Winter Break December 21st-January 2nd

Winter break begins today for students at Banks Road Elementary School. Teachers and students finished the day full of smiles thinking about some well deserved time with family as they headed to the bus or carpool lanes yesterday to begin Winter Break.

Students on Tracks 2-4 have report cards to share with their parents for second quarter. Students may also be bringing home many crafts, work pieces or projects that were made this month as teachers incorporated global awareness into their instructional plans by exploring how different people and cultures celebrate holidays.

BRES will welcome students on Track 1-3 back on January 2nd, 2012.

On behalf of the teachers and staff at BRES, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you safe travels, time with family and happy holidays. Mrs. Graf

December brings a busy time of year

December is here! Along with the countdown to the new year, holiday shopping and spending time with your family, I want to take this time to remind you about the many wonderful activities that will happen here at school.

Our 4th and 5th Grade Chorus Ensemble will perform on Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m. Please join us to hear a medley of holiday songs and learn about how many cultures celebrate the holiday season. The program is wonderful and you will be able to see first hand the talents of our students, the creativity of our specialist team (set, costumes and visual effects) and teacher volunteers who bring holiday songs, traditions and customs to life! The program conveys the vision of the program coordinator and musical director Mr. Capps.

Beginning December 12th we will be collecting books! New or gently used books can be brought to the school during carpool, in book bags or dropped off in the main office. BRES has partnered with the Kraft YMCA to collect books and deliver them in January to a community in need.

The PTA Board meeting is scheduled for the 13th at 6:30 p.m. We meet in the Media Center and anyone interested in attending is welcome.

Winter break is scheduled for Wednesday, December 21st through January 1st. Central services and schools will be closed for students during this time. We will welcome back students on Tracks 1-3 on Monday, January 2, 2012.

I hope your December begins as wonderful as it has here at BRES! Mrs. Graf

We are Thankful!

This week brings a shortened school week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. In walk throughs last week many classes were knee deep in culturally diverse activities, exploring different viewpoints of our history and learning about the beginnings of our nation.





We have WONDERFUL learning and teaching activities going on within our school walls each day. Each classroom has cultivated a unique family culture that supports learning for each and every student. Our teachers diligently work to plan these lessons and in depth learning opportunities.




I am thankful for the learning and teaching that takes place each day at Banks Road Elementary. Coupled with the high levels of learning here, we are surrounded by some of the finest support and supplemental staff in all of WCPSS! From our front office staff to our to our Specialist teachers, our staff is professional and dedicated to doing what is best for students. Again, we are truly thankful our school is wonderful place for students and thier families.

Student Assignment Plan Update

The new student assignment plan considers requests for stability, choice, proximity, and achievement. This week school assignment notifications will be sent home. Please read over the materials carefully and call the school or visit the WCPSS student assignment webpage if you have any questions.

Please see our homepage for a presentation that gives additional information about the student assignment process, how to exercise your choice in schools, and a time line for the school assignment process.

Quarterly Review Session a Success!

This past Wednesday Ms. Goodson and I held two sessions for parents to view the school data from first quarter. Parents were able to see proficiency levels for reading, math, writing and science for grades 2-5, school wide data and specific subgroups of students. The parents who attended both sessions asked insightful questions about Team Time, specific strategies that the school is implementing to make growth with students and about our vision for the school as we move forward into the year. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the wonderful things that are going on each day here at school. Thanks to all who attend the two parent data sessions. We look forward to presenting mid year data in January.

Schoolwide Planning is Underway

Good work comes from good people working hard! Our first transition meeting was a success. We reviewed the requirements for transitioning to a schoolwide program. We were able to complete the 2nd addendum called a Transition Plan. Our team broke into groups and brainstormed ways to provide a seamless transition for students at critical points in school such as pre-k to K, 2nd to 3rd and 5th to middle school. We took a realistic look at where we are with our literacy instruction and where we need to put our focus as we move into next year to support teachers in the classroom and to ensure effective literacy instruction for our students. Our parent representative offered valuable feedback and suggestions on how to engage various subgroups of parents to provide education opportunities that will work to improve the quality of life for our families in our community along with the academic success of our students. Our transition team work will surely benefit our school!

Banks Road transitions to Schoolwide Title I Program

Banks Road Elementary is eligible to provide Title I services to students in a "targeted model" this school year. Next year we are scheduled to implement a "schoolwide model." In September we were selected to begin to work through the schoolwide plan to support a smooth transition of services at BRES. A transition team has been created to develop the plan, complete the transition requirements and align the services to support the vision of the school program.

The transition team consists of administration, teacher representatives, central office representative from the Title I office and a parent representative. The team will meet formally and informally to complete the transition requirements.

Below is a brief description of the eligibility requirements and an outline of the work the transition team will complete this school year:

Title I schools with a free & reduced lunch population of more than 40% are eligible to move from targeted assistance to a school wide Title I model. In addition to the F&R requirement, schools must also commit to planning and revising the School Improvement Plan to address 10 required components:

• Comprehensive Needs Assessment


• Schoolwide reform strategies


• Instruction by highly qualified teachers (including teacher assistants)


• High-quality and ongoing professional development


• Strategies to attract highly qualified teachers to high-need schools


• Measures to include teachers in decisions regarding the use of academic assessments


• Strategies to increase parental involvement


• Plans for assisting preschool students in the successful transition from early childhood programs to local elementary schoolwide programs


• Activities to ensure that students who experience difficulty attaining proficiency receive effective and timely additional assistance


• Coordination and integration of Federal, State, and local services and programs

The first scheduled meeting is Thursday, November 3 from 12:30-3:30. We are excited about this opportunity to support the literacy needs of our students.