The Middle Update 12/23/19

It's Winter Break Time!  A time to reflect on another year that has gone by, and look ahead to 2020!  A few year's back we put in place our Vision 2020 Goal...to be the best district of our size in the state.  As I think back to the last 6 years of work in our Middle School, I am proud of the work that we all have done to help us move closer to achieving that goal.  Our student achievement data is trending in the right direction, and the adjustments we have made this year appear to have our school culture and climate data on the right track as well.  As I reflect on the time, and look ahead to the next decade, I am proud of the staff that we have at Poynette Middle School.  A group that puts students first, seeks to innovate, likes each other, and works very hard.  Thank you and enjoy the break!!

IE Roster Adjustment to start 2020
After our Math team met to review student progress and plan for how we can meet our student needs, we have made a few adjustments to our IE Rosters.  We will start with these groups on Monday (1/6).  Please share with students on Thursday (1/2) and/or Friday (1/3).  Also, please let me know if you notice a student missing from the list (send me an email), and I'll make sure they find a home.


Images from the first half of the school year

The Middle Update 12/15/19

We are heading into the last school week of 2019...This time of year can be extra stressful, for both students and staff members, with all that is going on in school, and out of school.  Providing a focused, well-planned environment in all classrooms is going to be crucial to maintaining that sense of structure that is so important for our kids to learn at high levels.  The kids will have a good week and a half to rest their brains and recharge their batteries for the second half of the school year.  Let's make sure their brains work extra hard this week!!  I believe it's going to be an awesome week!!

Resource of the Week
The resource this week is a review/summary of the book, UnSelfie: Teaching Children EMPATHY in Their All-About Me World.  The book shares the research and highlights the importance of including Social-Emotional Learning components into the lives of students during the school day.  If you are interested in reading the book, let me know, and we'll look to add copies to our professional library in the IMC.

"UNSELFIE: WHY EMPATHETIC KIDS SUCCEED IN OUR ALL-ABOUT-ME WORLD BY MICHELE BORBA" - Rebecca Gotlieb

Feedback from Staff

Thanks for a great staff meeting last Wednesday.  I wanted to share the Staff feedback about what's going well with Homeroom groups throughout the building.

Connecting with kids. Everything is going well. No complaints.

Sharing out at the end of the day is 1 thing that is going well.

the circle time is going well. All students are willing to share now.

Discussions. Some really great opportunities to bolster character.

We are able to hold a solid group discussion on Wednesdays.

We like the discussion time- and we are really focusing on build community with positive interaction- we play lots of game as a whole group

We had kids fill out a questionaire about things they like and we have been trying to guess who the kids are based on answers. We also had kids spell their names backwards (first and last). I then read them backwards and have kids try to guess whose name it is.

Having a competitive theme with Mr. Williams has created unity and a sense of homeroom pride.

Our end of the day check in and homework reminders are something that seems to be going well. I think it really helps us connect and have a solid community.

Discussion Wednesdays - we have fantastic participation among our 8th graders!

we use fitboost activities to get moving in the morning maybe 3 days a week and kids like doing it. we also have "un-scussions" where we don't talk about a topic or question, but we write short responses on post its and share that way.

Students trust each other to be honest and very openly share during discussions.

Group Discussion - every student has been an active participant during our morning discussion/sharing.

Group discussions and games

I'm able to have quick opportunities to check in with my homeroom students and make connections. This has helped me connect with this group of students and has translated to solid behavior from these students when they're in my class.

They enjoy the games and some discussion.

I think our discussions are going well.

The students are doing a good job with weekly goal setting

A couple themes that emerged from the 2nd question about Homeroom were:

-Structuring the morning time so that students get chrome books at the end, on their way out,

-Getting consistent reports of student progress to better be able to about class performance,

-More competition-type activities

I appreciate the feedback, and we'll work to keep improving our practices and building that student connection to school.  Thank you all for these important efforts.

Kindness Quote Tuesday!

