From the Desk of Mr. Yoshida
Birdneck Elementary 7/27/17
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, August 31: Meet and Greet 1:30 -3:30
Monday, September 4: Labor Day
Tuesday, September 5 First Day of School
Friday, September 15 5th Grade Airshow Fieldtrip to Oceana
Tuesday, September 19: Back to School Night 6:00 - 7:30 pm
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRINCIPAL
Hello Birdneck Community,
I hope your summer has been amazing so far! Students have only been out of school for a couple of weeks and we are already missing them. I'm looking forward to hearing about their summer experiences, the books that they read, and people they visited or met while they have been out of school.
For those of you who are new to Birdneck, welcome to our school community! My name is R.V. Yoshida and I'm the proud principal of Birdneck Elementary. I appreciate how our staff, parents, and students quickly made me feel at home and a part of the community in my first year at Birdneck Elementary and I hope to do the same for those just joining our Birdneck family. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your children and wonderful to see them grow last school year.
I want to say thank you to all who supported us in making the 2016-17 school year so successful. Birdneck Elementary made significant gains academically in 2016-17 and helped our city become 100% accredited. Preliminary data indicates Birdneck made improvements in all areas including an 8 point increase in science and an amazing 23 point increase in social studies. I am extremely proud of the hard work of our students and our teaching staff. As Dr. Spence stated in his phone message, this wouldn't have been possible without the continued support of our amazing parents and partners in education. Congratulations and thank you for all of the support you provided your children at home and thank you to our school and central office staff who helped us become fully accredited surpassing benchmarks on the SOL assessments.
As I said above, I'm already looking forward to the 2017-18 school year. I hope you are able to join us for Meet and Greet on August 31st. This will be a time for students and parents to meet the teacher and drop off any materials they would like to leave in the classroom. Back to School Night will be a separate event where parents will learn more about classroom procedures, routines, and instructional program on the evening of September 19, 2017.
When students return, they will learn about our school expectations as we begin to implement components of school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports. Below is an overview of PBIS. You can learn more at https://www.pbis.org/.
If you have not yet registered your children, especially for Kindergarten, please do so as soon as possible. Please visit our school website for school supply lists for each grade level. http://www.birdneckes.vbschools.com/
Have an awesome day,
R.V. Yoshida
Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports
What is School-wide PBIS?
One of the foremost advances in school-wide discipline is the emphasis on school-wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments. Instead of using a piecemeal approach of individual behavioral management plans, a continuum of positive behavior support for all students within a school is implemented in areas including the classroom and non-classroom settings (such as hallways, buses, and restrooms). Positive behavior support is an application of a behaviorally-based systems approach to enhance the capacity of schools, families, and communities to design effective environments that improve the link between research-validated practices and the environments in which teaching and learning occurs. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining Tier 1 supports (universal), Tier 2 supports (targeted group), and Tier 3 supports (individual) systems of support that improve lifestyle results (personal, health, social, family, work, recreation) for all children and youth by making targeted behaviors less effective, efficient, and relevant, and desired behavior more functional.
Why is it so important to focus on teaching positive social behaviors?
Frequently, the question is asked, "Why should I have to teach kids to be good? They already know what they are supposed to do. Why can I not just expect good behavior?" In the infamous words of a TV personality, "How is that working out for you?"
In the past, school-wide discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including reprimands, loss of privileges, office referrals, suspensions, and expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.
What is a systems approach in school-wide PBIS?
An organization is a group of individuals who behave together to achieve a common goal. Systems are needed to support the collective use of best practices by individuals within the organization. The school-wide PBIS process emphasizes the creation of systems that support the adoption and durable implementation of evidence-based practices and procedures, and fit within on-going school reform efforts. An interactive approach that includes opportunities to correct and improve four key elements is used in school-wide PBIS focusing on: 1) Outcomes, 2) Data, 3) Practices, and 4) Systems. The diagram below illustrates how these key elements work together to build a sustainable system:
- Outcomes: academic and behavior targets that are endorsed and emphasized by students, families, and educators. (What is important to each particular learning community?)
