Team,
Happy Thursday!
Couple of quick things today... First, you this already, but grades are due February 6th..nothing more than a gentle reminder. Second, this morning you should have retrieved a document from Mass Tells. On it is a description of the effort and a special code for BHS. This is really important feedback that quite often goes uncollected from urban schools due to low participation. I would really appreciate the feedback. This is not an unfunded mandate, so to speak. Please use time during your common planning time meetings to complete the survey. Should take about 30 minutes to complete. If you misplaced the form, go to this link and enter this code: 6888386. The deadline is 2/18/14 Many thanks in advance.
As we prepare to wrap up the second quarter, we have student celebration in mind. We would like to honor the hard work, commitment, and improvement of our young scholars at Q2 awards assemblies to be held as follows:
Thursday, February 13
2nd Block - 11th
3rd Block - 12th
Friday, February 14th
2nd Block 10th
3rd Block - 9th
Best,
Pat
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Update City...
Team,
Interesting week, huh? I have a funny feeling that the next couple of weeks will be interesting with the twists and turns of quarter's end, WIDA testing, February MCAS, and so forth. If there's any team that can successfully navigate this kind of turbulence, its ours.
I have a couple of updates for your knowledge and planning purposes. Forgive me for the format:
Food. Students have it and are consuming it in many places outside of the cafeteria. Historically, I have not been a huge stickler on these kinds of things, but I need to become one really fast. The normal pest issues the building experiences during the winter months have been exponentially exacerbated by the crumbs and half-filled containers left on floors and in classrooms. Pest control was here recently - I'll spare you the gross details. Bottom line, for health and safety, we have to tighten up on this. Food cannot not leave the cafeteria. It cannot be consumed in classrooms either. I realize this is a big deal, as a good number of people bring foodstuff for advisory and/or open their doors to students during lunch. Again, for healthy and safety, we have to go this route. I will go on the PA early next week to inform students. This will go into effect February 3rd.
PAWS. Again, a hearty thanks to Tom and Shirley. They solicited and successfully secured nearly $300 in donations from Devlin's and The Greenbriar to support the PAWS program. Kudos!
Enjoy the weekend!
Best,
Pat
P.S. I hear you loud and clear and the interruptions during class. Going forward, unless there are inescapable circumstances, no announcements will be made during the day outside of the normal daily announcements.
Job Shadow Partners:
WEEI
Boston Globe
Genzyme
Skanska Engineers
WGBH
Newbury Comics
Brighton Marine Health Clinic
Boston Police
Boston Fire
Genzyme
Foley/Hoag LLP
Bletzer & Bletzer LLP
Harvard University
Boston University
Oak Sq YMCA
Simmons College
Charlesview Housing Development
Vinfen Health Care
3 Twins Printing Company
John Henry Roofing
State Rep Kevin Honan
City Councilor Mark Ciommo
North Beacon Auto
Brighton Auto Repair
Steadyvision
Interesting week, huh? I have a funny feeling that the next couple of weeks will be interesting with the twists and turns of quarter's end, WIDA testing, February MCAS, and so forth. If there's any team that can successfully navigate this kind of turbulence, its ours.
I have a couple of updates for your knowledge and planning purposes. Forgive me for the format:
- The mandatory anti-bullying training originally scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22nd has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 5th, 2pm - 3:30pm. This is 30 minutes longer than the calendar indicates. Accordingly, I am shaving 30 minutes off of the 6/4/14 Department Meeting.
- The WIDA administration is going smoothly...that's all. Thank you for your cooperation.
- I had a small but impactful parent meeting at the Perez home (parent of Eric and Ilia) last night. We're laying the groundwork for a spring multicultural potluck. More details to follow, but we're thinking of having this on the evening of May 1st. If you're interested helping with the planning, come see me. The next meeting, which will again be at the Perez home, is on February 13th at 6pm.
- Finally, the job shadow is next Friday. The date is not ideal (being the end of the term). However, expectations for those who are participating have been clearly laid. They must make arrangements to make up what they missed. A list of the partners is below. This is wonderful opportunity for our young scholars. Your support is appreciated.
