Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Middle Update 5/11/17

We are already halfway through May!  As it gets closer to the end of the school year, I cannot help but think of the summer slide that takes place each year as our students are out of school for three months.  While we cannot change the calendar, we can ensure that we create effective, lasting learning experiences right up until the last day for our students so the effects of the summer slide are minimal.
Article of the Week
Continuing the work from our staff meeting this past week, this week's article gives new insight into teaching roots throughout the content areas.

The Roots of Comprehension

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
We have two more events to determine the Carelli Cup champion.  The next event will be on Friday, 5/19.  The kids have spoken and the competition will be which grade can have the highest percentage of students wearing Wisconsin Sportswear.  The final event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is heading up the planning for a memorable final event for the 16-17 school year.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

Need Help - MS Track Meet on Tuesday
Looks like we need a couple of workers yet for the final home Middle School Track Meet.  Please review and sign-up on this Document if you can spare some time to cheer our kids on and enjoy some nice weather.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Barn Date- End of the Year Gathering
We have confirmed that we are going to have our annual gathering at the "Barn" on Thursday, June 1 starting at around 3:30 p.m.  Dinner will be at 4:45 p.m. and the presentation to follow.  This is our attempt at having a good time recognizing staff for the school year.  If you would like to be a presenter please contact me.  All staff in the district are invited to attend.  The administration will provide the meat and others can bring a dish to pass.  More information will be forthcoming.

Graduation
All teaching staff are invited to walk in the graduation ceremony.  The ceremony will be on Sunday, June 4th.  The staff will be able to wear robes and hoods again this year.  If you have your own, please wear it, otherwise one will be provided.  Please contact Dr. Hoernke or Mrs. Rylander if you have any questions.

Sign up on this Document

New Pritzl
I am bad at sharing news about myself, but thought I'd share that my wife and I are expecting a new baby girl in mid-August.

Upcoming Dates
May 15th - School Board Meeting - 7:00 - PHS IMC
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 17th - Science Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - "Wisconsin Sports Team" dress up day Carelli Cup competition
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 24th - ELA Department Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Gavin
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Friday, May 5, 2017

The Middle Update 5/5/17

Article of the Week
Personalized learning has been a topic of discussion as we look at authentic assessments, curriculum, and "distinguished" characteristics on the domains in Danielson's rubrics.  The article this week provides some more information about making learning more personal in the classrooms.

The Power of Personalized Learning for School Improvement
Carelli Cup Home Stretch
The final event schedule has been adjusted slightly. The last event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam Information
We are finished!  Thanks to all for your flexibility in creating the environment for our students to do their best!

Barn Date- End of the Year Gathering
We have confirmed that we are going to have our annual gathering at the "Barn" on Thursday, June 1 starting at around 3:30 p.m.  Dinner will be at 4:45 p.m. and the presentation to follow.  This is our attempt at having a good time recognizing staff for the school year.  If you would like to be a presenter please contact me.  All staff in the district are invited to attend.  The administration will provide the meat and others can bring a dish to pass.  More information will be forthcoming.

Graduation
All teaching staff are invited to walk in the graduation ceremony.  The ceremony will be on Sunday, June 4th.  The staff will be able to wear robes and hoods again this year.  If you have your own, please wear it, otherwise one will be provided.  Please contact Dr. Hoernke or Mrs. Rylander if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates
May 5th - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 15th - School Board Meeting - 7:00 - PHS IMC
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 17th - Science Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 24th - ELA Department Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Frehner

 Image of the Week

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Friday, April 28, 2017

The Middle Update 4/28/17


Puma Pride Committee Meeting
At our monthly meeting this past week, we discussed a couple of different topics:
-Assignment Notebooks
-Hall Pass Procedures
-Puma Pride Rubric Revisions

 We discussed and planned for some potential adjustments to the way we do things in these areas.  The committee members should be seeking feedback from their respective departments.  Proposals will be shared at our staff meeting on 5/10/17.

 Article of the Week
The article this week centers around practical habits to ensure rigor in the classroom.

22 Ways to Add Rigor to Your Classroom

4th Quarter Grades
As a reminder, student progress grades should be posted for 4th quarter.  We'll send a note on Monday to parents that mid-quarter grades can be viewed in Infinite Campus.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final recognition breakfast will be on Thursday, May 4th.  Congratulations to this month's recipients!

Deven Ripp - Ella Wentz - Dylan Elsing - Elexus LaRoche
Savannah Burgess - Ella Kellett - Adam Hehl -  Savannah Hubbard     

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
The final event schedule has been adjusted slightly. The last event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam InformationWith only a couple of students that need to participate in make-up sessions, we are almost complete with our annual state testing requirement.  Thank you for your flexibility in helping to make the sessions as seamless as possible.

Upcoming Dates
May 3rd - Math Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
May 3rd - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Filerman
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Saturday, April 22, 2017

The Middle Update 4/22/17

I hope everyone gets the chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.  Weeks are flying by, and our focus remains the same...using each and every minute of class time to maximize the achievement of each of our students.

Article of the Week
An article highlighting the rationale and practical execution strategies for one of our guiding principles: schools should make every effort to convey the message that class time is sacred time...and being efficient and effective will accelerate our student's achievement.

Time-On-Task

4th Quarter Grades
We are already three weeks into the 4th quarter, which means it's almost time to post current achievment grades for the standards in your class.  Grades should be posted no later than the end of next week (4/28).  We'll send the "grades posted" notice to parents next Friday.  Please be proactive in communicating with parents of students who may not be performing up to their potential, with plans in place to hold the kids accountable.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final recognition breakfast will be on Thursday, May 4th.  Congratulations to this month's recipients!

Deven Ripp - Ella Wentz - Dylan Elsing - Elexus LaRoche
Savannah Burgess - Ella Kellett - Adam Hehl -  Savannah Hubbard     

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
We are nearing the home stretch in the race for the Carelli Cup.  One of the last events will take place on Thursday, 5/18, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will have a more formal Carelli Cup Trophy presentation near the end of the school year.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam Information
The 7th and 8th graders have completed their Forward Exam testing sessions.  The 6th graders will begin testing on Tuesday, 4/25.  The state testing season is almost done!  Thank you for your flexibility and efficiency in ensuring a successful testing environment and experience for our kids.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Wrap-Up
The tornado drill that was conducted this past week was the most tornado drill that I have witnessed in our school.  Thank you for sharing the expectations with your students proactively, and for your work in creating the culture where our students execute those expectations.  Very nice!

