The Middle Update 2/8/20

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

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

"What Makes a Good School Culture" - Leah Shafer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Middle Update 1/31/20

Resource of the Week
The resource this week provides information about how to manage students that are escalated and become upset.  This situation can happen to anyone, and it can be stressful, however, the more prepared we are, the more successful the outcome will be.  Thanks to Mrs. Walther for sharing!

"A De-escalation Exercise for Upset Students" by Daniel Vollrath

Forward Exam Information
We have scheduled our Forward Exam sessions!  We originally had planned a 4/7 start date, but had to adjust our plan to accommodate the installation of the APP needed on chrome books for testing.  We will start testing on Wednesday, April 15th.  You can see the exam schedule by clicking HERE.

20-21 Budget
As a reminder, budgets are due to me by February 20th.  Please coordinate with your department to meet this deadline.  As a reminder, you should submit requisition sheets on paper with one department summary sheet.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this process as I am happy to (and prefer to) assist prior to reviewing the requests.

Pig Races
The Pig Races are right around the corner and the names that have come in are quite impressive.  We will be having a competition for the best name, best dressed, and of course, the fastest pig.  The Pig Races will take place during an Assembly on Friday, February 28th starting at 2:15 pm.

Hoops 4 Heart (Date Change)

A group of our fine Leadership Students are deep into the work of planning for our annual Hoops 4 Heart Staff vs. Students Basketball game.  Mark your calendars now for the event, Thursday, March 12th.

Stock Market Game Success!!
One of our IE offerings is for students to learn about the stock market, and participate in a simulation.  A big congratulations goes out to Luke Lindquist and Luke Romack who took 2nd place in the Fall Wisconsin Stock Market Game. As a result, our school will be receiving a banner and they both get a certificate and a t-shirt from Economics Wisconsin. Outside of our teams, they competed against mostly high school students.

The Middle Update 1/24/20

Resource of the Week
On Monday, we took a look some data that sparked a conversation about one of the Achievement Gap marks that we measure.  I enjoyed the conversation that took place, and as we move forward we must learn more about the issue and use the research, talents, and innovation of the people in our building to help us be even more successful at meeting the needs of these students, along with all of our other kids too!  Today's resource is from the Bush Institute and provides three areas that contribute to the widening achievement gap with this student population.

"How School Can Best Support Children Living in Poverty" - Ann Wicks

From our Equity book study, we have aimed to improve chronic absenteeism by building stronger connections with students...that is a key part, however, there is more work to be done with this issue for some of our students.

20-21 Middle School Structure/Construction Plans
As the weeks continue to move by quickly, so is planning for next school year.  When you step back and take a look at the positive physical changes that will take place on this campus, it's exciting, but can seem overwhelming for some.  As we plan for the structure and remodeling that will take place, I will try to communicate as best I can about the progress.  At times, I'll be seeking input, other times I'll be sharing information.  If at any time, you would like to sit down and discuss next school year, please just let me know, and we'll set up a time.  There have been instances where we were planning something, and then something else came up and that plan changed....I anticipate this will continue to happen as we work to refine our plan heading into next school year.  It's an exciting time, but it also can be a stressful time.  It is my hope to be an effective communicator through this process, and I appreciate your patience and flexibility through this process.

Campus Construction
Like Dr. Shappell mentioned on Monday, construction will start on this campus starting March 20th.  The High School, Middle School Playground area and the parking lot will be affected.  We are also finding that we may need to get creative with some things during the last week of school.  Some of these things can be stressful and will require us to do the best we can, even though solutions may not be ideal.  The changes that will take place will be well worth it in the end, however, the process sometimes will require some flexibility.  Thank you in advance for innovative ideas and an open mind for solving some of the challenges that we will face soon.

We will be having an Assembly on Thursday, March 12th at 2:00 pm that is aimed at educating our students and staff on how to navigate the campus when some of it becomes a construction zone.  Our partners with Findorff will lead this assembly.

Forward Exam Information
Our annual Forward Exam testing window is quickly approaching and plans are underway to organize a testing session that will maximize student focus, effort, and achievement.  We will plan a similar format as last year.  We are still working with the Elementary to coordinate and finalize testing dates.  Students will not be using their assigned chromebooks for testing, as we will use newer devices for testing.

