Weekly Update 4/19/12

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

1. Homebase teachers: Please be sure that your students are completing the surveys as requested.  8th graders must complete TWO surveys, not just one.  All green homebase rosters are due back to Deb Neal by April 27, indicating that all of your students have completed the survey.

2. Homebase teachers: Please be sure to collect your proctor letters that went out in Wednesday folders this week.  All teams and teachers are highly encouraged to create an easy incentive for students to return these letters, even if they have indicated that they cannot assist us during EOG time.  All letters with individuals who wish to proctor should be turned in to Deb Neal, preferably by April 27 for our planning purposes. Feel free to send out the electronic copy of this letter as well.  Please remember that the expectation is that 6th and 7th core teams secure at least four proctors per team and 8th grade teachers are expected to find one proctor each.  

3. I will attend our allotment conference on April 26.  Please know that the purpose of this meeting is to secure our total number of staff members for the following year.  We take a look at the total number of students enrolled for next year and the decision is based solely on that.  Support positions are fixed, meaning they are independent of the total number.  EC allotment is not completed until the second week of May and we are not included as part of that process.  I will be notified by the EC department when the decision is made.  As for the process of Encore classes, I will touch base with the encore teachers before allotment to let you know how this takes place for your program area.  It is important to note that this meeting is not a "negotiation" conference - the only flexibility that I have is if there is a number very close to pushing us over an additional staff member in a certain area.  That's what I "fight for." Other than that, it is pretty black and white.  I will communicate with the staff once the allotment process has been completed. 

4. Many of our students have received an invitation to summer school.  Letters were to go in report cards for individual students (not all students received one).  Please encourage them to complete that application and get it turned in to the Guidance Office by the April 20 deadline.

5. Staff members also have the opportunity to apply to work the summer school program.  Please remember that the program is through the Bell company and not WSFCS.  Classified staff are also able to apply.  Certified staff are paid at $30/hour.  More details and instructions are in the email that was sent last week to all staff members.

6. The spring concerts are coming up soon.  All 6th grade teachers and encore teachers have already fulfilled their obligation for working a night event this semester, so all other certified staff are expected to sign up for a concert.  The sign-up sheets will be posted on Monday, April 23, at 2:15 in the teacher workroom.  Dates of the concerts are:  May 3 (Band 6th/7th @ SEMS), May 7 (Orchestra @ Glenn), May 8 (Chorus @ Glenn), and May 10 (8th Band @ SEMS).  The dates and times will be posted on the sign-up sheets. 

7. Please remember that the EOG will now count 20% of the students' final grade.  More instructions are on their way closer to the end of the quarter.

8. We will conduct a required lock down drill sometime during the month of April.  Please review this procedure with your students. We will let you know within a few days of when the drill will take place.

9. We will have mandatory EOG test training on Friday, April 27, during grade level meetings.  Grade level start times:  8th grade at 7:35, 6th grade at 9:45, Encore at 11:30, and 7th grade at 12:30.  Please be on time for your meeting.  The training will last for most of your planning block, so please do not schedule any parent meetings during this block.  In addition, we have the EOG Code of Ethics and EC Accommodations training on Monday, April 30.  This is for all staff. Each of you must sign off on this training.

10. As you plan your activities toward the end of the school year, please keep in mind that it is very helpful to use debt as an incentive for participation in those activities.  We already hold the 8th graders accountable for their debt through an administration letter that will be sent home this week.  We encourage other teachers to do the same to ensure that students and parents get their debt paid off.  Debt can include cafeteria debt, overdue/lost books, damaged/lost textbooks, locks, etc. In addition, it is always helpful to incorporate behavior incentives as well.

11. If any staff members are interested in helping out with the community girls softball team (not connected to SEMS, but it includes quite a few of our students) in the fall, then please let me know.  I will put you in touch with the parent in charge.

12.  If you have not already turned in your technology inventory sheet to Lisa Turner, please do so immediately.  All forms were due this past Monday.  These forms are necessary for us to complete the required inventory for central office.

13. Please continue to check the online calendar for updates. Remember that it is very easy to access through your email system.  Once you are in your email, click on the Calendar tab on the lower left of the screen.  Once there, click on the SEMS/S. Gentry Staff calendar.  You can then view by day, week, or month.  Keep in mind that the month view is difficult to interpret - there is too much on the screen.  Another helpful tidbit....when viewing a day or week, there is a possibility that there are multiple events listed, so there may be a drop-down menu on that date to access more events for that particular day.  It is so important to keep up with this calendar, especially this time of year.  There are too many dates to list in this blog, that's why we've created the calendar.  

Happy Birthday!
Jane Trace            April 2
Mike Smith           April 3
Kristen Thorne     April 14
Brian Griffin         April 15
Susie Hook          April 17
Anne DiPiazza     April 20
Sandra Denson    April 22