Fox Point - Bayside School District is Rated as Significantly Exceeds Expectations!

For the second consecutive year the Fox Point - Bayside School District has been rated as Significantly Exceeds Expectations by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  There were only nine of 424 school districts in the state to receive this rating!  Both of our schools are performing at a high level and we have much to be proud of.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

                Thank You  Fox Point - Bayside Teachers!

 

There is no profession that I respect more than that of a teacher.  I am blessed to spend my personal life with my wife Diane, who is an excellent elementary school teacher, and in my professional life with the Fox Point - Bayside School District educators who I see do extraordinary things in their classrooms on a daily basis.  Not only do I see highly skilled educators engaged in their craft, but I also see an incredible amount of care and concern for their students.  Based on multiple measures, our district is performing at a high level.  As I have stated before, more than any other element in a district, the teacher in front of those students has the greatest effect on student learning.  Thank you for molding the hearts and minds of the future.  It is a pleasure to be on the same team as the great educators I work with.  Kudos to all of you! 

Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!

I am often told by parents and community members that the Fox Point - Bayside Schools are warm and welcoming places. Much of this atmosphere  is created by our hard working, dedicated, and student centered Administrative Professionals.  They are indeed an important link to our parents and community and play vital roles to the success of our learning community.  Not only are they skilled, talented and efficient, they are also great role models for our students.  Their work ethic, professionalism and the positive disposition in which they approach their jobs with has served our district well.  Thank you Carla and Debra at Stormonth,   Suzi, Julie, Sue and Patty at Bayside, and  Laurie, Kathleen and Carrie at the District Office. We are fortunate to have each of you on the FPBS Team. Thank You!

Thank You Board Members Alice Lawton and Tim Melchert

School Board members, Alice Lawton and Timothy Melchert, will each finish their terms on March 18^th. Both of them will have served for two three-year terms.  When you are a new superintendent, you hope that your board members will be dedicated, student- centered, and supportive like both of them.  The Fox Point – Bayside School District has been so fortunate to have them advocating for students, staff, and community the past six years.  Being a board member is a complex and demanding responsibility.  The argument could be made that their terms were some of the most difficult, given the national, state, and local educational issues that took place during their tenure.  Their public service should serve as a model to all of us.  Local school boards are rooted in U.S. tradition and the foundation of our democracy.  Local school boards continue to do the most important work of their communities, that of influencing the education of our youth.
 

We often forget the personal sacrifices school board members make by giving up hundreds of hours preparing for and attending meetings.  Each of them is also a spouse, parent, and person with a career. Alice is a playwright, author, and attorney.  Tim is a Professor of Counseling Psychology and author of several books and articles.  I mention that because their choice of public service is pure altruism at its  best.  I know I am a better superintendent as a result of working with each of them the past ten months.  I say, Thank you for your service, Alice and Tim.  May you have some satisfaction knowing you have made great contributions to influencing the learning that is taking place in the Fox Point - Bayside School District
  
 In closing, I would like to provide a quote that captures the importance of their work.

“There is a place in America to take a stand: it is public education.  It is the underpinning of our cultural and political system.  It is the great common ground.  Public education, after all, is the engine that moves us as a society toward a common destiny… It is public education that the American dream begins to shape.”   - Tom Brokaw

Debates, Documentaries, and Science Fair Projects - Learning is Alive at Bayside!

In the last few weeks I have observed students engaged in debates and presenting documentaries  and science fair projects at Bayside Middle school.  Students were assigned to read and analyze the book The Outsiders from different perspectives.  On the day of the debates, the students were dressed as either greasers or socials and they debated from their assigned perspectives.  In another activity,  students had an assignment that required them to research a specific historical event or person and develop a documentary, utilizing  technology to develop the videos.  Students used primary and secondary sources to develop the projects.  Last week students presented their science projects at an event that was held in the gymnasium.  The development of an hypothesis, the use of data and conclusions were very interesting.  In all three of these activities there was a lot of higher level thinking that required students to use the content in an authentic way.  There is a great amount of learning going on at Bayside on a daily basis and these are just some examples. Kudos to the faculty, staff and students on a job well done on these projects.

