Thursday, June 26, 2014

Nebraska Statewide Vision for Education


Press Release
LINCOLN – In response to the enactment of LB 1103 this past legislative session, the Education Committee of the Nebraska Legislature is developing a common statewide vision for education in Nebraska. The vision will eventually consist of "aspirational goals, visionary objectives, meaningful priorities and practical strategies," and will help current and future policy makers identify priorities.
As a first step the Committee has identified the following initial vision, mission and goals. It is conducting a public survey of this initial draft in order to receive your feedback.
Vision: Every Nebraskan educated for success.
Mission: Equip Nebraskans to realize maximum potential in all aspects of life.
Goals:    1. Provide programs and courses that inspire and prepare Nebraskans for success in   learning, work and life.
              2. Establish high expectations for all educators and provide support and resources to create positive, safe and successful learning environments.
              3. Develop systems of support that build collaborative partnerships among the entire educational community including individuals, families, businesses and organizations.
Again, your thoughts and suggestions matter. Please take a few minutes to give the Committee your input and reaction by completing this survey by midnight on June 30th and forwarding the survey to friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We want all Nebraskans to be part of a thoughtful conversation about education.
The Education Committee will review the results and possibly modify the vision, mission, and goals before moving on to the development of objectives. It is the Committee's commitment to continue this exchange with the public throughout the process, with public hearings and possibly one or more additional surveys.
The survey may be accessed by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hwfAA7D8RzBC7rhwCZDoXT2Us6jRCZ9YzbBVfU-AUJo/viewform?usp=send_form.  Or you may also access the survey through the Education Committee's blog page on the Legislature's website at:http://news.legislature.ne.gov/edu/ Thank you for your input and taking the time to engage in this statewide conversation, and for sharing this survey with any and all interested Nebraskans. If you have any questions, please contact the office of Committee Chair Senator Kate Sullivan at (402)471-2631.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Student online class options

Bancroft-Rosalie has several students taking online courses this summer. Most of them are taking computer applications, which is a required class for freshmen. By taking it over the summer the students will be able to take another elective during their freshmen year.

The school contracts with Odysseyware for online courses. Odysseyware has expanded its course offerings, adding courses in Agriculture and Engineering. Any of these courses are available to our high school students to take during the school year or over the summer (students taking summer classes online get summer use of their computer). If there are students or parents interested in learning more about online courses, feel free to contact a school administrator.

The following is a list of semester courses that would be approved as elective credits for our students:

Business classes-
Office Applications 1
Office Applications 2
Business Law
Small Business Entrepreneurship
Principles of Business and Finance

Information Technology-
Fundamentals of Digital Media
Fundamentals of Programming and Software Development
Introduction to Network Systems
Network System Design
Web Development

Agriculture-
Agribusiness Systems
Animals Systems
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Plant Systems

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-
Engineering and Design
Engineering and Product Development

Human Services-
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Human Growth and Development
Early Childhood Development and Services
Counseling and Mental Health Services
Family and Community Services

Hospitality and Tourism-
Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Systems
Marketing and Sales for Tourism and Hospitality



Monday, June 23, 2014

State Assessment results

The Nebraska State Assessment cut scores have been released by the Nebraska Department of Education. Bancroft-Rosalie students did very well on last springs tests.

85% of B-R students met the state standard in reading and 84% met the standard in Math.
71% met the standard in science.

Friday, June 20, 2014

2013-14 NSAA Cellular Cup Final Standings

Class D All school Top Ten (Boys and Girls Combined)

1. St. Mary's  315
2. Falls City Sacred Heart 257.5
3. Hartington 240
4. Stuart 240
5. Bruning-Davenport 237.5
6. Humphrey St. Francis 227.5
7. Bancroft-Rosalie 220
8. Amherst 217.5
9. Lourdes Central Catholic 215
10. Wausa 200


Girls Class D Top Ten

1. St. Mary's 227.5
2. Bruning-Davenport 171.25
3. Stuart 141.25
4. Humphrey St. Francis 137.5
5. Shickley 125
6. Sterling 125
7. Giltner 110
8. Lindsay Holy Family 107.5
9. Bertrand 100
10 Falls City Sacred Heart 97.5
10. Humphrey 97.5

Boys Class D Top Ten

1. Amherst 187.5
2. Falls City Sacred Heart 175
3. Overton 172.5
4. Hartington 167.5
5. Sargent 167.5
6. Loup County 157.5
7. Bancroft-Rosalie 153.75
8. Lourdes Central Catholic 143.75
9. Newman Grove 135
10. Exeter-Milligan 117.5
10. Winside 117.5

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Positive Behavior Chair

Students picked as GRR winners for their positive behavior have a choice of several rewards they can pick from. One of the choices is to sit in the Principal's chair for the day. This choice is popular with the elementary students. Mr. Sjuts chair went through a lot of wear and tear last year, so we purchased a new chair for the PBIS program. I think the students will like it.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Bancroft-Rosalie Professional Development Goals for 2014-15

These are the areas that we are targeting for this upcoming school year.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

B-R is finalist for the Monsanto Grow Rural Education grant

From Monsanto.

Your school district has qualified as a 2014 America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education finalist! Congratulations!

Your grant application was reviewed by a panel of educators and selected as one of the strongest submissions in your region. Your school district is now among an elite group of finalists being considered by the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Farmer Advisory Council to receive a grant.

The Farmer Advisory Council, comprised of farmer-leaders from across the country with a vested interest in agriculture and education, are reviewing applications now and will meet in early August to select the winning grant applications from the pool of finalists. Winners will be announced on August 4th.