Food. Students have it and are consuming it in many places outside of the cafeteria. Historically, I have not been a huge stickler on these kinds of things, but I need to become one really fast. The normal pest issues the building experiences during the winter months have been exponentially exacerbated by the crumbs and half-filled containers left on floors and in classrooms. Pest control was here recently - I'll spare you the gross details. Bottom line, for health and safety, we have to tighten up on this. Food cannot not leave the cafeteria. It cannot be consumed in classrooms either. I realize this is a big deal, as a good number of people bring foodstuff for advisory and/or open their doors to students during lunch. Again, for healthy and safety, we have to go this route. I will go on the PA early next week to inform students. This will go into effect February 3rd.
PAWS. Again, a hearty thanks to Tom and Shirley. They solicited and successfully secured nearly $300 in donations from Devlin's and The Greenbriar to support the PAWS program. Kudos!
Enjoy the weekend!
Best,
Pat
P.S. I hear you loud and clear and the interruptions during class. Going forward, unless there are inescapable circumstances, no announcements will be made during the day outside of the normal daily announcements.
Job Shadow Partners:
WEEI
Boston Globe
Genzyme
Skanska Engineers
WGBH
Newbury Comics
Brighton Marine Health Clinic
Boston Police
Boston Fire
Genzyme
Foley/Hoag LLP
Bletzer & Bletzer LLP
Harvard University
Boston University
Oak Sq YMCA
Simmons College
Charlesview Housing Development
Vinfen Health Care
3 Twins Printing Company
John Henry Roofing
State Rep Kevin Honan
City Councilor Mark Ciommo
North Beacon Auto
Brighton Auto Repair
Steadyvision
Friday, January 17, 2014
Happy Friday!
Team,
Happy Friday! I don't think I need to tell you, but 'tis a three-day weekend ahead. A few folks have shared plans. Whatever yours, be sure to get some rest.
110 Paws this week! Yup. A special kudos to Ms. Tammick and Mr. Rose. This initiative is really taking off. What better feeling is there than to celebrate the good things our cherubim are doing in and around the school community. Let's keep it going. One more piece of good news, Mr. Plunkett has informed me that some students pieces will be shown at a student art exhibit at Wheelock. Good stuff!
A couple of notes about next week. The WIDA is set to begin on Tuesday. Miguel distributed assignments and such this week. Only a few folks are involved with administering the first piece, but quite a few students are involved. Just a reminder. Also, Tuesday marks the first day Karin Kell Deyo will begin mini observations. See the post on 1/14 if you want a refresher on what that's about. Lastly, next Wednesday, we'd planned to introduce the instructional core, an initiative being worked on at ILT, for your information and feedback. However, it has come to my attention, through a sensitive case, that we have not had the mandatory district-sponsored anti-bullying training. This is something that has to happen as soon as possible. We will engage with training on Wednesday in lieu of the planned presentation. As this meeting is mandatory, everyone must attend and sign in. Sorry about that.
Last, but not least, please check your mailbox when you arrive in the morning. In it, if there are passes for students, please make sure they get them. We are in the process of getting students linked with PULSE for the MCAS support and scheduling students for Summer Search interviews. Quite a few never received the pass and thus did not show. You help here is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Best,
Pat
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
A Note of Thanks...
Team,
Thank you! Monday was one of those odd days that really didn't feature more physical tugs and pulls than any typical Monday, yet, as we reflected at the admin team meeting on Monday afternoon, there was indeed a collective sense of exhaustion. No doubt, the emotional toll played a role. I'm sure we weren't alone. Indeed, perhaps the emotional energy of being extra vigilant around how students were presenting contributed. On that note, I am happy to report that Monday was a normal day. I extend my sincere appreciation for your efforts to make yesterday smooth and supportive.
A heads up. Karin Kell Deyo, a representative out of Mary Skipper's office, has offered to do mini observations and give feedback in the context of our Quality School Plan (you might remember her from the data presentation this fall). She will be coming on Tuesdays, conducting non-evaluative observations, and then giving general feedback at the outset of the of ILT meeting. No particular directive here, friends - just a heads up that you might have a guest visit your class. This begins next week.
Lastly, please do not send students to the College and Career Center with a pass. There is no supervision and, over the next few weeks, predictives will be administered in that space.
Best,
Pat
Notices:
Teachers/mentors of 2cd year teachers... The 4th Mentoring Forum will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2014, from 4 P.M. - 6 P.M. Our forums, for the remainder of this year, will be held at a new location at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot School, at 270 Columbia Road.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Senior Assembly and Important Scheduling information on Upcoming Assessments
Team,
January means the beginning to the testing season. Please see below for important information on the citywide predictives, WIDA, and the MCAS Bio retest.
