Briar "CLIFF" Notes
#learningonthecliff
July 2018
The 2018-2019 school year is approaching and I hope you all have been thoroughly enjoying your summer vacation and found time to create memories with those you love. There is something that strikes me in a "refreshing" type of way with the word NEW and when I processed through my thinking and how it impacts the job we do, well there are not many careers that have the opportunity to start NEW each year! NEW defines what has not yet existed, memories not made, successes not celebrated, and learning not yet discovered. We have the opportunity to help support and create the NEW for our students in just a few short weeks! I have so much anticipation, hope, and excitement about what lies ahead for each of us and all of our students at Briarcliff this year. So heres to a NEW year...
Welcome New Briarcliff Staff!!
- Abbey Henning - Kindergarten
- Madison St. Louis - 4th Grade
- Dakkota Harrington - Special Education
- Abby Seymour - Reading Teacher
- Mandy Schumann - Speech
- Jennifer Stock - PE/Health
- Anne Nielsen - ELL
- Kathy Monson - SCRS
- Laura Wallace - School Psychologist
- Doug Cronk - Facility Manager
- Trish Brewer - Custodian
Back To School Calendar of Events:
August 9th
- PTA will serve breakfast from 8-8:30AM - LMC
- Staff Meeting - 8:30AM - 3:30PM - LMC
August 10th
- Staff Meeting - 8:30AM - 11:30AM - LMC
- Active Shooter Training - 1:00PM - 3:00PM - LMC
August 13th
- Teacher Workday - 8:30AM - 3:30PM
- BTSN - 5:30PM - 7:00PM - Professional Dress
August 14th
- Convocation - 7:30AM (Vendor Fair) 8:15AM begin seating - 10:45AM - PVBC - (Where your BR spirit wear)
- Teacher Workday - 11:00AM - 3:00PM
August 15th
- FIRST DAY!! ALL Stars!!
Briarcliff Master Schedule
The MASTER SCHEDULE DRAFT is attached! I would like each grade level to share with your grade level/department BLT member changes and feedback you have. I will be meeting with Dakkota and Abby to get a SPED and Reading Schedule put together. The goal is to ensure students are pulled out during the content areas in which they receive SPED support and preferably during the independent work time. Please send me feedback on your schedule by Friday, August 10th at 4pm. I know sometimes you all take the first few weeks to make changes and adjustments based upon your students' needs and that is still more than okay to do, if necessary. The FINAL version of your schedule will be due Wednesday, August 29th. Let me know if you have questions.
District Schedule Expectations...
Minimum Daily Allocations
Literacy
- 60 minutes of Readers Workshop
- 60 minutes of Writers Workshop (Kindergarten can begin with 45 but work toward 60 by December)
- 30 minutes of guided reading/invitational groups
- 15-20 minutes of Animated Literacy instruction in Kindergarten (if possible, place this time next to the GR block as students can get the whole group instruction for AL and then have opportunities for independent practice AL activities during a guided reading rotation)
- F and P phonics will mostly be able to be utilized as “rotational activities” during the guided reading block. This should not require more than 10-15 minutes per day of whole group instruction outside of the workshop blocks.
Math
- 60-minutes of math instruction
- 10-15 minutes of Number Talks separate from the math block
- 1 day per week designated as a a “re-teaching” block that is focused on standards
Other
**Appropriately allocate remainder of the time to other content areas with a priority in Science
**Every grade level should have a 60 minute uninterrupted PLT time each week
** Science and SS need to take priority over morning work and calendar time
**Principals have the latitude to adjust teacher before/after school contract time (a total of 20 minutes before and after the contract hours) to accommodate a later release time.
TO DO:
- Program my number - 816-905-4126 - send me a text with your name so I have your number.
- Review Master Schedule - feedback to BLT members
- Send me a few pictures from the summer. We will use these at our BTS meeting!
- Fill in form below with SHIRT SIZE - BIRTHDAY - FAVORITES - PHONE #
2018-2019 Classroom Lists
These will be available to you by August 1st!!
Access to Building/Classrooms
I know some of you are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to get into your classrooms. Doug and crew are working so hard on getting it ready. Please be respectful in allowing them time to complete this job. We've estimated the week of July 30th. I will email to let you know when the building is open again. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'll be in touch...
Briarcliff Elementary
Email: jonalee.searcey@nkcschools.org
Website: https://www.nkcschools.org/page.cfm?p=1596
Location: 4100 N Briarcliff Rd
Phone: (816) 321-5030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearningOnTheCliff/
Twitter: @BRES_Bears