BGHS Admin Weekly Update
3/31/23
Spring Break
Rest, relax, recharge! I am going to truly try to disconnect, even if for a couple of days.
Student Advisory Council
Seven students visited with me on Tuesday, ranging from grades 9-12. They were the most talkative bunch I’ve had yet this year, and it was a great conversation. Students were very complimentary, specifically about their classes. Even when they were offering critical feedback, they were diplomatic and kind, and also mature in their perspectives.
Things they said are going well:
Sports are improving. Football, baseball, and boys' basketball were specifically mentioned. Even with football losing more games than they won, there is an overall sense of improvement and pride.
Academically, students seem a lot more committed this year. Overall kids seem to be more positive and more involved.
Last year kids seemed more like zombies.
Enjoying ROTC; "It was the main reason I came here." Disappointed that Shannon is retiring, though.
There are lots of opportunities here.
Students in AP/Honors classes seem to be more engaged. More kids are taking those higher level classes.
"I like all my teachers. They create good learning experiences."
Frid gets shout outs. Class doesn’t feel like a lecture; feels energized and passionate. Smithline, Frid, Etulain, Schneider all get shout outs. "It’s easier to be engaged in class when you can tell they care about the subject."
They are getting multiple chances to retake assessments when many kids struggle to succeed. Teachers aren't just giving the test and then moving on no matter what. "They want us to learn."
Security gets a shout out. Security seems involved and personable. Not authoritarian.
Tiger Time gives me a chance to get caught up in classes like ceramics.
Teachers are understanding and nice.
Things they’d like to improve:
"Sometimes I can tell that teachers are frustrated and shut down."
Tiger Time almost feels like a chore for kids who don’t really need it.
Need more peer mentoring.
Parking (seniors frustrated)
"Getting to school on time is sometimes challenging when there are no spots. I know that’s on me because I have to get here earlier, but it’s frustrating." Having to walk around the entire building, or drive around.
Can we find a way to regulate the senior lot? How can we make sure our seniors get parking? Can we put up signage? Go back to a color-coded system? Or have seniors get a sticker of some kind on their parking permits?
Can we get the paint update in the lots? The lines are very faded.
People standing in the middle of the hallways are frustrating.
Upcoming meetings, etc.
Climate surveys out again
Department leads voting form out
Leads/Admin meet 2:45
Tuesday, 4/11:
Staff meeting 2:45 in the library
Thursday 4/13:
Tiger Time committee meeting, 2:45
Upcoming sports & activities
Prom at Left Bank Annex. Join us, won't you?
Saturday, 4/8/23:
Track meet at Newberg
Monday, 4/10/23:
Baseball v Camas at home
Tuesday, 4/11/23:
Baseball at Camas
Soccer v Camas at home
Wednesday, 4/12/23:
Tennis at Union
Softball at Skyview
Dance team banquet
Thursday, 4/13/23:
C softball v LaCenter at home
Baseball v Camas at home
Friday, 4/14/23:
Tennis v Skyview at home
Soccer v MVHS at home
Saturday, 4/15/23:
JROTC Bataan march 7am
Track at Woodland
Unified at LaCenter
Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival
Safety
One is glaring, and that is that many teachers are not locking their doors as per our safety plan. The building safety plan's expectation is that our classroom doors are locked during the day, even when teachers are on their prep periods. We need everyone to do so, even if you have not been up to this point.
If we are doing the first part, then the second part takes care of itself, which is that there were many unlocked doors during the drill. If we are not running, then we are locked down.
The hypothetical threat in our drill was in the student parking lot. During the drill, Officer Anderson reported to that area while security and administration checked classroom doors around campus. In a real situation, we will not be checking doors, as we will also be running or hiding or fighting. There were classrooms near where the "threat" was located that did not follow protocols.
In the event of a real threat, our expectations are for staff and students to do one of those three things--run, or hide, or fight. If we have not run, then we are to be hiding, as in a lockdown. We have to model this for our students.
Drills are difficult. It's difficult to get students to take these kinds of things seriously, but students will take them more seriously if we do as well. Students may not always listen to us, but they certainly watch what we do and take their cues from that behavior.
When we are in a lockdown or R/H/F drill, administrators and security have a sense of urgency when we see kids in the halls, which often startles them. Collectively, we have to do better. Nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but we simply must. We know there are many aspects of safety that are maddening with our building's structure, but we also have to control what we can control.
Most people did a great job, so thank you!
EES Survey
We will share some of the data with leads on Monday, and with staff on Tuesday, but we need to take time to truly use this information for planning. That will take a bit of time, but there are some immediate things on which we can focus as a building.
We are going to send our smaller, in-house climate survey to kids and staff again after break, looking to see if there are areas of growth. The EES survey is obviously much more comprehensive, but any feedback we can get from staff and students is appreciated and needed.
Discipline Data
March Summary:
Out-of-school suspensions--15 events, 21 days, 14 students
In-school suspensions--24 events, 25.5 days, 22 students
Expulsions--3 events, 3 students
The most commonly-referred behaviors are Disruption and Skipping.
The Den had 132 students access it this month, and 71% of those were requested by students. 26% of the time, students were sent there by teachers.
