We have a superstar here at BRES! Today, Gerald Owens from WRAL surprised Mr. Tart by walking into his classroom with a camera man filming to announce that he was named Teacher of the Week. Mr. Tart was completely unaware and was genuinely flustered by the surprise visit.
Stayed tuned to WRAL for on Wednesday, February 15th to see Mr. Tart sit down for an interview with Gerald Owens to discuss teaching and technology. Ms. Talley's class may also be shown on t.v.! The segment will air at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m. and the Noon news.
Congratulations Mr. Tart and thank you for all you do to support student learning at BRES!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Family Book Fair Night a HUGE Success!
Congratulations to Ms. DiBona, the staff and the PTA members for successfully implementing another Family Book Fair Night! We had a great turn out of students and families. PTA offered a wonderful pizza dinner including salad, garlic knots, and lemonade. Ms. Stephenson had the Multipurpose Room rocking with the Wii and Dance Central. Ms. Glasgow manned the Flashlight Reading Room supporting several students with reading in the dark. Several staff members conducted read alouds for students and their families. I read two new books (available for purchase at the Book Fair) called If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff and Teeny Tiny Animals. The students loved both texts! It's not too late to visit the Book Fair. Ms. DiBona has the Media Center staffed with helpful volunteers all next Monday-Thursday. Stop in and browse the wide selection and make a purchase to support BRES!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Continued work in our Schoolwide Planning Meeting
On Monday, the Title I Transition Team met for a half day session to continue our work towards moving from a "targeted" model Title I school to a "schoolwide" model. The team consists of a K-2 teacher representative, a 3-5 teacher representative, a Title I teacher, a representative from the Title I Central Office, a special education teacher, our instructional resource teacher, a parent and administration.
Our work was focused on completing 2 addendums: The Planning Matrix and the Integration and Coordination of Funds. We spent our time discussing the process in which we teach literacy, the resources needed by teachers to support students in making progress towards academic success and the ways in which student learning will be assessed. The team also talked about the ways instruction could look in the classroom and what teacher support could look like in the new program model. We drafted a plan to share with the staff at our March meeting.
I am proud of the work that the team was able to accomplish on Monday. We have a solid start to how we will move forward with our Title I program in the new school year!
Our work was focused on completing 2 addendums: The Planning Matrix and the Integration and Coordination of Funds. We spent our time discussing the process in which we teach literacy, the resources needed by teachers to support students in making progress towards academic success and the ways in which student learning will be assessed. The team also talked about the ways instruction could look in the classroom and what teacher support could look like in the new program model. We drafted a plan to share with the staff at our March meeting.
I am proud of the work that the team was able to accomplish on Monday. We have a solid start to how we will move forward with our Title I program in the new school year!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
February Events
February brings events to BRES! The Media Center is now the Luau Book Fair. Ms. DiBona, Ms. Davis and our parent volunteers have prepared the Media Center for classes to come through and preview the great classics, the hot new books (Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift biographies are sure to be hits this year) and many other wonderful books and materials from the Scholastic Company.
You will have an opportunity to join in the Luau fun by attending our Family Book Fair Night. You can pre-purchase a ticket for a meal provided by the PTA, listen to Moonlight Reading, peruse the beautiful new books and make a purchase all to support our Media Center. Family Book Fair Night is February 9th from 5:30-8:00. I hope you can come out as it is sure to be a hit!
Friday brings a Cultural Awareness Program to BRES. Our PTA has sponsored several programs for our students to participate in this school year. We are excited to hear "Transit" a band that makes wonderful music--all with only one instrument--their voice! I have had the opportunity to see this group before and can tell you that the students and teachers are in for a real treat!
The PTA Board Meeting has been rescheduled for the 13th at 9:30 a.m. This is a change from the 14th at 6:30. We always welcome you to attend and hear the wonderful things that the PTA is working on to support the school. We meet in the Media Center.