Upcoming Dates
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - Home Track Meet
April 26th - Puma Pride Committee Meeting - 2:50 - Mr. Odden's Room
May 3rd - Math Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
May 3rd - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's RoomMay 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Williams
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Monday, April 10, 2017

The Middle Update - Spring Break Edition

I hope all of you are enjoying your Spring Break!  Please take time to charge your battery for a strong stretch run.  I am enjoying my break as well, but also looking forward to our time together next week!  Enjoy your break.

Article of the Week
An article by a middle school teacher for a middle school teacher with some solid insights into flexible seating.

 Flexible Seating in Middle School

End of the School Year Preparation
When return from Spring Break, we will find ourselves already two weeks into the 4th quarter.  That means that remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

 Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders have completed their Forward Exam testing sessions.  The 7th graders will begin testing on Tuesday, 4/18.  For 7th Grade IE on Monday, students will be meeting in Homeroom groups.  6th graders will begin on 4/25, and running their Test Prep Homeroom on Friday (4/21).

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Next Week
We will have a tornado drill on Thursday, April 20th with the Tornado Watch starting at 1:00, and the Tornado Warning going into effect at 1:45.  It will correlate with the state's tornado drill.  Please review the tornado drill procedures, and note the locations below.

-6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

 A Request from the IMC
A reminder to our MS Staff:  If you're allowing MS students to have a candy treat, please ask them NOT to eat it in the IMC.  Our wonderful custodian, Kristin, has been scraping candy out of the IMC carpet and picking up more & more wrappers every day.  We sincerely appreciate your support!  We try to keep the IMC a great place to collaborate for our students & we expect them to take responsibility in order to keep the area clean for all.

 Upcoming Dates
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 17th - Science Dept. Mtg - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
April 18th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 20th - StatewideTornado Drill - 1:00 pm
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Vian
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Saturday, April 1, 2017

The Middle Update 3/31/17

After a hard fought victory by the staff team over the students Thursday night, we turn our attention to finishing a strong week of teaching and learning right up until the final minute before Spring Break.  Our 8th graders had a successful start to the Forward Exam season, and our classroom practices continue to be strong, maximizing the instructional time with students.

Quarter 3 Grades
3rd Quarter grades will be due by next Monday (4/3) morning.  On Monday, we'll print report cards and get them ready to mail out.  As a reminder, please use the comments field to provide feedback about student performance.

Staff Meeting Wrap-Up
Thank you for a solid staff meeting this past Wednesday.  Hearing from each other about the innovative practices that are happening was energizing to me, and I hope to you as well.  As you plan, keep in mind the culture of innovation we are striving for, and the skills we need our students to practice, receive feedback from, and grow.

Also, I appreciated your feedback on a couple of key school culture issues.  Your input will guide the work we do to shore up some of the areas that are in need.

Article of the Week
The title of the article this week is about Cultural Awareness, but the 6 tips given also provide insight into how we can maintain safe place for students, not only with cultural differences, but also other differences like socioeconomic status.  A short, solid read.

ARTICLE

Chrome book Care
The number of chrome books from our carts that have been damaged by students has been increasing steadily.  We are mainly having issues with the keys being moved.  A check-in procedure is necessary to ensure that students are not damaging the chrome books.  We need all of us working together to help maintain these essential resources.

Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders kicked off our Forward Exam testing season this past Thursday!  So far, things are going smoothly.  As a reminder, in a homeroom before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Next Week
A tornado drill is coming...time and day details will be shared ahead of time.

 -6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

MS Track Meet workers are almost set...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  The slots are filling up, but it looks like we still need a couple of workers.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks to all who have signed up so far.

 Upcoming Dates
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 4th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
April 5th - Social Studies Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
April 5th - Math Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 17th - Science Dept. Mtg - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Schoen

Images from the Week
 
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Friday, March 24, 2017

The Middle Update 3/24/17

The end of the 3rd Quarter is here...it's hard to believe that Quarter 4 starts on Monday.  It was another great week at our school, with an awesome performance by our Band students last night to put an exclamation point on the hard-working talent that we have in this building.  Starting this week, our students will have the chance to show off their skills on the Forward Exam.  It's been a busy time with the end of the quarter, budgets due, and Forward Testing preparation, but through it all we have kept a focus on facilitating solid learning experiences for our students.

End of Quarter 3 Information
Today marks the end of Quarter #3.  Grades will be due by next Monday (4/3) morning.  On Monday, we'll print report cards and get them ready to mail out.  As a reminder, students that have an NE in any standard in a course should have parents called along with discussions with students...there should not be any surprises for a parent or student on a report card.

Article of the Week
School culture is the topic for this week's article.  As you read, think about the facets of our school culture that are good, and could be improved upon.  

ARTICLE

Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders kick off our Forward Exam testing season on Thursday!  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Staff Meeting this Week Wednesday (3/29)
We will be meeting as a Middle School staff on Wednesday at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's room.  We will be taking some time to analyze our climate and culture as we keep an eye on continuing to improve our the experience for our students.

 Tornado Drill Next Week
Some time next week we will be having a tornado drill.  I will communicate the date and time once we finalize the plan.  During April, we will be participating in the statewide tornado drill as well.  Please note the tornado shelter locations per grade.
-6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  It would be really awesome if we could get a solid Middle School contingency of staff members out there to work the event and support our students.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Looks like we still need some help with the long jump and the high jump.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Amazon News (Mrs. Puntney shared in an e-mail last week)
Hello Teachers & Staff,
We are pleased to announce that you may now make Amazon purchases on a "tax exempt" school account via the Skyward requisitioning system, "Ecommerce". The steps are very similar to what you follow when doing a PO for Office Depot, Staples, School Specialty E-commerce vendors.  
A google document (see below) has been shared with Middle School, High School, and Special Ed staff.  

 As with anything new, there could be some small kinks to work out so please call me if you can't resolve an issue.
We hope that you find this streamlined process much easier to use than checking out a credit card.  

