Professional Learning (PL) Days for staff may mean no school for students but the learning continues for instructional and support staff.

The days offer opportunities for staff to participate in sessions to expand their area of expertise or learn more about experiences offered at our schools. The goal of Professional Learning is to improve instructional practices and student outcomes.

A recent PL day included some collaborative and unique activities:

Team Building

Our school social workers, psychologists and counselors enjoyed a day of team building at Camp Will-a-Way at Fort Yargo's Camp Twin Lakes. The day included activities that encouraged them to work as a team, consider communication styles, and connect with each other through thought-provoking circumstances. The goal was to reinforce community to be able to better help support staff and students through challenging situations.

School Gardens
The School Garden Association met on the BCSS teacher workday for some professional learning! Teachers met to learn more about Farm to School gardening with
 

• a garden tour
• classroom cooking food demonstration
• learn how to plan the garden with your students
• learn how to conduct a cafeteria food waste audit with your student
   

Laura Ney from the UGA Extension office Agriculture & Natural Resources team also provided a presentation on food safety, especially for students working in school gardens. The group harvested radishes in the Kennedy school garden and made homemade butter from cream and salt. They made a delicious Radish Bruschetta with fresh bread buttered and topped with radish. Discussion centered on how to utilize the garden to teach or reinforce academic standards, with a bonus of engaged students!

Group picture in garden (L-R): Brooke Lewis-Slamkova, AHS Family & Consumer Science; Monica Massei, KES Gifted P-5; Robin Edens, KES Kindergarden; Christa Anderson, AHS Agriculture; Rena Osborne, HMMS Staff; Brandi Casey, SIMS Paraprofessional; Ryan Butcher, KES Principal