The Middle Update 2/10/17

I feel really fortunate to spend a couple of great days learning alongside the other principals in our great state.  I am eager to get back to school on Monday and continue working alongside each of you as we push the status quo, and create consistent, awesome authentic learning opportunities throughout our building for our kids.

Schedule Adjustments starting Monday (2/13)
Due to an overlap for a couple of classes in the original schedule that I have had posted in the past couple of blogs, we had to make minor adjustments to some of the time periods in the schedule.  I recently updated the schedule to account for this overlap this past Monday afternoon, so depending on the last time you looked at the schedule, it may be different.  Please take a look at the Schedule and pay close attention to the dismissal times, so on Monday, we'll have a smooth transition.  Thank you!  SCHEDULE

Convention Takeaways
As you know I attended the Principal's convention this week and it was a great opportunity to hear from really innovative educators.  I was able to attend multiple sessions, and hear from Myron Dueck (author of Grading Smarter, Not Harder).  Some themes that rise to the top of my wondering were:
-The importance of facilitating authentic assessment experiences for our students that allow them to build real 21st century skills like teamwork, perseverance, and authentic problem solving
-Forbes recently concluded a study that asked employers what the "must have" qualities their employees must have:
    1.  Embrace change

     2. Provide voice

     3. Show autonomy

     4. Help others

     5. Share with others
-The application of personal pathway instructional models in schools

Upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences
Spring conferences are right around the corner.  After consultation with the Puma Pride Committee, our plan for the Spring Conferences will remain consistent from last spring.  We will use the first night (3/2) for scheduled conferences.  We should be scheduling conferences with as many students as we can, but mainly focusing on those who are in need of a strengthened home/school partnership (AE/NI on any Puma Pride score).  Also, the letter that we will mail home will encourage parents to schedule a conference.  On the second night (3/9), we will run more of an Open House type format.  Certainly we can schedule a conference on that night as well if necessary for parents.  It should be another great opportunity to deepen those vital relationships with parents that will help our students move forward.

A message from our Instructional Coaches
Elementary/Middle School
IMC STEM Resources

Below is a list of STEM resources that are available for checkout from the IMC for your classroom. Please feel free to contact me or Anna  if you would like support with implementation and curriculum correlation, we are always happy to help!

Resource & Video Clip	Amount in IMC	Possible Skills & Knowledge
Cubelets	2	Sensing & magnitude Data collection Engineering & design (problem solving) Light & motion Robotics Cubelet lesson plan resources
Wonder Dash & Tablet	1	Coordinate planes Number lines X & Y axis Robotics and basic programming Engineering and design/ problem solving Link to teacher resources
Wonder  Dot & Tablet	1	Coding Variables Problem solving Link to teacher resources
Ozbot (can use tablet but is not needed)	2	Robotics and basic programming Engineering and design Probability Measurement Problem solving Link to teacher resources Starter lessons

Forward Exam Information
As February approaches, we have begun to start preparations for the administration of another successful Forward Exam.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form.  At this time, please review the dates for your planning, and more information about groups and preparation will be communicated as we get closer.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Parent Club Opportunity
The PAD Parent Club has helped out elementary teachers by reimbursing expenses that were spent on items for their classroom.  They would like to spread this assistance to the Middle School teachers as well.  The club will reimburse up to $100, provided the following guidelines are met:

-purchase must be for the classroom

-receipt(s) must be provided by turning in to the PC mailbox with teacher name on it and attn. to Tami

-PC prefers to have all requests submitted by end of school year

-PC will then issue them a $100 check

Article of the Week
The infusion of more authentic learning and assessment activities is an area of utmost importance for each of our classrooms.  Facilitating these experiences for our students will lead to a deeper sense of engagement, and ultimately an increase in the skills and knowledge of our students.

