Bryan Adams Feeder Pattern Updates

Welcome 2015 - 2016 School Year!

The bulletin boards are hung, the floors are waxed and new school supplies sit on the shelves. Bryan Adams Feeder Pattern welcomes 10,000 students to school Monday, August 24, 2015. Each student arrives with the hopes and dreams a new school year brings. Make the most of every minute as you shape the life of every child.

Our schools are committed to:

• Student Achievement
  
• Quality of Instruction
  
• Climate and Culture

HAVE A GREAT OPENING OF SCHOOL!

Dr. Jo Anne Hughes

The Bryan Adams Feeder Pattern consisting of twelve schools with 1,100 staff members celebrated the Convocation of the 2015 - 2016 school year. Staff came dressed in their school colors carrying signs, pom-poms and noise makers.

All of the Bryan Adams principals were called to the front of the auditorium to share a brief word and rally their staff, and it was hard to tell which school yelled the loudest. The team spirit across the campuses was obvious.

Staff were inspired by the Bryan Adams JROTC, Thespians, Cheerleaders, Belles and Band. The guest speaker was Dominique James, 2015 Valedictorian of Bryan Adams High School and a Gates Millennium Scholar. A special thank you to the Bryan Adams students and club sponsors for providing an entertaining event.

Bayles Elementary School spent a day at Momentous Institute. They toured the nationally acclaimed Momentous School and received professional development on mental health programs for students and a social emotional health-based curriculum. Teachers learned the importance of "setting the stage" each day so students are ready to learn.

One way to "set the stage' or, promote a positive learning environment, is through classroom organization. When looking at a classroom, ask yourself, "Do the children live there?" A child-centered classroom has the following:

1. Clean and organized setting
2. Personal space labeled
3. Routines/procedures that lead to independence
4. Expectations
5. Pictures of students working and playing
6. Pictures of staff playing
7. Student work

In addition, staff examined how stress affects the brain and limits a child's ability to focus. This led to information about mindful practices, allowing children to monitor their emotions and bring a sense of order to their day. Students who are able to calm down, focus attention, and exercise self-control are in a great position for lifelong success.

Strong social emotional health positions a child for outstanding academic achievement.

Bryan Adams staff took a bus tour to see the elementary and middle schools their students attended and the neighborhoods where they live. A QR code for each campus revealed demographic information, results on the STAAR test and the number of distinctions earned by each school. This tour provided the staff with additional insights into the lives of their students.

When the bus returned to Bryan Adams, the staff was greeted by the band, the cheerleaders and students from campus organizations. About a dozen students spoke to the staff identifying influential adults in their lives. Students talked about teachers knowing their potential and PUSHING them to do their best. After each student spoke, he/she stepped onto the waiting bus. Once all students were on the bus, Principal Kastl gave the staff the charge to push/move the bus. Students were symbolically pushed by the staff past signs noting their Freshman Year, Sophmore Year, Junior Year, Senior Year and admission to college or a career. Bryan Adams staff are ready to provide whatever it takes to move their students through high school and on to a college or career of their choice.

Monday, August 24

• First Day of School!

Tuesday, August 25

• Enrollment Counts Due

Wednesday, August 26

• Have a great day

Thursday, August 27

• Literacy Cadre Begins

Friday, August 28

• Literacy Cadre

Annual Enrollment ends on August 31, 2015!
Your elections will become effective September 1, 2015, and remain in effect through August 31, 2016, unless you make a change as a result of a qualified special enrollment event.

You must enroll if you want medical coverage for the new plan year, even if you currently have coverage. Your current medical election WILL NOT automatically carry over as it has in the past.* All other benefits, with the exception of the Flexible Spending Accounts, will automatically carry over. If you want to continue participation in the FSA(s) for the new plan year, you must re-enroll per IRS rules.

* If you and your dependent(s) have medical coverage as a result of a Qualified Medical Support Court Order, your current coverage will continue to the new plan year. You are NOT required to enroll, unless you want to make changes

As students return to school in August, it is important to be familiar with the guidelines for participation in outdoor activities. Please note the guidelines below:

• Heat index of 105+ - No outdoor activity
• Heat index of 100 - 104 - Only essential outdoor activity
• Heat index less than 100 - Usual outdoor activity for healthy students

• Bryan Adams High School - Principal Richard Kastl
  
• Gaston Middle School - Principal Susie Stauss
  
• Hill Middle School - Principal Candace Ruiz
  
• Bayles Elementary - Principal Robby Wilson
  
• Casa View Elementary - Principal Oscar Aponte
  
• Gill Elementary - Principal Damien Stovall
  
• Hexter Elementary - Principal Jennifer Jackson
  
• Kiest Elementary - Principal Yazmine Cruz
  
• Reilly Elementary - Principal Marion Jackson
  
• Reinhardt Elementary - Principal Phoebe Montgomery
  
• Sanger Elementary - Principal Hector Martinez
  
• Smith Elementary - Principal Lora Morris

Email: jhughes@dallasisd.org
Website: dallasisd.org
Location: Dallas Independent School District, Dallas County, TX, United States
Phone: 972 925-3009