King the Hedgehog visits Preschool

Kariden Briggs brought her pet hedgehog "King" to the preschool today. While the students looked at King, Kariden read them the book "The Hat" about Hedgie the hedgehog. King enjoyed a delicious meal at catfood during his stay at B-R.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

In science at B-R the answer would be The Egg. McKayla Zimmerman brought in some eggs and Matt Kai, Head of Maintenance, provided the equipment to hatch the eggs. Science classes have been patiently watching and waiting. This afternoon the chick count was eighteen with a few more making their way out of the shell.

Athletic Banquet

Special Award winners at this years Athletic Banquet

Sportsmanship Award Winners

 

 

Scholar Athlete Award Winners

Russ Herman Award Winners

Junior High Weight-Lifters of the Year

High School Weight Lifters of the Year

Many Mocassins performs at Neihardt Spring Conference

B-R sophomore Mercedes Dominguez danced with the Many Moccassins Dance Troupe last Saturday.

Biz Buzz at the school 10:00 am

Bancroft-Rosalie School is hosting the April biz Buzz. Biscuits and gravy will be served. We will meet in the staff workroom at 10:00 am. Come find out what is happening in the community.

New course offerings for next year.

We have two new course offerings for next year. Statistics is a dual credit math class that will be offered to students that choose not to take Calculus. It is a one year course to be taught by Mr. Zavadil. This class will meet the general education math requirements at UNL and Wayne State College for most majors. Tech Ed will be an Industrial Technology class that will teach Introduction to Engineering concepts first semester and Drafting second semester. This course will be taught by Mr. Hilsinger. Woods I will no longer be offered. This course can be taken during the 9th grade or any year thereafter.

ACT test changes coming next year

The ACT test is typically given on Saturdays at select locations six times during the year. It is a paper/pencil test given to juniors and seniors. ACT has two other tests that are given prior to the ACT called PLAN (for grade 10) and EXPLORE (for grade 8). Next year ACT has a new program called ASPIRE which will replace the PLAN and EXPLORE tests. It goes from grades 3-10 and leads to the ACT test for juniors and seniors. Bancroft-Rosalie will be giving the ASPIRE test to grades 7,8,9, and 10 next Fall. Test results will show where students have gaps in their learning and have the opportunity to improve those areas prior to taking the ACT. At the present time MAP tests and DIBELS tests in grades K-6 provide enough information to make educational decisions for elementary students. If the State of Nebraska adopts the ACT as the state test for Juniors, then we will need to rethink our testing program. Other ACT test changes- - Schools will be able to give the ACT test at their own school site on a weekday. Moving the test off Saturdays and letting students take them in a familiar environment is a great idea in my opinion. Bancroft-Rosalie students can take the test on September 30. We will align our ACT test prep program around this date. We will apply for a test date in the spring also. - Next year the test will still be paper/pencil, but there are plans to make a computer version in 2015-16. Schools like B-R that have the technology available will be able to take advantage of this.

Neihardt Spring Conference this Saturday

For $20 you can enjoy a day learning about oral history. Highlights include a presentation by Bobby Bridger, a performance by the Many Mocassins Dance Troupe, and a portrayal of Standing Bear.

Science Tech Books from Discovery Education

We have been looking into the use of the Discovery Education Tech Book program for teaching elementary science. Tech Books are a digital curriculum that students can use the IPads or laptops to access at school or at home. This could motivate students to continue learning about science on their own. Assessment of learning is built into the curriculum, so students are quizzed frequently to check their understanding. This would be the next big step for B-R to integrate technology into our students' education. We already have the technology available to do this. Here is information from their website. "The Discovery Education Techbook™ digital textbook series provides unrivaled content that helps teachers transition to the exciting world of digital resources. Techbook™ ignites curiosity and enhances learning via a powerful, simple-to-use program that substantially lowers district costs and can be used across any device or platform. Designed to increase equity and create better learning opportunities for all, Techbook: - Students Use Laptop to Explore Techbooks Comprehensive Digital Program - Actively engages students to read, write and think critically. - Reaches all learning modalities through the integration of text, audio, video, images and digital investigations in an easy-to-navigate format. - Saves teachers time and supports the transition to digital with a simple to use, “all-in-one” teacher's edition, including detailed model lessons and activity guides. - Includes practical, on-going professional development with a customized plan to meet districts where they are in the digital transition

New NSAA guidelines for first week of football

The guidelines call for five days of no live contact (currently two days). This is only a recommendation, but not following the guidelines would be a bad idea.

