2019 Blaze Bulletin
Week of January 21st - Edition 48
Teachers,
Don't plan on an early morning on February 5 (Faculty meeting day). The administration is flipping the faculty meeting! We will be providing a link for you to follow to watch/hear the faculty meeting at your convenience! You will have all of the week of February 4-8 to view the meeting. We are trying this for two reasons. One is to test out a new format that might be easier for you. The other is for us to learn and execute some of the blended learning strategies you are being trained on and/or are already using. It's been fun! And it's been a challenge! And if you think you can't teach an old dog new tricks, I'm living proof that you can!
One thing we will miss, however, is seeing your smiling, eager faces. So, to compensate, we will be having a coffee and donut gathering the first Friday in February (Feb 8) in the Bistro before school. We will start serving about 7:40am. Plan to stay and chat a few minutes - just for fun.
Alliteration lesson: February Flipped Faculty meeting with a Fun First Friday in February Coffee/Donut Fest.That's a lot of "F"s.
-lj
GO BLAZE!
The Coke Can
Let’s be honest. We didn’t get into this business because we loved analyzing formative assessment data. We did it (at least in part) because we love kids and the idea of influencing them. Sometimes those impact moments are grand and unforgettable. We all have (or will have) a handful of those. Sometimes, those relationships are built over a simple joke in the hallway.
For a few of us, one such moment came several years ago with a mysteriously placed Coke can (we’re in the South, so they’re all “Coke,” right?). It was perched high in one of the top windows of the rotunda, and it was on the outside. If you look at the front of the building, there’s no easy access there. It’s not exactly a place where people sit to sip a soft drink.
Noticing it one day on the way to the office, I stood dumbfounded in the rotunda, wondering how exactly the can got there. I pulled a kid aside. I didn’t know him. He didn’t know me. But we stood and laughed for a bit at all the possibilities of how this had happened. One kid became two. Two became four. Before long, a small group of kids were asking one another, imagining all of the random explanations and circulating conspiracy theories of their own.
When I think about the culture of Blackman High School, I love the fact that this is a place where it it’s okay to laugh with kids. Uncompromising professional lines should be drawn and not-negotiated, but we’re all human and we all love a good laugh. More importantly, this business is and must always be a people business – even with the kids that we don’t know.
The can stayed up there for weeks. One day it was gone and the joke was over. But what was left was a relationship or two that wasn’t there before. Relationships like that – even the random ones – are what make this profession and this place special.
-by Justin Smith
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Counselor Corner
A-D Counselor: Mrs. Charlie Borel, E-K Counselor: Ms. Christine Bryan, L-R Interim Counselor: Ms. Kelly Conniff, S-Z Interim Counselor: Mrs. Elaine Allen, College and Crisis Counselor: Mrs. JoJo Breiner, Graduation Coach: Mrs. Kim Garrott, Counseling Secretary/Registrar: Mrs. Marina Sadler, Counseling Clerk: Mrs. Carole Kasbee
*Thank you, English Teachers, for allowing us to come to your classes on Thursday with such short notice to talk about rezoning with your students. You guys rock!
*Counselors and Assistant Principals will be having failure meetings starting next week. We will begin with seniors.
HEAD’S UP: We will be calling students out of your classes for these meetings. Thank you for understanding!
*Teacher Recommendations are due on Friday, January 25. These help us place students in the best classes for them for the upcoming school year. Your input is so important!
*Students need to have their FAFSA completed by February 1 to qualify for the TN Promise.
*New Student/Freshmen Orientation will be on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:00.
*Senior Hiring Event is April 2.
We are so thankful to be part of this team! Go Blaze!
A GIFT FOR YOU...
New Vision youth group will be coming to BHS on Saturday, February 16, for their UNITE service project. They will be in classrooms cleaning student desks, leaving a goodie bag for the teacher, and putting encouraging notes on student desks. They will be accompanied by a BHS staff member at all times.
2019-2020 STUDENT OPPORTUNITY
SPED TIPS
*HIGH SCHOOL SPED PARENT MEETING*
"TRANSITION AND CONSERVATORSHIP"
DATE: January 29th
TIME: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
LOCATION: BHS Cafeteria
(pizza & drinks provided)
ESL TIDBITS
Article Submitted by: Evelyn Heckman and Anoulom Phimphivong
CALENDAR REMINDERS...
All teachers are expected to work one of the following events: Homecoming Dance, Prom, or Graduation. The dates for each event are below so that you can mark your calendar.
Prom - April 12, 2019 at 7:30pm
Graduation - May 19, 2019 at 2:30pm
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
FACULTY MEETING
TIME: 7:30 am LOCATION: Auditorium
- February 5th
- March 5th
- April 2nd
- May 7th
Early Dismissal Days
- January 31
- March 7
- May 29
Please keep in mind that if you are absent on an early dismissal day, you will only require a sub until 12:00 pm., but your absence will be for a whole day!
Block Days 2018-2019
Feb. 26 & 27
Mar. 5 & 6
Mar. 19 & 20
SPORTSCENTER SPOTLIGHT
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR BHS FOOTBALL FIELD?
THE BEST HOME FIELD IS AT BHS!!
BE A PART OF BLACKMAN'S HISTORY AND FUTURE...
REMINDER ABOUT WORK ORDERS...
Send maintenance work orders to BHSMAINT@rcschools.net
Picture Dates 2018-2019
Spring Pictures - February 28 - 1 - 3 Periods - Auxiliary Gym
Cap and Gown Pictures - February 28 - All Day through English Classes - Main Gym Lobby
Junior Orientation (Upcoming Senior Portrait Info) - April 4 - Primetime - Auditorium
BHS SPIRIT SHOPPING
Blackman High School Spirit Wear website has a direct link available on the BHS home page.
Shop to support our school and enjoy a 15% discount off orders $75 or more!
GO BLAZE!!
BE THE FIRST TO GUESS THIS LITTLE ONE...
Let's play who is that? HIGH SCHOOL YEARS REVISITED....
Send Mrs. Brewer a high school or younger days picture (teacher & staff) to be featured in the bulletin. Be the first to email your answer and win a prize!!!! brewerk@rcschools.net
In the know....
Follow Dr. Justus on Twitter @bhsjustus
Sign up for Remind by texting @ljustus to 81010
SEND US YOUR NEWS!!!
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
JAN 3 - MOSIER
JAN 5 - FARRINGTON
JAN 9 - GREGORY
JAN 11 - KNOX
JAN 11 - McCREERY
JAN 12 - C.CARTERJAN 15 - CONNIFF
JAN 16 - REED
JAN 17 - HARTSFIELD
JAN 20 - WEEKS
JAN 22 - WILSON
JAN 25 - ANDES
JAN 30 - NORDIN