BESTeam Tidbits
May 14, 2017
Celebrations!
- From Al: Big thank you to Corrie, Brittany, Wendy, Chris, Denise, and Delana for helping out with PreK, K, and 1st grade science clubs!
- Thank you Tonya for a GREAT STAAR week!
- Thank you everyone for ensuring our terrific Texans experienced a supportive testing environment! We appreciate your flexibility with schedules, extra care in being respectful in the hallways, and your encouraging smiles to all the students!
- Wonderful celebration of Leigh and Sue on Thursday night! Thank you Sunshine for arranging this party!
- Congratulations to Christine, Lauren, Leigh, and Sue for being recognized by the BEST PTA on Thursday evening!
Summer Learning Opportunities
For the first time this summer, we have decided to approach professional learning a bit differently. In the absence of the annual Humanities Institute, we instead have organized a self-paced learning opportunity for our Humanities teachers - The Humanities Summer Reading Race. We have curated a list of professional books - oldies/goodies along with NEW titles - for teachers to read and enjoy during the summer weeks. There will be face to face, Google Classroom, and Twitter chat formatted book discussions during the summer in order to deepen learning and build networks across the district.
Our kick-off celebration will be a come and go event at the Admin building on May 24th from 3:30-5:00 in the Alamo room (sign-up in Eduphoria so we'll know who to expect!). We'll have FOOD and a chance for everyone to flip through the pages of each book you may want to read over the summer.
Please join us and please help us spread the word to all of your Humanities friends!
To do...
- Please share the two links below in your newsletters, Summer Reading and Boredom Busters! Thank you!
- Eportfolio EOY: It's the time of year for elementary students to create their Google Site ePortfolio. Please remind teachers to follow the End of Year Procedures for ePortfolios located https://sites.google.com/a/gcisd.net/gcisd-elementary-1-1/elementary-eportfolio-pilot-resources
- Pictures: Send Brittany pictures to spotlight on the campus website
Learning Commons Calendar
Fri. May 12 - district due date for student books to be returned
Mon. May 15 - Weds. May 17 - Scholastic BOGO Book Fair - no preview day or wish lists. Buy 1
book at regular price and get another book at same or lower price
free. This is a small book fair and we make no money from it. It is
just to allow students to purchase books for Summer reading. No
class shopping times, just send students as they bring money.
Mon. May 22 - 5th grade's Eras of History Projects displayed and presented in LC
- possible GT Presentations in LC @2:00 p.m.
Tue. May 23 - Colleyville Public Library Summer Reading Program presentations:
8:30-9:00 1st
9:15-9:45 PK, K
10:00 - 10:30 3rd
10:45-11:15 2nd
11:30-12:30 Lunch Duty/Lunch
12:35 - 1:05 4th
1:15- 1:45 5th
Wed. May 24 - BES Career Day - guest speaker in LC
Take two...
Check here each week for two websites, strategies, and/or ideas to implement in your work with our Texans. Please share great ideas you use or have found so we can post them here for others to use.
- Using Google Earth, 10 Classroom Applications: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2017/05/10-ways-to-use-google-earth-in-your.html#.WRBzKVPyuu4
- Providing a Sense of Purpose: https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/05/02/how-schools-can-help-students-develop-a-greater-sense-of-purpose/
Student Voice
Volunteer Breakfast
- Invitation and RSVP: http://bit.ly/2qf1dq5
- Sign up to bring an item or two: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044da9aa28a5fe3-volunteer
Watch DOGS
Tuesday, 5/16
- Oumer Salim
- Chase Browning
Thursday, 5/18
- Open
- Open
Friday, 5/19
- Dustin Wright
- Matt Hammons
- Gary Bannister
- Open
- Tim Berns
- Bryce Burton
2016-2017 Information
Dates to Know
***Please check the BES master calendar on Google for updates***
- The 2017 Retiree Dinner will be held the evening of Thursday, May 4, 2017, at the Courtyard Dallas DFW Airport North/Grapevine, 2200 Bass Pro Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051.
- Field Day: May 19
- Career Day: May 24...more info to come
- EOY Celebrations
Week at a Glance
Monday BOGO Book Fair thru Wednesday Rebecca out Choir 3-3:30pm Tonya at Bear Creek - a.m. Cathy Out ½ day for Humanities Tuesday Wendy out Kimberly out Tonya at BCES, a.m. 3rd grade field trip to Dallas Spark 8:20am-2:15pm Spark Showcase 2-3:00pm in the Cafeteria (Lori Kirkhuff) Teddy’s Burgers Spirit Night 4-9:00pm Abbey out 8:00-10:00 Jennifer Serravallo- Cathy, Carolyn, Connie, Patti, & Alecia Wednesday Wendy out Tech PLC Library Ambassadors 3:00pm Tonya collect textbooks Thursday Abbey at Counselor’s Meeting Wendy out Andrea out Becca out 1/2pm Choir to NRH20 9am-5pm Transition 504 meetings - a.m. Tonya collect textbooks - p.m. Friday Field Day Wendy out Becca out
2017-2018 Information
Staffing Updates
- PE: The hiring committee will be interviewing candidates on Monday and Tuesday.