From the same author of the book "Unselfie" outlined above, comes research about the positive impact that can take place if students get the chance to read and reflect on Kindness Quotes.  The Elementary School has been using this research and putting it to action with a Kindess Quote of the Week.  We will do the same by sharing a Kindness Quote each week via email, and also reading it on the Announcements.  Please use Tuesday morning or others, to read and discuss the meaning and practical applications of the quote each week with our students.

MS Holiday Concert

Come check out a great show on Tuesday night at 7:00 in the 1-8 Gym, and watch your talented students excel outside the classroom!

Academic Support Intervention/Activity Thursday (12/19) Afternoon

We will be hosting another opportunity for students that need it, to receive more academic support Thursday afternoon.  We will adjust our afternoon schedule.  The lunch period will run from 12:00-12:30, and 3rd block will run from 12:30-1:50, followed by students being dismissed to their Homerooms to drop off Chromebooks, then to the teacher in charge of the activity they will be assigned to, followed by dismissal at 2:47.  

Please talk to students about this on Monday morning in Homeroom, and have them complete the Google Form in their email from me to help with activity assignments.  Also, work with your students to develop a plan for this week if they are behind.

Poynette Middle School Remodel

As the referendum project plans and construction are moving along, it looks like there will be an opportunity for some work to be done to the Middle School!  Dr. Shappell and I have been working on a long-term plan for updating our building, and I'll be in more meetings starting this week focusing on this project...the first one is Wednesday morning.  My availability for other things that may come up will be limited while I'm in these planning meetings.

Social Studies Competition Domination!

Our Middle School team did awesome at a competition this past week.  Please congratulate Matthew "Champ" Lannoye for his 1st place performance at this meet!  See below for press release from Mrs. Kennedy, and congratulate our students when you see them.

On Tuesday, December 10th, Poynette Middle School competed at a Social Studies Competition in Adams-Friendship called, "Where in the World?"  There were 70 students present with seven 5th/6th grade teams and seven 7th/8th grade teams.  Eighth-grader Matthew Lannoye took first place overall individually, calming supplying answers at the microphone to verbal questions.  Both the 5/6 and 7/8 teams took second place, having answered several questions correctly during a Kahoot interactive session. 

The Middle Update 12/7/19

One week has passed in December already...the speed at which time moves.  No doubt another busy week at school, and as I reflect I think of the many interactions between staff and students that are helping them grow as people...planting seeds to help them shape a mindset for success.  Thank you all for the special role you play for our kids.

Resource of the Week
Our article this week takes a closer look at Middle Schools and the specific parts of what is important for a successful experience for all.

"Leading Learning at the Middle Level" by Patti Kinney

• Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them.
• Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices.
• Every student's academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.

IE
Our Reading Intervention team met this past Wednesday to review data on student progress in Reading.  This has led to a little shuffling of some IE groups that will start on Monday (12/9).  Please share the IE Rosters with students on Monday morning.  If any student has a question, they should talk with me.  Our Reading Team has really done an awesome job of analyzing student data, and planning for how to support their growth!

Academic Support/Activity Afternoon next Thursday (12/19)
We will be modifying our IE Plan on the afternoon of Thursday (12/19).  Any student that needs support in completing or improving their work will get the opportunity to do so, and we'll have choice activities for all other students.  Sign-ups and details will be shared sometime during the first part of the week to come.

Next Staff Meeting
We'll have our next Middle School Staff Meeting on Wednesday, December 11th at 2:55 in Mrs. Rogness' classroom.  We'll get an update from Mr. Gavin about the work of our Student Leadership Team, learn about the action plan from our "Lost At School" book study team, and provide feedback on some of the new initiatives we started this year, and have some fun together as a staff.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Congratulations to this month's recipients:
Mercedi Lapacek     Aiden Trapp     Jason Lambert     Genevieve Berner   
Justin Wells     Nevaeh Flesch     Owen Prucha     Alexis Pells

Thanks to Mrs. Mrnak, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kallungi, and Mr. Hazard for the awesome presentations.

