Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center
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ACCELERATED
READER There are over 6,000 Accelerated Reader tests, ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 readability level, for students at BSIC. Accelerated Reader is one component of the Reading Renaissance program. The philosophy of Reading Renaissance promotes one hour of reading practice daily. Each student is tested with the STAR reading assessment at the beginning of the year to establish their reading ability and to assign a ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) range. Students reading in their ZPD range for a half hour a day, with a teacher monitoring and intervening as needed, have shown as much as 2 1/2 years of growth in one year.
Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center has adopted the Agenda program as a means to help students organize their assignments, and to promote communication between the teacher and parent. Notes are made in the agendas for parents to read when students are caught being good, progress reports, and any disciplinary actions that have been taken. Parents are asked to check the agendas on a regular basis and sign them to document they have looked at the information. If the student has their agenda filled in correctly, they are rewarded. COUNSELOR The counseling program is a combination of guidance lessons in the classrooms and individual counseling. We have one full-time counselor in our school, and a part-time counselor that is available 2 1/2 days per week.
ESL is a support service for students who have limited abilities in English as their second language. Our school contains two models. The first model is a self contained classroom, which is made up of all the Non-English Proficient students. They are instructed in English and receive reinforcement in their native language, as needed. The second model is Inclusion. The students targeted in this model are all Limited English Proficient. They receive support services from the ESL staff in the areas of Math and Communications. All instruction for the LEP takes place within the regular education classroom. LIBRARY
PROGRAM The library program at BSIC is an essential part of teaching and on-going learning. The media specialist incorporates flexible scheduling so that teachers may schedule times to integrate their curriculum needs through the library.
The district nursing staff present programs to students on the following topics: Growth & Development, Nutrition, AIDS, Dental care and dissections. Our nurse is available to make presentations in the classrooms. The nurse also conducts vision and hearing screenings, administers medications, and keeps health records updated. SITE BASED COUNCIL The Site Based Council acts as an advisory group to the principal and staff of BSIC as they make decisions that directly affect the education of Bernadine Sitts students and the School Improvement process. The Site Based Council is made up of four certified personnel, one classified personnel, two parents, two business/community members, associate principal, and principal. Responsibilities of the Site Based Council include:
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SPECIAL EDUCATION
We provide a major part of the Special Education continuum of services, adhering to the philosophy that special education is service brought to students and meets each individual's educational needs. Certified/licensed special education professionals provide initial assessment services. Homebound instruction, a self-contained special education classroom, resource classrooms, inclusion within students' team classrooms, and consultation are the service models currently used. Some students with special needs receive the instructional services of the English as a Second Language teachers. A teacher for students with visual impairments and a teacher for students with adapted physical education needs provide instruction at our building. A speech/language therapist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a behavioral consultant, a traumatic brain injury consultant, a school nurse, and a school psychologist provide specialized services to students. Audiology services are available to students. A liaison works between the school and the Area Mental Health Clinic for students receiving therapy there. Students identified intellectually gifted also receive special education service.
STUDENT
ASSISTANCE TEAM
The new Student Assistance philosophy brings together the many aspects of a child's environment in order to maximize that child's achievement and resiliency. Educators, parents, and community members meet to coordinate efforts and connect each student with the resources and experiences which he/she needs to be a productive and responsible member of our school and community. (It is the beginning of the village again working together to raise a child.)
TEAM PLANNING
The staff of Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center have personal and team planning times. This has allowed better planning amongst team teachers, as well as increased cooperative efforts with other teams (both within the same grade level and opposite grade level). It also has afforded planning time with the Special Ed pullout teachers, ESL teachers, and support staff. This arrangement of planning time has provided the opportunity for team conferences with students, team conferences with parent/guardian of students, as well as allotted time for IEPs to be done during school hours, if the parent prefers. The result is an increase in parental contact. Teams may opt to use flexible scheduling in their classrooms to provide the greatest educational opportunity for learning.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology has become an integral part of all aspects of teaching and learning at Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center. To fully take advantage of the computers in the classroom, teachers have reorganized their instructional methods featuring more learning centers.
Each classroom has computers, printer access and building wide networked software. The staff can use a laser disc player, projectors, smartboards, Classroom Performance Systems, airliners and laptops in their classrooms. Both staff and students have access to scanners also.
Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center has a full-time Computer Specialist to assist the students and faculty with software and troubleshooting, and to ensure that the system runs properly. The staff is given the opportunity to attend computer inservices and classes.
PRINCIPALS'
CHALLENGE
The Principals' Challenge is a reading incentive program. Ms. Hauschild and Mrs. Turner challenge students each year to read all of the books on the William Allen White list. Students compete against the principals and sometimes their teachers to see who will finish all of the books first. Those that choose to participate are required to read two books each month to be invited to eat lunch with the principals. Students and staff discuss the books they've read while eating their lunch. Those students that "meet the challenge" by completing all of the books on the list are rewarded at the end of the year.
PLC (PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES)
At BSIC the teaching staff has formed professional learning communities (PLC) which meet weekly. PLCs allow the teaching staff to work collaboratively to achieve better results for our students. There are four different PLCs: 5th grade math; 5th grade communications; 6th grade math; and 6th grade communications. Each PLC consists of core teachers, encore teachers, support teachers and administrators.
Our PLC's objectives are to understand that...
WEATHER LAB
(click on title to view weather lab
site)
The automated weather network uses state-of-the art technology to monitor current real-world environmental conditions. The data collected can then be integrated into hands-on classroom curriculum.
TECHNOLOGY RICH CLASSROOMS
BSIC has two classrooms that are technology rich, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Motley. The purpose of the Technology Rich Classrooms project is to provide evidence that the immersion of technologies into the learning environment, supported by strong, ongoing professional development, can produce positive change in the classroom that results in improved student learning. The goal is to change the way teachers teach, students learn and the way it is assessed.
DISCOVERY
The Discovery program came out of Poudre Valley school district in Fort Collins and was developed by Eric Larsen, a teacher at Centennial High School. Discovery methods are being used as communication models in high schools across the country. We are now implementing the program as an all-building approach in an effort to improve success levels for kids and adults alike. We've chosen this program because it teaches people of all ages how to talk to each other effectively. It teaches life skills. The idea is to get healthy and stay healthy both mentally and emotionally. Through these skills, we are going to learn how to better support each other, our school and our community.
POD MEETINGS
The staff at BSIC is divided into three Professional Learning Communities called PODs. Each POD meets on a monthly basis to collaborate as professional educators. The focus of our meeting centers on implementing the "best teaching practices" for our students.
STEERING
COMMITTEE
BSIC has a Steering Committee that oversees the school improvement process. This committee, comprised of 8-10 staff members, meets monthly and is responsible for the ongoing process of monitoring implementation of the school improvement plan. They keep staff members informed about the process and record and graph the data accumulated from multiple sources that measure our effectiveness as a school. The school is in the last year of it's second 5 year cycle of school improvement. BSIC was accredited by North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) in 2002 at the end of their first 5 year cycle. BSIC had an accreditation visit for this cycle on January 31, 2007. You may view the reports on the home page under the link NCA Accreditation Visit.
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For more information contact: Educational Support Center, 1205 Fleming, Garden City KS 67846 Phone: 620-805-7000 |
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AGENDAS
ESL 
NURSE