The Middle Update 4/27/18

Article of the Week
I think we all know the value and importance of the role that parents play in their child's education.  The article this week gives practical advice for how to frame conversations with parents that will result in them partnering with teachers to help their child. 

"Framing Difficult Feedback for Parents" by Joe Hirsch

School Safety
Our safety drill during the month of May will be a fire drill.  As always, be sure to review our fire drill procedures regularly with your students.

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
The Community Facility Advisory Committee met for the last time and reviewed the recommendation that they will be making to the School Board at the May meeting (5/21).  The committee gave feedback to a sub-committee, who will meet a couple final times to fine tune the recommendation.  As always, anyone is welcome to view the details of the committee's work our our website.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Art Fair Monday!!
This past week, more and more of student art work has been on display.  Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Schmudlach have been preparing for this exciting event!  The Art Fair is set to kickoff on Monday (4/30) from 5:30 - 7:30.  The event is sure to be one to remember for everyone involved.  Mark your calendars!

Music Concert in May
Mark your calendars for the Spring Music Concert.  The hard work of our music department and students will be on full display on Thursday, May 17th at 7:00 in the 1-8 Gym.  Hope to see you there!

Middle School Play Details
Our students have been hard at work preparing the annual Middle School Play.  There will be a showing for the student body on Tuesday, May 22nd at 1:45 in the 1-8 Gym.  The performance for the community will take place later that same evening at 6:00 pm.

Superhero Run/Wellness Day 5/18/2018

In cooperation with the Parents' Club, we will be having a Wellness Day and Superhero Run on Friday, May 18th.  The Superhero Run will take place during the school day.  A couple of teachers have stepped up and have worked on some planning for this event, and at this time we have a tentative plan in place for the day.  There is still room for some suggestions and tweaks, but at this time the draft schedule and plan can be viewed on this DOCUMENT.  Thanks to all those that have contributed efforts and ideas into making this a successful day for our students.

Modified Schedule Days Coming Up

In looking ahead, we will be having a couple days in the month of May with a modified schedule.  Those days are:

May 18 - Wellness Day/Superhero run

May 22 - Middle School Play - starts at 1:45

May 24 - 6th Grade Track Meet - runs during the afternoon

May 30 - Assembly (Carelli Cup Finals, Book Competition Update)

Last Day of School

Like Mr. Shappell mentioned in an email earlier, we will be having a normal school day on the last day of school (June 1).  With such an early last day of school, it is important to keep in mind our guiding principles of utilizing each minute that we have with students.  We will be working hard with our students right up until the dismissal time on Friday, June 1.  Staff check-out will begin after students have left school grounds on that day.

Printing Reminder
As a reminder, when printing, please print 1 copy and utilize the copy room to make copies.  This helps us save on printing toner...it is much cheaper to make copies than print multiple copies.  Thanks for your attention to this detail!

Senior Walk
Our annual Senior Walk will take place on May 23rd at 9:15 am.

Great Summer PD Opportunity

Join us on June 5th for a full 8 hours of learning! Earn professional development points and gain knowledge on how to help students struggling with mental health issues. Rick Raatz from CESA 5 will be in our district to provide training on the following topics. More details about the event to come, but save space on your calendars for this valuable learning experience. If you're interested in attending, add your name to the session on this document.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. 

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Pittner

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 4/20/18

Article of the Week
The short article this week is about how one teacher effectively utilizes class time to give targeted feedback to individual students about their writing.  No matter what subject you teach, the strategies presented provide insight into how class time can be leveraged to not only give students high quality feedback, but also strengthen your classroom culture by giving each student time to grow the teacher/student connection.

"5-Minute Writing Conferences" by Jori Krulder

School Safety
Our safety drill during the month of May will be a fire drill.  As always, be sure to review our fire drill procedures regularly with your students.

Forward Exam
We are nearly wrapped up for this state testing season.  As I type this, our students are completing their make-up sessions.  Thank you to all for your efforts and flexibility during the testing season.

