2018-19
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TO THE<br />
FROM THE<br />
Every Day<br />
Extraordinary<br />
<strong>2018</strong>-20<strong>19</strong><br />
ANNUAL REPORT<br />
TO THE<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
www.sbps.net
2 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
INSIDE<br />
Numbers and Trends........................................................4<br />
Graduation Rate................................................................5<br />
Test Scores...............................................................................6<br />
New Curriculum.....................................................................7<br />
Technology..............................................................................8<br />
The New SHS...........................................................................9<br />
Preschool at Roosevelt...............................................10<br />
AFJROTC................................................................................14<br />
SBPS Foundation..............................................................15<br />
OUR SCHOOLS<br />
Scottsbluff Senior High • 635-6230<br />
Mike Halley, Principal<br />
Dr. Andrew Dick, Assistant Principal,<br />
Teaching and Learning<br />
Matt Huck, Assistant Principal<br />
Justin Shaddick, Assistant Principal, Specialized<br />
Programming/Career Academies<br />
Dave Hoxworth, AP/Activities Director<br />
Bluffs Middle School • 635-6270<br />
Jana Mason, Principal<br />
Bree Rock, Assistant Principal<br />
Jason Blanco, AP/Assistant Activities<br />
Director<br />
Lincoln Heights Elementary • 635-6252<br />
Kraig Weyrich, Principal<br />
Longfellow Elementary • 635-6262<br />
Laurie Bahl, Principal<br />
Roosevelt Elementary • 635-6259<br />
Frances Burkhalter, Principal<br />
Robin Hoxworth, Assistant Principal<br />
Westmoor Elementary • 635-6255<br />
Bert Wright, Principal<br />
Lukas Benzel, Assistant Principal<br />
Lake Minatare Elementary • 783-1134<br />
Jeremy Behnke, Principal<br />
Bear Cub Preschool • 635-6293<br />
Jodi Benson, Principal<br />
This publication was produced by Scottsbluff<br />
Public Schools. For more information, contact<br />
Melissa Price, Director of Communications at<br />
308-635-6200 or mprice@sbps.net. Photos by<br />
Melissa Price, SHS Journalism Department and<br />
SBPS Staff.<br />
Combined Non-Discrimination Notice<br />
The Scottsbluff Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race,<br />
color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and<br />
provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.<br />
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the<br />
non-discrimination policies:<br />
Rick Myles, Superintendent or Wendy Kemling, Executive Director of Student<br />
Services, 1722 1st Ave. Scottsbluff, NE 69361, 308-635-6200<br />
Superintendent’s Message<br />
A Closer Look . . .<br />
Dear Scottsbluff Community,<br />
Thank you for taking the time to read through our <strong>2018</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Scottsbluff<br />
Public Schools Annual Report.<br />
This publication is intended to provide you a closer look into the<br />
everyday and the extraordinary achievements occurring within your<br />
school district. We understand that many of you don’t have the time<br />
to visit our schools very often. In fact, if you don’t have school age<br />
children, you may rarely have occasion to see our schools beyond<br />
the auditorium’s public performances or the sporting events in our Richard A. Myles<br />
stadium or gymnasiums. But, with such a significant portion of your Superintendent<br />
tax dollars funding public education in our state, it’s particularly<br />
important that we do all we can to help you see what you’re paying for. I hope this report is<br />
helpful and, perhaps, even sparks your curiosity to come visit us and learn more.<br />
Our students and staff accomplish the extraordinary every day. Those words are easy to<br />
say. However, I believe them to be so very true here in Scottsbluff Public Schools. Beginning<br />
with our Early Childhood Programming and Nebraska’s leading Sixpence Program and moving<br />
through our expanding Bear Cub Preschool sites, our youngest children are immersed in<br />
learning that provides an academic and social construct for them to build upon throughout<br />
the rest of their lives. Our elementary school staffs utilize newly updated curricula and materials<br />
to help students develop their skills through innovative and highly engaging instructional<br />
practices. Moving into Bluffs Middle School, our kids begin to assert their independence<br />
and self-reliance in a safe, caring environment that is based upon high expectations<br />
and developmentally appropriate rigor. Our new curriculum materials and textbooks are<br />
thoroughly vetted and evaluated among the very highest in each of their respective areas.<br />
And, beginning in sixth grade, all of our students have their own Chromebook personal computers<br />
throughout their day at school and to take home.<br />
And, of course, our students then proceed to Scottsbluff High School – without a doubt,<br />
among the very best secondary schools anywhere in this country. Nowhere, can a student<br />
find more varied and relevant curricula. These include shuttled transportation to tuition-free<br />
college courses and six career academies incorporating twenty-four individual pathways.<br />
These opportunities are supported by amazing facilities such as a state-of-the-industry<br />
