BSD Staff Updates
2020-21 Issue #5: Tuesday, November 17
News, Information and Updates for Bremerton School District staff.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to the Bremerton School Board!
Congratulations and THANK YOU to the Bremerton School Board! For the third year in a row, our School Board has been named a Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors Association.
In a year of shifting instructional models and daunting health and safety challenges, this year’s Boards of Distinction application asked school directors to illustrate how their actions helped their school districts close opportunity gaps. To be awarded, boards had to show a clear link between their leadership in applying the Washington School Board Standards and closing gaps that impact student success.
You can learn more about the award and selection process at https://www.wssda.org/2020-boards-of-distinction-announced/.
We appreciate our board's leadership and tireless support and advocacy for all students in the Bremerton School District.
(Photograph taken in 2019: Superintendent Aaron Leavell, (former) student Board representative Gabriel O'Rourke-Dela Cruz, Director Allyson Rotter, Director Dr. Karen Bolton, 2020 Board President Jonee Dubos, Director Carolynn Perkins, Director John Hurley, and special guest Mayor Greg Wheeler.
Kelli Andrews, West Hills STEM Academy
Happy Veterans Day and thank you to all of the veterans who have served our country!
Did you know that Kelli Andrews, assistant principal at West Hills STEM Academy, was a Black Hawk pilot? She joined the Army after high school and served from 1995-2001.
She later went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington, and a Master's in Science in Teaching from Old Dominion University. She earned her administrative credentials from Western Washington University.
Kelli holds a National Board Teaching Certification and has served for 13 years as a biology, biotechnology, and AP biology teacher at Bremerton High School before taking the position at West Hills this fall.
Edward Angelbeck, Kitsap Lake Elementary
Edward Angelbeck, paraeducator at Kitsap Lake Elementary, retired as a Senior Chief Electronics Technician from US Naval Submarine Service. In his 27 years of service, Ed served on six different submarines from both east and west coast Naval bases.
Ed says one of most exciting events in his career was the collision with a destroyer in November 1982 while he was serving on the submarine, USS Thomas Edison.
Pamela Lee
Pamela Lee, school psychologist at Mountain View Middle School served in the Navy for 12 years as a nurse.
She served in Desert Storm and the rest of her time she delivered babies as a labor and delivery nurse at military hospitals.
David Young, West Sound Technical Skills Center
Cindi Probst, District Admin Office (IT)
Lucinda (Cindy) Probst serves as the District’s Communications & Technology Administrative Assistant.
She served in the Air Force for six years as an Inventory Management Specialist, managing all types of equipment and supplies ranging from pens and cold weather gear to parts for aircrafts and missile silos.
While stationed in RAF Upper Heyford in England, she helped support the aircraft that were actively participating in the Libya bombings of 1986. (Here is a fun fact about RAF Upper Heyford: it was used for many of the scenes in the James Bond movie Octopussy.).
During the Gulf War, Cindi was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana she worked to get troops and equipment going to Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Karen Bolton
Dr. Karen Bolton, Director on the Bremerton School Board is a retired First Class Petty Officer. She served our country faithfully for 20 years in a variety of places including Virginia Beach, Great Lakes, Pax River Maryland, NAS Moffett Field, USS Lexington, Crete Greece, Reykjavik, Iceland, and the USS Abraham Lincoln before retiring at Naval Base Kitsap - Banger.
Dr. Bolton was award the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, Navy and Marine Overseas Metal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal and has multiple letters of commendation for her role on a rescue team during two separate aircraft fires on a flight deck.
October was Filipinio American History Month
We'd like to introduce you to a few of our amazing staff of Filipino descent.
Leslie Daugs is a second generation Filipino-American. Leslie works in security at both Renaissance High School and West Hills STEM Academy and is a long-time advocate for at-risk youth in our community.
Both of her parents were immigrants and moved here due to the war, when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. At that time, they allowed Filipinos to join the U.S. military. Her dad joined the Navy and brought her mom to the United States. Years later they became U.S. citizens. Her dad retired after 20 years in the Navy and Bremerton became home. He also worked an additional 20 years in civil service at Keyport. Leslie’s mom retired as Human Resources Director for KMart.
Leslie and her three sisters are all graduates of the Central Kitsap School District. Ms. Leslie has more than 30 family members living in Kitsap County! She and her husband Daryl have three children who have graduated from Bremerton High School, and they have been foster parents to 54 young adults.
Leslie has served youth in many other capacities for work and as a volunteer. “I enjoy seeing and visiting with kids, and seeing them in the future as grown individuals. They are our future. Kids are so open and carefree, and I enjoy that free spirit within them.”
