April 25, 2021

   

KUDOS!!!  

• Thanks again to Stacey Steeples, Pam Bauer, Michele Pulera, and Kim Moss for all of your help within the office and library!  You do so much behind the scenes and we all want you to know how much we appreciate you all!  
• Kudos to a great start for our Forward testing!  Though we know we don't want to ever use a full day for testing in the future you all did a GREAT job making the best of the situation for our students. Thank you all for troubleshooting, maintaining an even keel, and providing strong testing environments for our students!  
• Students who were here on the 22nd for the most part completed all the tests slotted for the day!  GREAT news when it comes to makeup testing needs. 
• Please get any student testing completion questions to Steve Berezowitz or Annie Phillips!  
• Congrats to Barb and Steve Berezowitz as their oldest daughter, Maddie, is on the University of Kentucky volleyball team who WON the NCAA National Championship this past weekend!  
• Maddie also was selected as the NCAA Elite 90 Award Winner!!!  Read below... SO AWESOME!!!  
• Congrats again Barb and Steve!  

In lieu of an article:  

Below is an email from a 7th grade student.  Her words provide us all with great reminders of why we need to continue to ensure students and ourselves keep masks on throughout the school day! 

Good afternoon,

      I'm writing to you regarding stronger enforcement on masks. Many others, myself included, believe that Burlington Area School district must do a better job on this. 

     I am currently in the 8th grade, and am attending school in-person and full time. I have found that an average of 9 people per class are wearing a mask incorrectly. I decided to write this when 7 people are wearing no masks at all in my 6th hour class with Mr. Crammer as a substitute. Seeing this happen makes me feel unsafe in class, and uncomfortable. I am proposing higher action done on this, or punishments for those who do not comply. Though the mask mandate for Wisconsin is no longer in action, Covid is, and it is a school rule to have a mask on. It has been proven that when a carrier of Covid is wearing a mask, the chance of contamination for others is significantly lower than without one. Seeing this being disregarded so much is very concerning to me. I do see every teacher with a mask on correctly, though when they see people not wearing one or one incorrectly, nothing is done. 

     From what I can see, I would estimate around 65% of students wearing masks incorrectly. I am requesting we do something other than a "reminder" for these people. It is true that students are able to say something, but they have. Many students are told inappropriate and bad things when telling others to fix their mask, and many students deal with social anxiety. Of course there are people who are medically incapable to wear a mask, but this is disregarding them. I suggest students be given detention for not having masks, or students be moved when having masks on incorrectly.

      I hope you can see where I'm coming from, and I anticipate a solution. I completely understand if you are not in a place where you can do something, though I am concerned for the health for my teachers and classmates. I do appreciate whats already been done, though there really needs to be more.

Thank you so much for your time,

(Student) 

Information/Reminders:  

• Monday, April 26 - Continuation of Forward Testing for our 8th grade students.  
• Testing will be taking place in Social Studies, Science, and ELA this week.  
• So... as a reminder... keep the noise level down to continue providing a strong testing environment for our students!  
• Monday, April 26 - BLT Meeting to finalize P/T Conferences starting at 2:40 via Zoom.  This BLT meeting should be a quick one!
• Annie will send the Zoom Link!
• Monday, April 26 - District K-5 Essential Skills team will be meeting again to review and strategize about how the instructional minutes will look for K-5 so that we have consistency across the district within all 5 elementary schools!  
• Meeting in the Karcher library from 3:45-5:15.   

Additional End of the Year Items!  

