The Buzzness 


  
9.8 *m/s²  = Free fall or the last month of the school year! (*minutes : ) ) 

Calendar

 30 -May 4         3rd -5th Watchlist discussions

                            

May               1            Lockdown Drill 9:10a.m.

                            2 Team Leaders 2:45

                            3 Kindergarten Orientation  3PM- 4:30PM

                            3 SOL Examiner Trainer or Trade-Off Time for the April 17th Training  

                            7-11 Cave Art in the Library

                            7            SOL Testing Window May 7 - June 4

                            7-11      K - 2 Watchlist Discussions

                            7-11 Teacher Appreciation Week

                            7 4th to Camp Albemarle 9:15 - 2:00PM (Fiddner, Dollar, Gibson)

        8 SOL Test Reading - 5th Grade     

                            8 4th to Camp Albemarle 9:15 - 2:00    (Foreman, Sullivan, Gillette)

                            9            SOL Test Reading Day 1 - 3rd

                           10           SOL Test Reading Day 2 - 3rd

                           10           Team Planning Thursday - Check for SpEd / RTI collaborations opportunities


Lockdown Drill 
Please review our you lockdown procedures. Reminder that the drill will begin with a mystery teacher making the call from their room.


Ideas for this time of year 

How do you keep students focused and engaged this time of year? With all that is going on, in and out school, the last six weeks of school are unique. The changes to routine due the numerous special events and the knowledge that the year is coming to a close can create anxiety and/or be a distraction for students. Several teams discussed strategies they use to ensure student success. Here are some of the ideas:

1.       Keep learning routines going (e.g. weekly word study) until the last day/week.

2.       Plan meaningful, independent projects that apply learned skills (reading, writing, math) and take several days to finish.

3.       Avoid teacher language that suggests school is over or creates anxiety e.g. “Next year, you won’t be able to act like this.” or “You are almost _____ graders. You need to start acting like it.”

4.       Avoid long periods of unstructured or passive time – watching videos, free choice, etc.

5.       Give kids leadership responsibilities such as “be the teacher.”

6.       Kids typically “speed up” this time year wanting to just be finished with tasks. To slow them down add self-checking systems, re-visit existing supports/tools, etc.

7.       Thoroughly review schedule changes and discuss the implications so students are prepared and know the expectations.

8.       Build in whole class, quiet times for independent reading.

9.       Do activities that reflect on the year, emphasizing growth and positives and communicate that learning is on-going. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/the-last-six-weeks-of-school/


 Spirit Week Reminder
      April 30 - Movie Monday . Dress up as your favorite movie character.

      May 1 - Picture Me Tomorrow Tuesday . Dress up as your future career and job that you
want to be.

      May 2 - Wacky Wednesday . Dress up as weird and odd as possible.

      May 3 - Time Travel Thursday . Bee sure to dress up like someone from the past or
future.

      May 4 - Friday is Brownsville Spirit Day . Wear something to show school spirit. Brownsville t-shirts, and anything to show your beeville spirit!