This is the weekly communication of John Wink, Superintendent of Blue Ridge ISD, to the students, teachers, parents and community of Blue Ridge ISD in Blue Ridge, TX
+10 Plans are being created by students
to set goals for the 2nd formative assessment
which will be in November.
Source - Jennifer Stroup
The +10 Mindset
This month is National Principals Month. Principals are vital to the success of any school. Without
them, students and teachers would not have the leadership they deserve to learn, grow and excel. This month, please join me in celebrating our fantastic principals. They include the following:
Anthony Figueroa - BRHS Principal
Phillip Lentz - BRMS Principal
Matthew Todd - BRES Principal
Rene Sawatsky - BRES Assistant Principal
Enrollment Update
Below is a slideshow of the enrollment BRISD has experienced in the last 5 years. As of today the enrollment in BRISD has increased approximately 100+ students from last year.
Upcoming Events
Today's Readers are Tomorrow's Leaders
Fri, Oct 6 - HS VB vs Dodd City HERE
Fri, Oct 6 - HS FB at Tom Bean
Sat, Oct 7 - Green Saturday for HS students from 7 - 11 p.m.
Mon, Oct 9 - District Cross Country Meet at Trenton
Mon, Oct 9 - JH VB at Bells
Tue, Oct 10 - HS VB vs Wolfe City at HOME
Thu, Oct 12 - JH & JV FB at Valley View
Fri, Oct 13 - HS VB at Trenton
Fri, Oct 13 - HS FB vs Valley View at HOME (PINK OUT)
Mon, Oct 16 - Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
Mon, Oct 16 - Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Mon, Oct 16 - JH VB vs. Roxton HOME
Tue, Oct 17 - HS VB vs Savoy HOME
Wed, Oct 18 - School Picture Retakes
Thu, Oct 19 - JH / JV FB vs. Bells HOME
Fri, Oct 20 - End of 1st 9 Week Grading Period
Fri, Oct 20 - HS VB at Bells
Fri, Oct 20 - HS FB at Bells
Sat, Oct 21 - Blue Ridge Fall Festival from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 21 is going to be a great day for Blue Ridge. We hope you will make plans to come out and have fun, support our organizations, businesses and city.
For more information, please CLICK HERE or call Shawn Harris at 972-752-5554 Google Classroom for Parents
If you are interested in learning more about Google Classroom from the parent perspective.
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.
The +10 Mindset - Response to Assessment
Now that the 1st 6 Weeks Assessment is over, it is time to respond to the data. In your child's class, your student will gauge their performance and growth by completing an Excellence Goal Sheet (copy for you to print and use with your child). Teachers will analyze the results to identify weak skills and students who need additional support through guided learning during class time or additional tutorials during enrichment, advisory, or Tiger Time (BRES).
Have you heard of Kagan Structures? It is strategy teachers
are using to get students collaborating and learning the
content from one another.
When you review the Formative Assessment results with your child, here are few questions to help your child reflect?
Where do you feel that you did well?
What was difficult for you on the test?
What strategies did you use, and what strategies do you need to use next time?
What questions will you ask your teacher so you can continue to improve?
How can I help you reach your +10 Goal or your Growth Goal?
These questions will encourage your child to try harder next time, to approach their teacher for help, and to reflect and make a game plan for the 2nd 6 weeks.
Keep Going! Student Motivation
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 IS THE
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER ELECTION -
Fri, Sep 29 - End of 6 Weeks Grading Period (Eligibility Check)
Fri, Sep 29 - HS VB @ Roxton
Fri, Sep 29 - HS FB vs. Collinsville HOME
Sat, Sep 30 - Cross Country @ Farmersville
Mon, Oct 2 - School Holiday for Texas State Fair
Mon, Oct 2 - JH VB vs Savoy HERE
Tue, Oct 3 - HS VB at Tom Bean
Thu, Oct 5 - Blue Ridge Cross Country Invitational Meet
Thu, Oct 5 - JH & JV FB vs Tom Bean HERE
What is a math station?
Math stations are different activities (stations) for
students to practice different components of math
independently or with their peers.
Fri, Oct 6 - HS VB vs Dodd City HERE
Fri, Oct 6 - HS FB at Tom Bean
Sat, Oct 7 - Green Saturday for HS students from 7 - 11 p.m.
Mon, Oct 9 - District Cross Country Meet at Trenton
Mon, Oct 9 - JH VB at Bells
Tue, Oct 10 - HS VB vs Wolfe City at HOME
Thu, Oct 12 - JH & JV FB at Valley View
Fri, Oct 13 - HS VB at Trenton
Fri, Oct 13 - HS FB vs Valley View at HOME
Mon, Oct 16 - Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
JH Boys working hard on a Saturday morning
at the Trenton Invitational CX Meet
For more information contact Stacey Raymer, Terra Mathers or Shawn Harris at BRISD at 972-752-5554.
