Good morning Bengals-
I hope you're all enjoying a restful weekend. Last week, we started to experience some challenging student behaviors, and as we head into October, I want to thank you all- the discipline team, school police, and all staff- for handling emergent situations with professionalism and teamwork. Every member of this team is critical, and the more we can rely on one another, the more we'll accomplish for our students. Consistency is crucial. Please be sure to attend all administrative duties, and to communicate areas where systems can be improved.
This Week:
- There will be a practice fire drill this week. The date and time of this drill are to be announced. Please carefully read the attached information on our emergency procedures. All classroom clipboards have been updated and include procedures, lists of classes that meet in the room, attendance sheets, and a group identification card. Please note the location of the emergency clipboard in all rooms in which you work. During any evacuation, you are expected to take the clipboard with you when you exit the room. Please review exit procedures and outside location sites with your classes starting Monday.
Please note: Teachers are expected to update class lists on the clipboard to reflect new/withdrawn students. New printed list will be placed on the clipboards after each marking period is completed.
- Mandatory Emergency Procedure Training for all new staff members will be held in the Conference Room next to the Main Office during all three lunches on Monday, September 28.
- ILT will meet this Tuesday afternoon from 2:20-3:20 in the Library.
- Case Management meetings will take place this Wednesday afternoon from 2-2:45 in their usual locations, which will be posted at the sign in sheet in the Main Office. At 2:45 we will convene briefly in the Library as a whole school community.
- School Site Council will meet for the first time this year on Thursday, October 1 from 4:30-5:30 in the Library. Please see the attached overview for information on the role and importance of SSC.
- Updated Sub Folders were due to the Main Office last Friday, September 25. Thank you to those of you who met this important deadline. If you have not yet submitted your sub folders, please do so no later than the end of day Monday, September 28.
- At this point, all students should have a locker assignment. Starting tomorrow, Monday September 28 please do not allow backpacks in classes, except for last period. Any student without a locker assignment should be instructed to give backpacks to a discipline coordinator and see Colonel Fife in the JROTC office at lunchtime or after school.
- Attention Coaches/Club Sponsors/Teachers planning field trips: only students who have paid the $5 Student Activity Fee are eligible for extracurricular participation. Please continue to encourage all students to pay their $5, which funds resources, transportation and staffing needed to offer enriching opportunities. Please see an Administrator to discuss students unable to afford this fee and we will work them. Please consult the up-to-date binder in the Main Office of all students who have paid the student activity fee to date.
- Evaluation Update: All evaluators and educators have been assigned in EDFS. Please communicate any technical challenges you may experience in the EDFS system. Additionally, BPS & BTU have reached a one-time agreement to extend the contractual deadline from October 1 to October 15, 2015 for the submission of self-assessment, goals and action steps. This extension will allow educators on one and two year plans to submit draft goals and action steps that are thoughtfully aligned to the school-wide Instructional Focus. Evaluators will be reaching out to all educators in the coming days and weeks for support. The annual November 1 Goal Approval Deadline will not change.
- Attention Senior Teachers: College Essay Boot Camp: Get involved!
826 Boston is gearing up for its 6th annual College Essay Boot Camp, which will be held at Northeastern University on Saturday, October 17th. They're aiming to match 100 BPS students with 100 trained tutors, and are hoping that you can help us promote the free opportunity!
BHS Pic of the Week:
Our own Dan Cuddy recruited about 20 awesome BHS student activists to volunteer at the Brighton Congregational Church last Wednesday to unload food donations for their community pantry. Thank you to Mr. Cuddy and all our volunteers for your generosity of spirit and your commitment to community!
With Gratitude-
Emily
