BSD Briefs
January 15, 2018
District Goal: WE empower all students to achieve post-high school success.
In the Beaverton School District, we are very fortunate to have seven school board members who are committed to helping every student reach their full potential; Chair, Anne Bryan, Vice Chair, Becky Tymchuk and members, Tom Colett, Susan Greenberg, LeeAnn Larsen, Eric Simpson, and Donna Tyner do an excellent job of serving the District's students, parents, staff members, and the overall community.
Lockout vs Lockdown
Have you heard the terms “lockout” or “lockdown”? While the two terms sound somewhat similar, they mean very different things. It can help ease your anxiety as a parent to know the difference.
A lockout means there is a possible threat outside the school. Most often, this is due to police activity in the area or the neighborhood. Police might be searching for a suspect in a crime, or someone might have spotted a person wanted for questioning. During a lockout, it is business as usual inside the building. If students are at recess, or outside for some reason, they are brought inside, the doors are locked and classes continue. The District does not typically send out parent notifications for lockouts, since they are most often due to police activity in the neighborhood and are usually resolved quickly.
A lockdown means there is a possible threat inside the school. This is not business as usual. Hallways are cleared, classroom and office doors are locked, lights are turned out. Students and staff are instructed to stay quiet and out of sight. All of our schools can be put in lockout or lockdown at the touch of a button. A message with instructions will then play over the school’s intercom system.
If you get a notification about a lockout or a lockdown, the first place to check for reliable information and updates is the school and District webpage. The Public Safety Office puts up color-coded banners.
Do not call or go to the school. Doing so could put you or others in danger. We will communicate with you once we have more information to share.
We thank you for your help, as we work to provide safe learning environments for all students in the Beaverton School District.
From Homeless to Helping
Formerly homeless student, Jacob Messer, has returned to the Beaverton School District to volunteer as a mentor to unaccompanied homeless students. The BSD HELP Center has been awarded a grant from the Oregon Department of Education that aims to improve engagement and attendance of eleventh and twelfth grade unaccompanied students, and Jacob is the perfect match.
Jacob came to the Beaverton School District in the middle of his junior year in high school, with nothing more than his bike, to stay with a family friend after a falling out with his father and stepmother in Bend.
His journey to Sunset High School was not an easy one. His last few months in Bend were spent living in an uninsulated garage, riding his bike to and from school in the freezing cold and snow and struggling to simply survive. Jacob knew he needed to leave, needed more opportunities and a new start. A family friend in the Portland area offered him a room and an opportunity to finish out his high school career.
While at Sunset, Jacob was introduced to Beaverton School District Homeless Support Liaisons Mary Metheney and Lisa Mentesana. Mary and Lisa assisted Jacob with bus passes, scholarship and internship opportunities and resources. Jacob also had very compassionate teachers who offered him extra help, encouragement, and even food.
Following high school graduation, Jacob considered several options, including college, but did not want to take on student debt. The Navy offered him the opportunity to earn college credits and technology training while working and earning money.
Jacob recently decided to work as a Navy Recruiter which led him back to the Portland metro area. Soon after beginning his position in Portland, Jacob returned to the Beaverton HELP Center, this time to offer his hand at helping other young homeless students achieve success. “I chose to be a recruiter to give back to the community that helped me on my way to success, and also to show people that with hard work and dedication they can shine,” says Jacob.
Early Release in Action: ENVoY training at Meadow Park Middle School
Teachers and counselors at Meadow Park Middle School gathered in the library during early release on the first Wednesday in December for the second of two ENVoY trainings led by Cedar Park teachers Darla McClelland and Denise Cooney. Denise has been using ENVoY techniques in her Humanities classrooms since 2006.
ENVoY is a strategy of non-verbal communication, group dynamics, and influence skills to establish an educational environment that nourishes positive student-teacher relationships. When used consistently, ENVoY techniques shift educators from seeing themselves as upholders of power to instruments of influence. ENVoY focuses on how to use effective eye contact, voice patterns and body language (including the use of location).
Teachers formed table groups and role-played classroom scenarios using their newly-acquired skills, asking questions and sharing their own classroom experiences.
“We decided to move forward with ENVoY training to help give our staff a common language around classroom management strategies. That common language should help students because they will all experience similar responses to behaviors across the school, which allows them to feel safe and supported,” says principal Jared Freeman.
Expected outcomes of the use of ENVoY skills include fewer disciplinary incidents, improved student attendance, higher student grades, higher staff morale, and a lower level of staff burn-out. Teachers who systematically utilize the full range of non-verbal management skills are able to reinforce consistent and fair boundaries while preserving their relationships with each student, regardless of unique learning styles or cultural backgrounds.
“I’ve already seen staff using some of the material from the first professional development, so I look forward to seeing what is put in place after this one,” says Freeman.
Mountain View and Meadow Park middle schools have both participated in school-wide ENVoY training. Additional individual trainings will be offered throughout the remainder of the school year during early release Week 3 professional development.
Early Release
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
(students will be dismissed 90 minutes early)
School Board Business Meeting
Monday, January 22, 2018
6:30 p.m.
District Administration Office
16550 SW Merlo Rd.
Beaverton
Early Release
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
(students will be dismissed 90 minutes early)
Early Release
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
(students will be dismissed 90 minutes early)
Budget Listening & Learning Session
Monday, February 12, 2018
6:30 p.m.
Meadow Park Middle School
14100 SW Downing St.,
Beaverton
Beaverton School District
Read past issues of the BSD Briefs.
The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veteran status, genetic information or disability in any education programs, activities or employment.
Email: community_involvement@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 16550 SW Merlo Rd, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: (503)356-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeavertonSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @beavertonsd