Friday December 20th
We will have a normal school day on 12/20, but the elementary will be dismissed at the same time as the Middle School students.

The Middle Update 11/24/19

Resource of the Week
It may be a good time of year to review a couple of important items in regards to internet activity for school employees.  The short article this week highlights some good guidelines for teachers about social media use.  Please check out the linked blog post for those reminders.  Also, a reminder that any activity done on your school account (emails, search history, website history, etc.) can be subject to Open Records Requests and made available to the public.  It's just good practice to make sure everything done at school or on school devices is professional and school related.  As always, let me know if you have any questions around this topic.

"10 Social Media Rules for Teachers" - American Board Blog

Morning Homeroom Reminders
As all have gotten comfortable with our Morning Homeroom Routine, I wanted to send a reminder about the Homeroom Plan that was presented at the beginning of the school year and should be followed each morning.  A couple of important reminders for all about this time: 
- Our goals are: 

1. We will help students be more connected to school
2. We will improve overall student attendance
3. We will ensure students are taught skills that will help them be more self-aware and proactive for their education
4. We will develop a deep appreciation of diversity in all students

-This should be an interactive time between students and their Homeroom teacher.  Use this SHEET for a plethora of resources of activities to do with your group.  The only chromebook use by students or teachers should be on Mondays and Fridays for checking IC and setting goals, otherwise, all should use the time for face to face interactions...I think that we all can agree that our kids get plenty of screen time throughout their days. 

Early Release on Wednesday (11/27)
We will be running an Early Release Schedule on Wednesday.  Please review the Schedule ahead of
time, and let me know if you see any conflicts with your assignments.  Thanks in advance.

Math Meet Domination Continues (from Mrs. Kennedy)

Poynette attended the #Math Matters Math Meet in WI Dells at Chula Vista on Nov. 21st.  Grades 5 - 8 competed against their own grade.  There were 394 students from 12 districts present.  Poynette's sixth grade team came in first place, Poynette's seventh grade team came in second place, and Poynette had two individual first place winners: Emma L. in sixth grade and Jason M. in seventh grade.  Congratulations!

Pictured below:

6th grade 1st place winners (L to R): Aaron D., Jameson M., Nevaeh F., Emma L., and Capri L.

7th grade 2nd place winners (L to R): Mae L., Mercedi L, Maggie W., Sarah B., Zander O.

Safety Drill Recap
Last Thursday we conducted our Lockdown Drill.  It is an amazing experience to walk the halls during a lockdown.  It feels like it's the summer time and no one is in our building.  Please let me know if there were any good questions that came up from students.  Also, a reminder that flexible response is critical and locked doors and quiet rooms have proven to be very safe after a review of other dangerous situations that have happened in other schools.  Connected, happy students are much less likely to carry out violence.

Toy Donations
Each year staff inquire about donating toys. If you are interested, here is an opportunity.
Poynette Iron Works has an annual toy drive to help families in need of support around the holidays.  They are collecting gifts now until Dec. 13th.  You can donate new unwrapped toys, gift cards, or cash.  You can place toys in a bin at Piggly Wiggly or take other contributions directly to Poynette Iron Works (209 East North St.).

PAD Newsletter Update
Here is the link to the latest PAD newsletter that can be found on our district website.

2019 2020 November/December/January Newsletter

The Middle Update 11/15/19

Resource of the Week
We'll continue our Social-Emotional Learning theme with this week's blog resource.  The article provides even more resources...(videos/articles) within specific aspects of Social-Emotional Learning.  Check it out.

"Social and Emotional Learning in Middle and High School" - McGraw Hill

School Report Card Release
State School Report Cards were released this past Tuesday.  As you could see in our Assembly, we had a strong score this year, and our score rose considerably from last year.  So much kudos to all of you who work so hard, and our kids for putting forth great effort on the Forward Exam.  We'll continue to analyze data and look to improve our performance.  Check out the DPI website to check out all of the scores from around the state.

