BSD Staff Updates
2021-22 Issue #4: Thursday, September 23, 2022
News, Information and Updates for Bremerton School District staff.
Click here for resources!
The month honors our families with ancestry from Spanish and Latin American Spanish-speaking countries. In the Bremerton School District, roughly 23% of our students identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Click here for resources for celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with your students!
Teachers! Please remind your families to complete their ABCs!
The ABCs are our improved Annual Back-to-school Check-in process or ABCs (formerly known as the Annual Demographic Update). Please remind families to take a few moments to complete this important process.
The ABC process must be completed for all students in the district - including both previously enrolled as well as newly registered students.
Gaggle Teletherapy: confidential, free online therapy
The mental health of our students and staff is a top priority. That’s why we’re offering a new service to support students and staff.
If you’re feeling sad, hopeless, angry, or anxious—or having challenges with your family, friends, or relationships—therapy could help.
Gaggle Therapy is a free, confidential option to connect weekly with a therapist online and on your schedule.
Getting started is easy. Simply sign up for the service (see links below), fill out two forms, and get matched with your therapist.
You'll join each session from school or home through a link sent to your email.
Learn more at www.BremertonSchools.org/Gaggle. Resources for staff wanting to refer students can be found in this shared folder.
Teachers: Please consider downloading one of these graphics (right click >> save) and adding it to your Google Classroom and Google Site. Please link to www.BremertonSchools.org/Gaggle or https://www.bremertonschools.org/Page/8609.
October 11 is a no-school day (not a non-student day)
Teachers! Is your Google site updated and connected to your school's website?
- Check your setting so that non-BSD users can view the site
- New teachers: Submit your site URL so we can link your site to your school's website.
Have you moved buildings? Please double check to see that your site is linked to your current school. We are trying to keep up on all of the changes, but there have been many! Thanks for your assistance!!
PCHS Clinic at Mountain View Middle School
The clinic serves Bremerton School District students (preschool - 12th grade) and staff. It is is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays during the month of September. The clinic will return to normal school year hours beginning October 4. Learn more at www.BremertonSchools.org/Clinic.
Meet our District's new student, family & school liaisons
Our liaisons will reach out to the most vulnerable and complex families, often through building relationships with the students in those families. They will support families in connecting with and understanding the resources available.
In Pediatric Integrated Care there is something called a "warm handoff." This is when a trusted provider connects the person/student/ family directly to a needed service and makes sure the connection is completed. This will be something our liaisons will practice.
They will will also respond to crises as needed and support counselors with safety planning. Another function of their role is parenting support.
Becca Disbrow
Katie Seiple
Patti Sgambellone
Jessica Shine
Highlights from September 16, 2021
Policy News
SB 1176 is directed at supporting our most vulnerable students. The legislation addresses barriers to success that should be removed. Revised Policy 6800 (Safety, Operations and Maintenance of School Property) was approved on second reading. There were some minor changes, but the most substantive change brought this policy in line with SB 1176. When a student is required to pay for destruction of school property, their grades or transcript may no longer be withheld until restitution is made; however, only a diploma may be withheld.
During the 2020 legislative session, our Legislature passed HB 2816 – Positive Social and Emotional School and Classroom Climates, directing WSSDA to develop a model policy for nurturing a positive social and emotional school and classroom climate. The Board approved Policy 3112, Social Emotional Climate, as recommended by WSSDA for first read. This policy will come back to the Board for adoption upon second reading on October 7, 2021.
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The Consent Agenda contained the usual HR and Payroll business items, but also included a Resolution to surplus a vehicle along with other classroom/office furniture, the State Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program Grant, the Highly Capable Program for 2021-22, and the CTE Federal Carl Perkins Grant.
Directors discussed Senator Emily Randall’s “Ideafest” that will be held outdoors on October 16th, 3pm, at Naval Avenue Early Learning Center. This event will spotlight young leaders in the 26th district.
Written Reports included an update on the CTE Program and Grow Your Own Teacher Academy, as well as the September Enrollment Report, the BSD Recognition Calendar, and the District’s organization chart.
To view any of these documents, you may also visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.nsf/Public#.
Congrats, Shani Watkins - Finalist for the ACTE Administrator of the Year!
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) recently announced its 2022 national finalists in eight different award categories.
Finalists were announced for Teacher of the Year, Postsecondary Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, Teacher Educator of the Year, Counseling and Career Development Professional Award, Lifetime Achievement and Carl Perkins Community Service Awards.
The national winner will be announced at the virtual ACTE Awards Gala in November. Finalists for Administrator of the Year Award include:
- Dave Rockers–Joplin, MO–Region III
- Wendy Suzanne Kelly–Purvis, MS–Region IV
- Shani Watkins–Bremerton, WA–Region V
About ACTE
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
Shout-out to Charles Paar and Bernice Villanueva
Great work, Rick Cortes!
Check out this video produced by Rick Cortes in collaboration with BKAT television. Rick is a para educator at Naval Avenue Early Learning Center.
American Street' is a cinematic journey across Kitsap County visiting people making a difference in our everyday lives. In this project, "Above and Below Deck on the Washington State Ferries," host and creator/ producer and Naval Avenue's own Rick Cortes / BKAT television engages in a sit down exchange of reflections and thoughts with WSF engineers Erik Hohl and Eric Haynes. The viewer will experience a greater understanding of the dedication these fellow Kitsap citizens have serving our community as part of one the greatest maritime transportation systems in the world.
Reminder: Fragrance / Scent-Safe Awareness
We would like to remind our school community to be fragrance/scent-safe aware. We have staff members and students who could suffer severe adverse reactions when exposed to even the smallest amount of fragrance or scents. Fragrances from personal care products, air fresheners, oil diffusers, candles, wax melts, and cleaning products have been associated with adversely affecting a person’s health including headaches, upper respiratory symptoms, shortness of breath, and difficulty with concentration.
We ask that you, our school community, support the effort to maintain a healthy and safe environment by refraining from wearing fragrances or scented products.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, we encourage you to visit the Safe Schools training website and watch Scent Awareness. The link to the Safe Schools website is below if you choose to watch it. The video is 13 minutes in duration:
https://bremerton-wa.safeschools.com/login.
Thank you for following these guidelines. It is important that we maintain a fragrance and scent-safe working and learning environment for all of our staff and students.
View this and other important reminders here.
Human Resources
Behavioral Health Guidance for Back to School
The Department of Health (DOH) is providing behavioral health tips and resources for navigating the emotional responses that children, teens, and adults may experience this fall as we've returned to classroom learning.
The COVID-19 Back-to-Classroom THINK Toolbox is a resource to help with adjusting to the return of in-person school and learning. THINK, which stands for Teaching with Healthcare Informed Neurological strategies for Kids, is a toolbox with information to help school-age children and teens deal with the emotional impacts of COVID-19, and tips on how to build and maintain resilience and practice self-care during a disaster.
Learn more here.
Dr. Leavell featured in Boys & Girls Club Virtual "Treasure Hunters" fundraiser
Grant funds available!
Click here to view the Resiliency Summit web page for all Summit information including registration and COVID precautions.
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Background photo: First day of school at MVMS.
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Website: www.bremertonschools.org
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Twitter: @BremertonSD