On TrackA Monthly Insight into the Brandon School Division
To have a letter included on the agenda of the Board meeting, please address it to the Chairperson of the Board and submit to:
[email protected] For more information:
www.bsd.ca/board/meetings
February was a very busy month! Your trustees were immersed in setting the Budget for 2018 - 2019 to be implemented in September of this year. Preparing a budget is a complex task, which includes input from various groups including our Parent Councils, the Chamber of Commerce and our various employee groups. Starting last fall we had begun, by motion, directions in the planning whereby many costs were tied to the Cost of Living increases. A small group of citizens attended an evening forum at Green Acres School on February 15th to provide feedback on the draft budget. Trustees then met on February 20th to review submissions with requests and to budget for the anticipated student increase next Fall. Community presentations were heard at the regular Board Meeting on February 26th with a motion for approval planned for March 12th. Manitoba Education (the government)
requires the approved budget to be forwarded to them by March 15th. For those who follow the televised regular Board Meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month you will have become informed on how our schools are enhancing students' learning as part of the Continuous Improvement Plan. Several school staffs have reported on specific strategies employed in their buildings with the accompanying assessments to illustrate student progress. Progress results are posted in the Board Room. During the third week of March Interviews and progress reporting takes place with Parent-Teacher Interviews The second term of the 2018 school year ends with mid term break starting on March 26th.
February 13 K-8 Registration Period Open to March 16 Contact Your Neighbourhood School for Information
March 15 Neelin Choirs Present: Vive! Knox United Church @ 7 PM
February 13 Grade 9-12 Registration Period Open to March 16 Contact Your Neighbourhood School for Information
March 16 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences No Classes K-8
March 7 Parent/Guardian/Division Advisory Committee Meeting Division Office Board Room @ 7 PM
March 16 Professional Development Day No Classes 9-12
March 8 Administration/Professional Development Day No Classes K-8 / Regular Classes 9-12
March 21 Storytime at Brandon Shoppers Mall Kia Court @ 10 AM
March 12 Regular Board Meeting—Final Budget Approval Division Office Board Room @ 7 PM
March 23 Last Day Of Classes Prior to Spring Vacation All Classes Resume April 2, 2018
Since the launch of our Continuous Improvement Plan in March of 2017, you may have overheard our staff using some new language in and around our school buildings.
During the next few issues of BSD On Track, we will be sharing with you some of the language and definitions we have adopted throughout the Division.
RESPONDING TO DIVERSITY Responding to Diversity (RtD) requires an inclusive learning climate in which all students, regardless of their diverse needs, can succeed in a culture of high expectations for learning.
An RTD approach provides an open curriculum which allows every student access to learning. Each student is supported through differentiated instruction which is based upon ongoing progress monitoring. Decisions regarding student programming are made through an RtI framework.
Responding to Diversity: Involves a shift to an inclusive teaching model from a remedial teaching model. A teacher's focus becomes adjusting (differentiating) instruction for all students rather than "fixing" individual students. The rewards of responding to diversity include:
*Higher student engagement* *Higher overall achievement*
Differentiated instruction: Student learning expectations are high for every student but the approach to their learning may be adjusted to suit their diverse needs. This may be done by changing the content (more choice and voice by the student, total change of material, length, addition of visuals…), process (a different teaching approach, assisted by software or a scribe), or in the assessment (change of criteria, method of demonstrating knowledge, more time…).
Resources: Supporting Inclusive Schools: Manitoba Education Ontario’s Equity and Inclusion Strategy
CHECK BACK REGULARLY AS WE PROVIDE UPDATES ON OUR PROGRESS & SUCCESS
February 13—March 16, 2018 K-8 Registration Period
February 13—March 16, 2018 Grade 9-12 Registration Period
Deadline for School of Choice Applications: May 15, 2018
Contact your neighbourhood school
for more information.
www.bsd.ca Email: [email protected]
On March 12, 2018, during the Regular Board Meeting, the Board will finalize and approve the 2018-2019 Budget. This meeting will be held at the BSD Administration Office Board Room at 1031 - 6th Street, at 7:00 pm. If you cannot join us for this meeting, we will also be streaming LIVE on our website here: LIVE STREAMING CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR 2018-2019 BUDGET WEB PAGE
The Grade 1’s in Mrs. Wright’s class and the 5/6’s in Mrs. Walker’s class have kicked off the 2018 Winter Olympics with two exciting STEM projects. The buddies learned about the different events in the Winter Olympics and did research on individual sports. Students had opportunity to choose from a table of supplies to create their Olympic competitors, and found that when they tested sometimes a design change was needed and back to the table they went. After watching some Opening Ceremonies together and some bobsleigh and ski jump events the students were ready to race their creations. 5/6’s competed head to head with grade 1’s and it was anybody’s medal to win!
Green Acres School Principal: Mrs. Shelley Cords 335 Queens Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B9 Phone: 204-729-3265 Email: [email protected]
@GreenAcres_BSD
We capped off the races with each student
getting an Oreo Cookie and Fruit Roll-Up Medal
to eat proudly!
While everyone is watching the Olympics on TV, O’Kelly School decided to get into the spirit by holding their own Olympic afternoon at the school. The students enjoyed an afternoon rotating through winter games/activities inside and outside the school. The different outdoor stations included: a snowshoe/torch relay race, Olympic ring toss, milk jug curling & target practice. We also had some indoor stations for the kids since the weather wasn’t fully cooperative. The kids enjoyed some time using our new indoor curling mat and “rocks”. Students also had the opportunity to watch some of the Olympics being streamed online while enjoying chocolate chip and M&M cookies that were made by students from the Crocus Plains School Culinary Arts Program. We thank the students for making them for our whole school.
École O’Kelly School Principal: Ms. Marcy Thomson PO Box 70, Shilo, MB R0K 2A0 Phone: 204-729-0388 Email: [email protected]
@OKelly_BSD
It was a cool Canadian afternoon!
BRANDON SCHOOL DIVISION CONTACT INFORMATION: Mailing Address: 1031—6th Street Phone: 204-729-3100 Brandon, MB R7A 4K5 Fax: 204-727-2217 Website: www.bsd.ca Email: [email protected] Newsletter Questions/Comments? Contact: Terri Curtis Senior Management Executive Secretary—Communications Coordinator Phone: 204-729-0388 Email: [email protected] This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Email: [email protected]
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@BrandonMBSD
The Book Doctors are IN! École New Era had a great month of I Love to Read activities in February. We hosted several fun and successful events throughout the month to encourage our students to become passionate about reading.
Our Book Doctor event was so successful that it is going to continue on past the month of February. Many books in our classroom libraries are being fixed and repaired so they can be read for years to come. We thank Mrs. Hersack and Mrs. Bertram for taking on the task of book doctors.
École New Era School Principal: Mr. Phil Vickers 527 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB R7A 0X1 Phone: 204-729-3161 Email: [email protected]
@NewEra_BSD
As we move in to March and beyond we will continue to
encourage all of our students to love reading!