• SLOs & PPGs - Should be submitted by Monday, May 10th.
• Thursday, May 20 - 8th Grade Recognition @ 7:00pm
• Friday, May 21st - Early Release Times for each building: 
• 12:00 - BHS/Karcher (7-8)
• 12:50 - Dyer & Karcher (3-5)
• 1:00 - Waller & Cooper
• 1:10 - Lyons & Winkler
• School Keys - End of the Year Return!!!  
• EVERYONE... across the whole school district will need to turn in their keys to the head secretaries in each building. Each secretary was sent a list of all staff and all the issued keys you should have. At some point, it is suggested that you take the time (prior to the end of the year) to check-in and see if all the keys you have are the ones the district says you have. That way, if one is missing you have time to locate the key!
• Key turn in will be part of the staff check-out at the end of the school year.
• "Closing of Karcher"  
• Below are additional dates (besides May 1 & 7) that are important dates for you to be aware of when it comes to the "Closing of Karcher".  As you know, the current building we are all in will be coming down this June.  Prior to that we have a series of events/needs to honor the memories and ensure the district has what it needs from old Karcher before it comes down.  Below is the series of events that will unfold in the weeks to come! 
• Salvaging Mementos - June 4 & 5
• Both of these dates are set for staff and the community to purchase items of interest prior to demo. Think of this as a "rummage sale". The "why" behind taping items BASD wants with the colored tape in old Karcher especially was needed so we know what we have interest in selling and determining prices for items.
• We will most likely have set locations in the building where all items for sale will be housed for the community to look through, again, still in the planning stages of this but wanted to share what we have determined so far!
• Police & Fire Training
• Following June 5th we have agreed to partner with the Burlington Police and Fire Departments for them to use old Karcher for necessary trainings prior to demo starting on June 14th.
• New Karcher Open House
• The new buildings interior will be completed this May with the furniture going in the building in May as well.
• The site, however, will not be completed, therefore, the new building will not be open for use until the start of the school year. We might use the office area for some district office staff throughout the summer as we work to remodel the 209 building for the new District Office location and remodel Lincoln School (where the current DO is located). However, student activities (camps, etc) will not be allowed to use the new building this summer.
• 6-8 Student Open House will take place artthe startof the school year for the incoming 6-8th grade students and their families on August 31st.
• The dedication of the new building, with the Community Open House, will take place on September 25th. Perhaps you are wondering why after school starts? The desire is to have the building have some life to it... staff and student items in the building!
• 2021-2022 Start Times for K-5  
• School Start Times K-5 
• Dyer, Waller, and Cooper (in the city schools) 
• 8:10-3:20 
• Lyons, Winkler (neighborhood schools) 
• 8:15-3:25 
• May 24th and May 25th  
• May 24th is an inservice day where the focus of that day will be checkout - you won't be able to check out on Friday, May 21st.  The second thing we will be focusing on for the 24th is ensuring everything is ready for all of the moves that have to happen across the school district.  
• Staff handbook language regarding the use of personal days:  
• "personal leave will not be granted during the first or last week of a semester, or on an in-service day.” 
• “personal leave during these periods may be approved for personal business that cannot be rescheduled for a different time at the discretion of the District Administrator or his designee.”
• May 25th is a comp day for certified staff.  

Pictures from this week!

Might seem like a silly picture but this shows the carpet and double doors that a are installed for the gym entrance from Robert Street!  

Bleachers going in...

Can see the large glass door is shut here 

(closed as they are working on cleaning the building!)

Lockers and TVs are being installed.  There will be a waterfall counter (maple) on top of the lockers that will go to the floor on both ends.  This was a "Jill" design as the architects have never done something like this before!  

Whiteboards in the large academic corridors!  Basically EVERY space in this building is an instructional space!

Academic classroom with the TV installed (not totally finished here but cool to see the progress)

SGI Room (Small Group Instruction Space in an academic wing) 

Different view of "Karcher Middle School".  You can also see the stained concrete in the commons area here.  

Cool viewpoint!

Main Entrance by the main office.  Showing the progress of the double door secure entrance along with the carpet at the entrance as well.  

Bench in the main entrance corridor.  The maple wood was installed that makes up the seat, side walls, and top of the area.  The white box is a location for a TV for signage to always be on, etc.  

Entrance to the gym!  

Students in 8th grade ELA with Alyssa Riggs!  Working on the development of a theme!

April 18, 2021

   

 KUDOS!  

