Hi All,
Thank you to you all who helped make Friday's Fall Festival a success. It was a very busy night and it was lovely to see such a great turnout for our community. I'm grateful to the growing group of PTNA volunteers. We're lucky to be a part of the Bobcat Community.
I want to acknowledge the number of conversations that I had with folks post training on Wednesday about how they could implement something from their training. I'm grateful to you all for thinking creatively and being open to making Executive Functioning the way we do school.
As a reminder---this is all connected to our purpose set at the beginning of the year: Connection and Belonging. We've got three buckets of work this year:
- Strong Family Partnership
- Proactive Communication
- Opportunities for engagement (circus, library nights)
- Conferences
- Consistent communication from school to home
- Adult Culture
- Clear Communication
- Intentional Relationship Building
- Cohesion of tamwork
- Student Belonging
- Routines
- Structures
- Executive Functioning Work
News and Announcements
- I wanted to share a quick reminder about cafeteria expectations. We've seen an uptick of students wanting to leave because of volume.
- Students need the reminders and modeling that their job in the cafeteria is to eat food! Reminder of the Bobcat 3 in the Cafeteria.
- Reminder to all duties that circulation and talking with students is the most productive way to eliminate behavioral problems. Please work as a team with the folks around you to make sure everyone is safe and cared for.
- Both the Bargaining Unit contracts have been ratified. We are expecting new contracts before the end of the week.
- Here are the reminders about when to expect your new pay rates and retroactive checks.
- ESP/Teachers--- All new pay rates will be effective in the 10/30/26 payroll
- ESP will receive their retro pay checks on 11/6.
- Teachers will receive retro checks on 11/20.
- Run, Hide, Fight (Year 4). Classroom Teachers Please Start to review these talking points with your class this week. We will talk about time at staff meeting on Wednesday.
Options-Based Drill #1: Lockdown Drill (year 4)
Vermont schools are required to practice our Options-Based Response procedures once per semester. Our first drill will occur in September/October. We will let everybody know the exact day and approximate time with at least two days' notice. Please see below for the details about this drill. We believe that the next natural step for students is to continue to practice the “run” portion of the lockdown drill in a non-emergency manner.
Prior to the Drill:
Make sure to refamiliarize yourself with the rally point map linked below.
Please be sure you understand the rally point location that would be most appropriate for you during the day/time of the drill.
Please reach out to ____if you have any questions or concerns about your rally point.
Choose a time prior to the drill to review “Run” procedures (see talking points) and bring students to the rally point for a no-pressure “field trip.”
Although we do not want to share the exact date and time of the drill, we want students to have some context so they do not worry unnecessarily. Suggestions such as “late next week”, “in a few days,” etc.
As a general safety rule, staff should carry their emergency bag, swipe card, radio, and cell phone for any emergency evacuation. We may use our school messenger platform as a supplemental communication tool.
| Drill Preparation Talking Points |
K-4 | “Soon, we will practice again what to do when we hear the word “Lockdown.” So far, we have practiced staying in our room in a special place. This time, we will practice leaving the school and going outside. On the day of the drill, I will let you know this is happening, so you will not be surprised. Remember, our first job is to get quiet and keep our voices off (voice level zero). I will listen to the announcement very carefully to see if there is anything special I need to know. The second part of your job is to look at me and listen carefully to my directions. Remember, sometimes we will go to a special place inside the building, shut the door, and turn off the lights. Other times, I might tell you that we are leaving the classroom. Today we are going to practice leaving the building and going to a special place outside. Don’t forget, your job is to keep your voices at level zero and follow my directions.”
Share with students the location you will take them to, and practice going there together “quickly, quietly, and safely.”
After you have practiced the drill, return to the classroom for an optional post-drill discussion (see below). |
5-8 | “Soon, we will practice again what to do when we hear the word “Lockdown” on the intercom. So far, we have practiced staying in our room in a special place. This time, we will practice leaving the school and going outside. On the day of the drill, I will let you know this is happening, so you will not be surprised. Remember, our first job is to get quiet and keep our voices off (voice level zero). I will listen to the announcement very carefully to see if there is anything special I need to know. The second part of your job is to look at me and listen carefully to my directions. Remember, sometimes we will go to a special place inside the building, shut the door, and turn off the lights. Other times, I might tell you that we are leaving the classroom. No matter what, your job is to keep your voices off and follow my directions. Now we will practice leaving the building and walking outside to a specific place. Don’t forget, your job is to keep your voices at level zero and follow my directions.”
Share with students the location you will take them to, and practice going there together “quickly, quietly, and safely.”
After you have practiced the drill, return to the classroom for an optional post-drill discussion (see below). |
Drill Outline and procedure:
Post Drill:
Communication with Families:
BES Rally Point Map
- Here's a resource about supporting students with hearing loss. I see the suggestions here as a great way to support listening for all students.
- Family Conferences--Please make sure that you've sent out information about how/when to sign up. There will be NO staff meeting on November 4th as extra time for conferences.
- I am going to ask that everyone share their conference sign-up/completion data with me this year. Please keep track of that.
- K-3 will meet on Wednesday morning. 4-6 will have their regular team meetings.
- Reminder: On your "off week" you can use your team meeting time to connect with interventionists, plan with your colleagues, host a student meeting or work on something of your choice.
- We will have an All School Meeting on Friday at 2:55.
- Jessica and I will present the much awaited Den Group Plan on Wednesday at staff meeting.
Weekly Bobcat Beat
What's happening at BES?
Monday 10/26 | JoAn Canning visit to BES 8:45
SPED Team Meeting 3:00-4:00 |
Tuesday 10/27 |
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Wednesday 10/28 | Wednesday Morning PD (Group A) K-3
Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
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Thursday 10/29 | SPED Department Meeting 8:15-10:15
4/5 Meeting 8:15-9:15
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Friday 10/30
| 6th Grade Team Meeting 8:15-9:15
All School Meeting 2:55-3:20 |
Where is Celia?
Monday 10/26 | Student meetings 8:00-8:45
Meeting with JoAn 8:45-9:45
Bec/Celia Check in 10:00-11:00
PK Team Meeting 11:30-12:30
BES SST 1:00-3:00 |
Tuesday 10/27 | Student Meeting 8:30-9:15
Capital Projects Meeting 9:15-10:00 |
Wednesday 10/28 | Morning PLC (K-3)
Nuts and Bolts 1:15-2:00
Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
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Thursday 10/29 | 4/5 Team Meeting 8:15-9:15
Student Meeting 2:45-3:30 |
Friday 10/30
| 6th Grade Team Meeting 8:15-9:15
Lunch Duty 12:10-12:40
BES SST 1:00-2:00
BEDC Check in 2:00
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