“A Community Passionate About Student Success”
All BESD schools implementing PBIS program with great success and improved student outcomes!
All of Buckeye’s Elementary Schools were recognized with achievement awards for successful implementation of
PBIS - Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) at the Behavior Education Technology Conference at
the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix on March 6, 2015. The purpose of the PBISaz Achievement
Awards are to identify and recognize schools in the State for successful implementation of school-wide systems
of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support. Criteria are based on effective implementation of the essential
PBIS components.
PBIS is a systems-based approach to behavior that works in schools to create a more effective learning
environment by making schools predictable, consistent, positive and safe. PBIS provides a systematic approach
to teaching and recognizing appropriate behavior in schools. The goal for the effective implementation is to
reduce behavioral incidents and eliminate lost instructional time due to the need to intervene in students’
negative behavior. Creating a positive school climate through modeling positive behavior is also a goal of the
system. Teaching and reinforcing expectations is achieved by establishing clear rules and routines and using
reinforcement procedures.
The successful implementation of PBIS comes as a result of comprehensive District and school planning teams.
These teams agreed to have consistent rules district-wide that are enforced daily. They are: Be Safe, Be
Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Kind! Buckeye Elementary School District is in its third year of training staff
and implementing Positive Behavior Intervention Supports across the district.
All BESD schools have
implemented the four school rules that apply to all areas of the school: in the classrooms, cafeterias, hallways,
playgrounds and even on school busses! BES, Jasinski and West Park received a Bronze award and Bales, Inca
and Sundance received Merit awards for their efforts.
According to Joni Cesario, Director of Special Programs for the Buckeye Elementary School District, “The
improvement of social behavior of all students is a high priority for all of us in BESD because it directly impacts
academic achievement for students. We are so proud of our students, staff and families for their support of the
program and for being BESD being recognized throughout the state for our outstanding results.”
Curriculum Connection FY14-15 Volume 3
It’s hard to believe the school year is almost over! In
preparation for the last day of school on May 21 st, Bales
Kindergartners have begun their annual ABC Countdown.
Each of the last 26 days of school is being represented by a
letter of the alphabet, and a corresponding theme and/or
activity. On ‘Q day’, they will be writing letters to the first
graders, asking them questions to help the kindergartners
prepare for first grade next year. On ‘V day’, they will visit a
first grade classroom. ‘L-day’ is Luau day! Kindergartners
enjoyed a luau party, complete with letter crafts, and a
Limbo competition. This is always a fun time of year for our
kindergartners, their teachers, and parents as well. Bales
Kindergarten wishes everyone a safe and happy summer!
The 2014-1015 school year has been full of successful and exciting events
here at Inca! From Meet the Teacher Night to Kindergarten Round Up, we
have set our focus on the success of each and every student. Through
researching best practices we have implemented effective
teaching
strategies that impact all our students! Inquiry-based math, Bell2Bell
strategies, Walk to Succeed and Thinking Maps are a few of these exciting
programs and techniques! Our students, parents, and staff have joined
together to participate in wonderfully successful Curriculum Nights that have
focused on Math/Science and Reading Around the World! We have seen
multiple recognitions of both students and staff. Our Inca Band has
performed and been recognized at several events, sports teams have
represented our campus as champions; win, lose or draw! Academic
excellence has abounded through our new GATE program, Math
contestants, Poetry Slam Winners, Spelling Bee winners and many more!
We have tackled and survived the new AZMerit as a total computer-based
campus! All these endeavors and so many more are the reason our Panther
Pride has been impossible to hide! We could not be prouder of our staff,
students, parents, and community for all they have contributed to truly
making Inca Elementary the most AMAZING place to learn and grow!
Page 2
Ole!
The 4th Annual Piñata Festival and Title 1 Reading Night
held on Friday April 24th at Buckeye Elementary School was a
tremendous success! The gymnasium exploded with families
and Buckeye community members coming to revel in an
evening filled with art, student entertainment, reading activities,
food and the ancient art of piñata-making. Piñatas were made
by students, the BES band performed, student artwork was
proudly dispersed throughout the gym, kindergarten and 1st
grade students performed the Mexican Hat Dance and 2nd grade
sang Katy Perry’s song “Roar”. Buckeye Public Library was
promoting their summer reading program and the Buckeye
Family Resource Center was giving eye exams. Mikey’s
restaurant graciously provided burritos and drinks for sale and
Macy’s distribution center donated children books. “The Piñata
Festival and Title 1 Reading night united to produce a culturally
enriching event that was enjoyed by 457 people,” said Principal
Roer.
