The Middle Update 12/21/18

The 2018 portion of our school year is very nearly in the books!  In the 2019 portion of the school year, we look forward to reaping the benefits of our continued efforts to put in place expectations, routines, and good habits for our students.  We will undoubtedly face challenges that we didn't foresee coming, and also we'll continue to work with some of the same students to help them understand how to follow expectations that have been put in place.  Our work is so important to the students that we serve...many of their habits will carry on and so will those all important caring conversations that each one of us has with them...we may not get to see the result of our work, but it all makes a difference.  You can feel it in the culture of our building through observations and conversations with kids.  I thank you for being a person at school that every one of our students can rely on. 

School resumes on Wednesday, January 2nd...until then, enjoy some time away and some time to enjoy your friends, family, or anyone else you choose to associate with over this holiday season.  It's very important for your work here, with our kids, to take that time for yourself.  I wish you nothing but the best over this holiday season.  I thought I'd share a clip about how cool it can be to have some empathy for others, and the impact it can have.

January Dates of note...
January 3rd - Math Dept. Meeting - 2:50
January 7th - MS Leadership Group Meeting - 2:50
January 9th - ELA Dept. Meeting - 2:50
January 16th - MS Staff Meeting - 2:50
January 18th - End of Quarter 2
January 21st - No School/ PD Day
January 23rd - Grades are Due (AM)
January 24th - Student of the Month Breakfast
January 25th - Report Cards Distributed in Homerooms

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 12/14/18

Article of the Week
Developing a strong intrinsic motivation in our students continues to be a strong goal that we have for all of our students.  Many of the strategies and plans on how to do this effectively have evolved over the years.  The article this week looks a little closer at the latest on this topic.

"Motivating Children Without Rewards" by Vanessa LoBue, PhD

All School Literacy Activity on Friday (12/21)
We will be having an all-school literacy activity on this coming Friday from 9:00 - 9:30.  Some of our students have been hard at work planning this event.  There have been some emails shared about the logistics.  We will have a modified schedule on Friday to accommodate for this event and the early release time of 1:15 (see below).  Students will report to Nutrition Break, and then to their Reading Groups (which are Homeroom groups with maybe a slight modification).  Please review the plan with your students, make sure they have a book, and talk with them about their important role as a role model for the elementary students.  Please let me know if you have questions about this activity.

Early Release on Friday (12/21)
We will be following this SCHEDULE on Friday. 

Holiday Concert
Our Holiday Concert is this week on Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00pm in the 1-8 Gym.  Please note Mr. Hazard and Mrs. Graeve's earlier emails about rehearsal times.  We all look forward to another impressive performance from our Music Department.

Puma Postcards
I continually get positive feedback from parents about our Positive Puma Postcards.  These handwritten messages that reinforce great student work and effort are much appreciated by our students and their families.  Each postcard that is sent out is sure to be hung on a refrigerator.  I have plenty of postcards in my office if anyone would like some on hand.  I wanted to share a quote from a recent email;
"When I brought the mail in and told her she got a postcard from one of her teachers, her look was priceless. Her face lit up right away as she read it and then she stuck it on the refrigerator proudly. I know it meant a lot to her."

Mrs. McNicol is ready to help anyone get them out in the mail anytime.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 12/8/18

Resource of the Week
The posting this week is from a teacher from another school that is using "Puma Pride" grades in some creative ways.  The school described in the article refers to their grades as CARE grades.  A short read to spark some ideas that we'll be discussing further as a staff on Wednesday.

"The Advantage of Separating Behaviors and Academics Through a Competency-Based Grading System" -Jonathan Vander Els

Staff Meeting this Wednesday
We will meet as a Middle School Staff this Wednesday (12/12).  We will come together as a team to share information and ideas as we all work to refine our practices.  We will meet in Mrs. Rogness' room again.

Mid-Quarter Grades
Student grades should be posted and kept up to date now through the end of the quarter.  We've had some teachers utilizing the Puma Pride grades in some creative and successful ways within their individual classes.  Please review the note that was mailed home to parents about mid-quarter grades below.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Poynette Middle School has been full of hard-working, busy students and teachers.  As we enter mid-December, we find ourselves right in the middle of the 2nd Quarter already.  Your child's Mid-Quarter grades have been posted in Infinite Campus.  Please log in to the Parent Portal to view your child's progress.

