Weekly Update 5/19/11

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MAY 19

1. Please take the next few days to prepare your classroom for testing.  All information on the walls regarding your subject area or test taking skills, etc., must be removed.  Please be sure that your room is clean and orderly.  All classrooms will be inspected prior to May 24 to ensure that all of them are clear for testing.

2. Red Zone plans were placed in your mailboxes last week.  Core teachers, please be sure to touch base with your encore teachers to coordinate enrichment activities/groups for the Red Zone days. All enrichment periods are expected to be just that - an enrichment sessions.  This time is not for a celebration or a movie.  We do not want our Red Zone students to feel like they are being punished while being tutored.

In addition, we will more than likely use a similar schedule for the retesting days. On retest days, we will need some teachers to administer tests and others to cover remaining classes. Encore teachers not involved in testing will be asked to help out core teams, similar to the Red Zone days.

3. Grades for 4th quarter/final grades will have two due dates.  Encore teachers:  Your final grades are due by Friday, June 10, by 3:00pm.  This means that all verification sheets are due to Sandy Derrah by that time.  Core teachers:  Your final grades are due to Sandy by Monday, June 13, at 3:00pm.  The reason for the staggered due dates - not all retest scores may be in by Friday, June 10, so some core teachers may need extra time to get the highest EOG grade in the computer. 

4. Allotment Updates:  The order of encore blocks for next year will be 8th, 6th, then 7th.  Daily schedules will be made over the summer break.  We are beginning to make the master schedule.  We will make all folks aware of any changes or updates that affect their grade level.  Brian Griffin will not return with us next school year.  In addition, Danny Bowman will not return with us next year.  We wish both of them the best.  You will be sorely missed!

5. Please be sure to check out the budget updates that were emailed out to all staff members last week. The School Board has started voting on cuts for next year. Some of these changes are going to be difficult for all of us. The furlough that our school board approved has to be approved by the State Board. If they do not approve it, then the school system will probably consider a 1% permanent pay reduction for all employees.

6. Information was sent out by WSFCS regarding insurance plans.  Members that wish to change their insurance plan may do so up until June 8.  Please refer to the information received from the school system.

7. The SIT team had a very productive meeting last week. An email was sent to you earlier regarding topics covered, openings for representatives for next year, and input needed from staff members. Please be sure to discuss these topics with your current reps. SIT will have another meeting before the end of the school year to vote on several issues for next year. If any staff members are interested in being on the team, please see your SIT reps so that they can bring your name to the next meeting.

8. Please remember that everybody's H-drive and S-drive (shared drive) online will be wiped out by Central Office this summer.  So save any documents or files on a flash drive if you need to keep any of them for future use. 

9. The PTSA will have a dance for our 8th graders on Friday, June 3, from 7-9pm. All staff members are welcome to attend. Information and permission slips will be sent out to 8th graders soon regarding requirements, procedures, etc. We'd love to see you all come out and wish our 8th graders well!  We are looking for individuals to assist with the dance. Please see me if interested.
 
10. We originally had a SIT meeting scheduled for Monday, June 6.  That meeting has been pushed to Monday, June 13.  We will have a staff meeting on Monday, June 6. 
 
Calendar Updates: Please consult the online calendar, which is complete with all field trips and events during this last month of school.

Thursday, May 19 - MS/HS Transfer Fair - Education Bldg, 4:30 - 6:00pm
Thursday, May 19 - SEMS Athletic Awards Ceremony, 6 - 7:30pm
Monday, May 23 - Staff Meeting, 2:15pm
Monday, May 23 - EOG Survey
May 24 - 26 - EOGs!
Friday, May 27 - Reflections Reception (only 14 students affected)
 
Happy Birthday!
Lesley Guffey 5/1
Irma Jones 5/6
Denise Stephenson 5/18
Wendy Furrer 5/18
Heath Benner 5/20
Kim Gregg 5/21
Bridgette Watson 5/23
Nick Pizzino 5/26
Kendra Mabry 5/28
Dustin Draughn 5/30