Birdneck Briefing
Week of February 11
Week of Feb. 11
Feb 11 - Sped Team meeting canceledc
Feb 12 - Relay for Life 3:00
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Birdneck Family,
Congratulations! You've made it to the half way point of the year. This is when we should stop to get a pulse check on how things seem to be going both academically and behaviorally in your classrooms. This is often the time of year that we need to revisit SOAR behaviors and remind students of our expectations in the halls, cafeteria, bathrooms, buses, and in class. I'm looking forward to the next few months to see how much your students have grown. Continue to help your students monitor their own progress. I've seen many student goal setting reflections the past couple of weeks and hope to see more soon.
Keep up the great work!
Captain Out,
RV
BIRDNECK MISSION
Mission: We build relationships to encourage, inspire and empower students and each other 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.
Shout Outs!
If you would like to give a SHOUT OUT to a colleague, it is as simple as sending an email to RV to be added to our Shout Outs each week!
Many thanks to Michele O’Neil, Meghan Stafford and Vanessa Sykes for implementing another great “Soup”er Bowl luncheon! Thank you to many wonderful chefs who provided the comfort food. J
Shout out the special education teachers for working many extra hours to gather data, report data, and publish IEP progress reports for all of our 135+ kiddos. Way to go!
I would love to give a “shout out” to Korrin Nash for helping give quarterlies when Mrs. Chatman was sick.
I would also like to give Keesha Chatman a shout out for all the hard work she’s put in for Project Hope!
A shout out to our Partner in Education, the DoubleTree Hotel with special thanks to Mr. David McGowan! For the wonderful example our Birdneck Citizens of the Month are setting, the DoubleTree Hotel is providing each first-semester recipient with a gift certificate for a complimentary meal at the DoubleTree Hotel restaurant, Max & Erma's! Teachers, shhshhshh, please don't tell the students, it's a secret. They will love this place. Check it out below. Thank you, DoubleTree! What a nice thing to do for our students.
Shout out to the amazing folks who joined us for Bingo this week:
Lisa Allman, Nancy Bishop, Allison Bruffy, Evelyn “Gail” Campbell, Cindy Clark, Rhonda Harrison, Bonnie Hartman, Jeff Leidy, Michele McNeil, Kristen Rice, Sue Rosignolo, Bonnie Saunders, Molly Searfoss, Meghan Stafford, Lisa Wilson, Ms. Jordan, and a guest appearance from Elizabeth Morrison.
Sheryl Gessner: You truly make a difference in your student's lives daily. You are an excellent example of work ethic, compassion, and integrity. You always have a smile on your face and you see the potential in all students. You go above and beyond your call of duty and your patience is commendable. For that, Sheryl, you make a difference!!
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Please keep Ms. Rowland and her family in your prayers for the loss of loved ones.
Please keep Jane Snell's mother in your thoughts and prayers.
Annual Mandatory Employee Traning: AMET DUE FRIDAY
DUE FRIDAY: February 15, 2019 deadline for training is quickly approaching.
Check your email for the attachment of information on how to use and access the VBCPS Annual Mandatory Employee Training Program. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Steve LePock in the Office of Risk Management (263-2460). Thank you.
Working Conditions Survey Due Feb. 15
Teacher Working Conditions Survey current participation rate only 56%
Staff Working Conditions Survey current participation rate only 40%
This winter our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Education and the University of Virginia, is conducting a working conditions survey of all licensed teachers and staff. The purpose of the survey is to measure school-level working conditions which have shown to impact staff retention and student educational outcomes.
All licensed teachers and staff are asked to participate in the working conditions survey. The survey can be completed on any internet-connected device (e.g. computer, cell phone, tablet, etc.) by following these instructions:
1. Teachers should go to the following website — teacher.vaschoolsurvey.info — and enter the following Birdneck specific password: {T620DOM }. For the purposes of this survey, teachers include those whose primary job responsibility is interacting with students in classroom settings.
2. Staff should go to the following website — staff.vaschoolsurvey.info — and enter the following Birdneck specific password: {F620DOM }. For the purposes of this survey, staff members may include administrators, counselors, instructional aides and para-educators, subject specialists (e.g., mathematics, reading, etc.), nurses, psychologists, school resource officers, security officers, library media specialists, and social workers.
The survey asks questions about topics such as staff collegiality, teaching and instruction, student supports, professional development, relationships with parents/guardians, teacher autonomy, school leadership, and safety. There is a copy of the survey available at school for your review.
Teachers and staff will not give their names on the survey and all answers are anonymous.