While reviewing your child's grades, you'll notice that some of our teachers have began to utilize the Puma Pride scores to provide more information to students and parents about their performance in school.  These scores give you an idea of how your child is doing in the following areas:

-Completes and Returns Work in a Timely Manner,

-Follows Classroom Expectations,

-Puts Forth Effort to Produce High Quality Work.  

Please don't hesitate to contact any of your child's teachers or myself with questions.  Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jerry Pritzl

Principal

Student of the Month Breakfast Wrap-Up
Our Student of the Month Breakfast this past Thursday was another hit.  Thanks to Ms. Miller and her crew for the preparation and our teacher's preparation for their thoughtful, impactful words about each student.  There were a lot of smiles and pride on display.  Our next recognition breakfast will be on Thursday, January 24, 2018.


Staffing Update
Starting on Monday (12/10), Mrs. Andringa will move into the 6th/8th grade Math teaching position and Mrs. Snyder will remain in the Special Education role in which she has been student teaching all year so far.  These changes will be effective until the end of the school year.  Ms. Fehling will be sliding into a district substitute role for the remainder of the semester.  I appreciate all of the hard work that has been put into preparation for this adjustment.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Holiday Concert
Our Holiday Concert is quickly approaching and the talents of our students will be on display on Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00pm in the 1-8 Gym.  Please note Mr. Hazard's earlier email about rehearsal times.  We all look forward to another impressive performance from our Music Department.

Extra-Curricular Updates
A plethora of opportunities for our students to get connected and involved:

-Boy's basketball season is winding down and the girls will start after break. 
-Science Olympiad has gotten underway and Mr. Lendobeja and Ms. Pittner are teaming up to lead our crew this year,
-Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Rogness are preparing for the upcoming Forensics season, that gets underway after winter break,
-Mrs. Rogness has been leading our Literacy Club, and their attention has focused on helping students submit and refine entries for the Yahara River Competitions and various other competitions,
-Mr. Hazard is gearing up for another Archery Season that starts after winter break,
-Mrs. Morton continues to lead our No Name Volunteers each Thursday afternoon,
-Mrs. Crawford continues to work with our Art Club students every Tuesday afternoon,
-The Middle School play try-outs will be on the radar sometime after the winter break, with the play set to take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2018.

Participation in any of these activities is so important for our students.  Please encourage any student that you can to get involved.

Holiday Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year...I love the holiday season, just like many of us do, however, unfortunately for some of our students, this is a very difficult time. These next three weeks especially may be difficult because they are anxious for the Holidays and scared of what may happen over break.  We also have parents that hold "presents" or "no presents" over our students which can cause more problems than help.  We should try to be as proactive as possible when dealing with students or understanding of this.  Please let me know if you need any help.  The holiday season can be great and memorable for many, but miserable for many others.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 12/2/18

On our fast track through the 18-19 school year, we find ourselves in December!  Only 3 weeks till Christmas break.  I thoroughly enjoy working alongside all of you and seeing the innovative ways you all look to improve your classroom practices to maximize the learning of our kids.  They are lucky to have you!

Article of the Week
A shorty this week, but the message is powerful.  Hattie found that Teacher Expectations for Students had the highest effect size in his analysis of educational research.  As I grow deeper in my own parenthood, I find that I want everyone that my children come into contact with to expect the very best out of them...behaviorally, academically, and athletically...I think I speak for the parents of our students too.  The article is a solid reminder of how to do that with each kid in each one of our classrooms.

"Why Teacher Expectations are Important for Student Achievement"


Mid-Term Grades
Please have student progress grades posted by the end of the day Monday, December 3rd.  I will be sending a message home indicating that the progress grades have been updated.  This is a great time to provide an update for how students are performing in the Puma Pride standards for your class so far in the 2nd quarter.

Holiday Splash
Many talents will be on display at the annual Holiday Splash, which will take place at Poynette High School on Monday, December 3rd at 6:00pm.  All are welcome to enjoy the festivity.


Student of the Month Breakfast This Week
We will welcome the families of this month's recipients at our monthly recognition breakfast this Thursday (12/6) at 7:00am.  Thanks to Mr. Kallungi, Mr. Williams, Ms. Pittner, and Mr. Gavin for presenting this month.  Congratulations to this month's recipients:

Morgan Gunderson     Piper Johnson     Zander Potter     Felicia Ritzke
Hazel Ruckle     Hannah Seas     Dylan Trudell     Sawyer Ullsvik

PuMaS Staff Meeting
Our next Middle School Staff Meeting will be on Wednesday, December 12th from 2:50 - 3:30 in Mrs. Rogness' room.  

