Weekly Update 1/16/14

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2014

1. The end of the second quarter is Friday, January 17. Quarter grades will be due by Tuesday, January 21, at 3pm.  Report cards will be distributed on Wednesday, January 29. 

2. Tuesday, January 21, is an RS teacher workday. There is a staff sheet posted in the staff workroom for each of you to indicate whether or not you plan to work on that day. If you are taking an annual day, you are required to have your grades completed and verified with Cindy Wilkes before this workday. 

3. The PTSA Chicken Pie fundraiser kicked off last week. Homebase teachers should have handed out the flyers to students last Wednesday. In addition, each staff member should have received the info sheet and order form. I encourage all of you to participate.  The chicken pies are very, very good!  These would be great items to have at your Super Bowl Party!  Orders are due by January 22 and the pies will be available for pickup on January 30.  The PTSA is working on incentives for our biggest fundraisers.  They do plan to award the staff members who sells the most pies - the top staff seller will receive $50 cash! 

4. There are still two or three spots available for the Differentiated Instruction (DI) professional development.  Please let me know if you are interested in joining.

5. Thank you to those of you who have donated to the Savanna Williams fund. I know the family will appreciate it as well. As a reminder, Friday is Hat Day to "Help Cap Cancer." Students and staff can pay $1 to wear a hat on Friday. Also, please don't forget to wear blue on Friday in support of Savanna.

There will be a fundraiser at The Loop Pizza & Grill on January 23 from 5-9pm for the Williams family. At least 10% of the proceeds will go to Savanna's medical bills. 

6. As discussed at our staff meeting last week, please be mindful of your paper use in the building - both with printers and copiers.  When using the printer, only print off one copy and then use the copy machines to make your copies. The printers are the most expensive copies to make, copiers are second, and by far the cheapest option is the Print Shop.  I highly encourage all subject areas to utilize the Print Shop in your planning.  We will continue to monitor and possibly put codes back on the machines in order for me to pinpoint problem areas to address.  We do not want to take drastic measures later in the year (such as shutting down copiers or running dry on paper purchasing), so please do your part in examining how you use the printers and copiers in the building.  I will let you know when we put codes on the copiers. If you need assistance with the online Print Shop, please see Susie or John Downs. It is a very easy process. 

7. AG money has arrived for materials to serve our students in the AG LA classrooms. LA teachers: Please discuss possible materials you would like to put on your "wish list" - please let me know what you would like to have by the end of January.

8. We will have grade level meetings on January 23.  Topics include: staff attendance, absorption plans, SSC expectations, etc.  

9. The Rising 6th Grade Open House has been scheduled for Monday, February 10, from 6-7:30pm.  This is a required event for 6th grade and Encore staff.  This event will count as your one night event for the second semester. During this time, 5th grade families from several elementary schools will have an opportunity to visit, meet some staff members, and tour the building.  The snow date for this event is Thursday, February 13.  

UPCOMING DATES
Jan. 17 - End of the 2nd quarter!
Jan. 20 - MLK Holiday!
Jan. 21 - RS Teacher Workday - grades due by 3pm
Jan. 22 - All PTSA Chicken Pie orders due
Jan. 22 - 7th Basketball vs. Jefferson (SEMS, 3pm)
Jan. 23 - 8th Basketball @ Jefferson (Jefferson, 3pm)
Jan. 23 - Savanna Williams Fundraiser @ The Loop (5-9pm)
Jan. 27 - SIT meeting (2:20pm, Elkins' room)
Jan. 28 - Basketball vs. Flat Rock - 8th Home, 7th Away
Jan. 29 - Report card distribution
Jan. 29 - NAL Match vs. East Forsyth (3pm, SEMS)
Jan. 30 - PTSA Chicken Pie Pickup Day (2-6pm)
Jan. 30 - Basketball vs. East Forsyth - 8th Home, 7th Away
Feb. 3 - Staff Mtg (2:20pm)
Feb. 4 - 7th Basketball vs. Flat Rock/M.Springs (SEMS, 3pm)
Feb. 5 - NAL match @ Flat Rock
Feb. 6 - Basketball vs. Hanes (Girls Home, Boys Away, 3:45pm)
Feb. 10 - Differentiated Instruction PLC (2:15, MC)
Feb. 10 - Rising 6th grade Open House (6-7:30pm)