Participants will not receive any immediate benefit from participating in the survey, but the survey will help our efforts to recruit and retain talented teachers and staff. The survey is voluntary and you are free to decline. No action will be taken against you or the school if you do not participate. If you wish to participate, please complete the survey by February 15.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of your working conditions.
Black History Month Resources
As the nation observes Black History Month, the Department of Teaching and Learning is pleased to share with teachers the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Black History Month resources celebrating and honoring African Americans and their achievements and contributions to America. In 1925, Carter G. Woodson and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week. Expanded to a month in 1976, ASNLH, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)) continues to promote the study of Black history all year.
The resources below support the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning:
•Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), publishing several scholarly works and establishing Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month.
•H.R.1242 - 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act - signed into law in 2018. This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.
•Virginia’s 2019 AMERICAN EVOLUTION™ commemoration - highlights the significance and modern relevance of several important events that occurred in Virginia in 1619. Explore the 2019 commemoration’s education resources, including primary source materials, videos and innovative lesson ideas to use in your classroom all year long.
•The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society at February is African American History Month and National Archives Black History.
•National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museumdevoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and cultureEstablished by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote andhighlight the contributions of African Americans.
•The Library of Virginia focuses on topics in Virginia history and includes AfricanAmerican History Sites.
Questions may be directed to Molly Lewis, elementary social studies coordinator, at 263-1020 or email at Molly.Lewis@vbschools.com or Kris Troch, secondary social studies coordinator, at
263-1465 or email at Kristine.Troch@vbschools.com. Thank you.
Staff Intention Form due Feb. 22
The yearly staff intention form hit mailboxes today (Green Paper). All staff need to return the form to Justine Charbonier by Friday, February 22.
I have not yet received our staffing for the following school year, but do anticipate a couple of changes. If you plan on retiring, please submit your paperwork as soon as possible so we can account for positions. The request for separation of employment form is attached in the 2/12/2019 email. If you are interested in transferring to another school, you will find meet and greet info below.
Transfer Meet and Greet March 14 at Green Run HS
In accordance with School Board Regulation 4-12.1, Human Resources staff will be considering priority and voluntary transfers simultaneously again this year.
Teachers who are on Performance Improvement Plans are not to be selected as priority transfers and do not qualify for voluntary transfers.
•The Transfer Meet and Greet event is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, at Green Run High School from 4:30-5:45 p.m. Registration for principals will begin at 4 p.m.
•Teachers who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers may attend.
•Classified employees who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers or promotions may also attend the Meet and Greet.
Registration opens for Transfer Meet and Greet event using Frontline Professional Growth, and vacancies begin to be posted on Intranet for all transfers. February 25
•Only teachers who will be on continuing contract during 2019-2020 (currently P3, PC, or C) and who are not on Performance Improvement Plans are eligible for voluntary teacher transfers.
•A teacher who receives a voluntary transfer must spend three years in that assignment before being eligible for another voluntary transfer. A teacher accepting a voluntary transfer for the 2019-2020 school year will be eligible for a transfer in fall 2022.
Registration Opens in Frontline February 25
The Family Life Education (FLE) mandatory webinar training
The Family Life Education (FLE) mandatory webinar training is now available in Frontline. All new staff responsible for teaching FLE must complete training prior to the start of FLE instruction. In addition, teachers who have switched grade levels and are now responsible for teaching FLE should complete this training. The FLE webinar training is located in Frontline under course code FLED entitled Mandatory Family Life Education Training. Teachers must enroll in the course in order to complete the training. During the training, teachers will review all materials they will be using to teach FLE. After the training, teachers should respond fully to each question on the Google form (linked at the end of the presentation).
Regarding Family Life instruction, administrators are asked to remind teachers there are to be no deviations from the prescribed curriculum or procedures for either FLE or Opt-Out instructions. All materials are available for principals to review on the Intranet within the Teaching and Learning SharePoint site under K-12 Health/Physical Education, then Family Life Education.
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.
Here Comes the Bus
Beginning Feb. 4, 2019, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) will be implementing an innovative mobile device app and website entitled, Here Comes the Bus®. This application allows parents to view the real-time location of their child’s school bus on any smart device.
Here Comes the Bus enables the parent to:
• See the location of their child’s bus both before and after school.
• Confirm that their child’s bus has arrived at the bus stop, at school or both.
• Receive a notification when the bus is near the child’s stop, has been substituted, or when we have important information to relay.
