September Cat Tracks

Brandywine Community Schools recently hosted its annual New Teacher Orientation, designed to welcome incoming staff members and provide them with the tools and knowledge to start the school year successfully. The day began with a morning session focused on learning about the district and its many opportunities. New staff members explored Brandywine’s strategic plan, vision and mission, and were introduced to key topics such as the evaluation process and special education services. Throughout the session, the group engaged in activities that not only built connections but also modeled effective instructional and engagement strategies that can be applied in their classrooms. This year’s group of new teachers was exceptional to work with, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a collaborative spirit. They offered valuable insights and perspectives throughout the day, helping to make the sessions even more meaningful and productive. Following the morning session, the new teachers took part in a bus tour of the district, visiting each building and becoming familiar with the community they will be serving. This experience gave them valuable insight into the unique culture and pride that define Brandywine. The day concluded with time dedicated for teachers to work in their classrooms, allowing them to prepare their spaces for the arrival of students. Brandywine Community Schools is excited to welcome these passionate educators to the Bobcat family and looks forward to the positive impact they will have on our students, families, and community in the year ahead.

To learn more about our new teachers, see the special edition of Cat Tracks linked below.

Brandywine Community Schools is committed to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff. As part of this ongoing effort, the district has adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, to provide a clear and consistent approach to emergency situations. The SRP uses simple, easy-to-understand language to help everyone including students, staff, families, and first responders, know exactly what to do during a variety of emergencies. This unified approach ensures that responses are quick, calm, and effective across all four district buildings.

The five SRP actions include:

• Hold – Movement inside the building stops, and hallways are cleared while learning continues in classrooms.
• Secure – Used when there is a threat or hazard outside the school. Students are brought inside, and exterior doors are locked while teaching continues as usual.
• Lockdown – Initiated when there is a threat or hazard inside the school. Students remain silent and out of sight while doors are locked.
• Evacuate – Students and staff leave the building safely, such as during a fire or gas leak.
• Shelter – Used for emergencies requiring protective actions, such as severe weather.

To promote consistency and collaboration, all Berrien County first responders and emergency personnel have also been trained in the SRP. Schools across the county are making the transition to this shared system, which helps create a coordinated response during emergencies, no matter where they occur. Over the summer, Brandywine staff participated in training to prepare for the rollout of the SRP. As the school year begins, teachers will introduce these protocols to students in age-appropriate, calm, and supportive ways, ensuring they feel informed and empowered rather than anxious.

Copies of the SRP protocols will be posted throughout each school and are available for families to review. Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss the SRP with their children to help reinforce this important safety initiative. For more information on the new SRPs, you can visit the I Love You Guys site linked below.

Brandywine Community Schools and Buchanan Community Schools came together for a powerful professional development experience during our staff professional development week, highlighted by a keynote presentation from renowned educator and author George Couros. This collaborative event gave staff from both districts the opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow as educators, united in a shared mission to inspire and engage students.

George Couros is a highly respected author, educational leader, and podcaster with a global following. He is best known for his influential books, including The Innovator’s Mindset and Innovate Inside the Box, which challenge educators to embrace change, foster creativity, and create learning environments where both students and staff can thrive. Through his podcast and speaking engagements, Couros shares practical strategies and thought-provoking ideas on innovation in education, leadership, and the future of learning.

During his keynote session, Couros inspired Brandywine and Buchanan educators with a dynamic and engaging presentation focused on student engagement, self-care, innovation, and technology. He encouraged staff to be learner-driven, emphasizing the importance of modeling a love of learning for students while also prioritizing their own growth and well-being. His message centered on building meaningful connections, leveraging technology to enhance—not replace—learning, and finding innovative ways to meet the diverse needs of today’s students.

The event was a meaningful start to the school year, providing teachers and staff with practical tools and renewed motivation to make a lasting impact in their classrooms. Partnering with Buchanan Community Schools for this experience not only brought our two districts together but also fostered a spirit of collaboration that will benefit our entire community.

As we move into the school year, Brandywine staff are excited to put Couros’ ideas into practice, continuing to build innovative, engaging, and student-centered learning environments for all Bobcats.

Submitted by MTSS Coordinator and Instructional Coach Emily Zablocki-Kohler

Before the start of the school year, a team of 16 teachers and administrators from our district traveled to Detroit to participate in the PLC Summit hosted by Solution Tree. This marks the second year that district representatives have attended this event to deepen their understanding of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and to bring back strategies and resources that enhance teaching and learning within our schools.

During the summit, attendees engaged in keynote presentations and breakout sessions led by nationally recognized experts in education. Topics included fostering collaboration, promoting collective responsibility, improving student learning outcomes, and implementing targeted interventions to support all learners.

Key takeaways from the team are:

• Schedule time for reteaching right after data review

• One of the goals of a school should be to help students develop the mental habits of a learner

• Our focus should be to ensure high-level student learning for all

• As a staff, by collaborating with one another, we are building and leveraging our collective intelligence

• Change is essential for improvement, but it is also uncomfortable and disruptive

• Be self-aware! Sometimes, before you act or react, you need to pause and “settle your glitter”

In addition to the professional development opportunities, the experience also facilitated meaningful relationship-building and collaboration among staff from different buildings. As a highlight, several team members enjoyed an evening together at a Detroit Tigers game, strengthening the sense of community within our district.

The Brandywine Schools Board of Education has approved ballot language for the renewal of the district’s current sinking fund, which will appear on the ballot for the upcoming November election. This proposal is not a new tax but simply an extension of the existing levy at 1.0 mill for an additional ten years.

