Bulldog Weekly Update
February 14th - February 18th
Monthly CRP Quote
― Zaretta L. Hammond, Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
When Racism Strikes Close to Home
Earlier this week it was brought to the attention of the administrative team at Butler Middle School that a racist symbol, a swastika, had been scribed on the gym floor. Upon investigation, we found in the corner of the floor a small 1inch by 1-inch symbol. Similar to any type of hate speech, racist graffiti or comments found, we investigate, and school and district policy is followed. This report came from an outside group that was utilizing our gym.
We are using the weekly bulletin to communicate this incident to our staff because it impacts all members of our community. We will also send a letter to the Butler community this week regarding this incident. We are in conversation with district officials and leaders within the local synagogue to provide guidance for the next steps.
What we must understand is that within Butler Middle School there is no place for racism or discrimination. We have a collective responsibility to shut out hate, to redirect anger and pain, to provide history and depth to students' actions of misguided fears. In the coming weeks, the school's Restorative Justice Leadership team and PBIS team along with the administrative team will review options for a school-wide intervention. Even as we consider the need for a tailored, specific response for each grade, it is imperative to note the power and impact teachers have in the classroom. When a racist word is written or uttered in the class or in the halls the context of the incident is critical to the response. Zero tolerance policies have been shown to have adverse effects on students' trust in and relationship with adults. Our work now is to provide resources for students who are in pain and in need of healing. It is also to establish clear and consistent boundaries across the school regarding our community standard for mutual respect, appreciation, and understanding. If you feel you have resources that may be of value to other teachers or helpful for having conversations with students, please share with Mrs. Pena, Ms. Mallucio, or Mrs. Moody. In the meantime, we are providing resources to support staff when they need to respond to intolerant behaviors and language. You are a first responder and it can not be deferred. Please see attached resources.
Teacher Resource: (Teacher Tolerance - Speak up against Bias and Hate) -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1giwac6amVcUci6BpWJGehXzKx7rpeE-O/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ifHe9OnT43iKutWMPjdqF-OiXFKkSEmJ/view?usp=sharing
Notes from the Principal's Desk
Win, Win, Win
The boys' basketball team has been on a roll, winning their last two games back to back. The girl's team earned their first win against the Robinson this past week. The season will wrap up soon and with it, time to reflect on the successes and losses. Both the girls' and boys' teams played hard, practiced often, and learned a great deal from each other as well as their coaches. GO BULLDOGS!
iReady Wrap Up
The bulk of iReady testing completed last week. A tremendous virtual round of applause to our students and teachers for sticking with it. We have seen some astounding growth over these last four months, as evidenced in many students' mid-year scores. What's more important than the overall gains are the individual stories of achievement. Students have been sharing their iready results with one another, cheering each other on and expressing pride in their outcomes, no matter how many more points they increased. This is not only a shift in actual scores but a shift in attitudes and in the culture around learning that students reinforce with one another. While we can attribute some growth to the students having been back in the building, we cannot and should not discount in any way the ongoing efforts of the entire school to meet students' needs. The first half of the school year was indeed a rocky one but we continue to prevail. Students who have been absent will finish up their testing this week. The iReady window closes on Friday, 2/18. We look forward to diving deeper into the data as a school and to developing our plans for the third and fourth quarter.
OREOs, Anyone?
In 5th grade, Mrs. Burgess's classroom of students celebrated the end of a persuasive writing unit by eating Oreos (the organizational structure they used to support them in construction of the essays) while using a rubric to review classmates work and provide feedback. A celebration that had both fun and rigor.
Afterschool: Animal Adventures
Students in the Animal Adventures after school program enjoyed a special showcase this week. Presenters brought in live, bleached skulls from woodland creatures. Students were able to look up-close at deer, squirrel and fox skulls replete with jaw and full sets of teeth. This hands-on learning experience entailed a deep discussion about the bone structure and teeth placement of the animal, connecting these to the animals' habitat and diet. This is exactly the type of programming that puts learning directly into students' hands and allows them to make connections to existing knowledge while synthesizing knew information based on multi-sensory experiences. Thanks Animal Adventures! You ROCK!
