
Grizzly Gazette- 06/6/22

June 6, 2022
2021-2022 Comes to an End
Well here we are...at the end! This school year has been filled with uncertainty, heartache, laughter, and every emotion in between. For some students, this was their first middle school experience because they were new or off campus during the pandemic. For some, their entire middle school existence has been pandemic-effected. Either way, our students (and staff) have come a very long way since they walked through our doors in August. Behaviorally, emotionally, and academically- our students have grown exponentially as they learned our #GrizzlyValues. I could not be more proud of the progress they've made. This progress surpasses what we will even see in STAAR scores or grades. I am proud to be their Principal and have been blessed to be a part of their experience.
For our 8th grade students and parents- we wish you the very best and we hope that you remember what you learned at West Briar. Stay in Touch!
For our returning future 7th & 8th graders- mark your calendars! During our Grizzly Camp, we will host a Grizzlies Power Up Parent/Student night on Thursday, August 4th for all students (all grade levels) to learn about their new Chromebook, our procedures, and the acceptable use policies that it entails. All parents and students must be Power Up trained to receive their Chromebook. (Remember, West Briar will be a 1-1, Power Up campus in 22-23!)
**If your student has yet to turn in their laptop, they need to do so ASAP. Students attending Westside HS will not be allowed to check out computers if theirs isn't turned in. For returning students, the same will apply.
Let's have a great last two days of school!!
- Mon, June 5- 7th Grade Field Day
- Tue, June 7- Last Day of School
- August 3rd & August 4th- Grizzly Camp (incoming students only*)
- We may open up Grizzly Camp to returning 7th & 8th graders and if we do so, we will get this information out to everyone.
- August 4th- Grizzlies Power Up Parent/Student Night
PS...
If have parents interested in finding out more about West Briar, you can direct them to our newly created Campus Virtual Tour Video. This video provides an on-campus view of our entire building and it's programs.
6th Grade Field Day
End-of-Year Parent Survey
Please take just a few moments to complete the below Parent End-of-Year Survey. We hope to use your responses to generate better campus practices and protocols in an effort to improve our entire school culture. Your feedback matters!
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources
Given the recent tragedy in Uvalde, we understand that this is a difficult time for students to go to school and to comprehend this situation. The pandemic, the most recent shootings, and other events are physically and mentally challenging. Here is a PDF resource that discusses Compassion Fatigue from Rethink Ed (an SEL Resource on Clever) to learn about strategies to support your student's well-being.
Here are other School Violence Resources from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This includes Talking to Children About Violence and School Violence Prevention among other resources.
Finally, share this page of Need to Talk? resources that offer crisis hotlines and other ways to talk with your student. It is so important that they have an outlet to discuss their thoughts and feelings.
Say Something
During the start of this school year, students received a Say Something presentation to share the anonymous reporting system- SS-ARS (Say Something- Anonymous Reporting System). An offshoot of the Sandy Hook Organization, Say Something encourages students to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at-risk of hurting themselves or others and then reporting that activity. This enables school staff to intervene well before a tragedy could ever take place.
Encourage your student to be an "up-stander" and report (anonymously) any behavior they are concerned about.
- Call the tip line- 1-844-5-SAYNOW
- Use the website: www.saysomething.net
- Use the mobile app: Apple or Android
West Briar MS: Platinum Certified 2021-2022SY
The HISD Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department has announced that West Briar earned Platinum Certification as a Family Friendly School for the 2021-2022 School Year!
Our dedication and commitment to involve, engage, and empower all our stakeholders by building relationships, linking activities to learn, and supporting parent advocacy through an established parent organization and shared power, foster the right elements for strong partnerships that support students' academic success. We earned at least 24 stars for providing family friendly events including research-based activities that gave our community a voice!
Reading Information
Your student took the Renaissance 360 End-of-Year Assessment and this score along with their other assessments show their individual math and reading progress. Your student will come home with their End-of-Year Assessment score Monday. Your student is also able to access their scores within their Ren 360 digital resource located in the HUB.
Summer Reading Programs with HISD Literacy Partners
Houston ISD Library Services, in partnership with Houston Public Library and myOn, is encouraging all students to participate in a summer reading program to prevent learning loss. The District's literacy partners are offering the following summer reading opportunities:
“Oceans of Possibilities”- Houston Public Library
● Read for 20 minutes and enter for a chance at prize drawings
● Registration begins June 1
● Challenge dates: June 1 - August 15
● Registration: Students or their parents sign up for a free account at https://houstonlibrary.beanstack.org/reader365
● Website: www.houstonlibrary.org/fun
Each twenty-minute reading increment earns one entry into drawings for free books, STEM kits, and swag. Students can read hardbacks, paperbacks, and eBooks.
