Week of March 5

The +10 Mindset - School Safety

As we reflect on the tragedy in Parkland, FL, many have inquired about our protocols to ensure the safety of our students.  Please note that I share your concerns as both a parent and educator, and we are doing everything to ensure that all of our schools are safe learning environments.  Here are the things we have in place or have reviewed in the last week.

• Lockdown procedures with all staff and students,
• Meetings with students and staff on how to protect ourselves,
• Our School Resource Officer is on duty every single day and he patrols our schools and ensures that exterior doors stay locked,
• Coordination with Collin County to ensure a quick response time.

What can parents do?

The first suggestion that I can make is to have conversations with your children.  If they are concerned, I invited you to contact your school principal for more information.  Secondly, we must remind our children that they have a voice.  If they see something, they need to report it to the principal.  Even if they aren't sure, they still need to report it.  Last, I invite you to ask questions and make suggestions.  We can always make our schools safer, and you may have an idea that could help us.

We have already begun updating our Emergency Operations Plan.  We will be looking at more training for our teachers and new strategies to ensure that what has happened in other schools doesn't happen here.  As we update those procedures, we will train our staff, educate our students, and inform you.  Last, your student is your most prized possession.  We know that, and we take this issue very seriously and will do our best to protect your children.

Excellence in Athletics Congratulations to Natalie Walker (Right)  who is the Region 6 Division 3 Champion in the 105 class and  is headed to the UIL STATE Powerlifting Meet in Waco over Spring Break.   She set regional records for Girls Class (105 lb) for Squat (280 lb), Benchpress (145 lb) and Overall Weight. We are so proud of Natalie and her coaches Jarred Seamans and Scott Ball.

March Primary Voting Information
You can vote at Blue Ridge ISD Administration building on election day on Tuesday, March 6.




Upcoming Events

• Thu, Mar 1 & Fri, Mar 2 - Whitewright Tennis Tournament
• Thu, Mar 1 & Fri, Mar 2 - Van Alstyne Softball 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
• 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.
• Mon, Mar 19 - Golf at Webb Hill
• Mon, Mar 19 - JH Track Meet  HOME

  

  BRMS has a great competition leading up to Spring Break
  Attendance + Helping the Community = Pancakes

• Mon, Mar 19 - JV Baseball at Tioga
• Tue, Mar 20 - Softball at Trenton
• Tue, Mar 20 - Baseball at Savoy
• Thu, Mar 22 - HS Track Meet HOME
• Fri, Mar 23 - Carter Blood Drive at BRHS
• Fri, Mar 23 - Softball at Ector
• Fri, Mar 23 - Baseball vs Trenton HOME
• Sat, Mar 24 HS UIL Academics District Meet at BRHS

Calendars
District Calendar
Elementary School Calendar
Middle School Calendar
High School Calendar
Blue Ridge Community Calendar




Sign Up for BRHS Communication

If you are interested in receiving the Weekly Parent Update on Fridays, please make sure you sign up on the google form. A letter went home last week to provide additional ways to stay connected. 

CLICK HERE to sign up

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.

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.

Week of February 19

The +10 Mindset
Changes to STAAR Testing in Grades 4 & 7 Writing

The BRISD Food Pantry is in need of Boxed Food Items.
The campuses will be having a contest and the winning
grades at each campus will have an ice cream party.
If you would like to donate, please drop off any of the
items on the list at any BRISD campus.

Blue Ridge ISD will be participating in a new writing pilot sponsored by the Texas Education Agency this spring.  Our district applied for this optional pilot and will join many districts across the state including Sunnyvale, Royse City, Dallas, Garland, and Crandall among countless others in this pilot.  While there are some requirements on the part of the district participating, one thing to note is that “Districts with students participating in writing grades 4 and 7 are not required to administer the STAAR to these students.  District accountability will not be affected." (Source - TEA)

This means that our students will not take a STAAR test in grades 4 and 7 writing. However it is important to note that we will work hard to create an aligned curriculum that will ensure that every student is thoroughly prepared in grammar, editing, revising, and writing coherent pieces that will inform, entertain, or persuade their readers. Writing is extremely important, and at BRISD we will continue to raise the bar to ensure that every student is a competent and confident writers.

Presidents Day - A Reminder of the Importance of Voting

Kindergarten is reading and learning about shadows.

On Monday, February 19, students will have a student holiday from school while our teachers are working hard to create great plans to help all students learn at even higher levels.  Monday, February 19 is President's Day, so why is this day important?  It's important because we live in a nation where we have the opportunity to select our leaders through voting.  

