BSD Staff Updates
From BSD Board President Aly Rotter
Hello BSD staff.
We wanted to provide you with an exciting update on our process to select the next Bremerton School District superintendent.
Our consultants have been hard at work promoting and recruiting applicants for our Superintendent position. The application deadline is Friday, January 27.
The Board will be reviewing all applications in early February, and narrowing it down to six semi-finalists who will be interviewed by the Board in an executive session (closed to the public) in late February. From those interviews, three finalists will be invited to visit the District on February 28, March 1 and March 2 (one finalist per day.) Once named, finalists’ resumes will be posted on the District website at www.BremertonSchools.org/Sup-Search.
For their visit to the District, finalists will have a very full day starting at the District office at 7:30 a.m. After visiting schools and various departments in the District (schedule TBD), each will participate in a community forum (in-person and on Zoom) at 5 p.m. Staff, students and community members will be invited to submit questions for the finalists ahead of time and we’ll work with our consultants to narrow the questions down for the forums. We’ll do our best to cover all questions submitted but we only have an hour, and we have to ask the same questions of each finalist.
At the end of each forum, attendees will be invited to submit their thoughts, comments, and feedback on each of the three finalists (via a Google Form).
Following the forum, the board will have dinner and do a final interview with each finalist. Whew!
On Friday, March 3, we will be sharing the information you’ve all been waiting for! The Board will meet in a special session at 9 a.m. to announce the name of the finalist selected to serve as the next Superintendent. This meeting will be in-person and on zoom - and open to the public.
The vote will allow me, as Board President, to move forward with negotiating a contract with the finalist the Board has chosen. If all goes as planned, the Board will then approve the contract at the March 16 regular Board meeting. And then it will be official.
On behalf of the Board, I invite you to be a part of this important process and hope you’ll join us for the community forums! Please watch for the link to submit questions as well as the links for the forums in future communication.
Thank you!
Aly Rotter
President
Bremerton School Board
As announced in the January 9th BSD Family Updates newsletter, we have launched a new health services program called Hazel Health. Services are available via phone or computer/tablet. Services are currently available at home, but will be available at school starting in late February.
Teletherapy will continue to be available for students from Gaggle Teletherapy and Peninsula Community Health Services will continue providing behavioral and medical health services at their clinics at Bremerton High School and Mountain View Middle School. Hazel Health is intended to provide another resource.
- Access graphics for Google sites, Remind, etc. here.
- Get more information and download the flyer at www.BremertonSchools.org/HazelHealth
Please help us get the word out to families with children who will be starting kindergarten next fall! The graphic is available by right-clicking the image below or downloading from the District shared communication resources folder.
The Washington Post ran a story (see link below) on on school shootings last week that includes the AJ incident with Amina Boman a decade ago. It includes the apology letter from the student who shot her. Photo (left): Natalie Poss at Amina's high school graduation (from the Washington Post article).
Note: Washington Post may require you to sign-up for a free account to view the following story.
Right at School (RAS) WILL be providing full-day care on Friday, January 27. Registration is open to all elementary aged children in the District (not just those who are currently enrolled in RAS). Visit www.BremertonSchools.org/Childcare to download the flyer.
Policy News & Highlights from the January 12th Board Meeting
POLICY NEWS:
The Board approved a couple revised policies for first reading. This means they will come back to the Board for adoption on February 2nd.
Recognition
Mountain View Middle School’s Athletic Director Mitchell Judie shared highlights from the school’s Fall and Winter 1 Sports.
With January designated as School Board Appreciation month, Superintendent Colosky thanked the Board for all of their work and dedication and presented them with Certificates of Appreciation.
For more information on the District’s Long-Range Facilities Master Plan (LRFMP), click here. The Board is represented on the Steering Committee by Director Dubos and Director Hurley.
For the Superintendent Search, click here.
To view any of these documents, visit BoardDocs.
