NTI....those three little letters can cause a lot of panic. What happens if the district calls an NTI day? We are just barely at the start of the winter season, so we want to be prepared in case Mother Nature makes her appearance. Our staff has been busy planning ahead so that we have a plan in place just in case.

On an NTI day, students will participate virtually. That is why every student has been carrying their chromebook to and from school each day. Each teacher has a link prepared that students will be able to access through Seesaw (K-2) or Google (3-5) so they can participate in classes online.

Students will have a variety of activities they will complete on an NTI day, but they will not be online for an entire school day. Even adults don't want to stare at a computer screen that long, so there will be a mix of online meetings, time for students to work on assignments independently, and time for students to explore art, music, science, physical activity, and of course, the snow outside!

What if you are not able to connect to the internet at home? If you are unable to access internet at home for your child to work on their chromebook, be sure to communicate that to their teacher. Each teacher is preparing a folder of work that students can work on during an NTI day so that their participation (attendance) still counts.

In order for the state to count any day as an NTI day, they look at the district participation rate, so it is extremely important that we see students online or hear from them through email, phone calls, texts, assignments turned in, etc. The last thing any of us want is to have school on a NTI day and then the state say not enough students participated and we have to make the day up anyway.

For information and Frequently Asked Questions about NTI, you can visit the district website at the link below.

https://sites.google.com/bullitt.kyschools.us/bcps-nti-information/home

We have heard from a number of families that their charge is missing. As you know, the district charges a $35 chromebook fee each year which gives each student 1 free repair. You may choose to use that to replace your charger, but we suggest not to do that. A new charger costs less than that on Amazon, so it would be more cost effective to replace your charger yourself and save your one time repair in case there is a bigger problem or issue with your chromebook.

If you use your one time repair to replace the charger, then if something happens to the chromebook (cracked screen, missing letter keys, water spill, etc.), you would be responsible for repairing/replacing at that time. As long as you have not used your one time repair - no matter what the cost - your chromebook is covered.

If you would like to order a new chromebook charger through Amazon, you can find the exact one here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B094GCJK7V?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

We are officially in the second semester of the school year and that means it is time to begin building independence in our students. What does that look like? It means that students have their belongings together and are getting in and out of their car without assistance. If your child is unable to do this or if they need more time, please pull in to one of the parking spaces where you can assist them, and then walk them to the cafe doors. Thank you!

Drop off reminder: In the mornings, pull all the way to the end of the drop off area before your child unloads. Please do not stop at the doors as this prevents us from unloading multiple cars at a time and keeping our line moving.

Remember that outside food is not allowed to be brought in to the cafe during lunch. If you plan to eat lunch with your child, you will need to purchase a cafeteria meal. Outside food cannot be brought in for the adults or the students.

We are still looking for great people to add to our staff!

Currently, we have an opening for a special education assistant. this position is for our EBD classroom to support students as they participate in class.

We also have an opening for a special education teacher (LBD).

if you are interested or someone you know is interested, applications must be submitted through the BCPS website. Come join the LJES family!

How are schools allowed to use their Title 1 money?

Title 1 funds can only be used for specific things as mandated by law. Schools are allowed to supplement their learning programs, but they cannot purchase new curriculum. LJES chooses to spend the majority of our Title 1 funds on staffing to provide students greater access to adults in order to receive the individualized help they need. The individuals we hire for these positions work with students who are below grade level to catch them up on skills they have not yet mastered. Sometimes, they meet with students outside of the classroom and other times they join the class and assist 'in the moment' as students work on their classroom assignments.

The remaining Title 1 funds from our budget are used to provide professional learning for our staff so they are knowledgeable in best practice strategies for meeting students' needs.

Staff love to hear positive feedback as much as our students enjoy getting feedback. Want to celebrate a teacher or staff member for going above and beyond or for being helpful? Click the link below to send a shout out to Mr. Mullins that he can share with that staff member to celebrate them. Best in Class Award

For the most up to date information and news, be sure you are linked to your child's "Room" through the app. You can access pictures, class news, in-the-moment updates, and more directly from your child's teacher! Many of our teachers are sending out daily announcements, sign ups for special occasions, pictures of classroom accomplishments, and more! Be sure you are checking out your child's Room to get all the latest information as an active participant.

Check out the link below to access the calendar of events for the Bullitt County Library - LJ Branch. There's some great things happening at your local library to entertain kids and adults! LJ Branch Calendar of Events

• Breakfast / Lunch Menu
• PTA facebook page
• BCPS Calendars
• My School Bucks (Chromebook fee or put money on account to purchase treats in cafe)

Want to see other editions of the Bulldog Bark from the 2023-2024 school year? Click here.