Upcoming Dates
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting (Culture & Climate) - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
March 30th - Hoops 4 Heart Basketball Game - 5:30April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Pittner

 Data








Images from the Week
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Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Middle Update 3/19/17

Happy Sunday to all of you.  As I type this blog post, I still have that feeling of excitement following the Badgers big victory over Villanova.  The Badgers have helped make this time of year pretty exciting during the past 4 years.  I'm hoping they continue to display their toughness and grittiness for a run through the tournament that will take us to Spring Break.  It was another solid week of teaching and learning with many things to look forward to in the weeks ahead.


Article of the Week
This week's featured article is a classic assessment article from Dr. Tom Guskey.  It is short and to the point providing tips about getting the most out of our classroom assessment practices to improve student learning.

ARTICLE

Puma Pride Committee Meeting
Our Puma Pride Committee met this past Wednesday.  Our focus has been on taking a closer look at the components of our school that make up our culture.  We had a brainstorming session that focused on creating a "must-do" resource to help ensure consistency in the classroom practices that matter most for both student achievement and school culture.  We will be sharing our work at our upcoming staff meeting.

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  It would be really awesome if we could get a solid Middle School contingency of staff members out there to work the event and support our students.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks in advance for your help.

School Board Meeting Monday (3/20)
March's meeting is set for Monday night at 7:00.  Click HERE to review the Middle School Board Report.

Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  Below is a link to the testing schedule.  All test proctors will be on Thursday, March 23 at 2:50 pm in Mr. Filerman's room to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Amazon News (Mrs. Puntney shared in an e-mail as well this week)

Hello Teachers & Staff,

We are pleased to announce that you may now make Amazon purchases on a "tax exempt" school account via the Skyward requisitioning system, "Ecommerce". The steps are very similar to what you follow when doing a PO for Office Depot, Staples, School Specialty E-commerce vendors.  

A google document (see below) has been shared with Middle School, High School, and Special Ed staff.  


As with anything new, there could be some small kinks to work out so please call me if you can't resolve an issue.

We hope that you find this streamlined process much easier to use than checking out a credit card.  

Upcoming DatesMarch 20th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 (Rogness' Room)
March 23rd - Forward Exam Proctor Training Mtg. - 2:50 (Filerman's Room)
March 23rd - Band Clinic and Concert - 7:00 pm (1-8 Gym) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Vian, Johnson
Bus - Odden

 Images from the Week
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Sunday, March 12, 2017

The Middle Update 3/10/17

It's mid-March and it seems like we are plowing right through this school year.  With two weeks left to go in the 3rd quarter and Forward Testing right around the corner, it is a busy, but great time of year.  We continue to put student learning at the forefront of our actions, words, and planning.  Fostering a growth mindset with all of our students puts us in a position to move students further than they even thought possible.

Educator Effectiveness/SLO/PPG
As we hit mid-March, we will be using our bi-weekly meeting times to review progress on our SLOs and PPGs, as well as work through the domains using Danielson's Framework for those of you on a Summary Year.  I enjoy these opportunities to get into the art and science of teaching and working together as we all strive to refine our craft each and every day.

Article of the Week
Speaking of refining our craft each and every day, the article of the week gives some insight into how we, as educators, can do this effectively.  As a leader, I want to encourage each of you to pursue innovation, new ideas that have the potential to have a big impact on student learning, engagement, and their overall experience.  The short article is a great short read.

ARTICLE

 Rescheduled Assembly
As a reminder we will have an Assembly on Friday, 3/17.  We'll plan to dismiss students at 2:30.  We will have the much anticipated scooter races, and also use that time to pump up the kids for the Forward Exam.  Any ideas from staff are welcome.

 Budget Time
Our weekly reminder about next year's budget process. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

 Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  Below is a link to the testing schedule.  All test proctors will be on Thursday, March 23 at 2:50 pm in Mr. Filerman's room to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Upcoming Dates
March 14th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 15th - Puma Pride Committe Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Odden's Room)
March 17th - MS Assembly - 2:30 pm (1-8 Gym)
March 23rd - Band Clinic and Concert - 7:00 pm (1-8 Gym) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Schoen, Johnson
Bus - Lendobeja
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Friday, March 3, 2017

The Middle Update 3/3/17

As we end this sunny Friday in March, we find ourselves 3 weeks away from the end of the 3rd quarter.  There is a lot going on...budget time, Forward Exam prep, 7th grade connections conferences...on and on.  The level of solid engagement that I get to see in every classroom throughout the building is really enjoyable.

A prospective new student and parent visited us this week, and as I walked them around and took them into some classrooms, they were amazed at the culture of learning they were experiencing.  Students reading, having meaningful discussions in groups, practicing problems outlined by the teachers...it was quite the difference from the school they were coming from.  They wanted to move the prospective start date up up to get into this environment as soon as possible.  It was a pretty cool perspective.  We have a great school here...great kids and great adults.

Article of the Week
Authentic engagement is key to the success of every lesson or activity which will lead to maximum student learning.  Constant reflection on the level of student engagement is necessary for the continuous improvement that we all seek.  The article of the week this week gives explanation on 4 key elements that develop this authentic engagement in the classroom.

Student Engagement: Key to Personalized Learning

Administrative Hold Revisited
This past Tuesday, we had an Administrative Hold drill.  An Administrative Hold is put into effect if there is something going on outside.  While no one is permitted to enter or exit the building, all activities within the building go on as normal.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thanks to all for your efforts to get as many parents in as possible last night to build the partnership with our parents.  Next Thursday (4:00 - 7:30), we'll run an Open House type format inviting parents in to visit with any of their child's teachers.  Feel free to invite any parent in for any student.  As a reminder our Parents' Club will be providing a pizza feast for us next Thursday.

Rescheduled Assembly
With last week's snow day, the plans for the assembly will have to be adjusted.  We will reschedule the Assembly for Friday, 3/17.  We will have the much anticipated scooter races, and also use that time to pump up the kids for the Forward Exam.  Any ideas from staff are welcome.

Elementary Science Night
Ms. Pittner has led the charge to bring a Science night to our school on March 10th.  Some of our middle school students will be on hand to help out as well. Check out theFLYER for more information.

