Weekly Update 4/10/14

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

1.  ISS room:  The ISS room has filled to capacity on a daily basis.  This is causing our assistant principals to have a backlog of discipline referrals because they are waiting on space in ISS.  In order to efficiently process referrals, the ISS room will be closed to period time-outs by teachers effective April 7.  This means that staff cannot send a student to ISS for a class period.  Instead, please work with your peers and colleagues to have time-out spots available between classrooms. That way, you can still time-out any students necessary, just in a different location. 

2. Cindy Wilkes will be getting the report cards to homebase teachers in the next few days. Teachers/teams, please celebrate your straight A and honor roll students in your classrooms. We will let everyone know once the next Straight A Celebration has been scheduled.  

3. If you need to change a quarter grade, please fill out a grade change form and submit to me for approval. These forms can be found in Cindy's office.

4. We will have a staff meeting on Monday, April 14.  Topics include: Testing window, field trips, test training, snow make-up days, etc.

5. The last 10 school days are designated as our official testing window. We are now drafting our potential testing plans.  During this window, we must accomplish quite a few testing sessions - Reading and Math EOG, EOC Math I, Science and SS Final Exams, 8th Science EOG, Extend 2 test for EC students, CTE tests, and all make-up tests.  There will be many details to share with all of you, but here are a few tidbits...

- There may be multiple tests given in one day, both in the morning and afternoon sessions.
- Some students may end up taking more than one test during the day.
- The chances are very good that we will have altered schedules for most/all test days.
- There will be no field trips scheduled during the 10-day test window. 
More information coming soon.

6. The registration process has begun for our 6th and 7th grade students. Please know that our counselors must devote much time to completing this process, so their availability will be limited throughout this month.  We have a deadline to meet online to enter all course requests of students, so we must give them adequate time to complete this process - our allotment numbers depend on it! Registration cards are due back to Guidance by April 17.

7. Report cards will be distrubuted on Wednesday, April 16. We will move back to homebases starting at 1:45 that afternoon by announcement.  Encore teachers, please plan to be on your alternate supervision duty spot for dismissal on this day.

8. On April 17, WSFCS Chef Kelly Wilkinson will be visiting SEMS to educate and encourage healthier snacking/cooking options with students and faculty during lunches. Please stop by the culinary table in the cafeteria and try something new! She will be handing out samples to try.

9. It is time for the EVAAS Roster Verification process again this year.  This affects teachers with an EOG, EOC, NC Final Exam, and CTE tests.  EC teachers are included in this group. The purpose of this process is to officially verify your rosters for standardized testing.  We will have a meeting with these teachers only on Monday, April 21, at 2:20pm in the MP room.  At that time, we will discuss the timetable and procedures for getting this done.

10. The deadline for accepting a 25% teacher contract is April 22. Please let me know if you have any questions about the process. There have been many questions following our meeting last week. I will help to find answers to any further questions that you  may have.

11. The PTSA Book Fair is set for the week of April 21-25.  All staff have been sent a copy of the Book Fair schedule for LA teachers.   

12. The Spring Arts Festival is set for Thursday, April 24, from 6-8pm.  We are looking for artists out there - what skill do you have to share at the festival? We have many talented staff members. We'd love to see you there! If interested in a booth at the arts and crafts show, please see Susie. 

13. We have been approved to give certified staff options for trade-out time for the end of the school year. These opportunities will be discussed at Monday's staff meeting. 

14. SSC Facilitators: Please remember that you are required to submit your weekly SSC meeting minutes to me by the end of each week. Be sure to answer the designated set of questions given.  You or one of your group members may submit the minutes. 

15. The legislature has made the decision to split EOG test scores into five achievement levels as opposed to the current four-level system. This will go into effect for this year's tests. We are not sure what impact this will have on our students (i.e. What is proficient now?), but we will continue to keep you updated on this topic. 

16. It important to note that during the 10-day testing window at the end of the school year, all EC staff will be testing for the duration of the window and will not be in core classrooms.  In addition, any EC students not testing on a particular day will be absorbed into the team that day for supervision purposes (i.e. EC Resource students). 

17. Spring Music concerts are just around the corner!  Signups will be posted very soon. All 6th and Encore teachers who worked the Rising 6th Open House back in February have already served their required spring event time.  

18.  With the recent office phone update, our school's phone number will be changing in a few weeks.  We plan to send out memos to staff, students, and parents.  We will give everyone ample warning before the transition occurs. 

UPCOMING DATES
April 10 - Girls Soccer @ Hanes (Sara Lee Fields, 3:45pm)
April 12 - Music Trip to Carowinds!
April 14 - Staff Meeting (2:20pm, MP room)
April 14 - Girls Soccer vs. Jefferson (Ivey Redmon, 3pm)
April 16 - Report Card Distribution
April 16 - Track Meet @ Glenn HS (3pm)
April 17 - Girls Soccer vs. Northwest (Ivey Redmon, 3pm)
April 18 - No school - Good Friday!
April 21 - Snow make-up day for students and staff! (A day)
April 21 - EVAAS Roster Verification mtg (2:20pm, MP room)
April 21 - Track Meet @ Glenn HS (3:30pm)
April 21 - 25 - PTSA Book Fair
April 22 - 25% Teacher Contract deadline to accept!
April 22 - Girls Soccer vs. Hanes (Ivey Redmon, 3:45pm)
April 23 - 7th grade Dragons to Raven Knob
April 24 - KCK Lunch & Listen (11 - 2pm)
April 24 - 7th grade Tsunamis to Raven Knob
April 24 - Girls Soccer vs. Kernersville (Ivey Redmon, 3pm)
April 24 - Spring Arts Festival (6-8pm)
April 25 - 7th grade Pharoahs to Raven Knob
April 25 - CCES Blood Drive (1:30 - 6pm, CCES)
April 28 - Conference Track Meet (3:30pm, Mt. Tabor HS)
April 28 - 7th grade Outbacks to Raven Knob
April 28 - Diff. Instruction PLC (2:15, MC)
April 30 - Core and Encore Progress Reports!
May 3 - GYRLS Community Yard Sale