The Bear Necessities Volume 6

As the halls of our schools come alive with the excitement and anticipation of a new academic year, we are thrilled to welcome you to the latest edition of The Bear Necessities. This year, we are focused on empowering our educators and administrators to invest in, inspire, innovate, and invigorate every classroom.

Michael Bonner reminds us, “You cannot demand a withdrawal from someone you have never invested in.” With that in mind, let’s invest in our students and each other, creating an environment where growth and success are within reach for all. Together, we’ll foster a vibrant learning community where students thrive and educators share their passion for teaching. Let’s embrace the journey ahead with enthusiasm and determination, making this year the best one yet!

Here’s to a fantastic year of teaching, learning, and meaningful connections!

Thank you to all of the teachers who gave an extra 1% by participating in one or more summer professional learning experiences! Whether attending a conference, revising curriculum, attending mentor refreshers, or learning about new standards, your dedication is noticed and appreciated!

We hope that by now you agree that BCPS is a great place to call home for your career! You are joining a dedicated group of educators that we are confident will be a supportive network as you learn to call BC home! As you strive to create a positive and inspiring environment for students, continue to embrace your inner "believer" as Michael Bonner encouraged.

Speaking of "believers," TJ Wright is fully embracing the call to ensure all students are able to experience success. To ensure his ESOL students are fully engaged, he translates his written instructional materials for them. Going above and beyond like this is truly believer behavior and we appreciate you, Mr. Wright!

Congratulations to Zoey Oglesby and Shamiya Bush for winning gold medals at their respective national competitions. Zoey competed at the National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Competition in Seattle, Washington, while Shamiya competed at the National Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) in Houston, Texas. The advisors for FCCLA are Sheila Hudson and Teresa Ellison; and the HOSA advisors are LaQuida Godbee and Gregory Monroe. Congratulations again to the students for their achievements and thank you to the advisors, parents and community for their continued support.

Our universal screener is shifting to MAP. This assessment is designed to provide much more diagnostic data for instructional planning purposes. Educators wishing to learn more can complete the self-guided Foundations course (see directions below).

A clear quick start guide can be found here and there are resources to model testing with your students: Practice Test.

To access the foundations course, go to NWEA in ClassLink or the Start Page --> Professional Learning Online --> MAP Growth Foundations Course. If you are unsure of your password, use the forgot password feature.

In this series, Georgia educators open their classrooms to discuss what high-quality science instruction looks like. They provide examples, key concepts, and lesson plans to help get there. Videos are currently available for elementary and middle school; high school videos are coming soon!

Teachers in elementary schools will be using the Georgia Numeracy Project assessments and lessons to assist students who need additional support with basic mathematics skills. The Georgia Numeracy Project is focused on developing students' understanding of numbers and their ability to use numbers to solve problems. Students may solve number problems by counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, or any combination of these operations. Students should develop strategies for using these operations in real-world and mathematical problems.

The mission of Federal Programs is ​to provide technical assistance, program monitoring, ​ and resources to local educational agencies (LEA) to ensure that all children have an opportunity to obtain a ​high-quality education and to achieve proficiency on the state's high academic achievement standards through the allocation of federal funds. ​ The federal funds that are allocated to the LEA have to meet federal regulations before they are expended. Items purchased with federal funds are monitored and must be meticulously accounted for. Each school utilizes the federal funds to best support their educational programs.

Parental outreach and input are key to determine how funds are utilized in the schools. Please support parent coordinators as they host various meetings to give vital information to stakeholders as well as gain their feedback. If you have any comments or questions please speak with the Parent Coordinators at each respective school or your Federal Programs Director.

The purpose of Georgia’s Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program is to provide federal funds for communities to establish or expand activities in community learning centers that operate during out-of-school hours and serve three specific purposes: ​​​

• To provide opportunities for academic enrichment and tutorial services to help students meet state and local academic standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math​
• To offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program; and
• To offer families of 21st CCLC students opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children's education.

The 21st CCLC program is currently being offered at BCMS. If you would like your child to join the 21st CCLC program please contact BCMS.

MTSS or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports is a framework that uses data-driven problem solving and decision-making to support students in educational systems. The framework aims to ensure that every student receives the appropriate level of support to be successful. By clicking the graphic to the right you will gain access to the BCPS MTSS Manual where you can acquaint yourself with our system's procedures, practices, and beliefs.

SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

To ensure that we are providing this knowledge and skills to our students, Burke will be working to fully implement the navigate 360 program. Our Navigate package includes SEL assessments, SEL curriculum (tailored to each grade band), tiered SEL interventions, and the PBIS rewards program.

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We are beginning local cohorts of the gifted and the dyslexia endorsements. The dyslexia endorsement will be facilitated by Scott Weinand and the gifted endorsement will be facilitated by Renee Hickman.

If you would like to sign up for this endorsement cohort, please complete these forms, obtain your principal's approval via signature, and send the documents to your curriculum director no later than August 19th:

1. Dyslexia application and addendum or
2. Gifted application and addendum

Each endorsement represents a significant commitment on your part and should be considered as much of a commitment as college coursework. The county will cover the cost of the endorsement and will purchase books.

CSRA RESA is now accepting applications for endorsement programs. BCPS is able to fund your participation in high-need endorsement programs with your agreement to teach in our county for 2 additional years. Please reach out to your curriculum director for more information.

There are 2 different afterschool professional learning opportunities in the area of literacy in all classrooms. The first is differentiated by content area (CTAE | Math & Science | ELA & SS). If you are a secondary teacher interested in participating, please enroll! When you complete the course, send Mrs. Brogan your course completion certificate for stipend consideration.

The second covers evidence based strategies good for all classrooms, with a particular focus on reading, writing and appealing to Generation Z! If you are a secondary teacher interested in participating, please enroll! When you complete the course, send Mrs. Brogan your course completion certificate for stipend consideration.

A second cohort of teachers will begin LETRS training. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a comprehensive two-year professional learning program designed to provide teachers with deep knowledge of literacy instruction and help them become experts in the science of reading. Teachers who instruct Kindergarten through third grade began the training last school year. This year, Pre-K teachers and 4th and 5th grade ELA teachers will begin the training; the course is a blended training with online, face-to-face, and PLC study. This training will give our teachers the tools to put our students on track for reading success!

BCPS I know many of you have heard the phrase “We Are Mandated Reporters”! You have also taken the yearly mandated reporter training; which will help you recognize the signs of abuse.

Mandated reporting is the early recognition of child maltreatment to prevent further abuse from occurring. Many mandated reporters have professional relationships with children that make it possible for children to disclose abuse or for the mandated reporter to identify maltreatment.

Anyone working with children under 18 years of age who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect should report it. As educators, we are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect in Georgia [OCGA 19-7-5(c) (1)]. Mandated reporters are the first line of defense to protect our children when we make most reports. The law protects and prevents further abuse and its adverse effects as well as bringing protective services into the home to improve the child’s welfare and preserve the family when possible.

• SDI or Specially Designed Instruction is defined by the IDEA as "adapting instruction, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child. SDI can be implemented through adapting one of the following components:
• Content. Content refers to the knowledge or skills that are taught to the student.
• Methodology. The methodology aspect of SDI means that different instructional techniques and strategies will be used to teach the students based on their IEP.
• Delivery.

• Specially designed instruction is a focus for our system this year and will require the efforts of specials education teachers and staff, general education teachers and administrators.

Curious to know more about the federal and state rules for special education and how BC implements and monitors them? Just click on the link below to learn more about how processes and procedures. The Supervision and Monitoring Manual is our guide for maintaining compliant special education practices.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AOS3cgRqjcAUxX4AU74KWkZWIlpM0lNI/view?usp=sharing

East Ga GLRS is part of The Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) is a network of 18 regional programs that provide training and resources to school district personnel, parents of students with disabilities, and other interested individuals to support the achievement, graduation rate, and post-secondary success of students with disabilities. Their calendar of PL opportunities, many of which are already part of our local calendar can be found at this link.

Local PL Calendar: Link

The SIS Department took part in the Stuff the Bus event by assisting parents with updating their child(ren’s) information in the Parent Portal. Some parents took this opportunity to complete their updates as we provided our assistance to them.