Budget Time
Our weekly reminder about next year's budget process. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form, but beginning to take shape.  All test proctors will be meeting soon to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Upcoming Dates
March 6th - Social Studies Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Kallungi's Room)
March 7th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 7th - 6-12 Choir Concert - 7:00 pm (Aux. Gym)
March 9th - Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:00 am
March 9th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30 pm
March 10th - 7th Grade to Village Hall to view Tom Sawyer - 12:45 - 2:45
March 14th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 15th - Puma Pride Committe Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Odden's Room) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Pittner, Johnson
Bus - Hendrickson

 Data
Behavior Referral Data (through 1st Friday in March)
16-17 - 96 Events 43 Students
15-16 - 165 Events 64 Students
14-15 - 210 Events 65 Students
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Sunday, February 26, 2017

The Middle Update 2/26/17

Below you'll find an information packed edition of The Middle Update...Friday's snow/ice day hopefully provided both students and staff an opportunity to recharge the battery and prepare for a huge stretch run through March and into Spring Break.  Despite the many things going on, our focus on planning and executing airtight engaging lessons remains at the forefront. I look forward to getting the most out of each day with all of you!

February Update Video
Check out this month's update VIDEO!  Thanks to the volunteers for participating, and if anyone really wants to get in one of the videos, just let me know!

Staff Meeting Wrap-Up
I enjoyed the discussion at our staff meeting this past Wednesday and look forward to continuing the conversation of how we can continually improve what we do to prepare our students for the evolving world of work.  The findings from the Forbes studies that we reviewed should remain in the forefront of our minds as we plan our units and daily activities.

Thoughts from the Educational Sources
"Content is free.  Our focus for our students needs to building competencies over content."  -Myron Dueck (at AWSA Principal's Convention 2/17)

"You can lead a student to water, but you can't make him drink. However, you can make him so thirsty that he can't help but take a sip." -found on Twitter review

 Article of the Week
After meeting and listening to Myron Dueck's keynote address earlier this month, I find myself drawn to his work.  This week's article provides highlights some of the assessment practices that we do really well, but also provides some guidance in areas like projects and feedback.  A solid short read.

Aha Moments on the Way to Better Teaching - Dueck

7th Graders will Have Homeroom this Tuesday 2/28
The 7th Graders were supposed to complete necessary work in their Career Cruising accounts that must be completed before Thursday's conferences, so we will have them report to their Homeroom groups during IE on Tuesday.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Starting this week, we have another opportunity to meet with parents/ guardians to discuss our students' achievement and growth.  We'll be assembling items for student folders this week.  I'll be seeking team input for the items that we'll include.  I'll stop by team meetings on Tuesday to finalize our plan.  Mrs. Graeve and the Junior Class will be offering food on Thursday, March 2nd.  The following week, our Parents' Club will be providing a pizza feast for us.

 Elementary Science Night
Ms. Pittner has led the charge to bring a Science night to our school on March 10th.  Some of our middle school students will be on hand to help out as well. Check out the FLYER for more information.

 Budget Time
Earlier this week I shared the budget process informational packet. I have been able to address many questions about the process since then. If you have some questions, keep them coming. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. This is a district deadline for all staff. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

 Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form, but beginning to take shape.  All test proctors will be meeting soon to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Upcoming Dates
March 2nd - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 8:00 pm
March 9th - Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:00 am
March 9th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30 pm
March 10th - 7th Grade to Village Hall to view Tom Sawyer - 12:45 - 2:45
March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - 3:30 pm
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Odden, Johnson
Bus - Hazard
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Friday, February 17, 2017

The Middle Update 2/17/17

What a beautiful day to end the week on.  I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy the nice weather of the weekend.  I am excited about some of the awesome things that are in the works as we all continue to work and plan to make this school and our kids top notch contributors to our community.

Staff Meeting next Wednesday 2/22
We will be having a middle school staff meeting on Wednesday, 2/22 at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's room.  At this meeting, we will be taking a closer look at skills that employees seek in today's world, and begin the conversations for how we can adjust what we do to prepare our students, including possible inclusion of some new technology that we have in our IMC.  We may also have a guest appearance from our local EMS as part of our ongoing safety efforts.

 Carelli Cup Event next Friday at 2:30
Next Friday at 2:30, we will have the next Carelli Cup event.  It will be a scooter race competition between representatives from each grade.  We are looking for a staff team of 3 males and 3 females to volunteer to demonstrate the race for the kids.  We will also use this time to continue our work on ingraining a culture of high expectations and achievement for our students.

 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.

 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
Upcoming Meetings
PMS Staff Mtg. - Wednesday (2/22) at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's Room

Article of the Week
Assessment practices are so critical for designing thorough, effective lessons to engage our students.  This ARTICLE highlights both formative and summative practices that are effective at providing accurate, timely feedback and boosting student achievement.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Lendobeja, Johnson
Bus - Gavin

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The Middle Update 5/11/17

We are already halfway through May!  As it gets closer to the end of the school year, I cannot help but think of the summer slide that takes place each year as our students are out of school for three months.  While we cannot change the calendar, we can ensure that we create effective, lasting learning experiences right up until the last day for our students so the effects of the summer slide are minimal.
Article of the Week
Continuing the work from our staff meeting this past week, this week's article gives new insight into teaching roots throughout the content areas.

The Roots of Comprehension

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
We have two more events to determine the Carelli Cup champion.  The next event will be on Friday, 5/19.  The kids have spoken and the competition will be which grade can have the highest percentage of students wearing Wisconsin Sportswear.  The final event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is heading up the planning for a memorable final event for the 16-17 school year.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

Need Help - MS Track Meet on Tuesday
Looks like we need a couple of workers yet for the final home Middle School Track Meet.  Please review and sign-up on this Document if you can spare some time to cheer our kids on and enjoy some nice weather.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Barn Date- End of the Year Gathering
We have confirmed that we are going to have our annual gathering at the "Barn" on Thursday, June 1 starting at around 3:30 p.m.  Dinner will be at 4:45 p.m. and the presentation to follow.  This is our attempt at having a good time recognizing staff for the school year.  If you would like to be a presenter please contact me.  All staff in the district are invited to attend.  The administration will provide the meat and others can bring a dish to pass.  More information will be forthcoming.

