BESTeam Tidbits
September 11, 2016
Super Charged Tuesday!
We are five years into our 10 year district strategic plan, LEAD 2021. Throughout the past five years, we have made small and large gains towards meeting the goals outline in LEAD. On Monday afternoon, we will reach another milestone in the plan by sending home devices with all second, third, fourth, and fifth grade students. This ties directly to StrategyVI. Technology Strategy: We will integrate technology, including student mobile wireless computing devices, into every aspect of the student academic experience to accomplish the GCISD mission and strategic objectives, 4. GCISD will provide and allow for multiple avenues for students to choose learning opportunities, communicate globally and ensure every student can access digital learning 24/7.
One of the expectations with our students bringing devices home is that the devices return to school each morning charged. To promote and celebrate day one of this expectation, Tuesday, September 13, is Super Charged Tuesday at Bransford. On Tuesday, you are encouraged to wear your super hero attire...think t-shirts and capes. Get creative, have fun, and encourage your students to join in the festivities (no full costumes for students, please). This is a fun and easy way for us to spread excitement about taking devices home and bringing them back daily CHARGED!
Please click HERE for the technology S'more sent to parents this evening. Please let me know if you have any questions about the devices going home. Thank you for being part of this wonderful experience with our students, staff members, and families. It's an amazing time to be building an excellent school together!
What's your super tech power?
Goal Setting Conferences
Goal setting conferences begin this week. Come with your laptop, goals open, and be ready to talk about your goals for the year. Remember, this is a fluid document that is adjusted throughout the year. Looking forward to talking through your goals!
Power of YOU!
Celebrations
- Tech PLC compliments from Erin! She was impressed with our staff!
- First official guidance lessons on being an effective communicator through kindness went well this past week!
- Thank you to each of you for helping to think through 1 to 1 take homes!
- BIG shout out to Jan and Christine for giving our Texan's wall of fame a title! Thank you for completing the display of our superb staff!
- Thank you everyone for a smooth picture day! So much fun to see all of our Texans dressed up and sharing their best smiles!
To do...
- CPI Training: If you need to partake in the initial CPI training, please check Eduphoria for upcoming training dates.
- Laps for Learning Posters: Thank you for taking time to create your Laps for Learning classroom posters. Bring these to the pep rally on Friday at 2:00 p.m.!
- Before/After School Activities: Are you planning on having a before/after school activity? Please complete this form so we can update our website with all of the great happenings of our campus. Thank you!
- Flex Learning: The new Flex program is ready for 2016-2017. Visiting the following link from the district website (http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/3804), you will see the requirements, understand why Flex is important to our profession, and get access to the site. Once you get to the actual Flex site, find the tab that represents your job so you know which modules to complete.
The due date for completing Flex is October 19, 2016. Remember that FLEX encompasses the compliance-type professional learning that is required each year (Bloodborne Pathogens, FERPA, etc.) Instructional staff receive 2 paid days (Flex Days) to complete the training. This way you can complete it when it is most convenient for you. Paraprofessionals will be afforded time during the week in August to complete Flex time.
Dyslexia Simulation: If you are new to BES or did not participate last year, please make plans to attend one of the remaining dates for dyslexia simulations:
Wed 9/14 3:45 at Panther Den at the PDEC
Tues 9/20 4:30 at Panther Den at the PDEC
Thurs 9/22 4:30 at GHS library
Lesson Plans: Please create a folder that you and/or your team will use for the school year and share it with Jamie and Tonya. Thank you!
FYI
- GCISD Reads: Check out the information on the new reading challenge. https://www.smore.com/cyf5c-gcisd-reads
- Student Voice: From Dr. Newell: As you know, one of Dr. Ryan's goals is to implement a process for inviting and utilizing student voice in our schools. Last year, we had a group of teachers who participated in a pilot with this initiative and the results were promising. Students responded extremely positively when given the opportunity to become partners in educational decision making. Voice can happen through formal, school-wide means AND through informal means of teachers simply inviting students into frequent conversations about what works best for them in classroom contexts.
Please view this new SMORE . Student voice powerful, simple, free concept. It summarizes the concept of "voice" in GCISD, provides some options for teachers who want to join the movement, invites teachers to participate in a collaboration session, and shares additional resources. We have started a new hashtag to collect district insights and ideas - #GCISDVoice Please share "voice" ideas and examples from your campus this year.
- Technology Update: We are using the new technology work order system. Students will also have the ability to enter work orders for their devices. Click here for the instructions to enter a technology work order. Click here and here for signs for your classroom.
- Report Cards: Report cards will ALL be online this school year. Thank you for helping to spread this change to families.
- SAGE: Staff members can join SAGE, Supporting & Activating Gifting Education, for free through September 15. This is a great opportunity to stay informed about gifted education in GCISD.
- No Picture Signs: Please take note of the no picture signs outside of some classroom doors. These signs are indications that one or more of the students in the classroom have photography restrictions. Please check with the classroom teacher for more information if you are going to take pictures in that particular classroom. Thank you!
