BESTeam Tidbits
October 2, 2016
Together
October 10th Professional Learning Day
Amplify Book Study
Excel Time
This past week, grade level teams spent at least half a day with Cathy analyzing data, discussing students, forming groups, looking at resources, and creating plans on how to best meet the needs of each student in the building. It is truly amazing what we can accomplish together! Looking forward to seeing plans in action this week and the weeks to come during PLT.
Watch DOGS
Tuesday, 10/4
- Nathan Cooper: Calla ~Hendry
- Ryan Nordell ~ Ella- Hill, Mila-Kaufman
Thursday, 10/6
- Patrick Lavery ~ John/marino
- William Digaetano ~ Aubrey/ Kaufield
Friday, 10/7
- Aaron Reed ~ Reed/Chapman
- Matt McNicholas ~ McNicholas/floyd
Tuesday, 10/11
- Mike Deshotels ~ Demi/
- open
- Blake Mears ~ Ella/Harness
- open
Friday, 10/14
- John Davis ~ Madelyn/Gribbon & Nathaneal/Eccleston
- Greg Takacs ~ Marino
Sunshine Committee
Celebrations
- From Rebecca: Please pass on to the staff how much I thank each one of them for their flexibility and patience today. This was our first endeavor at all campus screenings and it went very well. We learned some things we will need to tweak next time. But overall, it ran very smooth. The screen team was very impressed with our campus.
- Thank you 4th grade for a great team builder at staff meeting!
- Thank you to Cathy and the grade level teams for amazing work during our Data Dig meetings! Each team left with the start of plans on how to meet ALL of our students' needs using research based interventions. Looking forward to seeing PLT in action this coming week!
- Laps for Learning was FABULOUS!!!!! Thank you Sue and Sandy for all of your planning and hard work to make this event a HUGE success! Thank you to our PTA, especially Angela Estes, for the prizes and collecting the funds. Grand total still to come.
- Thank you PTA for the delicious popcorn and thirst-quenching Sonic drinks during staff meeting!
- Thank you Abbey for serving as our United Way representative!
- Thank you Brittany for uploading all of the staff pictures on the website!
- Did you notice the new Keurig in the lounge? Next time you see the Foddrill family, make sure to tell them thank you for the generous gift!
To do...
- Survey: Please complete the October 10 survey above. Thank you!
- Istation: If you haven't done so already, please send the parent portal note for iStation home for parents. Thank you!
- Sunshine Committee: Please give Abbey your Sunshine Dues!
- Education Foundation Drive: If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to donate to the Education Foundation. Every dollar helps our students! Our goal is 100% participation!
- Learning Commons Survey: Please complete the following Learning Commons survey https://docs.google.com/a/gcisd.net/forms/d/1Q4povvFv2jvgPTyFG83EqEWnnidh4HpYFi4V6jVm2-k/edit
- Calendars: Thank you for taking the time to schedule usage of the Science Lab and Computer Labs on the Google Calendar. If you need assistance with this, please let Jamie, Tonya, or Cathy know.
- Flex Learning: The new Flex program is ready for 2016-2017. Visiting the following link from the district website (http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/3804), you will see the requirements, understand why Flex is important to our profession, and get access to the site. Once you get to the actual Flex site, find the tab that represents your job so you know which modules to complete.
The due date for completing Flex is October 19, 2016. Remember that FLEX encompasses the compliance-type professional learning that is required each year (Bloodborne Pathogens, FERPA, etc.) Instructional staff receive 2 paid days (Flex Days) to complete the training. This way you can complete it when it is most convenient for you. Paraprofessionals will be afforded time during the week in August to complete Flex time.
Flu Clinics
Flu shot clinics begin on Wednesday 9/21 and continue through Thursday 10/27.
- See below for the full flu shot schedule. You may go to any clinic that best suits your work schedule. Please review the Flu Shot Employee Notice for more details.
- You must bring a COPY of your medical insurance card, your drivers license and consent form with you in order to receive the flu shot free of charge. You may receive a flu shot at no charge if you are covered by another employer's medical insurance if you are insured by one of the companies listed on the flyer.
