Weekly Update 2/21/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

1. The deadline to donate to the United Arts Council is February 28.  We encourage all staff to give what they can.  In order to donate, please visit the WSFCS website and watch the banner scroll at the top of the page.  When the Arts Council information appears, please click on the link, fill out the form, print it, sign it, and place it in Mrs. Ring's mailbox. 

2. We have confirmed dates for the carpet/tile installation.  The Media Center project will take place on March 1-4.  The Main Office/Guidance Office project will take place March 8-11.  This will affect your lunches on those Mondays and Fridays listed at the least. So on March 1, 4, 8, and 11, please plan to eat lunch in your classrooms. We will make sure that you have trash bags in your classrooms. All classes will still come to the cafeteria at you scheduled time, but after all students have received their lunch, please walk them as a group back to your classroom. On March 8 and 11, the copiers will be distributed throughout the building (we will let you know where) so that all staff have access to them. We will take the copy codes off of those machines so you can use any of them.  We will let you know where the microwaves will be located on March 8 and 11. 

3. The WSFCS student survey has just arrived. I will email detailed instructions for completion of the online survey. Homebases will be responsible for getting their surveys completed. All homebases will have until the end of March to complete this process.  Homebase teachers will have several options to get this process done. More information will be provided in my email.

4. As a reminder, the encore and 6th grade staff members who worked the Rising 6th Open House last month have fulfilled their requirement of working one night event for the second semester.  So for the rest of the certified staff, there will be several events throughout the spring that you may sign up for, including socials and spring music concerts. I will forward more information about potential events very soon.

5. The Athletics Department will sponsor March Madness on Friday, March 8, from 2-4pm. The students will take on the staff in a fun basketball game.  In addition, the 8th grade social is scheduled for Friday, March 22. More details coming soon. 

6. We will do a schoolwide mock testing session at the end of March during the quarter test window. If we do not have any more snow days, then we plan to do these sessions on March 21 and 22. A mock testing session means that we will shut down the school and have a modified daily schedule, just as we do on EOG testing days. 

7. March 28 - According the recent email received from Dr. Simington (Deb Neal forwarded this out to all staff earlier in the week), March 28 will remain an Rs day and there will be limited offerings for trainings should any staff wish to do so. I will confirm this information for all staff members. 

8. All staff were forwarded information regarding the Powersource/Homebase/Powerschool training earlier this week.  Soon (if you haven't already) you will receive registration emails from the Technology Department as well as from Pearson Products or Powersource.  Please do not delete these emails! They contain valuable instructions on how to log in.  Remember, this is the basic online training for the transition from NCWISE to Powerschool next school year.  All affected staff are expected by the district to complete this training. 

9. The Spring Book Fair will take place April 15-19. We will set it up similar to the schedule used last year, which minimally disrupted class time. In addition, our third annual Spring Arts Festival will take place on the evening of Thursday, April 18. More details coming soon.

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
Feb. 21 - 7th Grade Basketball vs. Kernersville (3pm @ SEMS)
Feb. 21 - Kernersville Cup! 8th Grade Basketball vs. Kernersville (6pm @ East Forsyth HS)
Feb. 25 - SIT Meeting (2:20pm)
Feb. 25 - 7th Grade Girls Basketball vs. Walkertown (3pm @ SEMS)
March 1-4 - Media Center carpet installation
March 4 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm)
March 8-11 - Main Office/Guidance Office carpet installation
March 8 - March Madness (sponsored by the Athletics Dept.)
March 11 - Vertical Planning Mtgs. (2:20pm)
March 14 - Grade Level Mtgs. (during planning blocks)
March 14 - Fundraiser Limo Lunch (for qualifying students)
March 15 - Spring Pictures
March 15 - Port-A-Pit PTSA Fundraiser (2:30-7:00pm)
March 22 - 8th Grade Social (2-4pm)

Future Dates for your Calendar:
March 21-22 - Mock EOG-style Quarter Testing
April 10 - MS/HS Teacher Transfer Fair
April 12 - Fundraiser BMX Bike Show
April 15 - 19 - Spring Book Fair