Blaze Bulletin
Edition 14 - November 21ST
Greetings...
Dear faculty,
As you know, recently, we have had some student incidents at BHS that appear to be related to national events. We are immediately handling situations as they come to us. We do not tolerate bullying or harassment for any reason, and we have high expectations that students act in a caring, supportive, and inclusive manner while at school.
Monday I met with 25 teachers who said they would be interested in furthering the conversation at BHS about celebrating cultural diversity in general - and about acceptance/tolerance specifically. Mr. Hardison and Mrs. Farrington and Mrs. Cook have volunteered to continue to work to help in this area.
Our focus is to provide a safe haven for learning at BHS. I have been at many different high schools, and BHS is the most tolerant and inclusive of any I’ve been in. Our students are really amazing kids! And I credit that to their parents and to you, the faculty and staff.
We will continue to uphold the values that we hold dear at Blackman, and we appreciate your support in your classroom as you talk to your students about how we treat each other. Caring, support, and inclusion are the fundamental values that I hope you all will espouse in your classroom. Please focus your talk on those fundamental values that are universal.
Just so you know, the 25 teachers in attendance and/or who have emailed their desire to help have done some things already and some are coming soon:
- Dance teams want to make inspirational signs
- A student made a video and shared it on Twitter Monday (it's awesome - take a look)
- Mrs. Holl and students made positive message banners to hang in the halls
- Mrs. Walker and The Voice are making a Random Acts of Kindness calendar and will share online, on the bulletin board in C hall, and on social media
- Coach McCreery is looking into a video series that stars teachers having meaningful conversations - and we will send out discussion questions to help facilitate discussion with students
- Focus groups are forming to allow students who feel alienated/disenfranchised to have a voice with adults on the campus
- Mr. Hardison is making his students learn each others' names - and testing them on it! It's hard to be mean to someone you know!
- A new hashtag has emerged #spreadlovenothate
- Mrs. Jenkins suggested serving others
- Mrs. Holder mentioned "Make a Difference Monday," which could be a school wide initiative
- Mrs. Farrington said, and this is so true: "hurt people hurt people." Let's find the hurt people in this school and help them!
- Mrs. Cook mentiioned Teaching Tolerance curriculum
- Mrs. Cook mentioned to look at the superlative picture - that's a picture of who we are - very diverse and inclusive! And voted on by our kids.
- Coach Entrekin and baseball did a video on diverse friendships - a manequin challenge, no less! It's on Twitter. Very cool.
- Mr. Hardison mentioned trying to set up a modern day suggestion box - maybe it's an email that is checked - where kids can voice ideas/concerns
- The BCA hosted a cultural awareness week this month
- We have a partnership developing with MTSU's program for intercultural and diversity affairs
We need all of you to be in on some of these things. Please let me know if you are available to help, and don't be surprised if you get asked to help in small ways!
Caring, Supportive, Inclusive: Blackman High School
Dr. Leisa Justus
Principal, Blackman High School
615-904-3850
@bhsjustus
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS - BLAZE ADVANCE.....
Maryville High School....
825 Lawrence Ave, Maryville, TN 37803
GO BLAZE!!!!!
MUST READ....
HOMEWORK HOTLINE...
Homework Hotline posters are up around the school, and you may wish to let students know:
Free tutoring is available by phone
M - Th, 4-8pm
615-298-6636 or 1-888-868-5777
United Way Update.....
Social/Emotional Tip of the Week
Circle Game - for interactive group reflection (helping students feel a part of the group)
Each participant is given an index card and is asked to write down a question they still have about the session or training. Cards are
collected and placed in a pile. Participants are seated in a circle. One person volunteers to be first to draw a card. The volunteer reads
aloud the question on the card and answers it. After he or she has given an answer, the question is opened up to others in the group to
answer.
MUST READ....Cultural Diversity contest at MTSU
What's the Difference Between You and I?
By: Tania Grizzard
When you look at me what do you see?
What do you see? Do you see me or my creativity? Yes, I'm African American, but is that all you see you?
I understand that's what the world corrupted our minds to think,
But let's come together and form a unity.
Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, and Ghandi
Fought for you and me; Just because my skin doesn't flow with the wind,
The police are likely to come for me. This is why being separated just couldn't be
Let everyone in our kingdom so America can have freedom
And let's not be stingy.
When do you look at me, what did you see? Do you see me, or my creativity?
Yes, I am Asian, but is that all you see?
I understand the only thing we have different is a family.
When you look around how many colors do you see? A variety you say?
Well, they are just like you and me.
Don't let the world misguide you, because we're beside you through this journey.
When you look at me, what do you see? Do you see me, or my creativity?
Yes, I am Hispanic, but is that all you see?
Just look at the world, there is a lot of diversity.
So, when you look at me,
Now do you see that many people have fought for my equality.
Blazercize...
Thanks for your patience on Blazercise - now it's time to implement per the law and RCS policy!
The plan and some suggestions/examples/ideas are in Sharepoint:
Just go to email, click on the app launcher in the upper left hand corner > Sharepoint > Blackman High School > Blazercize
REMINDER.....
New to BHS & Administrative Meetings
December - Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7:45am Lawless/Justus
February - Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7:45am Pedigo
March - Wednesday, Mar. 8, 7:45am Connifey-Marlin/Reed
May - Wednesday, May 3, 7:45am Lawless
Blaze Creek Hockey Schedule
12/2
Montgomery Bell Acad @ Blackman-Stewarts Creek
5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Ford-South
12/9
Father Ryan @ Blackman-Stewarts Creek
9:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Ford-South
VISITORS TO BLACKMAN HIGH SCHOOL....
