The Middle Update 2/23/2020

What a great weekend we just had for weather!  I spent most of my weekend coaching Ben's last basketball tournaments of the winter season and it was a lot of fun.  The sunshine was very enjoyable and also brings out that Spring scent in the air...Even though we may be facing some snow this week, the fact that March is one week away is really crazy to think about...  We have 13 weeks left to make an impact on the lives of our students this school year.  I sincerely appreciate and respect the work that each of you do in our school each day.  It truly is a team effort to do what we do, and every role in our school is critical.  Thank you!

Resource of the Week
It's Kindness Month, and the article this week is full of links to 3-4 minute videos that highlight the impact of kindness on humans.  The article can be found at the link:  "5-Minute Film Festival: Videos on Kindness, Empathy, and Connection"  By Amy Erin Borovoy.

I'll share one video that we should show to our Homeroom groups to facilitate our Wednesday discussion.  It discusses the Science behind Kindness, how it impacts our brains, and ultimately our quality of life.  So, for our discussion, show the video, and lead a discussion about the takeaways from the video, and how it could impact their daily interactions, especially at school.

Pig Race Assembly Plans
OK...here is the plan for our Pig Races.  Please bring your pig down to the office sometime early this week.  We will put the pigs and their names on display in the school, and have a voting station for both students and staff to vote on the "Best Name" and the "Best Dressed" pigs.  We will then have an assembly next Friday (3/6) at 2:15 for the pig races, and other events that will showcase student talent (or staff talent if anyone has a talent or entertainment idea...just let me know).  More details on the assembly will follow in the week ahead.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our March Conference session is next week (3/5) from 4:30 to 8:00.  The time is now to invite parents in for conferences.  Like in the past, we will invite as many parents and students in as possible, while also opening the building for all parents to come in and meet with teachers as needed.  This is a great opportunity to show off student work in classrooms and around the building.

Staff Meeting this Week
We will be meeting as a staff on Wednesday (2/26) starting at 2:55 in Mrs. Rogness' room.  We will continue our learning together - sharing Homeroom success activities, learning about writing expectations, learning about each other, and taking a look ahead to the Forward Exam season...See you then.

Construction Update
We received a rendering from our Design Team this week that shows a rendition of what our IMC will look like next year.  Take a look...Even though the coming weeks ahead will be stressful with moving, you can get the idea of what the payoff will be for our our kids, staff, and community.

3rd Quarter Grades
Just a reminder that grades for 3rd Quarter should be posted in each standard and should be updated at least weekly throughout the remainder of the quarter.

Next Student of the Month Breakfast
Our next breakfast will be on Friday, March 20th.  If you haven't had the chance to present yet to honor a couple of students, please let me know, and we'll make sure you get the chance...there are only 2 remaining recognition breakfasts this year.

Findorff Assembly
Findorff will be putting on an assembly to share with students what the construction areas will look like, and how they should navigate those areas on our campus.  The assembly will be on Thursday, March 12th starting at 2:15.

Hoops for a Cause
Mark for calendars for March 12th for our annual Students vs. Staff Basketball game that will raise money for a cause that is important to our students! 

The Middle Update 2/15/20

I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend the Wisconsin Middle/High School Principal's Convention this past Thursday and Friday in WI Dells.  It was a great learning experience, filled with so many talented educators sharing their knowledge.  One major takeaway for me is the solid understanding that our profession allows us the opportunity each day to change the trajectory of a kid's life.  We are public servants, and on Friday afternoon, Colonel Arthur Athens, who has an impressive Navy leadership background, stated that he feels people should thank us for our service, much like they thank members of the military, because the work we do each day is so critical for our country.

Dr. Hoernke and I also got the opportunity to present again, sharing the work we do in Poynette.  We had a packed room again for the second consecutive year.

Resource of the Week
Kelvin Oliver is an educator committed to teaching about how schools can use restorative practices effectively.  In this short video, he highlights how and why kids view adults differently today than they did just a short time ago…and how our understanding of this can help us in schools.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our March Conference session is right around the corner.  The time is now to invite parents in for conferences.  Like in the past, we will invite as many parents and students in as possible, while also opening the building for all parents to come in and meet with teachers as needed.  This is a great opportunity to show off student work in classrooms and around the building.

Upcoming Staff Meetings
We will be meeting as a staff for a brief meeting on Tuesday (2/18).  Mrs. Morton will train teachers on how to use Xello and we'll touch base about upcoming activities (Catch-Up IE, Pig Assembly, Findorff Assembly) and also talk about Forward Exam groupings.