Assembly Wrap-Up
Thanks to everyone that helped pull of our Assembly on Friday afternoon.  It seemed like the kids enjoyed it.  As always, I think we learned a few things, and I've already heard some good ideas brewing for our next one in January.

Safety Drill on Thursday (11/21)
We'll be having a Lockdown Drill this coming Thursday at 10:00 am.  Please review the procedures and flexible response plan with students prior to and after the drill.  We'll have law enforcement here to walk through the building with us as we continue to refine our Safety Plan.

Classroom Visits
During BW Meeting time with teachers starting this coming week, we'll continue to visit other classrooms to learn from each other.  There is so many magical things happening in our classroom and we all have can learn so much from the talent and skill in this building.  Also, Dr. Shappell will be making classroom visits as well.

Late Start/Early Release Schedules
Please review both of the schedules below when you get the chance, and let me know if you notice any areas that conflict with your assignments.  Typically, there are a couple of areas that we need to work through some resolutions when we adjust our schedule.  We'll use the Late Start Schedule for any 2 hour delays that may arise due to weather, and we'll use the Early Release Schedule for our upcoming 1:15 dismissal day on 11/27.

Late Start Schedule
Early Release Schedule

Next SOM Breakfast 12/6/19
Just an early reminder about our next Student of the Month Breakfast.  It will be on December 6th.  In the next couple of weeks, be on the lookout for your nominees.

Donation Opportunity
Many teachers have typically asked about donation opportunities...below is one of those opportunities.

Poynette Iron Works has an annual toy drive to help families in need of support around the holidays.  They are collecting gifts now until Dec. 13th.  You can donate new unwrapped toys, gift cards, or cash.  You can place toys in a bin at Piggly Wiggly or take other contributions directly to Poynette Iron Works (209 East North St.).

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 11/8/19

Resource of the Week
Going along with the theme from our presentation from Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos this past week, we are learning that Social-Emotional Learning is so critical for students to learn at their maximum potential and also to have a top notch school culture.  The article this week provides some thoughts on how to interweave some of this learning into our classroom routines, and also there is potential some ideas to be executed in our Homeroom morning times.

"5 Ways to Incorporate SEL in Middle School" - Jill Fletcher

Veteran's Day Assembly on Monday (11/11)

Veteran's Day is a very special day in our school district.  As is our tradition, all of our students will be attending the Veteran's Day Assembly at the High School on Monday (11/11), starting around 9:05.  We'll plan to have Nutrition Break starting at 8:45.  Below is our plan for each grade.

6th Grade - Dismiss 1st block to Nutrition Break at 8:45, then students go to their 2nd block class.  Meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony. Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55.  Students will return to 2nd block when done.

7th Grade - Dismiss from 1st block to Nutrition break at 8:45, then go back to their 1st block class.  Meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony.  Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55  Students will report to their PE/Music/ITech class when done.

8th Grade - 1st elective will run from 7:45 - 8:15...2nd elective will run from 8:15 - 8:45.  Dismiss to Nutrition Break, and students report to their 1st block teacher.  Once there, meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony.  Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55.  Students will return to 1st block when done.  Teachers can communicate with each other about the ending time of 1st block that will split the class times in half, once we return.

Assembly on Friday (11/15)
We will be having an Assembly this coming Friday (11/15).  Students will report to 3rd block after lunch, and should be dismissed to the 1-8 Gym at 2:10.  We'll have one Carelli Cup competition, followed by our various challenge opportunities that we discussed at the Staff Meeting this past week.  We should conduct our normal Homeroom Lesson on the morning of Thursday (11/14) and Friday (11/15) this week.

For the Carelli Cup, we'll need one representative from each Homeroom to compete in Musical Chairs competition.  Homerooms can either can have a competition in your Homeroom or have the group select a representative in another way.

Staff Meeting Review
Thank you to all for your participation in our staff meeting this past Wednesday.  A special thank you to Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos for their SEL presentation, and to Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Snyder for an explanation of how the knowledge gained from reading Lost at School has helped guide their approach to students that show some challenging behaviors in the classroom.  We are a strong team that continues to grow and learn from each other.

