School Assignment Update

Thank you to the parents who are asking about the Student Assignment Plan.  I know that you are all anxious to know this information.  At this time I do not have any new information to share with you.  Here is information that I have taken from the WCPSS Student Assignment Page at http://www.wcpss.net/parents/student-assignment/2013-14.html below:

Student assignment for the 2013-14 school year is currently under consideration by the Board of Education. To learn about the current student assignment proposal, read our blog post. We anticipate that a decision will be made by December 11, 2012. We will update this page with the appoved plan when it becomes available.

Magnet Schools

The magnet school application period will open in January 2013. The address-look up tool is available for interested parents. Look up your magnet options here.

As soon as I receive updated information, I will update the BRES website as well as send out information on the blog.

Leadership Academy Deadline Approaching

Last year was the first year WCPSS offered the Leadership Academies as an option for our rising 5th graders.  Many of our families applied for admission into the Young Men's or Young Women's Leadership Academies.  If you have additional questions, please feel free to call the school.  I will answer your questions or get you in contact with the right person who can!

The deadline to apply for the Early College or Leadership Academy schools is December 3, 2012. Start your application online.

Carpool Perspective... Insight from the "Inside"

My blog information is typically informative and filled with classroom photos, activities, upcoming events or academic updates, but today my posting is about the carpool process to give an insiders perspective of safely loading 300 or more students each and every day in vehicles.  I have posted about carpool before and asked for your patience at the beginning of the school year and every time tracks 1 and 4 are together.  Our line about doubles when these two tracks are together and therefore the time to wait in the carpool line is longer.  Today I tackle the question of "why can't the students come out at 3:45 p.m. when the bell rings?" Great question being posed by our parents. Let me give you the inside perspective of of the multiple purpose room during carpool:

At 3:40 p.m. the bell rings indicating to teachers and students that all carpool students need to report to the multipurpose room for dismissal.  Students are supposed to be ready when the bell rings (packed up and ready to exit the classroom).  Students exit classrooms and are supposed to immediately report to the multipurpose room.  We generally have three quarters of the carpool students in the multipurpose room by the the 3:45 dismissal bell.  Occasionally students are not ready (not packed up) or do not immediately report to the multipurpose room (stop in restroom or visit an "old" teacher.)  Once in the multipurpose room student are asked to sit in grade level lines quietly and listen for their carpool numbers. The staff on duty begins to call numbers and direct students to their assigned cone.  The expectation is that students would hear their number and immediately jump up and line up behind their appropriate cone.  Once the students have been called to all of the cones then line then proceeds to head out the carpool dismissal loop.

While doors are opened and students are being loaded in the outside loop, students are continually being called to report to a cone.  The process should continue smoothly in this manner.  "Hiccups" occur when students report to the wrong cone, don't hear their number being called at all, cars decide to pull around one other and the numbers become out of order or a student hasn't reported to carpool and we need to call the classroom for him/her to report to the loop.  These hiccups lengthen the carpool dismissal time. 

The staff inside and out works extremely hard to run the carpool lane as efficiently as possible each and every day.  It is our goal to place each and every student in your cars safely.  In order to do that, I need your help.  Please talk with your child and reinforce carpool expectations, such as listening for their numbers, immediately coming out of the multipurpose room when their number is called and waiting in an orderly fashion at the carpool cone for their vehicle.  Additionally, I have shared before our expectations of not using cell phones once the carpool lane begins moving.  Often times, parents are pulling up to the loading cone and they are engaged in a conversation on the phone.  We all know that our attention is compromised when we are on the phone and driving.  We do not want to jeopardize our student's safety.  I receive many phone calls and many parents share their concerns with me during carpool about cell phone use once the line is moving.  Lets give our best effort to not use cell phones once the line begins moving.

Thank you again for your support with this matter and know that we will continue to work very hard to maximize our carpool line for you this year.