State Volleyball format for 2014

School Board Summary

Bancroft-Rosalie School Board news The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, April 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft. Superintendent Cerny reported on transportation, state aid, NeSA math and reading results, elementary science curriculum, Fall ACT test given at B-R, and upgrading the distance learning equipment. In new business the board approved five teachers and five paraeducators for K-8 summer school in July and August and reviewed the Special Education and Title I programs. The board also approved the softball cooperative with Wisner-Pilger and Lyons-Decatur for 2014 and 2015 and up to $500 for the annual recognition luncheon and awards. In other new business the board set the last day of school for May 23, and approved the use of a school bus by the Village of Bancroft for a summer swim bus and the Senior Sneak trip itinerary to Kansas City. The board went into executive session to discuss the evaluation and hiring of classified staff and evaluation and hiring of coaches and sponsors. Following executive session the board voted to approve the wages and benefits for classified staff and the coaches and sponsors as recommended by the administration. Head coaches are: Volleyball- Rebecca James; Football- Kyle Elsasser and Jon Cerny; Girls Basketball and Track- Rod Peters; Boys Basketball- Cory Meyer, Golf- Brook Darnell.

B-R receives Great Plains Grant

Nebraska School Activities Association defines "Undue Influence"

The NSAA has always had a policy against the use of undue influence by causing a student in one school to transfer to another school or attend a school for activity participation purposes. At last Fridays NSAA Representative Assembly, a proposal was passed that defined what Undue Influence may be. "The use of any of the following inducements may constitute undue influence, resulting in ineligibility of the student for all high school participation as stipulated in current NSAA Bylaw 2.7: A. Participant living with a coach, principal, teacher, or school official without legal guardianship; B. Any inducement to get parents or students to change residence or schools for athletic/non-athletic purposes; C. Offer or acceptance of money; D. Reduction or remission of regular tuition (other than need-based financial aid available to all applicants); E. Offer or acceptance of board, room, or clothing; F. Offer or acceptance of money for work in excess of amount regularly paidK. ; G. Transportation to school by any school official; H. Offer or acceptance of school privileges not normally granted to other students; I. Free or reduced rent for parents; J. Offer of payment of moving expenses for parents; K. Offer or acceptance of employment for the parents in order to entice the family to move to a certain community so as to gain the services of a child in the school's activity program. L. Any attempt by a representative of a school or any individual or group outside the school to recruit a student(s) in order to gain his/her services in the schools activity program.

Preliminary NeSA Math Results

Here are the projected NeSA Math results based on last year's test cut scores. Math is tested in grades 3-8 and 11. Grade 3 Meets Benchmark 92% Exceeds Benchmark 23% Grade 4 Meets Benchmark 91% Exceeds Benchmark 36% Grade 5 Meets Benchmark 100% Exceeds Benchmark 9.5% Grade 6 Meets Benchmark 72% Exceeds Benchmark 39% Grade 7 Meets Benchmark 74% Exceeds Benchmark 21% Grade 8 Meets Benchmark 67% Exceeds Benchmark 14% Grade 11 Meets Benchmark 92% Exceeds Benchmark 38%

School Board Meeting Agenda

PBIS Schoolwide Expectations

The Bancroft-Rosalie School PBIS schoolwide expectations chart. I hope you can read it. Parents and community members can help by positively reinforcing these expectations at home or in public places. Tell them when they are being good.

Norfolk Scholastic Contest results

1st place- Nick Sjuts, Medical Terminology 2nd place- Tess Nottlemann, English 3rd place- Preston Peters, Calculus 3rd place- Kylita Gomez, Music 3rd place- Kylita Gomez, Public Speaking 3rd Place- Derek Ahlers, Small Engines 4th Place- Brianna Wegner, English Composition 4th Place- Aaron Ras, Geography 4th Place- Auston Darnell, Construction 4th Place- Vanessa Madrid, Spanish 4th Place- Suzanne Ras, Trigonometry 5th Place- Ethan Nelson, Drafting 5th place- Auston Darnell, Government 5th Place- Aaron Ras, Geometry 5th Place- Shelby Ostrand, Psychology 6th Place- Carsten Tietz, Welding

Tom May at Neihardt Site Sunday April 13 2:00 pm

Prom Grand March

Sorry for the quality of some pictures.

Bancroft-Rosalie Racing - Lincoln Rally

Bancroft-Rosalie A car placed third today. The S car had battery trouble and did not place.

Bancroft Biz Buzz April Calendar

The Biz Buzz April meeting will be at the school on April 25. Stop in to hear what is happening around the community and have some biscuits and gravy or fruit.

B-R School Professional Development 2014-15

The B-R administration met this week with the Professional Development personnel at ESU2 to talk about needs for next year. We have five areas we are looking at.

1. School Improvement.
The school improvement committee (TJ Hilsinger, Breanna Beutler, Anita Bray, Michelle Hennig) collected school data and the staff looked at the data and identified strengths and areas for improvement. Staff input will be tabulated by the committee and the results will be shared with staff on April 16 following the early dismissal. The next step is for the staff to set goals for improvement.

Next year-  the staff will develop and implement action plans to address the school goals.

2. Technology.
- Continue to increase student use of computers in 7-12 classrooms.
- Start the process to convert from textbooks to digital books.
- Considering using IPad program, Discovery Education Science Techbook, for elementary Science curriculum.

