Staff Update
Published: July 29
When are we moving in?
1. Office, cafe, kitchen, courtyard, media center are finished.
2. Gym floor is finished. Bleachers need to be installed.
3. 6th grade is finished.
4. 7th grade will be finished by Monday.
5. 8th grade is in progress.
6. Furniture has arrived and is being assembled and placed.
7. Projectors are hung.
8. Laptops have arrived and are imaged. We will be ready to distribute very soon. We have to distribute at Longbranch so you can sync to the Boone network via wireless.
9. All instructional materials are ordered. We had a $100,000 budget for all subject areas. It was difficult to get EVERYTHING you wished for so we will continue buying over the next couple of years. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the purchasing. We're not finished.
10. Choir and band rooms will likely NOT be finished for the first day.
11. Outdoor play areas are seeded. The asphalt pad is landscaped with two basketball posts installed. Goals coming soon.
Today's Enrollment
6th grade: 203 (204 students = 8th allocation)
7th grade: 199 (218 students = 8th allocation)
8th grade: 163 (187 students = 7th allocation)
We have grown by 12 since last week. I have asked Dr. Poe for two additional allocations. One for 6th grade and a UA. We'll keep you posted.
Since last week, Lucia Cornett has accepted a new job in Ohio. We consequently posted a math position. If Dr. Poe grants us another allocation, we'll be posting another 6th grade position this week.
Holy growth, Batman.
Bally Staff Site
I was asked to move our staff site to the Ballyshannon Team Drive…but I couldn’t move the original so I’ve recreated it. Here’s the new link: https://sites.google.com/boone.kyschools.us/bally-everything/home
- Let me know if you don’t have access through this link.
- Don’t share this link with anyone outside our school.
- Everything on this site is under development.
- I’ll also put this in the newsletter.
Covering Windows
There are windows that face the interior/common area of each community. Per Boone County Emergency Mgmt. and our fire department, you may not cover those windows at all. They are to remain complete clear. This includes a floor to ceiling window in each door.
Click below for your room assignments.
e-hallpass
Evaluation Timelines for 2018-2019
Scheduling for observations may begin. We're going to start with our non-tenured folks. If you are in years 1-4, please go ahead and schedule your observations. You need two formatives and one summative.
Self Reflection and PGP by October 15
First Formative by November 15 Schedule Formative 1 Here.
Second Formative by April 15 Schedule Formative 2 Here.
Summative and Summative Conference by April 30 Schedule Summative Here
TENURED
You will schedule after non-tenured has their observations scheduled.
Self Reflection and PGP by October 15
Formative by April 15
Summative and Summative Conference by April 30 on the 3rd year of a 3 year cycle
We are not using CIITS this year. Stay tuned for the super-funness that will be our new forms. Conner folks should be very familiar with them. Hint.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dT3nz68IpnCLZuc63Sq0rqaiX9QgORmE/view
Budget Committee
The following will serve on the Budget Committee this year:
1. Admin: Bowles and Demetrakis
2. PTSO Treasurer: Denise Volz
3. Financial Secretary: Holly Morgan
4. Athletic Director: Pat Pidgeon
5. Teachers: Sara Fay and Stacey Welch
Supply Cabinet Suggestions
Non-Negotiables
PBIS Tracking--Kickboard
Updated Teams
Orange 6
Max Llewellyn: Social Studies
Jen White: Science
TBD: Math
Sarah Stamper: ELA
Green 6
Sara Fay: Math and Science
Jessica Stephens: ELA and SS
TBD: Science and SS
**Still hoping that this becomes a 4 man team
SEVENTH GRADE
Orange 7
Traci Barton: Math
Tabatha Byrd: ELA
Kyle Berberich: Science
Kristen Hansen: Social Studies
Green 7
Miranda Finck: Math and ELA
Steve Wheeler: Science and SS
Laura Dahlenberg: ELA and SS
EIGHTH GRADE
Orange 8
Andy Jones: Math
Mindy Earsing: ELA
Jen Woolf: Social Studies
Bernadette Leonard: Science
Green 8
Stacey Welch: ELA and Algebra I
Beth Kamradt: Science and SS
SPED
Katy Dennis--7th grade LBD
Sara Kuhse--6th grade LBD
Lindsay Clayton--8th grade LBD
Paige Hurst--MSD Unit
Nikki Herrmann-- EBD Teacher
Lisa Ryle--Speech
Karla Wooten--para
Emily Edwards--para
Doug McCreedy-para
Shawn Kramer-para
Ronae McCloud--OT
Becky Aragon--PT
