Saturday Food Options

With several events taking place this Saturday, there are several options for meals in Bancroft or at BRLD sporting events. The Village of Bancroft Holiday Lunch (aka Ham Sandwich Day) will be in the lower level of the Bancroft Community Building. Sandwiches will be served to Bancroft residents. The junior high boys basketball tournament will be in the BRLD gym all day with a concession stand by the BR Sophomore Class. BRLD plays Homer in junior varsity and varsity basketball games starting at 1:00 pm in Lyons. They will have Pork sandwiches for sale. Plan your meals accordingly.

Gallup Student Engagement Survey

Each semester Gallup surveys students to measure student responses to four areas. The area I am most interested in is Student Engagement. Below are the results of BR students grades 5-12.
Our students report being more engaged than the average student in the United States.
Areas of strength:
Students feel safe in our school
Teachers make me feel schoolwork is important
 I have learned something interesting at school in the last seven days.

Possible areas to improve:
I get to do what I do best everyday (providing more educational opportunities for students)
In the last seven days someone has told me I have done good work at school (continuing with PBIS program)
I have one teacher that makes me excited about the future (implementation of Habitudes program and Personal Learning Plans).

Aaron Ras presents at Student Sportsmanship Summit

E Day Tuesday November 22

What is E Day?

Bancroft-Rosalie Community School E Days will provide access to online instruction provided by each student’s individual teachers. Teachers will create lessons in Canvas, the school’s learning management system. These lessons will be interactive and relate to the curriculum for the specific class. One E day has been scheduled for the 2016-17 school year, and will be counted as one of the 180 student days prescribed by School Board of Education policy. Students will have access to teachers via the Internet. If students do not have Internet at home, they may come to the Bancroft-Rosalie School Building to access the school wi-fi on the E Day, or the morning after the E Day (doors open at 7:00 am). Students that attend the B-R school extended learning program will have time scheduled to complete their E Day assignments.

What is the date for the 2016-2017 school year?

Tuesday, November 22, 2017. Additional E Days may be added to the schedule based on the results and feedback from the November 22

What will it look like for students?

Bancroft-Rosalie Community School teachers use Canvas to post assignments and lessons. Students access Canvas on their school issued laptop or iPad. The learning management system is completely web-based. On E Days, students will complete lessons/assignments created by their teachers in Canvas.  These lessons/assignments will be related to the curriculum taught in that grade/class.  There will not be a rigid schedule for students to follow but they will be expected to complete all lessons by the beginning of the next school day (exceptions may be made for students without internet access). Most teachers will be available online for questions or concerns from 8:30-Noon and 2:00-3:30 pm during the day.

The Extended Learning Program will be taking a field trip to the Wayne State Planetarium.

What will these days look like for teachers?

The focus of these days will be Professional Development for teachers. They will continue to refine their skills in using Canvas and digital learning. Canvas is the learning management system Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools implemented in August 2015. The teachers will also analyze student data (student use and assessment data) throughout the day and be available for students’ questions.

Why have an E Day?

• This is a step in assisting students to become responsible for their own learning.
• To prepare students for college and careers. Most college students take at least one online course during their education and most companies require online applications and are using eLearning for training purposes
• Ability to provide teachers an entire day of professional development and planning with their peers
• It is possible that, in the future, snow days could become E Days and would not have to be added onto the end of the school year.

How will attendance be taken?

• Teachers will take attendance by recording the online participation of the students.
• If a student is too sick to complete the work, parents will need to call the office. The student is still responsible for the work and will need to complete it by the class period following their return to school as outlined in the student handbook.
• Canvas records each student’s amount of activity and teachers and administrators have access to these analytics.

What if the students’ computer or iPad is not working?

• From experience, this is a rare occurrence but if it happens there are a couple different options:

·       Students may use any other device to access Canvas because it is web-based.

·       If the student doesn’t have a device at home, they may come to school.

·       If the student cannot find a way to complete the assignments, they will be accepted “late” and will receive full credit when completed, assuming the problem is a legitimate excuse.

·       When the student returns to school, they will need to take their computer/iPad to the computer lab to be checked and repaired.

What if a student wants to eat breakfast/ lunch at school?

• Students participating in the Extended Learning Program will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at school.

• Students not participating in the Extended Learning Program may sign up with the kitchen to eat breakfast and lunch that day. Students may come to school between 11am and 12:30 pm if they want to eat lunch and do not wish to do E Day work at school.
• Bus transportation will be provided at the normal schedule. Students may come to participate in the Extended Learning Program or work on their own under the supervision of school staff.

