October Newsletter

Parent To Parent
District Newsletter
V O L U M E
I M P OR TA NT
DISTRICT
5 ,
I S S U E
4
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5
Continuous Quality Improvement and You:
A Parent’s Guide to the Importance of Accreditation
October 9-10
Hilly Hundred
Dear RBB Parents and Community,
October 5-9
Our school corporation is on a continuous path for improvement in what we do for the
benefit of our students. We engage our system, schools and departments in a process of
continuous quality improvement review, planning and implementation through the
AdvancED Accreditation process.
As part of our internal review process for continuous quality improvement, parents and families
will have an opportunity to provide feedback about the education and services our school corporation provides through stakeholder surveys. In an effort to help our parents better understand the accreditation process and its benefits, we have outlined three sections below
highlighting the importance of accreditation.
Fall Break: No School
October 12, Monday
EHS Scheduling Meeting for parents of 9-11th graders 7-8
October 13, Tuesday
EPS/EIS/SES Skate Night
6:30-8:30 Western Skateland
October 14, Wednesday
EPS Title 1 Parent Meeting 8-9 am
October 21, Wednesday
EPS Title 1 Parent Meeting 8-9 am
October 22, Thursday
EECC Make & Take 6:30-7:30
October 23, Friday
EPS Movie Night 6 - 8
October 29 - 30, Th/Fri
Elementary Parent/Teacher
Conferences — Early Dismissal
at 1:30. EJHS/EHS regular times
District
Website:
rbbcsc.k12.in.us
PARENT
EDITORS
Kimberly Good &
Amy Lanham
Please contact Jill
Ferguson if you have
comments or suggestions
for our newsletter.
Accreditation lays the groundwork for success for schools and students...
Parents hold education as a key to their child’s preparation and success in life. Equally,
educators know that a quality education is the foundation for a child’s future. Quality
and success are not mutually exclusive in the education process. Quality and student
success go hand-in-hand and are why the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School
Corporation seeks accreditation.
Accreditation recognizes the quality of our school corporation’s work, but it doesn’t
stop there. The accreditation process includes internal and external reviews. It ensures
schools are meeting high quality standards and are implementing a continuous improvement process. Accreditation acts as a report card for schools. It provides our
school corporation with feedback for continuous improvement, supporting our schools
and corporation to be the best that they can be on behalf of the students we serve.
Accreditation benefits parents and students...
When a school or school system achieves accreditation, parents and the community can
be assured that student achievement, a safe and enriching learning environment, and
an efficient operation are top priorities for the school/system.
Students benefit as well. They are assured qualified teachers who are working to improve their methods; more focus on student learning; better transition from grade to
grade; a rigorous, diverse, and sound curriculum based on quality standards; a range of
student activities and support services; smoother transfer of credits from school to
school; and eligibility for special programs, grants, and scholarships.
Continued on page 2
Lifeline of the Month: RESPECT– To think about others’ thoughts and feelings and show kindness.
Parents play an important role in accreditation…
Continued from page 1
Schools want parents to be actively involved in the improvement process. Parents need to stay informed about what’s
going on at their child’s school; talk to other parents about the importance of education; join the school’s Partners in
Education Team and give feedback to the school through surveys, focus groups, and parent meetings. After the Fall
Break, parents and families will have an opportunity to provide feedback concerning their thoughts on the education
and services provided by the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation.
If you would like to learn about the AdvancED Accreditation process, you can visit www.advanc-ed.org. Feel free to
also contact your school directly to learn more about their accreditation efforts or my office at 812.876-7100 or
jbletzinger@rbbschools.net.
Yours in education,
Jason Bletzinger
Assistant Superintendent
Please take note: There will be early dismissal for all elementary buildings
(EPS, EIS, SES) on Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th at 1:30.
EECC, EJHS, & EHS will operate on regular schedules.
Drive-thru Flu Clinic Open:
Community Spotlight:
Friday, October 16th &
Ellettsville Sweet Treet Social.
Sunday, October 18 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Downtown Ellettsville Corner of 46 W & Sale St
$5 will purchase a waffle cone piled high with Jiffy Treet vanilla ice cream,
hot apple pie filling, and whipped cream-a seasonal snack perfect for this
crisp weekend evening! The evening’s music and entertainment will be presented by local middle and high school performers. Many thanks to Jiffy
Treet for their generous donation of delicious vanilla ice cream, from which
all proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington-Ellettsville
unit.
