Teaching & Learning Newsletter
January 15, 2016
C2E
Terry Orlick, PhD, In Pursuit of Excellence
Affirmations
Coaching Tip
- curious
- a risk taker
- silent
- respectful
- open
Jim Knight
Core Content Area News
ALL ADMINISTRATORS
Nominations being accepted for Student Heroes Program
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Student Heroes Award.
The Student Heroes awards program recognizes Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school who do outstanding things to benefit their fellow Texas students. Click here to nominate a student.
Benchmark Windows
High School
Feb 1-12
- Eng 1 Benchmark 5 hour shutdown
- Eng II Benchmark 5 hour shutdown
Feb 29 - March 11
- Alg I Benchmark 4 hour shutdown
March 21-23
- US History, 150 minutes in class
April 6-8
- Biology, 150 minutes in class
Middle School
February 2
- 7th Writing Benchmark
- 8th Math Benchmark
February 3
- 8th Reading Benchmark
March 29
- 6th Math Benchmark
- Algebra I Benchmark
March 30
- 6th & 7th Reading Benchmark,
March 31
- 7th Math Benchmark
April 4 & 5
- 8th Social Studies Benchmark in Class
April 6 & 7
- 8th Science & Biology Benchmark in Class
Elementary
Feb 1-12
- 5th Math & Reading Benchmark
- 4th Writing Benchmark
Feb 29 -March 4
- 3rd & 4th Math & Reading Benchmark
- 5th Science Benchmark
March 7-11
- TELPAS
There will be no DBA's during a benchmark tested six weeks. Writing scores on compositions for the portfolio will be entered in AWARE both six week
DDRT Meetings
DDRT Meetings continue to take place each Monday. Click here to access sign up sheet. Please note that you are asked to input whether the concern is academic or behavioral as well as if the primary concern is in Reading or Math. This helps with scheduling support in the meeting. Finally, thank you for continuing to document RtI in Aware, as this helps ensure communication of student information.
High School
Middle Schools
Call for Outstanding Student Nominations
Nominate your outstanding 4th-8th graders for summer 2016 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps! Participants travel to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston area to join delegations of other distinguished students from across Texas for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas destinations. Each day participants explore notable Texas sites, learn about unique careers from professionals, and work in small groups to develop specific leadership skills. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state. Nominees must be in 4th-8th grade, maintain an 85 or higher average, demonstrate leadership ability, and be involved in school/community activities.
Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting
Our next Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting will be January 25th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Davila Middle School. Please encourage all Advanced Academic teachers to attend.
MSTAR Intervention Lessons
The following link will direct you to important MSTAR intervention resources provided by the Meadow Center's Mathematics Institute for Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. All middle school math teachers have been notified about this valuable resource and have access to this information via Team Connect or the website link.
As a reminder, the winter administration of MSTAR Universal Screeners will be open for BISD teachers from January 11 to February 5. The Diagnostic Assessment window is from January 18 to February 12. All grade 6, 7, and 8 math students are required to take the Universal Screener. For more information, contact Lauren Wooldridge.
Spelling Bee
Thank you for participating in the Scripps Spelling Bee. Your campus winner should be submitted to the website by January 16.
The 2016 ZONE 9 Spelling Bee for Brazos, Washington, Grimes, Leon, Robertson, Madison Counties:
- When: Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00
- Where: Cypress Grove Intermediate School Cafetorium, College Station I.S.D.
- Address: 900 Graham Road; College Station, TX 77845
- Arrival time for spellers: 8:45 a.m.
Elementary Schools
PRINCIPALS
Call for Outstanding Student Nominations
Nominate your outstanding 4th-8th graders for summer 2016 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps! Participants travel to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston area to join delegations of other distinguished students from across Texas for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas destinations. Each day participants explore notable Texas sites, learn about unique careers from professionals, and work in small groups to develop specific leadership skills. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state. Nominees must be in 4th-8th grade, maintain an 85 or higher average, demonstrate leadership ability, and be involved in school/community activities.
4th Grade Writing Collaborative
All fourth grade writing teachers are invited to come participate in a writing collaborative. The IC's will be guiding teachers in "planning for the planning" for two weeks of lessons at a time. As the Writing STAAR approaches, it will be helpful to have others to plan with and discuss strategies on how best to prepare the students. Teachers are encouraged to bring writing samples to get feedback and ideas to work on with their students. Please see the flyer attached to the link to get the dates, times and location. Click here.
Math Planning Collaboratives
Math planning collaboratives are back! These learning events begin Tuesday, January 12th. Please see the invite for further information. We are asking that teachers RSVP to the person(s) located at the bottom of the invite. We look forward to having your math planners join in these learning events! Click here.
Spelling Bee
Thank you for participating in the Scripps Spelling Bee. Your campus winner should be submitted to the website by January 16.
The 2016 ZONE 9 Spelling Bee for Brazos, Washington, Grimes, Leon, Robertson, Madison Counties:
- When: Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00
- Where: Cypress Grove Intermediate School Cafetorium, College Station I.S.D.
- Address: 900 Graham Road; College Station, TX 77845
- Arrival time: for spellers 8:45 a.m.
