The Middle Update 9/28/18

Resource of the Week
Here is a solid read that adds to the conversation about Collective Teacher Efficacy that we started in August.

"The Power of Collective Efficacy" by Jenni Donohoo, John Hattie and Rachel Eells

Welcome Ms. Fehling
An announcement here.  Ms. Karissa Fehling will be joining our team officially on Monday morning.  She will be taking over for Mrs. Schmidt in the 6th/8th Grade Math classroom.  Mrs. Schmidt has decided to pursue some other career interests, and I want to thank her for the time and effort she has given to our students.  If you see Karissa around, feel free to welcome her to our team...she has been in the building for the past week planning and preparing for her new assignment.  We are happy she is on our team.

Progress Report Grades
Student progress grades in each standard that they've been working on in class should be posted in Infinite Campus now.  We will be sending a message home to parents alerting them that grades can be viewed in Infinite Campus at this time.

Puma Pride Grades
We have a couple of teachers piloting the process of posting a Puma Pride standard or two for their individual class.  The first postings for student performance in a couple of these standards have been posted for parents and students to see.  The Puma Pride standards that make the most sense to be posted by individual classroom teachers are: "Completes and returns work in a timely manner,"  "Follows classroom expectations", or "Puts forth effort to produce work of high quality".  Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of the pilot group.

Puma Pride Website
The Puma Pride Website is home to many important resources for our teaching staff.  You can find many important resources on this site.  Save it as a favorite for your reference throughout the school year.

Parent Connection Blog
This year we started a Parent Connection Blog to communicate important information and resources for parents of our middle school children.  Check out the link to the site, and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas about potential contributions.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 9/21/18

Resource of the Week
The resource this week piggy backs on the student discourse discussion from our staff meeting.  The teacher in the video provides a couple of effective ways to incorporate strategies to engage students in quality discussion in the classroom.

VIDEO
Check out the 2nd video, which is from the Secondary perspective

Progress Report Grades
Student progress grades should be posted by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 25th.  Review the evidence collected in standards that have been worked on during the first three weeks of the school year, and post the student's current level of performance from the standard's rubric.  If you have any questions or need a refresher on the process, please let me know.

Staff Meeting Recap
It was enjoyable for me to be a part of the discussion that took place at our last staff meeting.  Thanks for your attention and focus to growing our collective culture of strong efficacy, and being mindful of our students who may have a little extra in their invisible backpacks.  Our students are lucky to be in a school with a solution-focused staff.

IE Up and Running
We have one week of our newer IE schedule under our belts.  This period is for Intervention and Enhancement...This is our time to work side by side with our students to fill in gaps in their understanding, or to provide opportunities for students to take their talent/knowledge to even higher levels.

Handbook Signature Form 

As a reminder, we should have a Handbook Acknowledgement Form signed by both students and parents on file in the office.  Students should be returning the forms to their homeroom teachers.  Once you have received them all, please bring them to the office.

Message from the Poynette Area Library (from Lindsey Ganz)

Last year, I presented information at staff meetings about the Poynette Area Public Library and services available for you as a teacher. I will be at the high school IMC on Thursday, September 27 from 2:50pm to 3:20pm to give a short presentation about free databases and resources as well as guidelines for fines free teacher library cards. If you missed this meeting last year, please feel free to attend. I am also available to stay longer if you would like to ask me specific questions or receive one on one help with resources for your classroom. 

On another note, if you are having your students complete a research project and you would like me to present to your class on how to locate items through the library system and article searching using databases like EBSCOhost, please let me know. You are also welcome to bring your class to the public library, just let us know when you would like to visit and how we can assist you.

Thank you,

Lindsey Ganz

Puma Pride Website
The Puma Pride Website is home to many important resources for our teaching staff.  You can find many important resources on this site.  Save it as a favorite for your reference throughout the school year.

Parent Connection Blog
This year we started a Parent Connection Blog to communicate important information and resources for parents of our middle school children.  Check out the link to the site, and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas about potential contributions.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 9/14/18

A beautiful week of weather to go along with some beautiful learning in our classrooms.  A good start with great staff and great students.