For more information, please see to the right.
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.
Tell your friends that Saturday, October 21 is going
to be a fun-filled day at the Blue Ridge Fall Festival.
The +10 Mindset - Formative Assessment Week
During the week of September 25, students in grades 3-11 will take their 1st 6 weeks formative assessment in STAAR tested areas. The purpose of formative assessments is to track the progress students are making on the essential skills that students must know not only to be successful on STAAR, but skills that kids must know to be prepared for next 6 weeks and next year. This week, I encourage you to join your child's teachers in encouraging them to strive for excellence and work hard on their assessments.
Congratulations to Jacob Stroup and Shelby Gerner BRHS Homecoming King and Queen
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 IS THE
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER ELECTION.
Hard Work is Excellence in the Making BRMS Teacher of the Month, Mary Townsend, has some very engaging lessons that require kids to think, collaborate with peers, and prove their work. This is an expectation for instruction in every classroom at BRISD. This also means that it requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. If your child is frustrated about school, determine if it is because teachers are demanding hard work first. Many times students need to hear from you that hard work is the key to excellence in school, in work, and most importantly in life. What separates the best from the rest is hard work. Thank you from Columbus ISD Superintendent, Dr. Brian Morris
Additional Information At the September board meeting, Anthony Figueroa and Rebecca Kay gave an impressive presentation on the College and Career Goal and how the staff at BRHS are working to prepare every student to embark on a college or career pathway of their choosing. The slide show below shows their plans for 2017-2018.
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.
+10 is a growth goal we want all students
to pursue on formative assessment tests.
The 5th week of the 6 weeks is here which means that students will be taking their 1st Formative Assessments of the Year. Formative assessments assess students over the content covered in the 1st 6 weeks at the rigor the STAAR test. In order to gauge growth, we have challenged students to score 10 points higher than their last year's STAAR score. In other words, if the student earned a 60 on last year's STAAR reading test, his +10 goal is 70 on every assessment. The goal is growth, and we hope you will help us promote the +10 Mindset with your student on their formative assessments. Blue Ridge Fall Festival
Homecoming has come and gone, and it was such a memorable occasion. We would like to thank everyone for making it such a huge success. October is now upon us, and we have a special event that we would like to invite you to attend. It is the Blue Ridge Fall Festival on Saturday, October 21 at the HS campus. We will have the following fun activities:
5K Zombie Run and a Fun Run for the kids,
Bazaar with tons of vendors hosted by the Chamber of Commerce & Science Club in the gym,
Hamburgers and Hotdogs by the Junior Class
Cotton Candy by the Sophomore Class
Hand-made Signs and Decor
Kona Ice by the Elementary BETA Club
Jewelry, Handcrafted Soaps, Makeup, etc.
The Blue Ridge Fall Festival is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Alliance which is comprised of Blue Ridge ISD, the City of Blue Ridge, the Blue Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and several other businesses and organizations in the Blue Ridge area. It is our desire to bring everyone together, to celebrate our wonderful town, and to support our organizations, vendors, and businesses by purchasing their products.
Contact Shawn Harris at the BRISD Administration Building (972-752-5554 or shawn.harris@brisd.net) if you would like to get your organization involved in the fall festival.
Upcoming Events
Professional learning is the standard at BRISD. BRHS teachers are engage in an after-school training
led by Katie Pelzel where they are learning
to better serve our students.
Fri, Sep 15 - Homecoming & Parade at 1:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 15 - Homecoming Game vs. Honey Grove at 7:30 p.m.
Sat, Sep 16 - BRHS Homecoming Dance ($10 in advance / $12 at the door) from 8 pm to 12 pm at ES Cafeteria. (HS students only. Outside guests must be approved by HS principal)
Sat, Sep 16 - Cross Country at Princeton
1st graders like practicing their spelling words
Sat, Sep 16 - HS VB vs Wolfe City AWAY
Mon, Sep 18 - BRISD Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Mon, Sep 18 - JH VB vs Wolfe City HOME
Tue, Sep 19 - HS VB vs Trenton HOME
Thu, Sep 21 - JH FB vs Quinlan Boles HOME
Fri, Sep 22 - HS VB vs Savoy AWAY
Fri, Sep 22 - HS FB vs Quinlan Boles AWAY
Sat, Sep 23 - JH VB Tournament at Blue Ridge
Chromebooks are becoming a regular part of instruction
at the Middle School
Sat, Sep 23 - Cross Country Meet at Trenton 8 a.m.
9/25 - 9/29 - 1st Formative Assessments Given
Mon, Sep 25 - JH VB @ Trenton
Tue, Sep 26 - HS VS vs Bells HOME
Thu, Sep 28 - JH FB @ Collinsville
Fri, Sep 29 - End of 6 Weeks Grading Period (Eligibility Check)
Where will you go to college?
