Bulldog Weekly Update
March 7th - March 11th
Monthly CRP Quote
― Zaretta L. Hammond, Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
8th Grade Teachers Stand United in Addressing Academic Concerns
Efforts Toward Greater Diversity Continue Across the District
Police Academy Teaches Youth How to Connect with Local Law Enforcement
Science Club Gets Explosive with Support from Mrs. Cahill
Respecting and Honoring What We Have While Working Toward Change
Health Apps that Track and Inform
Mrs. Curran Shares Health Apps to Help Keep Kids Healthy
Sugar Maple Samples in Our Own Back Yard
Women in America's Past Who Have Propelled Us into the Future
Letting Students Hold a Position of Expertise
Poetry and Essay Competitions Continue
Collage Art Decorates the Hallways
Immigration is Beautiful Celebrates the Brazilian and Portuguese Students in Butler School
Basketball Coaches and Assistants Express Pride Over Player Achievements
8th Grade Boys' Team Wins Final Game at STEM Academy
Science Fair at LHS: How To Create The Most Pure Crystals
Science Fair at LHS: Understanding Black Holes in Space
Building Students' Vocabulary through Accessible Texts
If You Want To Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want To Go Far, Go Together.
It has been said that a team is nothing more than the sum of it's parts. We disagree. A team, when operating in unison, collaboratively, fairly, and with full participation from all it's members by far exceeds the singular value of each individual's capabilities and talents. Think back to the cartoon Captain Planet. When the team of Planeteers felt stressed and overwhelmed to attend to the challenge before them, they coalesced. They combined to create a superpower. Yes, it was a large blue man in a leotard but that's besides the point. The point is, each knew the limitations of their talent, their expertise, their fortitude and strength. Individually, they were clever, they were righteous, they were motivated toward good but together they were able to overcome. Together they were able to initiate a substantial change that, in the case of the Earth, quelled impending doom.
Many of us have seen this message time and time again from early childhood. Think of the Care Bears. When things go awry, they "Care-A-Lot" and they care together. Their individual care, at times, isn't enough. Together, they vanquish hurt, pain, darkness, greed, selfishness and other vices through their light. Quite literally, they shine a light on what needs to change--and never without one another. When the whole team cannot combine, those who can, do. Nearly all of the important programming we consumed growing up, including in countries across the globe, had teams of adults, children or animals who worked together. There was no joy in the win when the win was won without the help of one another.
At Butler, our success with our students continues to be found in our capacity to work with one another. Sometimes this means lending a hand when you haven't been asked. Sometimes this means looking for the spaces where you can be helpful or where you see struggle and want to offer support. It means looking for ways to help. Rather than building a formidable defense against what we believe might be criticism or judgement from an intervening party, we might better serve ourselves and our students by simply calling out for the help we see coming. It's OK to say, "I can't do this on my own." It's OK to admit that while you almost always have perspective acuity, one time you couldn't see something for what it was. You needed help. When you are in a situation where things might be escalating, remember you are not alone. You are not inadequate because you have asked for support. And when you get it, consider that you are still a necessary partner in the dynamic. You are needed to generate the change you want to see. You are critical to the vision of the future you have, even as we work to achieve that future together.
Notes from the Principal's Desk
Lowell Public Schools Science Fair
Congratulations to the many students across the district who participated in the Science Fair at the Lowell High School this week. Students came from all schools to present their scientific methods and findings for STEM subjects including space, travel, renewable energy, climate management, music, and more. What intrigued many in the audience was the way students made a connection between science and seemingly unrelated topics. One student showcased why certain guitar string types are better than others, noting the connection between string vibration and sound wave. KUDOS! Especially to Butler School participants: Emma Rodecap (7) who displayed a Conductivity Tester experiment, Immani Omoprogbe (8) and Arimel Ramirez-Zabala (8) for The Way to Prevent Pineapple for Hurting Our Tongues, and Reinol Chim (5), Adrian Huoth (5), Talha Syed (5), for How Do Different Wavelengths of Light Affect the Resolution of a Microscope.
Let Your Students Be The Experts
8th Grade ELA will wrap up their Investigative Journalism unit next week. Students wrote three investigative articles around topics of their choosing. Topics ranged considerably with a broad range of depth and breadth. Students were expected to look into possible people they could interview and as a result, gleaned expertise from sources inside and outside the building. This opportunity facilitated some great community connections. Articles are currently under review to be shared with the local newspaper in Lowell. Outside of learning from outside sources, teachers realized the students had much to learn from each other. In the back of the classroom, students posted post-its with information about their article topics. Classmates could go up to the post-it and write their name as someone with experience or expertise in a given topic that the author could interview. What an awesome way to empower students for what they know, to increase the cross-applicability of student knowledge, and to create expertise within the class who can help students complete their assignments when all other options have run dry.
