Staff Update
December 15, 2017
Staff Advisory Notes - Thank you Mrs. Wise and Mr. Reuther for taking these notes for our staff!
Polar Plunge is happening! January 27th (last Saturday of January) - Feel free to sign up and raise some money.
Groundbreaking on the new construction will be March 1st (tenatatively) They are bringing it to the board tonight for approval. Everything promised during the bond election is included in the plans.
Pool will now be 8 lanes so that we can host competitions and ADA accessible.
New theater will be very nice. The plan includes a shell and shell cloud to improve sound.
New classrooms included for Freshman to move over and office space as well for Freshman staff.
The district is looking at putting out an Emergency Response Guide with all of the emergency responses that we use in all different situations. So the parents are aware of what we use.
Melissa McConnell is working on getting the 2017 annual report out in January. This would be mailed out to everyone living in the school district.
Includes info on academics, ACT testing, enrollment, volunteer info, conference change, info on student demographics, staff information (average salary, years in district, etc.), and much much more.
Governor cut ACT testing line item out of the state budget, but our district will still pay for students who express a need and cannot afford testing who are wanting to go to college.
They are looking at rebranding the school district: Logo design, style guides. (We will still be PIRATES and Purple and Gold.) Possible professional logo and then a different one with the school mascot. We would have a style guide that is available online to make sure we’re uniform from this point forward. It will be the school boards decision the direction we go with these logos.
They will have a mental health night on Feb 10th from 9-3 at Raymore High School. Dayton Moore ( Royals General Manager) will be a keynote speaker.
SoS has fostered engagement with families and awareness about how students are feeling about suicide. District was able to identify students who needed assistance.
Holiday Reception next Tuesday! Lots of drawings for gifts (including a big screen TV) and food!
Administrative Learning Walk Feedback
Thank you all for the amazing work you do with our students! We received great feedback from our administrative learning walks. Below we have highlighted the many positives that were seen as well as some areas for us to refine so we show continual growth. Thank you again for all that you do!
Positives:
PBL was visible throughout the school.
Students were solving real world problems.
Interdisciplinary learning was evident throughout the lessons.
Students were able to effectively describe what they were doing as well as what the end goal was for their project.
Technology integration was purposeful.
Students were actively engaged within their learning.
Learning was student driven with teachers actively engaged in student learning.
Cooperative learning was evident and well organized.
Relationships were strong throughout the school between students as well as between students and teachers.
Students feel comfortable to share their thoughts within the learning environment.
All space was used for student learning so they were able to have adequate spacing for their projects.
Girls and boys were equally involved in the projects.
Classrooms that were using flexible seating did so in an appropriate manner.
Students were polite to visitors. Many students greeted the visitors and were excited to share their learning.
Areas to grow:
Though students were engaged throughout the lessons, some of the reflective pieces were more teacher driven. We need to continue to grow the reflective portion of the lessons.
There was high student engagement throughout the building, but there were some students who seemed to not be connecting to the lesson. We need to continue to figure out strategies to ensure all students are engaged within the lessons.
Learning Walk Observers
2nd Quarter Grade Cards
- December 21st - end of the first 2nd quarter.
- All data points must be entered by January 3rd at 11:59 pm.
- There is no preview period with online reports.
- January 5th - progress reports will be emailed to the parents from the district by 5:00.
January 3 Work Day
January 3 is a work day. We will work 8-4 with one hour for lunch.
Field Trips
Belton Education Foundation Grant Application - Now Open!
The BEF Grant application is open. Last year, HSA received over $14,000 in grants. Check out the winners from last year:
Ami Henry, 3rd grade teacher at Hillcrest STEAM Academy, was awarded $2,000 to purchase Ozobot Bit Kits for her classroom. These kits will teach coding skills through color code programming as well as group collaboration skills. These skills help inspire the next generation of computer scientists, engineers and inventors.
Hillcrest STEAM Academy 6th grade teachers, Lisa Albright and Michelle Dooley received $2,250 to purchase books, mobile science labs and fund a field trip to provide hands-on learning experiences and encourage innovative thinking through problem-based learning.
Hillcrest STEAM Academy Librarian, Tanya Appling received building grant for $5,000 to provide mobile Makerspace Carts that all grade levels can utilize throughout the building. The carts foster skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity while providing a real-world, hands-on experience using the technology they will find beyond the school setting.
Hillcrest STEAM Academy teachers, Sonya Abdelgawad, Jane Scudder and Betty Rickman received a $2500 grant to purchase digital wi-fi microscopes for each grade level to provide a richer learning experience in science and technology and build skills in critical thinking and collaborative learning.
Bethany Kelly, Mike Williamsen & Melanie Ryberg, teachers at Hillcrest STEAM Academy received $2499.25 to create an outdoor classroom which includes raised garden beds, pumpkin patch and a watering system. Working hands-on outdoors with nature allows a more comprehensive, inter-disciplinary learning opportunity for students as well as strengthens a sense of community within the school.
Click the link below to get started!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemtWbCb9tUWwm-LvNTOP0jbN9ncdTX5tUhe3Zkh7tzJY03cQ/viewform
Positive Community
Here are the notes from Positive Community. Note the Staff Holiday Party will be on January 19 at Main Event in Independence. More information to come soon.
December
December
21 - Winter Parties
22 - January 3 - No School - Winter Break
Our Mission
The mission of Hillcrest STEAM Academy, a leader of STEAM innovation, is to ensure that all students flourish as individuals of character and advocates of their own learning through the school community distinguished by
a culture of independence and collaboration
a global outlook based on a foundation of character
a focus on problem solving and critical thinking
- real world experiences with integration throughout all subjects.
Hillcrest STEAM Academy
Email: hillcrest@bsd124.org
Website: http://www.beltonschools.org/Page/151
Location: 106 S Hillcrest Rd, Belton, MO, United States
Phone: 816-348-1130
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillcrestSTEAMAcademy/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @HillcrestSTEAM