Testing Window
Middle Of Year Pre-K Monitoring Assessment. Testing Window: Jan 20th - Feb 19th.
K - 2 Horizontal Trainings
The K-2 Horizontal Trainings are to be held on campuses with the IC's providing the training. There are three sessions that are each approximately 20 minutes in length
---Math, Science and Language Arts. The window for this training is from January 11th to 22nd.
Hard Hats for Little Heads
Just a quick reminder to book your buses for Hard Hats for Little Heads.
When: February 25
Time for buses: 8-11
Where: Reed Arena
Who: 2nd graders
If you have any questions, please contact Janyce Kinley.
Junior Achievement
Need more Classrooms - We have the volunteers!!!! Junior Achievement will be offered on a voluntary basis for the 2015-16 school year. This is offered for all elementary schools at the 1st and 2nd grade level. We are hoping to serve 25 classrooms in the Spring.
Junior Achievement is a program that brings business volunteers from the community into the classroom to teach a prescribed curriculum. The curriculum aligns with the Social Studies TEKS.
This is also a great way to pick up businesses to sponsor your school!!! Many of the banks, sheriff's department, and other major businesses in town participate.
Call Janyce Kinley for more information.
Universal Screeners for Math
It's screener time again! Below are the dates for K-5 MOY screeners. The dates were purposefully selected to reduce interruptions in daily lessons and unit instruction.
K TEMI - Jan. 19-21
1st TEMI - Feb. 1-3
2nd TEMI - Jan. 11-13
3rd ESTAR - Jan. 19-20
4th ESTAR - Jan. 14-15
5th MSTAR - Jan. 12-13
Interventions
The following links will direct you to important intervention resources provided by the Meadow Center's Mathematics Institute for Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. Math coaches are aware of these and can help with this resource.
TEMI Intervention Lessons click here
ESTAR Intervention Lessons click here
MSTAR Intervention Lessons click here
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Early Childhood Conference
Harris County Department of Education is hosting the 30th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference on Saturday, January 30. Keynote speaker is Dr. Jean Feldman: Award winning author, presenter and recording artist. Special featured presenter is Carl Anderson: one of the nations's leading experts on teaching writing and the author of several books on writing.
Preschool Collaborative with Region 6
Bryan ISD is now a member of the Preschool Collaborative with Region 6 ESC. All PreK and Kindergarten teachers are eligible to attend trainings provided by Region 6 at NO COST. When registering for a training, please be sure to select the PRESCHOOL COLLABORATIVE option regarding registration fees. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Schronda McKnight, Pre-K Coordinator at 979-209-1061.
Professional Development News
Upcoming PLC date
Please remind your teachers of these upcoming PLCs:
- Secondary Process Champions- 1/21
- Elementary Process Champions- 1/25
- Secondary NTI- 1/28
- Elementary NTI- 2/4
New Teacher Induction for Winter Hires
We will have a New Teacher Induction Support group specifically for those teachers that started their positions in Dec. or Jan. as their needs are quite different from our other newbies. Please access this link (Click here) to ensure that the names of all Dec/Jan hires that have ZERO Experience. Also, please make sure you note if the teacher is Alt Cert and who the mentor is. Our first meeting with this group will be Monday, 2/1. An email will be sent to the teachers to let them know of the support group as soon as the updated list is received.
January Admin Meeting
We will meet on Thursday, Jan. 28 in the Blue Auditorium. Coffee and engagement will be from 8-8:15 with the meeting agenda starting at 8:15.
ALL PLCs
January's AP PLCs will be held on TUESDAY, Jan. 26.
Link for AM Group to register: click here
Link for PM Group to register: click here
Special Education
ARDC Meetings
The special education department is currently in the process of a TEA folder audit (PBMAS Stage 3) and many folders are lacking critical components of required information. As we prepare for the "Busy ARD Season" a link to the ARD Checklist is included. The information being requested from all ARDC members is required to make informed decision and remain legally compliant. Click here.
Bilingual Interpreting Services
Rosa Diaz, our bilingual interpreter, is returning to work on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. She will be working mornings from 8-12 and will also continue to use the contracted bilingual interpreter.
Bilingual Education
Bilingual Framework
The week of January 19th is an A week for the bilingual framework.
Pláticas
We have Pláticas meetings for elementary bilingual and ESL teachers coming up on the following dates:
- Kinder - 2nd grade Bilingual/ESL Teachers: February 1, 2016 - 4:15 - 5:30 @ BHS Silver, room 1200
- 3rd - 5th grade Bilingual/ESL Teachers: February 8, 2016 - 4:15 - 5:30 @ BHS Silver, room 1200
Please have your teachers register in Eduphoria using the following links:
- Kinder - 2nd grade click here
- 3rd - 5th grade click here
PLD Folders
PLD progress monitoring should be taking place for the 18th week reporting period at all elementary and secondary campuses. We appreciate the campuses that have already signed up and encourage those who have not signed up to do so by using the following link. Click this link to let us know when you plan on meeting with your staff to review the PLD folders. A representative from the department will attend for support.
Curriculum & Instruction Department
Email: leslie.holtkamp@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049
Twitter: @bisdambassador