IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2019 | Page 72

Elroy Elementary School collaborated with the
American Heart Association in physical education class.
Students are learning about their heart while helping
raise money for others. The Kids Heart Challenge
mission is for students to learn jump rope skills, how
their heart works, and raise money for kids with special
hearts. We recently had our assembly to kick-off the
event. For more information please visit the website
http://american.heart.org/kidsheartchallenge/.
Operation Warm is #morethanacoat
Every student at Elroy Elementary
received a brand-new winter coat from
Operation Warm sponsored through
FedEx. Operation Warm has been around
for 20 years serving millions of children
across North America. Their mission is to
provide warmth, confidence, and hope to
all students for a brighter future.
The project started when one man was
driving on the streets of Kennett Square,
Pennsylvania. Dick Sanford encountered a
sight that eventually spurred the formation
of Operation Warm. He saw a group of
children – coatless – huddled at a bus stop
on a cold December morning. The sight led
Dick to drive to a local department store
and purchase every coat in stock. With the
help of his local rotary club, those 58 coats
were given directly to kids in need. This
gesture of kindness inspired the creation
of Operation Warm. The first 58 coats were
purchased by one man, but the millions
of coats since then have been a result of
communities united, working together to
improve the livelihood of children.
Operation Warm Mission
Statements:
WARMTH
Operation Warm creates brand new,
high-quality coats for children in need,
offering a child both physical and
emotional warmth.
CONFIDENCE
The gift of a brand-new coat
empowers children by sparking self-
confidence in a way that second-hand
clothing cannot. A new coat can help
students attend school, socialize with
their peers and play outside with pride.
HOPE
Many families living in poverty
struggle to provide necessities like
food, housing, clothing and child care.
The gift of a brand-new coat offers
hope to both children and their parents,
reminding them there are those in their
community that care about their well-
being and future.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lifelong Learners at Brentwood Middle School
As the landscape of public education continues to change and evolve, it is essential that classroom teachers are prepared to meet the
needs of 21st century learners. Teachers across school districts sharpen their skills by participating in professional development trainings,
attending workshops, researching best practices, and pursuing advanced degrees. However, one activity that can often provide
invaluable learning opportunities for classroom teachers is the ability to collaborate with their colleagues to share their expertise and
learn from each other.
At Brentwood Middle School, the core subject teachers conduct “Peer Observations” of their content area colleagues. Each Math,
English/Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies teacher at the middle school visits the classrooms of the other teachers in their
department to observe lessons and share feedback. After the observations, the teachers may discuss topics such as specific instructional
strategies, implementation of classroom routines, physical classroom environments, or tactics to motivate students to perform their
best. In addition to individual discussions, the teachers are also able to identify the strategies and practices that they liked the most on
a shared electronic document that is available for the entire teaching staff to view. By visiting other classrooms, the teachers can view
instruction from a different perspective and reflect on their own practices.
Peer Observations are just one way that the teachers at Brentwood Middle School attempt to provide the best education possible to
each one of their students!
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