On Friday, April 24, I and Mr. Warford, our Assistant Principal and house leader for our Patroon 2 Teams, met with each of our classes on the 6P2 team to address rumors being spread by students about a teacher that bore no truth.
These rumors were damaging to the teacher in question and in our message to students we spoke to both the negative behavior of starting rumors and what to do when we innocently hear rumors. Many students had heard the rumors and did not engage in spreading them further and we affirmed their discretion.
A tactic we typically use to help Middle School students understand the volatile nature of this behavior is to help them shift perspective. Asking students to appreciate how it might feel to have rumors spread about them, while seemingly something they should already be doing, often connects with students to demonstrate how dangerous it can be to make leaps of judgment about others.
We asked students to imagine how it might feel to be the kind of person who always did the right thing and who worked to be the best at what they did for years only to have that damaged by a rumor that wasn't true. Students clearly resonate with understanding what it means to be discrete when they step into the shoes of the victim and it is encouraging to see so much empathy in our population of students.
A reminder about WRITING at BCMS
Four years ago we recognized that our students weren't transferring the skills taught in our ELA classrooms to our other classes. As a result our ENTIRE staff began a rubric-based writing initiative that used the same rubric used by NYS for its exams to assess student writing in all of our classes. We continue this program to demonstrate to students how important it is to learn to become a great writer.
Last year, we also adopted the same writing program that our elementary schools are using that comes out of the great work being done at the Columbia (NYC) Teachers College. The rigor, structure, and feedback that students are being provided on their writing has taken a leap forward and our (ELA) teachers love the program. In an observation I completed last week I had a teacher steer me aside after the class to show me how coherent the program is and demonstrate the before and after work of students. Not only was the teacher glowing at the work of students but I was impressed with the depth and creativity of the writing.
One of my favorite quotes supports why writing is so important:
“Throughout history, reading and writing have been regarded as politically dangerous. Why else have slaves, prisoners and other
minorities and majorities been denied the opportunity to read as well as
write? But writing stays the far more worrisome and incendiary
process. A reading citizen can come to
comprehend and criticize societal mores as well as governmental acts and
decisions. But only a citizen who elects to
write can cause genuine trouble, can become the radical, the
revolutionary. A reading citizen stays a
client, a consumer of a culture; a writing citizen becomes its creator or
destroyer.”
from Brian Cambourne's book The Whole Story
End of Week Notes:
BCMS PTO Meeting - Save the Date
Monday, May 4, 7 PM, BCMS Library (Date changed from Tuesday, May 5)
BCMS PTO Meeting - Save the Date
Monday, May 4, 7 PM, BCMS Library (Date changed from Tuesday, May 5)
- Building a student resume - What you and your child can start doing now in Middle School. Presented by Katie Cooney Lesko , Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Siena Collegea and Gayle Moriarity, Counseling Coordinator from BCHS.
- PTO Business - PTO budget for 15-16, and opportunities for Board Participation.
- Anyone that wants to volunteer for board membership, please self-nominate and you can come to the Monday May 11 and/or Jun 8 at 1:30 board meetings to help you make an informed decision. We are looking for a co-president and hoping for members to shadow all other positions; treasurer, volunteer coordinator, hospitality, special projects, secretary, and technology
- Dr. Douglas presents - Q & A on the BCSD district budget for 15-16
Thank you to a special group of 8th graders
- This week, unprompted, a group of 8th grade girls (5) ran an anti-bullying assembly that was outstanding. Everything they said and promoted with peers was researched, vetted w/ our staff and delivered in a manner that was received unanimously well by all grades. At the end of their assembly I applauded them for modeling what we hope to see from all students. They exhibited initiative, leadership and extraordinary compassion to pay forward great advice and wisdom to their peers!
NYS Testing update
- Math Testing was completed this week
- Math makeups next week
- ONLY 8th graders take the NYS Science Test
BCSD STAFF ART SHOW
- During the month of April please visit the Bethlehem Public Library to see art exhibits by various BCSD Art Dept Staff
Quote of the Week...
· "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" Nelson Mandela
The Week that Will be:
Monday, April 27
- Math Make Ups
- Math Make ups
- Late buses today
Wednesday, April 29
- NYS Mathematics Make ups
- PAC student meeting today
- Late buses today
Thursday, April 30
- late buses today
- FASS (Friday After School Support) today
- Staged Creations Play Production (A 2nd show is Saturday night at 7:00 PM)
Have a great weekend!