• Please welcome Sarah Henningsen to the 7-8 team for these last few weeks.  Sarah was serving as a teaching support person in 4th grade for a second classroom.  She will be starting with us Monday, April 19th so please welcome her to the team!  
• At last weeks board meeting the approval for Nick Ryan to become the next Karcher Middle School Principal was approved!  Nick will be a great addition to BASD and the Burlington Community!  An email was sent to all of you with more details about Nick and a welcome message from him as well!    
• Thank you to the academic teachers who were willing to assist with lunch supervision this past Friday so that the elective staff could meet with us to discuss the elective schedules for next year! Your willingness and help is very appreciated!  I believe the assistance was from:  Scott Staude, Ellen Murphy, Kailee Smith, Patti Tenhagen, Mike Jones, and Kurt Rummler!  I hope I did not forget anyone and apologize if I did!  

Information/Reminders

This week:  

• Certified Staff:  
• This is a reminder to complete THIS survey for the Compensation Committee to analyze and use within their conversations and decisions about the compensation model for BASD.  You are all encouraged to take the time to complete this survey as it relates to salary decisions for all certified staff.  
• The survey will be open through the end of the day on Friday, April 23. 
• Accurate Attendance!!!  
• We will be using an automated calling system for students who are absent from school.  It is VITAL that you take accurate attendance at the start of the school day!!!  
• Monday, April 19 - 6-8 BLT Meeting from 2:40-3:30.  
• We will be reviewing the finalizes schedule, asking if anything is missing, noticed, etc.  
• Discuss spring parent-teacher conferences.  
• Other items brought forward from BLT members.  
• The link to the Zoom is in the Google Invite!  
• State Required Forward Testing Starts this week!  
• Please make sure all students have done the chromebook update!!!!  They will not be able to take the assessments without the update!  
• There are some extra headphones in the library for Karcher students to check out if needed for the exams.  Students do need to return them after they are done testing for that day.  
• Tuesday, April 20 - Start of our Forward Testing!!!  
• All 7th grade students will be engaging in one ELA session within their ELA classes.  We do have some small group testing taking place as well so please be cognizant and mindful in the hallways to ensure a quiet testing environment for our students!  
• Thursday, April 22 - 7-10th grade State Testing
• All 11th and 12th grade students will engage in virtual learning on the 22nd.  
• Our students will be engaging in the Forward Exam while the high school take the ACT Aspire.  Both assessments are state assessments required by all public school districts. 
• This is an extremely important assessment and one that all staff and students need to take seriously!  Here are a few reminders of how we proctor the Forward Exams:  
• Students cannot engage in anything else for the duration of time provided from DPI for the assessment.  Meaning, if the Forward time schedule says 50 minutes and a student says they are done in 30 minutes quietly let them know that they won't be able to do anything else until the time provided is complete so why not look back through the questions and ensure you answered them correctly.  
• Also, remind students to read the full question!  Some questions tell students to be the best 2, etc so students need to read the full question to notice that.  
• Lastly, NO student can submit their assessment until a staff member comes over to ensure they answered all the questions for the assessment.  Once you verify they answered all the questions (there is a final screen that shows if they did or not) then they can submit.  If they did not complete all the questions simply say, "It looks like you still need to answer number 9.  Please go back to that question and answer it.  Then I will come back over and double check that all questions have been answered prior to you submitting.  Thank you!"  
• Wednesday, April 21 - PLC Focus
• Please use your PLC time to look over your Essential Skill Rubrics and the language within your "At a Glance" documents to ensure the language is what needs to be used in Skyward!  And... to make sure you are ready for the shift to Essential Skills grading practices come the fall as you will be shifting to a standards gradebook!!!  
• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences 7-8
• Please discuss with your teams this week how you would like to conduct spring P/T conferences!  We will then discuss as a BLT on Monday, April 19 and make a decision.  
• Summary Year Staff:  
• If you have not scheduled your Announced Observation with Kim please do so ASAP!!!!!!  

