Our Mission: To be a world-class, student-focused, community of teaching and learning.

STAY CONNECTED! ( 2 0 8 ) 5 7 8 - 5 0 0 0www.blaineschools.org

IN THIS ISSUE:Welcome Dr. HolmesListening Tour Provides InsightSilver Creek High School Students See the Big PictureIntroducing Alturas Elementary: Where Language Learning Is Embraced by AllVOICES II: A Future for Every StudentEmergency Information for Parents 21st Century Learner and Educator ProfileThank You for Supporting Our Public SchoolsInternational Baccalaureate Nurtures Curiosity and InquiryStudent-Led Conferences: Where Students Are the Stars

A Report to the Community from the Blaine County School District

PARTNERS INE D U C AT I O NNovember 2014

Blaine County School District #61

Following a nationwide search, Dr. GwenCarol Holmes became Blaine County School District Superintendent in July 2014. Prior to this, Holmes served as Chief Academic Officer for Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Chief Operating Officer of the Success for All Foundation, and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education, overseeing research for the Center for Research and Reform in Education in Maryland. Holmes also had a long career of teaching and administration in several schools in Kansas. Dr. Holmes holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Kansas State University as well as a Master’s in Education Administration and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration from Wichita State University. Holmes and her husband have two grown children.

WELCOME DR. HOLMES

“Thank you to everyone in Blaine County for making me feel so welcome. I’m looking forward to supporting our teachers, parents, students, and patrons who believe in high quality education for all students.”

- Dr. GwenCarol Holmes

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How does a new superintendent get to know the community and schools in Blaine County? Dr. Holmes launched a Listening Tour the first day she started in Blaine County. She held over 100 meetings with organizations, individuals, staff, parents, business owners, elected officials, senior citizens, faith leaders, retired educators and students. She also reviewed hundreds of comments received from the Listening Tour Survey. After this, she will write a report offering a collection of insights and themes gathered from many people in the community. A review of student achievement data and financial information will be included in the report. This report will serve as the basis for a new Strategic Plan in early 2015. Look for the State of the District report at www.blaineschools.org after November 11.

PROVIDES INSIGHTLISTENING TOUR

“Thank you for taking the time to listen. Welcome and thank you for taking on such an important job. Our children mean everything to us.”

“I really appreciate the Listening Tour. The small group of retired teachers who attended were able to express their concerns.”

“I look forward to meeting the Superintendent and listening to how she plans to help us educate all children equitably, effectively, and passionately.”

- Parent

- Parent

- Darlene Dyer, Retired Educator

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How does learning connect to the real world? How are students prepared for college and careers after high school? These are the questions Silver Creek High School Principal Mike Glenn began asking when he took the reins of the alternative high school two years ago. Faced with a challenging demographic of students, Glenn knew he needed to give students a holistic educational experience that would serve their unique needs. SCHS is a small school serving upwards of 50 students in an alternative setting. Students come to SCHS after trying the larger environment of other high schools and realizing they need something different.

Big Picture Schools include personalized learning plans that start with students’ interests and needs, learning through projects, learning in the real world, performance assessments, family engagement, and technology applications that support all aspects of the school and curriculum. The Five Learning Goals are: empirical reasoning, quantitative reasoning, communication, social reasoning and personal qualities. See more at www.bigpicture.org.

SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSSEE THE BIG PICTURE

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Students need to be globally aware in order to be successful in the 21st Century. Learning a second language provides students with not only a new skill that takes them new places, but it also provides pathways to critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation and effective communication. At Alturas Elementary, you will find students learning all subject matters in both English and Spanish. In each grade, two teams of teachers share two classes of students, splitting each day between the two languages.

After students leave Alturas and move on to the secondary level, grades 6-12, Dual Immersion students have the opportunity to place into a Spanish as a World Language course that aligns with their proficiency level. Spanish courses offered at the high school level include, among others, AP Spanish Language and Culture and AP Spanish Literature. Dual Immersion students also have the opportunity to take Humanities courses conducted in Spanish throughout their secondary experience.