Holiday Concert
Mark your calendars for the Middle School Holiday Concert.  Our students are set to display their talents on Tuesday, December 18th starting at 7:00 in the 1-8 gym.

Middle School Play Update
Tryouts for our Middle School Play will begin after break this year, with the performance set to take place at the end of March.  This is different than what we've done in past years.

Holiday Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year...I love the holiday season, just like many of us do, however, unfortunately for some of our students, this is a very difficult time. These next three weeks especially may be difficult because they are anxious for the Holidays and scared of what may happen over break.  We also have parents that hold "presents" or "no presents" over our students which can cause more problems than help.  We should try to be as proactive as possible when dealing with students or understanding of this.  Please let me know if you need any help.  The holiday season can be great and memorable for many, but miserable for many others.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 11/16/18

Resource of the Week
At the tail end of our Staff Meeting, we reviewed a short summary of Ken O'Connor's 15 Fixes for Broken Grades.  O'Connor's book is a solid, quick read.  If you are interested in reading the whole book, let me know and I'll lend you a copy. 
The article this week provides some practical strategies to use that are effective in using assessments as opportunities to increase our students' level of learning.  Once again, our grading system is set up to adhere to the fixes, but it always good to check in and revisit this topic to maintain our consistency from classroom to classroom.  Our Puma Pride system is a critical part of doing it right.

"Do No Harm: Flexible and Smart Grading Practices" by Andrew Miller

Early Math Olympiad Results
Our Math Olympiad students recently participated in their first contest of the year.  This year, we have adjusted our IE structure so that students have more direct practice with the high level problems that they will encounter on these exams.  In all of our contests last year, we didn't have a student score over 2 (high score is 5), and most were 0 or 1's.  In looking at the 7th and 8th grade results for the first contest, we had 1 student score a perfect score (5) - Carter Fait.  We also had 9 students score a 4, and 8 students score a 3.  Impressive results!

The 6th grade team has yet to have their efforts scored.  If you see the following 7th and 8th students, tell them great job!
Jocelynn Nehls, Dylan Trudell, Mykolas Lyons, Alex Busch, Matthew Lannoye, Valerie Heth, Hunter Wells, London Chapman, Darias Alires, Tanis Crawford, Tyler Snyder, Meredith Burdon, Jackson Geitner, Luke Lindquist, Melanie Koopmans, Bryanna Tesch, Avery O'Dea, Chase Hansen, Grace Hutchinson, Lizzi Endres, Mika Bush, Felicia Ritzke, Mark Bartz, Gunnar Hamre, Ilse Benzing, Anneliese Graeme, Hazel Ruckle, Conrad Kurtz, Dominic Graeme, Nicholas Milewski, Caden Markgraf, Carter Fait, Maddie McEvilly, Carsten Small, Bryn Romeis

Lockdown Drill on Tuesday (11/20)
We will be having a lock-down drill on Tuesday (11/20) afternoon at 1:30pm.  This is a good time review procedures with students.  It is important that the classroom door is locked, everyone in the room is out of sight from the window, and the room is quiet.  In a lock-down scenario, it is also critical that any student phones are powered off or at least silenced.  We will discuss lock-down situations in more depth during our PD Day on 11/26.  This drill experience will help inform our discussion.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  New door handles which make it easier to lock the door from the inside are scheduled to be installed on Monday (11/26) as well.

PD Day on 11/26
The schedule for our PD Day on 11/26 is below:
8:00 - 9:00 - District Meeting in the High School Commons
9:00 - 12:00 - Department Work - goals will be communicated department by department
12:00 - 2:00 - Lunch/Classroom Time
2:00 - 2:30 - PMS Staff Meeting - Review of School Safety Scenarios
2:30 - 3:30 - District Insurance Meeting

MS Staff Meeting this past Wednesday
Thanks to all of our teachers for sharing impressive student growth and sharing effective strategies with the team.  We have a very strong team here.  After analysis of our School Report Cards, there are certainly areas for us to focus in our improvement efforts.  We will use the School Report Card data as much as we can to drive these efforts.  Closing our gaps is all of our responsibility...utilizing each minute of instructional time and IE, and instituting inclusive co-taught sections of ELA and Math, among other strategies are critical parts of closing this gap for all of our students.