College and career readiness is an additional focus at all of our campuses. It is never too early to begin the discussion about college with your student. If you want more information about conversations that you can have with your child about college, please contact your school's principal or counselor. They would be glad to help you.
Additional Information
Fiber Installation is in Progress
To the right is an image of the fiber being installed at the HS. With this installation, our bandwidth will triple from 60G to 200G with this project. This will be a huge improvement so that our students, teachers, and guests will have faster internet service simply because we can accommodate more users. This project is funded with a combination of local funds and federal funds.
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.
C4B4Me Posters in all BRISD classrooms Image created by Katie Pelzel
The +10 Mindset - C4B4Me
This year we are working hard to increase our students' critical thinking skills. To accomplish our goal, we want students to know what to do when they don't know what to do. When students come to a problem, we don't want them to stop or give up. We want them to C4B4Me (see 4 before the teacher).
First,we want students to use their brain and their self-created notes and resources. Second, we want them to use the resources in the room including posters, books, etc. Next, if they can't find the answer, we want them to consult with their peers, and last we want them to use their technology to find the answer. If they can't find the answer after C4B4Me, then we want the student to consult with the teacher.
The key to success is grit and self-reliance. It is determination and an attitude of never giving up. C4B4Me is a structure that teaches kids this very important skill for life before they go to the teacher for help.
MAP - Measures of Academic Progress
Last spring, the BRISD Board of Trustees set a goal to measure student success in a way other than STAAR. To meet this goal, the district has elected to us MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)Testing. The video below illustrates what MAP is and how teachers will use data to drive instruction for individual students. MAP testing will be done at the beginning, middle and end of year. Watch the video below for more information about MAP
Sunday, Sep. 10 - Paint the Town Green
Homecoming is here, and we want the entire Blue Ridge community to help us paint the town green. Decorate your house, your yard, businesses, churches, and buildings with green and white.
Friday, Sep. 15 - Homecoming Information Homecoming week is here, and there is going to be a lot happening Friday. First, the annual homecoming parade will begin at 1:30 followed by our pep rally at 2:30 in the gym. The homecoming game festivities will begin around 6:45, and the game against Honey Grove begins at 7:30 p.m.
The week will conclude with the HS Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 16 from 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Information is listed in the pictures to the right and below.
Upcoming Events
Never Forget September 11, 2001
Fri, Sep 8 - HS VB vs Tom Bean HOME
Fri, Sep 8 - HS FB at Whitewright
Fri, Sep 8 - End of 1st 3 Week Grading Period
Sun, Sep 10 - PAINT THE TOWN GREEN for Homecoming Week
Mon, Sep 11 - JH VB at Dodd City
Tue, Sep 12 - HS VB at Dodd City
Thu, Sep 14 - JH FB at Honey Grove
Fri, Sep 15 - Homecoming & Parade at 1:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 15 - Homecoming Game vs. Honey Grove at 7:30 p.m.
Nolan Henderson works on his video
game design in Kenny Williams' class.
Sat, Sep 16 - BRHS Homecoming Dance ($10 in advance / $12 at the door) from 8 pm to 12 pm at ES Cafeteria. (HS students only. Outside guests must be approved by HS principal)
Sat, Sep 16 - Cross Country at Princeton
Sat, Sep 16 - HS VB vs Wolfe City AWAY
Mon, Sep 18 - BRISD Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Mon, Sep 18 - JH VB vs Wolfe City HOME
Tue, Sep 19 - HS VB vs Trenton HOME
Thu, Sep 21 - JH FB vs Quinlan Boles HOME
Fri, Sep 22 - HS VB vs Savoy AWAY
Fri, Sep 22 - HS FB vs Quinlan Boles AWAY
Sat, Sep 23 - JH VB Tournament at Blue Ridge
Sat, Sep 23 - Cross Country Meet at Trenton 8 a.m.
Softball Lights were installed by Qualite, Inc.
Softball Lights are Installed
As part of the District Facility Improvement Plan, the softball field received an upgrade in their lighting to match the baseball field. Next steps will include upgrades to the baseball fence, dugouts and backstop.
BRMS Student participates in Lone Star Leadership Academy Camp
Congratulations to Elizabeth Mulvihill who represented Blue Ridge ISD at the Lone Star Leadership Academy Camp this summer. She was one of one thousand two hundred seventy-fouroutstanding 4th-8th graders who participated in Education in Action’s summer 2017 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps. Additionally, 28 student alumni returned to serve in a leadership role as youth facilitators. These young leaders were selected for the Lone Star Leadership Academy camps based on demonstrated academic success and leadership ability, an educator recommendation, and involvement in school/community activities.The participating students, representing communities across Texas, traveled to Dallas/Fort Worth (4th, 5th & 6th graders), Austin/San Antonio (5th, 6th & 7th graders), and Houston/Galveston (6th, 7th & 8th graders) to take part in the camps. More info here
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.
Mon, Oct 16 - Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