Next Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final Student of the Month Breakfast will take place this Thursday, April 26th.  Congratulations to the following recipients:

London Chapman     Hunter Wells     Bryn Ullsvik     Trent Sickenberger
Sam Kowald     Carter Merwin     Montana Milton     Hope Ninmann

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
Mr. Shappell will be sharing details about the community survey results on Wednesday, April 25th at 4:00 in the HS IMC.  All are welcome to attend to learn the details about the input from the community.  At this time, A sub-committee is working to draft a recommendation that they will present to the school board.  Survey results and more resources are available on the website.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Music Concert in May
Mark your calendars for the Spring Music Concert.  The hard work of our music department and students will be on full display on Thursday, May 17th at 7:00 in the 1-8 Gym.  Hope to see you there!

Middle School Play Details
Our students have been hard at work preparing the annual Middle School Play.  There will be a showing for the student body on Tuesday, May 22nd at 1:45 in the 1-8 Gym.  The performance for the community will take place later that same evening at 6:00 pm.

Great Summer PD Opportunity

Join us on June 5th for a full 8 hours of learning! Earn professional development points and gain knowledge on how to help students struggling with mental health issues. Rick Raatz from CESA 5 will be in our district to provide training on the following topics. More details about the event to come, but save space on your calendars for this valuable learning experience. If you're interested in attending, add your name to the session on this document.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. 

Superhero Run

In conjunction with the Parents' Club, we will be having a Wellness Day and Superhero Run on Friday, May 18th.  The Superhero Run will take place during the school day.  We are still working out some technical logistics, but there will be a modified schedule on this day, with some wellness themed events happening in the afternoon. If you would like to help plan out some of the afternoon activities, please talk to me or Mr. Kallungi. This should be a great opportunity for our school and students. More details will be shared as they are planned and become available.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Adler

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 4/13/18

Article of the Week
Next year, we plan to upgrade our Social/Emotional Learning materials to utilize during Homeroom.  The Second Step program has an impressive upgrade that we will utilize.  It's web-based, modern, and very teacher friendly.  We will be spending some more time with this during our Opening In-service in August.  Instead of an article, there is a short video at the website below...check it out.

New Second Step Program

School Safety
Tornado Drill Recap - Thank you to all for facilitating a successful tornado drill on Thursday afternoon.  Our plan seems pretty straightforward to me, however, if you have any feedback on that process, please let me know.

Forward Exam
We are almost near the end of our Forward Testing season.  8th graders worked on the Science portion today, and they will finish with Social Studies on Monday.  We will be conducting Make-up sessions throughout the week next week, so there may be some students that will be pulled to complete this mandated testing season.  Kudos to everyone for their diligence, focus, and execution of the testing sessions.  Overall, it appeared our students worked hard to do a great job.  We'll debrief about the testing schedule once it is complete as we plan for next year.

Next Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final Student of the Month Breakfast will take place on Thursday, April 26th.  Congratulations to the following recipients:

London Chapman     Hunter Wells     Bryn Ullsvik     Trent Sickenberger
Sam Kowald     Carter Merwin     Montana Milton     Hope Ninmann

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
The School Board and Community Facility Advisory Committee met this past Wednesday night to review survey data.  At meeting, we learned that the community survey conducted by School Perceptions can be very predictive about possible referendum success. Thank you to all of the staff who filled out the survey because the staff was very well represented.  Also, thank you to the staff who attended the meeting.  At the board and committee meetings, the group discussed the results that showed that the majority of the community does want the school board to go to referendum, that they are satisfied with the district and that they are willing to put resources towards potential new construction, remodeling, and maintenance of our schools.  It was a very positive and uplifting meeting.  We can all feel great that we are on the right track and the community is noticing as well. At this time, a sub-committee is drafting a recommendation that they will present to the school board.  Survey results and more resources are available on the website.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Great Summer PD Opportunity

Join us on June 5th for a full 8 hours of learning! Earn professional development points and gain knowledge on how to help students struggling with mental health issues. Rick Raatz from CESA 5 will be in our district to provide training on the following topics. More details about the event to come, but save space on your calendars for this valuable learning experience. If you're interested in attending, add your name to the session on this document.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. 

