Weekly Update 8/29/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Thank you for a wonderful first week of school! You are all amazing educators who have all worked so hard to make it work.  That is what SEMS is all about! Please enjoy your Labor Day weekend with your family and friends.

1. Congrats to Dr. Daniels. She was voted as our TAC representative for this school year!

2. Please be sure to sign in each morning in the main office. The expectation is that all staff members are signed in and on their supervision duty spot by 7:00am. Please remember, if you are not in your classroom or on your duty location, there are unsupervised students.

3. At our staff meeting on Monday, we discussed the non-negotiables for our meetings and trainings. By following these guidelines, we will be much more productive and creative a highly professional environment.  Summary of guidelines:
  - We are on time to all of our meetings.
  - We don't have distractions - no phone use, grading papers, etc.
  - We participate in meetings to make them more productive.
  - Our children are not present at our meetings. There are times when we discuss sensitive information. So in order to create the most professional environment, our children do not need to be present.

4. Please remember that all exterior doors (except for the main lobby) are to remain locked during the school day.  There are several doors that will be unlocked at 6:30am, but they will be locked down between 7:45-8:00 am each morning.  Please do not unlock a locked door.  This is for the safety of both our students and staff members.  Sixth grade teachers, if a student needs to enter the building during a class period, please send them with your student key.  Likewise, if support staff need to see a 6th grade student, please make sure they have a way back into the POD area (sometimes they will not bring a key with them).

5. Be sure to consult the master staff calendar regularly. We add dates weekly and we make every attempt to schedule meetings well in advance. Please remember that Monday afternoons are our "sacred" meeting time.  Even though every Monday afternoon is not full on the calendar, there is a very good chance that a meeting will get scheduled during that time (i.e. EC meeting, technology training, etc). 

To access the master staff calendar:  log into your email, click Calendar on the left menu, click on the calendar with Gentry's name and SEMS (it should be a green calendar), and you can view the calendar daily, weekly, or monthly. It is important to note that when looking at a particular date, if it has a "+3" or another number there, that means that there are more events taking place on that date.

6. There may be times when you need to step off campus for an issue during your planning period (i.e. you left the iron on the house, checking in on your child, etc).  If you ever find it necessary to do so, you must have permission (either verbal or via email) from an administrator and then sign out on the staff sign in/out book in the main office (near Mrs. Raya's desk).  Then when you return, please sign back in so that we know you are here.

7. The Athletics department and the PTSA will sponsor grade level socials for our students.  Students will have the opportunity to socialize with their peers, purchase refreshments, and dance. Dates are as follows:  Sept. 6 = 8th grade, Sept. 20 = 7th grade, Sept. 27 = 6th grade.  Socials will be held from 2-4pm. Students must turn in $5 and a permission slip to Mr. Pizzino in order to attend.

8. All certified staff are expected to work one night event per semester.  There are several opportunities to work.  You may sign up to work one of the PTSA socials in September or you may work one of the music concerts in December.  The sign-up sheets for the September socials will be posted this Friday, August 30, in the teacher workroom if you wish to sign up for one.

9. Soon we will kick off Powerschool training. Each teacher will receive a large packet filled with valuable information:  Your Powerschool ID, how to log on, how to do attendance, when trainings are taking place, and how to start your evaluation online. We want to ensure that all teachers gain access as quickly as possible and that you are given multiple opportunities for assistance as you get used to the new program. I do believe that you will like Powerschool once you see how user-friendly it really is!

10. By now all teachers should have received their safety clipboard packets. Please be sure to follow the instructions and have your clipboards complete by September 6.

11. If you need some teacher supplies (i.e. rulers, scissors, etc), please email Susie Hook for assistance.

12. We will have our second annual SEMS family picnic on Friday, September 13, from 5:30-7:30pm.  All staff members and their families are invited to attend.  This will be a potluck meal, where everyone brings a dish to share. In addition, please bring your own drink.  The picnic will be a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better.  A picnic sign-up sheet will be posted for staff members to indicate what dish they would like to bring.  The sign up sheet will be in the teacher workroom next to the social sign-ups on Friday (August 30). We hope to see you there!

13. There are several policies that you need to review in the coming weeks, as they directly affect your every day  routine and employment.  You will receive an email with a policy summary and where you can locate some of the most important guidelines.

14. You have access to a set of approval forms in several locations electronically. Forms include:  field trip approval form, fundraiser approval, video approval, purchase order form, and a deposit sheet. You can access these forms at any time either on the Staff Share drive or through the SEMS website under Teacher Resources. Thanks to John Downs for making these forms available for all staff.

15. Cross Country and Boys Soccer tryouts will be Sept. 3-5 from 2-4pm.  Only 7th and 8th grade students are eligible to tryout.  In addition, students must turn a complete, valid physical signed by a doctor as well as an intramural form.  Students and parents can pick up these forms from the main office or in PE class.

UPCOMING DATES
Aug. 30 - 8th Team Mtg. (7:40am)
Aug. 30 - Syllabus copy due to Gentry
Aug. 31 - Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (5:30pm)
   (Just checking to see if my staff members really read the blog!)
Sept. 2 - Labor Day!
Sept. 3-5 - Cross country and Boys Soccer Tryouts (2-4pm)
Sept. 6 - 8th Grade PTSA Social (2-4pm, $5/student)
Sept. 6 - Safety Clipboard complete
Sept. 6 - Copy of absorption plan due to Gentry
Sept. 9 - Staff Mtg. (2:20pm, MP Room)
Sept. 9 - PTSA Board Mtg. (5:15pm)
Sept. 10 - Grade Level Meetings - Set up your gradebook!
Sept. 11 - SECU Visit - stop by to see the SECU rep, free food!
Sept. 11, 12 - Open computer lab time for teachers needing Powerschool assistance
Sept. 13 - Grade Level Meetings - Set up your online evaluation!
Sept. 13 - SEMS Staff Picnic - Potluck, visit with staff and families (5:30-7:30pm)
Sept. 16 - EC Development Mtgs. (2:20pm, staff members TBD)
Sept. 18 - Core and Encore paper progress reports go home!
Sept. 19 - Boys Soccer @ Jefferson (3pm)
Sept. 20 - 7th Grade PTSA Social (2-4pm, $5)
Sept. 20 - Sub folders complete and in your mailbox
Sept. 23 - SIT Mtg, Committee Mtgs. (2:20pm, locations TBD)
Sept. 24 - Retirement Party for D. Neal (2:20pm)
Sept. 24 - Boys Soccer vs. Flat Rock (3pm)
Sept. 25 - Cross Country Scrimmage @ Jefferson (4pm)
Sept. 26 - Boys Soccer vs. East Forsyth (3pm)
Sept. 27 - 8th Team Mtg. (7:40am)
Sept. 27 - 6th Grade PTSA Social (2-4pm, $5/student)
Oct. 1 - School Picture Day!
Oct. 1 - Boys Soccer @ Mineral Springs (3:30pm)
Oct. 2 - Core and encore paper progress reports go home!
Oct. 2 - Cross Country meet
Oct. 4 - Staff flu shots