As we reflect on Presidents Day, I think it is also important to recognize our right to vote and remember that we shouldn't miss our opportunity to exercise our 1st amendment right to select our leaders, especially if we want to positively influence the impact of our local, state and national leaders on our lives.  



CORRECTION - Early Voting will be NOT held at the BRISD Administration Building.

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

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

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

Playoff Bound Lady Tigers

Congratulations to the Lady Tigers, Coach Mathers and Coach Morrison for winning
District Runner Up and advancingto the playoffs.  They are the Bi-District Champions
 after defeating Cumby on Tuesday.  The 2nd round will be against Union Grove
on Friday, February 16, at Rains HS in Emory. Time has not been set.

State Champion BRES Beta Club

Congratulations to the BRES Beta Club for being names State Champions in Quiz Bowl and T-Shirt Design.
They will be advancing to the National Beta Convention Competition on June 13-16 in Savannah, GA 

Upcoming Events

• Thu - Sat (2/15 - 2/17) - Softball at Melissa Tournament

  

  Congrats to Gage Roberson and Garrett Apple 
  for coming in 2nd Place in the UIL Cross X 
  Debate. They are advancing to State in 
  Austin. Additionally, Gage received 
  the 2018 Top Speaker Award. They are coached
  by Stacey Raymer

• Sat, Feb 17 - Boys at Howe Powerlifting Tournament
• Sat, Feb 17 - Father / Daughter Dance at BRES
• Sat, Feb 17 - Baseball at Muenster
• Mon, Feb 19 - Presidents’ Day (Student Holiday / Staff Development)
• Mon, Feb 19 - Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• Tue, Feb 20 - JV BB at Whitewright
• Tue, Feb 20 - Softball at Pilot Point
• Wed, Feb 21 - Spring Pictures
• Thu, Feb 22
•         Tennis at Anna Tournament
•         Baseball at Sam Rayburn Tournament
•         Softball at Community Tournament
• Fri, Feb 23
•        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

  

  Congrats to Miranda Morgan, Marlaina Morgan, and
  Taylor Phillips for advancing to the State UIL Solo and
  Ensemble Contest in Clarinet Trio

• 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
• 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

  

  Congrats to Eddie Ramirez, Jacob Stroman, David Alas, and
  Colton Parrish for advancing to UIL State Solo and Ensemble
  Contest in Saxophone Quartet.

• Fri, Mar 9 - Baseball JV at Leonard
• Fri, Mar 9 - Softball vs Bells at Home
• Fri, Mar 9 - Boys Powerlifting at Chico
• Mar 12 - 16 - Spring Break

Calendars
District Calendar
Elementary School Calendar
Middle School Calendar
High School Calendar
Blue Ridge Community Calendar



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.

Week of February 12

The +10 Mindset

The BRISD Food Pantry will be having a Boxed Food
Drive from February 19 - March 9.  Send boxed goods
to any BRISD campus or administration building.

This past week, I enjoyed reading BRMS Principal, Phillip Lentz’s parent message about being the first in his family to go to college. If you haven’t read it, I strongly encourage you to check it out.  It is a story that motivates me to be even better for all kids and those who directly impact our students.

I would not be here if I hadn’t college, but to be completely honest, I wouldn’t have gone to college if I hadn’t found my passion at the time, music. It was music that drove me to be better.  It inspired me to aspire for better, and it literally changed my life.

In order to fulfill our goal of ensuring that all kids graduating with a solid plan for college and career, it starts with helping all students discover their unique passion.  To do this we must ask ourselves these questions.  What passions do our kids have?  What are we doing to support those passions, but more importantly what are we doing to motivate kids to try new things so they can discover what makes them unique?  The answers to these questions will lead us to help all kids find out their purpose in life.  Take time this week to visit with students about passions that they have or haven’t discovered yet.

100 Days of School at BRES


Upcoming Events

• Fri, Feb 9 - Boys HS BB vs Wolfe City AWAY

  

  Sarah Hall sets +10 goals for her students.
  +10 goal setting is regular action for all of our students.

