Bulldog Weekly Update
February 7th - February 11th
Recognizing Black History Month
We know and understand that contributions to history, society and culture from Black Americans cannot be fully realized each year under the constraints of a single month. Still, as teachers and leaders within the public schools, we must use this time to expand and deepen our students' and our own education around the rich, complex and varied experiences of People of Color in this country. The district and surrounding community is rich with resources for sharing, educating and celebrating in ways specific and broad exactly how Black Americans shifted, thwarted, changed and transformed America over the last 600 years.
The conversations we have in the classroom must imbue nuance and contour. They must balance the history of struggle, suffering and enduring plight with examples of great ingenuity, extraordinary wealth, engineering, economic independence, medical and scientific breakthrough, literary scholarship, political ascendency, and much more. We must balance the stories we share from contemporary authors of social justice and anti-racism with historic writings of how America, and the American education system, shaped the lives of all its people. As you embark on the second week of February, consider where and how you will make connections within your current curriculum with Black History. If there does not appear to be space, you are urged to dig deeply and find ways build bridges to students that connect them to the past but also the present, and most importantly, to each other.
Quotes can become a touchstone that helps us remember deeper truths and processes. This week's quote is specific to Culturally responsive practice and teacher-student relationships.
“In culturally responsive teaching, rapport is connected to the idea of affirmation. Affirmation simply means that we acknowledge the personhood of our students through words and actions that say to them, “I care about you.” Too often, we confuse affirmation with building up a student’s self-esteem. As educators, we think it’s our job to make students of color, English learners, or poor students feel good about themselves. That’s a deficit view of affirmation. In reality, most parents of culturally and linguistically diverse students do a good job of helping their children develop positive self-esteem. It is when they come to school that many students of color begin to feel marginalized, unseen, and silenced.”
― Zaretta L. Hammond, Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
After School Enrichment : Pygmy Owl
Rock Climbing with Mrs. Cahill
iready testing continues this week
perspective drawing
Students evaluating ink blots
Students Rock Climbing with Mrs. Cahill
Notes from the Principal's Desk
A Bit of Kindness is All it Takes
Mrs. Farrell's class celebrates kindness with a wall providing positive affirmations to her students from parents. All of her students are rockstars in their own ways--and now they know why!
Rock Climbing with Mrs. Cahill & Mrs. Pappalardo
Students in 8th grade leadership had the opportunity to rock climb this past week. The leadership team is maximizing community partnerships while also building essential skills. Rock climbing is a sport of endurance, perseverance, strength and strategy. Students challenged themselves to forge their own pathways up a vertical climb to make it to the top.
Lunar New year
The Chinese New Year has expanded significantly over the years. It is now celebrated in over a dozen Asian countries and is known as the Lunar New Year as it's customs and rituals vary from location to location. The New Year is a time of celebration and rejoicing. It signifies hope and promise for the year ahead. Many of the activities are centered around wishes for health, prosperity, and luck over the 12 months that follow. This new year, in the Chinese Zodiac, is the year of the Tiger. The tiger symbolizes bravery and courage, something we could all use a little more of this year.
iReady Testing Continues
Students wrapped up their MATH iReady last week. ELA will begin their iReady testing on Tuesday 2/8 and continue until Friday, 2/11. The window for iReady will close Friday, 2/18. We need every student tested before then. Congrats to the MANY students whose MATH scores skyrocketed on the second diagnostic and an equally weighty congrats goes out to those students who made significant gains, of which there were an even greater amount.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. Or is it?
Students in 7th grade ELA class are working hard on delivering important messages through infographics. Infographics have long been used to share important information through multiple means. These infographics are being made on a program called: https://create.piktochart.com/. Students projects cover areas such as racism around the world, gun control, immigration, human trafficking, and more. Infographics are a great way to create visual comparisons and to create important associations in how the viewer interprets that data.
Butler's Art Department is On Fire
Students in art this week got their imaginations going by observing a series of inkblots and discovering new images and ideas. Students reflected on this lesson and made conclusions about individuals' differences in perspectives and how art can transform our ideas into something new.
Q2 8th graders finished their one point perspective paintings and drawings of their favorite places or of a place they have always wanted to go! Hollywood, Cambodia, tropical beaches, Mount Fuji, Paris, Gillette Stadium, Platform 9 ¾ and the boxing championships were among some of their creations! Be sure to check out these amazing pieces in the hallway and see if you can recognize any students work!