Teacher Feature: Ms. Emily Barnes

Once again, Teacher Feature is back!  I would like to introduce to our Trailblazer family Ms. Emily Barnes.  Ms. Barnes joined our teaching team and will be working with students in all grades as the track 4 Resource Teacher.  She is excited to be a part of our education team and believes in helping students reach their highest goals.  This is Ms. Barnes sixth year teaching and her third year in Wake County.  She graduated from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida where she started her teaching career in Duval County.  Ms. Barnes misses the beaches of Florida, but loves the changing seasons and friendly people in North Carolina.  She enjoys spending time with her family and going to her children's sport events.  Ms. Barnes has a dog named Daisy that is a little mix of everything!  Welcome Ms. Barnes to Trailblazer Territory! 
 

Barnes and Nobles Book Fair a Success for All

Ms. Loftin accompanies the Banks Road Boomers in song.

Banks Boomers in action!

Banks Boomers led by school music teacher Ms. Loftin perform at Barnes and Nobles in Cary.

Thank you to everyone who turned out at Barnes and Nobles in Cary on November 15th.  Thank you to Ms. Stephenson for sharing student artwork inspired by the artist Matisse.  Ms. McCool led our Trailblazer students and families through the Scavenger Hunt and a big thank you goes out to Ms. Loftin for her work with the 4th and 5th Grade Chorus.  We announced the long awaited name of our chorus as well....Congratulations goes to our Banks Road Boomers for their premier performance of their Pieces of Gold audition song, as well as, a preview of songs that our chorus has been mastering for upcoming performances.  The night was a success as you helped our Media Center raise over $600.00 for new books.  Thank you for your support in making this night to remember for our students and a success for our school! 

Cultural Arts well underway at BRES!

If you haven't been in BRES school lately, you are missing out!  Along with great learning and teaching our students are having wonderful opportunities to observe and participate in various cultural arts activities.  Our Silk Banner Project has wrapped up and we are now in the final stages of the work.  Ms. Stephenson and our PTA joined forces to bring Leni Newell a nationally recognized artist to BRES to collaborate with our students and leave a visual legacy here in the front foyer of the school.  Look at the pictures below for a glimpse at the banners in progress.

A group of students in Ms. Yanez's class listens to Artist Leni Newell about color choice.

Ms. Livengood checks out the plan for the banner. 



Ms. Perrone, parent volunteer  leads a group through the color dying process of the banner.



I check out the work of the banner with a group of hardworking students from Ms. Blackmon's class.

Adding just a bit more color to this banner. 



Ms. Stephenson, Leni Newell and a group of students begin the design work.  

 A big thank you goes out to Ms. Stephenson, our PTA, Artist Leni Newell and our Fifth Grade Trailblazer Students for their hard work and efforts in making this project a success at BRES!   

Emily Blair: 2012 Grant Recipient

Congratulations to Ms. Emily Blair!  Our English Second Language teacher was honored Friday, November 16th by the Bright Ideas Wake Electric Membership Corporation.  Ms. Blair's grant was selected from hundreds of entries across the state of North Carolina.  The grant focused on increasing the language of our limited English proficient students through the use of 21st century skills.  The grant totaled $1, 500.00 and will be used for technology products for our ESL program students. 

The funds for the Bright Ideas grants come from WEMC members who agree to round up their light bill to the nearest whole dollar through the Operation RoundUp program. For example, if the bill is $190.91 – the bill will be rounded up 9 cents to $191.00. These pennies add up to major dollars. Partial funding also comes from the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, located in Raleigh, NC. The NCEMC consists of a family of corporations formed to support the state’s 27 electric cooperatives.

Wake Electric is a non-profit electric utility serving over 36,000 members in parts of Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance, and Wake counties.

Be on the look out for Ms. Blair in the News and Observer in the next couple of weeks!  For now, check out the photo of Ms. Blair and me at the awards luncheon.  Way to go Ms. Blair Trailblazer Teacher Extraordinaire! 


Congratulations Ms. Blair! 



Speaker Stacey Bess

 Keynote Speaker Stacey Bess shared her inspirational teaching story at the luncheon on Friday.   Nobody Don't Love Nobody is the story of young Stacey Bess's first teaching assignment, the only job she could find, at The School with No Name. In a small shed behind a community homeless shelter Stacey Bess taught Kindergarten through sixth grade to children with no homes and little hope, an experience that effected a profound change in the teacher as well as her students. Stacey discovered that by teaching and modeling love, self-worth, personal power, and courage she could reach children who had previously been labeled unteachable. These children have grown into living proof that Stacey's methods work. Her memoir Nobody don't love Nobody inspired the Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie "Beyond the Blackboard."