Hoods in School
As we enter the 11th week of the school year, it's still really important for us to all be on the same page on rule enforcement...one area I'd like us all to pay particular attention to is making sure students are not wearing their hoods in class.  Consistency from classroom to classroom is very important, and the habits and message also filters to better conversations in the hallways.

Connections with Kids
I have had the chance to meet with many Homerooms at the end of the day, and I have been asking them to share with me the great things about our school, and the things the kids think could be better.  There are many cool things they share about what they like about school.  One area, however, that comes up almost in each group of an area the kids seem could be better is "kids calling each other names".  When asked further, students typically says it happens in the hallways during passing time.  Equipped with this knowledge, we need to have our adults present during passing time as much as possible and watching out for these interactions.  Our Nutrition Break Connections Team is also designed to help have staff members out talking with kids and present to proactively prevent these type of interactions with students.  Let's continue to take advantage of these opportunities to build connections with our students.

Classroom Visits
During BW Meeting time with teachers starting this coming week, we'll continue to visit other classrooms to learn from each other.  Also, Dr. Shappell will be making classroom visits as well.

Late Start/Early Release Schedules
Please review both of the schedules below when you get the chance, and let me know if you notice any areas that conflict with your assignments.  Typically, there are a couple of areas that we need to work through some resolutions when we adjust our schedule.  We'll use the Late Start Schedule for any 2 hour delays that may arise due to weather, and we'll use the Early Release Schedule for our upcoming 1:15 dismissal day on 11/27.

Late Start Schedule
Early Release Schedule

Next SOM Breakfast 12/6/19
Just an early reminder about our next Student of the Month Breakfast.  It will be on December 6th.  In the next couple of weeks, be on the lookout for your nominees.

Resource from our Reading Specialist
Thank you to Mrs. Dzioba for sharing a great resource this week on conferring with students.  Meeting one on one with students and providing them feedback and asking reflective questions is critical to accelerating the learning of our students.  The resource she provides HERE can help make sure that student learning is maximized during these conferencing opportunities.  Thank you Mrs. Dzioba!

The Middle Update 11/3/19

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the extra hour of that this weekend provided you...whether that be an extra hour of sleep, or hanging out with a baby in the middle of the night, getting a little extra done around the house, or just an extra hour of relaxation, hopefully you were able to take advantage of it.  We already officially have 1 quarter of the school year in the books and we are heading into perhaps the busiest stretch of the year, with the days and weeks moving ahead quickly straight into the new year.  Our focus remains constant, however, taking each minute, each day in our classrooms working to grow the skills of our students in a positive, growth-oriented environment.

1st Quarter Grades Timeline
Like I mentioned in an earlier email, grades are due by Thursday am.  I will review report cards, and we will print them off Thursday, with the hopes of getting them in the mail as soon as we can.  We will review report cards with students in Homerooms on Friday (11/8), and we have a plan for how we will tie our report card review into our next assembly next Friday (11/15).  Final details of that plan will follow in an email early this week.

As a reminder, each course should have at least 2 of the Puma Pride standards reported out on, and a brief comment about student performance in your class.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this process.

Staff Meeting this Wednesday (11/6)
We will be meeting as a Middle School staff on Wednesday afternoon, starting at 2:55 in Mrs. Rogness' Room.  We will be focusing on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) aspect of school...we will analyze some data from the first quarter of the school year, we will hear from members of our Leadership Team on starting some school culture conversations in our Morning Homerooms, and we'll hear from Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos about some SEL lessons learned from the last professional conference they attended.  This is an important time to learn together as a team, and strengthen the important connections between with each other.

Assembly Next Friday (11/15)
We will be having a Middle School Assembly next Friday (11/15), starting at 2:10 in the 1-8 Gym.  After lunch on this day, students will report straight to 3rd block.  During the morning Homeroom times on 11/14 and 11/15, we will conduct our normal Friday afternoon Homeroom lessons.

