Volume 1, Number 8 October 2, 2009

Board of Trustees

Matt Herden, President

Mary Ann Weaver, Vice President

Troy Immel, Secretary

Kirk Felps

Charles Riley

Bernie San Miguel

Darrel Wagner

Superintendent

Dr. Buck Ford

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” The Blanco ISD

Focus on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Kilgo Training Addresses Math and Science Instruction

On Monday and Tuesday, science and math teachers from

Blanco Middle School attended Kilgo training at “The Com-

mons” Conference Center in Austin, Texas.

The training, conducted by Margaret Kilgo, presents a

research-based overview of the relationship between the state curriculum [the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

(TEKS) and Student Expectations (SEs)], and the Texas As-

sessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

The workshop covers the components that are critical for

effectively teaching the TEKS and SEs to the depth and com-

plexity of the TAKS. According to Kilgo’s website, “...the

focus of these sessions is on teaching and assessing the cur-

riculum, not on teaching to the test.”

Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford said, “The Kilgo training is

one of the most respected and in-demand workshops in the

state. It is a tremendous opportunity for our teachers and our

instructional program to participate in this training.” Kathy Anderson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

for BISD, said, “Blanco ISD is dedicated to raising academic

achievement among all students, and is incorporating Kilgo

training to support student success. Using Kilgo training,

teachers are making data-driven decisions to highlight, spiral, and

re-teach specific TEKS.”

Middle School principal Jesse Salazar, who attended the work-

shop on Monday with the science teachers, said, “I feel the Kilgo

training for science was very informative. I see this training for teachers helping all students, by identifying their strengths and

weaknesses, how we can improve upon them, and striving for

higher standards.”

Jennifer Seales, middle school instructional specialist, said,

“Kilgo gives us an excellent opportunity to see our data in a dif-

ferent way. In the past, we looked at our data, but we looked at it

Robert Lackey (7th grade Math), Linsey Balmos (6th grade Math), Margaret Kilgo, and Jennifer Seales

(Middle School Instructional Specialist) at “The Commons” Conference Center in Austin, Texas.

Cont’d on Page 2...

“Kilgo gives us an

excellent opportunity to

see our data in an en-

tirely different way”—

Jennifer Seales, Middle

School Instructional

Specialist

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 8 Page 2

Distribution Method of

The Bell to Change Change Will Save Server Storage Space

Kilgo Training... Continued from Page One...

HOMECOMING Pep Rally 2009

Pics by Carole Wrinkle Ford

The distribution method of The Bell, Blanco ISD’s online

newsletter, will change with the current issue.

Heretofore The Bell was emailed as an attachment to all

BISD employees and subscribers. Henceforth, BISD employ-

ees and subscribers will receive an email with a link in the message. Employees and subscribers may then access The Bell

by clicking on the embedded link.

The purpose of this change of delivery is to save server stor-

age space. According to Tom Cozzi, BISD Director of Tech-

nology, “The Bell is a powerful addition in our effort to com-

municate all the wonderful events at Blanco ISD. This new

delivery method will allow us to bring all the news without

concern of storage space on our servers or your own personal

computer.”

The Bell’s editors thank its subscribers for their patience and

understanding on this change of procedure.

too broadly. Now, we see the importance of looking at data

very narrowly. It helps me to see specifically what to work on.”

Seales continued, “Margaret Kilgo—what a great lady. She

also analyzed the latest tests, and told us they assessed at

higher conceptual levels. If a student’s not doing well, it may be a pacing issue; it may be an area we need to slow down.

That’s something I would not have known if I had not gone to

the workshop.”

Robert Lackey, 7th grade math teachers, said, “It was a real

good workshop. It reminded me of the importance of the

TEKS. We looked at the verbs, the content, and examples of

previous tests to make sure we were teaching the TEKS. It was

a really good workshop, and I’m happy I went.”

Sixth grade science teacher Donna Ashley said, “I thought it

was really useful. It addresses the changes in the TEKS, and

the way students would be tested in relation to the TEKS. It

was very good.” Natalie Jurischk, 8th grade science teacher, said, “I loved the

workshop. Teachers can really focus, to prepare students spe-

cifically for the TEKS. I can ask myself, ‘Have I really reached

the objective?’”

“In November, we’re going to another workshop. I’m really

interested in going this second time. We will have new TEKS

next year, and we’ll be preparing kids for new content. I love

it.”

Dr. Ford added, “The Kilgo workshop supports several of our

District goals. It both helps our teachers prepare our students to

master state and federal academic standards, and helps teachers to close the gap that exists between student groups in standard-

ized test scores.”

“In addition, the training is an in-

vestment in our instructional staff. It

provides first class development and

extension training to educators, so

that we continue to cultivate a District of high quality and

highly effective teachers.”

“The Kilgo workshop sup-

ports several of our District

goals”—Dr. Buck Ford

Notes:

Margaret Kilgo was a teacher, elementary and middle school

principal, and central office administrator in the Houston Inde-

pendent School District for 30 years. In 1996, Mrs. Kilgo coor-

dinated the Houston Reading Initiative under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Educa-

tion.