Save the date for BGCE’s annual COMMUNITY Halloween Party on Friday, October 30th from 6-8. More details to come. BGCE will be closed
on Friday, October 30th to be able to set-up for the event.
Spaces for Fall Break Camp are limited.
Call TODAY! 812-935-6970.
EPS PTO
Contact: Kelli Paul
Email: PTO.EPS@gmail.com
Next Meeting: October 15th 6:30 - 7:30
October Events:
13th Skate Night: Halloween Theme (can wear costumes that don’t impair skating).
24th Movie Night: Movie starts at 6:30. We’ll be showing Hotel Transylvania. Pizza order forms will be sent
EJHS PTO
Contact: JF Burton
Email: johnburton.intx@gmail.com
Next Meeting: October 26th 6:30
Abby Candle Fundraiser: Oct. 1—13
SES PTO
Contact: Lisa Champelli
Email: PTO.EPS@gmail.com
Next Meeting: October 15 7:00-8:00 (Library)
Friday, October 30th 8-4
$30 w/o
insurance.
Can bill
insurance.
Ellettsville Family Practice IU Health SIP
5921 W. SR 46
Bloomington, IN 47404
(Across from Tractor Supply Company.)
EIS PTO
Contact: Jessica Weisner
Email: EdgewoodIntermediate@gmail.com
Next Meeting: November 5th 5:30—6:30
October Events
2ndT-shirt orders, Teacher appreciation/Dance supplies due.
13th Halloween Skate Night 6:30-8:30
16th EIS Staff/Admin Building Staff lunch time
“Candy Bar”
21st Jiffy Treat, open 10-10, 10% of bill to EIS
25th Classic Lanes Bowl, 4-8, $1-2/bowler to EIS
*Visit http://on.fb.me/1MYPJ1B
to see ways you can earn money for EIS!
EECC FST
(Family Support Team)
Contact: Nichole McNally
Email: eeccfst@gmail.com
Next Meeting: October 15th 6:30 - 7:30
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING STRONG READERS
Contributed by Mr. Hopkins, SES Principal
Without doubt, reading with children spells success for early literacy. Putting a
few simple strategies into action will make a significant difference in helping
children develop into good readers and writers. Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and promoting
positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on children’s literacy and learning.
✪ Invite a child to read with you every day.
✪ When reading a book where the print is
large, point word by word as you read. This
will help the child learn that reading goes from
left to right and understand that the word he or
she says is the word he or she sees.
Box Tops
Did you know it takes HOURS to cut, count, and
check expiration dates on those little rectangles?
Please be kind and trim Box Tops. It will make this job a lot easier
for our volunteers and teachers. Thank you!
If you feel inclined to count them, too...use it as a math activity with
your child!
✪ Read a child's favorite book over and over again.
✪ Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point,
word by word, as he or she reads along with you.
✪ Discuss new words. For example, "This big house is called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?”
✪ Stop and ask about the pictures and about what is happening in the story.
The Ground Floor & Level Up
— Get Creative at Your Public Library!
The Ground Floor is a giant space for teens at the Main
Library in Bloomington! Hang out, mess around with digital creativity equipment, and geek out making videos, art,
games, apps, music . . . sky's the limit! The Ground Floor
is your space to make, create, and hang out. Expect special guests, pop-up programs, and the unexpected! The
Ground Floor is for ages 12-19.
The Ground Floor is open:
Mon-Thur: 3–9 p.m.
Fri: 3–6 p.m.
Sat-Sun: 12–6 p.m.
Title 1 Meetings:
Annual Title 1 Meeting For Parents
To Be Held At EPS
The Edgewood Primary School will hold a informational meeting for all parents whose children are participating in Title 1 programs. You have received a letter from
the school if your child is in a Title 1 program. We are
offering our information session at several different
times for your convenience, but you only need to attend
one session. The dates and times are:
Wednesday, October 14 8:00 a.m.
Level Up is a digital creativity center at the Main Library
Wednesday, October 21 8:00 a.m.
featuring audio & video production studios, and iMac digital creativity workstations. Level Up is your place for video and music production, graphic and web design, coding,
and game creation. Open the same hours as the Main Library.
Drop In & Hang Out at the Ellettsville Branch!
Hang out with your friends and make new ones in an
open and chill space. Play around with our tech toys
and work on your own creations. Watch out for special guests and projects. Snacks provided! Just drop
in at the Branch. For ages 12-19.