The Polina Project
Submitted by Rick Cortes
The Kitsap Musicians Project (KMP) has once again come to the forefront and helped lead the way in making a difference on the global community stage. Their newest endeavor The Polina Project was put into action on February 24, 2022 when Russia led a brutal invasion of Ukraine leaving death and destruction across the landscape, including the violent death of 11 year old Ukrainian Polina and her family. Here is a link to the project - https://fb.watch/hEclpg77cb/?mibextid=6IxyOt
A digital collage of music, messages and artistry was created and came to fruition due largely in part with the collaborative efforts of the Kitsap Musicians Project, Crane Mountain, Vermont Music Group, and world renowned Ukrainian relief agency RAZOM.
The Bremerton School District is well represented. Participating in this project are Naval Avenue paraeducators Kim Hurst, Pablo Flores, and Rick Cortes along with local graduates from the Class of 2022 - Andrew Kehm, Zach Oblinger & Marli Stodden. The goal of this new journey is to grow across global community platforms to raise money as well as awareness with a safe easy QR code and /or digital access to methods for donation.
Beginning this Thursday the first of five telecasts about the Polina Project will air on Local Access BKAT. https://www.bremertonwa.gov/402/Bremerton-Kitsap-Access-Television-BKAT. Additional information about KMP can be found on Kitsap Music Project's Facebook page or on the KMP YouTube Link.
All of these efforts are in the dedication and memory of young Polina and her family.
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!
New: What's Happening at the PAC link added to all BSD home pages
Interested in knowing what's going on at the BHS Performing Arts Center (PAC)? We've added a link to all website home pages (left side under "District Quick Links") to make it easier to find out what school and community performances are happening at the PAC! www.BremertonSchools.org/PAC
The Admiral Theatre 2023 Stages for All Ages School Day Series
The first show will be a free virtual presentation and the remaining shows will have a ticket price per person and will be presented at the Admiral Theatre.
- Tuesday, January 24 - free virtual performance Jack Hartman, best for K-Grade 3
- Tuesday, February 7 - The Jungle Book, best for Pre K - Grade 5
- Tuesday, February 21 - Living Voices: The Right To Dream, best for Grades 5 - up
- Wednesday, March 15 - In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson, best for Grades 3 - 6
- Tuesday, April 18 - Owen & Mzee The Musical, best for Pre K - Grade 5
Visit https://www.admiraltheatre.org/education for details on all of the shows.
Opportunity for students - please share!
The Washington State Department of Health is recruiting people ages 13-22 to serve on our Youth Advisory Council. We’re looking for young people from all walks of life with a variety of lived experiences (BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA+, disability experiences, rural communities and more).
Youth Advisory Council members will share their thoughts, opinions, and recommendations about important health topics to help guide public health projects for Washington’s young people. They’ll earn a $50 gift card for each activity they participate in! Learn more: https://waportal.org/.../adolescent-health/youth-advisors
Youth Voice project (please share with students who may be interested!)
The Graduate Strong Future Bound Workgroup launched the "Youth Voice" Project a few months ago. The goal is to hear from local youth (Kitsap and North Mason) ages 14-20 about their vision for their future. We know that there are barriers to accessing the path they envision, and often the strategies for support are designed by adults that think they know what young people need for support in order to navigate the journey after high school.
There are two opportunities for local youth to share their perspective:
- Participate in the youth needs survey (green and yellow image) by scanning the QR code or use this link to access the survey.
- Apply to be part of the Future Bound Youth Leadership Team that will meet from January through June 2023 to analyze data/themes from the survey responses, design and facilitate support strategies for peers. A stipend of $600 will be provided. Scan the QR code or use this link to access the application.
In addition, we are conducting Listening Sessions (think focus group type environment) with small groups of youth. Contact Promise Partner at promise.partner@kitsapstrong.org if you have a youth space/group you'd like us to engage in a listening session. Pizza and $25 cash cards will be offered. to participants.
Bremerton School District
Email: communications@bremertonschools.org
Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Phone: 360-473-1000
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