Greetings
If you are interested in learning more about the vision calendar being considered by Champlain Valley Superintendents, please go to the website at
http://schoolcalendar2.blogspot.com/
You can also read my earlier post on this blog.
More information will be shared as it is available.
Greetings all,
This time of year is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Think back to the September days – your students were so young, so excited and maybe even scared to start the school year. They now are confident, older and ready to fly to the next grade or step in their journey! And you were part of it all. Savor the moment – there are few left in the year! And thank you for all you have done for your students.
As we plan for next year, an update on the calendar: All schools will begin with students on August 28th. Teachers will return on August 23rd, with a new teacher orientation on August 20th. The 2013-2014 school calendar has been completed. At this time, the Board has voted to not have a three-day weekend in October. This may be revisited at a future Board Meeting, but for now the calendar is set and posted on the District website.
Early Release Wednesdays are very close to being finalized. We are awaiting the solution to one remaining barrier – transportation. I appreciate the recommendations and suggestions of a committee of teachers and administrators to this process. I will provide final details shortly.
The last day of the year for k-8 teachers is June 19th. BHS started earlier than k-8 and will end earlier. BHS graduation is on June 14th and k-8 graduations and ceremonies are on varying dates and times earlier that week.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of the school year. It has been a whirlwind and much has been done. The diversity and equity work has started to alter the climate of our District, the Partnership for Change work is looking at changes in the future, and the 1:1 laptop initiative has improved student engagement in those teams with computers and impacts the way we teach. Common Core professional development is taking hold across the District. We have much to celebrate as the year closes.
Burlington School District is a wonderful place to be!
Jeanné
As we enter the final weeks of school, we continue to focus on improving student achievement. Burlington High School is piloting a student-centered, end of the year studies program (YES Program) for all students that will involve internships, independent studies, and collaborative problem solving in areas of student interest. This pilot enters the concept of learning proficiencies, also known as graduate expectations, as the two communities have been discussing all year. If you are interested in weighing in on this discussion of graduate expectations, you can offer feedback electronically at http://www.partnershipforchangevt.org, where you can see our first draft and add your voice to the discussion.
*The Partnership for Change Announces Director
The Partnership for Change is pleased to announce the hiring of Hal Colston as its Director. The Director is responsible for leading the Partnership’s efforts to help build a prosperous future for the Burlington and Winooski communities by remodeling our schools for the 21st Century. Hal will work closely with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including school administrators, students, teachers, parents, and community partners, to support school change. He will guide the Partnership as it enhances the capacity for new and innovative practices in our schools and advances our vision of an educational system in which every student graduates well prepared for success in today’s world. For more information about Hal and the Partnership for Change, visit http://www.partnershipforchangevt.org/.
*Summer Camps in Burlington!
Representatives from six Burlington organizations (Boys & Girls Club, Sara Holbrook Community Center, YMCA, King Street Community Center, Burlington Parks & Recreation, Burlington School District Summer School) and Child Care Resource will gather to present detailed information for parents and kids about upcoming summer programs. Interpreters will be available to help answer any questions. You can sign your student up for any of these programs on the spot. Refreshments, snacks, and youth activities including face painting will be provided!
Champlain Elementary: Tuesday, May 7th from 5 pm – 7 pm.
Flynn Elementary: Monday, May 13th from 5 pm – 7 pm.
Contact Ali Dieng with any questions: (802) 316-0731 or adieng@bsdvt.org.
*Weekly Release Day Schedule Considered for 2013-14
The Burlington School District is considering a weekly release Wednesday schedule for the 2013-14 school year for grades k-8, with a 1:45 p.m. dismissal on Wednesdays all year. This schedule would replace all other early release days except for two parent conferences. The change is being considered due to a state mandate for restructuring that includes identifying dedicated time for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) intended to increase student achievement. We have posted information to the web at http://www.bsdvt.org to explain PLCs and answer common questions about the changes being considered. The decision on the weekly release Wednesdays will be made by mid-May as we complete our restructuring mandate.
As always, I welcome comments, suggestions and observations. Contact me at superintendent@bsdvt.org or call 802.862.8274. Also, like us on Facebook and follow us on twitter @BTVSchools to keep up with all that happening in the Burlington Schools!