20-21 Budget
As a reminder, budgets are due to me by February 20th.  Please coordinate with your department to meet this deadline.  As a reminder, you should submit requisition sheets on paper with one department summary sheet.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this process as I am happy to (and prefer to) assist prior to reviewing the requests.

Pig Races
The Pig Races are right around the corner and the names that have come in are quite impressive.  We will be having a competition for the best name, best dressed, and of course, the fastest pig.  I'll be working to get some clothing materials on campus for groups to use.  Check out the entries for pig names so far here: NAMES.

Hoops 4 Heart

A group of our fine Leadership Students are deep into the work of planning for our annual Hoops 4 Heart Staff vs. Students Basketball game.  Mark your calendars now for the event, Thursday, March 19th.

WANTED: SUMMER SCHOOL TEACHER (from Mr. Hausser)

We have had a great response from our staff for teaching during our 3- week summer session in June which is great.  However, we are still looking for one more summer reading teacher for down at the library.  The program runs for 6 weeks starting in July and ending in August.  The pay rate is $26 an hour for about 5 hours a day Monday- Thursday.  The teacher would be working with an individual or small group on reading skills.  Ms. Dayton is doing it again this summer and can share her experiences with it.  Otherwise please see Anna or me for more details.  The hours are 9:30- 2:30 so not bad.

Upcoming Events
January 31st - End of Quarter 2 Assembly - Various Events and Carelli Cup Competition
February 19th - MS Assembly - Pig Races - More information to come about this process.
March 12th - Findorff/Construction Assembly - We'll be preparing students for how to navigate our campus with so much construction going on.

The Middle Update 1/10/19

As I walked around our school this week, I was paying attention to the body language of our students.  Did they appear to be jovial?  What types of things were they saying?  Was the tone positive?...With the adjustments we made to our master schedule to include more time each day to focus on connection and making our school a positive place for our students to learn and thrive, I think their body language and what they say will be a key part to pay attention to as we assess the effectiveness of this plan.  I would have to say that I was happy with my observations...students smiling and talking with each other with little negativity...Two 7th grade girls said, "I really like school."  "I like coming here."  These are positive signs, and as we are beginning our 2020 journey, our focus should be maintaining this culture and mentality...when the social-emotional learning side is in good shape, learning will thrive.

Resource of the Week
Another article this week from Dr. Matthew Arau.  He will be joining us in mid-March (last blog post I said late February...sorry about that).  His message is about the power of attitude, body language, and our messaging.  While the target audience is music teachers, the message is directly relevant for us all.  Give it a read, and I've highlighted great takeaway quotes from the article below.

"Upbeat!  Creating a Positive Culture in Music Ensembles" by Dr. Matthew Arau

"When we use words that inspire connection, such as “we,” “let’s,” “us,” and “together,” our cells literally get excited – our immune system elevates and our brain fires at a higher level."

"This reminds me of the following words by leadership guru, John C. Maxwell: “It’s one thing to communicate to people because you believe you have something of value to say. It’s another to communicate with people because you believe they have value. People’s opinion of us has less to do with what they see in us than it does with what we can help them see in themselves.”

“Ever wonder why it’s hard to resist smiling in the presence of happy children? Kids smile as often as four hundred times a day, but only 30 percent of adults smile more than twenty times a day, and 14 percent don’t crack a smile five times a day.” He also talks about the health benefits of smiling. “The act itself of smiling lifts your mood, boosts your immune system, decreases stress, lowers blood pressure, and reduces your risk of heart attack. One smile alone can provide the same level of brain stimulation as up to two thousand chocolate bars! Smiling is also associated with living longer.” Gutman also suggests that when we smile we not only appear more likable and courteous, we are also perceived to be more competent."

End of Quarter 2 Details

The last day of Quarter 2 is on Friday, January 17th.  Grades will be due by the morning of Thursday, January 23rd, and we'll review report cards with students in Homeroom on Friday, January 24th.  We will then have our End of Quarter Assembly on the afternoon of Friday, January 31st.  Mrs. Andringa and I met to start planning some of the events for the Assembly, and we are always welcome to new ideas and perspectives and what could be activities/contests/events that could be entertaining for the kids.  Let either of us know if you have some thoughts on this.