Superhero Run

In conjunction with the Parents' Club, we will be having a Wellness Day and Superhero Run on Friday, May 18th.  There will be a set schedule and a lot more information shared in the coming days.  I think it has the chance to be a great opportunity for our school and students. Stay tuned form more information.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - O'Connor

The Middle Update 4/6/18

Article of the Week
The article this week focuses on mental health.  We have had a number of students engage in cutting.  The article this week provides insight into why students cut, and what we can do as educators to be prepared in situations like this.

"Hurting from the Inside Out: Understanding Self-Injury" by Janis Whitlock and Penelope Hasking

School Safety Reminder
I wanted to include regular reminders about the logistics of our safety situations in school.

Administrative Hold: No one is allowed to enter or exit the building, but in the building activity remains unchanged.
Hold: Hallways should be clear, and no one should enter or exit the classroom.
Lockdown: Doors shut and locked, lights off, and all people inside the classroom should be quiet and out of sight if looking into the classroom.

We'll have a tornado drill later in the month of April.  Details to follow.

Student Success!!

We had some pretty special performances from our students at Wisconsin Mathematics Council State Math Competition in the Class C division.  Our middle school team placed 2nd in the state in the   So against schools our own size, we tied for 2nd place out of 9 teams.  We also had 4 students receive individual recognition of being named to the 2018 All State 2nd Team.

If you see the following students, be sure to congratulate them on a job well done!  Also kudos to our math teachers and Mrs. Kennedy for their hard work in preparation!

Abby Klink

Clayton Nehls

Dylan Elsing

Cash Stewart

Grace Hutchinson

Lizzy Endres

Anneliese Graeme

Mika Bush

Additional students who participated individually:

Felicia Ritzke

Hazel Ruckle

Kyla Thays

2018 All State 2nd Team Individuals:

Cash Stewart

Abby Klink

Grace Hutchinson

Lizzy Endres

Forward Exam
It's getting closer...The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.

Next Student of the Month Breakfast
Our final Student of the Month Breakfast will take place on Thursday, April 26th. 

Shout-out borrowed from Mr. Hausser's Blog
Shout Out to Mrs. Wentz (contributed by Coleman's mother)(This occurred before the break)
Coleman Thurston was asked to have a teacher present his induction to the National Honor Society last night.  He chose Mrs. Wentz for this task. I am sharing his speech with you.  Coleman wrote this himself but I think he touched on some of the most important things that I as a parent also remember about her classroom…

                Positivity

                Discipline

                Encouragement

                Connection with the students 

Good evening!  When I was asked to have a teacher present on my behalf tonight, Mrs. Wentz was the first person who came to mind due to her strong integrity and compassion.  Mrs. Wentz was my 5th grade teacher 5 years ago. I fondly remember the great Fridays of the class store and my big history night project. After the first day of fifth grade, I knew it was going to be a great year knowing that we could chew gum because it stimulated brain flow and that she was in the military- in fact, my brother wanted to skip 3rd and 4th grade and join her class early.  She inspired discipline through positive coaching and instilled accountability. Mrs. Wentz had high standards for each and every one of her students, and was sure to keep us on task with her stern teacher look when we stepped out of line. This to me was actually one of her strongest lessons, for this look meant business and everyone in the class knew that it was not negative, but rather a quiet reminder of what our priorities should be.  It even kept my Dad in line one day when he was visiting our class and was talking during author's chair. A memorable teacher balances academic accountability and makes positive connections with their students. Mrs. Wentz is here tonight for both of those reasons and I hope to be as great of a teacher as she is in my future teaching career. Thank you.

Great Summer PD Opportunity

Join us on June 5th for a full 8 hours of learning! Earn professional development points and gain knowledge on how to help students struggling with mental health issues. Rick Raatz from CESA 5 will be in our district to provide training on the following topics. More details about the event to come, but save space on your calendars for this valuable learning experience. If you're interested in attending, add your name to the session on this document.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. 

MS Track Meets...1 more slot to fill!!
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets on Monday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 8th.  Thank you to all who have signed up to help out!  LOOKS LIKE ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT TO FILL for the meet on Tuesday, May 8th.  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.