Welcome Mrs. Wheeler!!
As Mrs. Weckerly is enjoying the new addition to her family at home, we are happy to welcome Mrs. Shelby (McIlrath) Wheeler to our team.  Shelby was a graduate of Poynette High School in 2010.

PAD Parent's Club Fund-Raiser Pick Up Information
Please share this information with students during Homeroom on Monday morning.

Fall Fundraiser pickup will be Wednesday, November 6 from 2:30 until 5:30 in the 1-8 gym. Please be sure to pick up your items. If you are unable to pick up your items during this time you must make arrangements for someone to pick them up for you.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/25/19

Resource of the Week
The latest book that I have been reading is titled, "The Leader in Me".  The books talks about how the 7 habits of highly effective people, outlined by Stephen Covey in a timeless book, are really effective strategies for all students to learn about, and they can be easily modeled and taught in schools.  The article this weeks gives a glimpse into those habits and how they can be applied to school.

"Top 7 Habits of Highly Effective Schools"

Appreciation
I appreciated the thoughtful card and Gift Card on Boss' Day last week....definitely not necessary, but I'm thankful, and I appreciated the kind words shared in the card.  I feel like the lucky one to get to work with this team.

Special thanks to Joann and Robin up front this week, as they calmly worked through some stressful situations, and make the front office a welcoming environment for all who enter.

Special thanks to Julie, Anne, and Krista and others for coordinating a staff unifying activity.

Special thanks to all who covered classes this week when we were short on substitutes.  I appreciate everyone's willingness to step up and help out in times when it's needed.

Middle School Activity on Wednesday
Our MS Leadership Students have been working on the planning for our Middle School Activity on Wednesday afternoon.  Students will report to 3rd block after lunch, and students will be dismissed from 3rd block at 2:00, report to Homerooms to plug in their chrome books, and then head to their assigned location.  More details will be available early in the week.

WHIP Pediatric Research Fund-Raiser

The high school NHS is sponsoring a fundraising campaign for Pediatric Cancer Research.  PHS Seniors Casey Fountain and Molly Anderson are spearheading this effort.  There will be students coming around next week to discuss how it will work with the students during our morning Homeroom time.  This will require some help from the teachers.  Here is the help that they are looking for from each level.  Please see Mrs. Kennedy if you have any questions.

Middle School:

Teachers collect the money and they paper clip their name on a post-it to the money and bring it to the office.  It will be put into an envelope in the safe.  Molly and Casey will count it weekly on Thursdays to get it deposited.

We will be tracking donation amounts by Homeroom and the NHS is sponsoring an ice cream party for the winng Homeroom.

End of Quarter/Assembly Planning
We will be having a Middle School Assembly on November 15th.  November 15th is a Friday, so we'll plan to extend the morning Homeroom time by about 5 minutes so that we can execute our normal Friday Homeroom lesson during this time, and we'll have students complete their goal reflections on the morning of the 14th.  With a longer Homeroom on the morning, students will report to 3rd block after lunch, and students will be dismissed for the assembly at 2:10.

Safety Update

Hold Reminders

Classroom Hold - The cafeteria/IMC and hallways are clear, no one leaves the classroom, and class continues inside the classroom as normal.

Administrative Hold - No one exits or enters the building, all activities inside the building continue as normal.

Lockdown - All common spaces are cleared, lights in classroom are shut off, doors locked and all people inside silently shelter in place.

The Middle Update 10/18/19

We are 7 weeks into the school year, and I hope that each of you is able to enjoy the extra day on this long weekend.  Please take some time to do something relaxing that you enjoy.  It's so important to take advantage of this time...being mindful of our own personal wellness is a big part in maintaining success in our schools.  I am looking forward to hear how each of you spent your extra day!

Resource of the Week
To go along with our theme of using the extra day this week for some personal maintenance, the article this week highlights the importance of self-care in the teaching profession.