January Professional Development Day

On Monday, January 20th, we'll get the opportunity for professional development.  A more detailed schedule will be released soon, but we'll plan to meet as a district in the morning and then we'll meet as a Middle School team.  In the afternoon, we have some work sessions planned from 1:00 - 3:00.  As we meet in BW meetings in the next two weeks, we'll talk about your specific plan during this time.

Assembly January 31st

We are planning to have another Carelli Cup Competition during our Assembly on January 31st.  We will have a Musical Chairs competition, and we'll need one representative from each Homeroom to participate.  Between now and then, each Homeroom should determine how they will choose their rep.  You can have a local musical chairs competition, vote, or any other way you can think of to decide your representative.  The 31st is a Friday, so we will plan to execute Homeroom lessons during the morning homeroom times of 1/30 and 1/31.  

Pig Races

We will be having our Pig Races during an Assembly on February 19th.  I plan to handout pigs during our staff meeting on 1/20.  Each Homeroom will have to name their pig and dress it up prior to the big day, and we'll have a competition for the best name and outfit.  More details on this to come.

Construction Updates

It's an exciting time as we are nearing the start of construction on this campus.  I plan to provide an update when we meet as a staff on 1/20, and I will try to answer any questions that anyone may have when we meet during BW time, or any other time we can if you have questions.  Starting on March 20th, work will be done on the High School.  Our parking lot will be affected, as will the flow to the High School for entrance into the building.  Renovation construction will start in this building over the summer, and the Middle School Building will be closed all summer, except for the office area.  There are many moving questions out there, and we will work to communicate those plans as that time draws closer.  We will definitely be inconvenienced for some things this spring, but the payoff will be well worth it in the fall.

Hoops 4 Heart

A group of our fine Leadership Students are deep into the work of planning for our annual Hoops 4 Heart Staff vs. Students Basketball game.  Mark your calendars now for the event, Thursday, March 19th.

Upcoming Events
January 31st - End of Quarter 2 Assembly - Various Events and Carelli Cup Competition
February 19th - MS Assembly - Pig Races - More information to come about this process.
March 12th - Findorff/Construction Assembly - We'll be preparing students for how to navigate our campus with so much construction going on.

The Middle Update 1/5/20

2020 is here, and I really enjoyed easing back into the second half of our school year with our two days of school last week.  With two weeks left in the 2nd quarter, there is a lot happening that sure make January seem to go by quickly.  I enjoyed seeing everyone back and hearing about relaxing/enjoyable holiday breaks by all.  As each day passes, we get closer to some big changes in our district.  The process of opening a new building and converting our building to a 5-8 is exciting, but there is always a level of stress associated with change.  Once March rolls around, things around the district will be starting to change.  Construction around our campus will require us all to have some flexibility and creativity in some areas.  It truly is an exciting time for the entire Poynette community.

Resource of the Week

Our resource this week comes from Dr. Matthew Arau.  He is a professor of Music at Lawrence University.  While his message relates connection to music class, as I read it, I think the connections work for all classes.  We'll get the opportunity to hear from Dr. Arau when he visits us in later February.

"Connecting Through Vulnerability" - Dr. Matthew Arau

End of Quarter 2 Details

The last day of Quarter 2 is on Friday, January 17th.  Grades will be due by the morning of Thursday, January 23rd, and we'll review report cards with students in Homeroom on Friday, January 24th.  We will then have our End of Quarter Assembly on the afternoon of Friday, January 31st.  Mrs. Andringa and I met to start planning some of the events for the Assembly, and we are always welcome to new ideas and perspectives and what could be activities/contests/events that could be entertaining for the kids.  Let either of us know if you have some thoughts on this.

Homeroom Plan This Week

Gratitude Theme!  Here is our plan for the week.  The slide deck can be found HERE.

-Show the video (in slide deck) sometime this week (T,W, or R) (IMPORTANT! Pause at 5:15 and resume at 5:30)

-Encourage students to write a letter of gratitude to someone - bonus if they read it to them or send it to them somehow

-Write on a colored slip of construction paper (in your mail box), one person or activity they are grateful for.  Each Homeroom should make a chain and turn it into the office so we can make a bigger chain to display around the school.

Grades

Just a reminder that student progress grades in each standard should be posted and updated at least weekly in Infinite Campus.  We should also be reporting out on at least 2 Puma Pride standards for each class.  

