Birdneck Briefing 2019-2020
December 16 - December 20
Tentative: Upcoming Dates and Events
Dec. 16 - PBIS Team Meeting
Dec. 16 - Spirit day: Candy Cane wear red and white
Dec. 17 - Voices of Tomorrow 3rd, 4th, and 5th 9:00 a.m. and Prek-2nd grade will be called around 9:30 a.m. An announcement will be made for PreK- 2 as soon as the first performance finishes.
Dec. 17 - Spirit day: Wrapped Up Day (dress like a present)
Dec. 17 - Chick -fil-A night 5:00-8:00
Dec. 17 - PreK Nobleman Holiday Event 6:00
Dec. 18 - Spirit Day: Who Hair (crazy holiday hair)
Dec. 19 - Spirit Day : Ugly Sweater Day
Dec. 19 - Donuts and Coffee for staff 7:40-8:40 in the cafeteria!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dec. 19 - Holiday Concert 9:00 Grades PreK, K and 1 (possible changes)
Dec. 19 - Holiday Concert 1:30 Grades 2, 3, 4, 5 (possible changes)
Dec. 19 - Holiday Concert 6:00 pm in cafeteria
Dec. 20 - Spirit Day: Pajama Day
Dec. 20 - PBIS Mega Nest Reward Day
Dec. 20 - Early Dismissal 12:10
****Class parties and other events coming up were not posted on the calendar. Please let Heather McVeen know when your events are so they can be put on the Birdneck Calendar*****
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Birdneck Family,
Happy Hollidays! The long awaited break is finally here. I've heard story after story and been witness to the differences you are making in our students lives. In a world where challenging behaviors continue to increase, you've shown them the love they need. I know your hearts will be with them as they go home to their parents and guardians for the next two weeks. Laura and I want you to know how much we appreciate what you do for our kids and we want you to have a blessed and happy holiday break. You are an amazing staff who looks out for our kids and each other. We recognize how busy this time of year can be. We will celebrate as a Birdneck Staff Family with a holiday gathering later in January. Thanks for all of your hard work and being part of the Birdneck Family!
Captain out,
RV Yoshida
SHOUT OUTS!!!!!
Shout out for our teachers using the components of effective small group instruction when observed on walk throughs last week. We saw word work and purposeful small group instruction as we visited classrooms. Lessons had engaging material and were targeted to meet their needs. Keep up the great work!
HUGE shout out to special education TAs for their flexibility in sorting out new schedules and services that always happen in the beginning of the year. And a special shout out to Timika Jones for going above and beyond to build relationships with kiddos and supporting them with a smile on her face!
I would like to give a shout out to Mrs. Putt and Mrs. Wilson for their work with a student with challenging behaviors. He did not have pajamas today and was getting upset. They found a pair for him to wear and he is a happy kiddo!!! They have embraced his needs
I want to send them to Cindy Clark. Every year, no matter how rambunctious her students when the year begins, Mrs. Clark gets them under control and behaving appropriately in a matter of weeks. They have been “Clarkified” by late September every year. This lady should teach classroom management. After they have had Cindy for a month, the students are respectful, follow directions, pay attention, and are kind to one another. EVERY YEAR! There is no, “MY class is terrible.” with Cindy Clark.
You Make a Difference
This teacher is loving and caring. Her students from previous years make an extra effort to come down to the second-grade hallway to get a hug or just say “hi”. She encourages all her students to be the best they can be and has created a warm and welcoming classroom. Her positive attitude and bright smile is contagious among her coworkers and her kiddos. She is willing to assist others wherever needed. Mrs. Rice is an amazing inclusion teacher, her patience, understanding, and openness is so appreciated. You make a difference Kristen Rice! Thank you for all that you do!
Most of you have had some form of contact with Special Education Superhero, Devon Luttrell, because she is so very involved in the functioning of our special education department. She has created such an organized, dynamic, positive and visually supported self-contained classroom that the bosses at OPEC keep sending principals, teachers, and coordinators over to see her classroom as a model for excellence. In addition to keeping her classroom (and quite a full caseload of students with disabilities) running smoothly, she also acts as a mentor for some of our less experienced teachers. She makes herself available to the SpEd & Gen Ed staff each and every day, providing all means of support. Devon also offered to take over the unenviable job of SEC Chairperson. Until you tackle the paperwork and planning associated with that position, you just don’t get it. It takes many hours each week to meet the needs of the Special Ed Committee and she’s learned the position quickly. There’s a reason she’s working most nights past 10pm…her dedication is unmatched. Thank you for all you do for our students and staff, Devon! You make a HUGE difference each and every day.
