Weekly Update 9/18/14

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

1. Please continue to encourage your students to turn in their purple RUP forms. Mrs. Raya will be collecting your folders on Friday.  Mr. Downs will work on a master list of students who have not turned them in.

 
2. All students are required to pay their $4.00 WSFCS fees to their homebase teachers.  If a student indicates to you that their parent/guardian cannot afford the fee, please let Susie Hook know. 

3. We still have opportunities available for anyone interested in sponsoring afterschool clubs or activities. We are looking for someone to sponsor the Drama Club.  In addition, we are joining with several outside agencies to create a new and improved mentoring program for our most at-risk students. If you are interested in sponsoring or being involved in any afterschool activities, please let me know.   
4. Kernersville Pharmacy will be on campus on Friday, September 19, to give staff members flu shots.  This is optional for staff.  The service is free, but you must have a copy of your insurance and a completed consent form. The consent form is in Susie's office if you need to pick one up.  The technician will be in the conference room starting at 10:00 am. They will stay as long as necessary. Please feel free to stop by during your lunch or planning block.  It will not be necessary to schedule individual appointments since the process is very quick. 

5. Attention all Encore teachers:  You will have an EC meeting with Robin Douglas on Monday, Sept. 22, at 2:20pm. We  will confirm the location for you.

6. Core and Encore paper progress reports are required to go home with students on September 24.  Encore teachers, yours are to go home on September 24 and 25 (for A and B day).  Please be sure that you are entering grades in Powerschool now that you have established your online grading system.  Please remember that WSFCS policy requires all teachers to update their grades on a weekly basis online. By now, all teachers should have two weeks worth of assignments entered.
 
7. We encourage all staff to submit a grant application for the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce grants.  The deadline for submission is September 25.  Please consult your earlier email regarding these details. 
8. All certified staff are required to work one night event per semester.  This semester, your choices are to work a grade level social after school or a music concert in December.  Can you work two events and receive trade out time for the second one? YES! The grade level socials are scheduled for the following dates:  September 26 (8th grade), October 3 (7th grade), and October 10 (6th grade).  Working hours for this event are 2:15 - 4:30pm.  Staff sign-up sheets for the socials have already been posted. I plan to add a few extra spots for these events on Friday. 

9. September 26 is the deadline for teachers to complete their online evaluation requirements.  This includes:  Orientation, Self-Assessment, PDP Details, and you and an administrator must sign off together. 

10. All staff will receive a condensed copy of the School Improvement Plan for 2014-2016.  Please review this document. Then on Monday, September 29, ALL staff are to report to the MP room starting at 2:20pm to vote on whether or not you accept the School Improvement Plan as it is written. Once you cast your vote, you do not have remain in the MP room. 

11. Attention all mentors: We will have a brief meeting on Monday, September 29, in the Computer Lab.  We will review your requirements and get you set up in the online system as a mentor. 

 12. The Testing Code of Ethics was forwarded to all staff members earlier this week. Please be sure to review those guidelines this month and then sign off beside your name on the Code of Ethics sheet on Mrs. Gardner's door.  The deadline to sign off is September 29. 

13. All staff should be able to view the SEMS Staff Calendar. This calendar is accessed through your email system. Once you log in to your email, click on the calendar link and you should see the SEMS Staff Calendar.  If you do not have access, please let me know and I will send you an invitation to view it. 

14. We will conduct 8th grade EXPLORE testing on October 6 and 7.  This will slightly affect the 8th grade Encore schedule as well as the 6th grade Encore schedule on Oct. 7.  We will soon send out the schedule to all staff. 

15. There are times when some staff members transport a student  In these instances, it is important that you have written parent permission to do and most importantly, you have an approved Employee Driver Form on file.  I have the forms in my office if you need to fill one out.  Once you complete the form, please attach a copy of your license, car insurance, and car registration.  I will sign and send to HR for approval. Once approved, you are valid for the duration of the school year. 
 
16. The administrators are in the process of getting trained on the new classroom walkthrough application.  We expect this to be up and running next week.  When we complete walkthroughs, you will automatically be sent an email that we have completed one. You will probably receive the email from Teachscape or the administrator - we are not sure how it will show up in your email inbox yet. 

17. Encore teachers: Please be sure to turn in your absorption plans to Mrs. Raya and place a copy either on your door or on your safety clipboard.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 19 - Wear Yellow for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month  
Sept. 19 - Staff flu shots (optional)
Sept. 22 - Encore EC Development Mtg (Encore only, 2:20pm)
Sept. 24 - Core and Encore Progress Reports go home
Sept. 25 - Grade level meetings
Sept. 25 - K'ville Chamber Grants deadline
Sept. 26 - 8th Grade Social (2-4pm)  
Sept. 29 - Staff Vote on School Improvement Plan   
Sept. 29 - Mtg. w/Mentors (2:30pm, location TBD)
Sept. 30 - Picture Day!
Oct. 1 - Early Release Day!  
Oct. 3 - 7th Grade Social (2-4pm)
Oct. 6 - Staff Mtg. (2:20pm, MP room)
Oct 6-7 - 8th Grade EXPLORE test (details coming) 
Oct. 10 - 7th grade Storm Chasers/Tornadoes Field Trip 
Oct. 10 - 6th Grade Social (2-4pm)