Week of February 26

The +10 Mindset starts with Educators

Please support our students in our Boxed Food Drive.

Student growth cannot occur without educator growth.  In order to guarantee educator growth the school must function in such a way that it supports its teachers and staff members in their individualized growth.  This week, I would like to share a podcast that I recently did with Dr. Chris Weber, a nationally renowned author and education leader in the areas of Response to Intervention, and Professional Learning Communities. 

I hope that you will take some time to listen to my discussion with him on how leaders in Blue Ridge ISD are working together to build an Excellence Support System to ensure that teacher growth and improvement is a constant, not a goal.  Our belief is simple.  The only way that students can learn, grow, and excel is to create an environment where every educator in our district is able to learn, grow, and excel first.

BRISD Teachers collaborating at our 2/19
Professional Learning Day.  This will be
what collaboration looks like on our
"Late Start Fridays" next year.

March Primary Voting Information
Below are important dates from the Texas Secretary of State, Rolando Pablos, regarding dates involving the March primaries.

• HERE ARE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS FOR COLLIN COUNTY AND FANNIN COUNTY.

• YOU CAN VOTE AT THE BRISD ADMIN BUILDING ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6.

First Day of Early Voting	Tuesday, February 20, 2018* *First business day after Presidents' Day
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked)	Friday, February 23, 2018
Last Day of Early Voting	Friday, March 2, 2018
Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail	Tuesday, March 6, 2018 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Wednesday, March 7, 2018 (next business day after Election Day) at 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply)⁴

2018-2019 School Calendar Adopted

Abigayle Avery, Ellery Martin, and Marlaina Morgan went to
 Washington D.C. for a once in a lifetime meeting with our
U.S. Representative John Ratcliffe.  They were named
 to his youth advisory council.  Special thanks to BRHS
Principal, Anthony Figueroa for putting this trip together.

Here is a link to the new school calendar adopted by the BRISD Board of Trustees at the February 19, 2018 meeting.  The calendar is very similar to the calendar adopted last year.  It is important to note the district is required to have a calendar that has 75,600 minutes of instruction for students; therefore, our calendar has 77,160 minutes of instruction.  This means that the school will bank 3.5 days of instruction in the event that we have to close school due to weather or some other emergency.  Furthermore, it means that the district would not have to use the bad weather days that are on the calendar until our banked days are used first.

Quizlet is an awesome learning tool for our students.
Here, Ms. Stiney's 2nd graders are working hard with Quizlet

Additionally, the calendar includes a "30 Minute Late Start Friday" so that teachers can work together to create better instruction, intervention plans for students, align curriculum, and receive local and state-mandated training from 7:30 - 8:20 on Fridays.  Students will be able to arrive at school at 7:15 a.m., like every other school day, or arrive 30 minutes later on Friday.  To ensure student safety and engagement, each campus will provide places for students to attend study halls, character education presentations, or other activities that are aligned with district initiatives and goals.



Upcoming Events

• Fri, Feb 23

  

  We have an amazing Senior Class.
  They hosted the Father / Daughter Dance at BRES
  on Saturday, February 17, 2018

•       Tennis at Anna Tournament
•       Baseball at Sam Rayburn Tournament
•       Softball at Community Tournament
• Sat, Feb 24 - Girls Regional Powerlifting Meet
• Sat, Feb 24 - Green Saturday at BRHS at 7 p.m.
• Mon, Feb 26 - 4th Formative Assessment Week Begins
• Mon, Feb 26 - MS Track Meet HOME
• Tue, Feb 27 - Softball vs Paris HOME
• Thu, Mar 1 & Fri, Mar 2 - Whitewright Tennis Tournament
• Thu, Mar 1 & Fri, Mar 2 - Van Alstyne Softball Tournament
• Thu, Mar 1 - Blue Ridge Track Tournament
• Thu, 3/1 - Sat, 3/3 - Blue Ridge Baseball Tournament
• Sat, Mar 2 - HS One Act Play District Meet at Denison HS
• March 5 - 9 - Texas Public Schools Week 
• Mon, Mar 5 - JH Track Meet at BRHS
• Tue, Mar 6 - Election Day for March Primaries
• Tue, Mar 6 - Baseball at Tom Bean

  

  Collaboration is a critical skill all students need to be
  Career Ready.  Ms. Pelzel's PreCalculus students use
  collaboration each day to reach their learning goals.

• Tue, Mar 6 - Softball at Savoy
• Thu, Mar 8 - Open House at BRES from 5 - 7 p.m.
• Thu, Mar 8 - HS Track Meet at Bells
• Thu-Sat, Mar 8 - 10 - Baseball at Anna Tournament
• Fri, Mar 9 - End of 3rd 9 Weeks
• Fri, Mar 9 - Baseball JV at Leonard
• Fri, Mar 9 - Softball vs Bells at Home
• Fri, Mar 9 - Boys Powerlifting at Chico
• Mon, Mar 12 - 16 - Spring Break
• Mon, Mar 12 - Softball at Sam Rayburn
• Tue, Mar 13 - Baseball vs Bells
• Tue, Mar 13 - Softball vs Dodd City HOME
• Fri, Mar 16 - Girls State Powerlifting Meet in Waco
• Mon, Mar 19 - BRISD Board Meeting at 6 p.m.

  

  BRISD Teachers collaborating at our 2/19
  Professional Learning Day.  This will be
  what collaboration looks like on our
  "Late Start Fridays"

• Mon, Mar 19 - Golf at Webb Hill
• Mon, Mar 19 - JH Track Meet  HOME
• Mon, Mar 19 - JV Baseball at Tioga

Calendars
District Calendar
Elementary School Calendar
Middle School Calendar
High School Calendar
Blue Ridge Community Calendar (NEW)



Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please let a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 972-752-5554.