Other items relating to the end of the year and/or 6-8 staff!  

• BLT - We will be meeting as a 6-8 team on Monday, April 19th after school.  I will be inviting the 6th grade BLT members as our focus will be to review next year's schedule.  
• "Closing of Karcher"  
• Below are important dates for you to be aware of when it comes to the "Closing of Karcher".  As you know, the current building will be coming down this June.  Prior to that we have a series of events/needs to honor the memories and ensure the district has what it needs from old Karcher before then!  Below are the series of events that will unfold in the weeks to come!  
• "Celebrating Memories of 225 Robert St."  
• The building will be open to the public (advertised for alumni groups) to walk through Karcher and reminisce about the good old days!  These two dates will be Saturday, May 1st and Friday, May 7th.  
• Friday, May 7th will be in the evening!  
• For both of these your classrooms will be closed to the public.  If you teach in large spaces (U-Lab, Band Room, 21st Century Lab, Library, STEM those spaces most likely will be open).  
• We will have some volunteers around the building assisting the "self-guided" tour.  
• Salvaging Mementos - June 4 & 5
• Both of these dates are set for staff and the community to purchase items of interest prior to demo. Think of this as a "rummage sale".  
• The "why" behind taping items BASD wants with the colored tape in old Karcher (this past week with all K-12 administrators) was so that we know what we are keeping and what we have interest in selling.
• We will most likely have set locations in the building where all items for sale will be housed for the community to look through, again, still in the planning stages of this but wanted to share what we have determined so far!
• Initially we were thinking we would let community/staff come in with tools, etc and "take what they want" but this was determined to not be the desired plan for BASD. Therefore, what is above will be the basis of the plan, again... not totally thought out at this time but getting there!
• Police & Fire Training
• Following June 5th we have agreed to partner with the Burlington Police and Fire Departments for them to use old Karcher for necessary trainings prior to demo starting on June 14th.
• New Karcher Open House
• The new buildings interior will be completed this May with the furniture going in the building in May as well.
• The site, however, will not be completed, therefore, the new building will not be open for use until the start of the school year. We might use the office area for some district office staff throughout the summer as we work to remodel the 209 building for the new District Office location and remodel Lincoln School (where the current DO is located). However, student activities (camps, etc) will not be allowed to use the new building this summer.
• 6-8 Student Open House will take place at the start of the school year for the incoming 6-8th grade students and their families on August 31st.
• The dedication of the new building, with the Community Open House, will take place on September 25th. Perhaps you are wondering why after school starts? The desire is to have the building have some life to it... staff and student items in the building prior to a community open house! 

• School Keys - End of the Year Return!!!  
• So... EVERYONE... across the whole school district will need to turn in their keys to the head secretaries in each building. Each secretary was sent a list of all staff and all the issued keys you should have. At some point, it is suggested that you take the time (prior to the end of the year) to check-in and see if all the keys you have are the ones the district says you have. That way, if one is missing you have time to locate the key!
• Key turn in will be part of the staff check-out at the end of the school year.

• Just an FYI... 2021-2022 Start Times for K-5 (in the event you are curious)
• Teachers in all buildings will report from:  
• 7:40-3:40 
• However, Tuesdays will be PLC days with the start time of 7:30-3:40.  
• Because we are asking that you come in 10 minutes earlier on Tuesdays then you have leave 10 minutes early on Fridays. 
• School Start Times K-5 
• Dyer, Waller, and Cooper (in the city schools) 
• 8:10-3:20 
• Lyons, Winkler (neighborhood schools) 
• 8:15-3:25 

• May 24th and May 25th 
• There have been questions about May 24th and 25th when it comes to expectations and the "why".  
• May 24th is an inservice day where the focus of that day will be checkout - you won't be able to check out on Friday, May 21st.  The second thing we will be focusing on for the 24th is ensuring everything is ready for all of the moves that have to happen across the school district.  
• Staff handbook language regarding the use of personal days:  
• "personal leave will not be granted during the first or last week of a semester, or on an in-service day.” 
• “personal leave during these periods may be approved for personal business that cannot be rescheduled for a different time at the discretion of the District Administrator or his designee.”
• May 25th is a comp day for certified staff.  There are always two comp days built into the calendar - one 1st semester (was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Break) and for 2nd semester it will be May 25th.  These comp days are put in place for the 8 hours of parent/teacher conference time used within the semester.  So, because you are attending those times for conferences you get a day off, which, in this case is the 25th.  

