On October 1, the high school cafeteria continued to fill up with a very special group.  Dozens of dads helped their children through the pizza line before elementary principal, Mrs. Hinds, gave them the go ahead to sign up as Watch D.O.G.S. We spoke to Mr. Aaron Peak, one of the current watch D.O.G.S. at the elementary building.

 

"I love being able to interact with my child at school as well as watch them interact with their classmates," said Aaron Peak, a Watch D.O.G.S. participant.  Mr. Peak further shared, "I'm very thankful Brookville Schools have this program. It gives me a glimpse of what my child sees every day, the opportunity to meet other kids that I normally would not and engage in our children's learning experience."

 

Mr. Peak painted a picture of his normal day as a Watch D.O.G.S. attendee.  "A typical day begins in my child's class for a short time. Then I will help in other classrooms, maybe help Mrs. Munn in the cafeteria, help at recess, or even run books back to the Brookville Library. The last part of my day I might help out with one more class before ending back in my child's classroom."

 

This program is all about Dads of Great Students coming to school as an extra set of eyes and hands to watch and help in Brookville schools.  The program has been in operation in our schools close to ten years.  Aaron concluded by saying, "My kids always look forward to and get excited about the day when they can say, My dad is the Watch Dog today!" He added that, "They also enjoy the days when other Dads are at school."

 

Did you miss the sign up night but still want to participate?  Contact Mrs. Staggs, elementary secretary, at 833-6796, or complete the Sign Up form found here.  

In part one of this series, we described this year's first district instructional goal, Project Based Learning. In part two, we are focusing on our second instructional goal: formative assessment. 

Formative assessment refers to the ongoing process of providing information during a lesson to make instructional adjustments. An example of formative assessment might be a teacher asking a question and all students giving her a thumbs up if they understand, thumbs sideways if they are unsure, or thumbs down if they are lost. The teacher can immediately intervene if children to do not understand.  This type of low-stakes assessment happens seamlessly so that teaching and learning can be adjusted to make the greatest impact on student learning. 

One major goal of formative assessments is to provide feedback. You may have witnessed young students holding up a small white board to work out a problem and telegraph their learning quickly to the teacher. This two way communication between teacher and student is just one of the numerous ways formative assessment can take shape. 

Formative assessment can also happen earlier in the learning to help a teacher plan lessons. Teachers may be able to differentiate or teach things differently to students who already know the content. While our teachers are already familiar with formative assessment, they will be deepening their understanding and mastering how, when, and where to use formative assessment.   For more information on formative assessment click here . 

The month of October is focused on safety in the elementary building with the Brookville Fire Department offering safety programs.  Last week, our students had the opportunity to see fire-fighting tools and equipment close up. Local firefighters spoke to the students about fire safety, showing them that a firefighter in all of their gear isn't scary. The children were invited to touch and talk to a firefighter as she crawled around the floor so they could see what she would look like in a real emergency. Click here to see a brief video.

The children also practiced getting out of a house in a fire emergency.  The department used the Surrey Fire Safety House or "Smoke House" to simulate fire hazards. Students learned what dangers to look for, how to evacuate a house in the event of a fire, and how to crawl to a window and climb out.  The "Smoke House" has been used in the past and was very informative. Click on the video to see "Smoke House" training in action.

During the week, over 500 students participated in the fire prevention programming. The Fire Department also held an evening event for the community to learn about fire safety, smoke detectors and to see the "Smoke House". To view more photos from the fire prevention program, please click here .

 

On October 14th, approximately 150 of our 7th and 8th graders along with students from the junior class will have an opportunity to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

The PSAT is a challenging test that measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills.  The PSAT is the official qualifying exam (NMSQT) for National Merit scholarship recognition.  For the intermediate school students, this exam will be three or four years above their content level. All students in grades 7 and 8 were given the option of taking this test.  The purpose of giving the test to intermediate students is to build familiarity with the test in hopes that they may become National Merit Scholars when they take it as juniors.  It was recommended for those students who are self-motivated, achieve at advanced levels in current academic work and excel at "above level" academic challenges. 

