Saturday, February 15, 2020

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.


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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.