BSD Staff Updates
October 22, 2019
Parents (and staff!) are invited to Chromebook information night!
Parents are invited to come learn about:
- Caring for their student's chromebook
- How we partner with parents to keep kids safe on the internet
- Skyward, Clever, Google Classroom and Teacher Google Sites
- How to replace charging cords or styluses
- and more!
Tuesday, October 29, 5:30 - 6:30 pm at Bremerton High School (in the new Commons).
Vote for Sean Booker
Board Briefs: October 17, 2019
Compiled by Board Secretary Ioanna Cossack
POLICY NEWS: As it is important that this information is provided to all staff when changes are made in policies or procedure, we have included this at the top of these highlights regardless of their order in the meeting:
Policy 3211; Gender-Inclusive Schools is a new policy required by state law. All employees of the Bremerton School District need to be familiar with this new policy. Additionally, legislation requires that districts share this policy not only with staff, but with parents, students, and volunteers.
Our Consent Agenda included many typical business items, along with several agreements or Memos of Understanding as well as CTE’s Federal Carl Perkins Grant Application/5-year Districtwide Plan.
The District entered into an agreement in the spring with Integrus Architecture to provide services related to District facilities. Representatives from Integrus, along with Assistant Superintendent Steedman, presented information to the Board on their recent facility condition assessment on all District buildings. Many District buildings are quite old but are not yet eligible for state-matching dollars. Each Board member took a rather hefty notebook home to review the recommended priorities for work in the near term, medium term, and long term. Along with this review of District needs, the Board will consider running a replacement Capital Levy to be collected in calendar years 2021 and 2022. If approved at the November Board meeting, the District will begin work to share information regarding levy plans with, and gather input from, stakeholders.
Kati Carthum, Technology Integration Coordinator, and Steve Bartlett, Technology Supervisor, reported on the deployment on 1:1 Chromebooks to all students at the beginning of the school year, as well as the use of a 3-tier system to provide digital safety and security for students. The Board heard about new online learning opportunities, as well as Professional Development opportunities (past, present and future). The District has three Google Certified Trainers – Kati Carthum, Julie Fairall (Lordon), and Katie Exum, and Katie Exum is also a Google Innovator. Katie was one of a select few applicants who was afforded the opportunity to attend this Academy and receive this designation.
On Wednesday, October 16th, the Board met to tour the new central kitchen and Peninsula Community Health Services site, both now located at Mountain View Middle School. Impressive!
President Rotter shared that nominations are open for 20 under 40 honors through Leadership Kitsap. The program seeks “to identify and celebrate exceptional business leaders under the age of 40 who are dynamic trailblazers in the Kitsap community.” She encouraged staff to nominate individuals that they feel are outstanding young working professionals. We’d love to see more educators acknowledged for their amazing work.
Superintendent Leavell provided a brief report on how the new check-in system (Raptor) is working in the buildings
You can find these reports, other attachments, and more information on the agenda/BoardDocs site
Volunteer Profile: Grandpa Joe
Written by Joyce Cowdery, BSD Volunteer Coordinator
At Crownhill Elementary dedicated volunteer Joe Gray is more commonly known as "Grandpa Joe."
Nineteen years ago he was bored so he thought volunteering in his granddaughter's classroom was the perfect fix to alleviate his bordeom. Now, he still arrives at the school bright and early, ready to help out in Mrs. Lytle's kindergarten classroom. They have been a team for several years and she is so appreciative of all of his efforts in the classroom. She loves how he looks at things in a different way and streamlines them.
When asked what his favorite thing about volunteering is, his response was, the satisfaction he gets when a child finally grasps a concept. He gets pleasure out of watching the improvements of each child and is always on the lookout for ways to assist those students who are struggling with learning.
He has been active with the CH "Dino Dig" since he began volunteering. Each year he and the students add creative touches to the t-shirts that he silkscreens for this popular event.
Did you get a BSD 2019-2020 printed wall calendar?
Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) Mountain View Clinic will be OPEN during conferences Nov. 7-8
The clinic offers services to all students and staff in the District. To make an appointment, call 360-377-3776.
They will also be offering a flu shot clinic during conferences during the following hours (only):
- Thurs. 11/7 - 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Friday 11/8 - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
More information forthcoming!
Unity Day: Wear ORANGE Tomorrow (Wednesday, 10/23)
Together against bullying. UNITED for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
As some of you may be aware, Wednesday, Oct. 23 is Unity Day. People are encouraged to wear orange to signify standing together against bullying and promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion (very fitting with our SEL focus!).
If you and/or your students wear ORANGE tomorrow, please email your photos to Karen.Bevers@BremertonSchools.org for inclusion in the District Facebook photo album. We are also posting various anti-bullying resources on the District FB page this month.
Anti-Bullying Month / Unity Day Resources and Information
- https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp
- https://www.cybersmile.org/advice-help/category/who-to-call
- https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/
- https://www.stompoutbullying.org/campaigns/national-bullying-prevention-awareness-month
- https://www.cfchildren.org/
- Unity Day badges (for printing): https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/pdf/why-wearing-orange-flyer.pdf
Need help with your Google Site?
Do you have a Google Site in progress? Did you start one during a training session last spring or summer but now have no idea what to do with it? There’s a new FAQ on the district website that covers everything from how to find it again to how to make sure parents and students can see what’s on it. The FAQ can be found here: https://www.bremertonschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=7811
When your site is ready to be added to the Staff Sites page of your school’s website, you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/2C9QEyNvvzKBs5PT8 You’ll know it’s ready when you’ve set published permissions to “open to all”, your embedded items are set to “everyone with the link can view”, and you’ve hit the “publish” button.
Thank you for all your hard work preparing a teacher page that keeps the lines of communication open with students, parents and the community!
Need tech help? Contact Kati at kati.carthum@bremertonschools.org
Military Grants and Scholarships Webinar
BSD staff and families are invited to participate in webinars on military grants and scholarships. This information is free and beneficial to military-connected youth and families, as well as those who support military-connected families.
Sign-up on the Military Child Education Coalition Website (MCEC) https://www.militarychild.org/. You do not have to be military affiliated to view or sign up for the webinars. When you register click “N/A” under the “military affiliation” drop down. The website also lists webinars and other programs after they have been streamed live.
Upcoming local training: Know your rights Special Education Series PT. 2- Procedural Safeguards and Communicating with Your School (FREE TRAINING)
DATE: Thursday, 24 October
TIME: 5:00pm-7:00pm
LOCATION: Jackson Park Community Center: 2572 Cascades Pass Blvd Bremerton (This location is off base. No ID is required to enter.)
This workshop is open to military and civilian families and educators.
Fundraising Opportunity from Barnes & Noble
Are you up-to-date on your immunizations?
From the Washington State Department of Health
Up-to-date on your immunizations? There’s an easy and free way to find out! Sign up for a MyIR account and access your and your family’s official immunizations records for free!
Follow BSD on Social Media!
- View past issues of the Staff Updates newsletter
- View Staff Bulletin Board
- Submit ideas for the Staff Updates newsletter to: Karen.Bevers@BremertonSchools.org
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Website: www.bremertonschools.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BremertonSchools/
Twitter: @BremertonSD
BSD Staff Updates Newsletter 2019-20 / Issue #5 distributed 10/22/19.