BCSD Staff NewsletterJanuary 2015
Read the Letter from the Superintendent
Dr. GwenCarol Holmes

Dear Colleagues,


As we enter a new calendar year, I am excited about the work we will be doing together over the next six months as we finish strong this school year. January, February and March can be some of the best learning months of the year. Holidays are over and we have good solid blocks of instructional time. It is such a thrill to see our children actively learning. Their enthusiasm and engagement in learning with their peers and applying their learning to real life is infectious! I am looking forward to continuing to be in our schools and classrooms. The magic that happens there is incredible.
 

Read more of my letter here.

Blaine County School District Strategic Plan Kick Off with Daniel Pink: Creating a Culture of Innovation

Thursday, January 15, 6:00 p.m. 
 Wood River Performing Arts Theater, Community Campus

Pick up your Daniel Pink tickets by Wednesday, January 14 at the Community Campus front desk.  The front desk will be open from 8:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday for ticket pick-up.

Otherwise, they will be given away starting on Thursday morning.  If you don't have a ticket and you want to see Daniel Pink, come on Thursday to request a ticket.

 

Check here for parking information and other details about the event.

 

What does Daniel Pink have to say about improving the future of education?  He says, "Ask the students," find out more in this video here.

Strategic Plan Staff Meetings


 

What is the role of schools in a democratic society?  How do children learn ? What is the role of eductors, students, parents and the community?

 

Brainstorm answers to these questions and make your voice heard for the future of children in the Blaine County School District.  Come to a Strategic Planning Staff Meeting.

 

Meeting Series #1:  Week of January 19, 2015

 

School

Date

Time

Place

    

Support Staff

January 20

9:00 AM

Community Campus - Minnie Moore Room

Alturas

January 21

2:15 PM

Library

Carey School

January 20

3:15 PM

High School Library

SCHS/DSS

January 20

8:00 AM

Ms. Berry's Classroom

WRHS

January 21

2:00 PM

WRHS - DLL

WRMS

January 21

3:30 PM

WRMS Library

Hemingway

January 21

2:45 PM

Hemingway Library

Hailey

January 21

2:45 PM

Hailey Library

Bellevue

January 21

12:00 PM

GATE Room



Meet Some of Our New Staff

Andrew Crist
Wood River High School
Math Teacher

Andrew taught middle school for five years in Southern Idaho before he got the chance to relocate to the Wood River Valley. He and his family love spending time together in the outdoors and enjoys everything Idaho has to offer from fishing in the spring , whitewater boating in the summer, hunting in the fall, and skiing in the winter. He is very excited to have a position in the Blaine County School District.

 
Bonnie Strader
Wood River Middle School
Paraprofessional

Bonnie received her Masters in Developmental Reading from the The State University of NY at Albany. She has taught remedial reading at all grade levels in both New York and Connecticut. Prior to this, Bonnie was a substitute teacher in the Blaine County School District. She is delighted to be back working with former colleagues and being involved with a terrific reading program at WRMS.

Are you missing from this list?  Fill out this form so that we can introduce you to the rest of the district in the next BCSD Staff Connection.  Thank you!
Homework Policy

Students reps to the Board of Trustees developed a survey for students and teachers to evaluate the current homework policy.  Here is an excerpt from the memo Dr. Holmes sent to the Board of Trustees in November:


 

Background:The current Blaine County School District Homework Policy (501) was adopted in August of 1990 and has not been revised since. In addition, there are no accompanying district procedures to the Homework Policy. Homework practices vary from classroom to classroom across the district. The amount and types of homework are an ongoing source of debate among many stakeholders.

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees announced in its November 11, 2014 meeting its intent to review and revise as needed Homework Policy (501). The superintendent was tasked to develop a plan for reviewing and making recommendations for revisions to the policy in a manner that included involving the Board's Student Representatives/Liaisons in the process and providing opportunities for input from various stakeholder groups: students, teachers, and parents.


 

Information: The following plan for review and development of recommendations for revisions to the Homework Policy (501) includes involving the Student Representatives/Liaisons, providing opportunity for parent and teacher input, and includes an aggressive timeline in order to ensure proposed revisions are presented to the Board of Trustees in May of 2014.


 

Guiding Questions:

    1. What is meaningful homework that supports students in mastering Idaho Core Standards for their appropriate grade level?

    2. What is the appropriate balance of homework for student development as 21st Century learners at the various grade levels?

Look for a survey coming to you soon.

Buildings and Grounds
Howard Royal

Kudos to the Buildings and Grounds Department for the great job on snow removal this year.  The district received a call from a neighbor of Wood River Middle School. The neighbor was calling to say that they noticed the attention to detail and timely removal of snow around the middle school.  They said, "Whoever does your snow removal clearly takes pride in their work and does a great job."  Nicely done everyone!
 

Communications
Heather Crocker

Share Your News! What are your students learning right now?  What 21st Century skills are you using and which ones are your students using?  Help us keep the positive news flowing and Share Your News today!
 

Curriculum
Developing Academic Language: A Door to Learning
Angie Martinez

All students are academic language learners ~ all teachers are language teachers!


 

Language provides access to what is to be learned. Academic language is a set of words and ways words are organized (vocabulary, syntax, and discourse) that describe abstract concepts, complex ideas, and higher order thinking processes. Each subject, topic, or concept has specific or specialized academic language that feeds the brain, where it is processed, and where it becomes useful and meaningful.

 

The students' development of academic language and academic content knowledge are inter-related processes. Acquiring academic language as a means for learning can be the difference maker for ALL students. It can separate students from those who "get it," and those who don't.

 

We want ALL students to "get it!" We want them ALL to learn! This week, 80 educators from across our district will learn to analyze the language demands of instructional tasks and to analyze the academic language associated with particular content areas. This professional learning of WiDA's tools will inform lesson planning for differentiated instruction and help us achieve the goal of learning for ALL students.

 

For more information on developing academic language through the WiDA tools, visit  WiDA.
Human Resources

 

From John Blackman, Assistant Superintendent

 

A friendly reminder about the District Network Policy and your personal use of social media and networking sites: According to the District Network Policy, "The District respects the rights of employees and students to responsibly use social media and networking sites, message boards and forums, as well as personal websites and blogs.  Personal use of these sites should not damage the reputation of BCSD, its employees, students or their families and should be consistent with the School District's educational objectives, mission and curriculum.

Flu Season Etiquette

Flu season is upon us and employees who work in close quarters are particularly susceptible to the highly contagious illness. Why?  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) says people with the flu can spread it to others up to about six feet away, mainly by droplets made when they cough, sneeze or talk. A person can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth or nose. Read more here.