Burchfield's Bulletin
December 11 - 15, 2017 (School Days 73-77)
A Note From Me
Everyday, Lisa had students rehearsing for the Christmas Cafe'. First, I love, love, love the accompaniment she is using to enhance the Christmas pieces each student is playing. Next, I appreciate all that she is doing for the egos and confidence of our students. Actually playing a piece of music on a grand piano in front of an audience who actually recognizes the piece was something I did not experience for a long time after I started playing the piano. (BTW - The acoustics are great for the playing as well as the applause.) Finally, I want to mention that she, like Debra, is doing such a service to our Kerr and Centennial fine arts friends. Do you know how difficult it is to play or sing next to someone who is playing or singing something different? Well, it is difficult for beginners. Our students are really showing great progress in this area. We are training their ears to listen for harmonies as well as perfect unison. Thanks, Lisa, for thrilling my soul this week.
Speaking of Debra. This was a tough week for Debra physically and mentally - "What more can I do to prepare the students for their performance? Are the buses coming? How will the students look on stage? Will the venues have enough space for the dancers to perform? Is Peter Piper ready for us all? Do I have everyone? Is someone covering my class while I'm rustling up the choir? Is the volume right for everyone to hear everything in every song? Are the batteries in the system fully charged? Are those high kickers kicking at the same time? Did I just delete the playlist?" I think you get the idea. When you take on the responsibility of developing, preparing for and directing programs, these are along with so many other questions on a constant loop in the brain for hours/days at a time. I know Debra appreciates the assistance of her team, Brandi, Leslie, and Sheri. Also, we both appreciate the teachers who were present at the performance Thursday night.
This week is going to be another big week for the fine arts folks. Monday's rehearsal for 3rd graders at Alsbury, 3rd grades' performance Tuesday night, and Bransom Sound is with the CHS choirs on Thursday evening are all big events. This is along with all of the fun with the Peppermint Village Shopping with PTO, Secret Santa starting, 3rd grade trip to Bass Hall, 1st grade's Grinch Day, a Spelling Bee, a CEIC meeting, the BISD Film Fest, the visiting Kerr Choir, and guests on Friday. Did I mention it was the 5th week of the 6-weeks grading period and lessons need to be taught? My friends, I love that as a campus there is a lot going on but no one is responsible for doing it all. However, everyone needs encouragement, support, and appreciation. Do what you can do to really be a part of the village this week because you know it take an entire village to get it all done.
Before I wrap up this note, I have to say thanks for our efforts to fulfill your commitments last week. We electronically set our commitments in the 4DX system and we checked all the boxes. We set additional commitments for this week and I am sure we'll meet those, too. Here is the truth - we do extra things all the time but writing the commitments down and with our teammates makes the commitment even greater. No one wants to disappoint the team. But greater still is the commitment to the students. Thanks to you all.
You may have noticed that my note to you didn't expound on my high school's football team. They played at UNT this weekend and they lost to the Allen Eagles. We did attend and we did enjoy spending time with Katie who FINISHED HER SEMESTER FINALS last week. After listening to Katie talk about what she is learning I can say she has totally passed her mother in the knowledge of so many things. But you know, that is how it is suppose to be. I am so glad that her schooling is really moving her forward. Vet School is hard but she loves it!
Our kids and our students should be gaining knowledge about things they may be considered to be hard but that's shows they're getting smarter. I wonder if our kids are WOWING their parents and families about what they are learning. Wouldn't it be great to hear from parents that their kids are excited about their new learning, excited about what they are getting to do at school, and excited about what is to come? Maybe those should be our goals for the next two weeks:
Excite students about what they're learning at school.
Excite students about what they are getting to do at school.
Excite students about what they are going to do at school.
Your excitement may be the biggest factor in the quest to excite them.
Christmas Cactus
I love my Christmas Cactus! What unique thing that only "blooms" this time of year have you started enjoying?
Need your pictures of YOU "Reading What You're Reading"
Beautiful Doors are Still Popping Up
Fantastic Artwork is Still Popping Up - Thanks!!
Scoreboards are Popping Up Everywhere
Student Leadership Team
Mason's Message
No analogies this week, just information...but it’s informative and hopefully persuasive (yay author's purpose!).
