News, Information and Updates for Bremerton School District staff.

View archives here.

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These profiles are being shared on the District's Facebook page throughout Black History Month.

Janice Willis is a Health & Fitness Teacher at Mountain View Middle School. She has been with the Bremerton School District since 1975!

Janice was born in Pineville, Louisiana and was one of eight children. She grew up in Meeker, Louisiana on a plantation. When she was young, she picked and chopped cotton as well as picked pecans. Her dad was a disabled veteran, and her mom worked in a restaurant as well as a maid for a white family. Janice said her family did not have much, but they had what they needed.

She attended an all black K-12 school, and had to take a bus to and from each day. Her senior year was the first time she had any white teachers. One was her math teacher (who she really learned a lot from) and the other taught civics. There were only 28 kids in her graduating class.

Her father took a loan at a bank for her to attend University. Janice was the first and only person in her family to go to college. She enjoyed her 4 years of school and was involved in many clubs and organizations.

In her senior year, the Dean of Health and Fitness at Grambling State University asked Janice to relocate to Washington state to complete her student-teaching. After arriving, Janice met six other minority students she would be teaming with during her time. They were all assigned an advisor from Central Washington University to oversee the teaching program. All of them had been brought from black schools in the south to complete student teaching. Janice went to live in Redmond with a white family who had six children. It was her first experience with white people. They were really involved with her and made it fun. She was able to interact with the children she lived with during her student-teaching. Janice is still in contact with that family today.

Redmond Junior High is where Janice and two other ladies from the program did their student teaching. Janice says it was a rewarding experience. Following her student teaching and before leaving the area, the Lake Washington School District levy failed. Without jobs to offer, other districts were invited in to interview these young ladies and one gentleman before heading home to graduate. The Bremerton School District reached out and hired three new teachers from this process - and Janice has been here ever since.

She is married, has one daughter, and 2 grandchildren. Outside of school, she likes attending sporting events and being with her friends and family. Janice says she has a “village of friends” of all ethnic backgrounds in and out of the school environment.

Janice shared this: “I am a strong black woman. I sometimes feel alone not because I am treated badly, but because there are not many teachers of color in this district, and in particular, my school. I understand how children feel when they don’t see or interact with people that look like them during the school day. I hope I provided that face for many Bremerton kids.” "For as long as I am black, I am historic. I do not need a month, but thankful we have one, but my blackness will exist for a lifetime." (author unknown)

Janice’s “why” for teaching: I enjoy teaching! I want to make sure students enjoy Physical Education by having fun and letting go of the stresses of the school day, if only for a period of time. I want all of my students to find their happy place in an activity that brings them joy. I have spent my adult life in Bremerton. This is my home, and Bremerton kids are a part of my family.

Tameka Phelps is the school nurse for Crownhill Elementary and Naval Avenue Early Learning Center. She’s been with the District for 1 1/2 years next month!

Tameka obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Olympic College in 2017 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Olympic College in 2019.

Prior to going to nursing school, she worked as a caregiver. Once she graduated and passed her NCLEX-RN exam, she worked as a nurse at Retsil Veterans Home in Port Orchard.

Tameka is of African American and Filipino descent. Her father’s side of the family is African American and they are from New Bern, North Carolina. Her father was an aviation ordnanceman and explosive ordnance disposal technician in the Navy. Her mother was born and raised in the Philippines. Her parents were farmers. She met Tameka’s dad while he was stationed in Subic Bay in the Navy.

Tameka’s “why” for working in education: School nursing is quite different from long-term care and hospital nursing. However, at the core of nursing is caring and education. I have always enjoyed helping others and educating my patients. Most people associate school nurses with handing out band-aids and ice packs, but we are also a great resource for students, teachers, and staff. The school setting allows me to care and educate people as well as help make a difference in my community.

Daniel McInnis is the lead warehouse keeper and has been with the District for 31 years (with a 3-year break).

Daniel attended Eton Business College and is certified in basic mediation and as a Track & Field coach. Over the years, he’s also worked as a lounge host (bouncer), camp counselor, and juvenile detention officer.

Daniel’s father was from Mississippi and his mother was from Louisiana. His mother's family moved to Bremerton because his grandfather worked in the shipyard. His dad was brought to Bremerton by the Marines. He was last stationed in Camp Pendleton, California and when he retired in 1974, the family moved back to Bremerton where they have been ever since.

When his family first came back to Bremerton in 1974, Daniel attended Olympic View Elementary. As far as he can remember, there were only a handful of "black kids” in his school. Having lived on Camp Pendleton, that didn’t feel strange to him. The thing that was strange was that all the kids knew our names (me and my brother's) before we had a chance to tell them. Of course, as an eight year old, I didn't think too much about it. Looking back as an adult I realize that all the kids knew our names because we were different from everyone else. I don't have evidence, but I'm sure our arrival was discussed with the other students. Bremerton has made progress, but there is still more to do.

Daniel’s “why” for working in education: I appreciate the opportunity to build relationships with staff, students, and community. It also affords me the opportunity to make connections through coaching. Hopefully I can make a positive impact on someone's life.

Here’s a little poem about Black History

And what I believe Carter Woodson wanted us to see

For all the things that we’ve done

And all the victories we’ve won

For it is our history we must not neglect

But our heritage we must struggle to protect

Black history is not only about Dr. King

And that old song Lift every Voice and Sing

Although Dr. King was a great man

There’s more to our history we must understand

It goes way back to Queen Sheba strong and proud

Black history must make her voice ring loud

It’s about Nelson Mandela and his ANC

After twenty-seven years was finally free

For his cause, in prison he almost died

He fought for the struggle against apartheid

For the slaves in the hot sun picking cotton

Taken from their homeland only to be forgotten

When Rosa Parks sat in front of the bus

She didn’t do it for herself she did it for us

For when she took her stand you see

That became Black History

A young black poetess named Phyllis Wheatley

Who wrote about slavery but not discretely?

