Staffing- Below I have shared our current staffing plan for next year. As always, much could change between now and September. Here are a few notes:
- We were allotted 19 classroom teachers (4- K and 3 each in grades 1-5). That is two down from this year’s 21.
- All schools were given extra from SIA funds (that we hoped would come last year, but didn’t because of covid). Buckingham’s SIA funds amounted to 1.0 FTE “historically underserved” and 1.0 FTE “Student Success”.
- We used the 1.0 from historically underserved to add a first grade classroom and lower class sizes for our current kindergartners. Going to three classes would start the year around 24 in first grade with a class that saw more than it’s fair share of disruption during kindergarten. We need the small first grade classes next year more than ever.
- Kelly Sproba will be moving from kindergarten to fulfill the role of “Student Success”. This position was created at the district level to address the high number of students exhibiting tier 3 and above behaviors. Almost all schools in Bend received this position. The goals will include intervening with students with high level behaviors, creating plans for these students, building capacity of staff in trauma informed practices, providing support for teachers in serving students, and more. It is much like what Heather Patterson (Frank) has done for us this year, but we will now have a certified AND classified partnership working to create a program for our students with the highest behavioral needs. These positions in the elementary schools will take the place of the district behavior programs that are now housed at Silver Rail and North Star. We are excited that Kelly will be filling this role for us next year.
- Teachers that left mid-year for District CDL were guaranteed a spot and will be returning to us.
- Shelly Schaefer will also be returning from her special assignment working with the district and math learning center.
- Thank you for submitting your “staff interest forms”. These were very instrumental in helping me with the changes that we had to make. I know not everyone is in their first choice. Jon and I will keep that in mind and are still open to changes if/when there is an opportunity that works for all.
- As always, let me know if you have questions.
Kindergarten- Kristine Hable, Alyssa Kornbrath, Kim Aplin, Amy Hughes
First Grade- Cadi Brown, Amber Stenkamp, Claire Dickey, Shelly Schaefer
Second Grade- Challey Becker, Margy Tucker, Frank Heimerdinger
Third Grade- Alisha Clawson, Jessi Hayes, Shane Knapp
Fourth Grade- Jesse Andrews, Deborah Buckman, Kim Johnson
Fifth Grade- Kimberly Camren, Todd Jacobson, Sadie Rossi
Specialists- Ryan Douglass- PE, Jason Herzog- Music
Title- Laci Fisher
Sped- Tami Otis, Kelly Weiler
New Guidelines- Most people have heard/read more than I have about new CDC guidelines around masking and social distancing. At this time, we have been given NO NEW DIRECTION for what we do in schools, which means business as… well, not normal, but business as we have been doing the last several months. I will let you know if/when we are given new guidelines for schools.
Class Lists- Now that you know who is teaching what, your teams can begin creating the class lists for next year. The google doc is ready and available. Last week’s notes have special directions for completing the doc. If your grade wants the cards for your work together, let me know. Let me know if you have any questions.
Please check with Margaret as we do have some students returning from home schoo/blso/cdl etc. and Margaret is working on a list. We know that it will keep changing, but you should place the students on that list, even if you don’t have a lot of info on them.
In terms of parent input, we will have forms available at the office. I won’t be advertising to anyone. If they should ask, you can let them know they can get it at the office.
STEM- STEM team is currently working on documenting the why, what and how we do STEM. Earlier in the spring, we invited anyone who was interested to work with the STEM team on drafting our “why”. If you have any additional feedback, you can always reach out to a member of the STEM team. We hope that this work will grow and evolve with us as we align our efforts and communicate to our community the important and innovative work we do.
Our next step is to gather information from staff (next staff meeting) about the “what”, as in what STEM knowledge, skills and attitudes we envision for our students. On June 2nd and 9th, we will look at this, as well as other information and use it to make some preliminary decisions about what our hopes and goals are for our students. STEM team would like to invite you to these meetings. Please consider joining us on June 2nd and 9th from 1:30-3:30 in the library. Thank you for all of your thoughts and input during this process.
End of Year Activities and Events- 23 days left. Wow. PBIS team met Tuesday and came up with some fun activities/ events as we wind down the year. Below is a rundown.
- Virtual Talent Show- We will be sending home permission slips for students. They can then video their talent and submit to Jason. We are hoping to watch as a whole school via video on Tuesday of the last week. Time still TBD.
- Field Day- Chris, Jason and Laci are working on a field day that will be held on Wednesday of the last week. Schedule will be ready soon.
- Kona Ice- PTA is sponsoring Kona Ice to visit and give everyone a free snowcone on Wednesday of last week. We will try to coordinate the schedule with field day, keeping in mind that Kona Ice doesn’t want to stay here all day.
- We are working on ‘promotion’ events for kinders and 5th graders within RSSL. More info to come.
- Spirit week- we will have a spirit week the last week of the year. Below are our daily themes:
- Monday- Crazy hair
- Tuesday- Hat day
- Wednesday- Inside out/backwards/ mismatch day
- Bronco Blue Day
- I will draw Bronco Buck ice cream winners EVERY day the last week of school. On another BB ice cream note, the bin is FULL. You might have a 3-5 minute probability lesson with students as they have a much greater chance of winning the BB prize in your room over the ice cream. 😁
Dibels- As you read in Laci’s email, we will do our spring Dibels starting June 1. The last day for Title reading groups will be Friday, May 28.
State Testing- Third, fourth and fifth graders will be doing state testing the week of 5/24-5/28. Each grade is only required to do one test. Fifth graders will do science on Tuesday, 5/25, fourth graders will do math on Wednesday, 5/26, and third graders will do ELA on Thursday, 5/27.
Those administering state testing are required to be security trained and complete a test assurance form. The training is via SBAC powerpoint. Please read the powerpoint and view required videos thoroughly so that we don’t have any improprieties during testing. For those of you who would rather, I can set up a time to read the powerpoint to you… think open mike poetry night at the local coffee shop.
Upcoming Events
May 18- ICCL Meeting- 2:30- Library
May 19- EBISS- 1:00- First Grade
May 19- SIW- Writing
May 20- Staff Meeting- 2:30
May 25-27- State testing for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades
May 28- Last day for Title I reading groups
May 31- Memorial Day- No School
June 1- Dibels starts- Schedule
June 14-17- Spirit week
That is all for this week (thankfully!). The weekend is going to be beautiful! Get outside and enjoy the sunshine.