CHITTICK TEAM WEEKLY
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10, 2025
CHITTICK’S INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS: 2024-2025
All educators across ALL academic disciplines will provide unfettered access to complex, grade-level, culturally-affirming texts and tasks and students will have opportunities to read, discuss, and write from such texts and tasks.
BPS & CHITTICK'S MISSION & VISION
Vision: A nation-leading, student-centered public school district providing equitable, and excellent, well-rounded education that prepares every student for success in college, career, and life.
SY 24/25 CHITTICK QUALITY SCHOOL PLAN
ALL BPS schools have three priorities to support our 90 Day School Improvement Plan
Priority #1 Equitable Literacy Instructional Focus
Teachers will unpack curriculum units and lessons in order to understand goals,UdL elements, anticipate barriers, monitor student responses, and plan discussions that develop students' understanding.
Students will use discourse and appropriate academic vocabulary to develop conceptual understanding and build skills to meet grade level objectives.
Priority #2 Climate and Culture
Increasing student sense of belonging and/or safety
100 percent of K-6 days will start morning with a Welcoming Practice that establishes structure and predictability and allows students to connect with one another to create a sense of belonging and community.
100 percent of classroom communities will engage in weekly community building circles:
K-6 Second Step Lesson
Priority #3 Attendance
Chittick School will put attendance at the forefront of our work since we know it is a critical component to student success. We will strive to improve attendance for ALL students at Chittick at every tiered level of need. Specifically, we will aim to significantly increase the number of students with 90% or greater attendance.
All identified chronically absent students will increase their attendance percentage.
School staff will utilize available systems to identify students in need of attendance support, guide outreach and create intervention / support plans for a range of school and community based needs.
Increase the daily attendance rate to 95%
OUR QUOTE FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10 2025...
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
— Alice Walker, novelist and social activist
Here are some resources for Black History Month:
Black History Month Lessons and Resources (NEA)
Resources for Teaching Black History Month (CT Dept of Ed)
Top Resources for Black History Month (EBSCO)
Black History Month Resources (Music Impact Network)
Smithsonian’s History Explorer: Black History Month
Black History Month (National Council for the Social Studies)
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES TO START THE WEEK of February 10th...
IMPORTANT DATES:
Black History Month - February 2025
February 17th - Presidents Day
February 18th-21st - February Recess
GREETINGS CHITTICK TEAM!
I hope you are enjoyed the snow this weekend and did something that brings you JOY!!
We are all very busy, however I want to reiterate the importance and expectation of professionalism. Our ultimate goal is to maintain a positive and supportive work environment where all staff members feel valued and respected. By upholding standards of conduct and communication, we continue to set a positive example for our school community and contribute to a culture of mutual respect and continued collaboration.
Looking forward to a great week of learning and continued collaboration.
Best,
Ms. Burnett
MONDAY IS EXPECTATION REVIEW DAY!
Please review our school based and classroom expectations with your students on Monday. It's very important that after our weekend break, we review our behavioral expectations and routines. Thank you for your teamwork as we continue to foster our positive school environment. Monday morning meeging time is a good time to incorporate our Send Step lessons.
The Chittick WAY:
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be a BUDDY, NOT a Bully
SAFETY REMINDER!!
As a constant reminder, please do not allow doors to be ajar or propped open at any time this includes recess, arrival and dismissal. All staff members should be actively supervising students during arrival, dismissal and out door recess. Please be vigilant, with directing ALL visitors to the main office. It takes the collective efforts of our entire TEAM to ensure safety for our community.
ATTENDANCE
Our chronically absent rate was 30% at the end of last and we have reduced it to 23%. Our school is one of the top 20 improved Transformation Schools in the first 90 days. Thank you for all of your hard work following up with families.
A shout out to our Attendance TEAM that meets weekly with our Region's attendance officer to review chronically absent students.
Please ensure you post your daily attendance by 10:00 a.m.
100th DAY OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION!
The One Hundredth day of school will be celebrated this week.
Teachers are encouraged to have fun and plan activities for our classrooms for
Let's have fun celebrating this significant day of the school year!!
Pathways Programs - Application Deadline Monday, February 10th: IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!
These will be the last Pathway Programs this year for individuals who need Moderate Disabilities or ESL licenses to maintain their positions or to apply for SY25-26 positions in March. The cycle two winter/spring programs begin on Monday, February 24th.
See flyer and application here: Pathway Programs Flyer, Cycle 2 Winter-Spring 2025.pdf
Contact Nick Balasalle, nbalasalle@bostonpublicschools.org
Staff Wellness February Theme: Kindness
The BPS Office of Health & Wellness is promoting staff wellness in schools.
Healthy school staff are better able to manage stress, foster a joyful climate, and model healthy behaviors for students.
Did you know that acts of kindness are good mentally, emotionally, and physically? Participate in “Kindness Makes the Heart Grow Stronger” to promote kindness within our school and community. Visit website.
James J. Chittick Elementary School: One School...One Team...Making a Difference!
Location: 154 Ruskindale Road Hyde Park, MA 02136