Fall Parade 2012

Questions and Answers from the King's Coffee on October 19

Questions and Answers

King’s Coffee on October 19, 2012

Q: Can a point person be invited to discuss how redistricting is going to affect Broadus Wood?

A:  Yes. Josh Davis has accepted an invitation to attend our King’s Coffee on         December 14, 2012 to answer questions about the redistricting process.  In addition please continue to find specific updated redistricting information on the following link: http://www2.k12albemarle.org/acps/division/superintendent/redistricting/Pages/default.aspx  

Q: How are the empty rooms being utilized now?

A: Currently, empty room spaces are used for classroom guidance, meeting spaces for grade level assemblies, small group instruction meetings, and office space for instructional coaches. 

Q: What is the percentage of students who receive free/reduced lunch?

A:  Broadus Wood’s free and reduced lunch percentage is 20%.  ACPS Title 1 Coordinator Kristen Williams shared that the threshold for schools to qualify to be a Title 1 school is at or above 24%.  Please use the following link to learn more about Title 1 in our school district: http://www2.k12albemarle.org/dept/instruction/title1/Pages/default.aspx

Q: What has changed with the math curriculum? How are the holes in the math curriculum Investigations being filled? Are students able to practice and build math fluency with multiplication using Investigations and drills?

A: In an effort to thoroughly answer questions about the math curriculum, a school wide Math Night is being planned to take place prior to winter break.  The goal of the Math Night will be to answer math curriculum questions and provide math strategies for parents to use at home.

Q: How is the progress of Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings updated and what is the accountability of teachers?

A:  Our work as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) is part of our school improvement plan to increase student achievement.  Our school improvement plan outlines the strategies that we have agreed to implement and our progress on the implementation process is updated every quarter.  The following link to the school improvement plan is as follows: http://www2.k12albemarle.org/acps/division/planning/Pages/SIP_BWES.aspx  .

Q: Are there textbooks for classrooms?

A: Although our school district maintains a list of adopted textbooks, schools do not bulk purchase textbooks for classroom use.  Instead, we use a multitude of texts, technology, manipulatives and other learning resources to instruct students.

Q: Are there midyear or end of the year surveys that parents can complete for staff to respond to concerns?

A: We do not have mid-year or end of the year parent surveys.  As of fall 2012, students of teachers during their 1^st-3^rd years of teaching, as well as during the recertification year of tenure teachers, will complete surveys as feedback of their learning experiences. 

Q: How are tenured teachers held accountable?

A:  All ACPS employees participate in annual appraisals to recognize and support their development within their area of expertise. 

Q: Can students lose recess as a consequence for misbehavior?

A: No.  Students should not lose recess as a result of classroom misbehavior or unfinished assignments.  Inappropriate recess behavior may lead to a brief logical consequence such as “taking a break”.

Q: What positive behavior reinforcements are used to encourage appropriate behavior?

A: Positive behavior reinforcements vary by what students need and respond to. Examples of such could be specific verbal praise, additional time on a favorite learning game, or lunch with the teacher.

Q: What is available for gifted learners?

A: Broadus Wood Gifted Resource Teacher Karen Heathcock and ACPS District Facilitator for Gifted Education Betsey Agee have been invited to speak at the November 16 King’s Coffee on gifted resources.   

Q: Is help available within the school for students with anxiety?

A: Yes.  If you feel your child is suffering from anxiety, please call the school to make a referral with our School Counselor.  Currently, Latara Salisbury, a certified school counselor, is filling in until Broadus Wood School Counselor Destiney Harris returns from maternity leave.  The School Counselor is at Broadus Wood on Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.  until the end of the day and all day on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Q: Can the school have a before or after school running club or end of the school year fun run?

A: Clubs are organized through our PTO and advised by teachers or adults in our community.  If you are interested in leading a running club, please email our PTO President Jane McBrian at jmcbrian@emarqmail.com .

Q: Can the King’s Coffee be divided into a K-2 group and a 3-5 group?

A:  The dates for the King’s Coffee have been established for the 2012-13 school year. However a survey will be used at the end of the year to assist in the planning of the next year’s King’s Coffees.

It's been a great week at Broadus Wood!

Happy Friday! I am looking forward to seeing parents at our first King's Coffee today at 8:00 a.m. in our school's cafeteria! Below are just a few photos of learning at Broadus Wood this week.

PTO Front Landscaping Project

October Parent Newsletter

 

This is the first edition of enhanced monthly communications from Mrs. King about programs, initiatives, and updates at our school.  The provided information can be found on our school’s website under the principal’s page and will be sent to your email address, too.  Families will continue to receive school communications in the format of monthly phone calls/emails, quarterly newsletters, Monday Backpack Express, and postings to the school’s website. 

Click on the images to enlarge.

Redistricting

Currently, our school’s enrollment is 284 students.  While enrollment is higher than last year, we have 5 empty classrooms in our building and Agnor-Hurt Elementary School is overcrowded by 200 students.  Recently, the school board approved the formation of a redistricting committee to review information and suggest solutions to the overcrowding.  This is important, as Broadus Wood could be a receiving school of relocated students.  We have two parent representatives on the redistricting committee, Cushing Cooper and Jane McBrian.  Although we have parent representation, the meetings are open to the public.  However, the public can only be observers at the committee meetings.  A public feedback meeting will take place in December to allow for possible solutions to be shared with the public prior to the suggestions going to the superintendent and school board for approval and will allow audience participation.  The link to the district's redistricting page is on the school’s website under the principal’s page.