“Anytime we have the opportunity to bridge the
community, parents and school we send a powerful message
about the importance of education to our students.”
On Wednesday, April 22, Jasinski held a Title 1 night along with
the Physical Education Rhythm and Movement performance.
Parents were asked to come to the library to receive information
and demonstration regarding the online intervention programs,
Ticket to Read and VMath Live, offered by the district. We
emphasized the benefits for students being able to use these
programs over the summer. After parents attended the session in
the library, they made their way to the gym to watch the Physical
Education Rhythm and Movement performance for grades
Kindergarten through Third. Ms. Battaglia, Jasinski’s P.E. teacher,
choreographed routines for all grade levels that were participating
in the performance. There was standing room only, with over
1500 parents coming through the campus over the course of the
evening.
Many
in
attendance commented
on what a successful
night it was for Jasinski!
Curriculum Connection FY14-15 Volume 3
Being a good reader takes more than just luck! Sundance
celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a “Shamrockin’ Reading
Night” this year. This Title 1 Reading Night was a great
chance for families to come to school and celebrate
reading. There were a variety of reading games ranging
from phonics activities to poetry writing for students and
families. Families also had an opportunity to use our school
technology to login to Ticket to Read and access the
Harcourt website and see many of the reading opportunities
that are available to Sundance students. In addition to the
sites they were able to access that evening, families also
received suggested resources for working on reading at
home. Sundance is lucky to have such a great community
working to develop lifelong readers!
We are excited to announce that BESD will be offering a summer
school opportunity for kindergarten through third grade students.
We have a staff of eager, highly qualified teachers, who are ready
to meet and work with students to strengthen reading abilities and
enrich their lives with incredible curriculum. The program being
used, TimeWarp Plus, is a fantastic platform that comes with many
accolades. As cited from the VoyagerSopris website, “ TimeWarp
Plus is grounded in a decade of validated research to prevent and
reverse summer reading loss. In a national study, students
sampled from seven school districts made gains of 5–9 months
during the summer program.”
Over the four weeks of learning, we are sure to see student gains
and growth both academically, as well as personally. This program
will promote self-confidence with each step the students make,
and they will truly enjoy the experiences that come with the
lessons provided.
The program will run from June 1st-June 25th, 7:30 A.M.-12:45
P.M., Monday-Thursday. It will be hosted at Buckeye Elementary
School (for Bales and Buckeye students), Inca Elementary School
(for Jasinski and Inca students), and Sundance Elementary School
(for WestPark and Sundance students). Students will be offered
transportation where available, as well as breakfast and lunch
daily. The summer school program will also run alongside our
annual Summer Food Program, which provides a free breakfast
and lunch to all children up to age 18.
We look forward to a successful and fun-filled summer!
Page 3
WestPark Elementary hosted its annual Family Camp Out on
Friday, April 24th. This event was designed and sponsored
by PTA to accommodate families of all kinds, and provides a
wonderful opportunity to bond as a community. There was
a communal grill for all to prepare their dinners on, as well
as the makings for s’mores for everyone to enjoy. On the
inflatable movie screen, Night at the Museum: Secret of the
Tomb, played, while families played kickball, basketball, and
a variety of other games. The event was a success, and the
weather held clear despite the forecast, to allow for a fun
and safe night for all.
BESD will sponsor the 2015 Summer Food Service Program at three
locations starting June 1st - July 24th to ensure that children ages 18
and younger continue to have an opportunity to receive meals at no cost,
when school is not in session. Meals will be served Monday-Thursday
(closed on Friday) from 7:30 AM-8:30 AM for Breakfast and 11:00 AM12:30 PM for Lunch. Adults are able to purchase breakfast for $1.25 and
lunch for $2.00.
The participating sites are:
 Buckeye Elementary
 Inca Elementary
 Sundance Elementary
210 S. 6th Street
23601 W. Durango Street
23800 W. Maricopa
For more information contact:
Food Service Office (623) 925-3421
May 21 : LAST DAY of SCHOOL
June 1 - June 25 : SUMMER SCHOOL K-3rd
June 1 - July 24 : SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM
August 3 : MEET YOUR TEACHER NIGHT
August 5 : FIRST DAY of SCHOOL
Curriculum Connection FY14-15 Volume 3
In April and May more than 3,000 3rd-8th grade students in the
Buckeye Elementary School District joined students across the state
in taking the inaugural AzMERIT assessments in ELA Writing and
Reading and in Mathematics. Designed to meet Arizona’s College
and Career Ready Standards (AZCCRS), the assessments replace
the state’s long standing standardized assessments in ELA and
math, AIMS. Students in 4th and 8th grade continue to take the
AIMS assessment in Science.