Career Teacher Allowance Application Process 2019
The $1,000 Career Teacher Allowance is an incentive using a comprehensive approach to identify a teacher’s commitment to his/her profession and desire for high student achievement and learning. The process focuses on four major areas: Teaching and Learning, Building Leadership Capacity, Professional Development, and Community Relations. In every school, teacher leaders can find numerous opportunities to extend influence beyond the classroom, to the department or teaching team, across the school, and beyond the school to the division and community.
The Career Teacher Application for 2019 will be available for downloading from the Intranet (Forms/Human Resources/Career Teacher Application) beginning in February.
Every teacher requesting consideration for a Career Teacher allowance needs to:
• Complete the Career Teacher Application 2019.
• Collect supporting documentation as directed by the building principal to verify actions in each of the four categories of the form. (Teachers 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. 1, 2019, and the last day of school, June 21, 2019.
• If applicable to the application, include a copy of the National Board Certification if not already on file in the Licensure Office.
All applications must be scanned by a designated school office member into LaserFiche using the LaserFiche Document Drop folder and the Career Teacher Application Template. Once the successful scanning of the application is complete, teachers should retain the original documents for their records. Applicants will be notified by email upon receipt of their application. Once the Career Teacher Application is reviewed and processed, the teacher will receive another email indicating approval or denial of the application.
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 263-1133 or John.Ogden@vbschools.com.
SUBJECT: 2019 Standards of Learning Item and Test Review Committees (Mathematics and Reading)
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information in regards to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is seeking nominations for the 2019 Standards of Learning (SOL) Item and Test Review Committees. Committee members will examine new SOL test items for alignment; appropriateness and fairness, equity, bias, sensitivity issues and stereotyping based on gender, ethnic, religious, political, age or socio-economic group. Data for field test items will also be reviewed to determine if the item will be included in the test item bank.
The committee meetings will be held in Richmond, Virginia as follows:
Mathematics
• Grade 3 Mathematics July 15-17, 2019
• Grade 4 Mathematics July 22-24, 2019
• Grade 5 Mathematics July 15-17, 2019
• Grade 6 Mathematics July 22-24, 2019
• Grade 7 Mathematics July 15-17, 2019
• Grade 8 Mathematics July 22-24, 2019
Reading
• Grade 3 Reading July 15-18, 2019
• Grade 4 Reading July 22-25, 2019
• Grade 5 Reading July 15-18, 2019
• Grade 6 Reading July 22-25, 2019
• Grade 7 Reading July 22-25, 2019
• Grade 8 Reading July 15-18, 2019
• End-of-Course (EOC)
Algebra I July 8-11, 2019
• EOC English: Reading July 8-11, 2019
• EOC Geometry July 8-11, 2019
• EOC Algebra II July 8-9, 2019
Committee members will be chosen based on the following criteria:
• grade-level experience and content area expertise;
• in-depth knowledge of the SOL;
• instructional/supervisory experience with students of varied learning styles, abilities and aptitudes, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency; and
• balanced regional representation.
All nominees who wish to serve on an item and test review committee, including those who have previously served, must complete an online application through the Assessment Committee Application Processing System (ACAPS) at https://bit.ly/2SaLMfI. The application requires a professional reference and division approval. Completed applications are due to the VDOE by Feb. 15. Please visit the SOL Assessment Committee web page for further information.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Dena McElligott, secondary mathematics coordinator, at 263-1044 or via email at Dena.McElligott@vbschools.com; Cameron Vadersen-Jacob, secondary English coordinator, at 263-1188 or via email at Cameron.Vadersen@vbschools.com; Johanna Ortiz, elementary mathematics coordinator, at 263-1465 or via email at Johanna.Ortiz@vbschools.com; or Kelly Padilla, elementary language arts coordinator, at 263-1144 or via email at Kelly.Padilla@vbschools.com. Thank you for supporting math and English education.
Transferring Assessments From Schoolnet to Schoology’s Assessment Management Platform
The purpose of this memo is to provide directions for staff on how to transfer Schoolnet
assessments into Schoology’s Assessment Management Platform (AMP).
1. Teachers need to identify assessments that they would like to transfer over to Schoology
AMP. NOTE: Some technology-enhanced items will not transfer over from a Schoolnet QTI
file into Schoology, and some may convert over but in a different format. Only the
following formats will transfer correctly – Multiple Choice, True/False, Essay, Fill-in-the
Blank, Matching and Ordering. Schoolnet tests with passages or test items from the
Certica Item Bank cannot be exported from Schoolnet. All test items should be reviewed
once imported into Schoology to ensure accuracy – question content, answer choices,
correct answer(s), learning objectives, etc.
