Sunday, December 15, 2019

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. 





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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.