Early Release on Wednesday (11/21)
The Thanksgiving Holiday is almost upon us.  With that being said, next Wednesday (11/21) is an Early Release Day.  Students will be dismissed at 1:15.  We will be following our Early Release Schedule.  Please review it and let me know if you see any areas that are overlapping for your coverage.

Mark Your Calendars for Talent to be on Display!
MS Holiday Concert - Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00pm in the 1-8 Gym

Images of the Week

 Daily Free Throw Challenge during Lunch Recess

The Middle Update 11/11/18

Resource of the Week
Two Minute Intervention
Mr. Fischer shared a resource this week.  This is a protocol designed for educators to use when planning how to help a student that has been struggling, either academically or behaviorally.  Give it a look and try it out with your team, or more informally when planning for our students.  We'll be taking a closer look at it as a staff.  Here is a link to it.

Referendum Passed!
Our referendum passed in a landslide...63% of yes votes!  Now the work begins.  Over the course of the next few months, we'll be working to finalize plans to move forward with the projects that were approved in the referendum.  It is an exciting time.  The new elementary will be is slated to open at the start of the 2020 school year.  Thanks to all for your work in helping communicate and support the referendum efforts.

MS Staff Meeting on Wednesday (11/14)
We will have a Middle School Staff Meeting on Wednesday afternoon at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room.  You'll hear from teachers about student progress data, and instructional strategies that have been working well.  If you have some impressive student growth data to share, please let me know.

World Diabetes Day - Wednesday (11/14)
We have several students and staff that deal with diabetes every day.  We have been asked if we would recognize this by participating in wearing blue on Wednesday, November 14.  Feel free to participate and share with students this small way to show support for anyone that has diabetes.

Images of the Week

The Middle Update 11/4/18

Resource of the Week
The mental health of our students is a growing concern in schools across the country, and our school is no different.  The short article this week provides practical instructional strategies that teachers can use to help students struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, bipolar, or depression.

"Addressing Mental Health Disorders in the Classroom" by Bruce Van Stone

Friday's Assembly
Thanks to all those that helped plan our assembly this past Friday.  I think the students were into the activities, and it was great to recognize a student for giving her time and efforts to help others...in a culture of instant gratification, sometimes it seems like the thought of giving back can seem like a foreign concept...hopefully the recognition of Alli will rub off on others.  Thanks to the teachers who put out a great performance for the students...I look forward to hearing about the performance that will top it at our next assembly in January.



End of Quarter 1 Information
Listed below is some important due dates for grades:

-1st Quarter grades are due by Wednesday (11/7) morning,
-Report cards will be mailed home, but we will also hand a copy out to students during Homeroom on Friday (11/9) and teachers will lead a reflection/goal setting activity,
-At the end of the day, all students with all of the Puma Pride scores at "ME" can report to the cafeteria to show off their "ME's" for an ice cream treat

Veteran's Day Ceremony on Friday
We will be attending the Veteran's Day Ceremony at the High School this coming Friday (11/9).  We will move Nutrition Break up to accommodate our attendance at this important event.  Please dismiss all students for Nutrition Break at 8:50 am on Friday.  After nutrition break, students will report to class as follows:

6th - Report to 2nd block classroom
7th - Report back to 1st block
8th - Report to their 1st block classroom

Please gather students together for a discussion about the importance of reverence and respect at this ceremony.  We will aim to leave your classroom at 8:58, and be in our seats by 9:02.  Our students will enter the Kerr Gym through the North Gym doors adjacent to our seating location.  All staff members should seek out a spot to sit among our students.  We look forward to this opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation for those that have given so much for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have living in the United States of America.

Safety Drill Recap
Thank you to all of you for your efforts during our fire/evacuation drill this past week.  As a reminder, if we have to evacuate the 1-8 Building for any reason, we would move our students to the on-campus evacuation site (Aux. Gym).  A couple of reminders for everyone as we reflect on this drill experience.
-One recent adjustment in our plan involves the training everyone that in the event of the fire alarm going off, the teacher should be the first one in the hallway to check to make sure it is safe, before the class proceeds to the fire drill.  We will discuss this further in a staff meeting.
-If the fire alarm goes off for any reason, please head to your normal location and take attendance...if it is not a planned drill, we most likely will be heading to our evacuation site.
-We are able to get everyone out of the building in about a minute and half consistently.

