Weekly Update 1/8/15

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Congratulations to Jamie Sherman on the birth of her baby boy yesterday. Both are healthy. In addition, Hannah Harmon is now out on maternity leave. She is on bedrest, waiting for baby Tripp!  Please welcome Paula Turner, who is substituting for Jamie for the remainder of the school year. Please also welcome Kathy Pierce back to the SEMS family - she is filling in for Hannah while she is out. Welcome to SEMS!

1. Each of you received an email before the winter break with the following attachments: Student Handbook Review, delay schedule, January testing information, etc.  Please review this information for this week.  Now is the time to practice your routines with your students and review the expectations for classroom and hallway procedures.  

2. Staff development credit is now available for staff to gain credit for the Critical Incident/Lockdown training and the Bloodborne Pathogen training. An email was sent out just before the break with detailed information on how you can access to receive this

3. Please review the January quarter testing memo - this was emailed to staff several times in December. Several groups will need to complete online quarter testing in January (6-8 SS, 6-7 Sci).  We do plan to run a normal schedule during the January testing window. The test window will run from January 12 - 23.  The schedule was made based on the availability of our technology in the building. We appreciate your cooperation in making this online testing successful!  

4. Mrs. Gardner is in the process of sending home tutoring packets with our first round of at-risk students this week. In addition, she will be sending some home via US mail to ensure the parents see them. If any students turn in their tutoring registration sheet to you, please forward it immediately to Mrs. Gardner. 

5. The end of the quarter is January 16. All grades will be due on Wednesday, January 21, by 3:00pm.  

6. Monday, January 19, is a holiday for the district (MLK holiday). Tuesday, January 20 is an RS Teacher Workday.  That day is not protected, meaning that staff may take an annual leave day.  Staff may also use any trade-out time earned during this workday.  You may check with Susie on your total trade-out time you have earned.  We will post the staff sign up sheet next week for each of you to indicate your plan for January 20.
   
7. We will have grade level meetings on Friday, January 23.  The topics of discussion will be school performance grades and upcoming district training for staff members. I will also hold an additional meeting at 2:15 that day in the Media Center for any staff members who were not able to attend the grade level meeting during the day. Please make plans to attend one of the meetings. This meeting will not extend into both planning periods.
 
8. The WS Foundation is accepting grant proposals from educators for professional development. Please see a December email from Leah Gardner with details and how to apply. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to gain some professional development of your choice. Previous winners of this grant include Mara-Lea Coston, Don Fought, and Rachel Holmes.
    
9. Our afterschool at-risk tutoring program will kick off in late January.  Ms. Gardner sent out information to all staff in December. We are looking for tutors in Math and Reading, bus driver for the tutoring bus, and lesson plan writers.  Please see Ms. Gardner if you are interested! Tutoring pay is $25/hour ($17/hour classified).  I encourage all of you to tutor our students - this is such an important program for them!

10. Please plan to have your updated rosters on your safety clipboard and your updated absorption plan to Mrs. Raya by January 30. 

11. On February 5, the state will release the School Performance Grades. We will discuss the possibility of our grade and the impact prior to this date. 

12. We will have another round of socials this winter for our students. Social dates:  8th grade = February 13, 7th grade = February 20, 6th grade = February 27.  We are offering a half day of trade out time for any certified staff members who wish to work one of the social events. Working hours will be 2:15 - 4:30pm.  I will be posting a sign up sheet for the socials soon. Stay tuned. Easy way to earn some trade out time!

13. The Rising 6th Grade Open House will take place on Tuesday, February 17, from 6:00-7:30pm.  All 6th grade and Encore teachers are required to attend. This will count as your required semester night event. 

14. The Spring Arts Festival will take place on Thursday, March 5.  We are looking for interested staff members to assist in organizing, planning, and participating in this event. Trade-out time will be given for individuals who participate. We plan to have music performances, book fair, arts and crafts show, and a visit from a local author.  We'd love to have as many staff members involved! 

15. We will rotate AM duties for the remainder of the school year. Encore and support staff will be assigned a different AM duty spot by the end of January.  This is in an effort to rotate folks between inside and outside to share the responsibility. I will forward the updated list to staff members once it has been finalized. 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Please remember that this calendar does NOT include all school events, meetings, etc. The online master calendar (SEMS School Calendar, through your email) contains all of these events. Please consult the master calendar for more detailed information.

Jan. 9 - Fundraiser Limo Lunch
Jan. 12 - SIT Mtg.
Jan. 16 - End of 2nd Quarter! 
Jan. 19 - MLK Holiday - No school!
Jan. 20 - RS Teacher Workday 
Jan. 21 - 2nd quarter grades/verifications due by 3pm!
Jan. 23 - Grade Level Mtgs. 
Jan. 28 - Report card distribution 
Feb. 2 - Staff Mtg. 
Feb. 11 - Early Release Day!
Feb. 17 - Rising 6th Grade Open House
Feb. 18 - Core and Encore progress reports
March 5 - Spring Arts Festival