January Professional Development Day

On Monday, January 20th, we'll get the opportunity for professional development.  A more detailed schedule will be released soon, but we'll plan to meet as a district in the morning and then we'll meet as a Middle School team.  In the afternoon, we have some work sessions planned from 1:00 - 3:00.  As we meet in BW meetings in the next two weeks, we'll talk about your specific plan during this time.  

Initial Middle School Play Date is Set

Our Middle School Play performance date has been set.  Our school and community performance will be on Thursday, May 21st.  Mrs. Crawford will be directing the Play for us this year!!

Make it a Great Week!!  Be on the look-out for opportunities to lift someone else up.

The Middle Update 12/23/19

It's Winter Break Time!  A time to reflect on another year that has gone by, and look ahead to 2020!  A few year's back we put in place our Vision 2020 Goal...to be the best district of our size in the state.  As I think back to the last 6 years of work in our Middle School, I am proud of the work that we all have done to help us move closer to achieving that goal.  Our student achievement data is trending in the right direction, and the adjustments we have made this year appear to have our school culture and climate data on the right track as well.  As I reflect on the time, and look ahead to the next decade, I am proud of the staff that we have at Poynette Middle School.  A group that puts students first, seeks to innovate, likes each other, and works very hard.  Thank you and enjoy the break!!

IE Roster Adjustment to start 2020
After our Math team met to review student progress and plan for how we can meet our student needs, we have made a few adjustments to our IE Rosters.  We will start with these groups on Monday (1/6).  Please share with students on Thursday (1/2) and/or Friday (1/3).  Also, please let me know if you notice a student missing from the list (send me an email), and I'll make sure they find a home.


Images from the first half of the school year

The Middle Update 12/15/19

We are heading into the last school week of 2019...This time of year can be extra stressful, for both students and staff members, with all that is going on in school, and out of school.  Providing a focused, well-planned environment in all classrooms is going to be crucial to maintaining that sense of structure that is so important for our kids to learn at high levels.  The kids will have a good week and a half to rest their brains and recharge their batteries for the second half of the school year.  Let's make sure their brains work extra hard this week!!  I believe it's going to be an awesome week!!

Resource of the Week
The resource this week is a review/summary of the book, UnSelfie: Teaching Children EMPATHY in Their All-About Me World.  The book shares the research and highlights the importance of including Social-Emotional Learning components into the lives of students during the school day.  If you are interested in reading the book, let me know, and we'll look to add copies to our professional library in the IMC.

"UNSELFIE: WHY EMPATHETIC KIDS SUCCEED IN OUR ALL-ABOUT-ME WORLD BY MICHELE BORBA" - Rebecca Gotlieb

Feedback from Staff

Thanks for a great staff meeting last Wednesday.  I wanted to share the Staff feedback about what's going well with Homeroom groups throughout the building.

Connecting with kids. Everything is going well. No complaints.

Sharing out at the end of the day is 1 thing that is going well.

the circle time is going well. All students are willing to share now.

Discussions. Some really great opportunities to bolster character.

We are able to hold a solid group discussion on Wednesdays.

We like the discussion time- and we are really focusing on build community with positive interaction- we play lots of game as a whole group

We had kids fill out a questionaire about things they like and we have been trying to guess who the kids are based on answers. We also had kids spell their names backwards (first and last). I then read them backwards and have kids try to guess whose name it is.

Having a competitive theme with Mr. Williams has created unity and a sense of homeroom pride.

Our end of the day check in and homework reminders are something that seems to be going well. I think it really helps us connect and have a solid community.

Discussion Wednesdays - we have fantastic participation among our 8th graders!

we use fitboost activities to get moving in the morning maybe 3 days a week and kids like doing it. we also have "un-scussions" where we don't talk about a topic or question, but we write short responses on post its and share that way.

Students trust each other to be honest and very openly share during discussions.

Group Discussion - every student has been an active participant during our morning discussion/sharing.

Group discussions and games

I'm able to have quick opportunities to check in with my homeroom students and make connections. This has helped me connect with this group of students and has translated to solid behavior from these students when they're in my class.

They enjoy the games and some discussion.

I think our discussions are going well.