3:30–5 p.m. every Tuesday
FREE Math & Science Help!
EJHS & EHS Students
Wednesday evenings 7 - 9 p.m.
EHS News and Events
The PSAT exam will be administered on Wednesday, October 14th. ALL sophomores
and juniors are required to take the PSAT. Freshmen will have option to take the PSAT.
Seniors will participate in a college or career exploration experience or a volunteer activity. Every senior must submit a form signed by a parent by Sept. 25th indicating his/
her chosen activity: college visit, job shadow, volunteer opportunity.
* Seniors who attend Hoosier Hills will be allowed to attend Hoosier Hills on PSAT day,
but they will be expected to participate in one of the approved activities listed above after Hoosier Hills concludes.
All juniors and sophomores will take the PSAT. After lunch, all juniors and sophomores will attend a scheduling meeting to begin to prepare for the 2016-17 school year
Freshmen will participate in a variety of activities at EHS throughout the day.
* Career speakers
* Twenty-first Century Scholars meeting
* Convocation
* KAM movie—Freshmen will watch To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) which they have been reading in English 9
classes
The IU Groups Scholars Program provides
support for students who are traditionally underrepresented in
college—students who are “first generation” (meaning neither parent has a bachelor’s degree) and/or students with limited financial
resources. IU Groups Scholars students are required to participate
in the Summer Experience Program (SEP) during the summer immediately following high school graduation. During SEP, students take elective courses (including math, writing/composition,
and critical reading & reasoning) to prepare them for their fall semester courses. They also participate in a wide variety of
activities to help them transition to the college environment.
Application Criteria
Students must be recommended by an IU Groups Scholars Recommender (Amy Winkler at EHS) to apply to the IU Groups
Scholars Program. In addition to submitting a regular IU application, students must submit an online
application to the IU Groups office. Students must speak with their guidance counselor or Mrs. Winkler
before applying to the IU Groups program. All application materials must be submitted to IU and the Groups office by November 1st, so see your counselor or Mrs. Winkler as soon as possible if you are interested in applying to Groups.
For additional information, about the IU Groups Scholars Program, please visit their website at
www.indiana.edu/~groups.
Attention Class of 2016
Tuesday, October 27th, cap, gown and accessory orders
will be taken during lunch.
More at EHS:
Scheduling meeting dates:
Oct. 12 Parent meeting for class scheduling for 2016-17--7:00 p.m.
Oct. 14 Junior class meeting for scheduling (after PSAT)
Oct. 14 Sophomore class meeting for scheduling (after PSAT)
Dec. 11 Freshman class meeting for scheduling (Homeroom)
Jan. 14 8th Grade Parent Night (for 2016-17 scheduling)--7:00 p.m.
Jan. 19 8th Grade Parent Night snow date
All students have a Graduation Plan that includes information about their career and postsecondary
plans and a tentative four-year course plan. Although this Plan is created in 8th grade, all students
have an individual scheduling appointment with their counselor each year to review the Plan and
make any necessary adjustments. Around the time of their class scheduling meetings, students will
be given a paper copy of their Plan to use as a worksheet to review/revise prior to their scheduling appointment. Students and parents should review diploma requirements to ensure the student is still on
track to meeting those requirements.
If students want to change a class, he/she should be sure to review the course information in the Curriculum Guide, including prerequisites and course descriptions. Students should review their Plans
and make any necessary revisions on the worksheet prior to their appointments and should
come to their appointments prepared with questions and a good idea of what courses they
want to take next year. Parents are encouraged to help their students with their Plans since course selections can impact postsecondary options (college, etc.). Students are assigned appointment times
based on what works best in their schedules (during Study Hall, for example), and appointments are
posted in advance. Parents are welcome to attend the appointment and if they are unable to attend at
the assigned appointment time, they should contact their student’s counselor to reschedule. Students
will receive a finalized copy of their Graduation Plan at their appointment; they must have a parent/
guardian sign the Plan and return the Plan to the Guidance Office by a specified date. The schedule
change request priority deadline (for 2016-17) for all students will be March 1st.
Callie Schlemmer
11th-12th Grades
(Grad Year: 2016-17)
9th-10th Grades
(Grad Year: 2018-19)
A-F
A-Hat
G-M
Hau-Ra
N-Z
Re-Z
cschlemmer@rbbschools.net
Amy Winkler
awinkler@rbbschools.net
Dennis Faust
dfaust@rbbschools.net