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
The combined Board/Community Facility Advisory Committee Meeting is next Wednesday (4/11) evening starting at 6:30.  All are welcome to attend and hear results from the community survey.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Johnson
Bus - Lendobeja

Data

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 3/23/18

Although the school year seems like it just started, we are on the verge of another Spring Break, with one quarter to go until another school year is officially in the books.  During the upcoming Spring Break, I encourage everyone to get away, rest, relax, and recharge your batteries.  Enjoy some well-deserved rest, and we'll get ready to finish strong for the final stretch when we meet on the 2nd.

Article of the Week
The article this week comes from the Responsive Classroom research.  There is an art and science to getting students to respond to redirection successfully.  The article this week highlights strategies all teachers should use to be successful in these efforts that can lead to frustration.

"Reinforcing, Reminding, and Redirecting" from the Responsive Classroom Information Library

End of Quarter 3 Information
Quarter #3 will be officially in the books by the end of the day on Friday (3/23).  We will run report cards starting on Wednesday (4/4), so please have your grades and comments complete by then.  As a reminder, students that have an NE in any standard should be spending lunch time and after school times working to improve their performance.  Parents should be in the loop and working with us to get the kids back on track.

PD Day, Monday 4/2/18
On Monday, we'll get together and utilize the collaboration opportunities to move our curriculum and practices forward.  Check out the schedule HERE.

Upcoming All School Assembly
We will be having a Middle School Assembly on Friday, 4/6 at 2:25 in the 1-8 Gym.  We will highlight students, build momentum for the Forward Exam effort, and have another Carelli Cup Event.

Hoops 4 Hearts Success!!
Another great event is in the books.  Thanks to all who played a role in planning this event.  We had another packed house, and some intense moments that ultimately led to a staff victory, and more importantly, a good time had by all.

Safety Drill Recap
I thought our lockdown drill was executed very well.  When we are in lockdown, it is a little spooky how quiet it is in the hallways, and it is hard to believe that we actually have so many people in the building.  Please keep me and guidance in the loop on any concerns that may have come out of the discussion before or after the drill.  Our Safety Committee will debrief and continue to fine tune our safety plan.  Thanks for your diligence and appropriate communication with our students.

Forward Exam
It's getting closer...The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.

MS Track Meets...1 more slot to fill!!
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets on Monday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 8th.  Thank you to all who have signed up to help out!  LOOKS LIKE ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT TO FILL for the meet on Tuesday, May 8th.  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.

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
We still await results from the the community survey.  If you talk with people in the community, please remind them about the importance of the survey results.

Duty Next Week
No One!  It's Spring Break!!

Duty for the Week after Next
Bus - Laufenberg

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 3/16/18

Article of the Week
There is a consistent message that comes through time and time again when reviewing the research on effective schools.  Schools that have gone from good to great have spent time on establishing the value of each minute of the school day.  The article this week highlights the need to make the most out each valuable minute of class time.

"Strategies for Teacher to Maximize Student Learning Time" by Derrick Meador

Middle School Leadership Group
Our group met this past Wednesday after school.  We continued our work to improve in the correlate that was rated lowest (Home-School Relations) by the staff.  I believe we have a plan to implement some strategies to improve our Home-School Relations.  You can view the note slicking on the link (Meeting Notes).

End of Quarter 3 Information
Quarter #3 will be officially in the books by the end of the day on Friday (3/23).  We will run report cards starting on Wednesday (4/4), so please have your grades and comments complete by then.  As a reminder, students that have an NE in any standard should be spending lunch time and after school times working to improve their performance.  Parents should be in the loop and working with us to get the kids back on track.

Band Clinic Concert Success!
The talent of our students was on full display Tuesday night!  Another great show by our students!

Parent-Teacher Conference Recap
Thank you to all of you for your efforts during PT conferences.  This is a key time to get on the same page with our parents, and develop plans for students that may need a little extra attention.  I noticed an increase in awareness of effort and behavior in a couple students in particular.

Hoops 4 Hearts this Thursday!!
The kids are feeling confident, and the adults have started stretching routines in hopes of avoiding injury...it's that time of year again.  The students have been working hard to plan another successful event.  Mark your calendars for Thursday night's big game.  Tip-off is set for 5:30.