Pictures from this week! 

Check out this summative assessment from 7th grade math!  Notice how the subskills are broken down at the top - so this assessment is assessing multiple subskills within the same assessment.  By doing this the student and the teacher can see what areas they are proficient in (in this case 9.0 or higher) and which ones they still need work on (in this case finding slope).  Much more specific feedback versus one overall score for the full summative.  This is how all summatives should look in EVERY subject area!  

8th grade orchestra with Dustan Eckmann!

Kailee Smith working with some of her students in the open hallway space on their ELA work.  

Students in 8th grade science class with Donna Sturdevant analyzing and interpreting data from the lab they did the day prior.  

Students in Patti Tenhagen's 7th grade math class completing a quiz on their computers using Google Forms.  The focus of the quiz was for students to practice how they will see questions on the Forward Exam and understand what supplies they can use to solve the math problems.  

The name of the school has gone up!  This is looking back towards the main office (back right corner).  The lower floor area is the commons and the upper windows about the "Karcher Middle School" letters is the Fitness Room!  

The inside panels of the railings around the commons are on!

Main office welcome to Karcher sign is up!

April 11, 2021

   

 KUDOS!  

• Thank you to the numerous staff members who assisted this past week to determine who will be the next Middle School Principal.  The staff did a great job collaborating and working together to find the right fit for the team!  The candidate selected by the team was called and they accepted the position.  Staff will be able to share the candidates, name, etc once it is accepted by the board on Monday night!  
• Thank you goes out to Matthew Torres, long term sub for William Weidert, as he will be joining the 7-8 team starting Monday, April 12th as a special education aide.  Matthew was assisting as a teaching support staff member within 5th grade when K-6 was needing to have A and B groups.  Now that we can combine our classes K-12 the need shifted back to the middle school with the return of 7-12 to 5 days in-person.  Therefore, Matthew will be assisting 7-8!  
• The following week, Sarah Henningsen will also be assisting 7-8.  She is currently helping in grade 4 where additional testing (like 8th grade) for science and social studies is needed for the Forward Exam.  Once she is done assisting with testing she will be joining 7-8 as well from 8:15-2:30!  
• Thank you to all staff for a GREAT first week with all the students in-person 5 days a week!  It is hard to believe we have not been in this situation since March of last year!  It was great to see all the students and have a feeling of a "new school year" all over again as we approach the 2020-2021 finish line!  
• As you most likely know, we have some families/students agains the mask rule set by the school board since the supreme court decision.  However, we have the local control to determine the rules for BASD.  Therefore, because the board has not lifted the mask mandate for BASD students/staff everyone is required to continue wearing a mast at all times (minus when eating or spread out in outdoor spaces).  If you have any issues with students not following this rule treat it the same as any other school rule... warning first, referral, and then admin if needed.  

Article this week:  As our students return to us full time for the first time since last March this article seems fitting to support all students! 

Students Need Emotional Support When Returning to School in Person. Here’s How

Phyllis L. Fagell, a licensed clinical professional counselor, is the author of Middle School Matters, the school counselor at Sheridan School, an independent K-8 school in the District of Columbia, and a therapist at the Chrysalis Group.

When my school resumed in-person classes this winter, I watched as a 5th grade boy splayed on his stomach across the chair in class, his arms extended like Superman. He wasn’t trying to be funny; he was simply trying to ground himself. After months of toxic stress, his ability to pay attention and self-regulate had been compromised, and as much as he detested remote learning, the return to school hadn’t been a panacea. He was happy to see friends but also tired easily, bristled at perceived slights, and struggled to produce work.