INTRODUCINGALTURAS ELEMENTARY

WHERE LANGUAGE LEARNING IS EMBRACED BY ALL

“These kids are immersed in the language and they come out of the program being able to read, write, speak and listen naturally. It opens their world to potential jobs, awareness and cultural understanding.”

- Alturas Principal Brad Henson

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One hallmark of public education in the United States is access for all students regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or ability. The Blaine County School District has a national reputation for educating students with disabilities, whether cognitive, social, physical, emotional/behavioral, communication or learning. During the last year of the Idaho Standardized Achievement Test, students with disabilities in the Blaine County School District outperformed their peers across the state of Idaho. After building such a successful special education program, the question for many staff, students and parents became, “What will the students do after graduation?” By federal law, public schools are required to offer services for students with disabilities until they are 21 years of age. But many public schools are not able to provide a separate program for students after four years of high school and the option of continuing to stay in the high school setting is not appealing to students for a number of obvious reasons. Enter VOICE II. The brainchild of several special education teachers, VOICE II is a program designed specifically for

the needs of students with disabilities who have graduated from high school, are under the age of 21, and continue to require development in life skills and the vocational areas of their individual education plan. The program’s goals are to teach self-reliance, job skills, and self-advocacy as students enter the workforce and adult life. Through individual goal setting and careful guidance from teacher Jamie Ellison, students learn the skills they need to become productive members of society. Follow the VOICE II program on Facebook or look for one of their special events to learn more about this unique program.

VOICE IIA FUTURE FOR EVERY STUDENT

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EMERGENCY INFORMATIONA FUTURE FOR EVERY STUDENT FOR PARENTS

IN CASE OF SCHOOL EMERGENCIESPARENTS SHOULD

• Stay Put, Stay Tuned• Monitor • blaineschools.org • facebook.com/blaineschools • twitter.com/blaineschools • Local Media• Check email and text for urgent messages• Avoid calling or visiting schools unless instructed

Emergency information guides for parents are available in English and Spanish at all schools. Assistant Superintendent John Blackman says, “Emergencies are rare, but we can be prepared if we work together. The first step is to stay informed.”

New This Year: Schools will not announce drills ahead of time. It’s important to “perform as you practice,” and students and staff will not be told whether or not an event is a drill when it occurs. Unplanned drills are a more accurate representation of our level of preparedness.

For the full Blaine County School District Emergency Information Guides for Parents and Guardians, go to www.blaineschools.org and look for Emergency Information.

Parents can update their emergency notification contact information in the student management system called Skyward. Log in to Skyward and look in the left-hand column for Skylert. Sign up for general reminders, surveys and emergency notifications through Skylert. Need help logging into Skyward? Ask your school secretaries or call them. Find phone numbers at www.blaineschools.org.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

The headlines are clear: the world is rapidly changing and education needs to follow suit. So how does the Blaine County School District ensure that students graduate prepared for college and career, life-long learning, and citizenship? The Blaine County Board of Trustees developed a profile of a 21st Century student during the 2008 Strategic Planning process. During a two-year period, staff and administrators developed a profile of a 21st Century educator. Together the two profiles embody characteristics and qualities that all students need to be successful in the 21st Century. Look for more information featuring the 21st Century Learner and Educator Profiles throughout the year.

Look for these puzzle images in classrooms, schools and offices throughout the district.

LEARNER PROFILE

PREPARE FOR COLLEGE & CAREER

PREPARE FOR LIFE - LONG LEARNING

PREPARE FOR CITIZENSHIP

BCSD21ST CENTURYLEARNER ANDEDUCATOR

• Critical Thinkers• Problem Solvers• Effective Communicators• Innovators

• Self-Directed Learners• Intellectually Curious • Effective Collaborators • Financially and Economically Literate• Knowledgeable of the Arts

• Civically Engaged• Culturally Responsive• Globally Aware• Physically Fit • Socially and Ethically

Responsible

STUDENTS WILL

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LEARNER PROFILE EDUCATOR PROFILEPREPARED FOR COLLEGE & CAREER PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE & CAREER

