Birdneck Briefing 2019-2020
September 16-20
Tentative: Upcoming Dates and Events
Sept. 9-13 Chromebook distribution to students
Sept. 16-20 - Bookfair open
Sept. 19 - Back to School Night 6:00-7:30
- 6:00 session one in your classrooms
- 6:30 PTA/Administrator presentation in the cafeteria
- 7:00 session two in classrooms.
- Bookfair open until 8:00
Sept. 23 - PBIS meeting 3:00 in B9
Sept 26 - Staff Meeting 3:00 in Library
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Birdneck Family,
Thursday evening is our Back to School Night. It is your chance to let our parents know what your procedures and routines are in your classroom as well as what they will be learning. More importantly it is your chance to let parents know how much you care about their children and how important it is that we work cooperatively for the success of the students. Encourage communication and parent involvement in the education process and our family engagement opportunities throughout the year. It is important to share about our PBIS program and for you to define the expectations of SOAR behavior. Building a foundation and strong relationships with parents will set a positive tone for the year. We are Birdneck and We are Family!
Thanks for all of you hard work and being part of the Birdneck Family.
Captain out,
RV Yoshida
SHOUT OUTS!!!!!
HUGE shout out to special education TAs for their flexibility in sorting out new schedules and services that always happen in the beginning of the year. And a special shout out to Timika Jones for going above and beyond to build relationships with kiddos and supporting them with a smile on her face!
Securly
Select school staff members will once again be granted access to student web browsing histories from within the Securly management portal. This access has proven beneficial as a classroom management tool and will go into effect over the coming weeks. The staff members listed below will receive a confirmation email from Securly announcing access to the portal once the rostering and configuration process for this school year is complete. As a result, these individuals will have the same student web browsing information for all students at their respective sites as parents who register for the Securly Parent Portal. Staff members will receive this email even if they had access previously.
• Principals and assistant principals
• Teachers
• Instructional technology specialists
• Guidance chairs and counselors
Elementary Science and Social Studies Curriculum Updates for 2019-2020
K-5 Science
Updated Front Matter
● Vision statement and philosophy of science – Provides stronger connections to the Profile of a Virginia Graduate.
● Definition of scientific inquiry – Clearly defines inquiry-based learning; identifies essential features of an inquiry-based classroom; describes and provides clear examples of all the scientific processes.
● Science & engineering practices – Taken from the 2018 Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Curriculum Framework, this section compares engineering design practices to practices used in the inquiry cycle. Graphics, a video and list of steps provide clear information on the engineering design process. It is expected that students at all grade-levels are engaged in engineering design throughout the year during science instruction.
● Environmental literacy and sustainability – Links specific SOLs to foundational concepts for environmental literacy. Additional information on Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) is included in this section. Students currently have at least one opportunity in middle and high school to participate in a MWEE. The goal is for all students to participate in their first MWEE in elementary school (by 2021).
● STEM – Clearly defines STEM-education in the elementary classroom. This section also provides a rationale for incorporating STEM-based instruction by referencing the graduate profile.
● SEL – Provides clear examples of how teachers can support social-emotional learning (SEL) in the science classroom.
Content Unit Plans:
● Several new inquiry-based learning plans and additional student learning opportunities have been included in the teacher guide under the unit Learning Events for both Science and Social Studies in 2019-2020.
● Lessons that support STEM, environmental literacy or SEL have been specifically identified.
Inquiry Launch:
● Inquiry-launches have been tied to particular units of study. Rather than consider these as separate or supplemental learning events, teachers should use inquiry launches as the anticipatory event for the unit of study for which they are a part of.
Additional Resources:
● Content overview videos are included with each unit of study for both Science and Social Studies. The content overview videos provide teachers with additional background knowledge of the content presented in the units. Additionally, these videos provide suggestions on how the science or social studies concepts should be taught to support deeper learning. Explicit connections are made to content integration and inquiry-based or STEM-based practices.
● A vocabulary section has been included on the materials and resources page.
● Additional resources are provided to support environmental literacy within certain units of study.
Elementary Mathematics Curriculum Updates for 2019-2020
Front Matter:
● The guiding principles document has been updated to support the 2016 Standards of Learning. This document contains equity and technology statements crucial to high quality mathematics instruction. A section has been on added on social-emotional learning (SEL) in the mathematics classroom.
● A SEL Learning in the Elementary Classroom document has been added.
VBOs and Pacing:
● Minor pacing changes were made to match the 2019-2020 calendar.
Additional Resources:
● Assessment checklists were updated to match Synergy for the 2019-2020 calendar.
