Teaching & Learning Newsletter
February 5, 2016
C2E
When you enter competitive situations, demanding work or performance environments, or highly charged emotional contexts, the number of potential distractions increases substantially. But you decide whether you let those things distract you, upset you, lower your confidence, put you in a negative frame of mind, take you out of your best focus, or interfere with your best performance. How you respond to challenges is your choice.
Terry Orlick, PhD, In Pursuit of Excellence
Affirmations
The C&I Team would like to congratulate Colleen Holmes on the masterful planning job she did in preparation for this year’s Regional Academic Decathlon competition.
Amy Ruiz, Navarro Instructional Coach, and Amy Spanhel, Crockett Instructional Coach, always make time to attend the Bilingual Pláticas with their teachers. They set a good example of never asking their teachers to do something that they are not willing to do themselves.
Coaching Tip
Effective Listening
1. Commit to listen.
2. Make sure your partner is the speaker.
3. Pause before you speak and ask, "Will my comment open up or close down this conversation?"
4. Don't interrupt.
Jim Knight, Better Conversations
Action Required Items
Core Content Area News
ALL ADMINISTRATORS
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.
Nominations being accepted for Student Heroes Program
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Student Heroes Award. The deadline for nominations is March 11.
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.
High School
The dates for the Secondary Spring Horizontals are shown below.
The dates highlighted in yellow are new dates due to a change in benchmark scheduling:
Middle Schools
The dates for the Secondary Spring Horizontals are shown above.
The dates highlighted in yellow are new dates due to a change in benchmark scheduling.
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.
Elementary 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.
Testing Window
Middle Of Year Pre-K Monitoring Assessment. Testing Window: Jan 20th - Feb 19th.
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: 8-11am
Where: Reed Arena
Who: 2nd graders
If you have any questions, please contact Janyce Kinley.
Professional Development
TE Day- Feb. 15
All employees have been communicated with regarding their attendance on February 15. The PD Department will communicate with principals after the 15th regarding any employees that fail to show up.
PRINCIPALS
Winter Hire New Teacher Institute
The next NTI for our winter hires will be Thursday, 2/11 at BHS from 4:15-5:15. They have all received the invitation, but please help remind them about the importance of their attendance.
Advanced Academics
Advanced Academics programs in Bryan ISD have an exciting spring semester ahead of them. Check out the newsletter for a rundown of upcoming events, celebrations of success and tips for engaging gifted students. Please click here to view the Advanced Academics Newsletter.
Special Education
PRINCIPALS/APs
DDRT Meetings
Please remind teachers/staff to bring RTI data to DDRT meetings when requesting a possible referral for special education evaluations
Bilingual Education
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
Bilingual Framework
The week of February 8 is a B week for the bilingual framework.
Dual Language Two Way Informational Meetings
Enrichment Program informational sessions are scheduled in March. Flyers were delivered to the campus and should be posted in visible locations throughout elementary and secondary schools. The half page flyer in English and Spanish should be sent home with elementary students. Contact the Bilingual and ESL Department for more information and details.
BTLPT Study Session
The Bilingual and ESL Department will host a study group in preparation for the BLTPT certification exam on Feb. 16 and 18 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at Crocket Elementary School in Mr. Hector Huerta's classroom. Anyone interested needs to contact Wanda Baker via e-mail.
Curriculum & Instruction
Email: leslie.holtkamp@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049
Twitter: @bisdambassador