6 Authentic Assessment Tools

Upcoming Meetings

Literacy Committee Mtg. - Tuesday (2/14) at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room
PMS Staff Mtg. - Wednesday (2/22) at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's Room

Duty Next Week
Morning - Hendrickson, Johnson
Bus - Frehner

The Middle Update 2/3/17

Another great week starts Monday.  As we head into the 3rd week of the quarter, we continue our daily focus on utilizing each minute with our students; providing them opportunities and feedback that guide them to knowledge and skill attainment that they never thought was possible.  The decisions that we make on a daily basis make a difference, and it is fun to be part of a collective group that strives to make the most out of each classroom minute as we work to be the best district in the state.

Budget Information
It is almost time to formally prepare next year's budget.  More details will be provided soon in terms of forms and deadlines...for right now, please be thinking about and planning for classroom materials that will drive student achievement in your classroom for next year.

Forward Exam Information
As February approaches, we have begun to start preparations for the administration of another successful Forward Exam.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form.  At this time, please review the dates for your planning, and more information about groups and preparation will be communicated as we get closer.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Master Schedule Adjustment
Starting on Monday, February 13, we'll be adding minutes to our school day, which will affect our daily schedule.  Please review the schedule below, noting new dismissal times for some classes and lunch.

PMS Master Schedule - beginning 2/13

Article (video) of the Week
Over the course of the past few school years, we have worked hard to plan and organize our classes using the backwards planning model.  This work will never be completely finished...as we work on planning our units, a focus on making authentic assessment opportunities a regular part of each class is critical for maximizing learning and engagement.  Check out the short video below to get a glimpse of how teachers implement and view authentic assessment opportunities.  We have many of these great practices happening in our building, and it is important that we continue to build these practices as a regular experience in all of our classes.

Upcoming Meetings
Puma Pride Committee - Monday (2/6) at 2:50 in Mr. Odden's room
Literacy Committee - Tuesday (2/7) at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' room

Congrats to Ms. Vian
Ms. Vian has been working on her hexagon inspired quilt for many months, and she found out it was recently accepted into the International Quilt Festival in Chicago.  Great job Bridget!

Duty Next Week
Morning - Hazard, Johnson
Bus - Filerman

Data

The Middle Update 1/27/17

We have great students in our building, and awesome people in place to guide each of them to achievement they never thought was possible.  That is a winning combination.  There is a lot going on to start 2017.

End of Quarter Grades
Thank you for your efforts in working to make our report cards even more dynamic with more specific information tailored to each student included.  2nd quarter grades will be due Monday (1/30) morning.  We will look to organize them and send them home Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning.  Let me know if there are adjustments to this timeline that would be helpful

Forward Exam Information
As February approaches, we have begun to start preparations for the administration of another successful Forward Exam.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates.  I wanted to send this notice so everyone is aware of the general time frame that we'll be looking at.  We'll follow a similar format as we did last year.  At this time, please review the dates for your planning, and more information about groups and preparation will be communicated as we get closer.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

STAR results correlate to Forward Exam?
Check out an interesting study completed recently that looked to see if there was a correlation between STAR testing scores and Forward Exam scores.  Check it out

Schedule Adjustments
Like Mr. Shappell mentioned in his email in regards to how the weather has affected our schedule, we will be adjusting our daily bell schedule to add more minutes.  The same times will be used for next year's school day.  Please make special notice of the different times for the dismissal of each class.  We have certain periods staggered for hallway traffic purposes and also to facilitate lunch flow.  The morning whistle will sound at 7:28 am and announcements will begin at 7:33 with students being dismissed at 2:45.  We will start this schedule on Monday, February 13.

PMS Master Schedule - beginning 2/13

Lockdown Wrap-Up
Thanks for your participating and preparation for our lock-down drill.  It is quite impressive that in a building of about 700 students, you can walk around as if no one is here.  This drill gives us an opportunity to review our safety plan and make necessary adjustments.

