Weekly Update 2/7/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

1. In honor of National School Counselors Week, we'd like to thank our awesome Guidance Office staff for their hard work with our students.  They do a fabulous job of servicing our students, parents, and staff in many ways.  Congrats on a job well done, ladies!

2. Please continue to keep Helen Miller and her family in your thoughts and prayers with the passing of her father this week.

3. Congratulations to Frankie Santoro.  He has been awarded the Robert E. Anderson Human Relations Award for FCAE!  Also, congratulations to Deborah Wallace-Smith.  Her husband, Brian, has been selected as a finalist for the WSFCS Classified Employee of the Year.  Good luck to the Wallace-Smith family!

4. Friday's snow make-up day will be Monday, February 18. This date was originally scheduled as a Reserved-Central Office day but is now listed as a regular school day. The Payroll Department has listed January 18 (the day we were out of school) as an annual day. So you may see that reflected in your leave bank. We are being told that the end of the school year for teachers will be adjusted to reflect a day off (hence the use of an annual day) for all certified staff. Nothing has been confirmed as of now. 

5. There has been discussion of the status of March 28.  This date is currently on the calendar as a Reserved for Schools day.  Several options are being considered: leaving it along as an Rs day, changing it to an Rc day (which is not a good option considering that staff cannot take annual leave on Rc days), or changing it to a modified Rs/Rc day.  I will share more information as I receive it from Central Office.

6. The PTSA will be selling Valentine's candy grams during lunches on Feb. 7,8, 11, and 12.  Students can purchase a candy gram for $1.00 and send it to the person of their choice.  All candy grams will be delivered on Feb. 14 during 6th period.

7. The school fundraiser kickoff assemblies will take place on Friday, February 15, during encore blocks.  I will send out instructions to all staff members.  In addition, the fundraiser details will be discussed at Monday's staff meeting.

8. We will have a staff meeting on Monday, February 11, at 2:20pm in the MP room.  Topics include: Fundraiser kickoff, Arts Council kickoff, discipline, and testing updates.

9. The Winston-Salem Foundation is sponsoring education grants for any certified staff members, including teachers, counselors, coordinators, etc. Staff can apply for a grant up to $1500 for professional development opportunities, conferences, or even guest speakers. We highly recommend this opportunity for all of you. To apply, please visit their website: www.wsfoundation.org and click on the grants tab. The deadline to apply is February 15.  
 
10. We are required by the district and state to review bus safety rules with all students. The administration is creating a brief video to show to students in the next two weeks. We will forward this information to you when it is ready.

11. Core and encore progress reports are to go home with all students on February 20.

12. WSFCS is offering CPR certification training to interested employees. If you are interested in getting CPR certified, please let me know and I will organize the training with Central Office so that they can come here to train you. This is an easy opportunity to take care of that!

13. We will do a schoolwide mock testing session at the end of March during the quarter test window. More details will be discussed closer to this time.

14. 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. 7 - Basketball vs. Hanes (8th Away, 7th Home, 3:30pm)
Feb. 7,8,11,12 - PTSA Valentine's Candy Sale (during lunches)
Feb. 11 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm)
Feb. 13 - 6th Grade Super Novas Field Trip to Civil Rights Museum
Feb. 14 - PTSA Valentine's Candy Grams delivery (during 6th period)
Feb. 15 - Fundraiser Kickoff Assemblies (during encore blocks)
Feb. 18 - Snow make up day for students and staff - B-day schedule
Feb. 18 - 7th Grade Girls Basketball vs. Meadowlark (3pm @ SEMS)
Feb. 18 - SIOP Training #4 make-up session (2:20pm)
Feb. 20 - Core and Encore Progress Reports go home
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 4 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm)
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

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