Weekly Update 1/9/14

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

1. The PTSA Chicken Pie fundraiser kicked off this week. Homebase teachers should have handed out the flyers to students on 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 - I think it is a cash prize!  More details coming soon. 

2. 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. Those students may not be pulled during their specific Sci or SS period, but rather according to the EC staff availability.

3. There are still spots available for the Differentiated Instruction (DI) professional development.  This is a great opportunity to take a detailed look at your instruction, management, etc.  It is a way to open up the conversation with your colleagues in order for all of us to improve!  I highly encourage any staff member to participate.  If interested, please let me know in writing by January 15.  I will confirm and send out the books, assignments, etc. next week. 

4. Thanks to those of you who have already donated to the Savanna Williams fund.  We will accept donations from the staff through next Friday.  Here are a few other events that are being planned for the Williams family:  1) Chorus students collecting books, movies, etc. for Savanna, 2) The FOR club will do a Hat Day, where students will pay $1 to wear a hat on a specific day, and 3) The students will have an opportunity to donate to the cause - the top ten student fundraisers will have the opportunity to shave Mr. Sigmon's head!  In addition, please encourage your students to go to The Loop for dinner on January 23.  We will send out more details as these events take place. 

5. As discussed at our staff meeting earlier this 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. 

6. 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.

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

8. Tuesday, January 21, is an RS teacher workday. Next week, we will post a staff sheet in the staff workroom for each of you to indicate whether or not you plan to work on that day. 

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

UPCOMING DATES
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. 15 - NAL Match @ Walkertown
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. 23 - Basketball vs. Jefferson (8th Away, 7th Home)
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
Jan. 30 - Basketball vs. East Forsyth - 8th Home, 7th Away