November 11, 2024

Greetings, BHS Families & Community Members. Welcome to November! 

Second quarter has begun, so I thought it would be a good time to provide some updates on things we're working on around here. Some highlight tasks and projects include:

• developing a new "free block" pass system to better support our students and ensure that our shared spaces support learning and community safety;

• the BHS Instructional Leadership team is completing a Fall book study of Making Grades Matter (Townsley & Wear, 2020) in preparation for leading the full faculty in a study of the text in the Spring. The text will support our future work in standards-based grading at the secondary level;

• The staff is completing a four-part training series hosted by Howard Center, focused on resilience, de-escalation and cultivating a 'community of care' approach;

• The Student Support Team, Counseling and Teachers are utilizing a new in-school truancy protocol to increase communication with families, coordinate earlier interventions around class skipping, and improve attendance and overall school climate;

• The Senior Leadership Team has been developing a classroom walkthrough tool that we will pilot this year to provide building-level data around student engagement and level of rigor. This process will help us gather baseline data to inform future professional learning, instructional coaching, and strategic planning; and

• The Family Advisory Panel and Student Advisory Group will both meet for the second time this week. The Family Advisory will tackle '25-'26 school year budgeting, and the Student Advisory Group has chosen to start by examining how we can better support student athletes. Quaron Pinckney, BSD Athletics Director, will join us as a guest.

There's always a lot going on, and far more than can be listed here. But I hope this list provides a window into some of the ways that we are working to center student and family voices, focus on instruction and engagement, and maintain a learning environment that feels safe, focused, and welcoming for all.

Thanks for all you do to support our school community!

With appreciation,

Sabrina Westdijk

BHS Interim Principal