Weekly Update 11/8/12

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER8, 2012

1. Please keep Jane Trace in your thoughts and prayers.  She had foot surgery and will return back with us in about a week or two.

2. Many thanks to our PTSA, especially Lisa Hedgecock and Tonya Crews.  They have been here at school almost every day to update our PTSA fundraiser monies and were responsible for your Halloween treats in your mailboxes.  In addition, they are planning several activities for teachers and students throughout the year.  Last week, you received an email regarding PTSA lunch.  Staff members can pre-order lunch for $5.00.  They plan to offer this service one time each month. The sign-up sheet for the first lunch is in the staff workroom - the first lunch will be held on November 14.  

3. Paper progress reports are scheduled to go out on November 28.  This will be at about four weeks or so into the quarter.  We encourage teachers to also send out another paper progress report on December 19, right before the holiday break begins.  This is not required, but it would be good since there will only be about 2 weeks or so of the quarter once students return in January. We certainly don't want any surprises for our students!

4. After submitting your final quarter grades, you may not make any changes.  If you wish to alter a quarter grade after finalizing, then you must fill out a grade change form and place it in my mailbox.  I will review, approve, and give to Cindy Wilkes to manually change.  Grade change forms will be available in the Guidance Office and in Cindy's office.

5. Due to numbers, we can no longer accommodate the straight A student incentive trips.  Instead, we will offer a straight A celebrate after each quarter.  If the numbers are high, we will have a short celebration for each grade level across three separate days.  If not, then we will combine the groups.  This will save money and time, yet we can still celebrate their success with them. We are currently planning the dates and will forward the information to you soon.

6. We have three upcoming winter music concerts.  Any certified staff members who did not work one of the October socials will be expected to sign up to work one of the concerts.  Concert dates:  December 11 (Band concert @ SEMS, 6pm), December 13 (Chorus concert @ Glenn, 6pm), and December 18 (Orchestra concert @ SEMS, 6pm).  Sign ups for these concerts will be posted on November 14 in the teacher workroom at 2:20pm.

7. We have several students who have potentially severe medical issues.  If you need to call for assistance for one of these students (the appropriate staff are fully aware of the students I am referring to), please identify who the student is, whether it's over the Bogen phone or through a walkie.  By doing this, we know what medicine or kit to bring with us to respond to the emergency. 

8. Teacher EVAAS reports online will soon be available.  In the next week or so, you may receive an email indicating that you can access your EVAAS report (for those of you who tested an EOG last year).  Please let us know if you need assistance in accessing the report.  We will talk more about these reports in November and December.

9. All teachers involved with the "I Know My Class" online student engagement survey have been notified via email.  These teachers will receive a short instructional session on how to set up and administer this survey.  The requirement is for the teacher to give this survey at least one time each quarter. 

10. On November 15, John Downs and Evan Herreid will conduct a technology training for all teachers during grade level planning.  More information will be coming from John.  At the conclusion of this training, John will review the "I Know My Class" survey procedures with those selected teachers. 

11. If you are interested in being a tutor for our at-risk tutoring program in December - February, please see Deb Neal.  Certified tutors can be paid $25/hour.  Each tutoring session will last 1.5 hours.

12. We are looking for staff representatives for the PTSA Board.  The board meets once per month, usually on a Monday night at 5:30 here at the school.  If you are interested in a leadership opportunity by serving on this board, please let me know.  We'd be happy to have you with us!

13. If you are an EC staff member or support personnel, you may receive an automated email regarding a "Random Moment Time Study."  If you receive this, it is legitimate and you must complete the questionnaire at the specified time.  This study is linked to the funding that the school system receives from the federal government, so we must be compliant.

14. FCAE will be here on campus after school on November 13.  They will be doing some staff surveys.  

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.

UPCOMING DATES
Nov. 8 - Report cards distributed to students
Nov. 8 - Picture make-up day
Nov. 9 - Music Dept. Wipeout Party (during encore blocks)
Nov. 12 - Veterans Day - No School!
Nov. 13 - Staff flu shots available - see Susie if interested
Nov. 13 - FCAE onsite after school to conduct surveys
Nov. 15 - 7th grade eye screenings (7:30 - 9:30am)
Nov. 15 - Technology grade level meetings w/J. Downs and E. Herreid
Nov. 16 - 8th grade level meeting (7:45am)
Nov. 17 - Robotics Qualifying Tournament
Nov. 19 - SIOP Training #3 (2:15pm)
Nov. 26 - EC Dept. meeting (2:15pm)
Nov. 28 - Paper progress reports - Core and Encore
Nov. 28 - SIT meeting (2:15)