Graduation
All teaching staff are invited to walk in the graduation ceremony.  The ceremony will be on Sunday, June 4th.  The staff will be able to wear robes and hoods again this year.  If you have your own, please wear it, otherwise one will be provided.  Please contact Dr. Hoernke or Mrs. Rylander if you have any questions.

Sign up on this Document

New Pritzl
I am bad at sharing news about myself, but thought I'd share that my wife and I are expecting a new baby girl in mid-August.

Upcoming Dates
May 15th - School Board Meeting - 7:00 - PHS IMC
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 17th - Science Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - "Wisconsin Sports Team" dress up day Carelli Cup competition
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 24th - ELA Department Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Gavin

The Middle Update 5/5/17

Article of the Week
Personalized learning has been a topic of discussion as we look at authentic assessments, curriculum, and "distinguished" characteristics on the domains in Danielson's rubrics.  The article this week provides some more information about making learning more personal in the classrooms.

The Power of Personalized Learning for School Improvement
Carelli Cup Home Stretch
The final event schedule has been adjusted slightly. The last event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam Information
We are finished!  Thanks to all for your flexibility in creating the environment for our students to do their best!

Barn Date- End of the Year Gathering
We have confirmed that we are going to have our annual gathering at the "Barn" on Thursday, June 1 starting at around 3:30 p.m.  Dinner will be at 4:45 p.m. and the presentation to follow.  This is our attempt at having a good time recognizing staff for the school year.  If you would like to be a presenter please contact me.  All staff in the district are invited to attend.  The administration will provide the meat and others can bring a dish to pass.  More information will be forthcoming.

Graduation
All teaching staff are invited to walk in the graduation ceremony.  The ceremony will be on Sunday, June 4th.  The staff will be able to wear robes and hoods again this year.  If you have your own, please wear it, otherwise one will be provided.  Please contact Dr. Hoernke or Mrs. Rylander if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates
May 5th - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 15th - School Board Meeting - 7:00 - PHS IMC
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 17th - Science Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 24th - ELA Department Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Frehner

 Image of the Week

The Middle Update 4/28/17


Puma Pride Committee Meeting
At our monthly meeting this past week, we discussed a couple of different topics:
-Assignment Notebooks
-Hall Pass Procedures
-Puma Pride Rubric Revisions

 We discussed and planned for some potential adjustments to the way we do things in these areas.  The committee members should be seeking feedback from their respective departments.  Proposals will be shared at our staff meeting on 5/10/17.

 Article of the Week
The article this week centers around practical habits to ensure rigor in the classroom.

22 Ways to Add Rigor to Your Classroom

4th Quarter Grades
As a reminder, student progress grades should be posted for 4th quarter.  We'll send a note on Monday to parents that mid-quarter grades can be viewed in Infinite Campus.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final recognition breakfast will be on Thursday, May 4th.  Congratulations to this month's recipients!

Deven Ripp - Ella Wentz - Dylan Elsing - Elexus LaRoche
Savannah Burgess - Ella Kellett - Adam Hehl -  Savannah Hubbard     

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
The final event schedule has been adjusted slightly. The last event will take place on Friday, 5/26, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will present the Carelli Cup to the winning grade after the final event on 5/26.  The winning grade will also receive an ice cream party sponsored by the Parent's Club.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam InformationWith only a couple of students that need to participate in make-up sessions, we are almost complete with our annual state testing requirement.  Thank you for your flexibility in helping to make the sessions as seamless as possible.

Upcoming Dates
May 3rd - Math Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
May 3rd - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 18th - MS Spring Concert - 7:00 - 1-8 Gym
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 26th - Final Carelli Cup Event/Trophy Presentation - 2:25 pm
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Filerman

The Middle Update 4/22/17

I hope everyone gets the chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.  Weeks are flying by, and our focus remains the same...using each and every minute of class time to maximize the achievement of each of our students.

Article of the Week
An article highlighting the rationale and practical execution strategies for one of our guiding principles: schools should make every effort to convey the message that class time is sacred time...and being efficient and effective will accelerate our student's achievement.

Time-On-Task

4th Quarter Grades
We are already three weeks into the 4th quarter, which means it's almost time to post current achievment grades for the standards in your class.  Grades should be posted no later than the end of next week (4/28).  We'll send the "grades posted" notice to parents next Friday.  Please be proactive in communicating with parents of students who may not be performing up to their potential, with plans in place to hold the kids accountable.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final recognition breakfast will be on Thursday, May 4th.  Congratulations to this month's recipients!

Deven Ripp - Ella Wentz - Dylan Elsing - Elexus LaRoche
Savannah Burgess - Ella Kellett - Adam Hehl -  Savannah Hubbard     

Carelli Cup Home Stretch
We are nearing the home stretch in the race for the Carelli Cup.  One of the last events will take place on Thursday, 5/18, with students being released at 2:25 to the 1-8 Gym.  Mrs. Serstad is planning the event.  Feedback or suggestions to make our time together with the kids in the gym fun and memorable is always welcome.  We will have a more formal Carelli Cup Trophy presentation near the end of the school year.

End of the School Year Preparation
The remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

Forward Exam Information
The 7th and 8th graders have completed their Forward Exam testing sessions.  The 6th graders will begin testing on Tuesday, 4/25.  The state testing season is almost done!  Thank you for your flexibility and efficiency in ensuring a successful testing environment and experience for our kids.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Wrap-Up
The tornado drill that was conducted this past week was the most tornado drill that I have witnessed in our school.  Thank you for sharing the expectations with your students proactively, and for your work in creating the culture where our students execute those expectations.  Very nice!

Upcoming Dates
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - Home Track Meet
April 26th - Puma Pride Committee Meeting - 2:50 - Mr. Odden's Room
May 3rd - Math Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
May 3rd - Social Studies Department Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's RoomMay 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room
May 16th - Home Track Meet
May 19th - Color Run -sponsored by PAD Parent Club
May 24th - Middle School Play Performance - 1:55 pm - 1-8 Gym
May 25th - Middle School Play Performance for the Public - 6:00 pm - 1-8 Gym
June 6th - 8th Graders Last Day/Field Trip/Dance
June 7th - Last Day - Early Release for all students at 12:30

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Williams

The Middle Update - Spring Break Edition

I hope all of you are enjoying your Spring Break!  Please take time to charge your battery for a strong stretch run.  I am enjoying my break as well, but also looking forward to our time together next week!  Enjoy your break.