Upcoming Meetings
Applied Teacher Dept. Mtg. - Tuesday (1/31) at 2:50 in Mr. Lendobeja's room
Puma Pride Committee - Wednesday (2/6) at 2:50 in Mr. Odden's room
Literacy Committee - Tuesday (2/7) at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' room

Student of the Month Breakfast
The next Student of the Month Breakfast is on Thursday (2/2) morning at 7:00 am.  Congratulations to this month's recipients:

Haley Freimuth     Lucas Prince     Owen Bahr     Lindsiana Lambert     Clayton Nehls
                            Lily Walz     Manning Wheeler     Rheanen Zaring

Article of the Week
A great article of the art and science of teaching...The Flexible Teacher by Leila Christenbury
LINK

Duty Next Week
Morning - Gavin, Johnson
Bus - Williams

The Middle Update 1/20/17

We have had a lot of collaboration time together this week with our staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon and our PD Day on Friday.  This version of the blog will be a little shorter than normal, but filled with important upcoming dates and activities.

End of Quarter Grades
Thank you for your efforts in working to make our report cards even more dynamic with more specific information tailored to each student included.  2nd quarter grades will be due Monday (1/30) morning.  We will look to organize them and send them home Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning.

Article of the Week
As we work to refine our teaching practices, the intricate use of assessment is critical for us as we look to maximize student achievement and make the most out of every minute, both in the preparation for class, and during class.  This week's article provides solid ways to think about and use assessment in your classroom
THE BEST VALUE IN FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

2nd Semester Rosters
With the end of the semester comes some modifications to some schedules and class rosters.  Please take a moment to review your class roster/sections in Infinite Campus.  Also, the IE schedule/rosters had to be adjusted due to some of the changes.

January Drill
On Friday, 1/27 at 9:20, we will be conducting a Lock-Down Drill.  Details for procedures for a lock-down are below.
-Quickly survey and clear hallways and bathrooms of students
-Lock doors; turn off lights; open outside blinds
-Move away from glass & doors; silence cell phones
-Get on floor and/or under tables and spread students out
-Take attendance
-MAINTAIN SILENCE; Do not use radio, TV
-RELEASE NO ONE: Ignore bells.  No bathroom breaks
-DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE
-Non-assigned staff remain in place until notified
-Be prepared to remain in HOLD-LOCK SECURE for extended time.  Wait for assistance from law enforcement or "All Clear" signal

Upcoming Meetings
Puma Pride Committee - Wednesday (1/25) at 2:50 in Mr. Odden's room
Applied Teacher Dept. Mtg. - Tuesday (1/31) at 2:50 in Mr. Lendobeja's room
Literacy Committee - Tuesday (2/7) at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' room

Student of the Month Breakfast
The next Student of the Month Breakfast is on Thursday (2/2) morning at 7:00 am.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Frehner, Johnson
Bus - Vian

The Middle Update 1/13/17

One more week left in the 2nd quarter...that is hard to believe.  There is a lot going on, and it looks like warmer days ahead.  Read on for important dates and information about the months to come.

Staff Meeting Monday
We will be having a teaching staff meeting on Monday, January 16 at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's Room (#3).  2nd quarter report cards will be the topic.

PD Day Friday 1/20
The official schedule for Friday's PD Day will be sent soon by Mr. Shappell, however as a preview, our time will be broken down in the following manner:

8:00 - 10:00 - 6-12 Curriculum/backwards planning work

From 10:00 to 3:15 there will be some flexibility.  The following will need to be completed during our time on the 20th:
     -Puma Pride Grades
     -SLO/Targeted Assessment check-ins with Dr. Pritzl
               -These can be done by department (if similar SLO) or individually
               -Please sign-up for a time on this DOCUMENT before next Friday
     -Department Time
               -Next Targeted Assessment Planning/Log updating
               -Common Planning
               -Continuation of monthly department work
     -Classroom Time

3:15 - 3:30 - Final Group Share-Out - (Mr. Odden's Room)

2nd Semester Rosters
With the end of the semester comes some modifications to some schedules and class rosters.  Please take a moment to review your class roster/sections in Infinite Campus.  Also, the IE schedule/rosters had to be adjusted due to some of the changes.