The Monsanto Fund applauds your commitment to strengthening rural education and is proud to support you as you work to enhance math and science curricula for your students.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Cooping Junior High sports

The Bancroft-Rosalie School Board has been in discussions with Lyons-Decatur to identify ways the schools can work together to provide opportunities for students. Lyons-Decatur has low numbers of girls in junior high classes right now which will make it difficult for them to have junior high girls teams. That same problem will affect Bancroft-Rosalie junior high boys teams in the future, as evidenced by the lack of a broncos baseball team in town this year.

Both school boards discussed cooping junior high sports at their June board meetings. The Bancroft-Rosalie Board is open to the idea of starting the coop this fall. The Superintendents and athletic directors from both schools will meet at the end of June to work out the details and have a proposal for the boards to act on at their July board meetings.

Lyons-Decatur has requested that the coop include high school sports after two years. The thought is that after playing together for two years, the students should continue together in high school. Their concern is that if we continue to have two separate high school teams, the students may choose to option enroll in order to continue to play together.

The inability of Bancroft-Rosalie to have our own summer youth sports teams this year tells me that we need to start planning for the future. Lyons-Decatur has allowed our high school girls to play softball with them and this summer they have taken our bronco age baseball boys. There are talks they we may also share youth football (grades 3-6) this fall. Our parents and students have initiated a relationship with Lyons-Decatur that has been mutually beneficial to all of the communities involved. If the details can be worked out, I support trying the cooperative for junior high sports for two years and see how the students and parents get along, then look at cooping high school sports.


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Bancroft-Rosalie School Board Meeting summary


The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, June 9, 2014 at 7:30 pm
in Bancroft. Superintendent Cerny presented the May transportation report and
information on Special Education compliance.

In old business, the board discussed and approved the Panther Pad Project and
Interlocal Agreement. The Panther Pad will be an after-school program for students
in the former Country Pub building. The Panther Pad will be a separate legal entity
and financed through grantfunds and user fees.

The board reorganization committee discussed their meeting with the Lyons-Decatur
committee. The committee’s talked about cooping junior high sports, starting as soon
as they upcoming school year. Bancroft-Rosalie Board consensus was to be open to
cooping junior high sports for this school year and after the athletic directors from both
schools meet, to place it on the agenda for the July Board meeting.
In new business, the board reviewed the Food Service Program; approved Morrow,
Davies, and Toelle as the school auditor; gave first approval to 3 new board policies
and five amended policies as recommended by legal council; approved the use of the
sick leave bank by two teachers; and approved the purchase of Follett Destiny
computer software for the school library.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Panther Pad Project

The Panther Pad will be a non-profit after-school program for K-6 graders, with other special events
offered for older students at other times. It will be managed by Bancroft-Rosalie School. The plan
is to purchase the Country Pub building on Main Street in Bancroft and locate
the Panther Pad there.

Operating from 3:30 until 7:00 p.m. weekdays, with special added hours on days schools
dismisses early, the center will provide supervision and activities for youth attending. These hours were chosen after students interviewed all local daycare providers in Bancroft. Eighty percent of the daycare owners agreed that after-school care would not diminish their current business, whereas all-day services might cut into their profits. Our goal is to provide a service for local residents that does not interfere with established businesses.

The Panther Pad Cooperative will be funded from grant dollars and user fees. No local property money will be used. Public and Private organizations will be contacted to join the cooperative in support of the Panther Pad. Start-up costs will be between $40,000 and $80,000. Some grant funds have already been obtained, but 2-3 other grants will be submitted over the summer to obtain additional funding.

Initial services provided by the after-school center will include supervised activities for K-6
children, such as homework assistance, table games, board games, computer use, reading,
and any other activities as selected with the help of surveys conducted of students K-6
and 7-12. After-school snacks will also be offered. With limited daycare facilities in the area
and some giving preference to full-time clients, our center will assist parents by providing a
fun and safe option for students after school. Transportation will be provided from the school to the Panther Pad each day and Rosalie students will have the opportunity to ride the after-practice bus back to Rosalie. Other services may be added depending on the need and available volunteers.

We anticipate anywhere from 20-40 students will attend the Panther Pad each day after school. Most will be waiting for a ride home from a working parent or an older sibling involved in school activities.




School Board Meeting Agenda Monday June 9

B-R student Kristi Raue wins Miss Nebraska Princess Cover Girl

Kristi Raue,first grader at Bancroft-Rosalie Community School, was crowned the 2014 National American Miss Nebraska Princess Cover Girl at the state pageant last month in Omaha. The daughter of Daymon and Krystal Raue of Decatur received an invitation to compete at the national pageant this fall in Anaheim, Calif. During the Omaha pageant, Kristi also was awarded the Photogenic and Spirit awards.

Nebraska School Activities Association releases new recommendations for preseason practices

Bancroft-Rosalie School will be following the NSAA recommendations for preseason practices. The biggest change is the 5 day no-contact rule. Football has always had at least 5 days of conditioning prior to the start of regular practices for heat acclimation. The rule recommendation we will be unable to follow is to have an athletic trainer present during practices. An EMT present will have to suffice.

UNO Goodrich Schlolars study Neihardt in Bancroft

Director Nancy Gillis led the UNO students in a discussion of Black Elk Speaks on Friday May 23. The students stayed at the Hammel Farm outside of Bancroft. On Saturday the students did a service project in Winnebago.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Bancroft Biz Buzz Calendar - June

Biz Buzz will be June 20 at 10:00 am at the Neihardt Site.