BSD Staff Updates
2020-21 Issue #6: Tuesday, December 15, 2020
News, Information and Updates for Bremerton School District staff.
November was National Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
We'd like to introduce you to a few of our amazing staff of Native American descent.
Kathy Williams
Kathy Williams is a special education teacher at Naval Avenue Early Learning Center.
Mrs. Williams' dad's side of the family is Osage Indian from Osage County in Oklahoma - a beautiful part of the country with rolling prairies and a history that is rich with culture, pride and perseverance. Her family history is documented to the time of relocation by the government to reservation lands in Kansas then to participation in the Trail of Tears and relocating to the present day Osage reservation outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. She has two great uncles that as young boys were sent to the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Williams says, “Native American heritage is colorful, painful, full of promise, and part of our history as a country.”
Christina Findley
West Hills Restorative School students study tribal sovereignty in Washington state
We are proud to share some of the work being done by students at our West Hills Restorative School who have been studying tribal sovereignty in Washington state.
Students were first asked to think about and consider their own unique cultures and identities. Students created culture wheels to express their individual cultures.
Next, students participated in lessons on Native American art, music and culture, transportation, housing, the Potlatch ceremony, the importance and role of salmon (and typical foods), and Pacific Northwest tribal stories and legends. As the students go through each lesson, they compare and contrast their own cultures to those of PNW tribal cultures through discussions and different projects.
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Board Highlights - December 10, 2020
Policy News
Policy 3207; Student and Employee Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, and Retaliation was adopted on 2nd read. All staff need to review this revised Policy. New procedures will follow.
Policy 3231, Student Records, was approved for first reading. Staff who are responsible in any way for student fines and fees should review this draft. Second reading should occur at the January meeting.
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Annual Reorganization: This was the meeting where the Board elects officers for the coming year. Both President Dubos and Vice-President Perkins were re-elected. Director Bolton will take over as Board Auditor. Director Hurley will continue as our WIAA Representative, and Director Rotter will continue as the Legislative Representative. Congratulations and thanks were in order for Director Perkins who also was re-elected to the WSSDA Board.
Nora Zollweg of West Sound Tech. was honored for receiving the Counseling and Career Development Professional Award from the Assn. for Career and Technical Education—Congratulations Nora!
The Board approved its meeting schedule for the 2021/2022 school year. For planning purposes, the Board determines its regular meeting dates a year in advance so that district and school events may be planned so as not to conflict with these meetings.
Dr. Steedman brought the Board up to date on the closing of the budget for the 2019/2020 school year. He also provided a budget status report for the current year through Oct. 31st.
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Study Session: The Board held a 3pm study session covering their goals and self-reflecting. They also learned about the Grow Your Own Teacher Academy that Linda Hupka and the CTE Department are researching and planning for.
To view any of these documents, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.
Compiled by Ioanna Cossack, Board Secretary
January is School Board Appreciation Month
Nora Zollweg receives Counseling and Career Development Professional Award
Nora Zollweg, Student Services Coordinator at West Sound Technical Skills Center, received the Counseling and Career Development Professional Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). The national winners were announced in a virtual award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country on December 3.
This award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for CTE as a viable option for all students.
Candidates will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Contributions to student success
- Innovations in career exploration and development
- Leadership in advocating for CTE as a viable option for all students
All candidates must demonstrate at minimum one best practice in CTE as outlined in the High Quality CTE Framework in order to be eligible to receive the award. For more information on how nominations will be scored, please see the ACTE Member Awards Scoring Rubric.
Watch Nora speak about her work in this brief video.
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.
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Mountain View Middle School "Mountain Voices" Choir virtual performance
This song is special to our singers - and may be familiar to you!
According to MVMS Choir & Beginning Orchestra Director Kayleigh Reimer, "Just A Single Voice" has traditionally been sung by the 6th grade choirs at Mountain View. This year, it has been reprised with Mountain Voices, a group of 7th and 8th graders who have strong memories attached with this song from when they sang it as 6th graders. They remember the terror, excitement, nerves, and adrenaline of performing in their first middle school choir concert. They remember the people who made the choir room a safe and special place. They remember the inimitable feeling of what it is like to sing in a choir. And we eagerly await the day when we get to sing together again.
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Thank you Bremerton Schools Foundation for funding this desk project!
(Click the photo below to view the video)
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Weekly Clubs at Armin Jahr
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Congratulations to the 2020 Homecoming Court!