Security: Visitors to Blackman High must register at the front office.
All visitors, including rutherford county employees must enter the front of the building and register with the receptionist desk in the main office as a visitor.
This procedure is intended to keep the school secure while also helping administrators and SRO's track all staff and guests in the event of an emergency.
DONATE YOUR OLD SMARTPHONE...
Do you have an old smartphone lying around? Getting a new one? Donate your old smartphone to be used in our upcoming Google Expeditions lab! The lab will be available to all classes at BHS. To make the lab work as well as possible, our goal is to receive fifty donated smartphones. You will receive a letter of donation to file with your taxes when you drop off your working smartphone. Here is what we need:
- Smartphone (iOS/Android) four years old or newer
- In working order
- Wifi capable - we won't need to connect to cell service
- Reset to factory defaults before donating
- Charger included
- No cracked screens
- An iPod touch will work, too
- Drop off at BHS front desk
Want to know more about Google Expeditions? Learn more here. Or, ask one of the teachers who participated in the Google Expeditions site visit last year: Price, Hardison, Holder, Pedigo, Jenkins, and Cook. Holly Hunter will be happy to answer questions about the donations or about Google Expeditions. This will be a great addition to our school!
Teacher Webpages Made Easy with Edlio
Rutherford County Schools is excited to announce that it is moving to an easy to use, consistent communication tool with Edlio webpages. Teachers will now be able to update their webpage from any device. Parents and students will have the option to subscribe to the teacher’s site and receive push notifications. Teachers will be amazed at how easy and fast this communication process can be. The new sites will launch county-wide on January 3.
Teachers must choose one of these three dates to attend training during their planning periods to get their basic page created. It will take approximately thirty minutes.
Wed 11/30 C06
Thurs 12/1 C06
Mon 12/5 G20
Holly will offer an advanced Edlio inservice on 12/5 from 3:45-4:45 for teachers who are interested in learning about additional features after attending an in-school session.
Technology Minute
Seconds are precious when you are teaching a room full of eager students! Save time accessing your favorite sites by adding a bookmark bar to your Google Chrome browser! Learn how by watching this week’s technology minute.https://rcschools.sharepoint.com/portals/hub/_layouts/15/PointPublishing.aspx?app=video&p=p&chid=d9fb8e9a-cf27-40b7-9b34-4471f39cf3ad&vid=39a8036c-42c5-4d3f-8d49-168cb67fa6f3&from=2
Assessment Tool
Powtoon 4Edu – Create animated videos and presentations https://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/
Technology Inservice at BHS – December
Monday 12/5 – 3:45-4:45 – Advanced Edlio: Teacher Webpages Made Easy
Contact Holly Hunter to sign up.
Let's play who is that? HIGH SCHOOL YEARS REVISITED....
Name that high schooler....
And the winner is Melissa Price who guessed Kim Garrott
BHS PICTURE DATES
Senior Cap and Gown Pictures – February 23rd: During Senior English Classes – Main Gym Lobby
Underclassman Spring Pictures – February 23rd: Announcements by grade – Auxiliary Gym
Junior Orientation (Senior Portrait Meeting) – April 11th: Primetime - Auditorium
Faculty Meeting Schedule - 7:30 a.m. in the Auditorium
DECEMBER 6th
JANUARY 3RD
FEBRUARY 7TH
MARCH 7TH
APRIL 4TH
MAY 2ND
DECEMBER EXAM SCHEDULE
Exam Schedule
Dec. 12 - 1st Period Exam
1st 8:30 – 10:15 EXAM
2nd 10:21 – 11:01
3rd 11:07 – 11:47
4th 11:53 – 1:12
1st lunch 11:47 – 12:16
2nd lunch 12:16 – 12:44
3rd lunch 12:44 – 1:12
5th 1:18 – 1:58
6th 2:04 – 2:44
7th 2:50 – 3:30
Dec. 13 - 2nd & 3rd Period Exams
2nd 8:30 – 10:00 EXAM
3rd 10:05 – 11:35 EXAM
Lunch 11:45 – 1:00
4th 1:07 – 2:15
5th 2:22 – 3:30
Dec. 14 - 4th & 5th Period Exams
4th 8:30 – 10:00 EXAM
5th 10:05 – 11:35 EXAM
Lunch 11:45 – 1:00
6th 1:07 – 2:15
7th 2:22 – 3:30
Dec. 15 - 6th & 7th Period Exams
6th 8:30 – 10:00 EXAM
7th 10:05 – 11:35 EXAM
Lunch 11:45 – 1:00
1:00 – 3:30 all students in cafeteria
RCS TEACHER RECRUITMENT FAIR - NOW HIRING FOR 2016-2017
Signing preliminary contracts
Signing bonus for hard-to-staff areas
Meet all our administrators in one stop!
Excellent benefits
Follow us on Twitter: @rcs_jobs
FEBRUARY 11, 2016 9 AM - 11 AM
BLACKMAN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
Freshman Orientation
RCS announces 2017 graduation date for BHS
SATURDAY, MAY 20TH at 2:30 pm MTSU Murphy Center
IN THE KNOW...
Sign up for Remind by texting @drjstaff to 81010