greenhouse and agri-science and construction trades wing; health and medical science<br />
labs; graphic arts, video and music studios; high tech engineering production equipment;<br />
cosmetology; screen-printing; and today’s most current technology with almost all areas<br />
incorporating post-graduate credits and meaningful certification.<br />
I hope you enjoy this annual report. If it inspires your questions or your curiosity, please<br />
contact me or the principal of your local school. We’d all be happy to show you around and<br />
discuss ways in which you might be able to learn and see more and perhaps even become<br />
more involved.<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 3<br />
See our Strategic Plan at<br />
any of our Schools<br />
Each calendar year the Board of Education<br />
and District Staff review the District’s<br />
Strategic Plan and establish priorities for<br />
the upcoming year after lengthy analysis<br />
of our current student performance data;<br />
the results of literally thousands of lengthy<br />
perception surveys completed by hundreds<br />
of students, staff and parents; and many<br />
hours of work by District staff and schoolbased<br />
groups. It reflects a clear and directly<br />
stated commitment of accountability<br />
on behalf of SBPS staff - all of whom are<br />
individually and collectively focused upon<br />
the important work we do for students.<br />
The work is ongoing and benchmarks of<br />
progress are reported to the Board of<br />
Education. In order to share these priorities<br />
with the community, the District’s strategic<br />
plan as well as Target Implementation Plans<br />
for each building are prominently displayed<br />
in a graphical poster format. We encourage<br />
parents and community members to review<br />
these when visiting any of our schools.<br />
District Leadership<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools Board of Education<br />
From left: Ruth Kozal, Vice President, Terry Gilliland, Lori Browning, Back row from<br />
left: Rick Myles, Superintendent, Bob Kinsey, President, Paul Snyder, Mark Lang<br />
District Adopts<br />
Extended Version<br />
of Standard<br />
Response Protocol<br />
for Increased<br />
Student Safety<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools takes pride<br />
in being at the forefront of school safety<br />
and security. Eight years ago, SBPS<br />
was the first school district in Nebraska<br />
to adopt the Standard Response Protocol,<br />
now a requirement for all schools<br />
in the state. To provide flexibility while<br />
ensuring the utmost<br />
safety for<br />
students, SBPS<br />
is now adopting<br />
the extended<br />
version of the<br />
protocol.<br />
Since its introduction in 2009, the<br />
Standard Response Protocol has been<br />
adopted by districts, departments and<br />
agencies across the US and Canada.<br />
The conformance to FEMA guidance<br />
about plain language and the simplicity<br />
of implementation has resulted in<br />
thousands of schools and law enforcement<br />
agencies implementing the program.<br />
In addition to the four elements<br />
of SRP that all students and staff are<br />
familiar with, the extended version introduces<br />
HOLD, a fifth action. HOLD is<br />
called when an incident is not serious<br />
enough to necessitate a lockdown, but<br />
hallways need to be kept clear. When<br />
a HOLD is called, students remain in<br />
locked classrooms and do business as<br />
usual even if the class period changes.<br />
Teachers remove students and staff<br />
from hallways, take attendance and<br />
account for all students.<br />
The introduction of this additional<br />
action gives schools flexibility to conduct<br />
school as usual when a situation<br />
does not necessitate a lockdown, but<br />
hallways need to remain clear and<br />
students need to be accounted for.<br />
The Scottsbluff Public Schools' Board of Education consists of six highly<br />
dedicated community members who donate significant time and energy<br />
for the sake of students and a quality educational program. These positions<br />
are uncompensated and require a lot of work beyond the monthly meetings<br />
that the public sees. They represent all walks of life in our community and do all<br />
they can to champion the needs of children and help to lead a strong, responsive<br />
educational system.<br />
Hold! In your Classroom. Clear the halls.<br />
Students: Remain in the classroom until<br />
the “All Clear” is announced<br />
Teachers: Close and lock<br />
classroom door<br />
Business as usual<br />
Take attendance
4 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
NUMBERS AND TRENDS<br />
School Age Population - After nearly ten<br />
years of growth, the school age population numbers<br />
are stabilizing and may even begin to trend downward.<br />
How the District is Funded - The District<br />
continues to rely on State Aid and local property<br />
taxes as its main sources of income.<br />
2986<br />
3033<br />
3074<br />
3207<br />
3295<br />
3370 3380<br />
3349<br />
State Aid - 41.9%<br />
Local taxes -<br />
39.0%<br />
2875<br />
10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/<strong>19</strong><br />
Federal - 6.1%<br />
County - 0.6%<br />
Other-12.3%<br />
Cost Per Pupil- The District continues to focus on fiscal<br />
responsibility and providing value to taxpayers spending<br />
significantly less per pupil than the state average.<br />
SBPS- $10,959.28<br />
State Average $12,230.02<br />