The AzMERIT assessments were made available as computer or
paper based assessments according to the needs and capabilities of
Arizona’s districts.
After much discussion between district
administration, school administration and the district’s InformationTechnology (IT) department, it was decided that Inca and
Sundance Elementary Schools would administer computer based
assessments while the other four sites delivered the paper version
this first year of testing.
Arizona’s institution of a computer based state assessment is part
of a national move towards using more technology in classroom
curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Buckeye Elementary
School District has begun using online scoring for DIBELS
benchmarks and has used technology to deliver its Galileo
benchmarks. Buckeye Elementary School District has been
increasing the number of technological devices available for
teachers and students steadily over the past few years in part to
prepare for the requirements of the online AzMERIT. Headphones,
keyboards, laptops, tablets, and hardwired computers all had to be
configured to meet AzMERIT.
Despite the technological
preparations for the test, the overall online delivery was designed
to be user friendly for both students and teachers. “I think
anything that is unknown can be scary and unsettling but students
and teachers adjusted easily,” said Sundance Principal Neva
Burlingame. She noted that after teachers logged in for their first
test they found the interface easy to navigate. Inca Intervention
Specialist noted that some adults were more nervous about the
transition to computer based testing than the students were. “To
them (the students) it was just another day in the lab. I was so
impressed by their engagement in the tests and their ability to
maneuver about.” While students are not allowed to discuss any
items on the tests, they did let Inca Assistant Principal Jennifer
Dennis know they appreciated the online format. “They… said they
liked how interactive the test was,” she says. With a new delivery
system some hardware and software glitches were inevitable, but
glitches Buckeye students experienced were small and were usually
easy to troubleshoot by staff members. An AzMERIT help desk was
available to assist with any technical issues.
Page 4
Both the paper and the online versions of the assessments were
expected to look quite different from standardized assessments of
the past. Not merely a multiple choice bubble test, the AzMERIT
assessments feature unique item types in both math and reading to
deeper assess a student’s knowledge of content areas while giving
a more engaging testing experience. Teachers and students had
access to a Sample Test created by Arizona Department of
Education prior to the actual testing window. Sample Items
included questions that asked for multiple responses as well as
evidential proof as to why an answer may be correct. Interactive
working of mathematics problems on graphs, short written
responses, and “drag and drop” menus were all expected to appear
within AZ Merit’s item types. A unique feature of the online version
was the ability to test listening skills through questions about oral
presentations. Writing assessments were given to all 3 rd – 8th
grade students as part of the English Language Arts assessment
(AIMS only tested with writing prompts in grades 5, 6, and 7).
Prompts were expected to involve reading of multiple texts and to
ask students to synthesize and cite evidence from the texts in
generating their response. This would be a departure from
previous writing prompts that often asked students to write a
narrative or persuasive piece based on their own experience rather
than crafting an argument supported by textual evidence.
BESD teachers and students have been preparing for the expected
increase in rigor of the assessments over the past several years by
teaching to the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards,
aligning their curriculum to the new standards, and using
performance based assessments in writing and math created by the
district Mapping Committees. Prior to the assessments each site
delivered a series of professional development sessions on how
Thinking Maps could be used to analyze informational texts more
effectively. “I see (Thinking) Maps all over the place,” BES
Intervention Specialist Tracey Stephens notes about her campus
walkthroughs and she expected students to utilize the tools during
their testing.
As this is the first year with the new assessments, results are not
expected to be available until the fall. After the assessments are
normed, the results in subsequent years will be made available
before the school year ends to allow for more effective in
instructional planning for the following year. While schools will not
be receiving letter grades based on this year’s AzMERIT’s results,
the assessment will hold the same importance that AIMS has in the
past. Planning for student intervention groups, staff professional
development, and core curriculum instruction all take state
assessment data into account.
A Note From Dr. Randy Watkins…
In the spirit of Teacher Appreciation Week I would like express my gratitude to all of
our staff members for their tireless efforts to ensure that all of our kids are provided
the best education. Additionally, I would like to recognize our six Westside Impact
Teachers of the Year, which consist of one teacher per school site. They were
selected for this very prestigious award amongst our outstanding teachers throughout
the district...a very significant accomplishment! Congratulations go out to Yolie
Therkildsen from Bales, Thomas Gibson from Buckeye, Gail Oxford from Inca, Robert
Wehofer from Jasinski, Teresa Golihare from Sundance, and Robiah Nelson from
WestPark. These six teachers model how we are passionate about student success.