Beechfield Elementary/Middle School #246
“Choosing the Right”
SY 2013-2014
Staff Bulletin #1: Start Strong and Persevere toward Success!
August 9, 2013
“It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted. “ Linda Conway
Welcome Back Beechfield Staff!
We hope each of you enjoyed your summer and took time to relax and rejuvenate. Last school
year was an amazing and awesome year of professional learning and growth, focused effort
with improving teacher practice, and improvement in our overall school climate. We truly
appreciate the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment of our staff which we know attributed
to another year of improved student achievement outcomes. Once again, our school
experienced gains within student performance in Stanford 10 as well as MSA scores.
Furthermore, we are so pleased that the last year’s school climate survey results reflected an
impressive increase in positive attitudes and perceptions about our school community from
parents, students, and staff. This encourages us that our focused message and model of
Choosing the Right is taking root in the values, attitudes, and mindset of our students, families
and staff members. Although the work is incredibly difficult and challenging, we all should
feel blessed and proud that we are becoming better in what we do as the adults, professionals,
and educators which has positively impacted the students, families, and school community.
It is a great pleasure to welcome our new teachers and staff members to our school. We are
happy that you are a part of our school family. With the shifts and new direction that we are
moving into regarding the full implementation of Common Core along with changes in
teacher and school leader evaluation, we all will embark upon an amazing learning curve.
Now, more than ever, it is so important to support and assist one another, communicate
honestly and openly about our needs, and remain positive and productive in our professional
attitudes and level of commitment.
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During our summer planning, our administrative team discussed and analyzed findings from
our Leadership, Teaching and Learning Expo that was held in June 2013 wherein we
identified the following school wide priorities: 1) Refining our school wide collaboration
model targeting special education and school climate needs; 2) Common Core
implementation with emphasis upon rigor; 3) Developing an effective school wide behavior
monitoring system
In essence, these priorities will take our work to a deeper level and consolidate many of the
effective practices that already exist in various segments of our work. Truly, these areas of
focus closely align with the vision and direction of our district. The stakes are becoming
greater and more significant with accountability for student growth and performance, teacher
and staff capacity, fostering positive learning environments, and engaging parents and
communities. We need each the support, collaboration and commitment of each staff
member as we move our school forward together to the next level.
Please review the information in the remainder of this bulletin for dates and logistics
regarding staff return on Wednesday, August 21, 2013. We encourage each staff member to
join us for our Back to School Fest held on Saturday, August 17th from 10:00-2:00. This will be
a wonderful opportunity to connect with our students and families and ignite pride and
gratitude for the marvelous things that take place at Beechfield. Please take time to read the
other attachments regarding your teaching/service assignment, our school newsletter, and
other information items shared with families in preparation for the new school year.
With your cooperation, commitment, and faithful service, we are hopeful and expecting great
things during the 2013-2014 school year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Renee Browning, Principal
Mrs. Charmaine Dixon, Assistant Principal
Ms. Shayna Sterrett, School Lead Coach
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Professional Development Sessions
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Staff report Wednesday, August 21st at 8:30 am. Please arrive by 8:30
am for breakfast in the new cafeteria. Our professional development
sessions will begin at 9:00 am. Upon your arrival Wednesday, August 21 st,
you will receive professional development materials in the lobby. On
August 21st, breakfast and lunch will be provided.
All staff members must register for district mandated professional
development that will take place Thursday, August 22 nd. Please access
the Professional Growth System to register for professional development
sessions. Registration closes on August 14, 2013.
Staff members will return to Beechfield Friday, August 23rd at 8:30 am for
professional development. Continental breakfast and lunch will be
provided.
Staff reporting time is 7:45 am and departure is 2:50 pm.
Classroom Set Up/Access to Classrooms
 Teachers will have access to their classrooms beginning Monday, August
19th. Please contact the school to confirm the access to your classroom as
the custodians are still engaged in summer cleaning.
 Classroom keys and key cards will be distributed to staff members
Wednesday, Aug. 21st- Friday, August 23rd. Mrs. Richardson will facilitate
this process.
 Teachers will receive a learning environment checklist to guide their
decisions and plans regarding the arrangement of classrooms. Teacher
leaders will assist where needed.
 Teachers are asked to refrain from moving large and heavy items in the
classroom and patiently await the assistance of a custodian team
member.