A sinking fund is a voter-approved property tax that provides the district with a reliable source of funding for important facility needs. These funds can only be used for capital expenditures, such as building repairs, safety and security upgrades, transportation, technology infrastructure improvements, and other major maintenance projects. They cannot be used for salaries or day-to-day operational costs. Renewing this sinking fund will allow the district to continue addressing critical facility needs while protecting the general operating budget, which directly supports teaching and learning.

For taxpayers, 1.0 mill represents $1 for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value. For example, if a home has a taxable value of $100,000, the cost would be $100 per year. Because this is a renewal, not a new millage, there will be no increase in the rate taxpayers currently pay.

Election Day will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Michigan residents can register to vote online or by mail up to 15 days before the election. After that point, registration must be completed in person at a city or township clerk’s office and can be done all the way through Election Day, as long as you arrive before 8:00 p.m. and provide proof of residency.

All registered voters in Michigan are eligible to vote absentee with no reason required. Absentee ballots will be available about 40 days before the election. They can be requested online, by mail, or in person at your local clerk’s office. If you plan to request a ballot online or by mail, the application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election. Completed absentee ballots must be returned to your clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

The renewal of the sinking fund is a way to maintain and improve our school facilities without adding new taxes to the community. Should this ballot initiative pass, Brandywine Schools can ensure safe, well-maintained learning environments for students and staff for years to come. We encourage all eligible voters to check their registration status and make a plan to vote on November 4, whether in person or absentee.

Like last year, every Brandywine student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. However, without an approved state budget, we can only guarantee that these meals will remain free through September 30. Once the budget is finalized, we will provide an update on whether this benefit will continue for the rest of the school year. Even though meals are currently free, it is critical that every family complete and return the Free and Reduced Meal Application. These forms have an impact far beyond school meals. The percentage of families who qualify for free or reduced meals directly affects the amount of state and federal funding our district receives. This funding plays a vital role in supporting our students and schools. For example, at-risk funding, which is largely determined by free and reduced meal eligibility, has allowed us to add essential positions such as counselors, social workers, interventionists, and School Resource Officers (SROs). Additionally, these qualifying numbers help us secure grants, provide scholarships for teacher training, and open the door to numerous educational opportunities for our students and staff. By completing the form, families ensure that Brandywine Community Schools can continue to access these critical resources. Even if you don’t think you qualify, submitting an application is still incredibly helpful to the district and our students.

Submitted by Athletic Director David Sidenbender

With fall sports starting, I would like to remind everyone about our athletic website. The website is brandywinebobcatsathletics.com and can be found by searching “Brandywine Athletics” in Google or by going to the school website and clicking on Athletics. Each sports team has a page, and all game/contest schedules can be found there. In addition to game times, locations, and event names, bus times are also listed. The website has several useful features once you create a free login. You can follow the teams your students are on and receive notifications of their games, times, and any changes to those events. This is the site where changes are made, so as soon as, for example, a game is canceled because of bad weather, you will receive an instantaneous notification.

Submitted by Brandywine Education Foundation President Rod Runyan

The Brandywine Education Foundation and the Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the 2025 Class of the Bobcat Athletic Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include three outstanding coaches who are leaving a lasting mark on Brandywine athletics: Rex Pomranka, Terry Borr, and David Sidenbender. The induction ceremony and celebration will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Milton Township Hall. A reception will be held from 5:30–6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the award ceremony from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 per person, and opportunities are available for table reservations and sponsorships. See the attachment for more information about the event and how to purchase tickets.

At the August 11, 2025 Brandywine Board of Education meeting, several important action items were approved.

The Consent Agenda was approved, which included:

• July 14, 2025 meeting minutes

• Payment of district bills totaling $1,429,525.33

• The hiring of three new staff members:

  • Karissa Borja, 3rd Grade Teacher

  • Tracy Zellers, 6th Grade Science Teacher

  • Drew Markel, High School English Language Arts Teacher

Other approvals included:

• A resolution regarding administrator pay increases

• Sinking Fund Proposal approval for the November ballot

• Updated Substitute Teacher Rates

• Berrien County Insurance Consortium BESPA Letter of Agreement

• Acceptance of low bids for bread and milk for the 2025–2026 school year from Gordon Food Service and Cedar Crest Dairy

• Approval of the 2025–2026 Student Handbooks

The vote on the BDEA Contract was postponed due to lack of quorum caused by two abstentions. The meeting adjourned at 6:34 PM.

At the August 25, 2025 Brandywine Board of Education meeting, action items approved included:

The Consent Agenda was approved, which included:

• Minutes from the August 11 regular meeting and August 13 special meeting

• Hiring Jenny Cunningham as a middle school volleyball coach for the fall season

Additional action items approved during the meeting:

• SEIU Contractual Agreement

• Opt Out Policy and Procedure

• Adult Meal Prices for the 2025–2026 school year

• 5th Grade Camp Overnight Request, allowing students to participate in this experience

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Classes for the upcoming school year

• Appointment of Amanda Fox as a new Board of Education member, effective immediately, to serve through December 31, 2026

The August 11 minutes are attached below. The August 25 minutes will be included in the October edition of Cat Tracks.

Email: twalker@brandywinebobcats.org
Website: brandywinebobcats.org
Location: 1830 South 3rd Street, Niles, MI, USA
Phone: 269-684-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCS.Bobcats