The students are doing a good job with weekly goal setting

A couple themes that emerged from the 2nd question about Homeroom were:

-Structuring the morning time so that students get chrome books at the end, on their way out,

-Getting consistent reports of student progress to better be able to about class performance,

-More competition-type activities

I appreciate the feedback, and we'll work to keep improving our practices and building that student connection to school.  Thank you all for these important efforts.

Kindness Quote Tuesday!

From the same author of the book "Unselfie" outlined above, comes research about the positive impact that can take place if students get the chance to read and reflect on Kindness Quotes.  The Elementary School has been using this research and putting it to action with a Kindess Quote of the Week.  We will do the same by sharing a Kindness Quote each week via email, and also reading it on the Announcements.  Please use Tuesday morning or others, to read and discuss the meaning and practical applications of the quote each week with our students.

MS Holiday Concert

Come check out a great show on Tuesday night at 7:00 in the 1-8 Gym, and watch your talented students excel outside the classroom!

Academic Support Intervention/Activity Thursday (12/19) Afternoon

We will be hosting another opportunity for students that need it, to receive more academic support Thursday afternoon.  We will adjust our afternoon schedule.  The lunch period will run from 12:00-12:30, and 3rd block will run from 12:30-1:50, followed by students being dismissed to their Homerooms to drop off Chromebooks, then to the teacher in charge of the activity they will be assigned to, followed by dismissal at 2:47.  

Please talk to students about this on Monday morning in Homeroom, and have them complete the Google Form in their email from me to help with activity assignments.  Also, work with your students to develop a plan for this week if they are behind.

Poynette Middle School Remodel

As the referendum project plans and construction are moving along, it looks like there will be an opportunity for some work to be done to the Middle School!  Dr. Shappell and I have been working on a long-term plan for updating our building, and I'll be in more meetings starting this week focusing on this project...the first one is Wednesday morning.  My availability for other things that may come up will be limited while I'm in these planning meetings.

Social Studies Competition Domination!

Our Middle School team did awesome at a competition this past week.  Please congratulate Matthew "Champ" Lannoye for his 1st place performance at this meet!  See below for press release from Mrs. Kennedy, and congratulate our students when you see them.

On Tuesday, December 10th, Poynette Middle School competed at a Social Studies Competition in Adams-Friendship called, "Where in the World?"  There were 70 students present with seven 5th/6th grade teams and seven 7th/8th grade teams.  Eighth-grader Matthew Lannoye took first place overall individually, calming supplying answers at the microphone to verbal questions.  Both the 5/6 and 7/8 teams took second place, having answered several questions correctly during a Kahoot interactive session. 

The Middle Update 12/7/19

One week has passed in December already...the speed at which time moves.  No doubt another busy week at school, and as I reflect I think of the many interactions between staff and students that are helping them grow as people...planting seeds to help them shape a mindset for success.  Thank you all for the special role you play for our kids.

Resource of the Week
Our article this week takes a closer look at Middle Schools and the specific parts of what is important for a successful experience for all.

"Leading Learning at the Middle Level" by Patti Kinney

• Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them.
• Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices.
• Every student's academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.

IE
Our Reading Intervention team met this past Wednesday to review data on student progress in Reading.  This has led to a little shuffling of some IE groups that will start on Monday (12/9).  Please share the IE Rosters with students on Monday morning.  If any student has a question, they should talk with me.  Our Reading Team has really done an awesome job of analyzing student data, and planning for how to support their growth!

Academic Support/Activity Afternoon next Thursday (12/19)
We will be modifying our IE Plan on the afternoon of Thursday (12/19).  Any student that needs support in completing or improving their work will get the opportunity to do so, and we'll have choice activities for all other students.  Sign-ups and details will be shared sometime during the first part of the week to come.

Next Staff Meeting
We'll have our next Middle School Staff Meeting on Wednesday, December 11th at 2:55 in Mrs. Rogness' classroom.  We'll get an update from Mr. Gavin about the work of our Student Leadership Team, learn about the action plan from our "Lost At School" book study team, and provide feedback on some of the new initiatives we started this year, and have some fun together as a staff.

Student of the Month Breakfast
Congratulations to this month's recipients:
Mercedi Lapacek     Aiden Trapp     Jason Lambert     Genevieve Berner   
Justin Wells     Nevaeh Flesch     Owen Prucha     Alexis Pells

Thanks to Mrs. Mrnak, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kallungi, and Mr. Hazard for the awesome presentations.