Referendum Update
Tuesday is the big day.  It is hard to believe that the voting day is almost here.  A lot of work and preparation has gone into this process.  As a reminder, the website is a great resource to find all of the information regarding the process used to determine the referendum questions.

Important Dates Coming Up
-Veteran's Day Ceremony - Friday, 11/9 around 9:04 in the Kerr Gym
-Next Middle School Staff meeting will be on Wednesday, November 14th at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room
-Early Release at 1:15 on November 21st before Thanksgiving Break

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/27/18

Resource of the Week
As we head into the last week of the 1st quarter and straight into November, in many cases and with some of our students, it is clear that the honeymoon period is over.  Old habits and frustrating personality traits can come to the surface and provide some challenges for us in the classroom.  The article this week shines light on the best approach to rude, disrespectful student attitudes.  This is one article/podcast that we will likely revisit during the school year.

"How to Respond to Rude, Disrespectful, Student Attitudes" an interview with Robyn Jackson

End of Quarter 1 Information
The end of the 1st Quarter is Friday, November 2nd.  We will be having an Assembly on Friday afternoon in the 1-8 Gym.  Some adjustments to our schedule are listed below:

-We will move our Homeroom Lesson to Thursday (11/1) during IE time,
-On Friday, after lunch, all students will report to their 3rd block class,
-On Friday, all teachers should dismiss students to the 1-8 gym at 2:20 and students will be dismissed at the end of the day from the gym
-Mr. Johnson was interested in leading a staff activity/skit...more details to follow from him this week,
-1st Quarter grades are due by Wednesday (11/7) morning,
-Report cards will be mailed home, but we will also hand a copy out to students during Homeroom on Friday (11/9) and teachers will lead a reflection/goal setting activity,
-At the end of the day, all students with all of the Puma Pride scores at "ME" can report to the cafeteria to show off their "ME's" for an ice cream treat

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our Student of the Month Breakfast is scheduled for this Thursday, November 1st at 7:00 am in the IMC.  We are excited to recognize 8 of our outstanding students that have stood out for their work and effort in the 1st quarter so far.  If you see any of the following students, feel free to congratulate them.

Hans Mueller     Maya Tjugum     Kloie Hathaway     Mykolas Lyons
Evalia Byom     Donavyn Fehd     Emma Yelk     Landon Johnson

Thanks to Mrs. Rogness, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Odden, and Mrs. Anderson for presenting this month!

October Safety Drill (contribution from Mr. Hausser)
We have to do a drill every month.  This month(October) we are going to do a fire and practice an evacuation drill to the high school.  The fire alarm will sound and then please follow our fire drill procedures.  Once outside, Dr. Pritzl and I will signal to the groups when they should then evacuate to the high school.  When choosing a route to get there, please keep in mind that we want to stay a safe distance away from the building that has been determined unsafe.  The elementary staff and students will report to the Kerr gym and all middle school students will go to the Aux. gym in the high school.  Please take attendance once the students are outside, and then also when you get to the high school.  We are planning this drill for Tuesday morning around 9:15 a.m., but it will be weather depending.  

Referendum Update
We are a week and a half away from the vote.  As a reminder, the website is a great resource to find all of the information regarding the process used to determine the referendum questions.

Important Dates Coming Up
-Veteran's Day Assembly - Friday, 11/9 around 9:00 in the Kerr Gym (specific details will be sent next blog post)
-Next Middle School Staff meeting will be on Wednesday, November 14th at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room
-Early Release at 1:15 on November 21st before Thanksgiving Break

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/18/18

I hope everyone has enjoyed the past 3 day weekend.  I appreciate the excellent contributions from the staff at our staff meeting and everyone's efforts to pull off another solid round of Parent-Teacher Conferences.  I am lucky to be your principal.

Resource of the Week
The article this week is a great read.  Bullying takes on some different forms in Middle School, and this article does a great job of explaining the realities of peer interactions that our kids experience today, and how we, as a school, can create a safe place for all of our students.  Thanks Mrs. Morton for the contribution.

"3 Practical Strategies that Teachers, Counselors, and Staff Can Use to Prevent Adolescent Bullying" by Matt Pearsall

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our next Student of the Month Breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, November 1st at 7:00 am in the IMC.  We are excited to recognize 8 of our outstanding students that have stood out for their work and effort in the 1st quarter so far.  If you see any of the following students, feel free to congratulate them.