The Culture of the Fox Point –Bayside Schools : The Traditions, Celebrations, Rituals and Ceremonies

     If I were not a Superintendent of Schools and could have any occupation, I would want to be a Cultural Anthropologist.  I would want to study the values demonstrated in organizations like schools.  That is, what is important to the people in these organizations?  I would observe and study the traditions, celebrations, rituals and ceremonies that take place that tell the story of what the organization values. During the month of January I observed four different events in the Fox Point – Bayside Schools that really illustrate the culture of the organization: Community Night at Stormonth, the 5^th grade Music Concert at Bayside, the Bedtime Stories event at Stormonth, and the Bayside Students at Camp Maclean.

     On January 16^th, Stormonth Elementary School held it’s annual Community Night.  Parents of incoming students for the next year were invited to learn more about the school.  What was impressive about this event was that in addition to parents, many staff and students also attended.  As a matter of fact students, from each grade level made a short presentation and 4^th grade students gave tours of the school.  The pride the students and staff had for their school was so evident.  Over fifty parents attended the event.
 

     On January 22^nd, Bayside held their annual 5^th Grade Music Concert.  The Orchestra, Band and Choir all performed.  It was so nice to see so many young students participating in music.  The gym was filled with parents, brothers, sisters and staff.  It was very apparent that the school, staff, parents and community value music very much.   The performances were impressive.  Students introduced each piece that was to be performed.  Students were dressed up, well behaved and seemed to be enjoying the event.  Several parents were taking pictures and recording the performances.  It was a cold night, but there was a lot of warmth in the gym.

     On January 29^th Stormonth held the traditional Bedtime Stories event for first graders.  All of the first grade teachers and several other staff members volunteered to wear pajamas and read to the students, who were also wearing pajamas. Each reader selected an age appropriate book to read to the students.  After the students were in three different classrooms with three different readers, they went to the cafeteria for a snack.  It was evident that staff and parents value reading and care a great deal for the students.
 

     On January 29, 30 and 31^st the Bayside 7^th graders participated in an overnight camp experience at Camp Mclean in Burlington.  I visited the camp and it was great to see the students actively involved in learning activities.  Much of the activities were focused on team building.  Several staff members and parents attended the event and stayed overnight as chaperones.   It is truly a special event for the students. 

     All of these events have some common themes:  there is a lot of student learning taking place.   All of the experiences extended the learning beyond the classroom, an opportunity that is not common in every district. All of the events had staff volunteering beyond the school day to provide these experiences for their students.  All of the occasions had a large amount of parent involvement.  The experiences showed that the FPBS Schools value a wide range of learning including, the arts, extended learning and a high level of student engagement. 

     As an anthropologist, I observed a great deal of student and teacher interaction and a value of providing students with rich experiences.  The culture is student centered and the adults take great care for the students to learn and grow.  As a superintendent, I take great pride in the fact that our students are engaged in incredible learning experiences and that the staff, parents and students are working together to provide a great education. That is the story I take out of my experience observing and participating in the four events.

Letter to Stormonth parents regarding the appointment of Mrs. Karen Grimm-Nilsen to Principal

Dear Stormonth Families,

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce that at the recent Fox Point-Bayside School District Board of Education meeting Mrs. Karen Grimm-Nilsen was appointed to serve as Principal for Stormonth Elementary School for the rest of this school year and beyond.  As you may know, she has been serving in that role on an interim basis.

This summer an interview team consisting of teachers, support staff members and parents interviewed several candidates for the position.  At the conclusion of that process, the District, with input from committee members, decided to go with an interim for the 2013-14 school year.  Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen was selected.

During the past six months I have spent a lot of time interacting with students, staff, and parents at Stormonth Elementary School.  Also, I have really gotten to know Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen as an educator, leader and colleague.  I have had several parents, staff members and students tell me what an excellent job she is doing in her role and how they trust and respect her.  She is deserving of serving in the position on a permanent basis.

Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen has been an educator for 27 years.  She has an undergraduate degree from UW Eau Claire in regular and special education and a graduate degree in Educational Leadership from Marian College.  She has been with the Fox Point-Bayside Schools for 23 years in regular and special education at the elementary and middle school levels.

This year Stormonth Elementary School was identified as one of the best schools in the state.  The school received a “Significantly Exceeds Expectations” rating from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen is poised to continue that tradition of excellence and to lead us to even higher levels of achievement.

With Pride and Respect,

Dr. Vance Dalzin

District Administrator