How the funds are spent- Teaching and learning<br />
continues to be a fi scal priority with 78% of the District<br />
budget going directly to student instruction and<br />
the largest expense being wages and benefi ts.<br />
Wages and Benefits - 69.41%<br />
Student Staff Ratio - Despite<br />
conservative spending per<br />
pupil the district maintans a<br />
favorable student to staff ratio.<br />
16:1<br />
Did you know?<br />
Professional<br />
Services -<br />
10.65%<br />
Other -<br />
14.12% Capital-<br />
1.16%<br />
Supplies -<br />
4.66%<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
was named a District of<br />
Distinction by District<br />
Administrator Magazine in<br />
July of <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Scottsbluff High School, and our<br />
students were recently featured in<br />
an article by The 74, , a non-profit,<br />
non-partisan news site covering ed-<br />
ucation in America. The article was a result of a<br />
recommendation by Senator Brett Lindstrom.<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 5<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools is proud to report a<br />
91.51% four year cohort graduation rate for<br />
<strong>2018</strong>, according to a report released by the<br />
State Department of Education. This is the third<br />
consecutive year that Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
has had a four year graduation rate above 90%.<br />
The Nebraska Department of Education also released statewide<br />
graduation data and Scottsbluff has again exceeded the<br />
state average of 89.11%. This is a dramatic positive increase<br />
for Scottsbluff Public Schools, who just seven years ago had a<br />
73.85% four year cohort graduation rate.<br />
“With this third consecutive graduation rate over 90%, we<br />
feel like we’ve reached a milestone that has now become a<br />
dependable expectation in Scottsbluff Schools.” said Rick<br />
Myles, Scottsbluff Public Schools Superintendent, “Even more<br />
importantly, we are increasingly confident that that diploma is<br />
meaningful - our PK-12 academic programming and learning<br />
opportunities, top to bottom, are now of such remarkably<br />
high quality. Now, as I know our staff believes, we want this<br />
for 100% of our kids. We want to get even better and the hard<br />
work continues.”<br />
Ready for<br />
the Next<br />
Adventure<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools Graduation<br />
Rate Surpasses State Average for Third<br />
Consecutive Year<br />
Now, as I know our staff believes,<br />
we want this for 100% of our kids.<br />
We want to get even better and the<br />
hard work continues.<br />
-SBPS Superintendent Rick Myles<br />
This increase in graduation rate is even more impressive given<br />
the new methodology that the Nebraska Department of Education<br />
is using to calculate them. By identifying cohort groups in<br />
the ninth grade and tracking each student clear through his or<br />
her entire high school career, the final computation of an “ontime”<br />
graduation rate has become increasingly precise.<br />
“This is a testament to the hard work of our students, their<br />
families, and our teachers in the SBPS system that have helped<br />
these students to become college and career ready, on time,<br />
in their four year cohort,” said Mike Halley, Scottsbluff High<br />
School Principal.<br />
Some of the systemic strategies that Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
has focused on to help increase the graduation rate include<br />
aligned Learning Guides that help support teachers’ efforts in<br />
helping students master Nebraska State Standards at every<br />
grade level; re-teaching and re-assessing material to ensure<br />
student progress; high academic expectations of all students;<br />
progressively effective instructional strategies; added professional<br />
development/work time for staff; additional high level,<br />
engaging course work; the leadership role of Content Area<br />
Specialists and instructional coaches; more inclusive student<br />
support services; a focus on high student engagement; alternative<br />
pathways to graduation such as CHOICES and ReConnect;<br />
increased focus on Career and Technical Education; increased<br />
integration of technology; improved parent communications;<br />
and the development of the Career Academy Model.
6 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
Test Scores<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools Spring<br />
<strong>2018</strong> NSCAS and ACT Results<br />
The State of Nebraska has created a new accountability<br />
system, AQUESTT, incorporating revised<br />
academic standards along with a new rating scale<br />
and criteria. While this new system is “under construction,”<br />
many of the measures are yet to be determined and may<br />
still be two or more years away from implementation.<br />
Combined Results for All Grades Tested<br />
Percent Proficient<br />
Science<br />
68%<br />
70%<br />
In the meantime, our teachers and students are doing<br />
their best to align our practices with the State’s expecta-<br />
Mathematics<br />
51%<br />
48%<br />
tions and ensure that Scottsbluff Public Schools’ students<br />
are performing at least as well as their counterparts<br />
around Nebraska.<br />
English Language Arts<br />
44%<br />
51%<br />
State<br />
SBPS<br />
The results you see here are truly a “work in progress.”<br />
In some areas, like Mathematics, we have been ahead of<br />
the new standards for several years at our elementary<br />