- Please pre-register at http://www.passageware.com/FluSignUp/GCISD so the vendor will have an accurate count of immunizations by location. When you select a date/time, this site will provide you with the consent form to print.
- Dependent children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and you must provide a copy of insurance card, consent form and your drivers license at the time of vaccination.
FYI
- Staff Attendance: Remember to let Jamie, Tonya, Denise, Shelly, and your team know when you will be out. Thank you!
- National School Lunch Week (NSLW) 2016: The NSLW theme "Vote for a Winning School Lunch!" 2016 focuses on the importance of making healthy choices. Cafeterias will have special features and a ballot box for students to choose their "fave" lunch items. Make sure to stop by the cafeteria the week of October 11 to choose your winning school lunch!
- GCISD Reads: Check out the information on the new reading challenge. https://www.smore.com/cyf5c-gcisd-reads
Using DMAC to Identify Those In Need of Intervention
Would it be helpful to know which students were not successful on the STAAR last Spring and have not been successful on local assessments in the same subject area this Fall?
- Log Into DMAC
- Click on the 9-square (looks like how numbers used to be arranged on a phone)
- Under Tools, select the Data Export Option
- Make sure your campus is showing and select the grade level you need, DMAC will automatically display the local assessments that your campus has given from DMAC's TEK Score module (consult the district required assessment calendar if you are not sure)
- Under Student on the left hand side, you can select the demographic information that you would like included about the students
- Select local assessments from this year and STAAR/STAAR EOC assessments from last year
- Check items under Options (upper right hand corner, looks like a lists of bullets) to see if there are items of interest to you
- Click download (upper right hand corner)
You will have an excel spreadsheet of the results, but you can easily sort if for "No"s in the columns for local and state met standard. Each assessment result for a student will be in the same row.
You can also create downloads of just the local assessments including demographics to help you monitor the performance of student groups.
Food Waste Reduction
Cornerstone Tasks
PTA News
- Website: PTA has a new website! Check it out here! http://www.bransfordpta.com/
- PTA Grants: Thank you for turning in PTA grants to Jamie the day before executive board meetings. This affords time for Jamie and Lis to review all grants before the meeting starts. Any grants turned in late will be saved for the next meeting. The next PTA executive board meeting is October 7.
- Laps for Learning: Excitement is building for the annual Laps for Learning event! Get your sneakers ready for Laps for Learning on Friday, September 30. We will all be walking, jogging, and cheering on our terrific Texans as we raise funds for our campus.
2016-2017 Information
Dates to Know
***Please check the BES master calendar on Google for updates***
- October 3: Stomp Out Bullying, CEC 3:10 p.m. & Snuffer's Spirit Night
- October 6: GT LEAD Curriculum Night
- October 10: Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
- October 14: End of 1st 9 Weeks & Dad's Club Movie Night
- October 20: BES Spirit Night at Kendra Scott
Week at a Glance
Monday
STOMP OUT Bullying Blue Shirts, Blue Jeans, and Boots
Choir @ 2:55pm
CEC @ 3:10pm
Snuffer’s Spirit Night 5pm-8pm
CogAT Training - 2:30 with second grade
Tuesday
Jamie & Denise @training 10:30 am-Noon
Tonya @training 1:30-3:00
Rebecca Admin 9:00-11:30 and 5:00-7:30 District Parent Preview
CogAT Training - 3:15 with fifth grade
No full staff meeting today!
Sunshine Meeting at 3:15 in Abbey's room
Wednesday
National Walk and Bike to School Day
Garden Club 7:00 a.m.
Tech PLC
Fitness Force begins 3:00pm-3:45pm: In honor of the first fitness force of the year, please feel free to wear a BES top and walking pants (dress code appropriate)
Library Ambassadors @3:00pm
Jamie Principals' Meeting
Thursday
Cathy & Tonya @ training
PreK Parents Pumpkin Patch Assembly 7:40am-10:00am- Cathy’s Room
GT LEAD Parent Curriculum Night @ 6:00pm Learning Commons
Friday
Premier Martial Arts Demo during Specials
Cathy & Tonya @ training
PTA Exec. Mtg. @ 9:00am
Jamie Halliburton
Email: jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net
Phone: 806-441-6518
Twitter: @BESHalliburton