Can a student work, go on a college visit, or shadow an employer during this day?

• Each student can organize their day in a manner that suits them. They will be required to complete all lessons by the beginning of the next school day (exceptions may be made for students without internet access), but there are no specific time requirements otherwise.

How long will each student be required to work on the computer and what will they be doing?

• Each teacher will be creating a lesson that follows the curriculum. Students in grades 7-12 will have 6-7 class periods of work to complete. The approximate time required to complete each assignment is 30 minutes. Elementary students will have 2-4 class assignments to complete, with each assignment requiring approximately 20 minutes.
• These lessons may include videos, online activities like IXL, internet research, online quizzes/assignments, commenting on a forum, writing a paper, creating a presentation, or anything else the teacher deems relevant to the curriculum.

Bobby Bridger named Word sender at 2016 Neihardt Laureate Feast

Bobby Bridger is an author/a singer/songwriter/actor/playwright/poet/ and painter who for has performed his one man shows for audiences across America and around the world. He has recorded numerous albums, appeared on PBS's "Austin City Limits", on ABC's "Good Morning America", on NPR, A&E and C-Span. He is the composer of "Heal In The Wisdom", the official anthem of the internationally famous Kerrville Folk Festival for 25 years.

Bridger has been an artist-in-residence at several locations, including the John G. Neihardt Center in Bancroft, NE, and has starred starred in the musical, Shakespeare and The Indians and the drama Black Elk Speaks. His play Seekers of the Fleece ran for eight consecutive summer seasons in Wyoming. He is the author of the award-winning book, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull: Inventing The Wild West, A Ballad of the West, and contributed essays on western icons including John G. Neihardt, as well as the publication of his numerous magazine and newpaper articles. His story was featured in the documentary film "Quest Of An Epic Balladeer".

Bancroft-Rosalie School Board Meeting News

The November meeting of the Bancroft-Rosalie School Board was held Monday, November 14, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the school library. Dr. Cerny presented the October transportation report, District tax history, and the State School Board Conference.

In new business the board reviewed the district multicultural program and the school technology plan. Mr. Sjuts presented a preliminary teacher evaluation report. December 2^nd was set for the Board/Staff Christmas gathering at Main Street. The board accepted the resignation of Jeanine Allmer and voted to offer a part-time teaching contract to Dennis Zavadil beginning in January. Dr. Cerny recommended the hiring of Roberta Kai and Marchele Polenske as part-time assistant cooks.

The board discussed a Joint Public Agency proposal submitted by ESU 2 on behalf of the Pathways To Tomorrow consortium. It will be an action item on the December Board meeting agenda. 

The board went into executive session to discuss teacher negotiations.

Local election results

Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education Voting Results

Three positions open

Elected

Trevor Bonneau- 398 votes

Jason Gatzemeyer- 23 votes

One open position to be filled by the current Bancroft-Rosalie School Board of Education at their December Board Meeting

Statute from Neal Erickson, deputy secretary of state for elections

From the Cuming County clerk- "Unless you are a village board, township board, of a Class I or II school write-in votes shall not be counted unless a citizen engaged in a write-in campaign like Jason Gatzemeyer."

Bancroft Village Board 
Two positions open
James Hulstein- 174 votes
Matt Kai- 170 votes

Rosalie Village Board
Jan Hawk- 29 votes

Aaron Ras signs with Wayne State College

Wayne State College baseball added a recruit Wednesday when B-R senior Aaron Ras signed a letter of intent to play for the Wildcats. Pictured with Aaron, Ronda and Gerard are T-C Thunder coaches Clay Haymart and Waylon Carlson.

Friday Night Husker Football in 2017

The Nebraska School Activities Association us today that the Big Ten has scheduled Nebraska to play an away football game next fall on Friday night, September 29, at Illinois. The NSAA preference would be that "Friday nights be kept sacred high school games and activities", but the Big Ten television contract called for an expansion of televised games onto Friday nights.

BRLD Football hosts Tekamah-Herman that night. I do not anticipate that any changes will be made to our football contest, but we may a few spectators who will choose to watch the Nebraska game rather than attend our high school game.

Dual Credit Math position opening for second semester

MATHEMATICS

Bancroft-Rosalie School is seeking applications for a part-time MATHEMATICS TEACHER. A Nebraska teaching certificate and an endorsement and MASTERS in mathematics is required.

Send letter of application and credentials to: Superintendent, Bancroft-Rosalie School, Box 129, Bancroft, NE. 68004.