Early Release is scheduled for Friday, February 17th. We will begin dismissal at 1:15. Please call the school early or send in a note if your child will need a change in transportation.
We will continue to blaze down the trail to success here at Banks as we move into February!
You will have an opportunity to join in the Luau fun by attending our Family Book Fair Night. You can pre-purchase a ticket for a meal provided by the PTA, listen to Moonlight Reading, peruse the beautiful new books and make a purchase all to support our Media Center. Family Book Fair Night is February 9th from 5:30-8:00. I hope you can come out as it is sure to be a hit!
Friday brings a Cultural Awareness Program to BRES. Our PTA has sponsored several programs for our students to participate in this school year. We are excited to hear "Transit" a band that makes wonderful music--all with only one instrument--their voice! I have had the opportunity to see this group before and can tell you that the students and teachers are in for a real treat!
The PTA Board Meeting has been rescheduled for the 13th at 9:30 a.m. This is a change from the 14th at 6:30. We always welcome you to attend and hear the wonderful things that the PTA is working on to support the school. We meet in the Media Center.
Early Release is scheduled for Friday, February 17th. We will begin dismissal at 1:15. Please call the school early or send in a note if your child will need a change in transportation.
We will continue to blaze down the trail to success here at Banks as we move into February!
Mid Year Data Review
January came...and went! The New Year doesn't waste time and neither do we here at BRES, not when it comes to learning and teaching! I am pleased to share with you the data from our MidYear Review. The staff and I met after returning from Winter Break to review the proficiency data from quarter 2 report cards. We have much to celebrate as we are on track for student success!
Kindergarten (received 1st report card in December)
Reading: 82% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 79% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 97% of students are performing at or above grade level
First Grade
Reading: 69% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 63% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 92% of students are performing at or above grade level
Second Grade
Reading: 80% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 66% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 95% of students are performing at or above grade level
Third Grade
Reading: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 69% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 80% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 90% of students are performing at or above grade level
Fourth Grade
Reading: 73% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 64% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 88% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Fifth Grade:
Reading: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 75% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 83% of students are performing at or above grade level
Schoolwide Data Snapshot
As a school, K-5, this is what our data looks like based on the midyear report card grades:
Reading: 75% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 62% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 93% of students are performing at or above grade level
During our schoolwide data review session we celebrated the successes we are having with many of our students reaching benchmark in content areas. We also focused on students who made "growth" or progress towards proficiency. We celebrated that many of these students made great leaps in their progress, but have not yet reached proficiency. As professional learning teams, our teachers reviewed grade level and individual student data and discuss strategies they were implementing already in their classrooms to support student achievement or made plans for instruction during Team Time to support our students in increasing achievement.
Our entire staff is dedicated to the learning success of each and every student here at Banks. We have much to celebrate with our student success and equally as much work ahead of us as we enter the second half of the school year!
Kindergarten (received 1st report card in December)
Reading: 82% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 79% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 97% of students are performing at or above grade level
First Grade
Reading: 69% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 63% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 92% of students are performing at or above grade level
Second Grade
Reading: 80% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 66% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 95% of students are performing at or above grade level
Third Grade
Reading: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 69% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 80% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 90% of students are performing at or above grade level
Fourth Grade
Reading: 73% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 64% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 88% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 77% of students are performing at or above grade level
Fifth Grade:
Reading: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 75% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 83% of students are performing at or above grade level
Schoolwide Data Snapshot
As a school, K-5, this is what our data looks like based on the midyear report card grades:
Reading: 75% of students are performing at or above grade level
Writing: 62% of students are performing at or above grade level
Math: 81% of students are performing at or above grade level
Science: 93% of students are performing at or above grade level
During our schoolwide data review session we celebrated the successes we are having with many of our students reaching benchmark in content areas. We also focused on students who made "growth" or progress towards proficiency. We celebrated that many of these students made great leaps in their progress, but have not yet reached proficiency. As professional learning teams, our teachers reviewed grade level and individual student data and discuss strategies they were implementing already in their classrooms to support student achievement or made plans for instruction during Team Time to support our students in increasing achievement.