schools. This puts our students in a very good place and<br />
we anticipate that middle and high school (ACT) results will<br />
continue to increase as these students move up and the<br />
new curricula is in place at Bluffs Middle School this year<br />
and into the high school starting next year. In English-Language<br />
Arts, however, we’ve waited to find just the right materials<br />
and have introduced new books this year (in grades<br />
3-8) and in high school next year. We are still making decisions<br />
about K-2. Publishers are way behind with producing<br />
quality Science materials that are aligned with National<br />
Science Standards and some are frantically putting out<br />
materials of questionable quality hoping to attract school<br />
districts who are in a hurry. We are taking our time and<br />
watching the marketplace. Based on what we are seeing,<br />
the best materials are yet to be finalized so we are sticking<br />
with what we currently have had in place and anticipate we<br />
may be two years away from adoption of new texts. With<br />
academic standards, corresponding testing and ultimately<br />
State ratings all in transition, public schools are cautiously<br />
moving forward. This is truly one of those situations where<br />
patience may be a virtue and our students will benefit in<br />
the long run from this thoughtful, measured approach.<br />
Included in this annual report are our most recent results.<br />
School rankings are not all finalized at the State level as of<br />
the date we went to press. Additionally, since the system is<br />
new, there is little comparative year-to-year data. Nonetheless,<br />
these scores should provide us a meaningful baseline<br />
from which to grow.<br />
English Language Arts Percent Proficient By Grade<br />
48%<br />
53%<br />
50%<br />
42%<br />
35%<br />
38%<br />
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8<br />
Mathematics Percent Proficient By Grade<br />
56%<br />
59% 60%<br />
44%<br />
37% 35%<br />
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8<br />
Science Percent Proficient By Grade<br />
75%<br />
64%<br />
Grade 5 Grade 8<br />
ACT % Meeting Expectations - Includes<br />
Grade 11 Math, ELA and Science<br />
State SBPS<br />
Science<br />
54%<br />
45%<br />
Mathematics<br />
50%<br />
36%<br />
English Language Arts<br />
36%<br />
50%<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 7<br />
New Curriculum<br />
Boosts Student<br />
Achievement<br />
District Adopts New English Language<br />
Arts Curriculum for Grades 3-8<br />
Wit and Wisdom is the new English Language Arts<br />
Curriculum introduced in grades 3-8 this school<br />
year. At these grade levels, reading and writing<br />
have traditionally been taught separately, but<br />
using this curriculum students practice integrated<br />
instruction with reading, writing, speaking,<br />
listening, and language skills all incorporated in<br />
their literacy work.<br />
Wit and Wisdom texts draw students into engaging<br />
stories told in exemplary ways. When students<br />
know a lot about a topic and know the vocabulary<br />
associated with that topic, they become<br />
stronger readers who can more easily learn new<br />
information. To build students’ knowledge, each<br />
Wit & Wisdom module provides resources for<br />
6–8 weeks of deep study of one topic considered<br />
from multiple perspectives. Through the<br />
exploration of poetry, prose, novels, and short<br />
stories, the depth of what literature can offer<br />
deepens students’ understanding of the world<br />
and inspires a love of reading.<br />
Teachers are teaching intense critical thinking<br />
skills during every lesson using explicit writing<br />
instruction that helps students organize their<br />
thinking and empowers them to write essays,<br />
narratives, arguments, and informational pieces.<br />
The rigorous lessons, goals, and plans that incorporate<br />
Nebraska’s new ELA standards and critical<br />
thinking skills. Since adopting the curriculum,<br />
student growth has already been documented in<br />
Metacognition, Text Building/Information Building<br />
and writing organization, effort and production.<br />
Westmoor Elementary 4th Grader Saylor Ulrich shows her<br />
project based on the book “Hatchet” one of the many books<br />
students read using the Wit and Wisdom ELA Curriculum<br />
SBPS Adopts Illustrative Math<br />
curriculum for grades 6-8<br />
Illustrative Mathematics is a problem-based core<br />
mathematics curriculum for grades 6–8 that<br />
sparks discussion, perseverance, and enjoyment<br />
of mathematics. Students learn math by doing<br />
math, solving problems in mathematical and<br />
real-world contexts, and constructing arguments<br />
using precise language. Teachers shift their instruction<br />
with high-leverage routines that guide<br />
students in understanding and making connections<br />
between concepts and procedures.<br />
Illustrative Math is based on the Five Practices<br />
for Orchestrating Productive Math Discussions:<br />
anticipating, monitoring, selecting, sequencing,<br />
and connecting and helps students to build off<br />
of skills learned in the Bridges Math program<br />
taught in elementary. Illustrative Math is a digital<br />
curriculum that is enhanced by apps that make<br />
the program more engaging. The program was<br />
implemented in Fall <strong>2018</strong> at Bluffs Middle School<br />
with the rollout of the Device Assisted Learning<br />
Initiative which issued Chromebooks to all students<br />
in grades 6-12.