Family Internet survey results

Bancroft-Rosalie School surveyed families to find out how many students have internet access at home in order to plan for E-Day on November 22.
84.2% of students Grades K-2 had internet access.
89.5% of students in grades 3-6 had internet access.
85.7% of students in grades 7-8 had internet access.
82.9% of students in grades 9-12 had internet access.

Now that we have determined the level of student internet access, we can develop solutions for those students that don't have access.
The school will be open on November 22 for any students who want to utilize the school wi-fi.
The after-school extended learning program will operate from 8:00- 5:00 that day, which will include a field trip to the wayne State College Planetarium. Elementary students who attend the afterschool extended learning program will have the opportunity to complete their E-Day assignments with school staff.

Having the school open November 22 is a simple solution for that day, but will not meet the needs of most of the families without internet access at home if school is cancelled because of weather and an E-Day is arranged that morning of the storm.

Each family situation will need to be looked at to determine the best internet access solution for them.

Woodmen presents ift to B-R

Principal Mike Sjuts accepted a check for $200 from Woodmen of the World to go towards providing meals for low income students.

Black Elk Speaks chosen as 2017 One Book, One Nebraska

Press Release

Wouldn’t it be great if people across Nebraska read an inspirational, redemptive story in 2017—and then talk about it with their friends and neighbors? That is exactly what will be happening throughout the state, with Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt (1881-1973) selected as the 2017 One Book One Nebraska. Black Elk Speaks, the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people, offers readers much more than a glimpse of a vanished time. Black Elk’s searing visions of the unity of humanity and Earth, conveyed by John G. Neihardt, have made this book a classic that crosses multiple genres and generations. Black Elk met the distinguished Nebraska poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt in 1930 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and he asked Neihardt to share his story with the world.

John G. Neihardt was named Nebraska’s first Poet Laureate in 1921 by the Nebraska legislature. He was the author of more than twenty-five volumes of poetry, fiction, and philosophy. He also co-owned and edited the Bancroft Blade newspaper in Bancroft, NE. Neihardt served as a professor of poetry at the University of Nebraska and a literary editor in St. Louis, MO. He was a poet-in-residence and lecturer at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Neihardt was inducted posthumously into the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1974. His house has been preserved as the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, also known as the Neihardt Center in Bancroft, NE. The house museum site includes a prayer garden, Neihardt’s study, and a library.

Black Elk Speaks, originally published in 1932, is available in several editions. The newest was published in 2014 by University of Nebraska Press. It features a new introduction by historian Philip J. Deloria and annotations of Black Elk’s story by renowned Lakota scholar Raymond J. DeMallie. Three essays by John G. Neihardt provide background on this landmark work along with pieces by Vine Deloria Jr., Raymond J. DeMallie, Alexis Petri, and Lori Utecht. Maps, original illustrations by Standing Bear, and a set of appendixes round out the edition.

Libraries across Nebraska will join the John G. Neihardt Foundation (http://neihardtcenter.org/foundation) and other literary and cultural organizations in planning book discussions, activities, and events that will encourage Nebraskans to read and discuss this book. Support materials to assist with local reading/discussion activities will be available after January 1, 2017 at http://onebook.nebraska.gov. Updates and activity listings will be posted on the One Book One Nebraska Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/onebookonenebraska.

The One Book One Nebraska reading program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, is entering its thirteenth year. It encourages Nebraskans across the state to read and discuss one book, chosen from books written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. Black Elk Speaks was announced as the 2017 selection at the Celebration of Nebraska Books on October 29 in Lincoln.

Early College High School

Bancroft-Rosalie High School has made the transition to become an early college high school. In our early college high school, students have a four-year personal learning plan that accelerates them through a rigorous high school course of study helping students graduate with up to 33 hours of college credit taught by Bancroft-Rosalie staff. Classes at "Fridays at Northeast" provide students with opportunities to take earn 4.5- 7.0 credits in Auto Tech, Auto Body, Production Welding, or Animal Science. 

The Bancroft-Rosalie early college high school creates a smooth transition between high school and college, and B-R students earn college credit at no cost to them or their family. Bancroft-Rosalie High School has a culture of high expectations and provides a multi-tier system of student supports in a positive student centered environment. Staff advisers work with students to develop personal learning plans and help students gain the employability skills needed to enter the job market. 

Bancroft-Rosalie School administrators and staff will continue to form partnerships with two and four year colleges and area high school to increase opportunities for our students, with the goal of some students graduating high school with an Associates Degree.