Next Puma Pride Committee Mtg.
The next Puma Pride Committee Meeting will be on Wednesday (1/25) at 2:50 in Mr. Odden's Room.  We will review 2nd quarter Puma Pride results and review interventions from 1st quarter scores, and plan future interventions.  We will do our annual review our current standards, and discuss if there are any modifications recommended.

Next Literacy Committee Mtg.
The next Literacy Committee Meeting will be on Wednesday (2/7) at 2:50 in Mrs. Rogness' Room.  We will continue to plan the next round of book talks.

The Next Student of the Month Breakfast
The date for the next breakfast is Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 am.  Teams should communicate their nominees to the office by January 19th.  Mr. Hazard is up for the Applied team.

Instructional Resources
Guest blog post from Mrs. Morrissey regarding available resources in our IMC.

New Resources For The New Year

Danielson Domains 1a, 1b, and  4e

With the start of the new year, we also have several new teacher resource books that have been added to the IMC.    

	A Responsive Classroom book, The Power of Our Words shares how simple changes in teacher language can bring about significant changes within your students and classroom.  This book is a great resource also for specific examples and ideas that you can use right away within your classroom.
	Middle School Motivators has 22 interactive learning structures to ensure that all students stay fully engaged and collaborate successfully.  Each learning structure is clearly laid out and ready to be implemented into any classroom.
	80 Morning Meeting Ideas (k-2 and 3-6) are packed with greetings, sharings, group activities, and morning messages that you can use with your students to start the day off right.

All of these resources, as well as many others, can be found in our professional library at the 1-8 building.  This is located behind the IMC desk, if you haven’t had an opportunity to yet, go and take a look!

Winter "Get Active" Activity

Our traditional "End of Semester Celebration" will take on a different form this year. Next Thursday, 1/19, we will have a brief assembly at the end of the day featuring another Carelli Cup competition. Mr. Kallungi, Mrs. Serstad, and myself have been working on planning an event which will take place on Friday, 2/24. We are still hammering out the final details, but it will have a "Get Active" theme with all Middle School students participating in a field trip. More details to come...

Article of the Week
Check it Out...

Duty Next Week
Morning - Filerman, Johnson
Bus - Schoen

The Middle Update 1/6/17

A short week to begin 2017 is nearly in the books, and we look ahead to pushing through these next couple of cold months.  The next part of the school year is steady, with STAR testing coming up, the end of Quarter 2, mid-year SLO's, Forward Exam planning, it's a busy time.  Our daily focus on crisp, well scaffolded lessons leading to higher levels of achievement for all of our students, continues to help shape a culture that we, and our students, desire.

The end of Quarter 2 is near...
With 2 weeks remaining till the end of Quarter #2, I wanted to send a reminder about students that are struggling.  As we look at the students in our class, those that are still struggling (NE's, BE's) should be putting in time (after school, lunch, home) to ensure they are growing their skills/knowledge to his/her highest level.  Parents must be consulted to help us either get those students in after school, or help guide them to work at home.  There should not be any surprises on the report card.  If there are students of concern, please let me know.

End of 2nd Quarter Activity
On the afternoon of Thursday, 1/19, we will be having an Assembly.  More details and a schedule will be shared later, but we will plan to end the day as a whole group in the 1-8 Gym.  In the past, we have had a bigger End of Quarter 2 Celebration.  This year, we will look to do a similar activity in late February/early March.

Staff Meeting 1/16/17
We will be having a teaching staff meeting on Monday, 1/16/17.  We will be taking a closer look at our report cards, and working to enhance the communication.

