Wink’s Weekly Words
Click here to read my Blue Ridge community blog
Your Vote = Your Voice
Early voting begins on February 20, and election day is March 6.
* HERE ARE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS FOR COLLIN COUNTY AND FANNIN COUNTY.
* YOU CAN VOTE AT THE ADMIN BUILDING ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6.
BRISD Boxed Food Drive
Please do what you can to promote the Boxed Food Drive. The winning
grade gets an ice cream party after Spring Break.
BRISD Board Adopts Calendar
note that Fridays will be late starts for students, so that staff can collaborate from
7:30 - 8:20. Principals will make more specific plans for each campus to ensure student coverage
and teacher collaboration structures.
BRISD Board Approves New Positions
Based on enrollment projects, growth in athletics and increases in projects and student
enrollment our FFA programs, the board of trustees approved recommendations for
new positions next year.
It is important to note that the move into 3A athletics will require us to have more teams
to be competitive in our new classification. If you have questions about the direction
of our district staffing, please let me know. The additional positions approved included the
following:
* Agriculture Teacher - This position will take additional sections from Ag, Science, Speech programs and provide our growing numbers of
Ag students more support in FFA.
* MS ELA Teacher / MS Girls Coach position - This position will support more sections for academics and additional support to our girls MS athletic program.* HS SS Teacher / HS Boys Basketball Coach Position - This position will support sections for social studies and athletic supports in our HS boys program.* Director of Instructional Technology - This position will allow more support to be given to our librarian, teachers and students so that we can ensure that our technology and instructional technology initiatives gain more support. Additionally, it will allow the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment the opportunity to provide more direct support to principals and teachers in meeting our academic goals.
Please note that our budget is currently being developed and discussions are
underway to address the following areas: a possible additional teacher at
BRES due to additional growth, a possible additional aide due to potential
increases in our special education population, and possible budget funds being
allocated to provide a raise for all staff members in 2018-2019. We are working
with principals to determine next steps to better serve the students are BRISD,
and if you have input or questions, I encourage you to visit with them as well.
The final budget will be adopted in August 2018.
Amy’s Announcements
FA4
Next week is FA4 window. We also begin TELPAS testing for the HS.
May 30-31
We’re having training on May 30-31. This will help you get 2 of the 5
flex days for 18-19 knocked out right at the beginning summer!
* May 30 - Vertical teams
* Alignment of 8-12 essential standards
* R10 content experts will be here
* May 31 - Rigor and Mastery Training
* If you’re PLP focuses on differentiation, questioning strategies,
extensions, interventions, etc. - THIS DAY IS FOR YOU.
Region 10 will be here to lead these break-out sessions!
If you can’t make these training days due to vacation plans,
you must inform your principal immediately.
Content on Walls for Testing
Some of you were asking if an anchor chart with just a strategy can be left on
your walls during testing. I called R10 and got this verified.
Anything that would be given to students as a Supplemental Aid
CANNOT be on the wall for the general student. Below are screenshots
of supplemental aids that can be provided to certain students as
supplemental aids. THEY CANNOT BE ON THE WALL DURING TESTING.
Allowable Accommodations
Are you logging the accommodations you are using with students?
Professional Learning
** If you identified Differentiated Instruction as your MOY PLP Goal,
you’ll want to sign up for this R10 training. I’ve signed up and I’m
excited to go through it!
K-12 online training, Design for Differentiation, featuring short,
weekly lessons revolving around the five areas of differentiation.
This is a great training for any teacher looking to improve in
differentiation. 6 CPE GT Update Hours over a one month
FREQUENTLY UPDATE YOUR EDUPHORIA WORKSHOP PORTFOLIO
Be sure you are frequently updating with any ‘outside the normal
workday’ professional learning. The district always wants to keep a record
of all learning taking place by BRISD staff.
Remember that when you attend a BR offered class and do the survey,
it automatically grants credit to your portfolio.
Staff Shoutout
Special thanks go to the following people who were responsible for your
full breakfast on Monday, February 19, 2018. They are Shawn Harris,
Angie Lillard, Terri Rodriquez, Denise Avery, Carolyn Wink, Holly Wink and
Haley Wink. If you get a moment, please thank them for all of their hard work.
Technology Announcements
Some of you asked about downloading the STAAR Online Testing
Platform on your computer. Eduardo has pushed the STAAR software to
EVERY teacher computer. For you to be able to see the software,
you’ll need to restart your computer. The icon looks like this:
Special Programs Announcements
Business Office Announcements
Texas maximum mileage reimbursement rate for travel occurring on or after January 1, 2018 is 54.5 cents per mile. Please use this rate from this point forward on any mileage reimbursements.
Amanda will be out February 26 - March 2 for a Conference. Please submit all PO's and Travel Expenses Request by February 21 for processing.