Love is in the Air
It's Valentine's Day on Monday! Students will be excited to receive their carnation-grams. Thank you to the teachers who have planned to make the day enjoyable for all students. There are many types of love celebrated on Valentine's Day: love of family, love of friends, love for our pets, our partners and more! One type of love we can help all students celebrate on Monday is love for oneself. In your classes, you may decide to pause at the beginning and let your students know one thing you love about your life at Butler, or one thing you love about the subject you studied, or the colleagues you work with, or even the students you get to teach. Sometimes your message of love looks like making sure all your students have something warm to wear outside. Sometimes it sounds like calling out into the hall for their return because they are essential and the class cannot move on without them. Sometimes it looks like sending the extra message on REMIND to let a parent know what a brilliant day the child has had. Here is to hoping you find many ways to show your admiration and care for your school tomorrow, and that your school shows that same care and admiration to you.
What is new in your world? If you would like to make sure the Butler community is informed on new happenings and learning opportunities in your classroom, make sure to connect with the school's admin team. Just write “Bulletin” in the subject with your submission. Pictures are always a plus!
REMINDERS:
The office must be called if you need assistance or a student sent to the office or to the nurse. Also, you MUST give a student a pass if they have permission to leave your class. DO NOT send a student to the office without calling first. Unless it is an emergency situation, the student will be turned away and asked to return to class.
VERO Support- is in the building for support Thursdays - Please utilize the attached google link to sign up for her support.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTnCL6BiNvtwjdf8tYj90xSqzhn120orGcQqCQXM6ZY/edit?usp=sharing
Afterschool Academic Supports - To be compensated for the additional tier-2 ACADEMIC SUPPORTS teachers need to:
-Fill out this form weekly(this is for the current week)
-Keep attendance
-If you working with students remotely, print out a copy of student(s) Zoom attendance-https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CRCnE-ai2vvvGq2tmAuCiqNK82ZIQYDUXO92gsmD7Qs/edit?usp=sharing
Week at a Glance
Monday 2/14
9:30 Operations
Q2 Awards Ceremony (8th Grade)
SEL Morning Meeting
Tuesday 2/15
- 8:30 Student Support
- 3:30 RJT Meetings
Wednesday 2/16
- ILT(canceled)
- Admin CPT
- Student Leadership - Rock Climbing Trip
- Pena Leadership
- BBall Game Home
- PTO Mtg.
Thursday 2/10
- AP(s) - Leadership
- BBall Game Home
Friday 2/11
- Fun FriYay! Wear your Butler Pride Gear
ILT Updates
Next Team meeting - February 16th
Check-in with your grade level team representatives for more information. Our last discussion focused on our upcoming early release agenda
RJLT
Next Team meeting - February 15th
Here is a recap of what was discussed during Admin CPT this week. If you did not get a laminated copy of the restorative questions, please send Lori Casey an email to get one.
Who can have restorative conversations?
- Anyone can initiate a restorative conversation (you already have been doing this!)
What are restorative conversations?
- conversations to re-set or establish a connection with another person and establish healthy boundaries and expectations
When should you have a restorative conversation?
- following a minor infraction or conflict
- when both parties are in the space to have the conversation
Where should you have a restorative conversation?
- private location
- outside the classroom in the hallway
Why should you have a restorative conversation?
- Because Restorative conversations support the creation, maintenance, and repair of relationships in a way that creates an environment focused on support and skill-building.
PBIS
Next Team meeting - March 3rd
Please check your email for the Staff Chocolate Extravaganza
We are working with the administration on upcoming school culture assemblies and grade level supports.
Please check with your grade-level PBIS representative for additional information.
Monthly Motivation
It's always great to start on an inspiring note. This month we will add speeches from the MLK Oratory competition.
Staff Birthday Shoutouts ~ February
Samantha Arnold - 2/8
Clara Cahill - 2/10
John Fugarino - 2/14
Jaime Moody 2/15
Marietta Camara - 2/17
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/