Sandy Plains
Weekly Roundup: September 26, 2014
Administrators' Address
In order for the Blue Angels perform with such tremendous precision, the accomplished pilots must take calculated risks both during their exhibitions and during their training. As a result, spectacular demonstrations of aeronautical skills are demonstrated to the thousands of awed audience members who flock to witness this incredible team.
Does this sound familiar?
This scenario relates directly to the achievement of our SUPER Sandy Plains students. Our
SUPER teachers and staff must feel free to take calculated and planned risks in order for our students to reach new levels of achievement. As a team, we encourage you to push the limits of our students' learning by trying new high impact and researched instructional strategies, challenging our students with increased rigor, using authentic instruction and application of skills, and continuing on the path of continuous learning by participating in ongoing professional development. In our visits to various classrooms this past week, we have witnessed some teachers doing just that...taking a risk to push the rigor of their lessons and instruction to even greater heights.
Beginning this week, The Weekly Roundup will serve as an additional vehicle to participate in professional development in an informal style. You will still receive all of the school related news but there will also be a learning opportunity imbedded in The Roundup. This week's PD involves reading a short article about learner centered environments and then posting comments on a Padlet page.
We hope you take advantage of this professional development offer.
To infinity and beyond!
Essential Events
Sept. 22 - Oct. 17: MAP Make-Up Testing
September 30: Domain 4 PD with Samantha Yuhanick
October 2-3: Small Group Instruction PD with Lindsey Moses
October 7: Literacy Luau * Volunteers Needed!
October 8: Picture Day
October 17: SLOs due
BCPS Bytes
224. SEASONAL FLU VACCINE PROGRAM
Seasonal flu vaccine will be offered to all full-time and part-time permanent employees, as well as to retired employees. Dates and locations for the clinics can be found on the Web site at http://www.bcps.org/offices/sss/employee_wellness/pdf/Flu-Flyer.pdf. This vaccine will offer protection against three strains of flu that are predicted to be in circulation this year. Vaccine will be given on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Jenny Ward, Wellness Representative 6397
231. 2014-2015 CHESS CLUB TOURNAMENT AND ACTIVITIES
The Office of Mathematics PreK-12 is sponsoring the fourth annual BCPS Chess Club Tournament on Saturday, April 25, 2015. There will be a meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2014, for all interested current or prospective elementary, middle, or high school chess club coaches to discuss activities and organization for 2014-2015. The meeting will be held at Cockeysville Middle School, in Room 9, at 4:15 p.m.
All interested current or prospective chess club coaches must register for this meeting using the Meeting Registration Catalog on the BCPS Online Registration System at https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration. The meeting is titled BCPS Chess Tournament Informational Meeting. Registration instructions are available from the login screen.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
John Staley, Director 4056
245. NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
Set the tone for a positive school climate and culture by participating in National
Bullying Prevention Month activities this October. Take advantage of this national focus on bullying prevention to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Do not limit your activities to students. Include the entire school community in fostering school safety and
civility. Visit the Web page of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center at http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/ to learn ways in which to promote the message, The End of Bullying Begins with Me! Wednesday, October 22, 2014, is Unity Day. Staff and students are encouraged to show their support of Unity Day by wearing orange on that day and capturing the occasion via photographs, videos, or other methods.
This year, a bullying prevention walk has been added to the 9th Annual Save-a-Limb Ride, Walk, and Festival, which will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at Oregon Ridge Park in partnership with the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics. BCPS students and families will participate and demonstrate their commitment to stop bullying. To register for the walk or to donate, go to www.savealimbride.org.
Register your school communities’ activities by contacting April Lewis in the Office of School Safety at alewis7@bcps.org. Your activities and photographs could appear in a future issue of The Guardian.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
April Lewis, Manager 6487
246. STOP BULLYING SPEAK UP PLEDGE
In observance of October as National Bullying Prevention Month, the Office of School Safety is encouraging schools to participate in the Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge. The pledge was created through the National Unite Against Bullying Campaign: The End of Bullying Begins with Me. There is one version for students and one version for adults (see attached). A limited supply of card stock pledge cards is available for secondary schools through the Office of School Safety. Anyone who would like to participate in a pledge activity can contact Dawn Sheldon at dsheldon@bcps.org with the number of cards needed.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
April Lewis, Manager 6487
250. CONVERTING FROM COOLING TO HEATING AND ROOM TEMPERATURES
To prepare for the winter season, the Department of Physical Facilities will be converting schools from cooling to heating beginning Wednesday, October 15, 2014. It is necessary for the Department of Physical Facilities to shut down the cooling system because, unlike residential systems, most school mechanical systems cannot automatically switch from cooling to heating. A large majority of BCPS’ mechanical plants use the same piping for cooling and heating. Therefore, the equipment that is connected to the school’s piping system must be converted. Every effort will be made to ensure that the semi-annual changeover takes place with as little inconvenience as possible. Principals should encourage students and staff to dress appropriately since the fall and winter temperatures can fluctuate.
The room temperatures will be maintained in the range of 68 to 72 degrees during the heating season. When the building is unoccupied, the temperature will be set in the range of 55 to 59 degrees. If the heating system at the school cannot be adjusted to operate at these temperatures, notify the Department of Physical Facilities' Customer Service Desk at 410-887-0470 and provide specific information about rooms, temperatures, and equipment failure.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Robert Maddox, Manager 6301
Learner Centered Spaces
Click on the link below and read the article Transforming Learning with Physical Spaces. After reading the article, consider which characteristic of a learner-centered environment would you deem most essential? Which trait would you like to implement but are nervous about doing so? Which SUPER Teachers are willing to take a RISK and to give it a try for the good of our SUPER Sandy Plains Students?
When posting on the Padlet page, don't forget to include your name!
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SHOUT OUTS!
Cathy Brasher- for all her assistance and persistence. Kait
Mr. Dukes- Keeping morale up in the BLS wing
Shout to the 2nd grade team for helping me make a smooth transition to a new grade! Millie
Shout out to the first grade team for continuing to help me through the year! - Krystle
Shout out to Rachael R. for compiling IEP information for teams!
Shout out to all staff who have been saving their cardboard for the art room!
Shout out to Ana and Rachel for their help for the BCPS One Parent Night - Mandi
Shout out to John for helping to organize the parent night – Mandi
Shout out to the risk-takers