Dr. Hollingsworth came by on Friday to visit some classes and as he left he made a comment to Joy and I and I think it’s worth repeating. He said to us, “It’s Friday at almost 2:00 on December 8 and there is still great teaching going on!” What!? That’s right. On a Friday, at 2 in the PM with 2 weeks left before Christmas Break, you, the teachers, were still teaching! YAY!! This is worth repeating because until Friday, December 22 at 11:45, you still need to be teaching. Teaching is not just academics. Teaching is also covering classroom and hallway procedures and expectations. Teaching is also re-teaching some of those classroom and hallway expectations (hint, hint). Teaching is stumbling upon a teachable moment, seizing it, teaching it and maybe teaching it some more. Teaching is also teamwork. You, me or nobody else can get our jobs done alone. We need and rely on each other in the good times and the bad in order to get the job done. The job of teaching.
Thursday, December 14 will be day of our “mock” Fine Arts schedule. We will be trying a new schedule for one day that will shift our AMP and PATH classes to different times of the day which will also affect your day including lunch shifts. We will send the schedule out late on Monday or early Tuesday for you to review and to prepare for. You will have more continuous and uninterrupted time in the classroom and the AMP and PATH classes will be back to back in 90 minute clusters. We will provide more information and details throughout the week. Again, one day only.
Now for the fun stuff. The holiday season is upon us and if, like me, you love our students but quietly weep into your pillow every night at the thought of the next 2 weeks, then this list is for you. For the next 10 days I will be sending out the “10 Days ‘Till Christmas Break List”. Today begins with #10.
#10
Start a Christmas savings jar on Dec 1st. Every time a student tells you about their Elf on the Shelf, make them put $1.00 in the jar. By Dec 15, you’ll have Christmas and a nice summer vacation paid for!
Just For Fun (and to inform you.) It may be worth a peek!
Kash is Doing Well in Vegas
This Week:
December 11: Peppermint Village begins; 3rd grade rehearse at Alsbury Baptist 12:30-2; School Board Meeting; Girl Scouts informational meeting 6:15pm; PTO Board Meeting @ 6:00
December 12: Peppermint Village; 1st Grade Grinch Day; 3rd Grade to Bass Hall; 3rd Grade Christmas Show at Alsbury Baptist 6-7pm
December 13: Peppermint Village; Spelling Bee 3rd-5th 1:30-2:30; Faculty Meeting ; Day #1 of Secret Santa
December 14: New Schedule Day; Peppermint Village; CEIC Meeting; BISD Film Fest Venue 510; Bransom Sound with CHS choir 7-8pm; Day #2 of Secret Santa
December 15: Peppermint Village; Kerr Choir perform for 4th & 5th 9:15; Day #3 of Secret Santa
December 16: Kerr Drama Select Improv 6-9pm
Upcoming Calendar:
December 18: Christmas Cafe Begins; Day #4 of Secret Santa
December 19: Austin trip Parent Meeting 4-5pm; Ugly Sweater day for Students (w/ uniform pants) and Staff (w/ jeans); LID CBI to City Market; Day #5 of Secret Santa
December 20: Kindergarten Polar Express Day (kinder pjs); Bransom Staff Christmas Party (Holiday shirt and jeans for Staff); Secret Santa reveal at Christmas Party
December 21: !st Day of Winter; Pajama Day for Students and Staff; Classroom parties
December 22: Early Release for Students (11:45am); Last Day of the Grading Period for all students; Holiday shirt and jeans for all; K-2 in cafeteria for sing-a-long @ 9-9:45; 3-5 in Gym for Play @ 9-9:45
December 25-January 5 Christmas Break
January 8: Teacher Workday
January 9: Student Return and New Grade Period begins
January 11: All student Report Cards are final
January 12: 4th Grade Austin Trip
January 15: MLK Holiday - No school
January 19: Bobcat Pride
MORNING DUTIES FOR THE COMING WEEK
MORNING DUTIES
Gym: Jackson & McPherson
Da Vinci Hall: Stuckey
Escher Hall; Gilliland
Flyers Sent Home
FYI - There is a competition between our school and another elementary school for the TOY Drive. Please encourage your families to bring toys. Wednesday is the final day.
Academy of the Arts at Bransom - Where Our Talents are Growing and Our Abilities are Sharpening
Website: bransom,.burleson.isd
Location: 820 S Hurst Rd, Burleson, TX, United States
Phone: 817-245-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/BransomBobcats/
Twitter: @BransomBobcats