"Educator Wellness - Self-Care in a Selfless Field" -  Lilla Dale McManis, PhD

"“Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.”~ Unknown. Perhaps like me, you’ve seen this quote on mugs, posters, and the like. But if you really stop to think about it, it showcases just how selfless teachers are and how big and important the profession is. With that can come a heavy burden, but by recognizing this and practicing self-care, it’s then more possible for you to stay in the teaching seat for the duration of the flight!

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you for your efforts during our fall conferences.  It looked like attendance was once again pretty solid, and it is always nice to put a face to the names of the main role models for our kids, and establish a communication plan with them.  Thanks for making those connections with our parents.

PMS Calendar of Activities
A regular reminder to check the Middle School Calendar of Activities for activities that are coming up that may impact our normal schedule.  Students in our Leadership Group are working to organize activities for students during our Monthly Activity on October 30th.  Please let me know if there is anything you notice that should be added.

End of Quarter/Assembly Planning
We will be having a Middle School Assembly on November 15th.  Mrs. Andringa and I have been working on the planning for this event, and how we can spice it up, and link participation to some of the things we naturally do to generate some fun.  November 15th is a Friday, so we'll plan to extend the morning Homeroom time by about 5 minutes so that we can execute our normal Friday Homeroom lesson during this time, and we'll have students complete their goal reflections on the morning of the 14th.  With a longer Homeroom on the morning, students will report to 3rd block after lunch, and students will be dismissed for the assembly at 2:10.

Safety Update

Our next Safety Drill will be on Tuesday, 10/22 at 1:30pm.  For this Fire Drill, we'll also practice our evacuation plan.  We practice this because this is what we'll do in the event of an actual fire in which we wouldn't be able to return to the building.  In the event of something like this, all Middle School students will move in a safe manner to the Aux Gym at the High School, and all Elementary students would report to the Kerr Gym.

Sub Calling Update (from Mr. Laib)

Cheryl Hebel will be the “day-of absence” sub caller on Friday morning Oct 25^th.  

Cheryl’s phone number is:  608-212-8110

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/13/19

We are 6 weeks into the school year, and by all accounts we are off to a strong start.  Now our focus turns to maintaining the strong start, and being cognizant on the natural "morale cycle" of a typical school year, and doing our best to break it...by breaking it, I mean avoiding the dip, and keeping patience, mood, and enthusiasm at a high level no matter what month of the school year it is.  It's important to keep our focus from our Opening In-service in the front of us...today's "Resource of the Week" provides a solid explanation and reminder for why the takeaways from the "Building Equity" and "Lost at School" book make such a big difference for our students...how the adults handle difficult situations in school affect the environment and experience for all students.  I My conversations with other principals in the area, make me feel great about our journey to being the premier place for educating students...we are doing great, but always looking to get better.  Thank you for what you do!

Resource of the Week
From the latest issue of Educational Leadership magazine, the article this week does a great job putting together the "why" behind the approaches we have been working on having with our students who display undesirable behaviors at times.  I benefited from reading this article at this time, and probably would benefit reading it every 4 weeks as a reminder.

"Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies" - Jessica Minehan

"When teachers (or all school staff) are proactive and responsive to the needs of students suffering from traumatic stress and make small changes in the classroom (or approach) that foster a feeling of safety, it makes a huge difference in their ability to learn."

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you to all for your efforts during Parent-Teacher Conferences last Thursday night.  As a reminder, Thursday (10/17) students will be dismissed at 1:15, and conference run from 2:00 - 8:00.  This connection time is a great opportunity to strengthen the home/school relationship and strengthen the support alliance between home and school.

PMS Calendar of Activities
A regular reminder to check the Middle School Calendar of Activities for activities that are coming up that may impact our normal schedule.  Students in our Leadership Group are working to organize activities for students during our Monthly Activity on October 30th.  Please let me know if there is anything you notice that should be added.