• Fri, Feb 9 - Father / Daughter Softball Game 
• Sat, Feb 10 - Softball Scrimmage vs Leonard HERE
• Sat, Feb 10 - Powerlifting at Whitesboro
• Mon, Feb 12 - BRHS BETA Induction at 6 p.m.
• Tue, Feb 13 - Boys HS BB at Trenton
• Tue, Feb 13 - Baseball at Commerce
• Wed Feb 14 - Valentine’s Day
• Thu, Feb 15 - Trenton Tennis Tournament
• Thu, Feb 15 - Girls at Howe Powerlifting Tournament
• Thu - Sat (2/15 - 2/17) - Softball at Melissa Tournament
• Sat, Feb 17 - Boys at Howe Powerlifting Tournament
• Sat, Feb 17 - Father / Daughter Dance at BRES
• Sat, Feb 17 - Baseball at Muenster
• Mon, Feb 19 - Presidents’ Day (Student Holiday / Staff Development)

  

  BRES 5th Graders are excited about
  reading at the library.

• Mon, Feb 19 - Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• Tue, Feb 20 - JV BB at Whitewright
• Tue, Feb 20 - Softball at Pilot Point
• Wed, Feb 21 - Spring Pictures
• Thu, Feb 22
•         Tennis at Anna Tournament
•         Baseball at Sam Rayburn Tournament
•         Softball at Community Tournament
• Fri, Feb 23
•       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

Calendars

BRHS attended Physics Day at TAMU-C

District Calendar
Elementary School Calendar
Middle School Calendar
High School Calendar




Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please leave 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.

Week of February 5

The +10 Mindset - #BRISDGoVote

Welcome Lynn Langwell to
BRISD as the new MS Secretary.

The March Primaries are coming up on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.  In thinking about how important voting is, I found this quote from the Richardson ISD website that perfectly embodies why voting is such a powerful right.
  
"How do you impact the future? How can you shape direction? How do you guide decisions? All three questions can be answered with one word—vote. 
Voting is one of the most important rights maintained as American citizens. It is an opportunity that past and present generations have fought to preserve. Exercising that privilege is a guaranteed way to ensure your voice is heard in governmental matters. But you have to be a registered voter to participate in the process."

Important Events pertaining to the March Primaries

• Monday, February 5 - Last Day to Register to Vote CLICK HERE to Register
• February 20 - March 2 - Early Voting CLICK HERE for Info
• Tuesday, March 6 - ELECTION DAY

Your vote is your voice.  
I encourage you to vote in the March primaries.

My Facebook Live Message on the Flu

Upcoming Events

• Fri, Feb 2 - HS BB vs Celeste AWAY

  

  Great floral design work from Fernanda Ramirez

• Sat, Feb 3 - JH BB Tournament
• Mon, Feb 5 - Baseball @ Farmersville
• Tue, Feb 6 - HS BB vs Honey Grove HOME
• Wed, Feb 7 - CX Debate at Honey Grove
• Fri, Feb 9 - Boys HS BB vs Wolfe City AWAY
• Fri, Feb 9 - Father / Daughter Softball Game 
• Sat, Feb 10 - Softball Scrimmage vs Leonard HERE
• Sat, Feb 10 - Powerlifting at Whitesboro
• Mon, Feb 12 - BRHS BETA Induction at 6 p.m.
• Tue, Feb 13 - Boys HS BB at Trenton
• Tue, Feb 13 - Baseball at Commerce
• Wed Feb 14 - Valentine’s Day
• Thu, Feb 15 - Trenton Tennis Tournament

  

  Great growth in our 1st grade reading.

• Thu, Feb 15 - Girls at Howe Powerlifting Tournament
• Thu - Sat (2/15 - 2/17) - Softball at Melissa Tournament
• Sat, Feb 17 - Boys at Howe Powerlifting Tournament
• Sat, Feb 17 - Father / Daughter Dance at BRES
• Sat, Feb 17 - Baseball at Muenster
• Mon, Feb 19 - Presidents’ Day (Student Holiday / Staff Development)
• Mon, Feb 19 - Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• Tue, Feb 20 - JV BB at Whitewright
• Tue, Feb 20 - Softball at Pilot Point
• Wed, Feb 21 - Spring Pictures
• Thu, Feb 22
•         Tennis at Anna Tournament
•         Baseball at Sam Rayburn Tournament
•         Softball at Community Tournament
• Fri, Feb 23
•        Tennis at Anna Tournament
•        Baseball at Sam Rayburn Tournament

  

  Great attendance in before-school tutorials with Coach Ball.

•        Softball at Community Tournament
• Sat, Feb 24 - Girls Regional Powerlifting Meet
• Sat, Feb 24 - Green Saturday at BRHS at 7 p.m.

Calendars
District Calendar
Elementary School Calendar
Middle School Calendar
High School Calendar




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.