Congratulations to the Coaches and Players
We came away with a big win from the Boys' team last week! What an amazing 8+ weeks of practice and games for both the boy and girl teams. The coaches took on great responsibility to not only increase students' technical skill but also their sportsmanship, interdependence, sense of pride and confidence. Look for the Volleyball sign up sheets and encourage students to join. Butler Sports are an important part of the school's offerings to offer students' 360-degree, holistic development.
District Efforts to Improve Diversity and Retain Top Talent
DTL Networking is taking place across the district. If you are a teacher or leader who identifies as a Professional of Color and would like to join the efforts to diversify the district, provide mentorship, ensure efforts to retain BIPOC leaders and teachers, please connect with Jaime Moody @ jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us.
Look for the Extra Opportunities
Next month is National Poetry Month. This is a great time to explore poetry from authors all over the world. It is also a chance to encourage our youth to showcase their own talents. Every few weeks the ELA team receives opportunities throughout the district to capitalize on contests that allow students to share their craft and gain recognition for their writing. When there are new opportunities to share and showcase our students' talents, we need to optimize the chances for our youth. Students can do this after school, before school, during a lunch & learn--it does not need to take away from instructional time . If you are not part of the ELA team but would love to assist with this effort, email kcapezio@lowell.k12.ma.us. Let's help get our students recognized. Let's help to elevate Butler Bulldog Pride!
Women's History Month
Why do we need to celebrate women's history? It's an important question to ask ourselves. On the surface, it seems self-explanatory that we would take time to recognize the struggles and perseverance of women to be seen, to be treated as equals, and to thrive in a world which was dominated by men not just through law and policy but dictated by social norms and customs. Women have long been imprisoned by societal expectations which relegated them to roles bearing little agency over themselves and little influence on society outside domestic domains. There are always exceptions, of course. For a large majority of women, however, child birth and rearing remained a staple of their primary function in the world. Women had limited control over their bodies; they were property belonging to their husbands or fathers. In systems of deep oppression, women's very consciousness, their self-awareness and self-concept was also under male jurisdiction. The story of women was largely absent from our reflections on our country's success in war, in social revolution, and in expanding industry.
Women have advanced US society in immeasurable ways. We take this month, as with all others, to identify, champion and herald the contributions of females throughout history who shaped our world, who advanced medicine, technology and science, who transformed the arts, who gifted us with their ingenuity and innovation. To the first female pilots, the first female neurologists, the first female business owners, bankers, and historians but also to those who cleaned, fed, and clothed us, to those who cooked, who sewed our clothes, who cut our hair, who graduated from two and four year colleges, who went on to master's programs, who secured terminal degrees, who studied animal behavior, who sunk to the deepest parts of our ocean, who broke through atmospheric barriers into space. Who taught. Who led renaissances. Who showed us the way.
What is new in your world? If you would like to make sure the Butler community is informed on new happenings and learning opportunities in your classroom, make sure to connect with the school's admin team. Just write “Bulletin” in the subject with your submission. Pictures are always a plus!
REMINDERS:
The office must be called if you need assistance or a student sent to the office or to the nurse. Also, you MUST give a student a pass if they have permission to leave your class. DO NOT send a student to the office without calling first. Unless it is an emergency situation, the student will be turned away and asked to return to class.
Afterschool Academic Supports - To be compensated for the additional tier-2 ACADEMIC SUPPORTS teachers need to:
-Fill out this form weekly (this is for the current week)
-Keep attendance
-If you working with students remotely, print out a copy of student(s) Zoom attendance-
Week at a Glance
Monday 3/7
9:30 Operations
SEL Morning Meeting / Sandy Hook for 6 - 8th
Tuesday 3/8
- DESE visit
- DESSA Ratings Completed during CPT
- PTO Mtg. 6 pm
Wednesday 3/9
- 8th Grade NEAP Test
- MCAS MCAS Mock Test 5/7
- Early Release PD
Thursday 3/10
- PBIS Team Meeting
- Curriculum and Instruction Meeting
- Fun FriYay! Wear your Butler Pride Gear
ILT Updates
Next Team meeting - March
Check-in with your grade level team representatives for more information.
RJLT
Next Team meeting - March
PBIS
Next Team meeting - March 3rd
We are working with the administration on upcoming school culture assemblies and grade level supports.
Please check with your grade-level PBIS representative for additional information.
Monthly Motivation
It's always great to start on an inspiring note. This month we will add speeches from the MLK Oratory competition.
Staff Birthday Shoutouts ~ March
Sam Khoeun - 3/5
Lori Arnold - 3/7
Melinda Goodick - 3/16
Kristin Capezio - 3/28
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/