Thanksgiving Break

I hope everyone had a wonderful time over Thanksgiving Break. On Wednesday I was able to step into many classrooms where learning had taken on various activities including math concepts and social studies.  Students were excited to share their knowledge of the Mayflower and the hardships of the first colony peoples.  Kindergarten through second grade students were sharing the many things in their lives that they are "thankful" for.  I enjoyed loading the students in carpool on Wednesday and listening to the stories of how they made their crafts and who they would be visiting over the holiday break. 

Ms. Livengood, the office staff, our teachers and custodial staff are all thankful for our Trailblazer students and families.  When we partner together we create a wonderful school.  Thank you for all that you do for BRES.  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Break. 

Want to learn more about the origins of Thanksgiving with your Trailblazer student?  Click here... http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/thanksgiving-day. 

Common Core Information: New Standards= high expectations for all students

It's here and we have been talking about it, but how much do you know about it...the Common Core Curriculum?  BRES teachers are using the Common Core Curriculum in lesson planning and instruction each and every day.  These new guidelines describe the essential skills and knowledge that students master annually and provide parents with a clear and common understanding of what their child is expected to learn and know.  If you have had an opportunity to volunteer in a classroom lately then you have seen that student learning and teacher instruction has changed.  Students are working to solve real life problems or situations with a given data set for example or students select a topic from various options to research, learn and present in the classroom. Students are actively taking on the role of the learner in Kindergarten to 5th grade.  Teachers are taking on the role of the preparer, organizer, guide and leader in the classroom.  Want to see an example of a common core lesson?  Click to here to see Lauren Brooks, Enloe Math Teacher Lauren Brooks teach a Common Core math lesson during the Wake Education Partnership Education Summit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1BT63-hTdI .  Additionally, follow the links below to learn more about the Common Core Essential Standards  http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHuntInstitute#g/u  and demystify myths about the Common Core click here http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CoreFacts.pdf. 

 

Lastly, click here to see real WCPSS educators and teachers share about the common core http://www.wcpss.net/what-we-teach/curriculum/.  Still have questions, please call the school at 919-890-7333 and we can help you. 

Veterans Day 2012

Banks Road Elementary will be closed on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veterans Day.  I hope that many of you were able to attend the parade in downtown Raleigh on Saturday.  We have several military families at BRES and I want to thank them for their service to our country.  To find out more about the origins of Veterans Day please follow this link:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/veterans-day

To read more about the Raleigh Veterans Day parade, please follow this link:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49771742/ns/local_news-raleigh_nc/t/raleigh-parade-ceremony-honor-veterans/

Family Fitness and Fun Night a Success

Last night was OUTSTANDING Trailblazer families!  We had a wonderful turnout of students, families and teachers at our Family Fun and Fitness Night.  Our vendors were great and offered helpful information to all.  A big thank you goes out to Mr. Rex Anderson, Trailblazer parent for spearheading this event and our PTA for their support with this event.  The only thing that would have made night PERFECT would have been a visit from Rameses the UNC Mascot!!!  It's OK though, I was able to pull it together and take a picture Mr. Wuf!  Ms. Livengood was thrilled to see Mr. Wuf last night!  We are a house-divided up in the office! I know you can throw tomatoes at me but I have to stay true "blue" to my alma mater!

Check out the action shots from Family Fun and Fitness Night yesterday evening!

Mr. Wuf joined in for Zumba!

Our very own Jessi led the Zumba session!  Way to go Ms. Jessi!

Demonstrations were a hit!

Everyone loved the yoga session!

Take a look at the Zumba action!

Kids Voting a Success at BRES

Educating our students in academics is only one facet of teaching here at BRES.  Educating our students to become informed, active and responsible students is also a part of our responsibility.  Our students had the opportunity to participate in the KidsVoting NC program yesterday.  Students were given a ballot with the candidates for President of the United States.  Students went to the polls to make their candidate selection and then placed their ballots in an official ballot box.  The ballots were tallied and then taken for official count to the public library where the information will be sent to the KidsVoting Program center.