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Thank you Bradley Scott Commercial Real Estate
Bradley Scott Commercial Real Estate recently made a generous donation to support Bremerton School District students and families experiencing homelessness. We are using the funds to purchase basic essentials such as socks, underwear and coats!
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BSD in the news/other local news of interest
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Crownhill kindergarten students "sorted" in drive-through event
Crownhill Elementary kindergarten students were recently "sorted" into their houses at a drive-through event. Students picked a glow stick, and when they broke it, it showed them their house color and the student was showered with confetti!
In 2019, Crownhill launched the House System. Inspired by Harry Potter, the House System creates a sense of belonging and support. Staff and students are all sorted into five houses which meet together across grade levels to form lasting bonds. Students feel more connected at school and in turn increase engagement and academic achievement.
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Meet Griffey, the West Hills STEM Academy mascot!
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Meet Kai, the new Kitsap Lake Elementary mascot
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WHSA students send postcards to space!
WH has partnered with West Sound STEM and Blue Origin and is sending student postcards to the international space station.
Students from Elizabeth Magiera's 7th grade homeroom have the opportunity to answer one of three questions posed by Governor Jay Inslee, Chris Reykdahl, State Superintendent, and Lisa Brown, the director of Commerce.
- What should the first school on the moon look like?
- What should be the first business on the moon?
- What should the constitution be if we were to colonize the moon?
Postcards will go up to the International Space Station with the December Launch from Blue Origin in Houston. Postcards will be stamped in the International Space Station that they went to space and returned to students later in the school year.
Our hope is when COVID lifts we will have externship opportunities for teachers with our STEM program to engage in meaningful professional development to take our STEM program to the next level!
Crownhill continues their annual Frosty's Breakfast - pandemic style with a Frosty's Family Drive-Through event
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Holiday Light Displays
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District Cafe Updates
The last day to order from The District Cafe will be Wednesday December 16, 2020 (to receive on Thursday December 17, 2020). The District Cafe will reopen on January 4, 2021.
NEW: You can now find the link to the District Cafe on the BSD website in the "FOR STAFF" drop-down menu (top right).
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Character Trait of the Month for January: Honesty
Download the creativity graphics here!
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United Way campaign update
The 2020 United Way Campaign has come to an end. Although the campaign was fraught with many challenges this year, your generous donations came to $17,039 which is slightly less than last year.
On behalf of the United Way and our families, I wish to thank each of you for your donations. Once again you reached into your hearts and pocketbooks to provide help and hope to all who are supported by the United Way.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow campaign chairs for their work in providing leadership during the craziest most unconventional school year to date.
Patty Glaser, District United Way Chair
United for Kitsap: Grateful for You
UNITED FOR KITSAP! Grateful For You is a special living room concert produced by Kitsap Musicians Project in collaboration with United Way of Kitsap County, and BKAT studios to help raise awareness and resources for our neighbors in need during the COVID-19 crisis. The new show will include 17 songwriters/ performers comprising of past and new artists sharing messages of hope and faith. The 90-minute spectacular will also feature United Way of Kitsap sharing their mission supporting our Kitsap County neighbors through their incredible work and dedication.
We've got a number of BSD people who were involved in this production including BHS student Andrew Kehm ( Homie Churn), Naval Avenue ELC paraeducator Kim Hurst, Naval Avenue ELC ELL paraeducator Pablo Flores, West Hills STEM Academy music teacher Vanessa Lee Drem, speech therapist Ian Jones and Naval Avenue ELC paraeductor Rick Cortes.
If you missed it on BKAT and other TV outlets last month - never fear! It is now available on YouTube!
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School Meals Information
Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site with a link to our meals page: www.BremertonSchools.org/Meals. Just "right click" the graphic to save it.
Tech Support Website
Winter break update: The BSD Tech Support hotline and face-to-face assistance will be unavailable during winter break. Students will be encouraged to visit the BSD Family Technology Support website for information, tutorials, troubleshooting tips and more.
Winter break graphic
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(Virtual) 2021 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF)
Grades 9 - 12 ~ March 26 & 27, 2021
Grades 1 - 8 ~ April 15 & 16, 2021
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Holiday Closure
REVISED 12/16/2020: The District office will be closed during winter break. The office will re-open on Monday, January 4, 2021.
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Best wishes for 2021 (and good riddance 2020!!!)
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Website: www.bremertonschools.org
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Twitter: @BremertonSD