Some, her poetry just couldn’t embrace

Because she wasn’t of their race

Medgar Evers shot down in his own driveway

And the man who did it nearly got away

Black history is of men and women of this stature

We need pass it on if there’s hope for the future

To all those before us who paved the way

So that we can be where we are today

The one thing I think Carter wanted us to see

That the whole world is affected by Black History

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Policy News

The below policies were updated and adopted this week. These are all from the 1000 series, Legal Status & Operation.

Policy 1600; Code of Ethics

Policy 1610; Conflicts of Interest

Policy 1620; Board-Superintendent Relationship

Policy 1731; Board Member Expenses

New procedures also came to the Board, and these are included here for staff review. Any questions on these can be directed to Iva Scott.

· 2030P; Service Animals in Schools

· 2410P, High School Graduation Requirements

· 3225P; School-Based Threat Assessment

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Policies were really the only point of business for the regular session. Earlier in the day, the Board heard from i-Ready representatives, district office administrators as well as principals about our amazing partnership with i-Ready Curriculum Associates.

To view any of these documents, you may also visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.

Compiled by Ioanna Cossack, Board Secretary

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All staff are required to check-in electronically any day they plan to be in a school building. This is important information for contract tracing purposes should we need to notify staff about possible COVID exposure. There are TWO daily tasks staff who are working in our buildings must complete:

• Daily Health Assessment (in Skyward) - link sent daily to all District staff via email
• Daily staff building check-in (varies by building).

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We are doing a drive-thru event this year at Minder Meats, 4921 Auto Center Blvd, Bremerton, WA 98312. Please fill out the registration and someone will contact you to schedule payment and pick up.

Deadline: Orders need to be in by March 1, 2021.

It's going to be the same great crab we have every year! We absolutely need your help! Our students need your help!

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• Learn more about the WIAA Return-to-Activity guidelines.
• View the WIAA Sports Season schedule.

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Every Wednesday, staff from Naval Ave Early Learning Center host "Dolphin Clubs" on Zoom with students. Here is a link to a sing-along from a recent Dolphin Club during which staff led students (and families!) dancing, singing and playing their own instruments at home - in English and Spanish!

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Download the creativity graphics here!

Download the creativity graphics here!

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Because of the return of K-2 Hybrid students to the classrooms, our meal program has changed.

Current meal pick-up times: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at all schools (excluding RHS, Open Doors and WST).

Meal Bus Delivery: The bus delivery schedules will be remaining the same for now.

Update: There are no changes to our meal program at this time. Shout-out to our amazing CNS staff who have stepped up to the challenge with the return of our K-5 Hybrid students!

Teachers: 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.

Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site or Google Classroom! Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site. Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site or Google Classroom with a link to our meals page: www.BremertonSchools.org/TechHelp. Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

Elementary Teachers: Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site with a link to our meals page: www.BremertonSchools.org/HybridBus. Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

• Spanish announcements/updates web page (there is a link on the home page under "2020-21/COVID-19 tab)
• Spanish information recorded message: 360-473-1002 x 2

The clinic is open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays during the 2020-21 school year. The clinic serves Bremerton School District students (preschool - 12th grade) and staff.

Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site with a link to our clinic info page: https://www.bremertonschools.org/clinic. Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

Teachers: Feel free to share this graphic on your Google Teacher Site with a link to the instructions on our website: https://www.bremertonschools.org/Domain/2275

Just "right click" the graphic to save it.

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Click the graphic above to access the Zoom.

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Any certificated employee interested in an Administrative Internship for the 2021-22 school year must submit an application no later than Friday, February 26, 2021. Applications are available by emailing Amy Stam in the Human Resources Office at amy.stam@bremertonschools.org

Please note: The Washington State Education Leadership Intern Grant is currently available on the AWSP website:

http://www. awsp.org/member-support/principal-interns/intern-grant

This new PTA will be replacing/is a combination of the Bremerton High School PTA and Mountain View Middle School PTA.

Combining the administrative and management side into one allows more communication, more continuity between the schools, and much less administrative work for the volunteers.

There are two membership levels - individual for $12 and Multiple/Family for $10 per person (ie: $20 per couple). Here is a link where people can join and pay online:

http://www.memberplanet.com/s/bremertonhighptsa/membership

Learn more or submit a nomination here >>

Click here to view the Virtual Community Center. Please help spread the word!

The 2021 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair is VIRTUAL this year!

• Grades 9 - 12 ~ March 26 & 27, 2021
• Grades 1 - 8 ~ April 15 & 16, 2021

Learn more here.

The Ellison Foundation will award at least 10 grants in the Spring of 2021 for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Grant amounts range between $1,000 and $10,000. Learn more >>

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Recently, the City was approached by members of the public requesting that 4th Street between Pacific Avenue and Washington Avenue be re-named in honor of Mr. Quincy Jones to “Quincy Jones Way” or “Quincy Square”. The City of Bremerton is requesting input from residents about this potential name change proposed by community members.

On Thursday, Feb. 25 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm, the City will host an online forum to gather citizens’ feedback. The City of Bremerton has checked with CENCOM (Kitsap 911) since possible street name changes require CENCOM approval for emergency response coordination. CENCOM has determined that “Quincy Jones Way” or “Quincy Square” meets its requirements.

Public comments are welcomed to assist the Bremerton City Council in deciding this issue. To attend the public meeting, please see the remote sign in details below. Can’t make the meeting? You can submit your feedback through this form. Learn more and get the Zoom link here.

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• 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