Friday December 20th
We will have a normal school day on 12/20, but the elementary will be dismissed at the same time as the Middle School students.

The Middle Update 11/24/19

Resource of the Week
It may be a good time of year to review a couple of important items in regards to internet activity for school employees.  The short article this week highlights some good guidelines for teachers about social media use.  Please check out the linked blog post for those reminders.  Also, a reminder that any activity done on your school account (emails, search history, website history, etc.) can be subject to Open Records Requests and made available to the public.  It's just good practice to make sure everything done at school or on school devices is professional and school related.  As always, let me know if you have any questions around this topic.

"10 Social Media Rules for Teachers" - American Board Blog

Morning Homeroom Reminders
As all have gotten comfortable with our Morning Homeroom Routine, I wanted to send a reminder about the Homeroom Plan that was presented at the beginning of the school year and should be followed each morning.  A couple of important reminders for all about this time: 
- Our goals are: 

1. We will help students be more connected to school
2. We will improve overall student attendance
3. We will ensure students are taught skills that will help them be more self-aware and proactive for their education
4. We will develop a deep appreciation of diversity in all students

-This should be an interactive time between students and their Homeroom teacher.  Use this SHEET for a plethora of resources of activities to do with your group.  The only chromebook use by students or teachers should be on Mondays and Fridays for checking IC and setting goals, otherwise, all should use the time for face to face interactions...I think that we all can agree that our kids get plenty of screen time throughout their days. 

Early Release on Wednesday (11/27)
We will be running an Early Release Schedule on Wednesday.  Please review the Schedule ahead of
time, and let me know if you see any conflicts with your assignments.  Thanks in advance.

Math Meet Domination Continues (from Mrs. Kennedy)

Poynette attended the #Math Matters Math Meet in WI Dells at Chula Vista on Nov. 21st.  Grades 5 - 8 competed against their own grade.  There were 394 students from 12 districts present.  Poynette's sixth grade team came in first place, Poynette's seventh grade team came in second place, and Poynette had two individual first place winners: Emma L. in sixth grade and Jason M. in seventh grade.  Congratulations!

Pictured below:

6th grade 1st place winners (L to R): Aaron D., Jameson M., Nevaeh F., Emma L., and Capri L.

7th grade 2nd place winners (L to R): Mae L., Mercedi L, Maggie W., Sarah B., Zander O.

Safety Drill Recap
Last Thursday we conducted our Lockdown Drill.  It is an amazing experience to walk the halls during a lockdown.  It feels like it's the summer time and no one is in our building.  Please let me know if there were any good questions that came up from students.  Also, a reminder that flexible response is critical and locked doors and quiet rooms have proven to be very safe after a review of other dangerous situations that have happened in other schools.  Connected, happy students are much less likely to carry out violence.

Toy Donations
Each year staff inquire about donating toys. If you are interested, here is an opportunity.
Poynette Iron Works has an annual toy drive to help families in need of support around the holidays.  They are collecting gifts now until Dec. 13th.  You can donate new unwrapped toys, gift cards, or cash.  You can place toys in a bin at Piggly Wiggly or take other contributions directly to Poynette Iron Works (209 East North St.).

PAD Newsletter Update
Here is the link to the latest PAD newsletter that can be found on our district website.

2019 2020 November/December/January Newsletter

The Middle Update 11/15/19

Resource of the Week
We'll continue our Social-Emotional Learning theme with this week's blog resource.  The article provides even more resources...(videos/articles) within specific aspects of Social-Emotional Learning.  Check it out.

"Social and Emotional Learning in Middle and High School" - McGraw Hill

School Report Card Release
State School Report Cards were released this past Tuesday.  As you could see in our Assembly, we had a strong score this year, and our score rose considerably from last year.  So much kudos to all of you who work so hard, and our kids for putting forth great effort on the Forward Exam.  We'll continue to analyze data and look to improve our performance.  Check out the DPI website to check out all of the scores from around the state.

Assembly Wrap-Up
Thanks to everyone that helped pull of our Assembly on Friday afternoon.  It seemed like the kids enjoyed it.  As always, I think we learned a few things, and I've already heard some good ideas brewing for our next one in January.