- Music: The hiring committee will be interviewing candidates on Monday and Tuesday.
- Grade-Level Teachers: We are moving from four second grade teachers to three second grade teachers and from three fourth grade teachers to four fourth grade teachers. This will require a shift in staffing. Additionally, we are losing one teacher. Tonya and Jamie will meet with staff members individually this week to discuss placements for next year. Once current staff members are set, we will begin the interview process for a new grade-level teacher.
- Back to School Fair, Saturday, August 5, 2017. If you are interested in volunteering, please use this link to sign up: BTSF Volunteer Sign Up or if you would like more information, please contact Emberly Hill at emberly.hill@gcisd.net.
Map Update
The map is done! Thank you, thank you, thank you to each of you for your input and expertise on the map! Thank you to learning leaders for being the voice for your teams and talking through pros and cons of each options. Denise will email the map in the morning for each of you to see. Major changes include:
- Kindergarten moving to the hallway in which second grade currently resides
- Second grade moving to the hallway in which art currently resides
- Art moving to the current PK room
- Reading specialist moving to conference room
- Liaison moving to reading specialist's office
- Diagnostician moving to technician's office
- Technician moving to computer lab
- Moving from two to one computer labs
- Creating a meeting room for ARDs, 504s, PLCs, etc... in the B hall
- Creating a family center for information and resources in the current diagnostician's office
BES Learning Leader Job Description & Application
As we continue our journey from teaching platform to learning platform, we want to provide opportunities for growth and learning with our staff. The role of a BES Learning Leader is to be the link in the successful practice of a Professional Learning Community (PLC). PLC is not an event or a specific time each week, it is a mindset of learning and growing together. With a distinct focus on modeling LEAD 2021 Learning Platform ideologies and practices, the Learning Leader acts as a role model and exemplar of communication, instructional best practices, and ensuring a positive, rigorous, and engaging learning environment for all students. LLs strive to exemplify the characteristics of a BES teacher!
Characteristics
Serve as a professional role model for all staff members—this includes exhibiting evidence of the principles outlined in the GCISD Learning Platform Rubric and in the Portrait of a Graduate.
Strive to be the BEST!
Love learning!
Skills
Uses open, honest communication for the good of students and staff with all staff members.
Promote positivity with students, staff, and stakeholders.
Learn collaboratively with other learning leaders and staff members.
Apply new learning in appropriate settings. Reflect on the new implementation, impact on students’ learning, and
Model and ensure a commitment to the campus’s ongoing focus on professional learning.
Lead the staff in analyzing data from district, state, and national assessments and using the results of the analysis to inform instruction.
Engage in reflective practice with other learning leaders.
Unlike the team leader model, LLs are NOT managers of the team and disseminators of information. We can have more than one LL from a team! A Google Share Site will be established to share information and gather input on items that traditionally went through team leaders.
Learning Leaders will meet every other Monday to learn and grow together. We will focus on fostering a positive school culture and integrating the arts into Bransford.
Click here to apply!
August Professional Learning
When teachers return in August for the 2017-2018 school year, they will have two weeks of professional learning prior to students arriving on Monday, August 21. Since this is a change in our August schedule, I wanted to provide you with some information of what you can expect those two weeks.
Monday, August 7: All new hires and first year teachers report
Tuesday, August 8: Teachers report for 2017-2018 school year; Staff on Campus
Wednesday, August 9: Inaugural GCISD Learning Institute
Thursday, August 10: Elementary Learning Institute; Secondary Staff on Campus
Friday, August 11: Teacher Day off
Monday, August 14: Department specific professional learning opportunities
Tuesday, August 15: Convocation 2017 at 9 a.m.; Staff on campus in the afternoon
Wednesday, August 16: Secondary Learning Institute; Elementary Staff on Campus
Thursday, August 17: Staff on Campus
Friday, August 18: Staff on Campus
I am sure that many of you are wondering what is the Learning Institute? We are so thankful to our curriculum and instruction department for developing the opportunity for K-12 collaboration not only on our campus but across the district. These days are intended to be an open-ended learning opportunity where staff may choose sessions based on the areas they feel they need the most assistance from other teachers and curriculum and instruction staff.
The second item that may look new on our professional learning calendar are the department specific professional learning opportunities. This is a built-in time during the week for nurses, counselors, librarians, fine arts, etc. to gather in a district-wide meeting. During this time, the instructional staff that remains on campus will have the opportunity to engage in professional learning with your grade level and or subject matter.
There will be additional professional development requirements for new teachers during these two weeks and we will share them with those staff members as they join our team.
Our curriculum and instruction department has compiled a list of summer professional development opportunities. Please refer to this list for those offerings.
Jamie Halliburton
Email: jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net
Phone: 806-441-6518
Twitter: @BESHalliburton