Hans Mueller     Maya Tjugum     Kloie Hathaway     Mykolas Lyons
Evalia Byom     Donavyn Fehd     Emma Yelk     Landon Johnson

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thank you for your efforts during conferences over the course of the past 2 Thursday evenings. The solid connections that were established during this time can be vital resources to utilize throughout the rest of the school year.

Field Trips
This past week, we wrapped up at least 1 field trip for each grade in October.  We've had some updates to our field trip guidelines.  Updates are listed below:

--Chaperones should be recruited early, and all chaperones must be on our Approved Volunteer List.  The business office requests that all volunteer/background check forms be submitted at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

-A roster of your students who are riding the bus should be handed to the bus driver.  Please only provide the names of the students who are actually on the bus.  If there are changes for the ride home, then please adjust the list accordingly.

Referendum Update
In the past 2 weeks, we've had referendum presentations done at the Public Library and the Fire Station.  There was also a news story about the referendum that appeared on Channel 15 Thursday morning.  You can see that at this LINK.  We are a couple of weeks away from the vote.  As a reminder, the website is a great resource to find all of the information regarding the process used to determine the referendum questions.

Emergency Planning
Our October drill will be a fire drill, followed by an evacuation.  We would do this in case of an actual fire that we would not be able to re-enter the building.  The Middle School students would make their way to the AUX Gym, and Elementary students would report to the Kerr Gym.  Specific date and time will be sent out early next week.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/12/18

The weather has gotten everyone's attention again this week, and it now appears that the extreme wetness is behind us and the cold is heading our way...hopefully an extended fall season is upon us.  We are already nearing the end of the 1st quarter...I appreciate working in an environment with dedicated professionals who are committed to providing a consistent caring environment for each one of our students every day.

Resource of the Week
The article this week is a good one to check in on at this time of year.  It is a solid resource for successful classroom management.

"7 Ways to Take Control of Your Classroom to Reduce Student Misbehavior" - www.thoughtco.com

Staff Contribution (Thank you Mrs. Larson!)

Presumed Competence

By: A. Stout

“What does it mean to presume competence?

Presuming competence means to assume an autistic person has the capacity to think, learn and understand-even if you don’t see any tangible evidence that such is the case.  It’s assuming they are not inherently incapable; they just need the right supports and systems to help them succeed. It isn’t about wishful thinking, or overlooking the challenges that the person faces.  Presuming competence is about giving someone a chance-and helping them take that chance in any way you can.

Why is it important?

If you assume incompetence and are wrong you will become frustrated, but more importantly, you have lowered expectations, which translates directly onto the individual’s future.  Aim low, and you can only expect low results. But, aim high, and your student will be more likely to rise to meet those expectations.

How can we presume competence?

• Talk to your student normally.  
• Avoid baby-talk and overly-simplified language.  
• Speak at a normal speed.
• Make sure to directly the student directly rather than going through a third party
• Find a way to help the student communicate (i.e. pictures, gestures, sign language)
• Pay close attention to what they are trying to tell you, behavior is communication and it may very well be the way a student is expressing something important.
• Don’t withhold information from the student for fear they will not understand.  Even if it doesn’t look like they are absorbing the information, they may very well be doing just that!

The only true failure is when we walk away and assume incompetence.  What do we have to lose by trying?”

Link to the full article: https://blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/presume-competence/

Field Trips This Week
We have a couple field trips on the schedule for this week.  As of this writing, the 7th graders are set to go on their golf field trip on Monday, and 8th graders on Wednesday.  If either is cancelled due to weather, we will run a normal school day for each grade level.  When half of our 8th graders are on the golf course, the other half will be back hearing from some recent Poynette graduates about their experience serving our country.  If you see these Poynette alumni (Rylie Denson, Autumn Peck) walking through the halls, don't hesitate to say hello.

Staff Meeting This Week
We will be meeting as a Middle School Staff on Wednesday at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room.  We will be checking in on our progress so far this school year and hear from some teachers about the ways in which they are setting up their classrooms for students to continually raise the level and rigor of the discourse in which students dissect each other's work and their own thinking about complex topics.