Safety Drill on Thursday (11/21)
We'll be having a Lockdown Drill this coming Thursday at 10:00 am.  Please review the procedures and flexible response plan with students prior to and after the drill.  We'll have law enforcement here to walk through the building with us as we continue to refine our Safety Plan.

Classroom Visits
During BW Meeting time with teachers starting this coming week, we'll continue to visit other classrooms to learn from each other.  There is so many magical things happening in our classroom and we all have can learn so much from the talent and skill in this building.  Also, Dr. Shappell will be making classroom visits as well.

Late Start/Early Release Schedules
Please review both of the schedules below when you get the chance, and let me know if you notice any areas that conflict with your assignments.  Typically, there are a couple of areas that we need to work through some resolutions when we adjust our schedule.  We'll use the Late Start Schedule for any 2 hour delays that may arise due to weather, and we'll use the Early Release Schedule for our upcoming 1:15 dismissal day on 11/27.

Late Start Schedule
Early Release Schedule

Next SOM Breakfast 12/6/19
Just an early reminder about our next Student of the Month Breakfast.  It will be on December 6th.  In the next couple of weeks, be on the lookout for your nominees.

Donation Opportunity
Many teachers have typically asked about donation opportunities...below is one of those opportunities.

Poynette Iron Works has an annual toy drive to help families in need of support around the holidays.  They are collecting gifts now until Dec. 13th.  You can donate new unwrapped toys, gift cards, or cash.  You can place toys in a bin at Piggly Wiggly or take other contributions directly to Poynette Iron Works (209 East North St.).

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 11/8/19

Resource of the Week
Going along with the theme from our presentation from Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos this past week, we are learning that Social-Emotional Learning is so critical for students to learn at their maximum potential and also to have a top notch school culture.  The article this week provides some thoughts on how to interweave some of this learning into our classroom routines, and also there is potential some ideas to be executed in our Homeroom morning times.

"5 Ways to Incorporate SEL in Middle School" - Jill Fletcher

Veteran's Day Assembly on Monday (11/11)

Veteran's Day is a very special day in our school district.  As is our tradition, all of our students will be attending the Veteran's Day Assembly at the High School on Monday (11/11), starting around 9:05.  We'll plan to have Nutrition Break starting at 8:45.  Below is our plan for each grade.

6th Grade - Dismiss 1st block to Nutrition Break at 8:45, then students go to their 2nd block class.  Meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony. Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55.  Students will return to 2nd block when done.

7th Grade - Dismiss from 1st block to Nutrition break at 8:45, then go back to their 1st block class.  Meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony.  Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55  Students will report to their PE/Music/ITech class when done.

8th Grade - 1st elective will run from 7:45 - 8:15...2nd elective will run from 8:15 - 8:45.  Dismiss to Nutrition Break, and students report to their 1st block teacher.  Once there, meet with students and preview the assembly, highlighting the importance of this formal ceremony.  Head to the Kerr Gym in the High School at 8:55.  Students will return to 1st block when done.  Teachers can communicate with each other about the ending time of 1st block that will split the class times in half, once we return.

Assembly on Friday (11/15)
We will be having an Assembly this coming Friday (11/15).  Students will report to 3rd block after lunch, and should be dismissed to the 1-8 Gym at 2:10.  We'll have one Carelli Cup competition, followed by our various challenge opportunities that we discussed at the Staff Meeting this past week.  We should conduct our normal Homeroom Lesson on the morning of Thursday (11/14) and Friday (11/15) this week.

For the Carelli Cup, we'll need one representative from each Homeroom to compete in Musical Chairs competition.  Homerooms can either can have a competition in your Homeroom or have the group select a representative in another way.

Staff Meeting Review
Thank you to all for your participation in our staff meeting this past Wednesday.  A special thank you to Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos for their SEL presentation, and to Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Snyder for an explanation of how the knowledge gained from reading Lost at School has helped guide their approach to students that show some challenging behaviors in the classroom.  We are a strong team that continues to grow and learn from each other.

Hoods in School
As we enter the 11th week of the school year, it's still really important for us to all be on the same page on rule enforcement...one area I'd like us all to pay particular attention to is making sure students are not wearing their hoods in class.  Consistency from classroom to classroom is very important, and the habits and message also filters to better conversations in the hallways.

