Important Updates and Action Items

1.  Please update you Educate Alabama Files adding evidence of your professional learning. We have had a great year full of professional learning experiences that were based on our needs and our goals. You may remember that we met in the computer lab as a group to ensure that everyone entered their data by the established deadlines.  We also provided guidance toward which areas that we would be providing professional learning activities and how you could best meet the standards. Therefore all staff should be in a position of compliance at an exemplary level having followed our plan.

• Upload your IB Certificate which documents your completion of Category I Training
• Upload dates and Agenda Topics for Learning Focused Schools Training
• Refer to your Professional Development Notebook for the ACT Aspire Training received from our instructional Coaches
• Include dates and agenda topics on Unpacking standards

2.  Our next IB online training opportunity is scheduled for May and extends into the first week of June.  Mrs. Warren Lewis will be gathering the names of all individuals who will be taking part in this next round of professional learning toward meeting the requirements for IB authorization.  I will be submitting a stipend request to compensate all staff for the work to be done after school ends.  

Also we are looking to offer the same opportunity this summer for a (4) week Category 3 training during which employees would be paid to visit the school to complete the work at (4) hours per week. Those who participate in the May and Summer sessions will have completed their IB training requirements.  

If approved, each certified participant will be paid $20/ hour not to exceed a total of $340 for the summer.

Please let me know today if you would like to take part in these training.  Team leaders may survey team members and convey information to me via email.

3.  End of the Year Program Dates have been set by Central Office therefore  must adjust or plans to be in compliance.  Pre K, 1st , 2nd  on May 17th, 3rd, 4th and 5th on May 18th.  

Start planning your programs with the following in mind;

• Let's invite guest speakers who are not primarily affiliated with or representing a Religious Organization.  As much as we may be people of faith as individuals, we can not advocate in Governmental jobs. One method of advocacy is who we allow to speak to the children of this school (who do not all share the same faith) and the messages they bring.  Music is art therefore song selection (as established in school case law) is not held to the same standard and can therefore be of a religious nature or origin.
• Toward our IB aspirations, each year students are to demonstrate thematic learning through an exhibit which engages them in research of new knowledge, demonstrations of knowledge attained via projects, verbal expressions, speeches and presentations etc.  At our Awards Programs each class and student will be providing an exhibition as a major component of the program.  Mrs. Warren-Lewis will provide further information and guidance 

4.  Due to the changes listed above, our Carnival will be Monday May 16th,

Important Updates

Increased accountability standards and expectations are being emphasized at all levels of school operations in the BCS.  Towards that end, Principals have been directed to be sure to document employee non-compliance in several critical areas.  All of these areas have been emphasized and discussed in staff meetings, printed in staff memos, codified in our employee handbook and previously addressed at the school level until at a critical level.

Whereas in the past, conversations and verbal reminders were primarily used to address these matters at an early stage, we must now document those reminders in written form.  Listed below are the areas of which to pay close attention to in order not to be out of compliance with expectations, established procedures and/or policies.

1.  Student Attendance must be posted by 9:00 AM each day.
2.  Teacher letters to parents regarding excessive absences must be sent according to BCS policy.      Truancy cases can not be processed in the Family Court if the required 1st warning letter has not been sent by teacher.  We have a form copy of the letter in the office when needed.
3.  Educate Alabama Evidence should be posted.  Evidence of professional learning should be input so that teacher files can be closed out.  Be reminded that I requested that staff input completed IB training two weeks ago.
4.  Excessive tardiness to work and excessive absences will be forwarded to Zone 3 Director with documentation of administrative intervention.