- Flu Clinic: Mark your calendars for Friday, October 14 for the annual flu clinic from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the staff lounge.
Cornerstone Tasks
PTA News
- Website: PTA has a new website! Check it out here! http://www.bransfordpta.com/
- Watch DOGS: Watch DOGS will host an orientation meting on Saturday, September 17 at 4:00 p.m. at BES. They will start on campus the next week. Our goal is to give you advance notice about visitors coming to our campus. Thank you for welcoming our volunteers to BES!
- PTA Grants: Thank you for turning in PTA grants to Jamie the day before executive board meetings. This affords time for Jamie and Lis to review all grants before the meeting starts. Any grants turned in late will be saved for the next meeting. The next PTA executive board meeting is October 7.
- Laps for Learning: Excitement is building for the annual Laps for Learning event! Save the date for the Laps pep rally on Friday, September 16. Get your sneakers ready for Laps for Learning on Friday, September 30. We will all be walking, jogging, and cheering on our terrific Texans as we raise funds for our campus.
- CELEBRATION: 100% of staff joined PTA!!!! Thank you for joining PTA!!!!
T-TESS Updates
- Pre-conference window opens on Tuesday, September 6. Please be looking for an invitation from your appraiser.
- 10-15 walkthroughs can begin starting this week.
- Click here for the updated walkthrough format.
- Thank you for working on your T-TESS Goal Setting/PLP during August. If you need assistance with your T-TESS Goal Setting/PLP, please let Jamie, Tonya, or Cathy know.
Attendance
DMAC Updates
DMAC has released new features especially for teachers. They are found on the TEKScore Teacher Dashboard. The following link is to a webinar that will explain how teachers can utilize them.The webinar is 40 minutes and the important part is the first 20 minutes. (The remaining portion is about T-TESS DMAC and we do not use T-TESS DMAC).
https://www.dmac-solutions.net/files/webinar/DMAC-LIVE-083016.mp4
Strategy Spotlight: Turn & Talk
How to Use
1. Question
Pose a question or prompt for students to discuss and tell them how much time they will have. A one-to-two minute discussion is most productive.
2. Turn
Have students turn to a specific partner. Partner assignments should be set up beforehand so that students can quickly and easily pair up.
3. Talk
Have students begin discussing the assigned question or prompt and monitor the conversations. When conversation drops off or begins to move off topic, bring the class back together and ask partners to share out thoughts and ideas from their discussion.
When to Use
Use Turn and Talk at any time during a lesson to encourage accountable talk:
As a warm-up activity to discuss previous lesson or homework assignment
After five to seven minutes of oral or written input, to help student process what they have just heard or read
During class discussions as a way for students to discuss ideas before sharing them with the class
As a closing activity so that students can review what was learned in the lesson
As a clarification tool for a complex problem or new guiding question posed by the teacher
2016-2017 BES Goals
Creating a positive welcoming environment for our students and staff where risk taking is encouraged and embraced
Using student voice to influence decisions in our classrooms, hallways, and building
Using the Units of Study in each grade level to create a systematic approach to writing
Starting CORE visits to learn from the experts on our staff
Taking time to build relationships with staff, students, and families
Celebrating the GCISD reading challenge with our students and staff
Use the new Learning Platform Rubric and T-TESS to assist us in our growth toward a learning platform
Develop students and staff who are skilled problem solvers, collaborative workers, effective communicators, global citizens, and self-regulated learners
2016-2017 Information
At this time, we have the following position open:
- Special ed para
Dates to Know
***Please check the BES master calendar on Google for updates***
- September 13: Super Charged Tuesday (see above)
- September 15: Dot Day & PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
- September 16: Laps for Learning Pep Rally & BES Spirit Day
- September 17: Constitution Day
- September 20: Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night
- September 23: BES Spirit Day
- September 28: Talk with Texans 12:00 p.m.
- September 30: Laps for Learning
- October 3: CEC 3:10 p.m. & Snuffer's Spirit Night
- October 6: GT LEAD Curriculum Night
- October 10: Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
- October 14: End of 1st 9 Weeks & Dad's Club Movie Night
- October 20: BES Spirit Night at Kendra Scott
Week at a Glance
Monday
GT Classes begin
Choir @ 2:55pm
Devices going home - charged for the Tuesday
SBRC Training @3:30, PDEC
Tuesday
Math Campus Visit - Jennifer Hylemon
Super Charged Tuesday - jeans and super hero garb
Education Foundation Campaign begins - Cathy
Progress Monitoring Subcommittee-Cathy & Jamie
Cafeteria monitors' meeting 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Humanitie's PLC
Principals’ meeting
Thursday
Counseling Meeting
GHS PALS (Abbey will come back at 12:15 to match them with student)
Dot Day - jeans and dot top BE CREATIVE!
Choir @ 2:55 pm
PTA General Meeting @ 6:30
Friday
BES spirit day
Pre-K Teddy Bear Lunch @ 11:00am
- Laps for Learning Pep Rally @ 2:00pm - Cafeteria
Jamie Halliburton
Email: jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net
Phone: 806-441-6518
Twitter: @BESHalliburton