 

Students who participate in the October administration of the PSAT receive a detailed Score Report Plus. The Score Report Plus provides students with a comprehensive skills' analysis of their performance. The PSAT is a perfect opportunity for college-bound students to practice test-taking skills and compete for national scholarships.

Where is your hometown?

Vandalia, Ohio

 

Where do you live now? 

Lewisburg, Ohio

 

How many years of teaching experience do you have?

This is my 7^th year. I was at Northridge for 3 years before I came to Brookville.

 

How many years have you taught in Brookville?

This is my 4^th year at Brookville.

   

What is your position in the school district?

I teach 8^th grade science.

   

Tell us about your family and hobbies outside of teaching?

I am married to a police officer and we had twin boys, Hunter and Caleb, in March. I like to read, take walks with my family, and my husband and I Crossfit.

   

What is your favorite thing about teaching in Brookville ?

My favorite thing about teaching in Brookville is the students. They are great kids who want to learn. They are always respectful and fun to talk to!

 

How do you spend June and July?

I spend June and July hanging out with my family, doing yard work, and preparing for the next school year. We try to take a vacation if possible also.

For more information on Mrs. Gulley and her class, please visit her webpage.

Brookville Schools are proud of our series "Where Are They Now?, which features profiles of past Brookville High School graduates. These graduates have responded to brief questions concerning their education or training after high school, their current occupation and their words of wisdom to the students in our buildings.  

Our current profile is of Cassie Williams (Steck), a 2001 graduate.  Please take a moment to view her profile here.  You can also view our past profiles on our website.

On September 30 , members from the Brookville-MVCTC FFA Chapter participated in the District 5 Soils Contest CDE (Career Development Event), which took place in Auglaize County. Members competed in the Rural Soils contest where they evaluated three soil pits for agricultural use. Based on the soil ratings members choose, they recommend management practices for the land dealing with soil erosion, compaction, water quality, and soil fertility.

 

Students determine the slope of the land, soil texture, soil structure, identify landforms, and examine the soil for erosion, compaction, and restrictive layers that would inhibit plant growth.  Members completed a soils general knowledge test as part of the competition.  Members of this team included: Andrea Ball, Zach Chambers, Madison Hamiel, TJ Hunt, Shelby Rodgers, Devyn Thomas, Jordan Walters, and Derek Winner. Senior TJ Hunt was the team's highest placing individual.

 

The Brookville-MVCTC FFA chapter would like to thank the soils judge, Mr. George Derringer, who is a Research Soil Scientist for Natural Resource Conservation Center in Englewood and Ms. Ruby Greiwe of New Bremen for providing the location for the contest.

To Jackie Munn at our Elementary School. Mrs. Munn oversees the cafeteria daily and has done so for over 15 years. On any given day you will find Mrs. Munn opening food items, cleaning tables, dismissing students and entertaining the children with stories about dogs. She also teaches students about manners, recycling and good nutrition. Mrs. Munn has been an essential part of our transition to all day kindergarten and working with those students to learn all about lunch in the cafeteria. Thank you Mrs. Munn for all you do! 

__________________________________

To Mrs. Sayre-Nickell, Assistant Principal of BHS and BIS for her efforts to raise money for F.I.S.H. and foster the idea of giving back to the community by holding a "Smash the Car" event. Students recently gave money for a turn at "smashing" a car which had been painted with Smash the Jacks. Congratulations on raising $75 and donating the funds to F.I.S.H. More events are planned, so stay tuned! To view more photos from the "Smash the Car" event, please visit our gallery.

__________________________________

BHS Alumni Halftime Show

Our alumni who took part in the recent Homecoming activities. Our alumni baton twirlers stole the show at halftime with their performance. You can view a portion of the halftime show by clicking on the video.