Birdneck Briefing
August 30, 2017
Upcoming Dates and Events
Thursday 8/31
- Flex time in morning for Meet and Greet from 1:30-3:30
- PBIS overview 9:00 am
-Procedures Flipped PPT
Friday 9/1
- Work in rooms
- Optional Technology Sessions in the Flexible Learning Space
9:00-10:00 Windows 10
11:00-12:00 - G Suite
1:30-2:30 New Apps
- View curriculum webinars w/ teams (task and reflection due Sept. 1)- Monday 9/4 Holiday
- Tuesday 9/2 1st Day of school
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Staff,
We've had a wonderful week and a very positive vibe here at Birdneck as we are preparing for the return of our students. We had training on Responsive Classroom, Transformational Learning and began creating a new vision/mission for our school. We will continue learning about PBIS and transformational leadership. It was very exciting to have our superintendent, Dr. Aaron Spence join us for our 2017-18 kick-off on Tuesday. We have a lot to celebrate about Birdneck successes and look forward to another awesome year.
For those of you who are new to BNES our weekly updates, information, and professional development videos and info will come in the weekly newsletters via Smore. All staff is expected to read the newsletters and view the videos added unless otherwise specified. If you have any information you would like me to add to the weekly Smore, please send me what you would like to share by Wednesdays so I can get out to the staff.
Thank you to our spirit committee and all who helped to decorate the cafeteria, common areas and our flexible learning space. Vicky, Connie and our PTA helped to make our return very special. Our presenters this week were all fabulous and I heard many positive comments about the professional development you provided for our staff. A special thanks and kudos also goes to our office staff and Ally for their patience and support the past couple of weeks. We also had a secret visitor and guest clean up the front of our school pulling weeds and making the entrance look amazing! It's hard to put into words how much I appreciate the work of this anonymous service! You all have done a tremendous job this week and I have the best feeling about the start of this year and the positive vibe in our school.
Captain out,
RV Yoshida
Reminders
-Mandatory Employee training found at https://vbschools-va.safeschools.com/login due at the end of the first 9 weeks.
-Greet your students at the door each day!
-implement Morning Meeting and student goal setting in your classrooms.
-Work on routines and procedures by "teaching" expectations.
-Complete your emergency "green sheet" and return it to the office.
-Sign up for at least one academic and one other committee.
-Join our PTA.
-Have Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
PBIS Overview
What is School-wide PBIS?
One of the foremost advances in schoolwide discipline is the emphasis on schoolwide 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, schoolwide 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 schoolwide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.
What is a systems approach in schoolwide 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 schoolwide 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 schoolwide 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?)
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
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