BAMS Staff Newsletter
October 26, 2014 - Volume 2, Issue 8
It's a Great Day to Be Great!
Bessie Allen Middle School - SLO
Opinion Writing
By June of 2015, 80% of students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will show growth in their opinion writing sample rubric score from the September 2014 writing benchmark based on the school developed writing rubric (adapted from the Smarter Balanced writing rubric).
Goals for SSR and SSW
- Provide a time for every student in our building to read and write.
- Ensure this time is a positive part of our students' day.
News and Notes
- STAFF JEOPARDY TEAM CHAMPIONS - Check out the awesome photo at the bottom of the newsletter. This team's legacy will live on all year long as their photo will be included in every newsletter for the rest of the year.
- Busing for Field Trips and School Functions - Transportation for field trips and school functions came up at our last administration meeting. Please let me know if you have any questions about these rules.
Administrative Rules
Driving - Who (Only Staff - at discretion of administration 21+)
If take own vehicle - it must be inspected by Superintendent or Facility Director
Need DL and background check.
Use school vehicles if possible
Bus if necessary
Any field trip transportation needs to be addressed before trip is approved.
Cost identified from what fund and who pays
- New Radios! - We received our new walkie-talkies this week. Everyone in the district received these to replace the old versions. If you have not traded out your old walkie talkie yet, I will find you this week to make this change.
- Building Walk-Through - We recently had a group from outside of the district take a tour of our district buildings and grounds. Their purpose is to make recommendations to the school board of what we can do to improve the physical spaces on our district. They will be meeting with staff at each building to gather our input. The current plan is for these meetings to take place after school sometime in November or December. I'll keep you posted on this.
- Tom Kubish (FLC Assistant Principal) will be coming to our staff meeting on November 14th to give us information about A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). This will be our new response system to high level lockdown situations. This will braid with our current philosophy on lockdowns very nicely and will be a nice improvement.
- Joan Brenner will be taking an extended leave and will be out for the month of December. The current plan is for her to return when we come back to school in 2015. Janice Hau will be helping to cover many of these days and Jennifer O'Leary will continue with her hours.
- Sarah McDowell will be taking an extended leave towards the end of November to recover from a medical procedure. Her long-term sub will be Kathy Aeby. Kathy will be here one day this week to sub for Sarah and will also be in the building for a day in November to shadow Sarah and to get to know the students better. Another new face you might see in the building this week.
- Morning Attendance Procedure - Thank you for helping with our new morning attendance plan. Students that check into the office before 7:35am will be told to head to class. Students that check into the office later than 7:35am will be given a pass from the office before heading to 1st hour. If you mark a student absent and they arrive late, please don't forget to go back and make that change in skyward.
- If you feel driven to donate money or items for the Team Room, donations can be given to Kim Broten or Jenny Stahl. Do what feels good! Thank you to anyone that donated funds. We were able to restock some items for the Team Room.
Out of the Office
- October 27th - 1:45pm - Honors Study Hall, Nest
- October 30th - 9am - Admin Team Meeting, DMR
- October 31st - All-Day - Personal Day (traveling out of town)
- November 3rd - 1:45pm - Honors Study Hall, Nest
- November 12th - 8:30am - BCT Meeting, Team Room
Oriole Way - Be Ready, Be Respectful, Be Safe
- Thank you to everyone that was more visible in the halls last week during our BAMS Buck Blitz for hallway behaviors. Please continue to look for manners and positive hallway behaviors from our students. Make it rain with BAMS Bucks!
- NEXT Meeting - October 29th, 7am
OASYS and Teacher Effectiveness
- SLO Selection and Approval - Due by October 31st
- 2 Classroom Visits - Due by End of the Year
Click Here for a link to Teacher Effectiveness Info from CESA 6
Click Here for a Teacher Effectiveness Calendar for EDUCATORS/SPECIALISTS
2014 WKCE Schedule
Monday, October 27th
- WKCE Science Testing - Hours 2, 4, 5, 7 - Brandon
- Students with special needs - accommodations (Sarah)
Tuesday, November 4
- WKCE Social Studies Testing - Hours 1, 4, 5, 7 - Theresa
- Students with special needs - accommodations (Sarah)
November 5-7
- Make-ups - lead by Kim and Jenny
*The testing would occur in the classroom unless a student's IEP says otherwise.
*Adam, Kim, and Jenny will transport materials to and from rooms for security purposes.
*No snacks needed for this year.
Dates to Remember
- October 27 - STAR Data Conversations, Team Time, DMR
- October 30 - Oriole Leaders Meeting, 10:40-11:40am
- October 31 - Complete scoring of writing samples
- October 31 - End of 1st Quarter
- November 3 - First Quarter Grades Due, 7am
- November 7 - Pep Assembly, 1:45pm
- November 7 - School Dance, 6-8pm
*See Google Doc titled "2014-2015 BAMS Yearly Calendar" for a look at events for the entire year.
Staff Meeting Agenda
Staff Meeting: November 14 - 12:50-1:50pm - DMR
Agenda:
- Oriole Way Data Review
- Brief News and Notes
- Safety Meeting - ALICE Training with Tom Kubish
Next Meeting: November 19 - 2:50-3:30pm - DMR
Blackboard Connect Messages
Messages sent this week:
- 8th Grade WKCE Testing Schedule - sent on Oct. 26
*New messaging system (ParentLink) tentatively coming in December.