Ms. Leslie is one of many Filipinos who has advocated for cities and counties to recognize the work of the Filipinos in Washington state. In May 2019, when Governor Jay Inslee signed October as Filipino History Month, she was in Olympia with many Filipinos leaders when the Governor signed it into law. She is also a Bremerton City Council member.
Irene Torrella, ELL Bilingual Paraeductaor at Mountain View Middle School,
Irene was born and raised in the Philippines. She spent her formative years in Legaspi City. After high school, she moved to the big city of Manila for college, where she earned a degree in Communication Arts. In 1986, she moved to Guam to join husband before moving to Washington State in 1989.
Irene has worked for the Bremerton School District for 20 of her 30+ years living in Washington state, where she and her family chose to make their home after her husband’s 23 years of service in the military.
Irene’s “Why” for working in education: “I teach because it gives me the most fulfillment. When prior students reconnect with you after they graduate from high school to thank you for helping them and being an inspiration to them, it's a priceless feeling! It makes my job so worthwhile.”
Desiree Hall, an Instructional Coach at West Hills STEM Academy.
Desiree Hall, an Instructional Coach at West Hills STEM Academy.
Desiree’s grandparents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines after her grandfather fought in WWII and survived the Baton-Corregidor Death March. She has fond childhood memories of being surrounded by a large family of aunties, uncles, and numerous cousins, learning traditions such as dancing the tinkling and making lumpia with her grandmother.
Before becoming a teacher, Desiree was a swimming instructor and worked in shoe sales. She graduated from Olympic High School, got her Associate of Arts degree at Olympic College, her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Washington State University, and earned her Master’s degree in Education from Old Dominion. Ms. Hall is also a National Board Certified teacher.
Desiree “why” for working in education: “I am here to support each of my students fulfill their dream.”
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November is Native American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month
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Board Highlights - November 12, 2020
Policy News
Policy 3207; Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, came to the Board for first reading. Staff should review this draft. Second reading for adoption is scheduled for December 10.
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Written Comprehensive School Improvement Plans were provided by all of our schools. The Board approved these CSIPs so that they could be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Due to this year’s unusual circumstances, a study session with principals was not held.
As a part of the Consent Agenda, the two Federal Carl Perkins Grants (for WST and CTE) were approved, as was a Memo of Understanding with the Bremerton Education Association for the 2020-21 Reopening of Schools.
One trip that was postponed due to COVID-19, was a student Spring 2020 excursion to France. Ms. Elise Erickson brought this back to the Board with plans for this overseas trip to occur June/July 2021.
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The Board held a study session that began at 3:00 pm, hearing from Clay Cook, PhD, Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, and Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) consultants/trainers Megan Gruis and Curtis Slater. The District has been working with these individuals through IgnitEd in developing a “recipe” or plan with one clear purpose and vision in mind: To provide a comprehensive integrated educational design around social emotional and behavioral health. This session gave the Board an opportunity to take a closer look at what the District and individual buildings are doing around school improvement, SEL, and developing a positive, safe, and nurturing school environment.
To view any of these documents, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.
Compiled by Ioanna Cossack, Board Secretary
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Community Partnership supports "learning labs" at home
In case you missed this on Facebook...
Our Bremerton High School culinary arts / CTE team has put together a partnership with the Safeway on Callow Avenue to provide supplies/ingredients for 200+ students enrolled in culinary classes at BHS so they have the ingredients for a "cooking lab" at home.
Every Monday we’ve got volunteers bagging groceries which students pick-up so they have all the supplies they need at home to complete their class assignment! This has been a huge team effort with BHS staff, volunteers and Safeway coming together to make this happen - and giving students the opportunity to cook “in” class. Our teachers are having a great time doing virtual cooking labs with students who will be making things like biscuits, pretzels, granola and smoothies!
“The support from our community partners at Safeway and the Bremerton High School staff has been amazing and it has allowed our students to see that while education has temporarily changed for them, the value and commitment that their community places on educating them has not!
CTE classes are designed to replicate the workplace in a variety of career fields. This is just one example of how our CTE teachers at the high school, West Hills and MVMS are providing kids with “kits” so that they can continue to have a true experience while learning from home.
COVID19 has forced all of us to learn that it is possible to do things differently, and our students will eventually be transitioning into the workforce with a skill set that most of us never had. They are learning to adjust and change direction when necessary!”
--Linda Hupka, CTE Director, Bremerton School District
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Check out the "Some Things Never Change" music video produced by BHS students for homecoming week last month.
Credits:
- Karli Uhrich, Senior and ASB Class Liaison: Video Producer
- Andrew Kehm (Homie Churn), Junior Class President: Rapper
- Calia Stodden, Senior: Vocalist
- Marli Stodden, Junior: Vocalist
- Zach Oblinger, Junior: Music Producer
Not familiar with the original Frozen 2 song that inspired this video? Check it out here!