Early Release Schedule
On Thursday, students will be dismissed at 1:15.  We will be following our Early Release Schedule.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our next Student of the Month Breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, November 1st at 7:00 am in the IMC.  Please let Robin know who your nominees are by the end of the week, and also who will be representing each grade level for this month's breakfast.  This is a great opportunity to recognize students who are doing great things in and out of our classrooms.  If there is a special opportunity to recognize a student outside of the normal way we recognize students, please let me know.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thank you for your efforts during conferences this past Thursday.  I believe we had a pretty solid turnout for the first night, and we expect even more families to be coming through this Thursday afternoon and evening.  A great opportunity to meet and get to know our students on a deeper level by understanding the families they live with day in and day out.

Referendum Update
In the past 2 weeks, we've had referendum information posts outside of Piggly Wiggly, a table at PT Conferences, and at the entrance of the Homecoming Football game.  We also welcomed community leaders in for a breakfast and informational session this past Friday.  We are less than a month away from the vote.  If parents inquire about the referendum during parent/teacher conferences, we have handouts, business cards, and posters available in the office.  Feel free to grab a couple to have on hand in case the question comes up.  Also, the website is a great resource to find all of the information regarding the process used to determine the referendum questions.

Emergency Planning
Our October drill will be a fire drill, followed by an evacuation.  We would do this in case of an actual fire that we would not be able to re-enter the building.  The Middle School students would make their way to the AUX Gym, and Elementary students would report to the Kerr Gym.

The Middle Update 10/5/18

As we near the end of our fifth week of school, routines are taking shape, the weather is turning colder, and the Brewers are playing October baseball.  The cooler weather has also brought along a little increase in the number of people being sick...it certainly has hit my household this week...hopefully this will be it for the Pritzl's as the upcoming cold and flu season approaches.  There is a lot going on in our district, and facilitating an environment for exceptional teaching and learning continues to be our top priority.

Resource of the Week
Growth mindset and Grit are a couple of terms that have gotten some attention in recent years in the educational landscape.  The article this week is from a leading researcher on "grit" and it's place in schools.

"Grit and the Great Good:  A Conversation with Angela Duckworth" by Sarah McKibben

Parent/Teacher Conference Week Ahead
Our first round of conferences start this week on October 11th from 4:00- 7:30 p.m.  Each student will have a folder that they will pick up in the office prior to coming to their scheduled conference.  The folder will contain a recent grade report, STAR Reading and Math test record information.  If teams would like to include a Puma Pride self assessment from students that would be a solid inclusion as well.  Feel free to come down and add anything to an individual student's folder next week.

I hope that everyone got the chance to sign up for the food truck on this night.  A big thanks to our awesome Parents' Club for providing a meal again.  They could not do the long night this year, because the truck shuts down next weekend.  This is a great opportunity to connect with the parents of our students, and strengthen the partnership with each of them as we work towards a common goal of providing the best education possible for their children.  Please keep track of the attendance for both nights.

Sick Kids
For your information, and if parents have questions, I have included the district's guidelines for when parents should keep their child at home due to illness.

School Safety Update
School safety is everybody's priority.  Just a general reminder that if you hear or see something related to the safety of our school, you should say something right away.  All of us have an obligation to report, just like the mandatory reporting guidelines that we must follow as well.

Mrs. Morton and I visited a classroom for a guidance lesson that every student attended.  A big message for our students is that a positive school environment/experience for EACH student is so important for keeping our school safe.

Referendum Update
In the past 2 weeks, we've had 2 community meetings spreading information about the upcoming referendum.  We about one month away from the election.  If parents inquire about the referendum during parent/teacher conferences, we handouts, business cards, and posters available in the office.  Feel free to grab a couple to have on hand in case the question comes up.  Also, the website is a great resource to find all of the information regarding the process used to determine the referendum questions.

Emergency Planning
For classrooms that do not have windows, it is important to double check that your emergency flash lights work when all of the lights go out.  Please check the location and effectiveness of your emergency light, so we are prepared in the event the power goes out during the school day.

Homecoming Week
This week is Homecoming Week in our district.  We will be having dress up days in the 1-8 Building as follows:

October 8th -   Favorite Team Gear

October 9th -   Crazy Sock Day
October 10th - Mismatch/Backwards Day
October 11th - Class Color Day- (6th - red, 7th - white, 8th - black)

October 12th - School Spirit Day

Feel free to join in on the fun with the students.

Images from the Week