Sunday, January 9, 2022

The Middle Update 1/9/22

In Strong School Cultures, People Articulate the Following CORE Beliefs Through How They Behave:

All Students Can Learn at High Levels

All Students Will Learn Because of What We Do

Students Do Well if They Can

What WE Do Makes the Difference for the Kids in School


We are ready for the last week of the 2nd quarter/1st semester!  It was really nice to see the kids again after a time period away last week.  Thanks to all of you for your commitment to our kids and our school.


Resource of the Week

The resource this week takes a closer look at understanding the reasons behind the achievement gap that persists in our economically disadvantaged population.  It's a shorter article that summarizes research behind the root cause of this achievement gap.  The study concluded that lower skills in the area of executive functioning are consistent with students who would be identified as economically disadvantaged.  As we continue to look for ways to provide impactful supports in our school, this knowledge is critical for all of us.

"How Can We Help Academically Disadvantaged Children Achieve Academically" - Karen Nikos-Rose


Professional Development Day 1/17/22

There will be no school for students next Monday (1/17), as we'll be hosting a professional development day.  The meetings that will take place are outlined below:

8:00 am (subject to change slightly) - Dr. Shappell will address the whole staff (Poynette Elementary)

9:15 am (or whenever we get back from elementary) - PMS Staff Meeting (PMS Cafeteria)

     -We'll meet briefly to outline things that need to be complete at the mid-year point (SLO/PPG, etc)

Data Meetings will take place in the PMS Professional Development Room

12:30 - 1:15 - 5th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

1:15 - 2:00 - 6th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

2:00 - 2:45 - 7th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

2:45 - 3:30 - 8th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

There will be time in between for PLC's and grade level teams to meet and complete the things necessary that will be outlined in our staff meeting.  Grading, finishing report card comments, and planning in classrooms will take up the remainder of the time.


Report Cards

Puma Pride - each class should have the 4 Puma Pride standards reported out on for each student.

Comments - For core classes, please provide some specific feedback on each student's performance in your class.  If you have a student for more than one class, you don't need to write more than one comment, unless there is something significant that should be reported out separately for each class.  

Please let me know if you have any questions, but our goal is to provide as much feedback for students and parents as possible on the quarterly report cards.


End of Quarter 2 Timeline

The end of the 2nd quarter is Friday, January 14th.  Grades will be due by Wednesday (1/19) morning.  We'll start printing report cards on Wednesday morning, and start mailing home as soon as we can.  On Friday (1/21) morning, teachers will lead a report card reflection in Homeroom classes, and we'll have tickets ready for the assembly participation again.

Our Student Leadership Group is working on the planning for the 2nd quarter event...more details to come in the following weeks.



Summer School- Yes, it's Time to Start Talking About It! (from Mr. Hausser)

I would like to first congratulate Mr. Joel Ferkovich as our new Summer School Co-Principal.  Yours truly did resign for one month, but I am returning to help Joel.  We will miss Anna greatly, but she is on to bigger and better things for our district.  We will try to carry the torch as well as she did.  Joel and I did start the planning process over Winter Break.  Veteran teachers were already sent the form to help us collect information from interested staff.  We will be sending out a link to the rest of the staff after January 21st.  If you are interested in proposing and teaching a new class here is the link to that document.  All new classes to be proposed need to be to Joel or me by January 26th.  Please let us know if you have any questions. You will need to make a copy of the document and then share it with Joel or me.

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The Middle Update 1/9/22

In Strong School Cultures, People Articulate the Following CORE Beliefs Through How They Behave:

All Students Can Learn at High Levels

All Students Will Learn Because of What We Do

Students Do Well if They Can

What WE Do Makes the Difference for the Kids in School


We are ready for the last week of the 2nd quarter/1st semester!  It was really nice to see the kids again after a time period away last week.  Thanks to all of you for your commitment to our kids and our school.


Resource of the Week

The resource this week takes a closer look at understanding the reasons behind the achievement gap that persists in our economically disadvantaged population.  It's a shorter article that summarizes research behind the root cause of this achievement gap.  The study concluded that lower skills in the area of executive functioning are consistent with students who would be identified as economically disadvantaged.  As we continue to look for ways to provide impactful supports in our school, this knowledge is critical for all of us.

"How Can We Help Academically Disadvantaged Children Achieve Academically" - Karen Nikos-Rose


Professional Development Day 1/17/22

There will be no school for students next Monday (1/17), as we'll be hosting a professional development day.  The meetings that will take place are outlined below:

8:00 am (subject to change slightly) - Dr. Shappell will address the whole staff (Poynette Elementary)

9:15 am (or whenever we get back from elementary) - PMS Staff Meeting (PMS Cafeteria)

     -We'll meet briefly to outline things that need to be complete at the mid-year point (SLO/PPG, etc)

Data Meetings will take place in the PMS Professional Development Room

12:30 - 1:15 - 5th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

1:15 - 2:00 - 6th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

2:00 - 2:45 - 7th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

2:45 - 3:30 - 8th Grade Team Data Review and RtI planning

There will be time in between for PLC's and grade level teams to meet and complete the things necessary that will be outlined in our staff meeting.  Grading, finishing report card comments, and planning in classrooms will take up the remainder of the time.


Report Cards

Puma Pride - each class should have the 4 Puma Pride standards reported out on for each student.

Comments - For core classes, please provide some specific feedback on each student's performance in your class.  If you have a student for more than one class, you don't need to write more than one comment, unless there is something significant that should be reported out separately for each class.  

Please let me know if you have any questions, but our goal is to provide as much feedback for students and parents as possible on the quarterly report cards.


End of Quarter 2 Timeline

The end of the 2nd quarter is Friday, January 14th.  Grades will be due by Wednesday (1/19) morning.  We'll start printing report cards on Wednesday morning, and start mailing home as soon as we can.  On Friday (1/21) morning, teachers will lead a report card reflection in Homeroom classes, and we'll have tickets ready for the assembly participation again.

Our Student Leadership Group is working on the planning for the 2nd quarter event...more details to come in the following weeks.



Summer School- Yes, it's Time to Start Talking About It! (from Mr. Hausser)

I would like to first congratulate Mr. Joel Ferkovich as our new Summer School Co-Principal.  Yours truly did resign for one month, but I am returning to help Joel.  We will miss Anna greatly, but she is on to bigger and better things for our district.  We will try to carry the torch as well as she did.  Joel and I did start the planning process over Winter Break.  Veteran teachers were already sent the form to help us collect information from interested staff.  We will be sending out a link to the rest of the staff after January 21st.  If you are interested in proposing and teaching a new class here is the link to that document.  All new classes to be proposed need to be to Joel or me by January 26th.  Please let us know if you have any questions. You will need to make a copy of the document and then share it with Joel or me.