When I reached out to several fellow psychologists and educators by phone to hear about their own experiences returning to school, I found out that the student I observed is not unique. “The first thing educators need to understand is the toll that this year has taken on each person’s nervous system,” Mona Delahooke, the author of Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges, told me. “Nobody was immune from the stress of having to leave a familiar environment overnight, and our bodies and brains adapt differently to the new situation.”

While some students will look disengaged or detached, others will slouch, fidget, or move more. The one constant is that every child needs compassion and patience. Here are six ways educators can prioritize kids’ emotional well-being during the transition back to school buildings:

1. Strike a balance between predictability and novelty. Students crave consistency after a trauma, but many have come to dread the choreographed sameness of their days and need more fun, such as an impromptu nature walk where possible or a paper-airplane-making contest. Play and connection activate the social-engagement system and are healing.

Episcopal Academy, a P-12 school in Newtown Square, Pa., is replacing an advisory or class meeting with recess so students can play “in a space that’s not micromanaged by adults,” school psychologist Jessica Anderson told me.

Teachers also need to be willing to shelve a lesson, added Morgan Penn, an 8th grade science teacher at Argyle Middle School in Montgomery County, Md. “I had a student with a family member in El Salvador who passed away from COVID, and when he told the class that his father had COVID, too, everyone stopped to support him.”

2. Be understanding when addressing misbehavior. After remote learning, “kids are used to using the bathroom any time they want and turning off their cameras and muting themselves so they can have a side conversation,” said James Allrich, Argyle’s principal. “Now, kids will have arrows everywhere, dots telling them where to stand, and I can see a kid being nervous: ‘Am I standing on the right dot? Do I have to put my face mask on between bites when I eat?’”

That anxiety can manifest as noncompliance; students need reassurance that they’re not in trouble when they make a mistake.

Penn added, “These are children, not robots. Is there a fire? Is anyone falling out the window? I’ll say, ‘If you want to lie on the floor, or if you’re frustrated and want to scream but can’t do it now, let’s talk about a time when you can do it.’”

3. Rebuild students’ sense of competency. Many students had a hard time with online learning, and their academic self-concept has taken a hit. Others feel awkward and have lost their social footing. To address insecurity, be flexible and help students learn to manage their time wisely.

Trust that kids want to do well and that you may not know their back story. Penn shared that one student lost their home and had to move into another family’s apartment with their young toddlers, another suffers from insomnia, and a third was too anxious to bring herself to do assignments.

4. Crank up the connection. Kids disclose more to teachers who take emotional risks themselves. “My students know I’m in therapy; they even know my therapist’s name is Manuela,” Penn said. “It should be normal—everyone needs help. I say, ‘I’m pushing through every day just like you are and I’m really fighting for you.’”

Remote instruction has also underscored for many of us the value of face-to-face interactions. “I’ve missed the dynamic of looking in someone’s eyes and knowing, without them saying a word, that something isn’t right,” Allrich told me. “I’ll say, ‘Let’s talk,’ and they just start crying.”

5. Don’t forget that different students have different needs. One parent told me that her middle schooler moved midpandemic and had yet to meet a single classmate at her local public school. New students will need supports, such as welcome buddies and groups for new students.

Kids who remain virtual when buildings reopen also have unique needs. One remote learner told me she feels intense FOMO (fear of missing out) every time she sees her classmates engaging in person. Schools can mitigate that by scheduling time for online and offline learners to have a virtual recess.

My middle schoolers also tell me they feel self-conscious when teachers project the faces of remote learners onto a whiteboard at the front of the room. By turning the desks around so the screen is behind the kids, teachers can see every student without spotlighting anyone.

6. Work together to create a safety net. Compare notes with your colleagues to ensure no student falls through the cracks. An English teacher might realize a child is struggling when they write a poem about depression. A school nurse might tie a student’s headaches to anxiety. An art teacher might draw attention to a child’s dark self-portraits. A paraeducator might see that a kid always sits alone at recess.