Connections with Kids
I have had the chance to meet with many Homerooms at the end of the day, and I have been asking them to share with me the great things about our school, and the things the kids think could be better.  There are many cool things they share about what they like about school.  One area, however, that comes up almost in each group of an area the kids seem could be better is "kids calling each other names".  When asked further, students typically says it happens in the hallways during passing time.  Equipped with this knowledge, we need to have our adults present during passing time as much as possible and watching out for these interactions.  Our Nutrition Break Connections Team is also designed to help have staff members out talking with kids and present to proactively prevent these type of interactions with students.  Let's continue to take advantage of these opportunities to build connections with our students.

Classroom Visits
During BW Meeting time with teachers starting this coming week, we'll continue to visit other classrooms to learn from each other.  Also, Dr. Shappell will be making classroom visits as well.

Late Start/Early Release Schedules
Please review both of the schedules below when you get the chance, and let me know if you notice any areas that conflict with your assignments.  Typically, there are a couple of areas that we need to work through some resolutions when we adjust our schedule.  We'll use the Late Start Schedule for any 2 hour delays that may arise due to weather, and we'll use the Early Release Schedule for our upcoming 1:15 dismissal day on 11/27.

Late Start Schedule
Early Release Schedule

Next SOM Breakfast 12/6/19
Just an early reminder about our next Student of the Month Breakfast.  It will be on December 6th.  In the next couple of weeks, be on the lookout for your nominees.

Resource from our Reading Specialist
Thank you to Mrs. Dzioba for sharing a great resource this week on conferring with students.  Meeting one on one with students and providing them feedback and asking reflective questions is critical to accelerating the learning of our students.  The resource she provides HERE can help make sure that student learning is maximized during these conferencing opportunities.  Thank you Mrs. Dzioba!

The Middle Update 11/3/19

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the extra hour of that this weekend provided you...whether that be an extra hour of sleep, or hanging out with a baby in the middle of the night, getting a little extra done around the house, or just an extra hour of relaxation, hopefully you were able to take advantage of it.  We already officially have 1 quarter of the school year in the books and we are heading into perhaps the busiest stretch of the year, with the days and weeks moving ahead quickly straight into the new year.  Our focus remains constant, however, taking each minute, each day in our classrooms working to grow the skills of our students in a positive, growth-oriented environment.

1st Quarter Grades Timeline
Like I mentioned in an earlier email, grades are due by Thursday am.  I will review report cards, and we will print them off Thursday, with the hopes of getting them in the mail as soon as we can.  We will review report cards with students in Homerooms on Friday (11/8), and we have a plan for how we will tie our report card review into our next assembly next Friday (11/15).  Final details of that plan will follow in an email early this week.

As a reminder, each course should have at least 2 of the Puma Pride standards reported out on, and a brief comment about student performance in your class.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this process.

Staff Meeting this Wednesday (11/6)
We will be meeting as a Middle School staff on Wednesday afternoon, starting at 2:55 in Mrs. Rogness' Room.  We will be focusing on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) aspect of school...we will analyze some data from the first quarter of the school year, we will hear from members of our Leadership Team on starting some school culture conversations in our Morning Homerooms, and we'll hear from Mrs. Serstad and Mr. Kartos about some SEL lessons learned from the last professional conference they attended.  This is an important time to learn together as a team, and strengthen the important connections between with each other.

Assembly Next Friday (11/15)
We will be having a Middle School Assembly next Friday (11/15), starting at 2:10 in the 1-8 Gym.  After lunch on this day, students will report straight to 3rd block.  During the morning Homeroom times on 11/14 and 11/15, we will conduct our normal Friday afternoon Homeroom lessons.

Welcome Mrs. Wheeler!!
As Mrs. Weckerly is enjoying the new addition to her family at home, we are happy to welcome Mrs. Shelby (McIlrath) Wheeler to our team.  Shelby was a graduate of Poynette High School in 2010.

PAD Parent's Club Fund-Raiser Pick Up Information
Please share this information with students during Homeroom on Monday morning.

Fall Fundraiser pickup will be Wednesday, November 6 from 2:30 until 5:30 in the 1-8 gym. Please be sure to pick up your items. If you are unable to pick up your items during this time you must make arrangements for someone to pick them up for you.

Images from the Week