Article of the Week
An article by a middle school teacher for a middle school teacher with some solid insights into flexible seating.

 Flexible Seating in Middle School

End of the School Year Preparation
When return from Spring Break, we will find ourselves already two weeks into the 4th quarter.  That means that remaining weeks of school will seem to go very fast.  As we plan for the end of the school year, a reminder that our guiding principles (each minute of class time is crucial for guiding students forward) hold true right up until the last minute of class on the last day of school.  We treat the last day/week of school as if it was any other.  We will run this Early Release Schedule on the last day of school with normal classes taking place.

 Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders have completed their Forward Exam testing sessions.  The 7th graders will begin testing on Tuesday, 4/18.  For 7th Grade IE on Monday, students will be meeting in Homeroom groups.  6th graders will begin on 4/25, and running their Test Prep Homeroom on Friday (4/21).

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Next Week
We will have a tornado drill on Thursday, April 20th with the Tornado Watch starting at 1:00, and the Tornado Warning going into effect at 1:45.  It will correlate with the state's tornado drill.  Please review the tornado drill procedures, and note the locations below.

-6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

 A Request from the IMC
A reminder to our MS Staff:  If you're allowing MS students to have a candy treat, please ask them NOT to eat it in the IMC.  Our wonderful custodian, Kristin, has been scraping candy out of the IMC carpet and picking up more & more wrappers every day.  We sincerely appreciate your support!  We try to keep the IMC a great place to collaborate for our students & we expect them to take responsibility in order to keep the area clean for all.

 Upcoming Dates
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 17th - Science Dept. Mtg - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
April 18th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 20th - StatewideTornado Drill - 1:00 pm
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam
May 10th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - Mrs. Anderson's Room

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Vian

The Middle Update 3/31/17

After a hard fought victory by the staff team over the students Thursday night, we turn our attention to finishing a strong week of teaching and learning right up until the final minute before Spring Break.  Our 8th graders had a successful start to the Forward Exam season, and our classroom practices continue to be strong, maximizing the instructional time with students.

Quarter 3 Grades
3rd Quarter grades will be due by next Monday (4/3) morning.  On Monday, we'll print report cards and get them ready to mail out.  As a reminder, please use the comments field to provide feedback about student performance.

Staff Meeting Wrap-Up
Thank you for a solid staff meeting this past Wednesday.  Hearing from each other about the innovative practices that are happening was energizing to me, and I hope to you as well.  As you plan, keep in mind the culture of innovation we are striving for, and the skills we need our students to practice, receive feedback from, and grow.

Also, I appreciated your feedback on a couple of key school culture issues.  Your input will guide the work we do to shore up some of the areas that are in need.

Article of the Week
The title of the article this week is about Cultural Awareness, but the 6 tips given also provide insight into how we can maintain safe place for students, not only with cultural differences, but also other differences like socioeconomic status.  A short, solid read.

ARTICLE

Chrome book Care
The number of chrome books from our carts that have been damaged by students has been increasing steadily.  We are mainly having issues with the keys being moved.  A check-in procedure is necessary to ensure that students are not damaging the chrome books.  We need all of us working together to help maintain these essential resources.

Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders kicked off our Forward Exam testing season this past Thursday!  So far, things are going smoothly.  As a reminder, in a homeroom before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Tornado Drill Next Week
A tornado drill is coming...time and day details will be shared ahead of time.

 -6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

MS Track Meet workers are almost set...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  The slots are filling up, but it looks like we still need a couple of workers.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks to all who have signed up so far.

 Upcoming Dates
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 4th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Rogness' Room
April 5th - Social Studies Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mr. Kallungi's Room
April 5th - Math Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 - Mrs. Hendrickson's Room
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 17th - Science Dept. Mtg - 2:50 - Ms. Schoen's Room
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Schoen

Images from the Week
 

The Middle Update 3/24/17

The end of the 3rd Quarter is here...it's hard to believe that Quarter 4 starts on Monday.  It was another great week at our school, with an awesome performance by our Band students last night to put an exclamation point on the hard-working talent that we have in this building.  Starting this week, our students will have the chance to show off their skills on the Forward Exam.  It's been a busy time with the end of the quarter, budgets due, and Forward Testing preparation, but through it all we have kept a focus on facilitating solid learning experiences for our students.

End of Quarter 3 Information
Today marks the end of Quarter #3.  Grades will be due by next Monday (4/3) morning.  On Monday, we'll print report cards and get them ready to mail out.  As a reminder, students that have an NE in any standard in a course should have parents called along with discussions with students...there should not be any surprises for a parent or student on a report card.

Article of the Week
School culture is the topic for this week's article.  As you read, think about the facets of our school culture that are good, and could be improved upon.  

ARTICLE

Forward Exam Information
The 8th graders kick off our Forward Exam testing season on Thursday!  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Staff Meeting this Week Wednesday (3/29)
We will be meeting as a Middle School staff on Wednesday at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's room.  We will be taking some time to analyze our climate and culture as we keep an eye on continuing to improve our the experience for our students.

 Tornado Drill Next Week
Some time next week we will be having a tornado drill.  I will communicate the date and time once we finalize the plan.  During April, we will be participating in the statewide tornado drill as well.  Please note the tornado shelter locations per grade.
-6th graders report to the Elementary Music Room
-7th graders report to the Band Room
-8th graders report to the hallway between Mr. Lendobeja and Mr. Odden's room

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  It would be really awesome if we could get a solid Middle School contingency of staff members out there to work the event and support our students.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Looks like we still need some help with the long jump and the high jump.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Amazon News (Mrs. Puntney shared in an e-mail last week)
Hello Teachers & Staff,
We are pleased to announce that you may now make Amazon purchases on a "tax exempt" school account via the Skyward requisitioning system, "Ecommerce". The steps are very similar to what you follow when doing a PO for Office Depot, Staples, School Specialty E-commerce vendors.  
A google document (see below) has been shared with Middle School, High School, and Special Ed staff.  

