Southeast Middle School Jaguars

Southeast Middle School Jaguars

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Weekly Update 3/24/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 24

Everyone please have a safe and relaxing spring break.  Spend time with your families and enjoy the weather - everyone deserves this break!  Take care and we will see you back on April 4. 

1. Please keep some of our family members in your thoughts:  Mike Smith's mother passed away last night, Tracie Eisbacher's husband continues to recover from hip surgery, Brian Griffin continues to heal and will return after spring break, Dedria Davis-King's mother continues to heal from surgery, Kay Hoag is out this week still healing, and Collette Holbert had foot surgery on Wednesday. Please let me know if we need to add anyone else to this list and continue to keep those in your thoughts and prayers.

2. Congratulations to Bridgette Watson once again for her local and state honors from FCAE and NCAE.  She was honored at the NCAE convention last week and at the School Board meeting on Tuesday night.  We are proud of you!

3. Congratulations to Mr. Mabry, Mr. Munden, and the band students.  They received "Superior" ratings at the music festival on Tuesday.  These ratings were the highest possible.  We are proud of you and your students!

4. March Madness - will be on Friday from 2:00 - 4:00.  Tickets are still on sale.  Homebase teachers, please collect the permission slips and money, check off the students' names, and send your envelope to the main office by 8:00am. A separate email has been sent to you regarding instructions for the wristbands and getting the students to the gym.  Thanks to the athletic department for sponsoring this event.

5. Games 2 U - This incentive is from our November fundraiser and will take place on April 6.  We will send out information to those students and send you a master list and schedule of the event.  Those students involved will be given an invitation to the event as well.

6. Any groups taking field trips are reminded that you are required to send out a master list of students to the main office and all affected teachers 24-48 hours before the field trip.  If any of your regular students are staying behind, you must also note where those students will be located throughout the day.

7. Grades will be due on Tuesday, March 29, by 12:00pm to Sandy Derrah.  Please complete your grades and verify/turn them in to Sandy.  If you are planning on taking Tuesday off, you are required to have your grades in before that day.

8. NCAE is holding an education rally on May 3 at 4:00pm in Raleigh.  All educators are encouraged to attend, no matter what your position is.  I know that there are several of you interested in going.  We will forward more information to you as we get it from FCAE.  We are posting flyers in the workroom.


9. Hoops for Heart date is Wednesday, April 13.  Only those students who raise the minimum amount of money to participate will be involved in the tournament.  The tournaments will take place during encore blocks of time.  All other students will remain on a normal schedule that day.  If it rains and PE classes cannot go outside on this date, then we will postpone until Friday, April 15. 
 
CALENDAR UPDATES - The online calendar is up and running. It has been updated today and even includes all field trips on the schedule. Please visit on a regular basis to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. Remember to immediately sign in when you get on the website so that you have access to all Teacher Resources.


Grades Due - March 29 by 12:00
Staff Meeting - April 4
Games 2 U incentive (from fall fundraiser) - April 6
Hoops for Heart date - April 13

Happy Birthday!
Karen Thorpe 3/4
Forrest Munden 3/9
Dedria Davis-King 3/14
Brian Graham 3/14
Lillian thompson 3/15
Deborah Daniels 3/23
Jeff Nichols 3/27
Sherri Worrell 3/28

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Weekly Update 3/17/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 17

1. Please keep some of our family members in mind:  Laura Lyles' aunt passed away a few days ago, Tracie Eisbacher's husband is recovering from hip surgery, Brian Griffin continues to heal and will return after spring break, and Cynthia Hatch's brother is recovering from a heart attack.  Please let me know if we need to add anyone else to this list and continue to keep those in your thoughts and prayers.

2.  Thanks again to everyone who put together the Spring Arts Festival.  The event was a huge success!  It was wonderful to see so many staff members, students, and families come together and enjoy the night.  We are already looking forward to next school year.

3.  DJ Dance Party on Friday - we have sent everyone an updated list.  Updated names are in BOLD print.  8th/7th will go from 8:15 - 9:15 and 6th will go from 12:45 - 1:45. 

4.  March Madness - will be next Friday from 2:00 - 4:00.  Tickets are currently on sale.  Homebase teachers, please collect the permission slips and money, check off the students' names, and send your envelope to the main office by 8:00am each morning.  We will let you know when all tickets have been sold.  Thanks to the athletic department for sponsoring this event.

5.  Games 2 U - This incentive is from our November fundraiser and will take place on April 6.  Next week we will send out information to those students and send you a master list and schedule of the event. 

6.  Mock EOG-style EOQs will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Please refer to the schedule that Deb Neal sent out earlier in the week. 

7.  Everyone was sent an email earlier this week regarding options for the three spring break days.  Please follow the instructions from that email.  We will post staff sign-ups next week for you to indicate your intentions for each of those three workdays.

