls and visited classrooms to see if what is currently displayed aligns with theses ideas. We saw lots of anchor charts and student work samples, with a splash of decor. We came back together and discussed examples of our three big ideas we observed during our walk.
As an exit ticket, teachers generated one suggestion for moving artifacts to the next level. Two bigs ideas that stood out from the exit tickets were allowing students to have input/ownership in the creation of anchor charts as well as the opportunity to select work that is displayed.
I'd like to challenge you to really dig deep as you reflect on what the wall of our classrooms are saying. Take a look around your classroom. Make a quick tally of teacher created/purchased and student created items. Are you hitting the 80/20 mark?
Vision & Hearing Screenings
From Rebecca:
I wanted to let you know that the Vision and Hearing screenings will be done nextWednesday, Sept. 28th. It will done differently than in past years. There will be a Screen Team coming to BES to do the screenings for PPCD, PK, Kinder, 1st, 3rd, 5th and new to GCISD students in 2nd and 4th grades.
It will be similar to picture day. Classroom teachers involved will be given a scheduled time to bring your class to B1 and B3. You will need to stay with them until your screenings are completed to help maintain a quiet environment, and directing students to individual stations to keep the process moving. A few PTA Volunteers will be helping as well. PPCD, PK and Kinder will be done a little differently and I will go over that with you individually.
I ask that you please be flexible, as they may be running ahead or behind of the scheduled times. We are allowing 15 minutes for each 3rd and 5th grade class, 20 minutes for each 1st grade class and 30 minutes for Kinder and 40 minutes for PK. I am trying to get everyone scheduled so it does not interfere with your conference time or recess as best possible.
I am very excited about this being done all in one day so the students that need help will be identified earlier. The Screen Team members will not be familiar with BES so please make them feel at home.
Thank you for your help. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Rebecca Himmelberg, BSN, RN
Flu Clinics
Flu shot clinics begin on Wednesday 9/21 and continue through Thursday 10/27.
- See below for the full flu shot schedule. You may go to any clinic that best suits your work schedule. Please review the Flu Shot Employee Notice for more details.
- You must bring a COPY of your medical insurance card, your drivers license and consent form with you in order to receive the flu shot free of charge. You may receive a flu shot at no charge if you are covered by another employer's medical insurance if you are insured by one of the companies listed on the flyer.
- Please pre-register at http://www.passageware.com/FluSignUp/GCISD so the vendor will have an accurate count of immunizations by location. When you select a date/time, this site will provide you with the consent form to print.
- Dependent children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and you must provide a copy of insurance card, consent form and your drivers license at the time of vaccination.
Student Voice
Please view this new SMORE . Student voice powerful, simple, free concept. It summarizes the concept of "voice" in GCISD, provides some options for teachers who want to join the movement, invites teachers to participate in a collaboration session, and shares additional resources. We have started a new hashtag to collect district insights and ideas - #GCISDVoice Please share "voice" ideas and examples from your campus this year.
Ways we are gathering and using student voice at BES:
- Principal panel (see above for applicant information)
- Library liaisons
- KC Club
- Please share how you are using student voice in your areas!
FYI
- Staff Attendance: Remember to let Jamie, Tonya, Denise, Shelly, and your team know when you will be out. Thank you!
- National School Lunch Week (NSLW) 2016: The NSLW theme "Vote for a Winning School Lunch!" 2016 focuses on the importance of making healthy choices. Cafeterias will have special features and a ballot box for students to choose their "fave" lunch items. Make sure to stop by the cafeteria the week of October 11 to choose your winning school lunch!
- GCISD Reads: Check out the information on the new reading challenge. https://www.smore.com/cyf5c-gcisd-reads
Food Waste Reduction
Cornerstone Tasks
PTA News
- Website: PTA has a new website! Check it out here! http://www.bransfordpta.com/
- PTA Grants: Thank you for turning in PTA grants to Jamie the day before executive board meetings. This affords time for Jamie and Lis to review all grants before the meeting starts. Any grants turned in late will be saved for the next meeting. The next PTA executive board meeting is October 7.
- Laps for Learning: Excitement is building for the annual Laps for Learning event! Get your sneakers ready for Laps for Learning on Friday, September 30. We will all be walking, jogging, and cheering on our terrific Texans as we raise funds for our campus.
2016-2017 BES Goals
Creating a positive welcoming environment for our students and staff where risk taking is encouraged and embraced
Using student voice to influence decisions in our classrooms, hallways, and building
Using the Units of Study in each grade level to create a systematic approach to writing
Starting CORE visits to learn from the experts on our staff
Taking time to build relationships with staff, students, and families
Celebrating the GCISD reading challenge with our students and staff
Use the new Learning Platform Rubric and T-TESS to assist us in our growth toward a learning platform
Develop students and staff who are skilled problem solvers, collaborative workers, effective communicators, global citizens, and self-regulated learners
2016-2017 Information
Dates to Know
***Please check the BES master calendar on Google for updates***
- September 28: Talk with Texans 12:00 p.m.
- September 30: Laps for Learning
- October 3: CEC 3:10 p.m. & Snuffer's Spirit Night
- October 6: GT LEAD Curriculum Night
- October 10: Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
- October 14: End of 1st 9 Weeks & Dad's Club Movie Night
- October 20: BES Spirit Night at Kendra Scott
Week at a Glance
Monday Data Day for 2nd & 3rd grade teachers Choir @ 2:55 pm School Board Meeting Tuesday Rebecca off campus for a bit to get supplies Data Day for 1st & 5th grade teachers Staff Mtg. @ 3:10 pm - Restorative Practices Abbey off campus 8:00-12:00 Finalize Crest and turning in on Oct. 3 Tonya to testing training Wednesday Data Day for K & 4th grade teachers 2nd grade field trip to Casa Manaña Time with Texans @ 12:00 Vision & Hearing screenings @ BES in room B1 and B3 DI Mtg. @ 6:00 pm-Learning Commons Tonya to AP meeting Thursday Sky Ranch Parent/Chaperone Mtg. @ 6:00 pm-7:00 pm-Learning Commons Choir @ 2:55 pm Rebecca leaving at 2:00 Friday Laps for Learning Rebecca Out - Kim Ewing sub
Jamie Halliburton
Email: jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net
Phone: 806-441-6518
Twitter: @BESHalliburton