 Please do not place trash, unwanted furniture outside of the classroom.
These items should remain in the classroom in a visible area.
Materials and Supplies
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General classroom supplies and materials are available in the classrooms.
Technology, books, and content resources will be distributed by teacher
leaders throughout the first couple of weeks of school. Please work with
teacher leaders for any immediate needs and solutions.
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Student Arrival
 For the first day of school, homeroom teachers are asked to create a sign listing
the names of their students including the name of the teacher, section number,
and room number. We will need teachers to come outside with their signs by
7:50 to assist students with identifying their homeroom assignment. At
8:05, all classes will be directed to begin moving inside of the building.
 In the event of rain, please bring your class signs to the designated areas:
auditorium- prek-3; gymnasium- grades 4-5; old cafeteria- grades 6 & 7; new
cafeteria- grade 8
 Weather permitting, all students and families are expected to line up outside.
Only students and parents who are unsure of class assignments or need
assistance with registration and withdrawals should be inside of the building.
 Several staff members will have copies of class lists and other documents to
assist students with determining class assignments. Please direct students and
families to the appropriate location outside once they are made aware of their
class assignment.
 Teachers are asked to continue coming outside to escort students into the
building. Academies are asked to develop a plan to determine which
teachers/staff members will remain in the building to assist with greeting students
in the hallway and assisting with monitoring breakfast transition.
Parent Meeting with Administrators
 On the first day of school at approximately 8:20 am, Mrs. Browning will make
morning announcements which will include an invitation for all parents/guardians
and visitors to meet with her and the administrative team in the new cafeteria.
 Please encourage all visitors in your classroom to come to this meeting. Parents
should Kiss and GO!!!
Class Lists/Receiving students
 The office staff will be located in the auditorium to assist parents with verifying
class assignments along with registering and withdrawing students (prek-4).
Students in grades 4-8 who need assistance with entries and withdrawals will be
assisted in the modular A office.
 Please note that the registration and withdrawal process in ongoing. Students
who appear on your class list may not show up the first day or not at all. Students
who are not listed on your class list may register during the first weeks of school.
 Teachers must accept all students into their classrooms. If a student is
already seated in your classroom and is not assigned to your class, he/she
should remain with you until someone comes to collect misplaced
students.
 Students who are not on your class list and are newly registered will have an
office entry slip to present to you. For the first few days of school, these students
will be escorted to your classroom.
Attendance Procedures/Late Passes
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Late passes will not be issued until the 2nd week of school. Please admit late
students and ensure their attendance is properly marked.
Please complete the sheet in your attendance folder to record absent students
and list the names of the students who are not present in your class. On Friday,
you will be asked to list the names of students who have not reported or shown
up at all.
Please submit your attendance folder to the office (main building- prek-4) and
module A- grades 5-8) at 10:00 am.
Returning teachers should enter attendance in SMS daily. New teachers will
receive training with entering attendance.
Lunch Procedures
 Please make sure students know their lunch ID#’s. Teachers are asked to review
the lunch ID numbers before taking students to the cafeteria.
 Younger students (prek-3) should wear a badge/name tag identifying their name
and lunch ID#.
 Before bringing students to the cafeteria, please make sure time is taken to
practice with students how to key in their numbers.
 Mrs. Dixon will inform teachers and classes in the main building of their cafeteria
lessons throughout the week.
Related Arts classes
 Elementary and middle grades classes will begin Day 1. Elementary classes
(Grades prek-2) will participate in orientation sessions the first 1-2 days where
the related arts teacher will come to the classroom for introductory lessons,
information, and teach general expectations. All other students (grades 3-8) will
report directly receive orientation lessons in the related arts classes.
 It is very important to collaborate with the homeroom teachers to complete a
thorough orientation session including transition procedures, determine what time
the class should be lined up and ready to be picked up by the homeroom
teacher, discuss monitoring of student behavior- how concerns are reported to
parents, maintaining consistent dialogue about occurrences in the related arts
classroom, monitoring behavior with PBIS spectrum.
Collaborative Planning
 Collaborative planning meetings will begin officially the second week. However,
demonstration lessons and side by side coaching will occur the first week.
 Collaborative planning schedules will be provided by Teacher Leaders by the end
of the first week.
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