Depths of Knowledge
I have shared this ARTICLE with some teachers earlier this week.  The article is from the Ed Leadership magazine and provides insight into specific types of classroom activities that can be done to facilitate our students to higher levels of knowledge.  Give it a read and let me know what you think.

STAR Tests
We will be administering the STAR Reading test in our ELA classes next Tuesday, 1/10.  The STAR Math test will be administered on Wednesday, 1/18.

The Next Student of the Month Breakfast
The date for the next breakfast is Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 am.  Teams should communicate their nominees to the office by January 19th.  Mr. Hazard is up for the Applied team.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  20h20 hours ago

Get your students talking with these straightforward, simply-worded questions: http://edut.to/2iaUhW7 

Duty Next Week
Morning - Williams, Johnson
Bus - Pittner

The Middle Update - Holiday Break Edition

As we come to the end of the 2016 portion of our school year, it's important to reflect on the start of our school year before we look ahead to the 2017 portion, and plan for how we will continue the upward trend in the knowledge and skill building of our students.  The blog post today will include some reflections and data from the start of our school year, looking ahead to the rest of the school year.

Reflection on our School Culture
Overall, it feels as though we have seen gains in establishing a culture for students that is learning and achievement focused.  Don't get me wrong, there are still improvements to be made in this area.  Growing a culture where every student wants to achieve, and works hard to achieve is a difficult task, and can only be accomplished by a consistent (daily, yearly) commitment by each member of our staff to instill this mindset in every word, action, and interaction with each student (especially those that challenge us the most).  We also need to take an innovative approach to targeting the areas that need it most.
Based on qualitative evidence, many pieces of anecdotal observational evidence seem better than in years past (clear hallways when they should be, students consistently engaged in classroom activities, classroom activities aligned to learning goals, regular student practice on rigorous tasks, very few lunch time incidents, etc.).  Also, some of the culture data that we track are also pointing to signs of improvement (see below).

Behavior Referrals -
14-15 - 158 Events, 55 Students
15-16 - 100 Events, 47 Students
16-17 - 52 Events, 28 Students

Tardy Data -
15-16 - 822 total instances
16-17 - 450 total instances

1st Quarter Puma Pride Data (% with ALL ME's)
15-16 - 73%
16-17 - 73.5%

Attendance Rates
14-15 - 95.28%
15-16 - 95.90%
16-17 - 95.51%

Like Marzano's (2003) research says "Schools can have a tremendous impact on student achievement if they follow the direction provided by the research." What we do every day, with every student matters, and the quality of our school and the school experiences that we facilitate for our students impacts the opportunities for their future. If we continue to work hard, seeking ways to improve upon the already strong practices that we have in place, our students will continue to benefit, not only in a positive school experience, but more importantly, by having more options for the direction they want to pursue when their time with us is complete. When I think about working in a school where at least 90% of our students are achieving both academically and behaviorally, meeting Puma Pride expectations, I get excited and inspired for this opportunity. I am thankful and appreciative to be on this journey with each of you.


End of Quarter 2
It is hard to believe, but we are less than 3 weeks away from the end of Quarter #2. The last day of the quarter is on Thursday, 1/19. Grades will be due by the end of business on Wednesday, 1/25.

Grades in Infinite Campus
I wanted to include a reminder that posted grades in Infinite Campus should reflect a student's current skills and knowledge within each standard. Please make sure to schedule in a time to review/update grades each week.

Staff Meeting - Thursday, January 12
I originally scheduled a staff meeting for Tuesday, 1/17, but due to a conflict need to reschedule this date. On Thursday, 1/12 at 2:50, we will meet in Mrs. Anderson's room (#3) focusing on utilizing the communication opportunity that our quarter report cards provide.

Grade Level Blogs
Our grade level blogs are a great way to communicate with parents about things happening in our classrooms. It also helps our parents to more effectively partner with us to help their children stay more organized. Many parents have commented on how much these little weekly blurbs are appreciated, as they receive an email when a post is published. See me if you need access to post about your classes.