End of Quarter/Assembly Planning
We will be having a Middle School Assembly on November 15th.  Mrs. Andringa and I have been working on the planning for this event, and how we can spice it up, and link participation to some of the things we naturally do to generate some fun.  November 15th is a Friday, so we'll plan to extend the morning Homeroom time by about 5 minutes so that we can execute our normal Friday Homeroom lesson during this time, and we'll have students complete their goal reflections on the morning of the 14th...more information will follow for sure.

Safety Update

Our next Safety Drill will be on Tuesday, 10/22.  We'll have another Fire Drill, however this time, we'll practice our evacuation plan.  We practice this because this is what we'll do in the event of an actual fire in which we wouldn't be able to return to the building.  In the event of something like this, all Middle School students will move in a safe manner to the Aux Gym at the High School, and all Elementary students would report to the Kerr Gym.

Sub Calling Update (from Mr. Laib)

Cheryl Hebel will be the “day-of absence” sub caller for the following dates:

Friday morning Oct 25^th.  Cheryl’s phone number is:  608-212-8110

If you are not well, please call either the evening before absence, until 9:00 PM, and the morning between 5:30-6:00 to be better able to secure a sub.  If you must leave a message, please leave your name, grade you teach, or in the case of para’s, who you work for and hours.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 10/4/19

October and cooler weather have arrived!  Students continue to respond favorably when asked about how they are doing...this anecdotal data is positive and a tribute to all of your efforts during Homeroom to build strong relationships and highlight the positive happening in student lives each day.  Our focus will be on maintaining and building upon our efforts to last through and change the proverbial cycle of mindset that typically occurs in a school year.

Resource of the Week
It's Parent-Teacher Conference week, so the resource this week gives some insight into how to make the most out of our time with each parent.

"Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferencing" - Elena Aguilar

Parent-Teacher Conferences
On the next two Thursdays, we'll be welcoming in the families to our school.  We'll plan to have folders for each student in the office for them to pick up prior to their scheduled conference time.  We'll plan to have a current grade report, STAR report, and we can put any other information you would like to have for parents.  Please coordinate with Robin on any items to include with the folders.

End of Day Homeroom
I enjoyed the conversation at our staff meeting about Homeroom and the different, creative ways to use that time for student reflection and building connections.  I know some initial feedback was the afternoon time was too long, I liked the conversation and potential that this time can provide.  Below is a sample of how Mr. Williams structures his 10 minutes, in which he says is working well.

A typical day is: Homework Review from the Day - Highlight of the Day - Last 5 minutes playing some type of game (silent ball, trivia, music trivia, Disney trivia)

Student of the Month Breakfast
We had another great breakfast this past Friday.  It is so neat to see the pride of parents and grandparents when we describe the great things/habits the recognized students are displaying.  Special thanks to Mr. Frehner, Ms. Hecht, Mrs. Weckerly, and Mrs. Anderson for outstanding presentations.

End of Quarter/Assembly Planning
We will be having a Middle School Assembly on November 14th.  There have been some solid ideas circulating about how we can improve our assemblies.  If you are interested, please join Krista Andringa and I to help plan on Tuesday (10/8) at 3:00 in Krista's classroom.

Safety Update

Room Numbers on Outside Windows (from Mr. Hausser's blog, but applies to all in 1-8 building)

A few years ago, as part of our safety plan, we had numbers placed on outside windows of classrooms who had them.  Over time, it appears that the numbers may have fallen off or just need to be replaced.  We need to have numbers up in each classroom.  So please check your outside windows and if you do not your room number on it, please let me know.  I will have our secretarial staff make numbers for you that can be put up.  Many classrooms have them taped up and next year there will be numbers permanently put up when the signage has changed.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Food Service Information

I know Mrs. Larrabee sent this out, but I wanted to share it again. 

A new process for notifying food service of events, field trips, issues, special requests, etc,  as of tomorrow Oct 3,  will be implemented. Please email me and Lori Ward. In addition, a message should be left on the HS kitchen ext 312.

Sub Calling- October 25th

Lois will be calling subs on the morning of Oct. 25th.  Her # is 608-770-0285.

Images from the Week