Mrs. Kilgo has spent more than 22,000 hours researching the

requirements of the TEKS, TAAS, and TAKS and developing

unique instructional processes and models. Mrs. Kilgo has been

a successful educational consultant in school districts through-

out Texas since 1997. She is founder and president of Kilgo

Consulting, Inc.

Source: www.margaretkilgo.com

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 8 Page 3 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Panthers Host Comfort Bobcats

in Battle of District Unbeatens

A real Texas catfight is scheduled for tonight at Panther Sta-

dium, as the Blanco Panthers and the Comfort Bobcats tangle

in a bout between two undefeated-in-District rivals.

The Panthers are coming off a 59—7 win against Randolph.

The Bobcats beat Ft. Sam Houston Cole 42—28. Head Coach Danny Rogers was pleased with his team’s per-

formance against Randolph. “I thought we played well. Our

offensive line was outstanding. They’ve really come together at

the right time. Layton (Dworaczyk) can’t do it all by himself.”

“I thought Tanner (Rogers) threw the ball well. If we can run

and throw like we did it makes it tough on other defenses.”

Rogers has great respect for this week’s homecoming oppo-

nent. “Comfort had a real tough non-district schedule. They

played all 3-A schools. It was brutal. Their 1—4 record doesn’t

show how good they really are.”

“They throw the ball well. That’s probably the best part of

their game. They lost a lot of players from last year, but they have some good ones that have filled in. Those receivers are

tall and good.”

“Every time we play Comfort we need to play ball control.

We need to keep them on the sideline. We’ve got to be on the

top of our game.”

Notes

♦ Blanco’s senior football players have only lost one game at

Panther Stadium in their entire football career, grades 7—

12.

♦ Dworaczyk will be presented with the “Built Ford Tough”

Player of the Week Award (Week Two) at halftime of to-

night’s game. Dworaczyk has over 1,000 yards on the year.

Lady Panthers Stalk Comfort Deer

in Key District Match-up

The Blanco Lady Panthers, coming off a big win over John-

son City Tuesday night, wrap up the first round of District play

this afternoon when they host the Comfort Deer at 4:00 PM.

The Panthers’ win against Johnson City placed them in a tie

with the Eagles for second place in the District at 4—1. Harper (5—0) vs. Johnson City is the other big game on tap tonight.

As Head Coach Amy Hackebeil explains, the Johnson City

game was big. “Johnson City came into our house undefeated

in District and ready to play, but our girls were prepared offen-

sively and defensively to combat all their efforts. Our ball con-

trol was incredibly solid, allowing us to attack with precision at

the net.”

“Caitlan Gibbons and Alyssa Warner shut down Johnson

City's offense with five and three blocks, respectively. As a

team we were 91% from the service line with Sierra Martinez

serving four aces. And defensively, Lacee Hunter and Alex

Gustafson led the team with seventeen digs each.”

Comfort brings a 3—2 District record into tonight’s game. It

is a critical match-up. According to Hackebeil, “Comfort has a

couple of players around six feet tall and will come here ready to fight to win, but if we serve tough and pass well we will

overtake them.”

Hackebeil concludes, “With one game left in the first round

of District play, we are 4—1. The girls are focused and ready

to work hard to chase down the championship. We all want to

continue to play well and as a team, for when we do, we are a

tough team to beat.”

Runningback Layton Dworaczyk ran for 227 yards

and 7 touchdowns vs. Randolph. (Photo by Anne and Darryl Harvey) The Lady Panthers take a time-out from action in their volleyball

match vs. Johnson City last Tuesday. The Panthers defeated their

previously undefeated-in-District rivals 25—14, 25—12, 25—17.

The Panthers are now 4—1 in District, 18—7 overall.

Would you like an email subscription to our newsletter?

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with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject.

Week of Oct. 4—11

Sun. Oct. 4 Maria Flores

Tues. Oct 6 Gina Blankenburg

Susan Haas

Wed. Oct 7 Marie Graham Sat. Oct. 10 Tammy San Miguel

Michael Seales

Sun. Oct 11 Dana Mooney

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 8 Page 4

FOCUS ON BISD

Elementary School “Collin’s Cam” by Collin Gaskamp

Middle School “Lisa’s Lens” by Lisa Rogers

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

“Blanco Volleyball Tournament” September 26, 2009

“Elementary Science”

Sheila Mercer’s kindergarten classes are getting a practical

lesson in the theme “Changes over Time,” a CSCOPE unit.

Collin Gaskamp’s two-month old daughter Kamryn visits the

class once a month so the class can observe her growth. They

weigh her, measure her, and observe new things she is doing

like cooing, raising her head up, sitting, etc. Mrs. Mercer then

has the students tell what they observe, and they make a book

about Kamryn’s development. According to Collin, “This is a

great way to teach kindergarten kids the concept of growth and

development!”

“Snake Visits Mrs. Kainer’s Class” Mr. Mayo brought his

pet python to visit Diane Kainer’s second grade class. The py-

thon was displayed by Mr. Mayo’s granddaughter Shelby.

Each child was able to touch the snake if they wished. The chil-

dren were excited to be able to observe the creature.

7th Grade—First Place

8th Grade—Second Place