Winter STAR Testing Dates are Set
Students will be taking the STAR test in their respective ELA and Math classes on the following dates:
Reading - Tuesday, 1/10
Math - Wednesday, 1/18

Next SOM Breakfast
The next Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, February 2nd.

Twitter Find of the Week
Technology brings a wealth of information that is accessible in a manner of seconds. Educating our students about how to evaluate the credibility of the variety of sources out there is crucial. Here is one professor's take on how to effectively do this with our students.

edutopia ‏@edutopia  4h4 hours ago

A 6-step strategy for evaluating websites as information sources: http://edut.to/2hsXnae . #digcit

Duty Next Week
Morning - Vian, Johnson
Bus - Odden

The Middle Update 12/16/16

With the winter weather coming our way today and tomorrow, please be safe out there!  I hope everyone gets the chance to enjoy a great weekend coming up, and are able to recharge for another solid week of teaching and learning right up until the end of the day next Thursday.  Check out below for the latest information.

Holiday Concert Monday!
Our Middle School musicians will be on display on Monday (12/19) evening.  The concert starts at 7:00pm in the 1-8 gym.  Hope to see you there!

School Board Meeting Monday Night
The next School Board Meeting is on Monday (12/19) evening starting at 6:00pm.  You can view the Middle School Board Report HERE.

Late Start Schedule
In the event that we would have a late start, we will follow this SCHEDULE.  Scroll down to Page 2 to view the Late Start Schedule.

Carelli Cup
Next Thursday afternoon, we will host the latest Carelli Cup Event.  We will plan on ending the day in the 1-8 Gym for the last event.  All students should be dismissed to the gym at 1:03pm, and the Free Throw event will start right away.  After the event, (1:15), students will be dismissed from the gym.

School Safety Post of the Week
I wanted to add a safety section to the blog so we can regularly review safety procedures that we have in place.  We can never predict when we'll need to use them, and it's important that everyone understands the different types of safety situations and the responses that we may utilize.  This post will feature the types of holds that we have in place.  More details about these procedures can be found in the orange safety pamphlet that should be under the phone in each classroom.

Hold - A regular hold is in place when no one should be in the hallways.  Class should resume normally, but no one should be released for any reason until an announcement has been given that ends the hold.

Administrative Hold - An administrative hold is in place when no one should enter or exit the building.  Everything inside the building functions normally, and adjustments will have to made to routines that normally require students to go to the high school for class or lunch.

Lock-Down - This is a situation where there could potentially be a dangerous person inside the building.  Staff should quickly survey the hallway, clearing students and bathrooms, shut off classroom lights, ensure doors are locked, and guide students to a spot that is not visible from the hallway.  Everyone in the room should remain quiet, and no one should exit the room until the lockdown is released.  Teachers should take attendance, and no one should call the office.

Shelter - This is typically for a weather situation (tornado) outside, and is where each grade should report to their designated areas.
8th-hallway between Odden and Lendobeja's room
7th-Band Room
6th-Elementary Music Room

Middle School Staff Time
All are welcome to enjoy some refreshments and an opportunity to get together prior to the holidays here at school on Wednesday (12/21) at 3:15 in Mrs. Anderson's Room (#3).

Twitter Post of the Week

Jerry Pritzl ‏@jerrypritzl  8m8 minutes ago

Two Poynette Middle Schoolers designing a part to print on the 3D printer to make their vehicle run more efficiently

0 replies0 retweets0 likes

 

 

 

 

Duty Next Week

Morning - Schoen, Johnson

Bus - Lendobeja

The Middle Update 12/9/16

It's mid-December already, and the winter weather appears ready to be a solid presence in our lives for the next few months.  As we move closer to winter break, I am continually impressed by the way our teachers value the precious instructional minutes that we have with our students.  As we get closer to an extended break in a week and a half, this structure and focus are critical to ending 2016 on a positive, learning-focused note with momentum building towards even higher achievement for all in 2017.