PREPARED FOR LIFE - LONG LEARNINGPREPARE STUDENTS FOR

LIFE - LONG LEARNING

PREPARED FOR CITIZENSHIPPREPARE STUDENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP

• Use Meaningful, Real-WorldApplication in Lesson Design

• Promote Critical Thinking,Collaboration & Creativity

• Employ a Wide-Range ofInstructional Practices/Activities

• Integrate Content, SignificantConcepts & Critical Skills Acrossthe Curriculum

• Develop Higher Order Thinking Skills• Encourage Risk-Taking & Innovation• Teach Through Inquiry & Discovery• Provide Timely & Effective Feedback• Incorporate Authentic & Varied

Assessments

• Model Enthusiasm to SparkStudent Learning

• Use Technology as a Tool forLearning

• Implement Newly Acquired Skills& Techniques

• View Mistakes as an Opportunityfor Learning

• Empower Student Ownership ofLearning Through IndependentGoal Setting & Problem Solving

• Include Student Choice & Voice• Encompass Multi-Cultural

Understanding & Global Perspectives

• Incorporate an Active Exchangeof Thoughts, Ideas & Information

• Develop and Celebrate StudentLeadership

• Establish EnvironmentalConsciousness

• Create Safe LearningEnvironments

EDUCATORS WILL

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FOR SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLSThe Blaine County School District serves 3,356 students in four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, an alternative high school, and a K-12 school. BCSD is known for its award-winning arts programs, pre-k, all-day Kindergarten, a diverse student body, and low student/teacher ratios in well-maintained classrooms that include state-of-the-art technology. Together we are working to prepare all students for success in their future. Thank you for caring about education in the Blaine County School District.

America's Most Challenging High Schools

BCSD OFFERS BROAD PROGRAMMING & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS � Award-winning Performing Arts � World Languages in Grades 6-12 at Two of Our Schools � Advanced Placement � Dual Credit � Competitive Robotics and Chess Clubs

� International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme � Dual Language Learning in Grades K-12 � High-Quality Preschool and All-Day Kindergarten � Award-Winning Professional Technical Education � 43% of Students Receive Free & Reduced Meals & Almost 100% Apply to College

BCSD PREPARES STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND CITIZENSHIPB C S D S c o r e s A b o v e S t a t e

W R H S Av e r a g e A d v a n c e d P l a c e m e n t S c o r e s

A b o v e G l o b a l a n d S t a t eB C S D G r a d u a t i o n R a t e

*Based on State AYP Formula

THANK YOU

*The State of Idaho pays for all juniors in Idaho to take the SAT.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE MADE POSSIBLE

The BCSD mission: To be a world-class, student-focused community of teaching and learning.

BCSD VALUES RELATIONSHIPS � Small class sizes and low teacher to student ratios. Current classroom teacher to student ratio is 17.6 to 1. � Social workers and bilingual staff in every school.

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GRADUATING CLASSES OF 2014

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The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB) is for all Wood River Middle and High School students in grades 6-10. Based in Geneva, Switzerland and used in more than 146 countries and 3,917 schools throughout the world, IB provides a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. (See 21st Century Learner and Educator Profile on page 8.)

IB emphasizes intellectual challenge, encouraging students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and the real world. It fosters the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement -- essential qualities for young people who are the future leaders of the 21st Century.

The IB learner profile is a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose. Through the learner profile, IB students strive to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers and knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, balanced and reflective.

Sixth grade students were encouraged to nurture their own curiosity and develop inquiry and research skills at the 40th annual Residential Outdoor Environmental School at Cathedral Pines in September. Studies included units on water quality, predator-prey relationships, orienteering, edible and useful plants, world population and renewable energy.

Students dissected owl pellets, engineered solar lamps, wrote in journals, and learned how to take water samples. The projects incorporate language arts, social studies, science and math.

Wood River Middle School and High School were the first public schools in Idaho to become authorized by the International Baccalaureate program. Stay tuned for more examples of IB throughout the year.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE STUDENT-LED CONFERENCESNURTURES CURIOSITY AND INQUIRY

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Most parent-teacher conferences follow a similar format: several times a year parents meet with teachers to discuss their child’s academic progress. At Carey Middle and High Schools things are done a little differently. Parent-teacher conferences have become student-led conferences. Students take charge of their education by leading their parents through a discussion about their progress while teachers circulate among the parent/student groups answering questions and offering comments. The focus is on the conversation between the parent and child. Now the students are in the driver’s seat, explaining a low grade or how they made improvements from one assignment to the next.