Get your Specialization Badge!
The purpose of this memo is to bring your attention to and provide information about several self-directed professional learning opportunities for teachers that will be offered through the Department of Teaching and Learning (DTAL) beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. You may recall the division launched a series of specialization options for teachers, a full listing of which can be found on the Professional Growth and Innovation SharePoint site (PGI). As a part of specialization in Performance Based Assessment (PBA), DTAL offered badges in PBA Development, PBA Rubric Design and Rubric Calibration, which were well received by teachers this past school year.
To complement the specialization in PBA, DTAL is pleased to be adding a literacy specialization for the upcoming school year. The Academic Vocabulary and Collaborative Conversations badges are a great next step for teachers who completed the Close Reading badge. Teachers who have yet to embark on the PBA or literacy specialization now have six options to take advantage of, allowing a teacher the option of potentially progressing through all three PBA or all three literacy badge courses for the chance to earn a specialization. Each badge is “stackable,” and the completion of all three PBA or literacy badges will result in a teacher earning a specialization badge.
Teachers may participate in division-sponsored specialization courses and earn professional learning badges in the following DTAL sponsored areas:
PBA specialization courses:
•Performance Based Assessment (PBA)Development
•PBA Rubric Development
•PBA Calibration and Scoring
Literacy specialization courses:
•Close Reading: A 30 Day Series Facilitated byDoug Fisher
•Collaborative Conversations: A 30 Day SeriesFacilitated by Doug Fisher
•Academic Vocabulary
*note: the successful completion of all three PBAbadges will result in teachers earning a masterspecialization badge in PBA.
*note: the successful completion of all three literacybadges will result in teachers earning a masterspecialization badge in literacy.
By participating in any of the above badge/specialization courses, teachers will be able to develop and highlight expertise in specific priority areas that are in tight alignment with the division's Teaching and Learning Framework and are designed to further progress toward the division’s attainment of goals stated in the strategic plan, Compass to 2020. A demonstration of mastery in these areas, as identified by earning a badge, will be a preferred prerequisite for job vacancies within DTAL for coaching, specialist and/or curriculum coordinator positions. Furthermore, preference will be given to teachers who have earned any of the above badges when applying for curriculum and/or textbook review committees or other DTAL sponsored committees. Teacher demonstration of mastery leading toward badge/specialization attainment in any of the above areas will also further teacher capacity and can be considered by administrators when determining attainment of the exemplary level of proficiency in the Professional Knowledge component of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teacher Evaluation Rubric. In addition to earning a master badge and licensure points, at the completion of each course participants will earn points towards earning the Career Teacher Allowance.
While these professional learning opportunities will be self-paced and flexible, there will be key submission dates for final products and/or reflections. All courses listed above will be housed in Schoology, and the registration for each will be completed in Frontline. Specific details regarding course descriptions and submission deadlines are attached and can also be found on the PGI site listed above.
For questions regarding the specializations and badges sponsored by DTAL, please contact Katie Cirilli,
K-12 programs and grants coordinator, at Katie.Cirilli@vbschools.com or 263-1077. Thank you.
Thoughts from Master Lee
Join our PTA
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Join the PTA! Our goal is to have 100% Staff participation!!!!!!!!!
Support Birdneck Elementary students by joining the PTA. Don't miss out on the benefits from joining the PTA. Receive over $300 in savings... all for just $5 for a membership. Check out the PTA website at http://birdneckpta.weebly.com/
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Twitter@BNESeagles
BIRDNECK MISSION
Mission: We build relationships to encourage, inspire and empower others to meet the challenges of today and to foster the love of learning.
BIRDNECK VISION
Vision: We are dedicated to nurturing an inclusive environment to ensure engaging, student-centered learning resulting in confident independent learners.
BIRDNECK BELIEFS
We believe in a collaborative community in which teachers, administrators, students, and parents work together for student success.
We believe in creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment in which all students can strive for excellence and achieve their individual potential.
We believe we will prepare our students for success by providing 21st century learning and developing within our students critical thinking, effective communications and problem solving skills.
Website: http://www.birdneckes.vbschools.com/
Location: 957 South Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2120