Burchfield's Bulletin
September 25-29 (School Days 25-29)
NEVER BEEN MORE GRATEFUL
I must say that this last week was a test even for the strong and focused. We did it, My Friends. I am so grateful for teachers who never gave up. I am thankful for paras who jumped into tough situations. I appreciate the positive attitude of our team who stepped up to support and protect our members. You're the best!
I appreciate everyone's preparation for Curriculum Night last week. There were several parents who stopped me to share that they had learned things from the meetings. These are great opportunities for parent education and great building good perceptions of our school. Thanks
I am also so grateful for the "Can Do" spirit teachers took on last week as we delve deeper into setting teacher, class, team, and campus goals. Many stretched themselves to set bold goals. WHAT WE MUST REMEMBER as we move forward - Big Goals are achieved by doing small things for the long haul. It takes GRIT to stay focused and stay the course. Take a minute and remind yourself Why Some Students Fail and Others Succeed.
One thing that is making a difference in pockets around our school is the emphasis on our campus commitments to high expectations on behaviors as well as academic achievement. Dress code, hallway procedures, cafeteria and playground procedures are being followed by some more than others. Please go back either collectively or individually in a conference period this week to review campus procedures in our Faculty Handbook. Please ask questions if the printed expectations are different from what you have heard me say.
I am truly grateful for the fifth grade team who made the trip to Bass Hall on Friday a huge success. Debra's preparation before and her follow-up will benefit students' lives. I think the kids enjoyed the trip and the experience.
MASON'S MESSAGE
“Sometimes the things your students need most,
won’t be found in your lesson plans.”
I don’t know who said this quote, but by-golly, right up there next to breathing, building positive relationships is probably the second most important thing our student’s NEED. I cannot stress the importance of getting to know your students, not just on an academic level, but a personal level. What are their dreams, fears, hopes, or favorite ice cream, sports team, movie, crayola color, smell, book, singer, or minion? What do they want to be when they grow up or when is their next baseball game? I think we a do a good job of trying to make that connection, but sometimes the connection gets lost. The great thing is no matter how many times you may lose the connection, if you keep trying, you will eventually make contact.
Also, it’s T-TESS time!! Don’t forget to have your goals entered into Strive by October 6 (personal and professional SMART goal). Mrs. Spier will be making appointments for you to meet with Joy and I to go over your goals.
Otherwise, we are 5 weeks in...let’s keep on trucking!
Sard's PEIMS PORTAL
McCrory's COUNSELORS CORNER
In the first 5 weeks of school, I have already learned of many struggles that our students are facing outside of the school setting. Many have faced some kind of trauma over the summer. Some of them are dealing with traumatic issues in the mornings before they come to school. For some of our students, your smile may be the only smile they see each day. Your hug may be the only hug they receive. Our students need to be reminded that we truly care about them...even when they are making bad choices. Thank you for all you do to make your students feel loved and accepted.
As we approach “Snapshot Day” in October, we need to be considering which students should be identified on the at-risk list. I have a list of students who need to be added based on assessments. I am also needing some information from each classroom teacher. I need to know the names of ALL students who have EVER been retained. (Not just retained last year, but any year since they have been in school.) The “easiest” way to find this information is to look at the birth date and see if their age is appropriate for their grade level. If they appear to be older than the age for your grade level, you will need to research to see if they have been retained. I will need the students’ names as well as which grade they repeated and the name of the school they were attending at the time. If a parent CHOSE to start their child in kindergarten late, that situation is not referred to as a retention. I will also need the name of any student who is currently in foster care. I appreciate your help with this task. It is very important for the information we report to the state to be accurate. If you have any questions, please see me. I will need to have this information by Monday, October 2 at the end of the day. Thanks again for all you do!
HOW DID YOUR INTEGRATE THIS WEEK?
We all know that the arts make school a more fun place to be but the integration of the arts into core content, core content in the arts, core content into other core content, and technology into everything can also make learning stick so much better.
A FEW REMINDERS
Top instructional strategies should be used first and foremost. While reteaching will always to necessary for some students along the way, don't wait to use your best shared strategies. Do it now. It may keep you from having to redo your lessons for the group. Also, you heard me say this before. The climate in your class matters.
The reading of Chapter 1 of our Book Study - Arts with the Brain in Mind - needs to be completed by this week's end.
SOME THINGS WE NOTICED THIS WEEK
We have talked seriously about what our goals are for our campus. We have discussed who we are going to reach our goals. We have begun implementing discussing and planning for further RtI implementation. However, one thing we have not talked a great deal about during the first few weeks of school is how we are using the Thinking Pathways.
Thinking Pathways is a strategy for teachers and students to use when they are in the beginning stages of learning as well as throughout the solidifying process of learning. Very simply put, the four stages of the Thinking Pathways process can use a multitude of tasks but the process is as follows:
Analyze - Teachers/Students analyze different resources to better understand concepts introduced.
Reason - Teachers/Students determine what information is relevant and helps clarify understanding of concepts studied.
Answer - Students determine the answers to the questions the teacher poses.
Defend - Students defend their answers which may include explaining why a different answer is wrong.
As a whole Dave and I have seen instruction and tasks that include aspects of these components of Thinking Pathways instruction. However, the actual vocabulary is not being heard in most classrooms. If you are new to BISD this vocabulary may not be familiar in your instruction...yet. Veteran teachers of BISD should be using the vocabulary everyday. When asked, students should be familiar with each component. We will be looking for the graphic similar to the one below in every class as a reminder for students as well as teachers until it becomes a natural process.
Final words, it WORKS so use it! This week we will be listening specifically for vocabulary and related tasks.
DUTIES, BIRTHDAYS, and WatchDOGS
DUTIES
Gym: Grace & Ramirez
Da Vinci Hall: Mickels
Escher Hall; Loyd
BIRTHDAYS
Sept. 27 - Autumn Wilson
Sept. 30 - Jill Vernier
WatchDOGS
None
UPCOMING CALENDAR
This Week:
Monday - Beginning of Burleson Opportunity Fund sign-up; RTI Meetings; PTO Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night 5-8; P.E. Stampede at Kerr Middle School Football Field 5:30-7:00
Tuesday - Flu Shot Clinic
Wednesday - Faculty Team Building followed by CPI trained team members and those who will be trained
Friday - End of 1st 6 wks grading period
Upcoming Calendar:
October 4: Leadership and Goal Team Meetings
October 5: Bobcat Pride Breakfast
October 6: Student Holiday; Teacher Professional Development
October 9: Columbus Day - Student and Staff Holiday from school; BISD School Board Meeting 6:30
October 10: District Units of Study meeting in library after school - Kindergarten?
October 11: Field trip to BHS for FWSO presentation for 5th and 2nd grades
October 12: “Character Matter” in cafeteria for drama club; District Units of Study meeting in library after school - 1st Grade?
October 13: End of 1st Quarter Grading Period for Kinder/1st Grade
October 14: Burleson Founders’ Day
October 17: Big Kahuna Product Delivery date
October 19: Class and Yearbook pictures
October 23-27: Red Ribbon Week
October 23: BISD School Board meeting
October 30: Tentative S.M.A.R.T Family Night
October 31: Halloween
November 2: Character Luncheon
November 3: End of 2nd 6 Weeks Grading Period
PIC of the WEEK - Ya'll Look Artsey
Academy of the Arts at Bransom
Website: http://bransom.burlesonisd.net/
Location: 820 South Hurst Road, Burleson, TX, United States
Phone: 817-245-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BransomBobcats/
Twitter: @BransomBobcats