 As with anything new, there could be some small kinks to work out so please call me if you can't resolve an issue.
We hope that you find this streamlined process much easier to use than checking out a credit card.  

Upcoming Dates
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting (Culture & Climate) - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
March 30th - Hoops 4 Heart Basketball Game - 5:30April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Pittner

 Data








Images from the Week

The Middle Update 3/19/17

Happy Sunday to all of you.  As I type this blog post, I still have that feeling of excitement following the Badgers big victory over Villanova.  The Badgers have helped make this time of year pretty exciting during the past 4 years.  I'm hoping they continue to display their toughness and grittiness for a run through the tournament that will take us to Spring Break.  It was another solid week of teaching and learning with many things to look forward to in the weeks ahead.


Article of the Week
This week's featured article is a classic assessment article from Dr. Tom Guskey.  It is short and to the point providing tips about getting the most out of our classroom assessment practices to improve student learning.

ARTICLE

Puma Pride Committee Meeting
Our Puma Pride Committee met this past Wednesday.  Our focus has been on taking a closer look at the components of our school that make up our culture.  We had a brainstorming session that focused on creating a "must-do" resource to help ensure consistency in the classroom practices that matter most for both student achievement and school culture.  We will be sharing our work at our upcoming staff meeting.

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Tuesday, April 25th and Tuesday, May 16th.  It would be really awesome if we could get a solid Middle School contingency of staff members out there to work the event and support our students.  To sign-up, please review this SPREADSHEET, and fill in your name on a slot to work.  Training will be provided if needed.  I'm sure the weather will be outstanding on these two nights.  Thanks in advance for your help.

School Board Meeting Monday (3/20)
March's meeting is set for Monday night at 7:00.  Click HERE to review the Middle School Board Report.

Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  Below is a link to the testing schedule.  All test proctors will be on Thursday, March 23 at 2:50 pm in Mr. Filerman's room to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.  Students will also be practicing the online testing tools in their respective Math and ELA classes.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Amazon News (Mrs. Puntney shared in an e-mail as well this week)

Hello Teachers & Staff,

We are pleased to announce that you may now make Amazon purchases on a "tax exempt" school account via the Skyward requisitioning system, "Ecommerce". The steps are very similar to what you follow when doing a PO for Office Depot, Staples, School Specialty E-commerce vendors.  

A google document (see below) has been shared with Middle School, High School, and Special Ed staff.  


As with anything new, there could be some small kinks to work out so please call me if you can't resolve an issue.

We hope that you find this streamlined process much easier to use than checking out a credit card.  

Upcoming DatesMarch 20th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 (Rogness' Room)
March 23rd - Forward Exam Proctor Training Mtg. - 2:50 (Filerman's Room)
March 23rd - Band Clinic and Concert - 7:00 pm (1-8 Gym) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Vian, Johnson
Bus - Odden

 Images from the Week

The Middle Update 3/10/17

It's mid-March and it seems like we are plowing right through this school year.  With two weeks left to go in the 3rd quarter and Forward Testing right around the corner, it is a busy, but great time of year.  We continue to put student learning at the forefront of our actions, words, and planning.  Fostering a growth mindset with all of our students puts us in a position to move students further than they even thought possible.

Educator Effectiveness/SLO/PPG
As we hit mid-March, we will be using our bi-weekly meeting times to review progress on our SLOs and PPGs, as well as work through the domains using Danielson's Framework for those of you on a Summary Year.  I enjoy these opportunities to get into the art and science of teaching and working together as we all strive to refine our craft each and every day.

Article of the Week
Speaking of refining our craft each and every day, the article of the week gives some insight into how we, as educators, can do this effectively.  As a leader, I want to encourage each of you to pursue innovation, new ideas that have the potential to have a big impact on student learning, engagement, and their overall experience.  The short article is a great short read.

ARTICLE

 Rescheduled Assembly
As a reminder we will have an Assembly on Friday, 3/17.  We'll plan to dismiss students at 2:30.  We will have the much anticipated scooter races, and also use that time to pump up the kids for the Forward Exam.  Any ideas from staff are welcome.

 Budget Time
Our weekly reminder about next year's budget process. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

 Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  Below is a link to the testing schedule.  All test proctors will be on Thursday, March 23 at 2:50 pm in Mr. Filerman's room to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.  On the Friday before each grade begins testing, we will have a "Forward Exam" special lesson for Homeroom.  This will be a critical time period used to pump our kids up to do well on the test, as well as to review the interface used for the Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Upcoming Dates
March 14th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 15th - Puma Pride Committe Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Odden's Room)
March 17th - MS Assembly - 2:30 pm (1-8 Gym)
March 23rd - Band Clinic and Concert - 7:00 pm (1-8 Gym) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

Duty Next Week
Morning - Schoen, Johnson
Bus - Lendobeja

The Middle Update 3/3/17

As we end this sunny Friday in March, we find ourselves 3 weeks away from the end of the 3rd quarter.  There is a lot going on...budget time, Forward Exam prep, 7th grade connections conferences...on and on.  The level of solid engagement that I get to see in every classroom throughout the building is really enjoyable.

A prospective new student and parent visited us this week, and as I walked them around and took them into some classrooms, they were amazed at the culture of learning they were experiencing.  Students reading, having meaningful discussions in groups, practicing problems outlined by the teachers...it was quite the difference from the school they were coming from.  They wanted to move the prospective start date up up to get into this environment as soon as possible.  It was a pretty cool perspective.  We have a great school here...great kids and great adults.

Article of the Week
Authentic engagement is key to the success of every lesson or activity which will lead to maximum student learning.  Constant reflection on the level of student engagement is necessary for the continuous improvement that we all seek.  The article of the week this week gives explanation on 4 key elements that develop this authentic engagement in the classroom.

Student Engagement: Key to Personalized Learning

Administrative Hold Revisited
This past Tuesday, we had an Administrative Hold drill.  An Administrative Hold is put into effect if there is something going on outside.  While no one is permitted to enter or exit the building, all activities within the building go on as normal.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thanks to all for your efforts to get as many parents in as possible last night to build the partnership with our parents.  Next Thursday (4:00 - 7:30), we'll run an Open House type format inviting parents in to visit with any of their child's teachers.  Feel free to invite any parent in for any student.  As a reminder our Parents' Club will be providing a pizza feast for us next Thursday.