Anticipation was in the air as students from our Pre-K program all the way to 5th grade filed into the Media Center to cast their vote.  While waiting in the voting lines I was able to interview several students.  I asked, "Have you made your decision about who you are voting for?" and "How did you gather information about our candidates to help you determine your decision?"  Here are a few of the student responses:

• "My Grandpa told me who to vote for!"
• "I watched the commercials!"
• "I looked on the Internet!"
• "I watched a lot of the news with my parents.  They made me watch it!"
• "I read the newspaper, but I don't know if that was good information."
• "I watched the debate.  One candidate kept interrupting the other when he was talking so that's why I am voting for _____!"

We were able to talk about the power of persuasion, how each of us has a personal preference and that voting can be private if you don't want to share who you support or very public if a person wants to posts signs in their yard.  Our teachers did an outstanding job of embedding this important historical event into the Common Core curriculum expectations in the classroom.  Students were reading about electoral votes, the swing states and how our government has two primary parties.  Our KidsVote NC program was a great opportunity for students to reinforce the very processes and concepts they were learning about in the classroom.  

Check out the pictures from our polling station in the Media Center.  Thanks to our parent volunteers to supported students in obtaining ballots, giving directions, collecting and counting the ballots!  Thanks to Ms. Reed for organizing this event for our school!

Ms. Laise's class getting directions on how to complete the ballot.

Ms. Parker's class reading over the ballot and making their candidate selection.

A group of students celebrating their voting!

Students decorated the voting booths for this event!

Mr. Bethel's class receiving ballot instructions.

Ms. Parker's class receiving their ballots to vote. 

The votes were tallied and carefully counted twice!  Here are the results for the 2012 Presidential Election by the students at BRES:

President Obama received 301 votes
Candidate Romney received 291 votes
Candidate Johnson received 12 votes
5 votes were considered invalid as they were marked with more one selection.

This election was very narrow and could have gone either way all morning!

FFFN is one Day Away!

Family Fitness and Fun Night is one day away!  Tomorrow evening is our Family Fitness Night from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Come join us in the Multipurpose Room to learn about healthy, safe and actively lifestyles for the whole family!

All of the activities are FREE!  There will be activities for all ages, live demonstrations, useful information, door prizes, NCSU Wuf mascot, the Chick-fil-A Cow...and so much more.  Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can have a great and safe time!

I'll be there with my family and I hope to see you there with your family!  Let's get movin' down the Trail of Success at BRES! 

Artist in Residence: Leni Newell

We are proud to share that we begin our Artist in Residence this week with Leni Newell.  "Leni Newell conducts popular, successful and highly sought after residencies in over 150 schools since 1993.  The strength of Newell’s highly successful and motivating residencies comes from her love of both teaching and children, which allows her creativity to inspire students and staff alike" (taken from Leni Newell's website at http://www.leninewell.com/Leni_Newell_studios+gallery/Residencies.html.)  Our PTA is supporting the funding for this residency.

Leni has worked with schools across the district and her silk banners hang in school foyers, media centers and down hallways in numerous schools.  Our fifth grade students will be working with Leni to create banners for our front entrance foyer.  These banners will dress up our entrance and compliment our school building colors.

We are extremely excited to be collaborating with Leni Newell this school year.  As our students begin work with on the banners I will post pictures and give you an update.  For additional information on Leni Newell and to see photos of banners in other WCPSS schools please follow this link:

http://www.leninewell.com/Leni_Newell_studios+gallery/_Banner_Residencies.html

Safety Reminders: Carpool

Parents thank you for your support with carpool now that Tracks 1 and are back in together.  Our average end time of carpool is 4:10 p.m. although there have been a couple of days when we went until 4:15 p.m.  The line is much smoother and more and more students are quickly responding when their number is called.

I want to remind everyone that once our line gets moving that we need to honor the no cell phone zone expectation.  There are times when cars are moving to pull under the awning and our drivers are talking on phones and not giving full attention to our students moving about and heading to their vehicles.  Our first priority is safety in carpool and we want to deliver each child to you safe and sound. 