HPL's summer reading events program also includes camps, STEM classes, traveling petting zoo, crafting, the Jolly Trolley, and much more. Check out the HPL Event Calendar for more information.
Summer Camp Opportunities
Houston ISD to host Athletics Summer Camps: Athletics / HISD Athletics Summer Camps (houstonisd.org) Also see flyer below.
Summer Camps: Fine Arts, Health/PE, STEM: More Information (and see flyer below)
Public Comment Survey Period- ESSA Federal Grant Application
Per the Texas Education Agency (TEA, ESSA Program-Specific Provisions and Assurances, Houston ISD is required to collect public comments from the HISD community before the ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application is submitted to TEA.
STAAR Testing Information for Parents
**STAAR scores are estimated to be available at the end of June. As soon as results are released, I will contact all West Briar parents on how they can access scores.**
As we returned to in-person instruction this school year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) passed HB 4545 which enacted different STAAR testing requirements. This bill reshaped how student's test scores are used as it also requires different interventions based upon student's performance. This school year, we took student's 2021 STAAR scores or (if they didn't take it) their TEA-BOY test scores to determine Accelerated Learning supports (interventions).
Because these details and information can be overwhelming, I want to provide you with STAAR resources to help navigate conversations with your student. Previously, students in grades 5 & 8 had to pass their STAAR test to be promoted as they were given three opportunities to test.
- Now, if a student (grades 3-8) does not pass (meet approaches grade-level) standard, they must be provided with 30 hours of Accelerated Learning Tutorials (interventions) in each subject they fail to meet standard.
- If a student in grades 5 or 8 does not pass (meet approaches grade-level) a STAAR test, the campus must establish an accelerated learning committee to develop an individual educational plan for the student and monitor progress.
STAAR Parent Resources
HB 4545 Frequently Asked Questions (updated 04/2022)
Accelerated Learning Resources
Understanding your child's STAAR score
STAAR Score Reports
A student's STAAR score is broken up into 4 reporting categories:
- Masters Grade Level (Passing)
- Meets Grade Level (Passing)
- Approaches Grade Level (Passing)
- Did Not Meet Grade Level (Not Passing)
Westside HS Summer Tennis Clinics
Power Up & Canvas: 2022-2023 School Year
We are very excited to announce that next school year West Briar will a Power Up campus and HISD will begin using CANVAS as it's learning management system. Power Up is a One-to-One Laptop program that has been fully implemented at HISD High Schools and is now expanding to Middle Schools. The goal of Power Up is to provide access to a digital device, so that students can become producers and evaluators of knowledge, not just consumers. Having access (with school-issued Chromebooks), will allow students to locate, evaluate, and interpret information, as well as collaborate with others to engage in authentic, real-world tasks.
- More information about Power Up can be found here: HISD Power UP & West Briar will be hosting an informational night prior to the 2022-2023 school year.
In addition to becoming a Power Up campus, HISD will begin utilizing CANVAS as an instructional base for learning in and out of the classroom. This means that the HUB will be replaced by Canvas.
- More information about the transition to Canvas can be found here: Canvas for Parents (this includes a Canvas Parent App)
Westside High School: Basketball Summer Camp
Yearbooks
The 2021-2022 West Briar MS Yearbook should be passed out on Tuesday. Though our Yearbook publisher has had difficulty getting it to us on time, they've assured us we will have them by Tuesday. If they do not arrive, we will notify everyone on procedures for pick-up. We greatly apologize for this inconvenience, but please know it is out of our control.
Who do I contact?
Attendance: Mr. Anderson- compassion.anderson@houstonisd.org
Registration/Enrollment- Ms. Lamar- llamar@houstonisd.org
Nurse: Nurse Vu- phuong.vu@houstonisd.org
Special Education Secretary: Ms. Aguilera- joana.aguilera@houstonisd.org
6th Grade House Secretary: Ms. Rodriguez- laura.rodriguezgarcia@houstonisd.org
7th Grade House Secretary: Ms. Young- syoung1@houstonisd.org
8th Grade House Secretary: Ms. Bass- vbass2@houstonisd.org
Social Worker: Ms. Taylor- madison.taylor@houstonisd.org
West Briar