Weekly Update 1/6/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thank you all for a great first week back!

1. Tracie Eisbacher has been very sick for several weeks. She has walking pneumonia.  We wish her the best in her recovery!

2.  Cindy Wilkes' mother-in-law passed away last night.  Please keep Cindy in your thoughts and prayers.

3.  Jami Rojas Rodriguez is this year's recipient of the Human Relations Award for SEMS.  She will represent us at a dinner in February along with the other winners.  We sincerely appreciate all that Jami does.  She has overcome a lot of adversity and is still going strong.  Please congratulate her when you see her.

4.  Melissa Futrell, who served as our interim social worker when Shasta was out, has been hired as a long-term sub in Lisa Horwath's position.  We are very excited about her returning to our staff!  She will start on Monday.

5.  The fundraiser Candy Scramble will take place on January 20 in the afternoon.  This is for students who sold at least 3 items. The schedule is in the calendar below.  We will provide a list of who goes to this event, which only lasts 15 minutes. 

6. As of right now, we have only missed one day for snow.  Here is how the schedule has been altered for this day:  December 16 counts as an annual leave day, June 10 becomes a regular student day, and June 15 becomes a Reserved day.  If we miss more days, the schedule will be affected even more.

7. It is likely that we will have to use our inclement weather plan once again. Please be sure to review this with your team. The school system will make one of three decisions on these days: 1) 2-hour delay, 2) Closed, or 3) Closed with optional teacher workday. The third option is not likely to happen. But if it does, that means that you can work if you choose to do so. If you choose NOT to work on that day, then you will either have to take an annual leave day or you must make up the time.  With the upcoming weather predictions, please be careful in your travels. 

8. Please remember to sign up for the Differentiated Instruction training that you all attended. In order to receive credit, you must sign up and then evaluate the training.


9. The School Improvement Team will have a meeting on Tuesday, January 11, at 2:15pm. Topics of discussion: hallway behavior, bus dismissal patterns, and morning tardies. We are looking to possibly restructure some of these procedures. We are considering altering the morning schedule by 3-5 minutes at the end of homebase to alleviate our traffic issues. If you have input on any of these topics or any additional topics, please see your SIT representatives before January 11.
 
10. The end of the quarter is January 20.  Grades will be due on January 21 by 1:00pm.  They must be verified and turned in to Sandy Derrah by this deadline.  If you wish to take annual time or any swap time on this date, you must have your grades turned in before this deadline. We will post a sign-up sheet prior to this date for you to indicate your plans for this day.
 
11. Please make sure that you have contacted any parents of children who are failing your class or if their average has dropped two or more letter grades since the last progress report.  This is a requirement in order for the grade to stand. 
 
12.  If you need to make any grade changes after you turn in your grades, you must fill out a grade change form and bring it to me to approve.  No changes will be made without approval.  If you need a form, they will be available in the guidance office or in Cindy Wilkes' office.
 
CALENDAR UPDATES (since the online calendar on Schoolwires still has glitches)
 
Friday, 1/7:  Gentry gets duct-taped to the wall by 6th graders
Saturday, 1/8:  SEMS Dance Camp (9:00am - 1:00pm)
Monday, 1/10:  Tri-M Induction practice (1:15pm in MP room)
                         Tech. Workshop - CPS Basics (optional, 2:15pm)
                         PTSA Board Meeting (6:30pm)
Tuesday, 1/11:  Tri-M Honor Society Induction (8:15am)
                          SIT Meeting (2:15pm)
Wednesday, 1/12:  Core progress reports go home
Thursday, 1/13:  Gentry at MS Principals Mtg.
                           EC Dept. Mtg (2:15pm)
Monday, 1/17:  NO SCHOOL!
Thursday, 1/20:  End of Quarter
                            Fundraiser Candy Scramble
                                (6th: 12:45 - 1:00, 7th/8th: 1:15 - 1:30)
Friday, 1/21:  Teacher Workday - grades due by 1:00pm
Monday, 1/24:  Tech Workshop - Google Reader (optional)
Tuesday, 1/25:  School Spelling Bee (8:00am)
                         NAL at home vs. Meadowlark (3:30pm)
                         7th Bball vs. Clemmons (8th Away)
Thursday, 1/27:  8th Bball vs. Meadowlark (7th Away)
Monday, 1/31:  21st Century Skills training (optional, 2:15pm)
 
 
Happy Birthday!

Katrina Tschekunow 1/8
Joan Munday 1/10
John Sigmon 1/10
Helen Miller 1/15
Leslie Ring 1/15
Sandy Derrah 1/23
Brendan Elkins 1/23