Burchfield's Bulletin
November 27-December 1, 2017 (School Days: 63-67)
A Message from Joy
First, we have the greatest teachers under our roof than any school could hope for.
We have no excuses.
Second, we have the greatest students under our roof than any school could hope for.
We have no excuses.
Next, we have some of the greatest parents a school staff could hope for.
We have no excuses.
Finally, we have direction from the greatest district administration we could hope for.
We have no excuses.
The one thing that keeps coming to my mind that I want to make sure you are mindful of. We have no excuses for not being extremely successful this year. So...we must keep the main thing the main thing everyday. We must wrangle our whirlwinds, but the whirlwinds should not consume us. The WHIRLWIND consists of our daily responsibilities including:
Writing lesson plans
Parent Conferences
RtI Paperwork and Meetings
Lunch Counts
Attendance
Copying Worksheets
Behavior Management - PBIS, Morning Meetings, & Token Systems
Discipline Referrals
Parent Phone Calls - Good and Bad
Collecting Behavior data
Attending ARD and 504 meetings
T-TESS Responsibilities - Goal Conferences, Pre-Conferences, Observations, Post-Conferences
I could continue but I think you get the picture. Your jobs are full and busy at school. However, we have to remember that we have to keep perspective. Our MAIN THING is that students thrive academically and artistically. All of the above are required but if we give the framework of 4DX our primary attention, our students will achieve like never before.
We know:
We have grade level and campus WIGs to raise the % of students on grade level reading level significantly.
We have chosen the ONE LEAD MEASURE at each grade level that will make the largest difference in our students' reading.
We have designed SCOREBOARDS that will help us track our progress and show others our successes.
Now, it is time to make COMMITMENTS to each other about getting the job done.
Beginning Thursday, Dave and/or I will be meeting with each PLC to make commitments. Each team can together make a commitment for the following week that will help move the needle a bit more than usual. I have shared potential commitments linked to Lead Measures but your commitments are your commitments. As you begin to think about the first "official" commitment, think about something that will move your Lead Measure closer to your Lag Measure goal. We will refer to the commitment meetings as "WIG Sessions." Please plan for the weekly WIG Session.
YOU are the Change Agents for your classrooms.
YOU will make the difference.
YOU are the MOVERS and SHAKERS of our school.
Let's get moving and shaking!
Keep Writing Every Day
Remember that we are not only focusing on reading but our campus wide writing skills must increase as well. Students must be writing more than they ever have before WITH PURPOSE. Quality writing everyday is the #1 way to strengthen our students' skills. Identifying the Empowering Writing structure is extremely important for each grade level to support. As students move through the grade levels, they should be adding to their writing knowledge, writing strengths, and writing abilities.
MASON'S MESSAGE
WIGs, Lead Measures, Lag Results & Scoreboards
I realize there is still uncertainty about WIG’s, Lead, Lags and Scoreboards floating out there in the ether, however, an event that occurred over the Thanksgiving Holiday put it all in perspective and in a language I think everyone can easily understand.
My 14 year old daughter Julie has needed braces for awhile and we finally bit the bullet and had them installed this past Monday. This is when the a-ha WIG moment hit me and it became clear that the entire process of Julie getting braces is a WIG, Lead, Lag and Scoreboard process! Buckle up because here we go.
This is my WIG. My WIG is for Julie’s teeth (actual x-ray on the left) to transform into straight beautiful, brace-free teeth (NOT Julie’s teeth on the right) by May 2019.
This is my LEAD Measure. This is something that has not been done before (first time braces), predictable braces straighten teeth) and influenceable (orthodontist, parents, procedure). My Lead measure is from November 21 to May 21 Julie’s teeth will have adjusted correctly to allow for the removal of a tooth stuck below her permanent teeth. Upon the results of her check up, the Orthodontist will make further adjustments to her teeth to straighten and correct her teeth. At this time, this will become a new LEAD measure. My WIG is still the same because we are only 6 months into an 18-month process. In between November 21 when she received her braces and May 21, she will have seen the orthodontist periodically for check ups. The May 21 check up is the LAG Measure. The LAG Measure assess whether the orthodontists periodic adjustments and Julie’s care for her braces resulted in meeting the LEAD Measure goal of her teeth adjusting accordingly to remove her tooth. The cycle will then continue with a new LEAD Measure with new starting and ending points and LAG results until the WIG Goal is meet in May of 2019.
This Week:
Wednesday: Faculty Christmas Card Picture
Thursday: Make Up and Club Pictures; WIG Sessions begin at all PLCs
Friday: WAC Fundraiser Assembly “Kiss a Pig”; Parents Night Out -Relay for Life Fundraiser
Upcoming Calendar:
December 6: Leadership and Goal Team
December 7: Bransom Sound Winter Concert in Bransom Gym
December 8: Bransom Sound Caroling; Kindergarten Gingerbread Man Hunt
December 11: 3rd grade rehearsal at Alsbury Baptist Church @ 12:30-2:00; BISD School Board Meeting @ 6:30
December 12: 3rd Grade to Bass Hall; 3rd Grade Christmas Show at Alsbury Baptist Church at 6:00-8:00PM
December 14: Jeans Day Sr. Celebration; BISD Film Fest Venue 510 @ 6:30-8:30; Bransom Sound performance with CHS Choir
December 15: Kerr Choir perform for 4th and 5th Grades at 9:15; Kerr Drama Select Improv Night @ 6:00-9:00
December 18: Christmas Cafe Begins
December 19: Austin trip Parent Meeting @ 4:00; Ugly Sweater Day for Staff and Students
December 20: Kindergarten Polar Express Day (Kinder in pajamas); Bransom Staff Christmas Party
December 21: Staff and Student Pajama Day
December 22: Early Release for Students (11:45am); Holiday Shirt and Jeans for staff and Student
December 25-January 5 Christmas Break
January 8: Teacher Workday
January 9: Beginning of 4th 6-weeks Grading Period; Students return
January 12: 4th Grade Austin Trip
January 15: MLK Holiday
January 19: Bobcat Pride
DUTIES
Gym: Beck & Verreault
Da Vinci Hall: Wilson
Escher Hall; Woolard
BIRTHDAYS
Nov. 27 - Karen Swint
STAAR News from ADMIN
Here are a couple of links to information about STAAR. They may be new news or old news but it is something we need to keep in mind and plan for.
MAP Training
Now, that we've all been through MAP training and the first administration, going back to some informational videos could be helpful. If you want to know more about the: MAP Overview Student Preparation for Testing Use of MAP Growth Data Key Reports for Teachers MAP: Reflection and Feedback. Go to NWEA PD. The videos are grouped under Workshop Content and the title “New Teacher Learning Plan.”
Academy of the Arts at Bransom - Where our goal is clear and our path is paved.
Website: bransom.burlesonisd.net
Location: 820 S Hurst Rd, Burleson, TX, United States
Phone: 817-245-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BransomBobcats/
Twitter: @BransomBobcats