Our entire staff is dedicated to the learning success of each and every student here at Banks. We have much to celebrate with our student success and equally as much work ahead of us as we enter the second half of the school year!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Years of Service Appreciated
This coming Tuesday will be the last day for our Head Custodian Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis joined WCPSS 6 years ago at Fuquay Elementary. When Banks Road Elementary opened Mr. Davis took the opportunity to work at a new school. He unpacked many boxes, set up all of the classroom furniture and completed numerous other tasks in order to prepare the building to receive students on the first day of school. Mr. Davis was instrumental to the successful opening of BRES in 2009.
As a member of the school community Mr. Davis is always warm, welcoming and willing. Kindness can be seen in all he does. His interactions with staff members and students are always positive. There isn't a task that he hasn't done or won't do to ensure our school is safe and orderly!
The BRES family knows that Mr. Davis has been looking forward to this day for a long time, but we know we are losing a great staff member and friend! If you are on campus please take a moment to find Mr. Davis and thank him for his service. Thank you Mr. Davis!
As a member of the school community Mr. Davis is always warm, welcoming and willing. Kindness can be seen in all he does. His interactions with staff members and students are always positive. There isn't a task that he hasn't done or won't do to ensure our school is safe and orderly!
The BRES family knows that Mr. Davis has been looking forward to this day for a long time, but we know we are losing a great staff member and friend! If you are on campus please take a moment to find Mr. Davis and thank him for his service. Thank you Mr. Davis!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January Updates
The end of the month is approaching and I want to share a few updates with you. This week we welcomed Track 4 back to school. We hope you enjoyed your break and are ready to get back into learning routines. Track 3 tracked out and we wish you rest, safe travels and continued learning over your time off.
This week we continued to showcase the wonderful learning and teaching process, our beautiful campus and our welcoming climate by giving tours both in the morning and in the evening. We have had great feedback from prospective parents about our school. I am proud to share the many outstanding learning opportunities that we are able to offer our students with newcomers in the community.
Additionally, our 3rd-5th graders participated in the district Benchmark assessment this week. The assessment will give teachers valuable information to consider as a grade level and in individual classrooms for instruction.
We will close out January with our second Schoolwide Title I planning meeting on Monday the 30th. Our Transition Team will meet for a half day to continue to plan for schoolwide implementation in the 2012-2013 school year. We are excited about the progress we are making in planning for the new school year.
In looking ahead to February, we have several important events coming up:
Book Fair (February 1st-16th), Moonlight Reading Family Night (February 9th from 5:30-8:00), the PTA Board meeting (February 14th at 6:30) and our first Early Release Day (February 17th: dismissal at 1:15) of the new year.
We continue to blaze trails here at BRES as we wrap up January! :) Mrs. Graf
This week we continued to showcase the wonderful learning and teaching process, our beautiful campus and our welcoming climate by giving tours both in the morning and in the evening. We have had great feedback from prospective parents about our school. I am proud to share the many outstanding learning opportunities that we are able to offer our students with newcomers in the community.
Additionally, our 3rd-5th graders participated in the district Benchmark assessment this week. The assessment will give teachers valuable information to consider as a grade level and in individual classrooms for instruction.
We will close out January with our second Schoolwide Title I planning meeting on Monday the 30th. Our Transition Team will meet for a half day to continue to plan for schoolwide implementation in the 2012-2013 school year. We are excited about the progress we are making in planning for the new school year.
In looking ahead to February, we have several important events coming up:
Book Fair (February 1st-16th), Moonlight Reading Family Night (February 9th from 5:30-8:00), the PTA Board meeting (February 14th at 6:30) and our first Early Release Day (February 17th: dismissal at 1:15) of the new year.
We continue to blaze trails here at BRES as we wrap up January! :) Mrs. Graf
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