Rescheduled Assembly
With last week's snow day, the plans for the assembly will have to be adjusted.  We will reschedule the Assembly for Friday, 3/17.  We will have the much anticipated scooter races, and also use that time to pump up the kids for the Forward Exam.  Any ideas from staff are welcome.

Elementary Science Night
Ms. Pittner has led the charge to bring a Science night to our school on March 10th.  Some of our middle school students will be on hand to help out as well. Check out theFLYER for more information.

Budget Time
Our weekly reminder about next year's budget process. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form, but beginning to take shape.  All test proctors will be meeting soon to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

Upcoming Dates
March 6th - Social Studies Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Kallungi's Room)
March 7th - ELA Dept. Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 7th - 6-12 Choir Concert - 7:00 pm (Aux. Gym)
March 9th - Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:00 am
March 9th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30 pm
March 10th - 7th Grade to Village Hall to view Tom Sawyer - 12:45 - 2:45
March 14th - Literacy Committee Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Rogness' Room)
March 15th - Puma Pride Committe Mtg. - 2:50 pm (Odden's Room) March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Pittner, Johnson
Bus - Hendrickson

 Data
Behavior Referral Data (through 1st Friday in March)
16-17 - 96 Events 43 Students
15-16 - 165 Events 64 Students
14-15 - 210 Events 65 Students

The Middle Update 2/26/17

Below you'll find an information packed edition of The Middle Update...Friday's snow/ice day hopefully provided both students and staff an opportunity to recharge the battery and prepare for a huge stretch run through March and into Spring Break.  Despite the many things going on, our focus on planning and executing airtight engaging lessons remains at the forefront. I look forward to getting the most out of each day with all of you!

February Update Video
Check out this month's update VIDEO!  Thanks to the volunteers for participating, and if anyone really wants to get in one of the videos, just let me know!

Staff Meeting Wrap-Up
I enjoyed the discussion at our staff meeting this past Wednesday and look forward to continuing the conversation of how we can continually improve what we do to prepare our students for the evolving world of work.  The findings from the Forbes studies that we reviewed should remain in the forefront of our minds as we plan our units and daily activities.

Thoughts from the Educational Sources
"Content is free.  Our focus for our students needs to building competencies over content."  -Myron Dueck (at AWSA Principal's Convention 2/17)

"You can lead a student to water, but you can't make him drink. However, you can make him so thirsty that he can't help but take a sip." -found on Twitter review

 Article of the Week
After meeting and listening to Myron Dueck's keynote address earlier this month, I find myself drawn to his work.  This week's article provides highlights some of the assessment practices that we do really well, but also provides some guidance in areas like projects and feedback.  A solid short read.

Aha Moments on the Way to Better Teaching - Dueck

7th Graders will Have Homeroom this Tuesday 2/28
The 7th Graders were supposed to complete necessary work in their Career Cruising accounts that must be completed before Thursday's conferences, so we will have them report to their Homeroom groups during IE on Tuesday.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Starting this week, we have another opportunity to meet with parents/ guardians to discuss our students' achievement and growth.  We'll be assembling items for student folders this week.  I'll be seeking team input for the items that we'll include.  I'll stop by team meetings on Tuesday to finalize our plan.  Mrs. Graeve and the Junior Class will be offering food on Thursday, March 2nd.  The following week, our Parents' Club will be providing a pizza feast for us.

 Elementary Science Night
Ms. Pittner has led the charge to bring a Science night to our school on March 10th.  Some of our middle school students will be on hand to help out as well. Check out the FLYER for more information.

 Budget Time
Earlier this week I shared the budget process informational packet. I have been able to address many questions about the process since then. If you have some questions, keep them coming. Our goal is to have all of the requisition and summary sheets to me by March 15th. This is a district deadline for all staff. A link to the Budget Process Packet can be found HERE. Most of you will just need to look at the first tab. Again, this is only view only, so go ahead and make a copy for your purposes.

 Forward Exam Information
The Forward Exam is literally just weeks away.  At this time, we have tentatively settled on the dates and times.  This schedule is still in a draft form, but beginning to take shape.  All test proctors will be meeting soon to review the requirements for administering a successful Forward Exam.

Forward Exam Testing Schedule

 Upcoming Dates
March 2nd - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 8:00 pm
March 9th - Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:00 am
March 9th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30 pm
March 10th - 7th Grade to Village Hall to view Tom Sawyer - 12:45 - 2:45
March 24th - End of Quarter 3
March 29th - PMS Staff Meeting - 2:50 - 3:30 pm
March 30th - April 6th - 8th Grade Forward Exam
April 10th - April 14th - Spring Break
April 18th - April 21st - 7th Grade Forward Exam
April 25th - April 27th - 6th Grade Forward Exam

 Duty Next Week
Morning - Odden, Johnson
Bus - Hazard

The Middle Update 2/17/17

What a beautiful day to end the week on.  I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy the nice weather of the weekend.  I am excited about some of the awesome things that are in the works as we all continue to work and plan to make this school and our kids top notch contributors to our community.

Staff Meeting next Wednesday 2/22
We will be having a middle school staff meeting on Wednesday, 2/22 at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's room.  At this meeting, we will be taking a closer look at skills that employees seek in today's world, and begin the conversations for how we can adjust what we do to prepare our students, including possible inclusion of some new technology that we have in our IMC.  We may also have a guest appearance from our local EMS as part of our ongoing safety efforts.

 Carelli Cup Event next Friday at 2:30
Next Friday at 2:30, we will have the next Carelli Cup event.  It will be a scooter race competition between representatives from each grade.  We are looking for a staff team of 3 males and 3 females to volunteer to demonstrate the race for the kids.  We will also use this time to continue our work on ingraining a culture of high expectations and achievement for our students.

 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.

 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
Upcoming Meetings
PMS Staff Mtg. - Wednesday (2/22) at 2:50 in Mrs. Anderson's Room

Article of the Week
Assessment practices are so critical for designing thorough, effective lessons to engage our students.  This ARTICLE highlights both formative and summative practices that are effective at providing accurate, timely feedback and boosting student achievement.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Lendobeja, Johnson
Bus - Gavin

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