Bernal Intermediate School
Mrs. Berg, Assistant Principal
March Spirit Days
Friday 3/10 - Free Dress Day (Spring Pictures)
Friday 3/17 - Green Day (St. Patrick's Day)
Friday 3/24 - Fitness Day
Tuesday, March 28h - History Day! (Dress up in your period specific outfits to present your History Day project!)
Grades: Important Dates
Reporting Term #4
- Grading Period: (January 18- March 3, 2017)
- Grade Reports are mailed home as soon as Friday, March 10, 2017
Reporting Term #5
- Grading Period: (March 6-April 14, 2017)
End of the Year Activity Letter
Dear 8th Grade Parents/Guardians and Students,
In anticipation of our upcoming 8th-grade privileges and graduation, the attached letter is being sent home next week with students to inform families of the school expectations regarding participation in these end of the year activities. Participation in the end-of-the-year activities is earned and is based on both academic requirements and positive student behavior. Any student that does not meet the graduation requirements will, unfortunately, not be allowed to participate in any of the end-of-the-year activities. Bernal would like to prevent circumstances from occurring that will result in the loss of 8th-grade privileges scheduled in May and June. The major activities that are planned for our students include the Eighth Grade field trip to Great America, the Eighth Grade Dance, and the Graduation Ceremony. Please read the attached letter, sign, and return the back page to your child's Advisory teacher.
ALL 8TH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS MUST READ AND SIGN THE LETTER BY FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH.
Letters will be sent home during Advisory classes, but may also be found at the following link.
Safety reminder
Facts and Information about Suicide: Adolescents & Young Adults
Highlights:
* Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults.
* Young males are much more likely to commit suicide than their female peers.
*American Indian/Alaskan Native male adolescents have the highest suicide rate.
*The suicide rates for young adult males have fallen sharply in the past decade.
*Female adolescents are more likely to attempt suicide than their male peers.
1. In 2003, 4,232 adolescents and young adults ages 10-24 took their own lives, resulting in a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000. Suicide accounted for 11.2% of all deaths for adolescents and young adults, making it the third leading cause of death for this age group after motor vehicle accidents and homicide.
2. In 2003, the rate of suicide increased ten-fold between early adolescence (ages 10-14) and young adulthood (ages 20-24). Suicide rates continue to increase in adulthood until age 49, decrease between ages 50-74, then increase again at age 75.
3. Adolescent and young adult males ages 10-24 have a consistently higher suicide rate than their female peers, averaging more than five times the rate of same-age females. This is a long-standing trend: from 1981 to 2003, 84.1% of 10- to 24-year-olds who committed suicide were male.
4. Among adolescents and young adults ages 10-24, American Indian/Alaskan Native, non-Hispanics have the highest suicide rate.
5. Suicide rates for older adolescents and young adult males ages 15- 24 have decreased since peaking in the early 1990s. By contrast, the rate (per 100,000) for adolescent males ages 10-14, while relatively low, increased slightly from 1.2 in 1981 to 1.7 in 2003. Rates for all females ages 10-24 decreased during the same period.
6. Female Hispanic students are more likely to attempt suicide than all other students. The suicide attempt rate varies by race/ ethnicity: attempts are slightly higher for Hispanic students (11.3%) than for Black NH and White-NH students (7.6% and 7.3%, respectively). Hispanic students have reported higher rates of suicide attempts than Black-NH and White-NH students since data collection began in 1991.
Resource Links: From CA Department of Education
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Schools
Fact Sheet on Suicide: Adolescents and Youth Adults
http://nahic.ucsf.edu/downloads/Suicide.pdf
Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide
http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu/pdf/Research-Materials.pdf
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Center for Suicide Prevention Training Resource Center
Annual Statewide Testing at Bernal Intermediate
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP became the new state academic testing program two years ago. CAASPP is a system intended to provide information that can be used to monitor student progress and ensure that all students leave high school ready for college and career. CAASPP includes computer-adaptive tests in English–language arts and mathematics as well as the new pilot test for science (CAST) in grades 5 and 8.
Bernal students will take the test between May 1st - 19th. To learn about the types of questions on the computer-based test, you and your child can view the practice test online at the California Department of Education (CDE) Smarter Balanced Practice Test Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp.
Following the spring 2017 testing, students will receive individual score reports. Student score reports will be sent home to parents and will include an overall score, a description of the student’s achievement level for English–language arts and mathematics, and other information. This test is based on the Common Core State Standards and involves different types of test questions than the previous STAR tests. This year is the pilot year for the science test (CAST), therefore there will be no scores reported for this pilot test this school year. If you would like to exempt your student(s) from CAASPP, a letter must be submitted to the principal.
If you would like more information, please visit the Parent/Student tab of the CDE CAASPP Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/.
Please take a moment to read the Parent Notification Letter. The letters are provided in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. This letter will also be sent out via School Loop on 3/3/17.
Support Needed: Bernal Staff Member Affected by Historic Flooding
The historic flooding in San Jose has affected one of our own family members in the Oak Grove School District and Bernal Intermediate School communities. As families do in times of crisis, we are coming together to support someone in need. Juanita Wilson, beloved instructional aide at Bernal has had her home and belongings devastated as a result of the recent flooding. She was only able to quickly grab a small bag of belongings before having to be evacuated by the San Jose Fire Department's rescue team. Her apartment is no longer habitable, and her clothing, furniture and other belongings were destroyed due to the rushing water.
This disaster has weakened her spirit and resolve. She doesn't know where to begin in order to rebuild. Please consider giving to help Juanita. We all can attest to how caring, hardworking and selfless she is toward Bernal students and families in need. All donations will go toward helping Juanita get back on her feet. The donation link is below. Thank you in advance.
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7th Grade Rally! | 7th Grade Balloon Stomping Game | Cheerleaders! |
7th Grade Rally!
7th Grade Balloon Stomping Game
Cheerleaders!
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8th Grade Rally! | 8th Grade Beach Volleyball | 8th Grade Musical Chairs Dr. Splane Won! |
8th Grade Rally!
8th Grade Beach Volleyball
8th Grade Musical Chairs
Children's Health Council (CHC) Free Services
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
SAND HILL PRESENTS
Wednesday, March 8 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Social Emotional Learning for Life Success
Presented by Head of Sand Hill School Cindy Lopez and Christine Wang, TMHI
NEW! FOR PARENTS & TEACHERS
Monday, March 13 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Not All Screen Time is Bad: Technology in 21st Century Schools
Schools are now challenged to replace the computer lab with a paperless environment that prepares students for adult computer literacy. Learn what to look for in technology programs in schools, strategies for developing executive functioning skills in students and how to make instruction more interactive and engaging using computers. Presented by a Compass High School teaching team with Rachel Wylde, Lura Milner, and Josie Porcella
SAND HILL PRESENTS
Wednesday, March 22 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Dyslexia, LD and Anxiety
Presented by Robert Hendren, DO, UCSF School of Medicine
NEW!
Monday, March 27 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Parenting in the Age of Social Media
Do you wonder how to teach your child responsibility and ethics online, how to ensure they are aware of their actions, and how to best parent them in the digital age?
Presented by Erica Pelavin LCSW, PhD and Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet LCSW, PPSC of My Digital Tat2
Wednesday, April 5| 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Demystifying the IEP Process
Presented by Chris Harris, MEd, Head of EBC School