Additionally, I want to remind you to please have your carpool tag with you.  If you do not have your tag we will ask you to pull around and sign your child out at the office where they can verify your picture ID with your child's green information card. 

Thank you so much for supporting our safe and orderly carpool process!

Holiday Kindness Reminder: Forms Due November 9th

Our active PTA celebrates the BANKS Belief: Kindness counts this holiday season.  Help bring kindness into the lives of some BRES students and their families by helping to fulfill their special holiday wishes. 

If you, your company, your civic club or your church are interested in sponsoring a child in need by purchasing three gifts or giving a monetary donation, please complete the donation form available at the school.  The forms are due back to your child’s teacher by Friday, November 9th.

The PTA is coordinating our Holiday Assistance Program and they will contact you with details. Thank you for your kindness ! 

JDRF Walk Update

JDRF is back for tracks 2 & 4 this Thursday.  Our hallway is lined with paper shoes as parents, students and community members are pledging their support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  We will have our walk beginning at 9:20 a.m. with 3rd-5th graders on track 2 & 4 and 10:10-10:55 with K-2 students on tracks 2 & 4 on the back track.  Our first round with tracks 1 & 3 raised over $6,000.00!  This was awesome!  I am hopeful that we will hit the $10,000.00 mark with the support of our track 2 & 4 families and community members.  I will update you soon with pictures and a final donation amount after the Thursday!  Go Trailblazers!

Banks 4th and 5th Grade Chorus Update

Since July we have been brainstorming a name for our 4th and 5th Grade Chorus.  We have asked our students and teachers and now have a new name for our chorus.  I am pleased to announce for the first time the Banks Road Elementary Boomers!  

The Boomers have been practicing their instrumental and vocal pieces in order to perfect our selection for the Pieces of Gold audition on December 5th.  We are waiting for our assigned time to report to Daniel Middle School for our audition.  Our Boomer students will need transportation to Daniels Middle School on December 5th.  Please contact Ms. Loftin at lloftin@wcpss.net with any questions you may have about this audition.

Students report every Tuesday and Thursday morning to rehearse with Ms. Loftin in the music room or on stage in the multi-purpose room.  Ms. Loftin has developed a blog where she posts pictures, information and updates for our Boomer students and families. Please visit her site at any time for up-to-date information: http://banksrdmusic.blogspot.com/

Additionally, our students have been asked to perform at Crabtree Valley Mall on December 13th at 5:00 p.m.  Ms. Loftin will be sending home information about this wonderful opportunity.

And last but not least, we would love to present a unified ensemble for our Pieces of Gold audition and for our future performances by having a Boomers t-shirt made for the group.  Ms. Loftin has sent home information about purchasing t-shirts.  The t shirt fee of $10.00 is due Tuesday, November 13th.  T-shirt will be ordered Tuesday and should be in within one week. 

We are excited about our progress of our Boomers and can't wait to show off their skills at the Barnes and Nobles Book Fair on November 15th with a preview of our Pieces of Gold audition selection.  The book fair begins at 6 p.m. and the Boomers are scheduled to perform at 7:00 p.m. 

I hope you will join me at this premier event for the Boomer's. 

November 6th Late Arrival

Just a reminder that we will have late arrival on Tuesday, November 6th.  Students will be welcomed into the building at 10:45 a.m. and instruction will begin at 11:15 p.m.  Additionally, the 4th and 5th Grade Chorus will meet for practice at 10:00 a.m.  tomorrow morning. 

Please call the school should you have any questions about this information.  Thank you.

Family Fitness Night is Coming!

We are into November and we have wonderful things planned for our students and Trailblazer families!  Mark your calendar for November 8th.  It's our Family Fitness Night from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Come join us in the Multipurpose Room to learn about healthy, safe and actively lifestyles for the whole family!

All of the activities are FREE!  There will be activities for all ages, live demonstrations, useful information, door prizes, NCSU Wuf mascot, the Chick-fil-A Cow...and so much more.  Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can have a great and safe time!

I'll be there with my family and I hope to see you there with your family!  Let's get movin' down the Trail of Success at BRES!