Weekly Update 2/12/15

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

1. Tomorrow is Freedom Friday.  Students and staff are encouraged to wear green or camo and donate at least $1 to wear a hat to school.  All proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warriors project. 

2. Encore teachers: Please be sure to complete your final ASW validation by the end of the day on Friday. 

3. We are accepting donations for the Gage Edwards Fund at East Surry High School.  Gage was Frankie Santoro's nephew who passed away last week. You can turn in your donations to me or Susie by next Friday, February 20. We will then send a check from the school for this specific fund.  Please make checks payable to SEMS. 

4. Robin Douglas has forwarded you an email about ordering t-shirts for our SOAR team.  This team is a group of our finest students who will be competing soon in the Special Olympics in Winston-Salem. Please consider showing your support for the team by purchasing a team shirt.  The cost is $12/shirt.  SOAR's next competition will be the basketball tournament on February 27 at Miller Park Rec Center. T-shirt orders are due by Friday, February 13. 

5. February 16 is now considered a regular student day and will be an A-day on the schedule. This means that Feb. 13 and Feb. 16 will be two back-to-back A-days on the schedule. Please mark these changes on your schedules and share with your students. 
3. The PTSA will have their annual Chicken Pie Fundraiser from February  2-13. Students and staff can participate by ordering Mrs. Pumpkin's chicken pies and baked spaghetti.  Order forms were placed in mailboxes this week.  The fundraiser will officially kick off on Monday, February 2.  There will be incentives for both students and staff to sell. The staff member who sells the most pies and baked spaghetti plates will win $50 cash from the PTSA! 

6. Please be sure to post and recognize your students who have achieved straight A's and Honor Roll.  We will have All A's celebrations on Friday, February 13. 

7. 6th grade teachers: Please remind your students that when they go to breakfast in the mornings, they should use the same hallway as where their lockers are located.  We are having an overflow on one particular encore hallway that is causing some of our 6th grade students to be late for homebase because they cannot access their lockers in time. 
8. Please consider donating to the Arts Council.  Your donations are due to Mrs. Ring by the end of February.  Please be sure to print out your online confirmation and give to Mrs. Ring. 

9. We will have another round of socials this winter for our students. Social dates:  8th grade = February 20, 7th grade = February 27, 6th grade = March 6.  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.  Sign ups are posted in the staff workroom. Extra spots have been added to each day for those who really need the earned time. Coaches - you are also reminded to sign up if you plan to stay in order to get trade out time. Easy way to earn some trade out time!

10. 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. The snow make-up date for this event is Thursday, February 26. 

11. February 23-27 is SEMS Spirit Week! Staff members may dress casual on these days as long as you participate in that day's activity.  In addition, we will have a door decorating contest to show your Jaguar Pride. Doors will be judged by the administration and prizes will be given away for the most creative. Scheduled days:  Monday = International Celebration Day, Tuesday = Jaguar Pride Day, Wednesday = Corporate America/Professionals Day, Thursday = Color Wars Day, Friday = Hats & Shades Day. More details are coming your way soon. 

12. 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! Please let me know if you are interested in participating.

13. The SEMS Book Fair will take place the week of March 2-6.  The fair will be organized by Lisa Turner and Collette Holbert (as well as volunteers).  We will soon forward out the drafted book fair preview schedule through LA classrooms for your planning purposes.  

14. WSFCS will conduct a summer Collaborative Learning Conference.  It will take place at Walkertown HS on August 12 and 13.  The conference will have breakout sessions in regards to struggling students and how to help them be more successful in the classroom. We will forward out the details of this event once the registration period begins. 

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.
 
Feb. 13 - All A's Celebrations
Feb. 17 - Rising 6th Grade Open House
Feb. 18 - Core and Encore progress reports
Feb. 23-27 - SEMS Spirit Week!
Feb. 23 - SIT Mtg.
Feb. 25 - NAEP testing for select 8th graders
March 2-6 - SEMS Book Fair!
March 2 - Staff Mtg.
March 5 - Spring Arts Festival
March 11 - Early Release Day!
March 13 - Spring Picture Day
March 23-27 - 3rd Quarter Testing
March 27 - Last Day of 3rd Quarter!