Construction Update
Dr. Shappell and I continue to work with our construction representatives to narrow down the scope of the project that will take shape in the Middle School this summer.  I have been sharing bits of information with different groups of teachers, and plan to share an update at our staff meeting next week.  It's an exciting time for our school!

Homeroom Discussion Topic this Week

For our Homeroom Circle Discussion next week, please lead a conversation around integrity and character.  Please share the definition of each, and then use the following questions to spark discussion among your group.  This discussion can happen on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning.

Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness

Character - the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

1.) What does it mean to be a person of high integrity and strong character?

2.)  Do you agree with the following statement:  A person's character can be measured by how well they follow expectations or rules when no one is looking.

3.)  How could our school/the world be different if everyone acted with high integrity and strong character at all times, even in situations where there is a strong desire to do something but know it's not right?

February Safety Drill
Our drill this month will be a Lockdown Drill.  We will conduct this drill on Tuesday (2/18) at 1:30.  We will communicate via email if there is a change in plans.  Please review with your students what the flexible options are for a Lockdown situation.

"Catch-Up IE" Scheduled
We've had three of these types of activities so far this school year, and we'll use "Catch-Up IE" as the official name for this type of activity.  Our next event will be on Wednesday, February 19th.  Students will report to 3rd Block after lunch and we'll have different activities happening throughout the building and provide support for students who need it as well.  As always, we need to leverage our relationships and Homeroom times to plan with our students to plan for how they can be successful.  We'll be sending out sign-ups and information early this week.
3rd Quarter Grades
Just a reminder that grades for 3rd Quarter should be posted in each standard and should be updated at least weekly throughout the remainder of the quarter.

Grading for Learning Workshop
We will be hosting around 40 educators from 4-5 different school districts on Thursday this week, and they seek to learn about our assessment practices.  All of our visitors will be from the High School level this time.  The training will be in the High School IMC.

The Middle Update 2/8/20

We are already 3 weeks into the 3rd Quarter and many parts of of our campus will be turning into a construction zone in no time...Many parts of our normal operations will be affected for some time, however, the results of the work are very exciting...improved learning environments for all 3 buildings!

Resource of the Week
A short note on the heart of School Culture...As you read, think about the interactions that take place in our school...always reflecting on how we are and how we can grow...

"What Makes a Good School Culture" - Leah Shafer

January Students of the Month
Congratulations to this month's recipients.  Jason Morton, Emma Lindquist, Vance Hathaway, Gage Morter, Teagan Thurston, Kaila Cross, Rylan Flesch, and Tianna Lien.  It was so awesome listening to the teacher representatives sharing the characteristics of these kids...a small representation of the great students we have in Poynette!!  Thanks to Mrs. Hendrickson, Ms. Moe, Mrs. Crawford, and Mr. Williams for presenting this month!

3rd Quarter Grades
As a reminder, overall 3rd quarter Standard and Puma Pride grades should be posted by end of day Tuesday.

Announcements
Everyone has access to view the announcements each week, as they are all shared in the MS Announcements folder.  Everyone has access to view the announcements in case you need something repeated or a student has a question about something that was read.

"Catch-Up IE" Scheduled
We've had three of these types of activities so far this school year, and we'll use "Catch-Up IE" as the official name for this type of activity.  Our next event will be on Wednesday, February 19th.  Students will report to 3rd Block after lunch and we'll have different activities happening throughout the building and provide support for students who need it as well.  As always, we need to leverage our relationships and Homeroom times to plan with our students how they can be successful.  We'll be sending out sign-ups and information early this week.

Moving...
With the construction coming soon, we've been deep into the talks of moving...it is going to be a big undertaking and we'll be sharing specific plans soon.  For now, we need everyone to start throwing away stuff that you haven't used in the last year or two...decluttering if you will.  We have the garbage bins in the downstairs hallway.  Please let me know if there is something that may have some value before throwing it away.

Pigs
It's almost time to unveil your pigs!  This week, we'll start to have our pigs displayed in the IMC.  Each Homeroom should have a name card, so the pigs can be displayed with their names, and we can have their names and outfits judged prior to our Assembly at the end of February.  I'll send the note out when it's time to put the pigs on display.

Pritzl out on Thursday/Friday
I will be attending the AWSA MS/HS Principal's Convention on Thursday and Friday this coming week.  A combination of Mr. Fischer, Mr. Gavin and Mr. Hausser will be our "go-to's" on these days.