December 15, 2016

The Buzzness 

Winter Weather Cautions For the next couple of days, limit outdoor activity and students will require outerwear if they do go outside. If there is an outdoor activity planned, limit them to 30 mins and teams will need to provide an indoor option for students.

A MAGICAL Season Even if you don’t eat lunch in there, please stop by the Coke machine lounge during lunches today for special treat.

Performance Time Changes We forgot to adjust the performance times from last year to reflect the 5 minute change in our schedule this year. Here is an update: 12/15:  4th Gr Performance @ 1:25  Viewed by 2nd & other 4th. 12/16:  Sing a Long Click here for Song List            K-2nd 1:25-1:55; 3-5th 10:45-11:15

Calendar January   2             Green Workday       3             Welcome Back! 9             Winter BEE classes begin 10           PTO meeting 16           Schools and offices closed  Martin Luther King Day

Report Card Timeline Portal closes Friday January 20th, 8a.m. Report Cards due to administration by Friday January 27th, 3p.m. Corrections done by Thursday February 2nd, 3p.m. Portal opens Monday February 6, 8a.m.

Know the Reading Philosophy! We are very proud of the schoolwide Reading Philosophy that was created this past Fall. This can be a powerful tool for our entire school community. As a part of this goal, our plan refers to everyone learning it by the end of January. We look forward to some fun ways to encourage it being etched into everyone’s brain.

Turning off Technology over the break This is a reminder to unplug computer carts before you leave for break. Also, check power cords to make sure they are clear of any clutter. On the Green Workday, Kris and Anne are going to remind Jason like crazy to get to school and turn them all back on.

How are you using the Green Day? Bee sure that you or your team has notified Nancy or Jason of how you will be using your Green Day.

Recertification Points FYI - Our Human Resources department plans to send out Recertification updates for all teachers sometime in February. Bee on the lookout!

Student Laptop Damage? There have been a handful of damaged student laptops this year at Brownsville.  While the number of incidents is not excessive, I wanted to make you all aware of the need to document these cases. Damage to laptops include anything like popped off keys, cracked screens, broken ports on the side of the laptop, cracked or missing pieces of the case on the computer, broken hinges, etc. Part of my job in fixing the student machines is also to document the damage. Use this BES Laptop Incident Form when turning in a damaged laptop for repair. Thank you - Chris Kiewra Client Service Specialist

 

December 9, 2016

The Buzzness 

Calendar 12/12 - 12/16 PLC’s: watchlist discussions and greenday expectations 12/13   4th Gr Performance @ 1:20  Viewed by 1st & other 4th. 12/15:  4th Gr Performance @ 1:20  Viewed by 2nd & other 4th. 12/16   1st Grade Gingerbread Houses - 8:15-9:15 12/16   Sing a Long Click here for Song List K-2nd 1:20-1:50; 3-5th 10:40-11:10 1 / 2     Buzzness sent out for new year

PTO Love Below is the schedule for the staff next week!  We are looking forward to making it extra special! Mon           Donuts and K Cups                     Tuesday      Sals pizza and Caesar salads    Wed             Sweets in the lounge       Thursday     Ornaments                                 Fri                Soup from l’etoile and Bread

December 2, 2017

The Buzzness

Calendar December    5             Winter BEE Program registration begins                Fire Drill 10:15 6              5th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 - 3rd and other 5th view (James, Crickenberger, Morris) and 6:00 pm 7             Team Leaders 2:45 8              5th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 - K and other 5th view  (Humphrey, Greenwood) and 6:00 pm                 Faculty Meeting 9              3rd Grade Toga Day 13           PTO meeting  6:30 pm                4th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 - 1st and other 4th view (Gillette, Elsie, Gibson) and 6:00 pm 15           4th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 - 2nd and other 4th view (Fiddner, Sullivan, Foreman) and 6:00 pm                1st and K SpEd RTI meetings 2:45-3:25              16           1st Grade Gingerbread Decorating Event 8:15-9:15 am                 Sing-A-Long     3rd-5th 10:40-11:10      K-2 1:20-1:50

Golden Apple Nominations This link should get you the information you need to nominate a colleague. Nominations Forms are due to Jason by February, 2nd  2017 https://drive.google.com/a/k12albemarle.org/file/d/0B7kb87R5gp8Yc3VUaTIxbVpHQzA/view?usp=sharing

