Over the last three months I have had an opportunity to evaluate the athletic program at the Middle School and High School and have recognized many areas of strength and areas for growth. In this memo I have highlighted some of my findings and have included some of my initiatives moving forward.
Strengths
Excellent use of technology to celebrate students. (Twitter, Senior portraits, Flicker, video streaming, Hall of Fame).
Positive community involvement and support.
The coaching staff is respectful, ethical, committed, and knowledgeable.
District supports individual interests of student through the CIAC Co-op program. (Ice Hockey, Girls Swimming, skiing)
A district employed athletic trainer (Ensures reliability, trust, and a strong relationships with athletes)
Employment of a part time personal trainer to design strength training workouts and to monitor athletes for proper technique and safety.
Board supported BMS/BHS Director of Athletics position allowing for continuity between middle school and high school athletic programs.
Unified sports program has been developed and supported at both the Middle school and High school.
Town employees take pride in the maintenance of our playing fields and as a result the playing surfaces are in great shape.
Sound systems in the gymnasiums are wireless and of excellent quality.
Areas for Growth
Although our grass playing fields are well taken care of and in great shape there is a significant need for a multipurpose turf field. (Improved opportunity for scheduling, safety, lower maintenance costs, less cancellations/postponements)
The weight room insufficient in size and can’t accommodate our larger teams all at once.
Participation rates are low in certain sports. Many of the programs do not have freshmen and in some cases JV teams.
Storage for athletic equipment and supplies in the buildings are limited.
The bleachers and basketball hoops at the High School would be made more efficient by going to an electric system.
The Bethel Middle School gymnasium should have lines repainted on the gym floor and the bleachers and basketball hoops need a safety inspection and possibly maintenance.
Next Steps
Facilitate meetings between head coaches and youth program leadership to develop continuity in philosophies, strategies, and techniques.
Live streaming of athletic events (1/26 vs. Brookfield)
Improve participation rates.
Athlete of the week program
Clinics offered by High school coaches to youth programs and Middle School teams
Celebrating and supporting JV and Freshmen programs
Senior athletes volunteering with youth programs and working clinics at the Middle School.
Cultivate leadership skill in our student athletes.
CIAC sportsmanship conference in November
Creation of a captain's counsel
Leadership conference at high school on February 2nd.
Volunteer hours with youth (Future Wildcat Clinics)
Build Middle School web page for improved communication and will include coaches contacts and biographies, games and practice schedules, pictures of athletes, and important dates and events.
2.B. Instructional Technology Update
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mike Vose, Director of Instructional Technology
Rationale:
Inquiry:The Bethel Board of Education is looking for district information in the form of first impressions from this year’s new administrative hires.
Response: Responses are grouped by the following three categories:
District Strengths
Growth Areas
Next Steps
1. District Strengths:
Community
Community commitment to children and resources
Strong volunteerism in and out of school
Community Support BEF
Strong parent involvement and attendance at meetings/events
Campus design
Students
Student participation in their schools
Above average NWEA test scores
High graduation rate
Strong volunteerism in and out of school
High attendance rate
Courteous, respectful, and inquisitive
Staff
Staff commitment to student learning
Strong pedagogical culture of adult learning
Teachers as tech and web champs
Layers of instructional coaches and specialists
Individual staff talent and backgrounds
Staff with multiple degrees many in technology
Staff pursuing higher learning degrees
PLC model in Google Drive
Familiar with team data collection process
Participation in events and committee work
Leadership
Visionary district and building leadership
Strategic plan designed to 21st century learning
Leadership position - Director of Instructional Technology
Culture of high expectations for all
Multiple layers of leadership
Multiple layers of instructional support
Systemic ongoing data usage
Sharing and camaraderie
Strong administrative council with focus on instruction
High energy CO team has focus on BPS as great district
Technology
Robust digital infrastructure
Readily accessible classroom technology
Teacher tech and web champs
Strong IT department with effective Help Desk
Google apps for education school
Professional, personable, service-oriented team
2. Improvement Areas
Structure
Inventory system
Technology acquisitions systems
Device deployment strategy
Aging physical structures
People & Curriculum
Expanding 21st century learning
Communication on curriculum across and by content grade levels
Collaboration – horizontal and vertical in aligning curriculum
Creativity expanding 21st century learning
Expanding 21st century pedagogy
Expanding 21st century career readiness
Grade level content calibration and coordination
Digital best practices - Leadership, instruction, citizenry
Cyber safety
3. Next Steps
Adaptive systems thinking providing cohesion in resources and practice aligned to #1.
Effective appropriate device deployment #4
Research best practices #3,#5
Micro teaching
Student expectations and goal setting
Online Professional Learning Communities
Using data for learning as trend analysis in 1:1 environment
Blended Learning flex models #2
ePortfolio system with student goals and expectations #3
Using electives for understanding, aligning and implementing best practices in career readiness in the four core #2, #5
Adaptive systems thinking providing cohesion in resources and practice aligned to #1.