Greetings all,
As the sun shines and spring arrives, it is hard to stay focused on good learning, but this is when it can become fun! Move out of your classroom and use the surrounding environment. Kids respond well to this type of change, when planned, and will remember learning through fun and Vitamin D! I recall taking my class of grades k-3 special education students to a park near our school in Colorado to expand on our measurement lessons. We did runs, measured them, walks, measured, etc. I recall ending it with balloon tosses (measured, of course) and we all left school feeling great about being there that day!
Spring also welcomes an opportunity to thank teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. This thank you is to ALL teachers in the District, no matter what role you might hold. Our students learn in the classroom from teachers and paraeducators, from nurses and guidance counselors, from administrative assistants and custodians, from food service staff and principals and volunteers. We are fortunate to know just what our mission is and to live it every day with our students. The 10 minutes you spend teaching a child will stay with him/her for life. Thank you—to all “teachers” who choose to work with Burlington kids.
I am excited to announce the new Director for the Partnership for Change, Hal Colston. Hal replaces Peter McConville and Alan Tinkler, who served as Interim Co-Coordinators this past year and who deserve our great thanks for all they have done to move this work forward. The Director is responsible for leading the Partnership’s efforts to help build a prosperous future for the Burlington and Winooski communities by remodeling our schools for the 21st Century. Hal will work closely with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including school administrators, students, teachers, parents, and community partners, to support school change. He will guide the Partnership as it enhances the capacity for new and innovative practices in our schools and advances our vision of an educational system in which every student graduates well-prepared for success in today’s world.
Enjoy the sunshine!
Jeanné
Greetings- I lifted this from the Spotlight so it can stand on its own and am adding a sample Vision Calendar with ideas for intersessions. Let me know what you think!
A topic that has captured the ears of many is the Vision Calendar, which is being considered by the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association (CVSA). CVSA is responsible each year for setting a common regional 175 day calendar that aligns with the two technical centers in our region. The Vision Calendar takes those same 175 days and reformats it so that school is chunked into six to seven-week learning periods, with a time of reflection between each chunk. That one to two-week break could be used for timely student intervention through a Title 1 Program, faculty professional development, vacation and reflection, coursework for faculty, etc. Just as our December-June stretch does now, it allows everyone to pause and take a breath as the learning continues. It is intentional and focused on student achievement.
As mentioned above, the number of days does not change for students or staff. The school year would likely start one week earlier in August and end one week later in June. The summer is still quite lengthy for summer jobs, professional development and camps. Opportunities for vacations for families at off times is an added bonus. CVSA is talking with child care providers about camps and child care during the intersession weeks.
The discussion is just beginning. CVSA would need to decide by January 2014 if it were to take place in the 2014-15 school year. Share your thoughts and questions with me—I will bring them to CVSA.
Think differently—how might this benefit both students and staff?
Greetings all,
The sun is trying to be out and the marsh is muddy—we are officially in mud season, with spring near! In this season, the Board reorganizes. We have three new members (Liz Curry, Miriam Stoll and Greg Jenkins) and a new chair (Alan Matson). Board committee assignments will be out shortly and the Board is working to realign its work with District goals. Stay tuned for more on this.
A topic that has captured the ears of many is the Vision Calendar, which is being considered by the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association (CVSA). CVSA is responsible each year for setting a common regional 175 day calendar that aligns with the two technical centers in our region. The Vision Calendar takes those same 175 days and reformats it so that school is chunked into six to seven-week learning periods, with a time of reflection between each chunk. That one to two-week break could be used for timely student intervention through a Title 1 Program, faculty professional development, vacation and reflection, coursework for faculty, etc. Just as our December-June stretch does now, it allows everyone to pause and take a breath as the learning continues. It is intentional and focused on student achievement.
As mentioned above, the number of days does not change for students or staff. The school year would likely start one week earlier in August and end one week later in June. The summer is still quite lengthy for summer jobs, professional development and camps. Opportunities for vacations for families at off times is an added bonus. CVSA is talking with child care providers about camps and child care during the intersession weeks.
The discussion is just beginning. CVSA would need to decide by January 2014 if it were to take place in the 2014-15 school year. Share your thoughts and questions with me—I will bring them to CVSA. I will also post a sample Vision Calendar to my blog (http://collinsj.wordpress.com) when I receive it.
Think differently—how might this benefit both students and staff?
Enjoy spring.
Jeanné