2. Teachers can request an assessment QTI file for each identified assessment from
Schoolnet that can be uploaded into Schoology. The request form is attached and is also
here. Teachers will have to make a copy of the form, complete the form and submit it to
StudentAssessment@vbschools.com. The Office of Planning, Innovation and
Accountability (PIA) will handle all requests in the order they come in and provide the
file to requestors within 10 school days.
3. Once the file is received by PIA, teachers will then import the QTI file into Schoology.
Directions are attached and here.
Teachers may opt to manually recreate items in Schoology and may wish to do so while they still have access to their Schoolnet items. Again, as of June 30, Schoolnet and its contents will no longer be available to staff. Please feel free to contact the Office of Student Assessment at 263-1030 if there are any questions. We thank you in advance for your contributions to ensure a smooth fall 2019 test administration.
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is pleased to announce that Virginia will participate in the PAEMST program. The PAEMST program was established in 1983 by the White House and is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology. The program recognizes teachers of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science, kindergarten through grade 12, in each state and the four United States jurisdictions. The PAEMST awardees serve as models for their colleagues and are leaders in the improvement of science and mathematics education.
Recognition is given to teachers kindergarten through grade 12 in four award groups: elementary mathematics (K-6), elementary science (K-6), secondary mathematics (7-12) and secondary science(7-12). In 2019, up to six state finalists at the secondary level will be selected from Virginia (up to three in each group). From these 2019 state finalists, a national committee will choose up to two national-level awardees (one in each award group) from Virginia. Each national awardee will receive a $10,000 personal award and an all-expense paid trip to recognition events and other activities in Washington, D.C.
The deadline for nominations from individuals, including students, parents, teachers and administrators, is Mar. 1. The nomination form , should be completed early enough to ensure the nominated teacher is given adequate time to prepare an application that reflects exemplary teaching. The nomination form and the application packet must be submitted electronically. The nomination form and the application packet as well as complete directions are available on the PAEMST website. A completed nomination form must be submitted electronically with each application. All applications are due May 1.
For more information, please contact Debra Delozier, mathematics specialist, Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, by email at Debra.Delozier@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 786-7986; or Anne Petersen, science coordinator, Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, by email at Anne.Petersen@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at
(804) 225-2676. Thank you.
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IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Join the PTA! Our goal is to have 100% Staff participation!!!!!!!!!
Support Birdneck Elementary students by joining the PTA. Don't miss out on the benefits from joining the PTA. Receive over $300 in savings... all for just $5 for a membership. Check out the PTA website at http://birdneckpta.weebly.com/
Beach Employee Wellness (BEWell) support services
To ensure all staff are knowledgeable of available Beach Employee Wellness (BEWell) support services, the Office of Consolidated Benefits requests education on Critical Incident Response services and Employee Assistance Program and Work-Life services.
Critical Incident Response (CIR) services are a highly specialized individual and group session services designed to minimize the negative emotional and psychological impact of traumatic events. A CIR can begin as soon as two hours after the initial request and are available to all school sites with approval by appropriate CIR contact list personnel. The goal of the CIR is to enhance participants’ ability to transcend workplace trauma and resume focused and productive work activities. Utilizing CIR services make an immense difference to employees’ recovery process in the face of a crisis. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work-Life Services (WL) through Humana, are available to provide FREE and CONFIDENTIAL support to ALL School employees (full-time, part-time and temporary). Services are available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employees are happier and more productive when personal needs are being met, and when work and personal lives are in balance.
-EAP offers short-term in-person and telephonic-based counseling with a licensed counselor. Up to five in-person sessions per concern per year. Referrals are issued for longer-term concerns and additional benefits as appropriate.-WL offers services and resources that help with everyday needs. Humana assess the employee’s needs and then researches to provide referrals and resources that meet budget and requests.
Senior Staff, All Principals/Assistant Principals, All Executive Directors
-Supervisor Referral – In addition to offering assistance to employees and members oftheir households, Humana offer services and resources that are specifically designed toaid directors, supervisors, and human resource professionals with employee-related andpersonal concerns. Please note: In the case of a referral, Humana will only report backto the referring supervisor that the employee attended the session(s). Please seeattachment for more information.
-Humana professionals are bound by confidentiality laws and professional ethics. They donot report to BEWell and/or Virginia Beach City Public Schools on individual cases.Personal information about employee and household members remains confidentialaccording to all applicable state and federal laws.
If further information and/or clarification is needed, please contact, Matt Herman, consolidated benefits office, BEWell program, 757-263-6918 or matthew.herman@vbschools.com. Many thanks for your assistance.
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