After School Enrichment
After School Programming continues to impress students and teachers. Students who signed up for the Animal Adventures club spent Thursday afternoon face to face with a live owl. This owl stood perched on his handlers arm mere feet away from the students as they got to look up close at it's face and feathers and learn about the owl's habits, habitat, and diet. In Science club, students mixed shaving cream, Elmer's glue and food coloring to make their own puff paint. They they created rainbow mountains, looking exactly like something you would find in the famous Dr. Seuss story, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"' Students in science club also graphed jelly beans twice: once based on a prediction and estimation of the total values of each kind of jellybean and once on the actual amount, counted individually by each student. Naturally, students were able to enjoy to few jellies at the end! Basket ball will wrap up soon but it's important to note that despite several losses, these kids played their hearts out. They learned about sportsmanship, inter-dependence and the value of taking risks. Kudos to their coaches for helping them reach new heights individually and as a team. As we work together to build students' pride in their school and community, we should stop to take a moment in the halls and congratulate our players on their work, or to wish them luck in the games ahead.
What is new in your world? If you would like to make sure the Butler community is informed on new happenings and learning opportunities in your classroom, make sure to connect with the school's admin team. Just write “Bulletin” in the subject with your submission. Pictures are always a plus!
REMINDERS:
The office must be called if you need assistance or a student sent to the office or to the nurse. Also, you MUST give a student a pass if they have permission to leave your class. DO NOT send a student to the office without calling first. Unless it is an emergency situation, the student will be turned away and asked to return to class.
VERO Support- is in the building for support Thursdays - Please utilize the attached google link to sign up for her support.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTnCL6BiNvtwjdf8tYj90xSqzhn120orGcQqCQXM6ZY/edit?usp=sharing
Afterschool Academic Supports - To be compensated for the additional tier-2 ACADEMIC SUPPORTS teachers need to:
-Fill out this form weekly(this is for the current week)
-Keep attendance
-If you working with students remotely, print out a copy of student(s) Zoom attendance-https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CRCnE-ai2vvvGq2tmAuCiqNK82ZIQYDUXO92gsmD7Qs/edit?usp=sharing
Toner- We are on our last refill of toner. You will need to conserve use. We have gone through our supply of toner. The high use was not anticipated given that students have their laptops to complete work. Toner has been ordered for all copiers and we are waiting for delivery.
Let's Stay Healthy-Staff must wear masks at all times and remain 3 ft. away from STUDENTS and others including in the staff rooms.
STUDENTS MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES.
Please make sure all student desks are arranged in rows with each desk 3ft apart. Students need to sit and remain 3ft part at all times with masks on!!! You will need to continue to monitor the separation and keep a seating chart for close contact tracking. This will help us all stay healthy!
Week at a Glance
Monday 2/7
9:30 Operations
SEL Morning Meeting
Tuesday 2/8
- 8:30 Student Support
- 3:30 RJT Meetings
- iReady for ELA Begins
- BBall Game Home
Wednesday 2/9
- Pool Testing Day
- Early Release
- Professional Development Day
Thursday 2/10
- Q2 Awards 7/8 (during AA)
- PBIS Team Meeting 3:10
- BBall Game Away
Friday 2/11
- Q2 Awards 5/6 (during AA)
- Fun FriYay! Wear your Butler Pride Gear
ILT Updates
Next Team meeting - February 16th
Check-in with your grade level team representatives for more information. Our last discussion focused on our upcoming early release agenda
RJLT
Next Team meeting - February 15th
Here is a recap of what was discussed during Admin CPT this week. If you did not get a laminated copy of the restorative questions, please send Lori Casey an email to get one.
Who can have restorative conversations?
- Anyone can initiate a restorative conversation (you already have been doing this!)
What are restorative conversations?
- conversations to re-set or establish a connection with another person and establish healthy boundaries and expectations
When should you have a restorative conversation?
- following a minor infraction or conflict
- when both parties are in the space to have the conversation
Where should you have a restorative conversation?
- private location
- outside the classroom in the hallway
Why should you have a restorative conversation?
- Because Restorative conversations support the creation, maintenance, and repair of relationships in a way that creates an environment focused on support and skill-building.
PBIS
Next Team meeting - February 10th
(Eyes on Culture)
You lose no power by sharing power with students. Student tardiness serves as an example of power struggles. If a student is tardy to class, should there be a consequence? Absolutely. Does it need to be addressed only through punishment? No. Trying to understand why the student is tardy is far more important than punishing the behavior. Asking the student what is making it difficult for her to get to class on time can be an expression of concern. Resolving the tardiness problem can be mutually agreed upon. Does the student have to serve the detention that day? Can we build a better connection by asking the student which day would work best for her? Before or after school? When we operate from absolutes, the opportunity to strengthen the relationship with students is overlooked.
Monthly Motivation
It's always great to start on an inspiring note. This month we will add speeches from the MLK Oratory competition.
Staff Birthday Shoutouts ~ February
Samantha Arnold - 2/8
Clara Cahill - 2/10
John Fugarino - 2/14
Jaime Moody 2/15
Marietta Camara - 2/17
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/