Educators need to keep an eye on one another, too. Allrich reminds his staff that everyone is anxious, then reassures them that they’re used to operating from a place of empathy. “We’re on shifting grounds, but our unchangeable core doesn’t change—and that’s kindness, care, relationships, and communication.”

Information/Reminders

This week:  

• Accurate Attendance!!!  
• We will be using an automated calling system for students who are absent from school.  It is VITAL that you take accurate attendance at the start of the school day!!!  
• Monday, April 12 - District 6-12 Essential Skill Committee Meeting via Zoom from 3:45-5:15.  
• The focus of this meeting will be around the behind the scenes of Skyward and Essential Skills.  
• Wednesday, April 14 - PLC Focus
• Please use your PLC time to look over your Essential Skill Rubrics and the language within your "At a Glance" documents to ensure the language is what needs to be used in Skyward!  And... to make sure you are ready for the shift to Essential Skills grading practices come the fall as you will be shifting to a standards gradebook!!!  
• Special Education Teachers will be meeting during PLC time as a department.  
• Friday, April 16 - In order for Annie and I to meet with the Elective Staff for a team time the only way to do that is to have academic teachers help cover lunch duty for the day.  So, please determine who will assist with lunch duty on Friday for both 8th grade and 7th grade - once decided just let Annie know!  
• Elective Staff... we would like to meet with you from 10:55-11:25 to go over the elective schedule for next year.  Following our meeting then would be your own lunch.  I will send you all an invite that will include the Zoom link.  
• Forward Exam
• As a reminder, the schedule for Forward Exam this year is on the Karcher Calendar.  7th grade will engage in one ELA assessment prior to April 22nd, we will only have grades 7-10 at BHS for testing on April 22nd, and then the week of April 26th will be used for the 8th grade Science, Social Studies, and additional ELA sessions needed for the completion of the Forward Exam.  
• Utilizing a full day for testing is not ideal and not the desired format for Forward Testing.  However, due to the sharing of the high school spaces this is the best way to test giving the need for small group testing environments, etc.  
• Please start having students update their computers as the only hang ups 3-5 this past week with Forward Testing was with students who did not have their computers up to date.  It would be a GREAT idea to have them update their computers this week and then again right before testing.  
• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences 7-8
• Please discuss with your teams this week how you would like to conduct spring P/T conferences!  We will then discuss as a BLT on Monday, April 19 and make a decision.  
• This week is "Tornado Awareness Week".  
• The state drill is set for 1:45 on Thursday and then another one for people to practice at home in the evening at 6:45.  I am not sure if the High School will hold the fire drill at 1:45 on Thursday or not!  Just know there will be one this week :)  
• Summary Year Staff:  
• If you have not scheduled your Announced Observation with Kim please do so ASAP!!!!!!  
• I would like to get all observations done by the end of this week please :) 

Other items relating to the end of the year and/or 6-8 staff!  

