Weekly Update 9/20/12

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

1. Thanks to everyone for a wonderful first month of school.  Your hard work is paying off!  I know that we are overwhelmed, and we will probably continue to be overwhelmed during the school year, but the payoffs are definitely worth it.  I appreciate everything that you all do.

2. We will conduct our required lock down drill on Monday at 12:45pm.  We will make an announcement. In addition, we will have a fire drill by the end of September.

3. SIOP training will kickoff on Monday, September 24, at 2:15.  All certified staff are to complete the training.  In addition, all teacher assistants are expected to complete the training as well.  All materials will be provided for you. In addition, all of us will complete an online module after each training.  All staff will receive ESL and reading credit for completion of training and online follow up after each session.

4. Student Council voting:  The Student Council campaign video will be shown at the following times on Friday, September 28:  6th and 7th grade at 7:45am and 8th grade at 9:30am.  All students should view the video and then vote on the voting sheets that will be supplied for you.  Please see Mrs. Murray or Mrs. Frauenhoffer if you have any questions.

5. In regards to students being tardy to class:  Please remember that the ultimate goal is to quickly get the students in class and not wasting instructional time.  The expectation for all staff is that if they hold a student for any reason making them tardy for their next class, then they must carry a signed agenda or signed note from the teacher in order to get into class.  If everyone follows this, then students who show up to class late with no note should signal a "red flag."  If any student comes to you late, please admit them to class and at that point you have several options:  1) You can call the teacher who they claim sent them to you late, 2) Follow up with that teacher later, or 3) Record tardies in your classroom (very similar to what our 8th grade tardy system is) and have consequences for those students coming in late for no excused reason.  With our new supervision system in place, we shouldn't have hardly any students late to their classes.  If you have a student come in more than 10 minutes late with no note and a staff member did not hold them, then that is considered skipping. The student should remain in class and a discipline referral should be turned in to an administrator later that day. 

6. 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:  8th grade social (Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2:15 - 4:15), 7th grade social (Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2:15 - 4:15), 6th grade social (Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2:15 - 4:15), Band winter concert @ SEMS (Tuesday, Dec. 11, 5:30 - 7:30pm), Chorus winter concert @ Glenn HS (Thursday, Dec. 13, 5:30 - 7:30pm), Orchestra winter concert @ SEMS (Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5:30 - 7:30pm).   All certified staff are expected to sign up for one event this fall.  The sign-ups for the socials will be posted on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 2:20pm in the teacher workroom.
  
7. When updating grades in NCWISE, please be sure to click the 'Post to Parent' option on each assignment listed.  This will make it visible to your parents.  If you don't click this option, your parents cannot view how their student received their updated quarter grade.

8. If you are interested in ordering staff polos, please do so by October 1.  Susie will be happy to hold your checks until payday if necessary.  Ordering sheets are in Susie's office.

9. We will offer staff flu shots on November 13.  If you plan to sign up for the shot, please see Susie to fill out the appropriate form.  

10. Committees vs. Afterschool activities:  To clarify, serving on a committee versus sponsoring an afterschool activity are two completely different things.  Teachers are required to serve on a committee, whether it's SIT, Hospitality, NJHS Hearing Panel, etc.  Sponsoring an afterschool activity is optional. If you sponsor an activity, that means I have approved and confirmed with you that you are sponsoring a student activity and how you are getting compensated for that.

11. I will be visiting the LA and Math curriculum meetings over the next two weeks to share individual teacher ABC growth with you.  Please note that this is not the teacher EVAAS report - those reports will come out later.  ABC growth is the raw growth looking at just the scores, and this is done by the state.  EVAAS teacher growth uses a formula to determine your growth.  The two are similar, but not the same.  The ABC growth for each of you will be a rough indicator of what your EVAAS growth may look like.

12. November is just around the corner and presidential voting will be taking place.  Please remember that there is a policy regarding staff conduct with political activity in schools (Policy 1311).  The policy states that teachers are free "to study the political campaigns and the analysis of ALL sides of political issues.  Employees are directed to use good judgment and discretion when discussing political views and beliefs with students." It is also important to note that certain employee conduct is prohibited.  Employees are may not activity campaign or solicit the support of others while on duty, may not coerce or compel others to make contributions or support one particular candidate, and employees may not prepare, display, wear, or distribute campaign literature, materials, or signs against or for a particular candidate.  This includes wearing stickers, buttons, or clothing.  You can, however, have a bumper sticker on your personal vehicle.  More details are listed in School Board Policy 1311.   

13. Staff Handbook Focus of the Week: New School Board Policy AR 1111
This policy is in reference to use of school mail and communication with students.  School mail should be strictly used for school business.  This is the best way to stay in contact with your parents and students in writing.  Students should not be contacting you via a personal email account - this is for your protection.  In addition, teachers are not allowed to communicate with students using their cell phones (even if you are using the school phone).  If a student has a question about their assignment over the weekend or evening, then they should email the teacher.  A complete description of this policy is in your Staff Handbook. 

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. 

DUE DATES
Sept. 21 - Evaluation self-assessment and PDP goals completed and signed online in McRel system
 
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. 24 - SIOP Training Kickoff (2:15pm) - certified staff and teacher assistants
Sept. 27 - OPTIONAL technology training during grade level planning - Learning Village resources
Sept. 28 - Student Council video and voting
Oct.1 - Staff meeting
Oct. 2 - School pictures
Oct. 3 - Paper progress reports go out - core and encore
Oct. 5 - 8th grade level meeting
Oct. 8 - Vertical curriculum meetings
Oct. 8-9 - Flexible Benefits appointments (will present info at Oct. 1 meeting)
Oct. 10 - Unity Day - Wear orange and take a stand against bullying!
Oct. 10 - 8th grade social (2-4pm)
Oct. 11 - SIOP Training #2 - during grade level planning
Oct. 12 - PTSA Fundraiser Kickoff - schedule is TBD