10.25.24

I hope this message finds you well! Here is a quick update regarding Principal Mitchell. Unfortunately, he could be out until December 2nd. In the meantime, rest assured that your students are in great hands. A team of three will be stepping in to cover his responsibilities.

Mr. Corstange is a retired educator with over 30 years of experience who has been mentoring our building principals in the district for the past year.

Ms. Coats is our MTSS coordinator, and she has been with the district since March. She has teaching and administrative experience at every level.

I will also work in Jr./Sr high school to help cover while Mr. Mitchell is out.

We are committed to ensuring a smooth and successful continuation of the school year.

If you have any questions or concerns during this time, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re here to support your students and the entire school community.

• November 1 - No BCAMSC
• November 15th No School (CACC & BCAMSC are in session)
• November 18th School Board Meeting
• November 27-29 No School Thanksgiving Break

Elementary Hours:

Doors open at 7:40, classes begin at 7:59. Dismissal at 3:05.

Jr/Sr High Hours:

Doors open at 7:30, classes begin at 7:49. Dismissal at 2:55.

Jr/Sr:

• We completed our Building Data Review on 10.22.24. From the review, we have created our SMART goals based upon our data.

• By January 2025, the Jr/Sr will have an attendance incentive/ intervention to increase the percentage of students attending school 90% of the time up from (school-wide) 83% measured by EWIMS attendance data.

• By January 2025, with the implementation of the “Bronco Ticket” acknowledgement system, referral will decrease allowing more time in class and more instructional minutes not lost on management.

• We are excited to announce our new Attendance Initiative (BRONCO STAMPEDE). We are finalizing plans and will share that out in the next two weeks.

Elementary:

• We have had so many hands-on learning experience this week. Our 2nd grade classes enjoyed a trip to the apple orchard to learn about the different uses of apples, how cider is made, and even how the trees need bees. Ms. Hall's class used basketballs to learn about physics to grasp the concepts of energy transfer, gravity, and so much more.
• Kim Fox and Heather Rose attended the HIL Summit on 10.23.24. Their participation will provide valuable insights and resources to enhance our instructional practices. Thank you for bringing your learning back to the building!

District:

• If you attended the Explicit Instruction PD on 10.23, please complete the following survey: here is a link
• There was a request for the training videos from our Explicit Instruction Session. Enjoy.
• Interested in some teacher discounts? Check out the teachers discount page from MDE.
• School AI has a great October Collection for you to pick from. Simply find a room you like, preview and customize, then launch it for your students to enjoy an Immersive (FERPA safe!) AI Experience, ranging from interviews with Edgar Allen Poe, Diwali, Life Cycle of a Pumpkin, or a Halloween Math Escape room, customizable for K-12! Remember to always preview and customize the room so it's right for your students!
  

• Looking for some hands on STEM? Here's a few to get your kids creating and exploring for your upcoming party day!

  • 31 Days of Halloween - STEAM Powered Family
  • STEAM Challenges - LeftBrain CraftBrain
  • Coding Activities - Create.Learn
  • Origami - Videos, Printables - RedTedArt

Feedback: Love what we are learning, but how do we sustain it, so it isn't just a "new thing"? How do we help our colleagues use the skills?

Answer: Love this question! We have a few options. The Explicit Instruction (Active Engagement) with Jennie Goldstein is only step one. If staff is interested in the next step, it is called Explicit Vocabulary where it uses the same skills when introducing vocabulary in our subject areas. It is an amazing process. I am hoping that Anita Archer returns to MI this summer, so we can have a team go to her week-long training in person. (Fingers crossed)

The plan is for our leadership teams and instructional coaches to add the strategies to the walk-through templates. This is non-evaluative and for support only. The data that the team collects will help determine what are the next steps for each building and how we can help each other.

This grant is still available! You could receive up to $5,000! Last year's winners used it for: broadcasting, ukuleles, morning bins, calm down tools, literature through music, phonic tile kits, Spanish concerts, etc. What do you want to bring to your classroom? Maybe a Whiteboard tablet? You choose! Due: OCTOBER 30th