Student of the Month Breakfast this Thursday
We will be hosting another breakfast this coming Thursday (3/22).  Thanks to Mr. Williams, Mr. Odden, Mrs. Rogness, and Mrs. Graeve for presenting this month's recipients.  Congratulations to the following students on their recognition:

Liam Napralla     Gracie Rugg     Anneliese Graeme     Maddie McEvilly
Layla Nolty     Brooke Steinhorst     Ava Brickson     Trent Chadwick

Student Success!!

Three of our Pumas were announced as winners for the Yahara Top 10 writing contest:

Hazel Ruckle, 7th grade short story for "One Day is 365 Opportunities"

Gracie Rugg, 6th grade editorial for "Online or Physical Shopping"

Melanie Koopmans, 6th grade cartoon

They will all attend the Yahara Top 10 workshop and ceremony on Tues. May 10th at Union South.  Their pieces will be published in an anthology.  Feel free to congratulate these girls on a job well done!

Safety Drill this Friday
We will be practicing our lockdown drill on Friday around 1:45pm.  Please use this time to review this procedure with your students.  As a reminder, doors should be closed and locked, lights off, and students quiet and out of sight from the window.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Forward Exam
It's getting closer...The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.

Forward Exam Proctor training will take place on Monday at 2:50 in Mr. Frehner's room.  More information about Forward Exam prep will be provided this week.

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets on Monday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 8th.  LOOKS LIKE ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT TO FILL!  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 those that have agreed to help out!

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
We still await results from the the community survey.  If you talk with people in the community, please remind them about the importance of the survey results.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Williams
Bus - Kallungi

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 3/9/18

Article of the Week
The art of differentiating the instructional approach to meet the needs of all students can alter some common held practices and beliefs.  The article this week provides some practical steps to helping provide each student with what they need in the classroom.

"Equity vs. Equality: 6 Steps Toward Equity" by Shane Safir

School Safety Staff Meeting
Thanks to those teachers that met briefly this past Wednesday, and a reminder to those that weren't able to attend, that we will be meeting on Monday (3/12) at 2:50 in Mr. Frehner's room to discuss certain elements of school safety.  If you teach in the high school, and attended their staff meeting this past Wednesday, no need to attend this one unless you are interested.

As a reminder, the following are descriptions of a couple of our procedures:

Administrative Hold: No one is allowed to enter or exit the building, but in the building activity remains unchanged.
Hold: Hallways should be clear, and no one should enter or exit the classroom.
Lockdown: Doors shut and locked, lights off, and all people inside the classroom should be quiet and out of sight if looking into the classroom.

We will be practicing a Lockdown drill on Friday, 3/23/18 around 1:45 in the afternoon.  This is an opportunity to share with students our procedures (like we discussed in staff meeting) in case of a dangerous person/situation in our building.

Middle School Leadership Group
Our group will meet again Wednesday after school.  We will continue our work to improve in the correlate that was rated lowest (Home-School Relations).  We will also review the new "Title" process, and share the areas identified for improvement in our school that will be targeted.  See last Meeting Notes here.

Band Clinic Concert this Tuesday (3/13)
We will be hosting our annual Band Clinic on Tuesday, followed by a concert during the evening starting at 7:00 pm.  We look forward to another great show by our students!

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thank you for your efforts during Parent/Teacher Conferences this past Thursday.  These partnerships are really important as we look to finish a strong 2017-2018 school year.  If you had a no show or two, please reach out and invite them in for a conference this coming Thursday evening.

I will send out a blast inviting families to come in for this coming Thursday's (3/15) conference night.  We all should be ready to meet with any parent that stops in to talk about their child.

Math Olympians
Congratulations to the following students that excelled during the Math Olympiad competitions:

Highest Score on

Math Olympiad #1: Abby Klink, Mika Bush, Grace Hutchinson (tied with a score of 4)

Math Olympiad #2: Abby Klink (score of 5)

Math Olympiad #3: Owen Bahr and Clayton Nehls (tied with a score of 3)

Math Olympiad #4: Mika Bush, Carter Fait, Conrad Kurtz, Nicholas Milewski, and Tanis Crawford (tied with a score of 2)

Math Olympiad #5: Felicia Ritzke (score of 5)

Best overall scores for all 5 exams:

Abby Klink (score of 13)

Carter Fair (score of 12)

Mika Bush (score of 11)

Grace Hutchinson (score of 10)

Dylan Elsing and Anneliese Graeme (score of 9)

Highest score per grade:

8th: Abby Klink (score of 13)

7th: Carter Fait (score of 12)

6th: Alex Busch, Mykolas Lyons, Avery O'Dea (tied with a score of 8)

Forward Exam
The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.  Test proctor training will take place in the coming weeks.

