Weekly Update 5-13-10

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
MAY 13, 2010

1.  Thanks to our music department for our wonderful concerts.  The students were phenomenal!  Thanks to all who worked the concerts.  Special thanks to those of you who worked the concert at Glenn.  There was a lot to clean up and you all pitched in to assist.  Thanks so much!

2.  Liz King, grandparent of one of our students, recently won the WSFCS Judy Mountjoy Volunteer of the Year award.  She was recognized at the PTSA Presidents' dinner a few days ago.  Liz will be around during testing the next few weeks as a proctor, so please congratulate her.  This is a huge honor!

3.  This week we'd like to honor David Brown.  It is Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.  Thank you David for all that you do!

4.  This is not official, but we have information that we may have just been re-designated for the Schools to Watch award.  More information to come.

5.  Please make sure that your rooms are clean and ready for EOG testing.  There are items that need to be taken down or covered for testing.  You also want to make sure that your room is not cluttered.  This will create the best environment for our students to test.  Deb Neal will be checking your rooms on Monday. 

6.  We hope that the administrator visits this week were beneficial.  Karen, Cliff, and I were all pleasantly surprised at the positive responses from the students.  That was an enjoyable experience for us.

7.  RED ZONE:  Thanks again to all of you who provided input on the best way to handle Red Zone tutoring.  6th grade will do Option #2 (tutors stay in their classroom, tutoring kids rotate through the tutors) and 7th & 8th grade will do Option #3 (tutors stay in their classroom, students will stay with the same tutor for the five days of Red Zone).  I am very, very impressed with the Red Zone plans that I have seen so far.  You are all so creative! Deb Neal and I will get you a final copy of the Red Zone schedule for the school with tutoring locations, etc. in the next few days so that everyone can plan accordingly.


8. Career Start - This is a reminder to all homebase teachers to please have your students complete the Career Start survey online during homebase time. Students must initial the homebase roster that they have completed the survey. Purple homebase rosters were placed in your mailboxes last week. The survey can be accessed through the WSFCS website. Once all students have completed the survey, please turn in your homebase roster to your assistant principal.


9. Enrichment Activities: Now is the time to start planning your activities for time after EOG testing, Red Zone enrichment, and through the end of the school year. While it is important for our students to celebrate and have fun, we must keep our time structured and purposeful as well.


On each day after EOG testing, the expectation is that we still have some structured activities but realize that the students need to "blow off some steam" at the same time. It is difficult for the students to sit still for three hours each morning in silence. We must acknowledge that and have something constructive for them to do.

During Red Zone days, the expectation is that you have some enrichment activities scheduled. Several of you have already developed some great mini-units to use during this time. This is not the appropriate time to watch movies for entertainment or to have a celebration. We cannot penalize those students who are working hard in the Red Zone tutoring sessions. You are expected to have a plan for enrichment and carry out those plans.

From then through the end of the school year, I realize that there is a time for celebration and fun. However, the rest of the time in the classroom should be dedicated to enrichment activities. All teachers are expected to have lesson plans prepared on those days. This is not only my expectation, but also Dr. Martin's expectation for all schools.


10. Showing videos in class: To clarify the current policy:

"Showing a video for the purpose of reward or for a "break" for the students breaks copyright for fair use for teaching and is not permissible. You must have a viable curriculum or character education objective."  In other words, if you plan on showing part or all of a movie, you must first get it approved by an administrator and you must have a lesson plan prepared to support that video. That way, everybody will be protected by the policy.
 
11. On Monday, May 24, we will have the dedication ceremony of the newly landscaped hill at 2:30pm. The hill is being dedicated to Debbie Warren in honor of her service to SEMS and WSFCS. All staff are expected to attend. The ceremony will not be long. Some WSFCS central office staff, Lowe's staff, PTSA, and Kernersville News will be present.
 
12.  I need to go ahead and mention that grades for the quarter will be due on Tuesday, June 8.  I know that is early, but it is necessary.  The only real official teacher work day for schools is Friday, June 11 (Monday, June 14 is reserved for central office and Tuesday, Jun 15 is a work day that teachers can take off if needed).  So June 11 is the only day that we, as a staff, can stuff report cards with all of the required information and report card.  Grades then must be due a few days prior in order to prepare for that.  A positive will be that your grades will be completed before school lets out, so that is one less worry for you after school ends.  So please make plans to have your grades turned in by that June 8.  But you don't have to tell the kids that grades are due early!
 
13.  Continue to check the online calendar.  There's lots going on during these final weeks!  There is a staff meeting on Monday, May 17.  It will be a short meeting.
 
 
May Birthdays!


Lesley Guffey 5/1
Irma Jones 5/6
Denise Stephenson 5/18
Kim Gregg 5/21
Bridgette Watson 5/23
Nick Pizzino 5/26
Kendra Mabry 5/28
Dustin Draughn 5/30