Erica Bouwie--Psychologist
UNIFIED ARTS
Randell Bertsche--Band
Kristi Heist--Art
Joshua Agnew--Choir
Leslie Dillon--Tech
Tamra Mulberry--ITA
Tia Wood--Media Specialist
Pat Pidgeon--PE/Health
Jillian Skidmore--PE/Health
Sandi Morris--Spanish
Cheryl Michels--Reading and Leadership
CUSTODIAL STAFF
Shirley Blankenship, head custodian
Mike Lewis
Tina Houston
Jonathan Chaney
Zach Taylor
STAFF SUPPORT
Holly Morgan--school secretary
Crissy Nelson--front of the house
Jill Stinson--attendance and enrollments
Heather Simpson--first aid
Tamra Mulberry--ITA
Content and Grade Level Leaders
Science: Bernadette Leonard
Social Studies: Jen Woolf
Math: Andy Jones
ELA and 8th grade: Mindy Earsing
PBL: Beth Kamradt
UA: Kristi Heist
Sped: Katy Dennis
6th grade: Jen White
7th grade: Traci Barton
Content Leader Meeting
SBG Book Study Reminder
New to Boone peeps...you cannot do this until you have a Boone email. You will have an extension.
We will shoot for Destination 2 by the end of September but if you want to get it done this summer, more power to you.
Time spent on this work does count for flex.
This is the link to enroll in the Canvas course: CLICK HERE.
NEW STAFF: I'll leave copies at the main desk of Longbranch for you.
Staff Remind
To subscribe to the Remind I use for parents, text @allbally to 81010.
Flex PD
Vision Statement
Non-Negotiables
These are all infractions that could land a student in The Zone for a period of time the same day or the next day to restore a relationship. In other words, it's a rebuilding relationship consequence with our EBD itinerant. We'll explain this more later.
Dress Code: I believe we are all comfortable with using the Boone County dress code as indicated in policy and in the code of conduct book. However, we wanted additional feedback from the kids. I sent out a survey to the kids about shorts, leggings, and flip flops. I'll give them a couple of weeks to respond and then report back to you.
Staff Dress Code: I believe we had consensus that staff should have the freedom to dress in a manner that makes them feel comfortable in their own skin and that matches the lesson. The lens to use is..."If Dr. Poe comes into my classroom, will he approve of my attire?" My gut is that shorts are probably not a risk we want to take as a first year school or maybe ever (although you will hear through the rumor mill that LBES wore shorts the final month of school this year). T-shirts most days of the week is probably too casual. In fact, I'm on the fence about T-shirts other than spiritwear...but I'm aware that it may just be my personal bias. In general, I want you to feel comfortable in your own skin. Just like we want to teach the kids to feel comfortable in their own skin. If wearing a dress and heels makes you feel good...wear that. If wearing a tie makes you feel good...wear that. If wearing jeans and a button down makes you feel good...wear that. When a school switches to jeans allowed daily, you do lose jean passes and I've quite frankly never seen anything make teachers happier that jeans passes...not even a sheet cake in the staff room...but we will have "Comfy Day" passes so you can wear your joggers or sweats or whatever periodically throughout the year. In short: You Do You.
Cell Phones: Although it took us a bit to work through this one, I believe we have settled on cell phones may not be on "your person" during school hours (from the moment you step in the building to the moment you leave the building). Cell phones will remain in backpacks or lockers. They will not be seen or heard. Not in class, not in hall exchange, not in lunch. The purpose is to protect the social emotional atmosphere of the school building. Students are all issued chromebooks and have access to digital content that is controlled by the staff. Not having a cell phone does not prevent the child from learning. Parents who wish to relay a message to their children may call the main office.
Yelling: After reviewing your comments...very simply...no Ballyshannon staff member or student may raise their voice or yell either in response to another human being or in frustration. Trauma informed teaching involves the act of opposite response to stimulus. When voices go up, our voices go down. It's not a competition. Simply, we will solve our problems respectfully without raising our voices at one another. There will be no yelling in our building.
