KUDOS!!!
- Thank you to ALL of our staff! You are all truly AMAZING! A sign of a good culture and team is when members of the team can be "absent" and the team can still make decisions, collaborate, and adjust. Versus in the absence of a team member the rest of the team doesn't adjust and adapt without the team members permission or presence.
- This has been especially noticeable with all of you as Annie and I have been "absent" at times due to also assisting with 3-5 Karcher School. Yet... 7-8 (you all) have been tweaking, adjusting, and working as a team still!!! Which, we love to see and hear!
- Proud moments, when reflecting, through my eyes.
- Now... don't take this the wrong way... if you need us let us know :))) It is just noticeable when going back and forth between buildings - we are proud of all of you!
- Not just for how you have worked to build relationships with students this past week. For being present in the hallways and front entrance to greet students. For assisting students with opening their lockers. Learning the ropes of a new building.
- This is not a kudos but something to share...
- When at Karcher School we received a call from room 16 (Katie and Sue's classrooms) that a BAT was in the room. I chuckled in my head, reflecting back to when bats where flying in the hallways last year during inservice time. When Annie and I were able to use all of our new cameras to capture all of YOU assisting (or more so... mostly watching) as we helped the little guys get out of the building.
- Just had to share... though things have changed... somethings have not :)
Information/Reminders
- Virtual Lessons Start - Monday, August 24
- This is a reminder that all staff should begin the virtual lessons with students this week along with the in-person. Lesson plan with the thinking... still providing 5 days of instruction/curriculum but in 4 lessons (2 in-person, 2 virtual). Students don't have Wednesday "off" they should need to use Wednesday.
- iReady Fall Diagnostic window begins Monday, August 24.
- Teams decided the below plans for their grade levels:
- 7th grade...
- Starting with ELA and will use ELA, iTime, and Social Studies periods (all on the same day) to administer the diagnostic.
- Plan is to use Thursday/Friday for advisory time.
- Following week will be for Math. Same concept but using Math, iTime, and Science periods all in the same day (Monday/Tuesday)
- The goal... try and get the diagnostics completed with all students on Mondays (A students) and Tuesdays (B students)
- 8th grade...
- Starting with ELA first. 8th grade wants to start on Monday/Tuesday with just taking the diagnostic in ELA class. Then... Thursday/Friday will use Social Studies and ELA class periods to complete the diagnostic.
- This means you will have "extended advisory" versus iTime throughout this week and next week.
- Following week will be Math week - same concept. Math class will be for diagnostic on Monday/Tuesday then Math and Science on Thursday/Friday.
- Grade Level Websites
- Nice work everyone getting your pictures in, etc for the websites!
- This is just a reminder to make sure it becomes habit to put your assigned activities into the "Assignment Boards" for students, families, and staff to all see!
Overall safety reminders:
- BASD staff masks are in! You can pick up 2 from the health office.
- There will also be BASD gaiters for sale through the activities office... 10 dollars per gaiter. These are for staff, students, and/or families to purchase! They are NICE!
- Masks are to be worn at all times, unless a student is outside and able to social distance from others. The only other time is when eating / drinking, it says so in an IEP / 504 - or - it has been prior approved due to a medical need. There are not to be masks breaks.
- Our initial information out to families does talk about teachers discretion relating to face coverings after our board voted to require face coverings. However, our mask protocols were written prior to the state mandate of masks to be wore at all times when inside any buildings. Therefore, students/staff need to keep masks on throughout the school day.
- Some staff have asked if they can just wear a face shield. Here is the answer:
- Face shields can be worn in addition to a face mask. There are some very limited instructional needs where just a face shield would be appropriate (speech minutes) for example.
- Again, this is due to the state mask mandate.
- Please remember we want to limit the number of students going to the health office, therefore, try to utilize your first aide kits in your classrooms as well versus sending students up for a bandaid, etc.
- Wednesday questions you had with answers below...
- If you are wanting to fill your spray bottle cleaners during the school day ask Lois Cramer (ext 0) to radio a custodian. A custodian will come to your room then and fill it for you. Otherwise, continue leaving your bottles to be filled on your desks in your classrooms and they will be filled that way.
- Kris Thomsen brought over a few boxes we had at 3-5 Karcher (that were extra) to BHS for those of you who did not have the foam hand sanitizer. Talk to Kris about getting bottles if you still need any.
- Suzanne has been in contact with Scott Christensen to get you all power cords so that you have at least one in your classrooms. Scott thought we had about 70 cords still but we do not, those were used with loaners, new chromebooks for new students, etc. So we are working on getting Scott to get us some.
- I did send out an email to parents about the 7-8 grade websites for one stop shopping and to give them a heads up that, as teams, you may switch some students around to balance out class numbers. BUT... that we would NOT be switching students teachers or A/B days. Same teacher still just a different hour potentially.
- Advisory materials will be in room 237.
- Staff pot lucks... very important topic... will be on Wednesdays when we have them. Can use the library counter area that way.
- We will have an SRO... we are working with the Police Department as there are some tweaks we would like to see as a district relating to the SRO position.
- Staff parking passes
- You can get one from Donna Keown (attendance office) to put on your car. If you were to get a parking ticket just give it to one of the administrators and we will take care of it as you cannot/won't get a parking ticket.
- 7-8 Karcher Attendance
- Donna Keown IS the attendance secretary for 7-12. We know this was not always the message given to you this past week but she is... let us know if you continue to have any issues with this.
- Middle School Athletics
- We are thinking that, for the fall, MS athletics will run as clubs as we will not be traveling to compete against other schools. Becky is working on putting together information to reach out to coaches and then out to families. We will mimic the high school and not start anything until after September 7th.
- Wednesday PLC this week... use this time to continue planning with your teams!
Picture from this past week!
We decided to move a little over half of the cafeteria tables for 7-8 from the gym to the 2nd floor. This will help with the amount of time needed to break down the tables for the gym to be used for PE class. Those remaining in the gym will be stored in the PE/Athletic storage room that is off the gym. Thank you to Kurt Rummler for the GREAT idea of having our safety patrol students be the leads on this breakdown/set up each day for the gym!
The tables on the 2nd floor can be used as learning spaces by 7-8 grade teachers as well!!! Win-Win!
