Weekly Update 11/21/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

1. Please wish Collette Holbert well. She will be taking a medical leave of absence starting this coming Monday for a serious surgery. Mrs. Holbert, we wish you the best of luck. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

2. Since we have a short week next week and in honor of Thanksgiving, Monday and Tuesday will be deemed as jeans days for staff. Enjoy!

3. Attention Encore teachers: Some of the 8th graders will be going on their field trip on Tuesday. Please note the following: 1) All 8th graders will report to their encore classes on Tuesday. 2) Those who ARE going on the field trip are to be dismissed back to to core at 9:00am. 3) Those NOT going on the field trip are to stay in encore until the normal dismissal time. 

4. Please remember that we are still waiting on individual EOG student reports. We will alert all staff once we know when they will be distributed. 

5. Tutoring letters went home with specific students over the past few weeks in Wednesday folders. If any students return signed letters back to you, please forward those to Leah Gardner quickly so that she can assign them to a tutoring group. 

6. The Music winter concerts are coming up:  Monday, Dec. 16 (Orchestra); Tuesday, Dec. 17 (Chorus); Thursday, Dec. 19 (Band).  All concerts will be held at Atkins HS.  Any certified staff who did not work a grade level social in the fall, then you are required to work one of the concerts. We will post signups for these events after Thanksgiving.  

7. Please remember that all volunteers/chaperones that go on field trips must be cleared in the online volunteer system prior to the trip. This is a district requirement for the safety of all students and staff. Please double check with your parents when they volunteer and direct them to Mrs. Raya in the main office if they need to register. Teams/groups must confirm all chaperones with Mrs. Raya before the trip. 

8. If your team/group is taking a field trip, please remember that you must communicate your student lists to several groups of people. The encore teachers as well as the main office are required to have a complete list of the whereabouts of your students. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make a list of the students who are going on the trip and then make a second list of those not going and where they will be located on campus.  

9. Core and Encore paper progress reports will go home on Dec. 4 and Dec. 18.

10. The expectation/requirement from the district for your subject area professional development sessions that are scheduled periodically after school is that each grade level subject area hasone representative at each meeting. For example, for each 7th grade Math afterschool session this year, a minimum of one 7th grade Math teacher is expected to attend. Your grade level subject area may arrange this any way that you wish. 

11. Please remember to update your grades in Powerschool weekly. This is the district requirement/policy. In addition, please be sure to make personal contact with any parents/guardians of students who have an F or if their letter grade drops by two or more. 

12. We are looking to schedule a parent education night for Powerschool. If you are interested in being part of this training, please let me know.  

13. The PTSA will be selling Holiday Candygrams during lunches on December 12, 13, 16, and 17. Students can pay $1.00 for each and have a candygram delivered to someone on Friday, December 20. 

14. We have several fundraiser events taking place in December (see calendar below). We will email details as well as a master list of students as soon as the fundraiser information is finalized. 

15. Thanks to our Hospitality Committee. They will be serving a holiday lunch for hospitality members on December 17. Also, thanks to our PTSA. They will be serving breakfast for the staff on Friday, December 20. 

UPCOMING DATES
Nov. 23 - Robotics Competition @ Walkertown MS
Nov. 25 - SIT Meeting (2:20pm)
Nov. 25 - 6th grade Team Discovery Field Trip
Nov. 25 - 6th grade Time to Tell showings
Nov. 26 - 8th grade Field Trip to Greensboro Coliseum
Nov. 26 - 6th grade Time to Tell showings
Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 - Thanksgiving Break!
Dec. 2 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm, MP Room)
Dec. 3 - Volleyball @ Walkertown (3pm)
Dec. 4 - Core and Encore Paper Progress Reports go home!
Dec. 4 - Atkins HS visit at lunch with 8th graders
Dec. 5 - Volleyball vs. Northwest (SEMS, 3pm)
Dec. 6 - Straight A celebrations (times TBD)
Dec. 12 - 8th grade Family Life Medical Presentation
Dec. 12 - Volleyball vs. Kernersville (SEMS, 3pm)
Dec. 12, 13, 16, 17 - PTSA Holiday Candygrams Sale
Dec. 13 - Fundraiser DJ Party (time TBD)
Dec. 16 - Orchestra Winter Concert @ Atkins HS (6pm)
Dec. 17 - 8th grade Family Life Drama Presentation
Dec. 17 - Hospitality Committee Holiday Lunch
Dec. 17 - Chorus Winter Concert @ Atkins HS (6pm)
Dec. 18 - Core and Encore Paper Progress Reports go home!
Dec. 18 - Fundraiser Limo Lunch (10:30am)
Dec. 19 - Band Winter Concert @ Atkins HS (6pm)
Dec. 20 - PTSA Holiday Breakfast for staff
Dec. 20 - PTSA Candygram Delivery
Dec. 20 - Music Field Trip to Four Seasons Mall