Dear Bacich Families,

The start of the school year has been truly remarkable. Our dedicated staff have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition into the classroom for our new and returning students. From the enthusiastic arrival of students and families on campus each morning to the lively classroom “get to know you” activities, the positive energy is palpable.

New Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

We are excited to implement a new social emotional learning curriculum called The Toolbox Project. Staff attended a training prior to the first day of school and we are excited to begin teaching the twelve tools to our students. This program is a research based curriculum that builds and strengthens students’ capacities for resiliency and empathy. Over the coming weeks and months, Bacich students will learn the 12 tools through stories, fun projects, role play activities, class discussions and activities to share at home. For additional information about the principals of The Toolbox Project and to see a list of the 12 tools, please use this link to read more.

Reading Instruction at Bacich

Our staff also participated in several professional development workshops and institutes this summer related to reading instruction. We are working toward implementing a more structured literacy approach to reading instruction at Bacich. This research-based approach is designed to support students of all abilities in developing strong reading and writing skills. Structured literacy is founded on a systematic and explicit teaching method that helps students grasp the complexities of language and reading. As part of this effort, we are excited to announce that Bacich teacher Yvonne McCord will serve as both an ELD teacher and a Literacy Coach to support our students with language development and literacy skills and to support our teachers as we implement improved teaching strategies.

Math Pilot and New Math Intervention Curriculum

We are also excited to be piloting three math curriculum this school year. Several teachers will participate in the pilot. Please refer to the Bacich Math Pilot letter sent separately via Parent Square for more information. We will also implement a new math intervention curriculum called Do the Math, which emphasizes using numerical reasoning to find the best strategy for solving a problem. Two teachers at each grade level were recently trained and will use this program during grade level WIN (What I Need) time. WIN is a block in our schedule when students work in groups to receive differentiated instruction based on what they need. This is a time for both intervention and extension lessons and it is supported by both teachers and paraprofessionals.

I look forward to updating you on these exciting new programs as the year progresses. I hope you will mark your calendars for the first Bacich Principal Chat on Monday, September 11 from 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. in the Bacich Library.

Warm regards,