Weekly Update 5/6/15

SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

1. Please continue to keep our staff members in your thoughts and prayers.  Cindy Wilkes' husband is still in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs.  Deborah Wallace-Smith's mother is back in the hospital in Tennessee with some continued health issues.  Julie Jones' father is very sick with a brain tumor.  We are thinking of you all! 

2. Please remember to see Susie between now and May 13 to confirm any absences you will have between now and June 22. It is imperative that you complete this process in order to ensure that your payroll is accurate. Please see Tuesday's email with more details. 

3. Staff sign ups for concerts, testing parties, and MakerSpace visit trade out time are posted in the staff workroom. If you are a certified teacher and you did not work the rising 6th open house, then you will need to sign up to work a concert.  

4. We are currently in the process of monitoring numbers coming in to ISS.  There is a possibility that we will close off ISS to period time-outs very soon.  We will confirm that if it is necessary.
5. All students have received a proctor letter to go home to families in last week's Wednesday folders. Please review this with your students.  We do ask that you help us to give the kids an incentive to return these sheets, even if a parent or family member is unable to help us out with proctoring. There is a space on the form for the parent to indicate if they are not available to help.  But we are asking for your help in promoting the securing of as many proctors as possible for the testing window. Remember that the more proctors we have, the less stress on our own staff! 

6. 8th grade and Encore teachers:  You have now received your 8th grade awards packets for the June ceremonies.  Please be sure to have your sheets completed and turned in by the indicated deadlines.  Deadline to submit your nominees for the 8th grade Jaguar Pride Awards is Monday, May 11. 

7. Please be sure to prep your classrooms prior to testing. Ms. Gardner is reviewing the expectations with you during your test training sessions this month.  All classrooms should be ready by 3pm on Thursday, May 21.  We will be circulating and checking classrooms on this afternoon. 

8. All EOGs, EOCs, and Final Exams will count 20% of each student's final grade.  The middle school policy states that "these exams will count for 20% of the student's final grade UNLESS it would reduce a student's grade in which case it will not be counted."

9. Please stress the cell phone/electronics expectations with your students prior to testing. Students cannot be in possession of any of these items during testing blocks. 
10. The last day for students will be Friday, June 12.  The last teacher workday on the calendar is now Monday, June 22.  The Monday, June 15 workday is protected, meaning it is required for all staff. We will have our final staff meeting and meal provided by PTSA on that day. In addition, we are working on plans to have our retirement party on June 15 to celebrate all of our retirees this year. 

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.
 
May 11 - Optional EVAAS Help Session (2:20, Computer Lab)
May 13 - 3rd Qtr All A Celebrations
May 13 - MakerSpace Visit - UNCG, 3pm
May 15 - Dr. Emory Visit
May 18 - SIT Mtg.
May 20 - NJHS Rehearsal (12:50pm)
May 21 - NJHS Induction (8:00am, GYM)
June 5 - Athletic Celebration (2-4:30pm)