More information about Forward Exam prep will be provided this week.

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Monday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 8th.  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.

Community Facility Advisory Committee Update
There was a solid turnout this past Wednesday for the Community Meeting.  The presentation gave a summary of all of the work the committee has done, and the next steps in the process.  At this time, we await survey results from the community.  Once the survey closes, the committee will meet, and discuss possible recommendations to the school board.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Weckerly
Bus - Hendrickson

Images from the Week

I had to put a recent pic of my little baby girl, Liv

The Middle Update 3/2/2018

Article of the Week
It's no secret that students work harder for teachers that they like.  The article this week provides a couple of tips to gain that important "street cred" that can make all the difference in the world for many of our students.

"5 Things Cool Teachers Do" by Mark Barnes

Middle School Leadership Group Meeting Update
The group met on Tuesday afternoon.  We reviewed the results of the survey staff took at the end of our Staff Meeting last Wednesday.  We started the planning process to improve in the correlate that was rated lowest (Home-School Relations).  See Meeting Notes here.

Kindness Homerooms Starting this Week
Our Middle School leadership students will be leading another Kindness Homeroom for all of the grades coming up.  The focus will be on respect for all people, no despite any differences present.  This is a powerful message for our kids to hear from their peers.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Starting this coming Thursday, we have another opportunity to meet with parents/ guardians to discuss our students' achievement and growth.  The office will be running a Grades Report for each student that will show 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarter grades up to this point.  The report will also show Puma Pride grades.  If specific teams or teachers have questions about other items to include, invite me to a meeting, and we'll discuss more specifically.

Budget
Thanks to all who have submitted their budget proposals to me for next school year.  If you still have some questions, let me know as soon as you can.

Forward Exam Schedule
We are getting very close to finalizing the Forward Exam Schedule.  The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.  Test proctor training will take place in the coming weeks.

Middle School Staff Members Needed...
This Spring we will be hosting two middle school track meets.  The meets are on Monday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 8th.  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.

Data Update (through the first Friday in March)
Behavior Referrals
14-15 - 210 events, 65 students
15-16 - 165 events, 64 students
16-17 - 97 events, 43 students
17-18 - 109 events, 46 students

Attendance Rates
14-15 - 94.77%
15-16 - 95.47%
16-17 - 95.93%
17-18 - 96.23%

Duty Next Week
Morning - Crawford
Bus - Hazard

Images from the Week

  

 

The Middle Update 2/25/18

Article of the Week
The author of this week's article provides 10 pieces of advice from students about what they perceive the best teachers do regularly in their class. 

"How to Become the Best Teacher: Advice from Students" - Andrei Zakhareuski

Next Year's Budget Requests
I know many of you have already begun the planning process for next year's budget.  Budget materials were made available by Mrs. Dallman this past week, and will be due to my office by the end of the day on March 2nd.  Middle School teachers should submit paper requisitions to me with a Budget Summary Sheet for each department.  If you have any questions about this process or materials, don't hesitate to schedule a time with me to discuss.
Mid-Term Message to Parents
Here is a copy of the message that I sent out to parents on Thursday for your information.

Greetings,

We are already midway through the 3rd quarter and Spring is right around the corner.  Our students continue to bring an impressive amount of positive energy with them to their classrooms, and we enjoy working with each student on their journey to becoming college/career ready.  Check out some updates below for more information about life at Poynette Middle School.

-Mid-Term Grades are now posted in Infinite Campus.  You can log into the Parent Portal to view your child's current grades in their classes.

-Spring Parent/Teacher conferences are set for Thursday, March 8th from 4:30 - 8:00 and Thursday, March 15th from 4:00 - 7:30.  Please contact either Mrs. McNicol or Mrs. Schernecker at the office (635-4347 Ext. 6) or a specific teacher to schedule a conference time for your child.