Also, as we're moving ever so quickly toward critical deadlines for seniors, we would like to hold an assembly for all seniors beginning 5th block on Tuesday, January 14th in the auditorium. This time was chosen to lessen the impact on class time overall (given that many seniors do not have a class 5th block) and give some reprieve to those who teach seniors during 2nd block, which has been the go to block for senior class meetings.
Also, as we're moving ever so quickly toward critical deadlines for seniors, we would like to hold an assembly for all seniors beginning 5th block on Tuesday, January 14th in the auditorium. This time was chosen to lessen the impact on class time overall (given that many seniors do not have a class 5th block) and give some reprieve to those who teach seniors during 2nd block, which has been the go to block for senior class meetings.
Best,
Pat
P.S. t "113 delivery" is back in business. Send an email to 113delivery@gmail.com or stop by the main office and fill out a form with your order(s)...
P.S. t "113 delivery" is back in business. Send an email to 113delivery@gmail.com or stop by the main office and fill out a form with your order(s)...
Testing in
January and February
Online City Predictives:
Who? ELA 9 and 10; Algebra 1 and Geometry; Physics; SEI
Geometry (schedule below)
When? Jan. 16-Jan. 31
Where? College and Career and Library
WIDA Testing:
Who? Any student with an ELD level (specific lists are
forthcoming)
Written Portion:
When? Jan. 21 or 22; Make-up on Jan 23
Where? Gym, College and Career and ESL Classrooms
Speaking Portion:
When? Jan. 27—Feb 7
Where? Students will be pulled one at a time from class
sometime during this window.
MCAS Bio Retest:
Who? 11th and 12th graders, and
some 10th grade repeaters who have not passed the Bio already (list
is forthcoming)
When? Feb 3 and 4; Make-ups on Feb 5 and 6
Where? Gym
January Predictive Testing
Testing
Schedule for College
and Career Center
Week of 1/13-1/17
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
Period 1
|
Ramos
|
||||
Period 2
|
Tammick
|
||||
Period 3
|
|||||
Period 4
|
Ramos
|
Tammick
|
|||
Period 5
|
Ramos
|
Tammick
|
|||
Period 6
|
Ramos
|
Testing
Schedule for College
and Career
Week of 1/20-1/24
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
Period 1
|
HOLIDAY
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
Evans
|
Period 2
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
Litster
|
|
Period 3
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
Litster
|
|
Period 4
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
WIDA
|
Litster
|
|
Period 5
|
Baumgarten
|
Evans
|
|||
Period 6
|
L. Tolbert
|
Evans
|
Testing
Schedule for Library
Week of 1/20-1/24
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
Period 1
|
HOLIDAY
|
M. O’Donovan
|
Greaves
|
WIDA
|
Edwards
|
Period 2
|
Ward
|
WIDA
|
Baumgarten
|
||
Period 3
|
L. Tolbert
|
WIDA
|
Edwards
|
||
Period 4
|
M. O’Donovan
|
Greaves
|
Evans
|
||
Period 5
|
|||||
Period 6
|
Testing
Schedule for College
and Career
Week of 1/27-1/31
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
Period 1
|
Defina
|
Soto
|
Gerrie
|
Ganitatsos
|
Lui
|
Period 2
|
Wilson
|
Kamishlian
|
Valentin
|
Kurkjian
|
Mankel
|
Period 3
|
Defina
|
Kamishlian
|
Gerrie/
Valentin
|
Kurkjian
|
Lui
|
Period 4
|
Soto
|
Defina
|
Kurkjian
|
Lui
|
|
Period 5
|
Wilson
|
Malik
|
Dean
|
||
Period 6
|
Malik
|
Gerrie/
Valentin
|
Kurkjian
|
Lui
|
Testing
Schedule for Library
Week of 1/27-1/31
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
Period 1
|
D. O’Donovan
|
Ford
|
Burke
|
Mahoney
|
Mankel
|
Period 2
|
|||||
Period 3
|
Burke
|
Mahoney
|
|||
Period 4
|
Mahoney
|
||||
Period 5
|
D. O’Donovan
|
Burke
|
|||
Period 6
|
Kamishlian
|
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