Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Families,
Thank you for keeping your students home from school yesterday. Our
teaching staff came to work and was fully engaged in professional learning! Elementary teachers dove into our new California Science Standards, which provide an opportunity to rethink and reinvigorate our elementary science instruction. Our middle school teachers participated in subject-specific professional development, and our education specialists learned new differentiation strategies. Overall, the day was a worthwhile investment in our teachers' knowledge and skills.
Also, thanks to those of you who were able to attend Save the Music just over a week ago. Professional photographer Jeff Bartee has posted over
300 photos
of the event if you care to take a look. Thanks to all of the student performers, parent volunteers, and SchoolForce organizers who made the event possible!
Save the Date . . . Parent Town Hall: Facing Budget Uncertainty in BRSSD
Please save the date for one of two Town Hall Meetings next month to discuss the significant financial challenges that our school district is facing as we look at this year's budget and beyond. Unless we address these challenges in the current school year, the quality of our educational program will begin to be affected next year. Join staff, principals, school board members and myself as we share details about the current situation and discuss how we address the need now and in the future.
November 2, Cipriani, 7pm
November 7, Sandpiper, 7pm
New Video!
Each week this fall we are sharing a short video that highlights some of the good things that are happening in our schools. We just added a
1-minute video from Fox
to the District's home page (on the left side). Please check it out!
Promoting School Attendance
School attendance is important. With only 180 days of school per year, if your student misses 9 days of school, he or she has missed 5% of the year. Also, the majority of our funding is based upon attendance. Each absence costs the school district nearly $50 a day. Please learn more via this
1-page article on attendance
.
Student Information and Social Media Notice
Any time a school district considers a plan to gather pupil information from social media, it must notify students and parents about the proposed program and provide the opportunity for public comment prior to adoption and implementation. While the District does not intend to make a practice of reviewing student social media accounts, from time to time we may be required to investigate publicly available online content in response to reports of cyberbullying, threats or other misconduct, or for a student suicide risk assessment in an effort to ensure a safe learning environment. Student safety is our top priority. We will be discussing the components of our school safety programs that may involve a review of publicly available student social media at the October 26 board meeting, and public comment is welcome.
Parent Resource
Last week was a sad one for our country with the violence in Las Vegas. Although media coverage of the incident did not appear to affect our students, I would like to share a resource from the National Association of School Psychologists regarding
talking to children about violence
. It's a good reminder of the routines and assurances that help students feel safe and flourish.
As always, please contact me with questions or comments. Thanks!
Michael Milliken, Ph.D.
Superintendent
