Weekly Update 8/30/12

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

1. Thank you for a great first week of school!  I cannot even begin to tell you how good it feels to have all of us working together.  I think the students have been a little thrown off by our unified front, but that's a good thing for sure! So thank you for doing YOUR part in making that happen.  If we can do it this week, we can certainly do this all year long!

2. We are looking for one or two more members for our Hospitality committee.  We have had several newer teachers to sign up for this committee and it's not very fair to put them in charge of this committee being new to our school.  If you would like to switch your committee to Hospitality, please let Gentry know as soon as possible.  Duties include: collecting dues, taking care of condolences and celebrations (i.e. retirements, death in the family, etc.), and periodic small staff events throughout the year (i.e. Teacher Appreciation Day).  

3. The expectation for certified staff is that you work one evening event per semester.  This fall, you will have multiple events to choose from to satisfy this expectation.  We will have winter concerts in December.  Then we will offer grade level socials on three separate afternoons after school sometime this fall (we are working on those dates right now).  We will discuss this more at our next staff meeting.

4. The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce is offering their annual teacher grants again this school year.  Information is being placed in your mailboxes for your review.  The grant deadline is October 1.  If you plan to submit a grant, you are required to submit a copy to Gentry before turning it in. 

5. All parent contact logs should be turned in to Gentry by September 28.  

6. All certified teachers received their evaluation information this week in your mailboxes.  You may go ahead and begin completing your self-assessment and PDP goals if you wish.  On Sept. 10, Gentry will train the certified teachers NEW to the school district and then on Sept. 14, we will have grade level trainings in the computer lab for McRel online access so that you may complete your self-assessment and PDP goals. 

7. All teachers are asked to develop a student absorption plan by the end of September.  This plan is in case of an emergency if you have to leave the building.  Your students will need to be split up between other teachers each period until we can get your classroom covered.  Please get with your team, a neighbor, or a department to work together on your plan. Once finished, it should be posted on your safety clipboard by your door.

8. For those of you who wish to be included in the UNCG Action Research project:  We have about a dozen teachers interested in this project.  I will randomly draw names on Monday on the six who will participate in the project.  

9. Encore teachers: Please be sure that you have a copy of the WSFCS A-day, B-day calendar.  This will come in handy when the weather hits in the winter.  We must stay on this schedule throughout the year.  The only adjustments that need to be made will be during high school exam time.  I will forward that schedule later in the fall once it is available.

10. Please remember that no teachers will have NCWISE access until September 7.  Mr. Downs has schedule grade level meetings on that day for you to set up your gradebook and to review the attendance procedures. Between now and then, if a new student shows up to your classroom, please check their schedule to verify before admitting them to class. 

11. Continue to encourage your students and parents to pay their fees, etc. online.  It is a very simple process.  They will need to go to the SEMS website and click on the link for online school payments.  They must have their student's NCWISE number to complete the process.  Anyone who sets up a field trip will need to work with Susie Hook to get that fee on the online payment system.

12. If any staff members are interested in coaching the dance team this school year, please see Nick Pizzino or me.  You will be compensated for coaching this team. In addition, we are in desperate need of individuals to sponsor Student Council this year. Please let Gentry know if you are interested.

13. If any staff members are interested in coaching a Robotics team, please see Dedria Davis-King or me.  You will be compensated by the school system.  We already have one existing team and we'd like to add a second team.

14. Several staff members have asked about going to curriculum conferences.  Please understand that we no longer have a staff development fund.  This was taken away from us two years ago.  Although we highly encourage you to go these events,  you will have to fund the expenses if you wish to go.

15. If you have any students who need to make up a test or classwork, then please work out a plan with your teammates or neighbors to do so.  Sometimes ISS is available if it is not full.  But please do not send students to the Media Center, Guidance Office, or Main Office for this purpose.  These are functioning offices who do not offer that service.   

16. Staff Handbook Focus of the Week:  Videos In Instruction (p. 6)
Videos are to be shown for instructional purposes online.  If you plan to show any or part of a movie or show that is not available in our Media Center or on Learn360, then you must fill out the video approval form and submit to Gentry for approval. Please allow 2-3 days for approval.  In addition, you are required to submit a lesson plan/activity along with the form. Once approved, you will receive a copy in your mailbox. We strongly suggest that you review these requirements in  your staff handbook. Any violations of the School Board policy regarding videos could result in personnel discipline.

17. Please be sure to check the online calendar regularly (accessed through your email system) for events and meetings.  It is updated weekly and sometimes daily.  Birthdays will soon be posted. We need to get all new staff birthdays added to our list.

DUE DATES
August 31 - 6th/7th grade team schedules to Mrs. Pitt in main office
August 31 - Send home syllabus with your students.
Sept. 21 - Evaluation self-assessment and PDP goals completed and signed online in McRel system
                (We will conduct training prior to this date to assist you - please see info in your mailbox)
Sept. 28 - Parent contact log turned in, Safety Clipboard complete (including absorption plan), teacher webpage completed, sub folder complete and in mailbox. 

UPCOMING DATES
Sept. 7 - Grade Level mtgs. - NCWISE gradebook setup
Sept. 10 - Grade Level mtgs. ONLY for NEW WSFCS teachers (evaluation training)
Sept. 10 - SIT meeting, Committee meetings, PTSA Board Mtg
Sept. 12 - Open technology lab
Sept. 14 - Grade Level mtgs. - Evaluation refresher, McRel online
Sept. 17 - Staff meeting
Sept. 18 - SECU onsite visit for interested staff members
Sept. 20 - Open technology lab
Sept. 24 - SIOP Training Kickoff (2:15pm)
Sept. 27 - OPTIONAL technology training during grade level planning - Learning Village resources