Just turning it in can be the easy way out for some of our Mountain Climbers! In our 5th grade SpEd/RTI meeting we had an interesting discussion around how many of our students need would benefit from building the skill of revision as normal procedure of the day. Often for them turning in a low quality product is a relief, knowing they will never see it again. The “turn in” can be an escape from having to maintain high standards. We felt like incorporating a revision process for many assignments will be a benefit to their learning. Here is a video of Ron Berger from Expeditionary Learning, showing the value of critique and feedback for revision. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqh1MRWZjms

Watchlist Reminder During PLC meetings next week, Nancy and I will stop by to facilitate a discussion on Quarter 1 watchlists and collecting our On and Below grade level numbers.

Message from Nancy and Jason: 

November 21

The Buzzness 

Calendar November 22          Muffins / Juice for breakfast and Soup for lunch in the teacher’s lounge provided by the PTO! Yea!              Kindergarten Friendship Celebration 11:30-12:30 pm (Campbell, McCartney) 23-25    Schools and offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday December    1            4th and 5th RTI/SpEd Grade Level Team Meetings 2:45pm 3            Holiday Party at the Crescimanno's  7-11pm 5            Winter BEE Program registration begins 6              5th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 (James, Crickenberger, Morris)3rd and other 5th view and 6:00 pm 7            Team Leaders Meeting 2:45 pm 8              5th Grade Music Performance at 1:20 (Humphrey, Greenwood) K and other 5th view and 6:00 pm              Faculty Meeting 2:45pm 9              3rd Grade Toga Day

Team Purchase Request to Ms. Barbour by Dec. 2nd Last day for purchase requests  will be December 2nd. We will resume placing orders when we get back from Winter Break.

A few Tech reminders: All concerns need both a online ticket submitted AND a paper BES Laptop Repair Form. (Online tickets are quick and easy! Just email servicedesk@k12albemarle.org with your concerns and contact info.) The drop off location is in the BES Library (by the sink, in a labeled crate). Repaired machines will be returned to you/students by library staff. Loaner computers are only available for 1-1 student machines in grades 4 and 5 at this time (and for emergency student or teacher needs such as testing, etc). We have a limited quantity available. For more detailed directions and explanations, please read our Technology Troubleshooting Guidelines. Please let me know if you have any questions after reviewing these directions and guidelines! :) Thanks again for your support, Anne

Toy Lift It is almost time for ToyLift again, and we are in need of some volunteers who would like to join David C. and me at the ToyLift Boxing Day for Brownsville’s families on Saturday, December 3rd at 4:15 pm. Boxing this year will be at the same warehouse as last year at 395 Reas Ford Road in Earlysville. It truly was a heartwarming and inspiring experience helping with Toy Lift last year, and amazing that this organization can impact so many families in the Charlottesville area. If you would like to donate your time on this day, we would really appreciate it :)  Please email me by Friday, November 18th if you would like to participate, so I can respond to the ToyLift coordinator about how many volunteers who will be coming.  Alyson

Van De Graph available at Brownsville If you are interested in having a Van De Graph demo for your class or team, let Lead Instructional Coach, Robbie Muncey know : rmuncey@k12albemarle.org

New Internet Search Filters in Place This school year we have made a transition to a new content filter.  Please know that we are required by the federal government to filter certain types of Internet sites: most notably sites considered to be obscene, sites that contain pornography, and any sites deemed harmful to minors.  Each of the terms mentioned are legal items and are defined via case law.  Our new content filter, as do all filtering solutions, places web sites into categories and the school division determines which categories to block or not to block.  We continue to monitor the filter to ensure that we do not put students or staff at risk and we make adjustments to web sites improperly placed in blocked categories. The new content filter has a much more robust reporting capability.  This reporting capability allows the school division a greater opportunity to ensure optimal network performance.  More important to note, as it is stated in the Responsible Use Policy, every web site that you visit while using school division technology is logged and can be accessed by DART staff.  DART staff will periodically review the logs to verify the technical operations and ensure the network is functioning properly.  During this time, staff reviews the data to ensure that neither staff nor students are violating the Responsible Use Policy by using the school division’s technology for purposes not consistent with our educational mission.