• BLT - We will be meeting as a 6-8 team on Monday, April 19th after school.  I will be inviting the 6th grade BLT members as our focus will be to review next year's schedule.  
• "Closing of Karcher"  
• Below are important dates for you to be aware of when it comes to the "Closing of Karcher".  As you know, the current building will be coming down this June.  Prior to that we have a series of events/needs to honor the memories and ensure the district has what it needs from old Karcher before then!  Below are the series of events that will unfold in the weeks to come!  
• "Celebrating Memories of 225 Robert St."  
• The building will be open to the public (advertised for alumni groups) to walk through Karcher and reminisce about the good old days!  These two dates will be Saturday, May 1st and Friday, May 7th.  
• Friday, May 7th will be in the evening!  
• For both of these your classrooms will be closed to the public.  If you teach in large spaces (U-Lab, Band Room, 21st Century Lab, Library, STEM those spaces most likely will be open).  
• We will have some volunteers around the building assisting the "self-guided" tour.  
• Salvaging Mementos - June 4 & 5
• Both of these dates are set for staff and the community to purchase items of interest prior to demo. Think of this as a "rummage sale".  
• The "why" behind taping items BASD wants with the colored tape in old Karcher (this past week with all K-12 administrators) was so that we know what we are keeping and what we have interest in selling.
• We will most likely have set locations in the building where all items for sale will be housed for the community to look through, again, still in the planning stages of this but wanted to share what we have determined so far!
• Initially we were thinking we would let community/staff come in with tools, etc and "take what they want" but this was determined to not be the desired plan for BASD. Therefore, what is above will be the basis of the plan, again... not totally thought out at this time but getting there!
• Police & Fire Training
• Following June 5th we have agreed to partner with the Burlington Police and Fire Departments for them to use old Karcher for necessary trainings prior to demo starting on June 14th.
• New Karcher Open House
• The new buildings interior will be completed this May with the furniture going in the building in May as well.
• The site, however, will not be completed, therefore, the new building will not be open for use until the start of the school year. We might use the office area for some district office staff throughout the summer as we work to remodel the 209 building for the new District Office location and remodel Lincoln School (where the current DO is located). However, student activities (camps, etc) will not be allowed to use the new building this summer.
• 6-8 Student Open House will take place at the start of the school year for the incoming 6-8th grade students and their families on August 31st.
• The dedication of the new building, with the Community Open House, will take place on September 25th. Perhaps you are wondering why after school starts? The desire is to have the building have some life to it... staff and student items in the building prior to a community open house! 

• School Keys - End of the Year Return!!!  
• So... EVERYONE... across the whole school district will need to turn in their keys to the head secretaries in each building. Each secretary was sent a list of all staff and all the issued keys you should have. At some point, it is suggested that you take the time (prior to the end of the year) to check-in and see if all the keys you have are the ones the district says you have. That way, if one is missing you have time to locate the key!
• Key turn in will be part of the staff check-out at the end of the school year.

• 2021-2022 Start Times for K-5 (in the event you are curious)
• Teachers in all buildings will report from:  
• 7:40-3:40 
• However, Tuesdays will be PLC days with the start time of 7:30-3:40.  
• Because we are asking that you come in 10 minutes earlier on Tuesdays then you have leave 10 minutes early on Fridays. 
• School Start Times K-5 
• Dyer, Waller, and Cooper (in the city schools) 
• 8:10-3:20 
• Lyons, Winkler (neighborhood schools) 
• 8:15-3:25 

• May 24th and May 25th 
• There have been questions about May 24th and 25th when it comes to expectations and the "why".  
• May 24th is an inservice day where the focus of that day will be checkout - you won't be able to check out on Friday, May 21st.  The second thing we will be focusing on for the 24th is ensuring everything is ready for all of the moves that have to happen across the school district.  
• Staff handbook language regarding the use of personal days:  
• "personal leave will not be granted during the first or last week of a semester, or on an in-service day.” 
• “personal leave during these periods may be approved for personal business that cannot be rescheduled for a different time at the discretion of the District Administrator or his designee.”
• May 25th is a comp day for certified staff.  There are always two comp days built into the calendar - one 1st semester (was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Break) and for 2nd semester it will be May 25th.  These comp days are put in place for the 8 hours of parent/teacher conference time used within the semester.  So, because you are attending those times for conferences you get a day off, which, in this case is the 25th.  

Pictures from this week!

Students in Spanish class with Dawn Salbrieter asking get to know you questions to one another on their first day as a combined A/B group! 

New building updates!  

They have been working on completing the polished concrete along with staining the concrete on the lower level.  Below you can see the "B" has been completed in this picture!  All of the floor around the "B" has actually also been stained since this picture as what you see is not finished!  They have also started laying the carpet in the LMC!  

The floor and lights have been installed in the Fitness Room!  

The below pictures are of the new area in the lower level of the 209 building for Project WIN!