Weekly Update 3/14/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

1. Please keep the following individuals in your thoughts and prayers this week:  Laura Lyles' aunt passed away this week, Jeremy Shearer's uncle in Chicago passed away, Forest Munden continues to heal from his emergency surgery last week, and Mike Smith's wife, Betsy, is on the mend from knee surgery last week. I apologize if I left anyone out (please let me know if I did)!  We wish everyone a speedy recovery and healing during this time. 

2. Thanks to the Student Council for sponsoring our upcoming Teddy Bears for Smiles & Legos for Vinny donation drive. The drive will kick off on Monday, March 18 through Wednesday, March 27.  Students, parents, and staff can donate teddy bears or lego sets for Brenner's Children's Hospital.  The teddy bear drive is on behalf of one of our current students, Hailey Domian, and the lego donations are in honor of Vinny DiGerolamo, who was the younger sibling of our current student, Desi DiGerolamo. Vinny passed away recently. 

3. 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: 8th grade social (March 22), 6th and 7th grade socials (sometime in April), and spring music concerts. For those certified staff who still need to sign up for an event, the sign-up sheet is now posted in the staff workroom.  Please sign up for an event as soon as possible. 

4. We will conduct our annual FCAE Staff Survey on Monday, March 25.  All staff should report to the multi-purpose room at 2:20 with a pencil in hand.  We will quickly review expectations and Nancy Holmes will review all instructions with staff.  Staff will complete their paper-pencil surveys, turn in to Nancy on that afternoon, and sign off that they have completed. All surveys will be conducted through Nancy, as she is our FCAE representative. We will not have a staff meeting on this day.  The survey is the only business that will be conducted at this meeting. 

5. Homebase teachers: Please remember that all bright green student survey sheets are due to Gentry by March 28. Thanks to those teachers who have already completed this process! 

6. Teacher intent forms are due by March 20. Please see your email for the link and instructions on how to fill this form out.  Please remember that if you decide to put in for a transfer or to resign, you will need to let me know.  The only way to be eligible for the April 10 Teacher Transfer Fair is to select the transfer option. If you need assistance with this process, please let us know. 

7. The grade level meetings originally scheduled for Thursday, March 14, have been postponed due to a principals' meeting being scheduled on the same day.  We will let you know how/when they will be rescheduled.

8. We will conduct a mini-workshop on behavior intervention and effectively dealing with parents on Monday, March 18, at 2:20pm. This is a required meeting for staff. It will be over by 3:15pm.  

9. An email was sent to staff earlier this week regarding the "Staff Wish List."  This is an opportunity for you to give me your thoughts on your teaching assignments for next school year. I will begin personnel planning later in the spring and would love to have your input as I complete that process. Please see email for more details. 

10. UNCG student teachers from the county may be visiting our classrooms during March and April.  They are being encouraged by their UNCG supervisors to do so.  Please welcome these visitors into your classrooms should they come by over the next month. They will be wearing a visitors' pass if they are not one of our current student teachers. We welcome this opportunity for our future teachers!

11. 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. Deb Neal has forwarded a copy of the schoolwide quarter test schedule for all staff members. 
 
12. Many staff members have asked about CEU credits for completing the upcoming Powerschool online training sessions.  According to Central Office, they are working on this option for all staff.  When you do complete an online module, it will create a certificate of completion for you for each section.  Please print this for your records.  You should be able to get credit for these sessions. I will revisit the Powerschool online modules at our next staff meeting to show staff members more. 

13. March 28 will remain an Rs day and there will be limited offerings for trainings should any staff wish to do so. You may want to check with your subject area Program Manager for the status of any trainings offered (quite a few have been cancelled).  This will be a day that staff can take an annual leave day.

14. The Spring Book Fair will take place April 15-19. We will set it up similar to the schedule used last  year - Language Arts teachers will be scheduled for a 15-20 minute visit with each of their classes and then we will provide Book Fair passes to all LA teachers for students to come to make purchases during the second half of the week. More details will be provided. 

15. Our third annual Spring Arts Festival will take place on the evening ofThursday, April 18. This is an opportunity to bring the community together for the Spring Book Fair Family Night, arts and crafts show, and art and music performances by our students and even staff members. We are looking for staff members, students, and parents to show off your creativity and talent! If you are interested in participating, please let us know. More details will be given out to all students and staff members later in March. 

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
March 14 - Fundraiser Limo Lunch (for qualifying students)
March 15 - Spring Pictures
March 15 - Port-A-Pit PTSA Fundraiser (10:30am-7:00pm)
March 18 - Mini-Workshop for Staff: Behavior Intervention/Dealing with Parents (2:20pm)
March 21-22 - Mock EOG-style Quarter Testing
March 22 - 8th Grade Social (2-4pm)
March 25 - Staff Survey (2:20pm, MP Room)
March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter (as of now)
March 28 - Homebase student survey sheets due to Gentry
March 28 - Rs Teacher Workday
April 8 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm)
April 10 - MS/HS Teacher Transfer Fair (4-5:30pm, North Forsyth HS)
April 12 - Fundraiser BMX Bike Show (12:30pm)
April 15 - SIT Meeting (2:20pm)
April 15 - 19 - Spring Book Fair
April 18 - Spring Arts Festival (6-8pm)