Bella Vista Staff Bulletin
03/23/2015 v.1 issue 24
Quote of the Week
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States
We Learn!
Progress in Implementing Common Core Standards
- During his visit to Bella Vista last week, OUSD Superintendent Antwan Wilson asked Student Council members if they had heard of the Common Core State Standards. Of the 17 students in the room, only two raised their hand.
- Unfortunately, only about half of classrooms have daily “I Can” learning targets for reading, writing and mathematics.
- Students must be able to articulate what they are learning and why it is important. And teachers must be able to articulate how their instruction will result in mastery of Common Core standards in ELA and Math. These are non-negotiable expectations.
- Teachers who need support in this area should see Ms. Phillips, Ms. Seaberg or any member of the Instructional Leadership Team for assistance.
March 25 Off-Site Professional Learning Sessions
The District's Teaching and Learning team has set aside the fourth Wednesday of each month for centralized professional learning. Teachers in grades K-5 are encouraged to sign up for one of the following offerings:
- Introduction to SIRA (Science Instructional Reflection and Assessment) for 3rd and 4th Grade Teachers
- Balanced Literacy: Focus on Reading Workshop for Network 1 Schools
- Mathematics Lesson & Unit Planning
- Engaging English Learners in the Common Core
Space is limited; please review the Email message sent on March 20 by Ms. Phillips for more details on how to sign up for one of these sessions.
We Live!
School Climate: Minimizing Conflict Escalation
Over the past two weeks, there have been nearly a dozen incidents – reported by students, staff members or parents – of students escalating conflicts by name-calling, bullying/cyberbullying or fighting.
Until our school’s PBIS planning team finishes its work in developing schoolwide expectations that all students and staff members will follow, here are some important things for you to know:
- Effective student supervision at recess is one of the best ways to minimize conflict escalation. Since the faculty approved a reduced adult presence on the yard during recess, it is even more important for staff members to report to yard duty on time and actively supervise.
- Click here to access a short video that explains playground supervision expectations (login ID is firstname.lastname).
- There is an official definition of bullying that we must all understand and communicate with students and their families. Oftentimes we use the word bullying in ways that are inconsistent with Education Code. Click here for more information.
- Second Step, our Social Emotional Learning curriculum, includes many lessons at each grade level that focus on emotion management.
- Teaching the Second Step curriculum with fidelity equips students with strategies to have empathy, manage their emotions and solve problems.
- During this week’s Student of the Month assemblies, we will use excerpts of Second Step lessons to help students learn how to handle name-calling, accusations, having things taken away, or being knocked down.
Staff Fitness Fun!
- Most of the fitness group plus some other staff members are signing up for an easy 5K walk/jog (most will walk) or a 10K at the end of May.
- We'd love to have more people join! If you sign up before 04/11 the rates are the cheapest.
- Ms. Seaberg will be mailing paper registrations at the end of this week, so if you want to do it that way instead, see her for more information.
- Click here for the race info and online registration.
- Even if you don't want to do the race, come on out and cheer us on or meet us at the finish line!
We Achieve!
Golden Sneaker Contest – Final Results
Thank you for supporting our first year of participation in the Golden Sneaker Contest. Here are the results:
- Classroom participation rate: 56% (13 out of 23 classrooms)
- Some students rolled to school on scooters while car riders asked to be dropped off a block away so that they could be counted as walkers.
- Very few students carpooled with students outside of their household
- We raised awareness about the importance of active transportation to school.
The class with the highest participation will be rewarded with the Golden Sneaker trophy during the Student of the Month Assembly. For a sneak peak at the participation results, click here.
District Winter Math Assessments – Final Results
- Results were mixed for winter assessments. Overall, there were declines in student proficiency for the short answer and the performance task in many classrooms, but in a few classes there were gains, particularly in the multiple choice section.
- Teachers will receive detailed results this week, but below is a chart that compares student proficiency on the performance task (the most difficult part of the assessment).
- Thank you, everyone, for welcoming OUSD Superintendent Antwan Wilson, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Devin Dillon and Chief of Schools Allen Smith to Bella Vista on March 17. Special thanks go to Mrs. Cho, Mrs. Gibbons, Ms. V. Nguyen, Ms. Ung and Mr. Webb (and their students!) for accommodating our guests in their classrooms, and to 3rd grade and 5th grade members of Student Council for participating in a conversation with Superintendent Wilson.
- There is a fire drill on Wednesday, March 25, at 11:10. It was deliberately scheduled during lunch operations because we have to assess our ability to evacuate students when they are in non-classroom settings. Students in the cafeteria, restrooms or at recess will be escorted to their classroom lineup areas, and teachers in grades TK-2 should be prepared to meet their students on the lower yard for the head count. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
THIS WEEK
Mon., Mar. 23
street sweeping
- Field Trip – Sailing into Science Day 1 (Webb
- LESSON PLANS DUE FROM: Chen, Garcia, Hansen, Morente, V. Nguyen, O’Brien, Rajanikanth, Schooling, Stone, Tai, Thai and Ung
Tues., Mar. 24
street sweeping
- SBAC INTERIM MATH ASSESSMENT – GRADE 3
- Field Trip – Sailing into Science Day 2 (Webb)
Weds., Mar. 25
STUDENT OF THE MONTH NOMINATIONS ARE DUE
- 11:10 Fire Drill
- 2:15 Teacher Professional Learning – PLC Meetings
Thurs., Mar. 26
- SBAC INTERIM ELA ASSESSMENT – GRADE 3
- Instructional Rounds at Carl B. Munck (Ms. Phillips is off-campus)
Student of the Month Assemblies
12:45 Grades 3-5
1:25 Grades TK-K
1:55 Grades 1-2
- 4:15 School Site Council Meeting (room 11)
Fri., Mar. 27
- PBIS TRAINING (Phillips, Garcia, Lee, Morente are off campus)
- 1:00 K Motor Skills (Auditorium)
Next Week
Mon., Mar. 30
- 3:00 PBIS Planning Team meeting (room 11)
No School-Cesar Chavez Day
Weds., Apr. 1
- 2:15 Teacher Professional Learning – SBAC Summative Assessment Inservice or PLC Meetings
- 3:00 Instructional Leadership Team meeting (room 11)
- 1:00 K Motor Skills (Auditorium)
Bella Vista Elementary School
Email: nikki.seaberg@ousd.k12.ca.us
Website: tinyurl.com/bellavistaoakland
Location: 1025 East 28th Street, Oakland, CA, United States
Phone: 510-436-4900