Weekly Update 9/5/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

1. If you'd like to purchase an SEMS computer bag, please bring $15 to Susie. In addition, the PTSA is selling Jaguar cups for $10. I will bring one to the meeting for staff members to see. This is a great way to support the PTSA!

2. Staff members received email confirmation of their committees earlier this week. Emails were not sent to the SIT team or the SSC learning team facilitators (these are predetermined members). If you are a certified staff member (and not a first-year teacher) and did not receive an email confirmation, please let me know.

3. We have had a great start to the year with our traveling teacher schedule. Please remember the guidelines for sustaining a strong relationship between the core teacher and visiting teacher.  For the core teacher, please remember that the traveling teacher does not have a key to your classroom. Please continue to invite them into your classroom and allow them to use the space as if it were their own permanent space. For the traveling teachers, please remember to respect the classroom you are in and your students should do the same. The classroom should be left the same way as when you arrived.

4. We are currently working on the afterschool activities structure. There are several vacancies for several activities, including Dance, 7th grade Girls Basketball Coach, and Basketball Scorebook. If you are interested in any of these activities, please let me know. All positions are paid positions. For those who have already indicated your interest on your green form at the beginning of the year: You will begin receiving confirmation emails of what activities you can sponsor and if any pay is attached to them.  Afterschool pay is quite limited, so not all individuals can be paid for sponsoring an afterschool activity.

5. Many of you may have noticed that Room #812 on the 800 hallway is being used differently this year. It is no longer an EC staff office space. Instead, it is being used as a space for the EC department to instruct small groups of students throughout the day. Please plan to use the restrooms across the 800 hall if there is a group in this room.  We need to respect their learning environment.

6. 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).

7. At our staff meeting on August 26, 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.

8. 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 top menu, click on the calendar with Gentry's name and SEMS (it should be a green or blue 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Soon we will kick off Powerschool training. Each teacher received 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! We realize that we have you scheduled for two grade level meetings in one week. But due to the timing of the activation of Powerschool, it is important that you concentrate on getting the Powerschool tasks complete.

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. For your calendar planning, we may need to do the "shut down" testing schedule for first quarter tests at the end of the first quarter. This may be necessary due to the necessity of so many student pull-out groups for testing. We will give you more information closer to this time. The quarter test window will start in late October through the end of the first quarter (Oct. 31). 

14. We will have a staff meeting on Monday. Topics include: Grant proposal, SECU, ISS procedures, policy review, and school safety plan. Please plan to bring your staff handbook as well as the safety plan section of your safety clipboard.

15. 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.

16. If you plan to apply for a Kernersville Chamber of Commerce grant, please remember that the deadline is at the end of September and I must have a copy of your application to file here.

17. Please join us on Tuesday, September 24, at 2:20pm for Deb Neal's retirement party!


UPCOMING DATES
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