The SIS Department would like to extend a thank you to our staff members who have updated their student's information in the parent portal! Your dedication to maintaining accurate and current records is essential to our school's operation and greatly benefits our students and their families. As a token of our appreciation, we are thrilled to announce our winners (pictured below) Mrs. Glennera Dukes (BES) and Mrs. LaTashia Parrish (BCMS) was presented with a $50 Walmart gift card as winners of the faculty and staff members drawing. Your commitment to excellence does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your continued efforts to support our educational community. Thank you for your hard work and congratulations on your well-deserved recognition.

Recognizing the efforts of parents who actively engage with their children's education is essential. During Open House the SIS Department held a Scavenger Hunt at each school in our district. Two winners were selected as the result of the scavenger hunt.

Congratulations to Ms. Kylery Lewis and Mr. Emmanuel Lagman, winners of a $50 Walmart gift card drawing! Your commitment to staying informed and involved in your child's academic journey is commendable. By keeping student information current, you play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless educational experience. Your proactive approach is greatly appreciated, and we are delighted to recognize your dedication with this token of our gratitude. Keep up the excellent work!"

The SIS Department would like to say thank you to everyone that took the time out to update your current student information. Your support means the world to us. You all are amazing! Thank you.

The SIS Department would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Alaysia Cobb, 11th grade Burke County High School Beta Club student, for her exceptional dedication and hard work during our recent open house. As a Beta Club member, Alaysia exemplified the true spirit of service and leadership by assisting with greeting parents and handing out scavenger hunt cards. Her willingness to volunteer her time and energy made a significant impact. Alaysia demonstrated remarkable commitment and enthusiasm. Her efforts not only helped create a welcoming atmosphere but also showcased the values of the Beta Club. We are incredibly proud of Alaysia and deeply appreciate her willingness to help out with the Scavenger Hunt event.

Last year, we restricted student access to A.I. tools to provide our educators with ample time to familiarize themselves with this rapidly evolving technology. We understand the potential benefits and challenges that A.I. presents in education and are committed to its responsible integration. This year, we are permitting teachers to use selected A.I. tools in their classrooms that meet specific criteria: 1) the tool must offer teacher controls to ensure appropriate classroom management, and 2) the service must safeguard student data privacy. School AI is an exemplary platform meeting these standards. As we navigate this new landscape, we encourage our faculty and staff to explore the potential of A.I. while maintaining responsible usage. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Torek.

This is the ultimate Google Classroom guide. Packed with 14 essential tips, it's a must-watch for educators of all experience levels. Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned Google Classroom pro, you'll find valuable insights and time-saving tricks to streamline your classroom. This short video cuts through the clutter, delivering clear and concise information that will help you make the most of this powerful tool.

Google recently introduced the capability to integrate Google Classroom with PowerSchool. While this feature holds the potential to streamline class rosters and grade synchronization through PowerTeacher, Georgia schools may encounter challenges due to how students with designations are separated into multiple classes in PowerSchool. Given this challenge, the option to link Google Classrooms to PowerSchool remains voluntary. We will soon solicit teacher feedback to determine whether the integration has any benefit.

The Georgia Department of Education has released the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones results for English Language Arts, science, and social studies. Overall, Georgia students demonstrated continued improvement, with scores increasing or remaining steady across 10 of the 13 assessments. Due to the implementation of new mathematics standards and assessments, mathematics results will be unveiled in late August, with a public release scheduled for the end of September. For a comprehensive overview of the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones results, please explore the Georgia Milestones dashboard and summary of results page.

On Monday, the DRC BEACON assessment platform will be launched for Burke County language arts and mathematics classrooms serving grades 3-8. Notably, the mathematics assessments are now fully aligned with Georgia's revised mathematics standards. The Algebra component of DRC BEACON will not be available this fall. The Georgia Department of Education has announced a delay in implementing Algebra and other high school courses while they prioritize the successful rollout of DRC BEACON Early Grades K-2.

Educators may access the DRC BEACON Training Site for additional information on managing portal users, tests, and students, administering the test, and accessing and interpreting reports; including student goal setting.

To help you plan ahead, we’ve provided two testing calendars for your convenience. A one-page PDF calendar showing general testing windows is available, along with a detailed Google Calendar outlining specific tests by grade level and content area. Both resources can be found on the district testing department page. We encourage teachers to utilize these calendars to plan ahead for their instruction and support student success during testing dates.