Weekly Update 12/12/13

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013

1. The Fundraiser DJ/Glow Party will start at 12:30 on Friday in the gym. We will make a brief series of announcements to get students there. Homebase teachers are reminded to review your homebase party list with your students to ensure they are listed correctly. Each HB teacher will receive an envelope with the correct colored bands for students who are to attend. Please hand these out on Friday morning to your students. They must wear these in order to enter the party. Students should put everything in their lockers before coming to the event. 

2. The Fundraiser Hummer Limo Lunch will take place on Wednesday, December 18. All students eligible will be receiving a permission slip to have signed by their parents. We will email the master list to staff very soon. We will be sending our qualified students in waves starting at 10:15. The master list and schedule will indicate this for you to ensure that you know where your students are located. 

3. Since we are close to the holiday break, December 18, 19, and 20 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) are considered casual dress days for staff members. Enjoy!

4. Core and encore progress reports will go home again on December 18. Please remember that after this progress reports, we will go back to the schedule we previously have done, which is sending home one paper progress report in the middle of each quarter (like we have done the past two years).  Teachers may send home an extra paper report if they wish to do so. This is encouraged especially in cases where a student is struggling. 

5. 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 letters. 

6. There have been some questions recently over grading procedures. I encourage all of you review the "Grading Procedures" section of your staff handbook. It is especially important to note that students are not to receive a grade for turning in a signed progress report or for getting their agenda signed by a parent. The parent is more responsible for this than the student (refer to item #4 in this section of the staff handbook).  There is also information about extra credit and students bringing supplies to the classroom. 

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

8. Language Arts teachers: Please remember that your spelling bee winners are due to Mrs. Gardner by December 18.  

9. 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. 

10. All staff members are reminded to fill out your required tax form in Susie's office. This is a requirement by the state and the district. All forms are due by December 20. 

11. Basketball tryouts will begin in January for our 7th and 8th grade students. Girls tryouts will take place on January 7 and 8, and boys tryouts will be January 9 and 10.  The third and final tryout date will be the following Monday, Jan. 13.  In order to tryout, students must have a signed intramural form and a complete, valid physical signed by a doctor. 

12. Right before the winter break begins, all staff will receive a CHAMPs review sheet in their mailbox. Homebase teachers are expected to review this with their students when we return during the first week of January. This will be a great time for all of us to review the student conduct guidelines, both for our benefit and for our students. It is important that they know that we have a unified front and need to get back on board to start off 2014 right! Homebase teachers will also receive copies of the CHAMPs review to hand out to students in their Wednesday folders. 

13. As you leave for the winter break, please remember:  1) Close your blinds, 2) Close and secure your windows, 3) Shut down all technology, 4) Take home any food items, and 5) You may want to take home any plants.  There will be no heat in the building for the duration of the break. 

14. Please know that the benchmark assessment window for Science and SS will be January 10-17. These tests will be completed during their Sci and SS class periods. Please know that students with required modifications will be pulled to test to meet those requirements. Robin Douglas and Leah Gardner will work out the details of those who need to be pulled out.



UPCOMING DATES
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 - Wear green in honor of Sandy Hook victims
Dec. 13 - Fundraiser DJ Party (12:30pm, SEMS Gym)
Dec. 16 - Orchestra Winter Concert @ Atkins HS (6pm)
Dec. 17 - 8th grade Family Life Drama Presentation
Dec. 17 - Hospitality Committee Holiday Lunch
Dec. 17 - 8th grade basketball intramurals (2-4pm)
Dec. 17 - Chorus Winter Concert @ Atkins HS (6pm)
Dec. 18 - Core and Encore Paper Progress Reports go home!
Dec. 18 - Fundraiser Limo Lunch (10:15am)
Dec. 18 - 7th grade basketball intramurals (2-4pm)
Dec. 19 - 6th grade basketball intramurals (2-4pm)
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
Dec. 20 - 6th grade Apollos Field Trip to Black Dog Athletics
Jan. 6 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm, MP Room)
Jan. 7,8 - 7th/8th grade Girls Basketball Tryouts
Jan. 8 - PTSA Chicken Pie Fundraiser kicks off!
Jan. 9 - SEMS Spelling Bee (8:00am, MP Room)
Jan. 9, 10 - 7th/8th Boys Basketball Tryouts
Jan. 10-17 - Science, SS benchmark assessment window
Jan. 17 - End of the 2nd quarter!
Jan. 20 - MLK Holiday!
Jan. 21 - RS Teacher Workday