8 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
New Technology<br />
SBPS Device Assisted Learning Initiative Kicks Off in the Fall of <strong>2018</strong><br />
Beginning<br />
in Fall <strong>2018</strong>,<br />
Scottsbluff<br />
Public Schools<br />
provided more<br />
than 1,800<br />
Chromebooks<br />
to students in<br />
sixth through<br />
twelfth grade. In grades 6-9, each student received a brand new<br />
touchscreen Chromebook and case that they take home each<br />
night. Students in grades 10-12 received a used Chromebook<br />
and case. These devices will be gradually replaced with new<br />
touchscreen Chromebooks on an annual rotation.<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools believes integrating technology in<br />
the classroom leads to enriching experiences that will increase<br />
student engagement, enhance individual learning and growth,<br />
create active learners, and encourage collaboration as well as<br />
many other benefits.<br />
The main goals of the Device Assisted Learning Initiative (DALI)<br />
include:<br />
Student Learning: Improve learning for all students through<br />
engaging experiences that embed technology across all curricular<br />
areas.<br />
Effective Teaching: Educators will embed technology in their<br />
instructional practice to facilitate high levels of student engagement<br />
and learning.<br />
Support for Teaching & Learning: Technology is routinely<br />
used to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of instructional<br />
processes.<br />
Resources for Teaching & Learning: Effectively and efficiently<br />
align instructional resources with technology.<br />
In order to assure responsible use of the<br />
device, parents/guardians and students<br />
are required to sign a Responsible Use<br />
Agreement (RUA) before the device<br />
is allowed to be taken off of school<br />
grounds. Parents/guardians have the<br />
option to enroll in an SBPS Device Repair<br />
Incentive Program designed to help<br />
students and families defray the costs of device repairs and/<br />
or replacement. Participation in the program is optional and<br />
provides families with discounted repair or replacement options<br />
should the device be damaged. A protective, always-on case is<br />
provided for transporting the device between home and school<br />
and between classes and students are expected to charge their<br />
Chromebooks nightly at home and bring the device to school<br />
fully charged. Student devices are subject to the SPBS Internet<br />
filter both on and off of the SBPS network. In other words, web<br />
pages viewed on the Chromebook are filtered by SBPS no matter<br />
where the Chromebook is used. These devices are configured<br />
to allow access using only school credentials. The Chromebooks’<br />
location can also be tracked if lost or stolen.<br />
Chromebooks provide a balance of focus, flexibility, and manageability.<br />
Providing Chromebooks for all students ensures a<br />
consistent computing environment, including district management<br />
of user settings and classroom management software. In<br />
addition to 1:1 technology in grades 6-12, classroom technology<br />
is also being expanded at the elementary level. Approximately<br />
600 additional Chromebooks are available in SBPS elementary<br />
schools in classroom carts. Participation in fundraising events<br />
such as the SBPS Foundation’s Google Run also allows elementary<br />
schools an opportunity to purchase additional classroom<br />
technology for their schools.<br />
The devices are checked out to the students much like a textbook.<br />
Students will keep the device for the school year but will<br />
turn it in each summer for inventory control and maintenance.<br />
Students will receive the same device for the following school<br />
year.<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 9<br />
Students Enjoy the<br />
New Scottsbluff<br />
High School<br />
SHS Principal Mike Halley cuts the ribbon at the SHS Phase II<br />
Grand Opening held in April, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Started in 2015, the Scottsbluff High School Expansion<br />
and renovation project is now complete.<br />
Last April, Scottsbluff High School students<br />
and parents, members of the media, bond<br />
campaign volunteers and members of<br />
the public joined staff in holding a grand<br />
opening for Phase II of the SHS Renovation<br />
and Expansion. The Scottsbluff High<br />
School renovation and expansion project<br />
has been completed on time, on budget and<br />
at full scope. It was funded in an open and<br />
transparent manner as overseen by members<br />
of Community Bond and Construction<br />
Oversight groups who advised the initial<br />
planning.<br />
Phase II accounted for approximately 35%<br />
of the project and included both new construction<br />
as well as renovation and repurposing<br />
parts of the existing building.<br />
At the center of Phase II is a new state of<br />
the art library. The library has been redesigned<br />
to allow for flexible student spaces<br />
to work on projects as well as to support<br />
1:1 Chromebook technology with dedicated<br />
Chromebook support space. The Freshman<br />
Academy supports a team based learning<br />
approach for 9th graders with the flexibility<br />
to allow freshmen to enjoy and take part in<br />
all that SHS has to offer. Agri-science and<br />
Construction Trades have moved back to<br />
the main campus and are in a new facility<br />
with more than double the space. These<br />
new areas also include a live animal bay,<br />
a temperature controlled greenhouse, an<br />
outdoor classroom and courtyard area, and<br />
a flexible space for Architectural Design and<br />
Engineering. A new auxiliary gym, weight<br />
room and wrestling room are being enjoyed<br />
by physical education classes, athletic<br />
teams, and student and community activity<br />
groups alike.<br />
Along with upgrades to existing programs,<br />
the completion of Phase II has allowed<br />
for other new programs to start at SHS.<br />
Cosmetology is the newest career pathway<br />
being offered. Thanks to a partnership with<br />
Fullen School of Hair Design, students can<br />
begin taking classes towards a cosmetology<br />
license while still in high school and without<br />
leaving the SHS Campus. Also included in<br />
Phase II renovations was a classroom for the<br />
Air Force Junior ROTC program which kicked<br />
off this school year.