The Rogness Babies are Here!
Julie and Kyle successfully welcomed Blake (6lbs, 14oz, 19.5in) and Will (6lbs, 5oz, 20in) into the world yesterday and reports from Julie indicate that everything is going great.

November/December Update
Check out the update video HERE.  If you would like to be included in the next update, just let me know, and I'd be happy to involve as many people as we can.

Staff Meeting Wrap-Up
I left our staff meeting feeling really good about the collaboration that took place.  Thanks to the teachers who shared their experiences, and if anyone that didn't get to share, has built in successful strategies to facilitate higher level discussions, please let me know, and we'll continue to spread those great practices to others.

Literacy Committee Meeting Summary
The Literacy Committee met on Thursday afternoon, and discussed two agenda items.  The first was to finalize plans for putting up a bulletin board for each grade level highlighting the great books that our students are reading.  The second was to debrief about the first round of book talks, and discuss plans for a future event.  The committee felt that overall the books talks were successful in achieving our goal of promoting reading, and getting kids excited about reading certain titles, as we have waiting lists for many of the books that were shared!  There were a couple of kinks to work out, and we plan to run another round later in the school year.  If you have a book that you feel would be a hit, and are interested in sharing, please let me know.

Students of the Month
The next Student of the Month Breakfast will be next Thursday (12/15) at 7:00 am in the IMC.  Congratulations to this month's recipients:

Trinity Frey     Kaitlyn Priske     Garret Johnson     Morgan Wierzba     Braiden Krysiak
                  Maddie Morton          Peyton Horne          Emily Mankowski  

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopiaVerified account ‏@edutopia  8h8 hours ago

Fun ways to get your students talking to each other beyond the standard class discussion: http://edut.to/2h3Iag6 . #edchat

Duty Next Week
Morning - Pittner, Johnson
Bus - Hendrickson

Data
Tardy Data (through 2nd Friday in December)

15-16 - 747 total, 125 students with at least 1
16-17 - 395 total, 108 students with at least 1

The Middle Update 12/2/16

Another great week in a a great school is in the books!  Check out below for the latest news and information.

Puma Pride Committee Meeting Recap
The latest Puma Pride Committee meeting took place this past Thursday (12/1) after school.  You can check out the meeting agenda and notes HERE.

Staff Meeting Next Week
We will be having a staff meeting next Tuesday (12/6) in Mrs. Anderson's Room (rm. 3).  The meeting will focus on sharing the innovative ways that we have been using questioning and discussion techniques in our classrooms to increase the level of engagement and higher level thinking.

Middle School Holiday Concert
Our annual holiday concert that will feature our talented musicians will be on Monday, December 19 at 7:00 pm in the 1-8 Gym.  Mark your calendars and get ready to take in a great show!

Literacy Committee Meeting
The next Literacy Committee Meeting is Thursday, December 8th at 2:45 pm in Ms. Keller's room.  We will breakdown the last round of book talks, and plan for future activities.  Anyone is welcome to join and contribute!

Next Student of the Month Breakfast
The next Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, December 15.  Please send me your nominees by early next week.  Mr. Gavin is up for the Applied Academic teachers.

Early Release on Thursday 12/22
Looking ahead, we will follow the Early Release schedule for Thursday, 12/22.  Students will be dismissed at 1:15 on this day.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  14h14 hours ago

Strategies for helping students with "scattered minds" prioritize their work: http://edut.to/2fKX3UE .

Duty Next Week
Morning - Odden, Johnson
Bus - Hazard

Data
Attendance Rates (through first Friday in December)
16-17 - 95.95%
15-16 - 95.90%
14-15 - 95.27%

Behavior Referral Data (through first Friday in December)
16-17 - 47 Events, 26 Students
15-16 - 81 Events, 44 Students
14-15 - 145 Events, 52 Students