IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2016 | Page 72

Brentwood Officials Chosen
for Leadership Pittsburgh

S C HO OL D IS TR IC T N E WS

rentwood Borough

Brentwood
Borough
School
District

For the past thirty years, Leadership Pittsburgh has been dedicated to
developing a network of committed, highly skilled, and informed leaders.
The mission of Leadership Pittsburgh is to strengthen regional leadership
through programs, partnerships, and connections. School Board Director,
Mr. David Schaap and Superintendent, Dr. Amy Burch were accepted
into Leadership Pittsburgh’s XXXIII cohort. The 10-month journey will
enhance their leadership capacities, examine our region’s critical issues and
challenges, and deepen their civic engagement. The two were nominated
by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU3) and the majority of the tuition
will be paid through the Grable Educational Leaders Fellowship. When asked
what she is looking forward to most of all Dr. Burch stated, “ Mr. Schaap and
I are humbled at the opportunity participate and are looking forward to
highlighting the Brentwood Borough school district, increase networking
opportunities, and meet the challenges of our region head- on.”

Five Ways to Ensure
Positive Transition for a
Successful School Year

1

Connect with the teacher(s) - Have you called to introduce
yourself to your child’s teacher(s)? Do you know the preferred
way to communicate with the teacher(s)? Taking this
proactive step will begin to form a bond of trust between
school and home. Some teachers prefer emails while others a
phone call. By asking first thing in the school year, you will be
sure to stay connected.

2

Connect with your child(ren) - Each day establish a routine of
asking for the low, middle and high points of your child(ren)’s
day. This validates that not every moment of the day may be
positive but also teaches children that difficult moments
don’t have to ruin the entire day.

3

Connect with other adults - We often are so wrapped up in
the events of our own lives that we forget to reach out to other
adults. This is a great way to share ideas and gain suggestions
for concerns that arise. It is also a stress reliever to share a
funny story!

70 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall

We are just a few weeks into the school year and hopefully, all of
these questions have been answered; Who is my teacher? Where
is my classroom? What classes do I have this year? To ensure the
continuation of a positive transition to a school year it is critical to
keep the lines of communication open. Below are a few tips to assist
in transitioning:

4

Routines, Routines, Routines - Easier said than done, but
this is especially critical for our youngest learners. Well rested
children are much better prepared to cope with the rigors of
a school day. Equally as important is breakfast. Recognizing
that not all children enjoy traditional breakfast food,
encourage them to eat healthy items such as cheese sticks,
granola bars, even a sandwich before heading off to school.
If you must leave for work early, all of our schools offer a
breakfast program for students.

5

Never Assume - We all know the expression, but it never fails
that at some point we assume. If something just doesn’t
seem right with your child(ren) or if you have a thought that
you are unable to let go, reach out and ask! Our professional
staff, administrators, and support personnel are eager to
assist. We are not always aware of a concern or question.