Profanity (Direct and Indirect): After reviewing your comments, it appears this is is an area where some of us have more tolerance than others although for the most part, I see either "not acceptable" or "warning" for first infraction. James and I talked about this and I loved what he said, Kids need to learn that there's a time and place for everything. some places and times are sacred for some social norms. Would you cuss in church? I may cuss like a sailor (not really...there's still some words I still spell because I'm uncomfortable saying them out loud for everyone to hear) but I'm not going to show up for mass on Sunday and asking somebody to pass me the f-ing collection plate. I know the social norms of the place and respect the space. That's what I want us to teach our kids. It may be your social norm to swear...but not in our space and not on our time. When you enter our building, the norms are different, they are respectful of everyone, and we are all held to a higher standard.
Back and Forth: After reading your comments, I LOVED what some of you said. There is a time for "back and forth" in terms of productive struggle and debate about academic topics and in a respectful manner. I love that you all allow and encourage this in your classroom. What a testament to valuing student voice. Back and Forth in terms of teacher gives a direction...students comply may be idyllic. My wonder is, can we develop a system for student questioning that is respectful? Or is there a quick checklist kids can run through in their heads about a teacher directive to determine whether it's the time or place for pushback--such as 1. Will this directive harm me physically? 2. Will this directive affect my social wellness in this classroom? Not sure. We still need to work through this one.
Disrespect: The overwhelming comments on this sheet were focused on staff being as respectful to students and their fellow staff members as we expect students to be toward us and each other. Staff models the behavior we would like to see. Love that.
Below is a draft of what we have so far. Work in progress. Do not share.
Curriculum and Teaching Materials
ELA: Wit and Wisdom, MyOn, Common Lit, Readworks
Math: Eureka, Open Up, Gizmos, Desmos
Science Foss, Gizmos
Social Studies: National Geographic textbooks, History Alive, Geography Alive, FreedomFlix
PE/Health: Spark, Life Skills, HealthWorld
Art: Scholastic and art prints
Cheryl: PowerUp, Reading Plus
Tech: Shelley Cashman's Office 365, Code.org circuit set
Band and Choir: Essential Musicianship
SEL/PBIS: Kickboard, Second Step, DESSA assessment, CHAMPS
Spanish: Creates her own.
Sped: LLI , Fast ForWord, Reading Assistant. What else do you all need? I'm assuming you need math manipulatives as well?
Developing Systems of Operation
Thank you to this team. You did a fabulous job!!
- Morning Arrival--DONE
- Morning Dismissal to Class--DONE
- Locker Breaks--DONE
- Class Changes--DONE
- Lunch--DONE
- Chromebooks--DONE
- Afternoon Dismissal--DONE
- Student request to speak with counselor or administrator--DONE
- Signing up for lunch freetime location--DONE
As the team meets, we will build onto this list.
The systems team is: Mindy Earsing, Lucia Cornett, Leslie Dillon, Jen Woolf, Pat Pidgeon, Amy Grant, Kyle Berberich, Traci Barton, Miranda Finck, Meredith Palmer, Steve Wheeler, Beth Kamradt.
PBIS Team
Next meeting: July 31st at 4pm
Looking for a 7th grade teacher to serve on this team.
The PBIS team is: Bernadette Leonard, Cheryl Michels, Sarah Stamper, Meredith Palmer, Jennifer White, and Nikki Herrmann.
We are Ballyshannon PBL Team
Next meeting: TBD
The "First Three Days" team is: Beth Kamradt, Steven Wheeler, Stacie Kegley, Kristi Heist, and Tia Wood.
SCM Restraint Team
2 day initial signup: August 30 and 31...you will get a sub.
SCM Team: Andy Jones, Erika Bowles, James Demetrakis, Meredith Palmer, Tabatha Byrd, Brent Anstaett, Bernadette Leonard, Paige Hurst, Emily Edwards, Karla Wooten, Doug McCreedy, Shawn Kramer, and Nikki Herrmann.
Sunshine/Culture/Emotional Bank Account Team
Sara Fay asked if she could lead this team. ABSOLUTELY!! Also on this team are Cheryl Michels, Kristen Hansen, Tabatha Byrd, Jennifer White, Leslie Dillon, and Kristi Heist.
UPCOMING PD
July 31 and August 1: Schoolwide Behavior Management/CHAMPS and STOIC from 8:30-3:30pm at Crossroads Church on Mall Road.
NEW to Boone and NEW teachers...see graphic below.
August 13: 7 Habits, part 1 with William Blackford (hopefully at Bally)
August 14: Opening Day Meetings
November 6: 7 Habits, part 2 with William Blackford (at Bally)