Weekly Update 3/22/12

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

1. Congratulations to Dr. Daniels.  She donated the most money to the Arts Council! She will receive a $25 gift card of her choice. Thanks for supporting this organization!

2. You were sent an email regarding the change with the March 30 workshop.  This is now an RS day (reserved for school).  You may take an annual leave day if you have the time saved and if you have turned in and verified your third quarter grades. There is a staff spreadsheet posted in the staff workroom - please indicate what your plans are for this day.

3. There will be no tutoring sessions during the week of quarter testing.  Repeat: There will be NO tutoring sessions during the last week of the quarter!  The tutoring for 4th quarter will start back up during the week of April 16. We plan to have a shortened, modified tutoring plan for the 4th quarter.

4. Please encourage your students to turn in their It's My Call forms.  The It's My Call program is sponsored by the school system.  By signing up, students are declaring that they are drug free and subject themselves to random drug testing while attending Southeast Middle School.  Students who have already signed up and those who do sign up before March 28 will receive an It's My Call bracelet, some candy, and their name will be in a drawing for a $50 gift card.  Students are not required to sign up, nor do they receive a penalty for not signing up.  Right now the school is at 60% signed up, and our goal is to push this to 90%!

5. WSFCS will be contacting all certified employees soon with instructions for your intent forms for next school year.  Intent forms are when you indicate your plans for the following school year.  You have the option to continue at your current school, retire, resign, or put in for a transfer.  Regardless of your intent, all certified staff are required to complete this form by the deadline that WSFCS gives you.  I do hope that all of you plan to continue here at SEMS with us next year, but you have to decide what is best for you.  If you plan to put in for a transfer, please let me know ahead of time that your name will appear on this list.  I am happy to discuss that with you, as in the past.

6. We have had many, many students out this quarter for extended periods of time due to illnesses, suspensions, etc.  It is imperative that teachers get work to the Guidance Office when requested by the parent or administration.  All teachers will be given a 24-hour notice to turn in work.  I know that there are many, many things on our plates this time of year, but we must answer the call when work does get requested.  

7. The School Board voted to change the requirements of the EOG weight for middle school students' final grade.  Last year, the EOG and the Algebra EOC counted 25% of each student's final grade.  This year, the Algebra EOC will still count 25% as required by the state, BUT the EOG will now count only 20% of the final grade. 

8. Third quarter grades will be due by Friday, March 30, at 1:00pm.  All grades must be finalized in the computer and the verification sheets turned into to Sandy Derrah by this time.  If you plan to take an annual day on March 30, you are required to have your grades turned in and finalized before March 30. 

9. Please continue to stay in contact with parents of struggling students.  If a student's grade drops to an F or two letter grades or more, teachers are required to contact a parent.  Please do so well before the end of the quarter.  If you wait too late (i.e. the last day of the quarter) to notify the parent, this is commonly viewed as  a "gotcha" moment and the student does not have an opportunity to recover if the parent is unaware.  Please continue to encourage your parents to sign up for the Parent Assist.  This has resolved many potential issues for us!

10. We received information about the annual required student surveys for all students.  The surveys will be conducted online.  In addition, 8th graders will be required to fill out an additional federal survey.  We are planning on having the surveys conducted through your classroom computer, making it as easy as possible.  We do not plan on  loading up computer labs for this survey.  We will have about three weeks to complete the process.  That is all we know at this time.  I will forward the details as soon as we get them to make this as short and sweet as possible.

11. The fourth quarter is just around the corner!  Many of you are gearing up for EOG review and prep for May.  We will try to minimize disruptions prior to EOG week, which is the week of May 14.  As of right now, the only field trips or events on the schedule in April are 7th grade Raven Knob trips, 8th grade trips to Career Center, the fundraiser slam dunk show, and the NJHS induction ceremony.  Outside that, there are not to be any field trips scheduled between April 23 - May 17.  We must protect as much time as possible for our students to prepare.

12.  It is the time of year now when the weather is warmer and students are testing the boundaries of the dress code once again.  Please remember that homebase and first period teachers are our first line of defense with enforcing the dress code.  If you are a male staff member and are uncomfortable addressing a female's clothing, you are welcome to ask a female neighbor for assistance.  In addition, if you instruct a student to fix their dress code issue and they are non-compliant/refusing to do so, you may contact the office so that an administrator can address the issue in the main office area.  Let's all work together to reduce our dress code violations.

13.  We will begin monthly cleanings of the fridge in the staff workroom.  We are finding lots of food that is rotted or molded, and we want to make sure that it is clean and safe for individuals to put their lunches. Our first cleaning will be at 2:45 on Friday, March 30.  At that time, anything left in the fridge will be placed in the trash.  Please be sure to take care of any items by this time.   

14.  Please be sure to check the online calendar on a regular basis.  It is updated weekly.  It is very easy to access - just click the Calendar tab on the left hand side of your email screen.  Click on the calendar named "Stephanie Gentry - SEMS Staff Calendar." 

Happy Birthday!
Karen Thorpe          March 4
Forrest Munden       March 9
Brian Graham           March 14
Dedria Davis-King   March 14
Deborah Daniels      March 21
Melissa Jackson       March 27
Sherri Worrell          March 28
Venee Robinson       March 31