Curriculum Changes:
● The unit overview page has been updated under Teacher Resources in Schoology. This page includes literature ideas and conceptual connections. Conceptual connections will give Number Talk and Calendar recommendations depending on the grade level. The unit overview page should be the starting point when planning for each unit as it includes cross curricular connections, essential questions and big ideas. This year, we have added a reflection and closure document as well as recommended 3-Act Tasks. Number Talk links have been updated to GoogleSlides.
● A student self-assessment opportunity has been added to each VBO overview page.
● Virginia Go Math! resources have replaced the out of date textbook.
● The newest digital resources Virginia Go Math! and RedBird are accessible through Clever.
Elementary Language Arts Curriculum Updates for 2019-2020
2017 English Standards of Learning:
● All Language Arts curricular materials will be updated to support full implementation of the 2017 Virginia Department of Education English Standards of Learning (SOLs). Alignment of the written, taught and tested curriculum will be the focus of professional learning this school year.
VBOs and Pacing:
● All VBOs have been updated to align to the 2017 English SOLs, therefore, crosswalk VBOs have been eliminated for this school year. Pacing documents have been revised based on teacher and literacy leader feedback and the updated standards.
Curriculum Changes:
● All Language Arts units are being updated to align with the 2017 English SOLs. This includes learning plans and assessments. Grade level units are vertically aligned to support school-wide efforts around literacy and integration across content areas. Resources continue to be organized by teacher and student so that resources utilized by the student (graphic organizers, passages, assessments, etc.) can be digitally shared and assigned in Schoology.
● Additional options for content integration have been added in all grade levels. This includes an ongoing emphasis on inquiry, image floods and reading frenzies; use of the digital science Textbook and Our World; and connections to the real-world and student-led research and writing.
● “I Can” Statements aligned to unit pacing have been added to support instructional planning and delivery, as well as assessments.
● Icons indicating opportunities to address the 5 Cs and social-emotional learning were added to the lesson overview pages and lessons when appropriate.
Report Cards:
● Small group objectives have been added to K-2 report cards to provide a more comprehensive measure of student achievement in early literacy skills. Rubrics have been added to support teachers in reporting out on these objectives. Use of small group progress monitoring documents are also highly encouraged to inform instruction. Utilization of the Small Group Instruction Site will also provide instructional support in teaching early literacy skills.
AMET
The Annual Mandatory Employee Training for all Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) employees will continue during the 2019-2020 school year. This type of training provides maximum benefits for minimum resources. It is intensive, thorough, and is specifically tailored to meet our needs. It is also an effective time management tool, as employees are able to build skills and professional knowledge whenever it's most convenient for them. This type of training eliminates travel, provides employee input, ensures compliance, reduces liability and allows course content to be updated immediately. Some of the training courses have changed again this year and have been customized to meet the needs of particular departments and schools.
To help achieve 100% completion compliance, we suggest that the assistant principal at your location, who oversees bus drivers, cafeteria personnel and custodians, assist in scheduling “training sessions” for those employees who may need assistance in accessing and completing this training online. The startup date for the training is Aug. 19, 2019.
Principals and Directors are expected to support and monitor all of their employees for the completion of the Annual Mandatory Employee Training. Failure to comply fully with this training requirement may result in disciplinary action.
All employees will be required to view each entire training module assigned to their job title. New employees will also be required to view the training modules from the previous years. Five license renewal points will be awarded to all eligible employees who complete the training before the deadline. A target completion date of Feb. 14, 2020, has been established. Thank you for your assistance in this endeavor.