Keep on vibin' BSD
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Welcome to the BSD Family, new staff members!
Kitsap Musicians Project: United for Kitsap
Coming up this weekend!
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. The program will air on Friday November 20, 2020 at 6 PM and Sunday November 22, 2020 at 9:30PM.
We've got a number of BSD people 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.
Ed Angelbeck earns PSE Life Member Award
This award is for a Public School Employees-represented employee who has been active in PSE for at least 10 years, and has outstanding contributions to the general welfare of employees through PSE.
“Ed is passionate about his responsibilities as the President. He is passionate about ensuring all members are provided their rights according to our collective bargaining agreement, and he is passionate about his position as a paraeducator. He often goes above and beyond the call of duty and is fearless at negotiating for a positive result for all involved parties, at all times. We would be remiss if we didn’t address Ed’s enjoyment of delighting the young and old alike. All year long he maintains a natural white beard and every December (& sometimes November too) he adorns a Velvet Suit (sewn by his lovely wife, Mrs. Claus) to entertain for anyone who loves “Santa”. Mr. & Mrs. Claus are always a BIG hit!” – Wanda Liner, Bremerton-BPEA Vice President and Cindi Probst, BPEA Negotiations Chair
“For years he has led our local chapter and assisted other chapters as well. If you ask anyone in the Bremerton School District who is the “face” of PSE, I know that most would say ED!” – Joyce Cowdery, Co-Worker/Fellow PSE Member
Congratulations, Ed!
Character Trait of the Month: Gratitude!
Download the creativity graphics here!
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Book-a-Librarian from Kitsap Regional Library
Kitsap Regional Library is launching a new service called Book-a-Librarian where educators can request a KRL librarian for a 30-45 minute virtual visit to their classroom – to read a story, talk about a topic for class, host a virtual fieldtrip around the library, or just chat about how kids can use the library to succeed at alternative/virtual learning. Simply fill out the short form and let us know what you need!
Book-a-Librarian is a virtual service intended to give school librarians, teachers, and other community partners better access to one-on-one appointments and library outreach opportunities. The range of personalized topics and services offered (see list below) reflect those that our Library offered more broadly in person before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Class visit/field trip
- Financial aid help (FAFSA/WASFA)
- Find your next book - overview of reader’s advisory resources
- Group storytime
- Help with my e-reader, Kindle, Kobo, or other reading device
- Online library resources
- Library service overview
- Research help - guidance on a defined research topic
- Search the library’s catalogue, website, or databases
- Visit from a librarian to your organization/group
The link to the request form is https://www.krl.org/bookalibrarian.
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Congratulations Stacy Sheriff and Leah Zimmer!
Learn more and see all of the winners at: https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/life/best-of-central-kitsap-2020/
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Supporting our military families: The Academic Anchor
Below is the latest issue of the Academic Anchor, a quarterly newsletter put out by Navy Region Northwest School Liaison Office. Inside you will find information about my job as a School Liaison, articles on deployment, youth programs, NBK supports and more.
Should you find yourself working with a military family please feel free to share contact information for our NBK School Liaison Officer.
She also welcomes calls or emails from staff with questions on how best to support military-connected youth in your school.
Marcella L. Atwood
NBK School Liaison Officer
Navy Region Northwest
O:360-476-7243
Cell:360-340-2824
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Are you getting the daily Staff Health Screening emails?
Not sure? See the screen capture below.
These are sent through our School Messenger Notification system and if you are not getting them, you may not be getting other important information distributed by the District.
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School Meals Information
Thanksgiving week update: Meals will be distributed next week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, students will receive 3 days of meals (Wed-Thurs-Fri).
Tech Support Website
Thanksgiving graphic
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Pacific Education Institute is offering Project Learning Tree: Outdoor STEM Learning in Your Schoolyard or Home for Grades K-5.
The workshop will be a blended experience:
- Asynchronous: prior to first day of workshop (approximately 1 hour)
- Synchronous: Monday November 30 from 4-6 pm (2 hours)
- Synchronous: Wednesday, December 2 from 4-6 pm (2 hours)
Participants who complete this will receive 5 STEM clock hours. Registration is $40 and participants will receive their own copy of the Project Learning Tree: PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.
Registration will close on November 18, and you will be sent the guide prior to the workshop.
Please see the attached flyer for more details and registration information. Contact me if you have questions!
Bremerton Backpack Brigade November Newsletter
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Flu Shot Clinics in November
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Follow BSD on Social Media!
- Staff Updates newsletter archives
- Submit ideas or content for the Staff Updates newsletter to: Karen.Bevers@BremertonSchools.org
Website: www.bremertonschools.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BremertonSchools/
Twitter: @BremertonSD
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