10 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
NEW! PRESCHOOL AT<br />
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY<br />
Bear Cub Preschool Expansion increases the District’s number of youngest students<br />
This school year, Roosevelt<br />
Elementary had some<br />
new students who were<br />
younger than usual thanks<br />
to the addition of the Bear<br />
Cub Preschool classroom.<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools Bear Cub Preschool<br />
received a $130,000 Early Childhood<br />
Expansion Grant from the Nebraska<br />
Department of Education for the <strong>2018</strong>-<strong>19</strong><br />
school year. Funding from this was used<br />
to add an additional full day classroom<br />
for four year old students housed at<br />
Roosevelt Elementary in collaboration<br />
with Educational Service Unit 13 and Head<br />
Start. This classroom offers a convenient<br />
neighborhood location for Roosevelt<br />
families and offers a smooth transition<br />
to kindergarten for preschool students<br />
who will have already spent a year in their<br />
elementary school building. With the addition<br />
of this classroom, Bear Cub Preschool<br />
will be able to serve up to 140 students<br />
in three full day classrooms for four year<br />
olds and two half day classrooms for<br />
three year olds.<br />
Bear Cub Preschool works to meet the<br />
needs of their students through a variety<br />
of programs. Our curriculum aligns with<br />
the Nebraska Early Learning Standards<br />
and Teaching Strategies GOLD, but is delivered<br />
through planned guided play and<br />
intentional small group instruction. At all<br />
Bear Cub locations, teachers are certified<br />
and hold degrees in Early Childhood<br />
education while each classroom has two<br />
paraeducators assigned.<br />
Bear Cub Preschool values a close family<br />
atmosphere. In order for students to be<br />
successful, they need the support of parents<br />
and the community, so teachers and<br />
staff work to build relationships through<br />
home visits, family nights, programs and<br />
parent-teacher conferences.<br />
The goal and main focus at Bear Cub Preschool<br />
is to provide and foster a safe and<br />
engaging learning environment where all<br />
students feel valued and cared about.<br />
Bear Cub Preschool will soon be taking<br />
applications for the 20<strong>19</strong>-2020 school<br />
year. Visit www.sbps.net/preschool for<br />
more information about the preschool<br />
including requirements for enrollment.<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 11<br />
These are Our Moments<br />
Extraordinary learning is happening every day at Scottsbluff Schools in so many amazing ways!<br />
1Lincoln Heights Elementary<br />
Kindergarteners get a lesson<br />
on measurement provided by<br />
the Wildcat Hills Nature Center<br />
4Bluffs MIddle School students<br />
in Mrs Wentz’s technology<br />
class spent a week coding<br />
their own websites.<br />
2The Longfellow Boys Club has<br />
participated in several community<br />
service projects this<br />
past year. Most recently, the boys<br />
went shopping for holiday gifts and<br />
delivered them to residents of The<br />
Residency.<br />
3Bear Cub Preschool students<br />
wished the Bearcats good<br />
luck during the SHS Football<br />
Team’s last practice before heading<br />
to Lincoln for the Class B State<br />
Championship game.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
5Lake Minatare 4th & 5th graders<br />
show Principal Behnke<br />
their Gallery walk. The students<br />
worked in groups to highlight<br />
information from the book they are<br />
studying called The Circulatory Story.<br />
They also identified examples of figurative<br />
language. Then they rotated<br />
to observe all the other groups’<br />
posters, to increase their knowledge<br />
of the subjects.<br />
6Students from CHOICES<br />
visited Roosevelt elementary<br />
to assist students in carving<br />
pumpkins which were displayed at<br />
the Riverside Discovery Center’s<br />
Spooktacular event.<br />
5<br />
3 4 6
12 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
Youth and Mental Illness<br />
A National<br />
Crisis<br />
Challenges<br />
our Schools<br />
Throughout our country, youth’s mental health issues<br />
– often intensified by traumatic life events – have<br />
emerged as the most significant issue facing young<br />
people and those who care for them.<br />
All too often students’ academic and behavioral<br />
needs are so severe that they significantly<br />
detract from their own and others’<br />
ability to optimally benefit from schooling.<br />
This is particularly evident in areas such as<br />
ours that are relatively sparsely populated,<br />
rural and present high poverty and mobility.<br />
According to research published in the<br />
Journal of the American Academy of Child<br />
and Adolescent Psychiatry (Sterling, 2010),<br />
“Children and families living in poverty face<br />
a range of barriers that reduce their ability<br />
to access mental health services, maintain<br />
compliance with treatment, and achieve<br />
favorable treatment outcomes. “<br />
Many estimates show that even though<br />
mental illness affects so many of our kids<br />
aged 6-17, at least one-half and many<br />
estimate as many as 80% of them increasingly<br />
rely upon school districts to respond<br />
to these mental health issues ourselves<br />
in order to prioritize a safe and secure<br />
environment for all. These added costs of<br />
additional counselors, school based licensed<br />
mental health practitioners, suicide risk assessments,<br />
threat assessments, specialized<br />
programming, security personnel and added<br />
Source: National Institute of Mental Health.<br />
administration all place an added burden Stinner has championed the importance of<br />
on school finances and often take away our State stepping up to support increased<br />
from resources that have been traditionally mental health services for our children. The<br />
dedicated to instruction, classrooms and proposed Panhandle Beginnings Day School<br />
student activities.<br />
and Day Treatment facility is an outgrowth<br />
“Educators face the simple fact that, often<br />
of this work. A service such as this can<br />
because of a lack of resources, there just<br />
provide a therapeutic environment for kids<br />
aren’t enough people to tackle the job. And<br />
in need (and their families) as they continue<br />
the ones who are working on it are often<br />
to progress through their academics and<br />
drowning in huge caseloads. Kids in need<br />
become equipped to return safely and productively<br />
can fall through the cracks.” (Anderson,<br />
to the their home school environ-<br />
Dardoza, NPR Ed, 2016)<br />
ment. We will continue to work together to<br />
try and make this program a reality.<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools has been at the<br />
forefront of responding to these issues.<br />
Our school staffs carry our commitment to<br />