Employee training modules required for ALL employees:
- Boundary Invasion
- Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting
- Employee Handbook
- Health Emergencies: Life Threatening Allergies
- Sexual Misconduct: Staff to Student
- Workplace Bullying: Awareness and Prevention
- Emailing and Messaging Safety
- Protection Against Malware
Employee training modules required for specific job titles (in addition to the above):
- Aerial Lift Safety (selected Maintenance and Custodial employees)
- Asbestos Awareness (all Custodial and Maintenance employees)
- Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention (selected employees outlined in VBCPS Exposure Plan)
- Automatic External Defibrillators (all teachers and administrators)
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (all teachers and administrators)
- Civil Rights for Food Services (all Food Service employees)
- Confined Spaces (selected Maintenance employees)
- Crossing Guard Safety (all security assistants)
- Fall Protection (selected Maintenance employees)
- First Aid (all teachers and administrators)
- Forklift Safety (selected employees that operate a forklift)
- Hand and Power Tool Safety Overview (Technical Education and Drama teachers)
- Handling of Used Fluorescent Light Bulbs (select Maintenance and Custodial employees)
- Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points: HACCP (all Food Service employees)
- Lockout / Tagout: Energy Release (selected Maintenance employees)
- Respiratory Safety (selected Maintenance / Custodial / Transportation employees)
- Safe Use of Food Service Equipment (all Food Service employees)
- Safety Basics for Security Staff (all Security Assistants)
- School Intruders (all Security Assistants)
- School Violence: Identifying and Addressing (all Security Assistants)
- Science Lab Safety (all secondary science teachers)
- Scissors Lift Safety (selected Maintenance and Custodial employees)
- Student Mental Health (all teachers and administrators)
- Utility Cart Safety (all secondary Security Assistants and Custodial employees)
- Visual Weapons Screening (all Security Assistants)
Employee training modules required for NEW employees hired after July 1, 2019 (in addition to the above)
- Bullying: Recognition & Response
- Classroom Safety (only teachers and administrators)
- Cybersecurity Overview
- Diversity Awareness: Staff to Staff
- Email and Messaging Safety
- Fire Extinguisher Safety
- Hazard Communication – GHS Update
- Password Security Basics
- Protection Against Malware
- Sexual Harassment: Staff to Staff
Review information on how to use and access the VBCPS Annual Mandatory Employee Training Program here. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Steve LePock in the Office of Risk Management (263-2460). Thank you.
Get your Specialization Badge!
The purpose of this memo is to bring your attention to and provide information about several self-directed professional learning opportunities for teachers that will be offered through the Department of Teaching and Learning (DTAL) beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. You may recall the division launched a series of specialization options for teachers, a full listing of which can be found on the Professional Growth and Innovation SharePoint site (PGI). As a part of specialization in Performance Based Assessment (PBA), DTAL offered badges in PBA Development, PBA Rubric Design and Rubric Calibration, which were well received by teachers this past school year.
To complement the specialization in PBA, DTAL is pleased to be adding a literacy specialization for the upcoming school year. The Academic Vocabulary and Collaborative Conversations badges are a great next step for teachers who completed the Close Reading badge. Teachers who have yet to embark on the PBA or literacy specialization now have six options to take advantage of, allowing a teacher the option of potentially progressing through all three PBA or all three literacy badge courses for the chance to earn a specialization. Each badge is “stackable,” and the completion of all three PBA or literacy badges will result in a teacher earning a specialization badge.
Teachers may participate in division-sponsored specialization courses and earn professional learning badges in the following DTAL sponsored areas:
PBA specialization courses:
•Performance Based Assessment (PBA)Development
•PBA Rubric Development
•PBA Calibration and Scoring
Literacy specialization courses:
•Close Reading: A 30 Day Series Facilitated byDoug Fisher
•Collaborative Conversations: A 30 Day SeriesFacilitated by Doug Fisher
•Academic Vocabulary
*note: the successful completion of all three PBAbadges will result in teachers earning a masterspecialization badge in PBA.
*note: the successful completion of all three literacybadges will result in teachers earning a masterspecialization badge in literacy.
By participating in any of the above badge/specialization courses, teachers will be able to develop and highlight expertise in specific priority areas that are in tight alignment with the division's Teaching and Learning Framework and are designed to further progress toward the division’s attainment of goals stated in the strategic plan, Compass to 2020. A demonstration of mastery in these areas, as identified by earning a badge, will be a preferred prerequisite for job vacancies within DTAL for coaching, specialist and/or curriculum coordinator positions. Furthermore, preference will be given to teachers who have earned any of the above badges when applying for curriculum and/or textbook review committees or other DTAL sponsored committees. Teacher demonstration of mastery leading toward badge/specialization attainment in any of the above areas will also further teacher capacity and can be considered by administrators when determining attainment of the exemplary level of proficiency in the Professional Knowledge component of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teacher Evaluation Rubric. In addition to earning a master badge and licensure points, at the completion of each course participants will earn points towards earning the Career Teacher Allowance.
While these professional learning opportunities will be self-paced and flexible, there will be key submission dates for final products and/or reflections. All courses listed above will be housed in Schoology, and the registration for each will be completed in Frontline. Specific details regarding course descriptions and submission deadlines are attached and can also be found on the PGI site listed above.
For questions regarding the specializations and badges sponsored by DTAL, please contact Katie Cirilli,
K-12 programs and grants coordinator, at Katie.Cirilli@vbschools.com or 263-1077. Thank you.