3. Instruction.
- Continue Mastery Learning K-6 programs in Reading, Language and Spelling, and K-2 in Math, and Saxon Math in grades 3-Algebra.
- Grades 3-6 Science curriculum taught on IPads.

4. Data
- Implement the State Pilot Data Dashboard Project. Staff will meet in Professional Learning Communities/Data Teams to look at student data on a weekly/biweekly basis.

5. Response To Intervention. Three areas- Reading, Math and Behavior
Reading
K-6
Bancroft-Rosalie Elementary has decision rules in place for K-6 reading. We are one of the few schools in the state that have received tentative approval of their decision rules from the State RTI Consortium.
7-12
Continue to improve the coordination and transition from K-6 Reading and Language to 7-12 Reading and Language, use data to inform instruction, and identify interventions.

Math
K-6
Curriculum is in place, now we need to think about decision rules for K-6. The State RTI consortium is focused on reading, so we are on our own for this.
7-12
Using data data and identifying interventions.

Behavior
Positive Behavior Intervention Supports PBIS
We are a PBIS II school. Probably one more year at PBIS II depending on how staff surveys. Goal is to move to PBIS III level of implementation.

 

B-R alum mentioned in Omaha World Herald

Find out what B-R alum Blair Nelson is doing at Creighton University at the following link:

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140402/NEWS/140409741/1688#creighton-students-help-kids-on-winnebago-reservation-map-their-college-paths

Kindergarten Roundup May 6 at 2:00 pm

Dear Kindergarten Parents or Guardians

The Bancroft-Rosalie Community School Kindergarten Round-up for the next year’s class will be Wednesday, May 6, 2014 at 2:00 pm in the Bancroft-Rosalie Kindergarten. You may enter the school from the main doorway.

Kindergarten is open to all students who will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2014.  Parents are encouraged, but not required, to bring eligible children to Round-up activities. Students attending Bancroft-Rosalie Preschool will be in the Kindergarten Room at 2:00 pm.

We need the following on file in the school office:

1.     A completed  “Application for Student Admission” form.

2.     Your child’s birth certificate. (Requirement by State Law)

3.     An up to date “Immunization Record” card. (Requirement by State Law)

4.     A completed physical examination and vision screening.

Students attending the Bancroft-Rosalie Pre-school should already have these on file. We need to update our files if new immunizations were completed during the past year.

 New students should bring the forms to round-up.

Students living in the B-R school district may participate in Kindergarten Round-up even though their parents may not be planning to have them start school next fall or may be sending them to a different school.

Please feel free to call the school if you have any questions about Round-up activities, Bancroft-Rosalie School Office.  648-3336

NeSA Math testing schedule next week

NeSA State Mathematics Testing will take place next week April 7-11. Place make sure your students get plenty of rest the night before testing.

Tuesday and Wednesday April 8 and 9.

3rd grade 9:40-10:50
4th grade 10:50-Noon

Thursday and Friday April 10 and 11.

5th grade 9:40-10:50
6th grade 10:50-Noon

B-R receives $5000 Great Plains Grant for Engineering Education

Technology Education at Bancroft-Rosalie School will include more engineering skills thanks to a $5000 grant from Great Plains Communications. Mr. Hilsinger will be putting the new equipment to good use. The grant funds will be used to purchase a 3D printer, a 3D scanner, a Rotary Tool kit, a Machines kit, and supplies for building CO2 cars. The Introduction to Engineering portion of Technology Education will give students the opportunity to be creative and learn about design and manufacturing.

Report: Huge obstacles facing children of color in Nebraska, U.S.

A problem our state needs to deal with, but chooses not to take serious. This is reprinted from the Lincoln Journal article April 1, 2014. "For white kids, Nebraska provides a solid foundation for success and opportunity. But for black, Latino or Native American children in Nebraska, the odds against them are staggering, according to a Kids Count report, "Race for Results: Building a Path of Opportunity for All Children." In fact, kids of color in Nebraska fare poorer than many of their peers in other states. The report, released Tuesday, highlights the ongoing economic, educational, developmental and health disparities facing kids of color in America. While it’s hardly new news that black, Latino and Native American kids are disproportionately represented in statistics for those failing or dropping out of school, being unemployed or incarcerated, and growing up in poverty — there is an urgent need to reverse the historic trend, said Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which releases the Kids Count reports. By 2018, the majority of American kids will be of color. By 2030, people of color will represent the majority of the U.S. workforce. And by 2050, no single racial group will comprise a majority of the population, according to “Race for Results.” By continuing to fail these kids, the country is ultimately setting itself up for failure, the report indicated. The report calls for "an urgent, multi-sector approach" to developing solutions. In Nebraska, all kids of color face more barriers than the nation on average. That includes Asian-American children who as a whole outscore all racial groups in America, including whites, in well-being."