Clearly student safety overrides all other<br />
“Every Child, Every Day” with them in all they<br />
concerns and the increased presence of<br />
do. Our schools believe in all children and<br />
concerning mental health issues at all levels<br />
never give up. As a nation and as a State,<br />
has fostered our emphasis on these areas.<br />
it’s so important to all of our futures that we<br />
We are not alone. Virtually all school districts<br />
recognize the challenges that face too many<br />
in our country (and likely beyond) are facing<br />
of our kids and the subsequent behavioral<br />
exactly the same challenge as all too many<br />
and emotional challenges they endure and<br />
accounts of school violence and a rising<br />
bring with them to our schools.<br />
youth suicide rate plainly reflect.<br />
Together with ESU13 and other area<br />
superintendents, our own Senator John<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 13<br />
Collaborative Teaming<br />
In Special Education<br />
According to the Council of Exceptional<br />
Teachers, collaboration is a high-leverage<br />
practice in special education. In a collaborative<br />
model, the general education<br />
and special education teachers bring their<br />
expertise, skills, training, and perspectives<br />
to the team. Through the combination of<br />
resources, teachers strengthen the learning<br />
opportunities, effectiveness, and methods to<br />
meet the needs of all students. The major<br />
outcome is to provide comprehensive and<br />
effective programs for students.<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools has worked<br />
diligently to implement collaboration across<br />
all settings, from preschool through high<br />
school. The collaboration has strengthened<br />
the programming options for all of<br />
our students, not just those with special<br />
needs. Through this collaboration, supports<br />
are effectively implemented at the moment<br />
in which the student needs them. This<br />
eliminates the “wait to fail” model. This form<br />
of programming also requires increased<br />
staffing to meet the behavioral and academic<br />
needs of students.<br />
In our birth to three program, teams of<br />
providers work with the family to complete<br />
a routines based interview. One member of<br />
the team serves as the primary liaison between<br />
the family and the other team members.<br />
The goal of this method is to increase<br />
the capacity of parents and care providers<br />
to support students through improved<br />
confidence and competence, and to encourage<br />
each child’s growth and development<br />
through natural learning opportunities.<br />
Programs at the preschool level are flexible<br />
and driven by the individual needs of the student<br />
and family. Strong community collaborations<br />
support the opportunity for district<br />
personnel to work in tandem with child care<br />
providers and private preschool personnel.<br />
Preschool experiences through enrollment<br />
in Bear Cub Preschool are inclusive and<br />
specialists work collectively with classroom<br />
teachers and support staff to meet the individual<br />
learning needs of every child.<br />
At the elementary level, teachers have<br />
designed interventions that are more collaborative<br />
and are provided in inclusive environments<br />
to meet the needs of students.<br />
Specially designed supports and learning are<br />
reflective of individual needs and student<br />
strengths.<br />
At the middle school and high school levels,<br />
teams of teachers collaborate with each<br />
“The most valuable resource that teachers have is each<br />
other. ” – John Meehan<br />
other to provide smaller student-to-teacher<br />
ratios, more opportunities for assistance,<br />
and greater teacher time and attention.<br />
Through the added support in the general<br />
education classrooms, all students show<br />
improvements in academic and social skills,<br />
not to mention, positive peer relationships.<br />
No one teacher can do it all. Nor can we<br />
achieve success when teachers teach separately<br />
from one another. Common professional<br />
development focuses on the supports<br />
needed to help students be more successful<br />
in school. It takes everyone to support students’<br />
learning, which is the premise of this<br />
more collaborative approach.<br />
Questions About Your Child’s Development?<br />
After School<br />
Program adds<br />
Two New<br />
Locations<br />
Scottsbluff Public Schools added two new<br />
sites to the After School Program for the<br />
<strong>2018</strong>-20<strong>19</strong> school year after receiving a<br />
$76,075 21st Century Community Learning<br />
Center Grant. Longfellow and Lincoln<br />
Heights Elementary schools are new sites<br />
joining Westmoor and Roosevelt who currently<br />
serve 75 students at each location.<br />
This expansion allows SBPS to provide after<br />
school care for an additional 85 students<br />
and for students participating in the program<br />
to stay at their neighborhood elementary<br />
school. During non-school hours,<br />
these programs offer hands-on learning and<br />
activities to improve overall student success,<br />
increase student social benefits and<br />
positive behavioral changes, and increase<br />
active and meaningful family and community<br />
engagement. In addition to the expansion<br />
grant, SBPS also received a 5 year $50,000<br />
continuation grant for the Westmoor<br />
Elementary site. The After School Program<br />
is now serving 235 students district-wide.<br />
High quality staff is avialable at all locations<br />
including a certified teacher who serves as a<br />
Site Coordinator at each location.<br />
Does your child have trouble learning, speaking, hearing, seeing, walking or taking part in activities with other children? Or are you concerned about your child’s physical condition,<br />
learning or development in other areas? Scottsbluff Public Schools seeks to locate and identify all children who may have an educational disability. Any person may refer a child<br />
between the ages of birth and 21 years (who has not yet earned a regular high school diploma) for evaluation. The ‘Child Find’ requirements also apply to highly mobile children,<br />
homeless children, home schooled children, and children who are suspected of having an educational disability even though they are advancing from grade to grade.<br />
Referrals may be initiated by contacting the Director of Student Services for Scottsbluff Public Schools (635-6200). For school-age students, building principals or classroom teachers<br />
may be contacted to initiate a referral for special services. Students enrolled in any private school within the geographical boundaries of Scottsbluff Public Schools may also be<br />
referred to the Scottsbluff Public Schools regardless of where they reside. Students who attend private schools outside the geographical boundaries of Scottsbluff should contact the<br />
district in which the private school is located in order to make a referral for a special services evaluation.