SUBJECT: Sick Leave Bank Open Enrollment Information
Virginia Beach City Public Schools offers benefit-eligible employees membership into the Sick Leave Bank. Eligible VRS Plan 1 or Plan 2 employees may enroll in the Sick Leave Bank by donating the hourly equivalent of two (2) workdays of sick leave. Because they are only eligible to participate during their first year of employment, VRS Hybrid employees may enroll by donating the hourly equivalent of one (1) workday of sick leave.
Open enrollment for all eligible employees begins August 1, 2019 and continues through October 15, 2019. The Office of Employee Relations will contact all timekeepers about the process and will provide them with the attached informational flyer. Additionally, this information will be posted on the VCBPS’ intranet homepage under, “Hot Topics.” For specific details regarding the various sick leave banks, please refer to School Board Regulation 4-45.2, Sick Leave Bank.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Employee Relations located in the Department of Human Resources.
Computer and Network Security 2019-20
As we embark upon another exciting school year, the Department of Technology (DOT) would like to once again bring to your attention the importance of good computer and network security practices. It is only through the efforts of every individual that we can hope to protect our networks and, more importantly, our sensitive data. Feel free to share any relevant information found in this memo with your staff.
Password security
1. A poorly constructed password may result in the compromise of individual systems, data, or the VBCPS network. For that reason, safeguards such as password history, complexity, age, and length must meet or exceed the following guidelines:
a. The previous 24 passwords cannot be reused
b. Passwords must contain at least eight alphanumeric characters
c. Passwords must contain three of the following four items:
- i. Upper case letter
- ii. Lower case letter
- iii. One number (for example, zero through nine)
- iv. One of these special characters (, !$%^*()_)
d. Passwords must not contain part of the account name or display name
e. Passwords cannot be changed more than once in two days
2. Never share your password with anyone, and do not write it down. Remember, DOT will never ask for your password.
3. Never allow anyone to use a computer that you have logged into without monitoring their activities.
4. Do not allow anyone to “shoulder surf” or stand over your shoulder as you enter your username and password as they can steal your login credentials.
Locking machines when away
1. Always secure your computer when you step away from it. By not securing (locking) your computer, you may expose and potentially compromise confidential information authorized only for your use to others who might gain access to your computer.
Phishing/spam emails
1. Email attacks whether they be spam or phishing emails continue to be one of the most used attack methods.
2. All users should be familiar with Avoid the Bait Email and Phishing Scams, as this document contains valuable information on how to identify these types of emails as well as the procedure for reporting them to Microsoft.
Protecting sensitive data
1. Protect student data and other confidential data
a. Do not send student data or other confidential data via email whether working inside the VBCPS network or from outside locations. Place data on a secure shared network location (e.g., SharePoint, Office 365) and share only with specific users.
b. Do not use links to share files as this could allow unauthorized access if the link is obtained by any other than the intended recipient.
c. Do not make copies of data containing confidential information on school division or personally owned computers, mobile devices, or external storage devices. Such copies lend themselves to falling into wrong hands and violate legal requirements for confidentiality of data.
2. Do not print confidential information on an unattended printer.
3. As your computer is often used to display sensitive information, clear the display by minimizing or closing applications when unauthorized individuals are near.
4. Treat all information as though it was sensitive data.
Baby Photos Still Needed!
Congrats to Josh Brown who won the August edition of Guess Who! (It was Monica Roach)
There have been zero guesses for this month's Guess Who!
Birdneck ITS Coaching
Join our PTA
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Join the PTA! Our goal is to have 100% Staff participation!!!!!!!!!
Support Birdneck Elementary students by joining the PTA. Don't miss out on the benefits from joining the PTA. Receive over $300 in savings... all for just $5 for a membership. Check out the PTA website at http://birdneckpta.weebly.com/
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Twitter@BNESeagles
BIRDNECK MISSION
Mission: We build relationships to encourage, inspire and empower others to meet the challenges of today and to foster the love of learning.
BIRDNECK VISION
Vision: We are dedicated to nurturing an inclusive environment to ensure engaging, student-centered learning resulting in confident independent learners.
BIRDNECK BELIEFS
We believe in a collaborative community in which teachers, administrators, students, and parents work together for student success.
We believe in creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment in which all students can strive for excellence and achieve their individual potential.
We believe we will prepare our students for success by providing 21st century learning and developing within our students critical thinking, effective communications and problem solving skills.
Website: http://www.birdneckes.vbschools.com/
Location: 957 South Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2120