Article of the Week
The article this week comes in the form of a short video.  The teacher describes "talk-moves" that she uses to promote student discourse in the classroom.  Check out the video to learn how she uses "repeating", "adding on", "I agree with you sign", and "permission to change our mind".

"Improving Participation through Talk Moves" - Teaching Channel

IE Starts Monday!
We will be starting IE on Monday.  The initial groups are nearing the finalization stage.  They will be officially ready by Monday morning.  On Monday, we'll have to take some time during a class to review with the students where they should report for IE time.

Staff Meeting on Wednesday
We will be meeting as a group on Wednesday at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' room.

Parent Contact Log
Just a reminder that if you make a parent contact, please make note of it on the Infinite Campus Log.  To get there, you should be in "Campus Tools".  Enter the student's name in the Search box, and select the correct student.  From there, click on the Student Information tab, then the PLP tab.  On the PLP screen, you'll see 4 tabs.  The furthest on the right is the "Contact Log" tab.  Click there, and you'll find the appropriate fields to enter the contact information.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Grade Level Blogs

This is a reminder to please update the grade level blogs regarding expectations for the week ahead.  If you have any questions about this, please let me know.  Everyone should have access to post in the blog.  This has been a source of a great deal of positive feedback from parents.  Thank you for your efforts to enhance the communication from school to home.

Handbook Signature Form 

As we near the end of next week, a big part of our Homeroom time will be to review the important parts of the Student Handbook so that students understand the rules and expectations.  With that being said, we need a Handbook Acknowledgement Form signed by both students and parents on file in the office.  Each student will get a copy of the handbook, and Mrs. McNicol will be distributing the forms for you.  Students should return the forms to their homeroom teachers.  Once you have received them all, please bring them to the office.

Puma Pride Website
The Puma Pride Website is home to many important resources for our teaching staff.  You can find many important resources on this site.  Save it as a favorite for your reference throughout the school year.

Parent Connection Blog
This year we started a Parent Connection Blog to communicate important information and resources for parents of our middle school children.  Check out the link to the site, and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas about potential contributions.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 9/7/18

Our first week with kiddos is in the books!  Thanks for each of your efforts to make it a great one!  Each one of us plays a vital role in our operations, and creating a positive learning environment for our students.

Our New Team Members
A big shout-out to our new team members for making it through their first week as Pumas and officially becoming part of the family.  Great work so far Joan Schmidt (6th and 8th Grade Math), Ryan Kartos (PE), Heather Snyder (long-term sub. for Mrs. Andringa), Terri Russell (para-professional), Ashley Schmelzer (para-professional), Lisa Hafeman (new to MS duties!), Randy Rueter (custodian), and Mary Jo Beck (custodian).  We are so glad you are on our team!

IE starts 9/17
We will be meeting in Homeroom groups for one more week, working hard to build a small community within our school with strong connections.  On Monday (9/17), we will be starting our regularly scheduled IE groups.  We are still working to finalize the class rosters for this time period.  This will involve more teacher input and will be shared mid to late next week.  

STAR Reading and Math

Students will be taking the fall STAR tests on the following dates in their respective Math and ELA classes.
Math - Monday, September 10

Reading - Friday, September 14

Grade Level Blogs

This is a reminder to please update the grade level blogs regarding expectations for the week ahead.  If you have any questions about this, please let me know.  Everyone should have access to post in the blog.  This has been a source of a great deal of positive feedback from parents.  Thank you for your efforts to enhance the communication from school to home.

Handbook Signature Form 

As we near the end of next week, a big part of our Homeroom time will be to review the important parts of the Student Handbook so that students understand the rules and expectations.  With that being said, we need a Handbook Acknowledgement Form signed by both students and parents on file in the office.  Each student will get a copy of the handbook, and Mrs. McNicol will be distributing the forms for you.  Students should return the forms to their homeroom teachers.  Once you have received them all, please bring them to the office.

Puma Pride Website
The Puma Pride Website is home to many important resources for our teaching staff.  You can find many important resources on this site.  Save it as a favorite for your reference throughout the school year.

Parent Connection Blog
This year we started a Parent Connection Blog to communicate important information and resources for parents of our middle school children.  Check out the link to the site, and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas about potential contributions.

Referendum Update
The following post-cards were mailed to all district residents this past week.  Check them out HERE.

Images from the Week