14 | Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
New Program Marches into SHS<br />
AFJROTC<br />
Air Force Junior ROTC, a new course offering at<br />
Scottsbluff High School, is open to all students.<br />
Over 100 cadets in grades 9-12 are currently<br />
enrolled in the program which teaches aerospace<br />
science and leadership and includes<br />
physical fitness and community service. The<br />
program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace<br />
technology and teaches high school students selfreliance,<br />
self-discipline and other characteristics found in good<br />
leaders. The program is not a recruiting tool for the military<br />
services and those students who participate in AFJROTC do not<br />
incur any obligation to the Air Force.<br />
The objectives of Air Force Junior ROTC are to educate and<br />
train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote<br />
community service; instill a sense of responsibility; develop<br />
character and self-discipline through education and instruction<br />
in air and space fundamentals and the Air Force’s core values<br />
of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we<br />
do.” Scottsbluff joins only five other AFJROTC units in Nebraska.<br />
The others are located in Bellevue (2), Plattsmouth, Grand<br />
Island and Lincoln.<br />
In the program’s first semester, cadets have logged more<br />
than 1,000 community service hours for organizations such<br />
as Riverside Discovery Center, Special Olympics and Panhandle<br />
Humane Society. Color guard has presented flags at SHS<br />
and WNCC activities as well as the Veterans Honor Flight trip<br />
through Scottsbluff. Cadets also participated in the Veterans<br />
Day Parade and other Veterans Day activities.<br />
www.sbps.net
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 15<br />
SBPS Foundation<br />
Supports Learning<br />
SHS Principal Mike Halley and Assistant Principal Dr. Andrew<br />
Dick accept a check for Career Academies at the Bearcat<br />
Pride Plaza Unveilling.<br />
The Scottsbluff Public Schools Foundation held<br />
multiple fundraising events to provide tools to<br />
support student learning from elementary school<br />
to high school.<br />
The Scottsbluff Public Schools<br />
Foundation has had an exciting<br />
year of supporting student<br />
learning across the District.<br />
Last Spring, the Google<br />
Run (pictured at right) was<br />
expanded to include elementary schools as<br />
well as Bluffs Middle School. Students participated<br />
in a fun run/walk event and raised<br />
over $10,000 for classroom technology.<br />
The Foundation also purchased over<br />
$80,000 in Elementary supplementary<br />
storybooks for use with the adoption of the<br />
new Wit and Wisdom English Language Arts<br />
curriculum in grades 3-5. This grant was<br />
made possible by the use of funds from the<br />
Swanson Sisters Trust. The Swanson Sisters<br />
were elementary teachers in Scottsbluff and<br />
left this trust to share their love of reading<br />
with elementary age children for years to<br />
come.<br />
At Scottsbluff High School, an unveiling<br />
ceremony was held for the Bearcat Pride<br />
Plaza, a beautiful engraved paver and bench<br />
plaza encircling the flagpole at SHS. The<br />
Bearcat Pride Plaza raised over $75,000 for<br />
Career Academy programming at Scottsbluff<br />
High School as well as provided an attractive<br />
gathering area at SHS that will be enjoyed<br />
for generations to come.<br />
In addition to the Pride Plaza, the Foundation<br />
administered several scholarships for<br />
graduating seniors including the Steven<br />
Green Agriculture Scholarship and The<br />
Grow Our Own Teacher Scholarship Program<br />
with generous support from the Selzer<br />
Kelley Foundation.<br />
This year the Foundation held its first ever<br />
online auction fundraiser to continue and<br />
expand these efforts as well as a Classroom<br />
Grant Program, which allows teachers or<br />
teams to apply for money to be used for<br />
unique learning opportunities for students.<br />
This Spring, the Foundation will focus on an<br />
Alumni campaign with a special publication<br />
as well as a breakfast event featuring the<br />
six Career Academies at Scottsbluff High<br />
School.<br />
If you are an alumnus of Scottsbluff High<br />
School and would like to receive the Alumni<br />
Connections newsletter or would like to<br />
support the Foundation in any way, contact<br />
Alyssa Harvey, Foundation Director at<br />
aharvey@sbps.net or 308-633-2857.