To prepare for a student-led conference, all students select projects, accomplishments, test scores and current mid-term grades from each class to share and discuss with their parents. At Carey High School, students keep a compilation of works from every class in their electronic portfolio (eportfolio). On conference night the students and parents go to each classroom, sit down together and open up a laptop computer to view the eportfolio for that class. Teachers move around the room listening to the students’ summaries and offering any comments they may have. Parents can ask the teacher anything they may be curious about as the teacher monitors the room. A similar format is used for grades 6-7 at Wood River Middle School.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCESNURTURES CURIOSITY AND INQUIRY WHERE STUDENTS ARE THE STARS

“Carey High School teachers track the number of parents that show up for conferences. Over half of the teachers see more than 50% of their students and parents on conference night. This is a dramatic increase from the days where the teacher led the conference. Carey High School has been practicing student-led conferences for two years. Students are excited about coming to conferences because they are the “stars” for the evening!”

- Kimberly Hochendoner - Carey Counselor

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BCSD is Social:

Do you want the latest and most up-to-date information straight from the Blaine County School District? Subscribe to the BCSD Weekly Update. Get an email every Monday morning and read the most current information about teachers, students, the Board of Trustees and more.

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR SCHOOLS

STAY CURRENT WITH

BCSDWEEKLY UPDATE

NEW URL’S FOR SCHOOL WEBSITES

alturaselementary.orgbellevueelementary.org

careyk12.orghaileyelementary.org

hemingwayelementary.orgsilvercreekhigh.orgwoodriverhigh.org

woodrivermiddle.orgJOIN THE PTA

Sign up at blaineschools.org.

Check school websites for contactinformation and meeting times.

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FINANCIAL COMMITTEEAppointed by Board of Trustees

The Blaine County School District partnered with the City of Hailey Police and Fire departments last year for a program called Do The Right Thing. Recognizing youth three times a year, Do The Right Thing accepts nominations with an easy, on-line form found at www.haileycityhall.org. Help us recognize the outstanding youth in our community. Nominate a child for Doing the Right Thing today!DO THE RIGHT THING

BOARD MEETINGS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:CHAIRMAN SHAWN BENNION, KATHY BAKER, ELIZABETH SCHWERDTLE, KATHRYN GRAVES.

More Than One Way to Stay InvolvedThe Board of Trustees meets regularly once a month at the District Office at 118 W. Bullion, Hailey.

Wondering what the Board is discussing and deciding? Read the meeting notices, agendas and minutes.

Can’t make a meeting and still want to participate? Watch a webcast or make a public comment.

Want to recognize someone for a job well done? Submit a Board Accolade for the Board’s consideration.

Find all of this and more on the Board of Trustees page at www.blaineschools.org.

The Board of Trustees formed a new Financial Committee appointing six members from the community who joined four staff members. Committee members include Michael Beck, John Gaeddert, Lyman Drake, Charlie Gifford, Gerhardt Morrison, Sandi Viau, Mike Chatterton, Blaine County School District Business Manager; Robert Ditch, Vice Principal at Wood River Middle School; Elizabeth Andrews, a Wood River Middle School teacher

representing the Blaine County Education Association; Superintendent Dr. GwenCarol Holmes, and Liz Schwerdtle; Blaine County School District Board Trustee.

Blaine County School District #61Education Foundation118 W Bullion StHailey ID 83333

WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A. . .

MEET YOUR FUTURE DOCTORS, SCIENTISTS AND POLICE

Blaine County School District #61

Blaine County School District #61118 W. Bullion St., Hailey, ID 83333Phone: 208-578-5000 Fax: 208-578-5110www.blaineschools.org

SuperintendentDr. GwenCarol Holmesgholmes@blaineschools.org

Assistant SuperintendentJohn Blackmanjblackman@blaineschools.org

Our Mission: To be a world-class, student-focused, community of teaching and learning.

STAY CONNECTED! ( 2 0 8 ) 5 7 8 - 5 0 0 0www.blaineschools.org

Written and Produced by the BCSD Communications Department.