- Practices: interventions and strategies that are evidence based. (How will you reach the goals?)
- Data: information that is used to identify status, need for change, and effects of interventions. (What data will you use to support your success or barriers?)
- Systems: supports that are needed to enable the accurate and durable implementation of the practices of PBIS. (What durable systems can be implemented that will sustain this over the long haul?)
Virginia Beach Summer Reading Challenge
Summer Reading Challenge: Virginia Beach Public Library
Contact Information
- (757) 385-0150
- library@vbgov.com
Virginia Beach Public Library
The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual initiative to engage readers of all ages in reading throughout the summer months. Summer Reading Challenge benefits school age children who may be at risk for the loss of reading skills during the summer break and encourages reluctant readers with reading incentives. It is also great fun for all ages!
Program Details
Mon., Jun. 12th – Sat., Aug. 12th
Note: Participants must pick up their earned prizes at any VBPL location by 5 p.m. on Aug. 12th.
Sign Up or Sign In to Log Reading
Prizes available Kids Birth to Grade 5
First 5 Books Read: Free book
Every additional 5 Books Read (up to 30 books): Prize wheel spin
Super Reader Prize: 50 Books
Super Reader Prize: 100 Books Read An invitation to the Super Reader Ice Cream Party
Prizes available Teens Grades 6-12
1 Book Read: Chick-fil-A coupon
2 Books Read: VBPL sunglasses
3 Books Read: $10 Barnes & Noble gift card
Plus, when you complete Reading Tracks and earn badges you'll receive entries to themed raffles. Raffle prizes include a surf board, Barnes & Noble gift cards, gift certificates to YNot Pizza and Duck Donuts, Dave & Buster's Power Cards and more.Prizes available Adults 18+
Registration: Raffle entry to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card
Every book read (up to 50) total) Raffle entry to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card
5 Books Read: Tote bag, additional Barnes & Noble gift card raffle entry, and bowling pass
Plus, when you complete Reading Tracks and earn badges you'll receive entries to themed raffles. Raffle prizes include a bicycle or gift cards to Lynnhaven Fish House or Quintin's Tea Shop.
101 Fun Things To Do in the Summer
My # 1 suggestion is to help your child find books that interest them over the summer. Look above at opportunities through the Virginia Beach Public Library (including prizes).
There are 101 other suggestions found at
http://www.parenting.com/article/fun-things-to-do-summer
Summer activities for kids, crafts, outdoor fun, travel ideas, cool-down treats and lots more! We have enough fun summer activities for kids to keep them busy all season.
Tags: Educational Activities, Games, Outdoor Safety, Swimming and Pool Safety, Most Popular
How to Know Exactly What's In Your Kids' Video Games
How to Know Exactly What's In Your Kids' Video Games
Plus, how to choose the best video game console for your kids!
http://www.parenting.com/article/how-to-know-exactly-whats-in-your-kids-video-games
A parent told me recently that the ratings on video game packages aren't always enough to make up her mind about whether a game is right for her child. "What does it really mean when it says 'Comic Mischief'?" she asked. "Or 'Suggestive Themes'?"
"My son is nine," she continued, "and at his age I'd rather he not be exposed to sexual or violent content. Sometimes I need more detail than what's on the box."
As president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), it's my job to help parents make sensible game choices for their kids. That's why it's so gratifying to be able to provide yet another helpful tool to parents who want to make the most informed choices possible for their children: rating summaries.
To read the full article, please visit http://www.parenting.com/article/how-to-know-exactly-whats-in-your-kids-video-games
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK MISSION
The mission of Birdneck Elementary is to dedicate ourselves to the success of all children, preparing them to meet today's expectations and tomorrow's challenges.
BIRDNECK VISION
Children are our future. We are dedicated to their success.
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
Facebook: facebook.com/birdneckes
Twitter: @BNESeagles