8.  Grades will be due on Tuesday, March 29, by 12:00pm to Sandy Derrah.  Please complete your grades and verify/turn them in to Sandy.  If you are planning on taking Tuesday off, you are required to have your grades in before that day.

9. Hoops for Heart date is Wednesday, April 13.  Only those students who raise the minimum amount of money to participate will be involved in the tournament.  The tournaments will take place during encore blocks of time.  All other students will remain on a normal schedule that day.  If it rains and PE classes cannot go outside on this date, then we will postpone until Friday, April 15. 

10. We would like to encourage all 6th grade students to sign up for the It's My Call program.  We are offering an ice cream social to any 6th grade students who joined this school year.  The date for that will be determined in early April.  The deadline for students to join is Friday, March 25.  6th grade teachers, I will send you a separate email with details.

11.  Any groups taking field trips are reminded that you are required to send out a master list of students to the main office and all affected teachers 24-48 hours before the field trip.  If any of your regular students are staying behind, you must also note where those students will be located throughout the day.

12.Thanks to everyone for a great start to our Instant Recess. Most of our students have been participating. It really does make a difference when the teacher encourages participation and works out with the kids. If you plan to use Instant Recess more than your one time per day, please let me know for documentation purposes. We are collecting data for this company.


13. If you plan to take any of your classes outside of the building, you must let the office know where you will be, get a walkie-talkie from the main office before going out, and check with the PE department regarding how much space is available outside on that date. Groups going outside may not mingle with the PE classes out on the fields. This is a safety issue.


CALENDAR UPDATES - The online calendar is up and running. It has been updated today and even includes all field trips on the schedule. Please visit on a regular basis to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. Remember to immediately sign in when you get on the website so that you have access to all Teacher Resources.


Baby Shower for Meg and Anna - March 21
Mock EOG-style Quarter tests - March 22-23
Grades Due - March 29 by 12:00
Games 2 U incentive (from fall fundraiser) - April 6
Hoops for Heart date - April 13
Happy Birthday!

Karen Thorpe 3/4
Forrest Munden 3/9
Dedria Davis-King 3/14
Brian Graham 3/14
Lillian thompson 3/15
Deborah Daniels 3/23
Jeff Nichols 3/27
Sherri Worrell 3/28

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Weekly Update 3/10/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 10

1. Lots of folks to continue keeping in our thoughts and prayers:  Dedria Davis-King and her mother, Brian Griffin as he continues to heal from his surgery, April Bocholis' mother, Cindy Adams' cousin from the car accident, and Janie Murray's father passing.  I apologize if I left anyone off the list. 

2. Special thanks to Sharman Lakey for going above and beyond the call of duty!  Sharman cleaned up a big mess in the 7th grade bathrooms on Wednesday.  We appreciate her stepping up and "drowning out" the problem! Thanks for being a team player.

3. This week celebrates Social Workers.  Shasta, we appreciate everything you do for us!

4. It is time for Daylight Savings this weekend!  Please do not forget to set your clocks AHEAD one hour on Saturday night.

5. Thanks to everyone for a great start to our Instant Recess.  Most of our students have been participating.  It really does make a difference when the teacher encourages participation and works out with the kids.  If you plan to use Instant Recess more than your one time per day, please let me know for documentation purposes.  We are collecting data for this company.

6. I will send out an email this week regarding details on your options for the spring break workdays. 

7. There will be a double baby shower for Meg Speziale and Anna Moore on Monday, March 21, in the Media Center.  I believe you will receive more details from the 7th grade very soon.

8.  We will hold the PTSA DJ Dance Party on Friday, March 18, for any students who sold at least one box of candy for the PTSA fundraiser.  We will group 7th and 8th together from 8:15 - 9:15 in the Multi-Purpose room and then 6th graders will go from 12:45 - 1:45.  We are compiling the master list this week.  We will forward that to all staff so that you know who is eligible to attend.  This does not affect a huge number of students, so we are hoping that this will not create a huge disruption to your classes. 

9.  The Hoops for Heart drive is underway.  We will have the Hoops for Heart event in April.  The exact date has not yet been determined.  The only students that will be involved in the event are those that raise a minimum amount.   We will pass along more details to you at a later time.

10. If you plan to take any of your classes outside of the building, you must let the office know where you will be, get a walkie-talkie from the main office before going out, and check with the PE department regarding how much space is available outside on that date. Groups going outside may not mingle with the PE classes out on the fields. This is a safety issue.

11. The SEMS Spring Arts Festival is set for the evening of Tuesday, March 15. We will have the PTSA Spring Book Fair, music performances, art displays, visiting artists, arts and crafts fair, face painting, etc. Flyers went out two weeks ago.  We would love for you to attend with your family.  Please encourage your students to come and enjoy.  In addition, we are looking for anyone who would like to set up a booth.  Please help us to get the word out to the community.

12. Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy: Please share this information with staff. The State Board of Education and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation partnered to form the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy, which will offer administrative licensure to aspiring principals who will serve in high needs schools. It’s a paid, one-year principal preparation program. The first class will begin with intensive coursework this summer, followed by a one-year residency in a high needs school. Graduates will be eligible for N.C. licensure as a school principal. You can find out more information at www.uncg.edu/elc/ptla.html.
We will have four informational meetings about the program:
• Monday, March 7, 3 p.m. in the Education Building – Room #219

• Monday, March 7, 4:30 p.m. in the Education Building – Room #219

• Friday, March 11, 3 p.m. in the Education Building – Room #223
• Friday, March 11, 4:30 p.m. in the Education Building – Room #223


CALENDAR UPDATES - The online calendar is now up and running. It has been updated. Please visit on a regular basis to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. Remember to immediately sign in when you get on the website so that you have access to all Teacher Resources.

EC Development Meeting - March 14
Spring Arts Festival - March 15
Baby Shower for Meg and Anna - March 21

Mock EOG-style Quarter tests - March 22-23
Games 2 U incentive (from fall fundraiser) - April 6
Hoops for Heart dates - April

Happy Birthday!

Karen Thorpe 3/4
Forrest Munden 3/9
Dedria Davis-King 3/14
Brian Graham 3/14
Lillian thompson 3/15
Deborah Daniels 3/23
Jeff Nichols 3/27
Sherri Worrell 3/28

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Weekly Update 3/3/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 3

Thanks to everyone for your assistance with the bus accident this morning.  We sincerely appreciate those of you who stepped in to help.  The incident was taken care of swiftly and calmly. 

1.  Welcome back Kay Hoag!  We are so glad that you have returned!

2.  Brian Griffin continues to recover at home.  He is feeling better every day.  We are still unsure how long he will be out.

3. Tracie Eisbacher's husband, Corby, will be having surgery soon.  Please keep Tracie and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

4. The weather is getting warmer. Please start to review the dress code policy with your students regarding shorts, shirts, etc. Also, if you plan to take any of your classes outside of the building, you must let the office know where you will be, get a walkie-talkie from teh main office before going out, and check with the PE department regarding how much space is available outside on that date. Groups going outside may not mingle with the PE classes out on the fields. This is a safety issue.

5.  The SEMS Spring Arts Festival is set for the evening of Tuesday, March 15. We will have the PTSA Spring Book Fair, music performances, art displays, visiting artists, arts and crafts fair, face painting, etc. Flyers went out last week.  We would love for you to attend with your family.  In addition, we are looking for anyone who would like to set up a booth.  Please help us to get the word out to the community.  We have stacks of flyers for you to share in your neighborhoods, churches, businesses, etc.  Please let me know if you need some. 
 
6.  Please do not forget the tornado drill on Friday morning at 9:30am. 
 
7.  The dates on our calendar are filling up very fast. If you plan to take a field trip this spring, you will need to schedule that as quickly as possible. Please remember to check with Sandy Derrah regarding bus availability with your buses and then give me a field trip approval sheet. Dates to avoid for field trips: March 21 - 24 (mock EOG-style quarter testing) and May 2 - 27 (blackout dates for EOG prep, testing, and red zone). Please let us know if you have questions.
 
8.  On Monday, March 7, at 9:30am, we will show a short 5-minute video from the Student Council.  Please be sure to tune in.  We will let you know what channel to turn to. 


9.  The American Heart Association and Forsyth Medical will be offering CPR classes. We would like for many of you to take this course, including coaches, main office staff, teachers, and assistants.   The school will pay the fee for you! A separate email was sent out earlier this week regarding how to sign up.  Please let me know if you intend to do this. 
 
10.  If you need to go off campus for any reason, please be sure to obtain permission from an administrator first and then sign in and out on the "off campus" sheet in the main office.  It is so important that we are able to keep up with where everyone is should an emergency, etc. arise.  More information will be shared at grade level and staff meetings in the next week.
 
11.  We have a small group of 6th grade students who wish to start an anti-bullying club.  If you are interested in being the sponsor for this club, please let me know.  They have lots of good ideas!
 
12.  We were just informed that the staff calendar has changed.  Wednesday, March 30, is now a Reserved School workday for all staff instead of a Leave day.  That means you will have to take Annual Leave if you wish to not work on this day.  We will discuss this more at our next meeting and you will all receive an updated calendar. 
 
CALENDAR UPDATES - The online calendar is now up and running. It has been updated. Please visit on a regular basis to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. Remember to immediately sign in when you get on the website so that you have access to all Teacher Resources.

Staff Meeting - March 7
Classified Meeting - March 9
Spring Arts Festival - March 15

Mock EOG-style Quarter tests - March 21 - 24
Games 2 U incentive (from fall fundraiser) - April 6

Happy Birthday!
Karen Thorpe 3/4
Forrest Munden 3/9
Dedria Davis-King 3/14
Brian Graham 3/14
Lillian thompson 3/15
Deborah Daniels 3/23
Jeff Nichols 3/27
Sherri Worrell 3/28