-If you have an interest in volunteering your time during the Middle School lunch period (12:00 - 12:45), please send me an email (jprit@poynette.k12.wi.us), and we will discuss this opportunity

-Many of our extra-curricular activities will be getting started very soon.  Students should be preparing to participate in the following activities that are about to get started:

    -No Name Volunteers - continues to meet after school on Thursdays (Mrs. Morton is the contact)
    -Art Club - continues to meet after school on Tuesdays starting in October (Mrs. Crawford (x329) is the contact)
    -Middle School Play - auditions will be starting soon (Mrs. Petersen (x408) is the contact)
    -Track and Field - starting after Spring Break for 7th and 8th graders (Mr. Ferkovich (x411) and Mrs. Graeve (x323) are the coaches)
    -Strategy Games Club - meets after school in Mr. Kallungi's room on Wednesdays for any student that is interested (Mrs. Sukowski (x314) is the contact)

We appreciate the great support the Poynette community provides for its schools.  As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Dr. Jerry Pritzl
PMS Principal

Special Homerooms Coming Up
Our Leadership Students have been busy planning another Homeroom lesson that will focus on respect for all.  Be on the lookout for specific dates from Mrs. Morton, but they will start during the week of March 5th.  The focus of this lesson will be on the acceptance of all people regardless of differences.  I am really proud of these students for recognizing this need, and stepping into a leadership role in front of their peers.

Forward Exam Schedule
We are getting very close to finalizing the Forward Exam Schedule.  The Middle School will be testing from Monday, April 9th through Monday, April 16th.  Students will be taking the exam in their normal classes (ELA during ELA class time, Math during Math class time).  You can view the testing schedule HERE.  Test proctor training will take place in the coming weeks.

Meetings Next Week
Our Leadership Group will meet on Tuesday (2/27) at 2:50 in the 1-8 Conference Room, and our Social Studies team will be meeting on Wednesday (2/28) at 2:50 in Mrs. Morrissey's office.  Our Leadership Group will break down the results from staff perceptions about how we are doing on the correlates, and develop of a plan to improve in our weakest areas.

Handout for Staff - Talking with Students about School Shootings (Contributed by Mr. Fischer)
Here are some important points that you may want to make if and when you discuss recent school shootings with students.

School are very safe but you can takes some steps to make ours safer.
Take the time to review the schools safety plan with students
Review actions they can take to keep the school safe
Don’t prop open doors
Don’t open school doors for visitors
Students are not powerless. 

They can:
Report things that make them uncomfortable - If you see something, say something to an adult
Treat each other well and promote a culture of acceptance and care
Talk to an adult if you are struggling or if you are concerned about a classmates well-being

Reminders for Staff
Keep your door closed and locked
Don’t prop open doors
Be visible and in the hallway during passing periods
Be observant of student’s and talk to someone from student services if you notice a change in a students behavior

Note Home to our Parents (Contributed by Mr. Fischer)

Mr. Fischer crafted a letter home to parents about some of the recent events.  I wanted to share this with staff because it has some good information for parents and staff.  It was sent home through messenger.

Dear Parent/Guardian:                                                      February 19, 2018

The School District of Poynette considers student safety a top priority. In addition to having a District Safety Plan, we have caring adults that promote a culture of respect and care for one another. Our staff is committed to reaching out to kids that are struggling, and students are taught about the importance of talking to a trusted adult if they have concerns about a fellow classmate. Recent events like the school shooting in Florida, result in many of us thinking about the safety and well-being of our children. In order to support your efforts to care for your child, we would like to share some additional resources with you.

The American School Counselor Association recommends the following when considering the impact of an event like the one in Florida on children:

• Trying to keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
• Limiting exposure to television and the news.
• Being honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
• Listening to kids’ fears and concerns.
• Reassuring kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
• Rebuilding and reaffirming attachments and relationships.
The National Association of School Psychologists has a very helpful handout that has been shared with our teachers that you may want to review. Talking with Children about Violence
We ask that you pay close attention to your child during the weeks that follow and call someone from student services if you have any concerns. Be assured that here at Poynette we have made the safety of our students a top priority and that your child is in the hands of caring adults.

PAD- (The latest edition is out)

Here is the link for the latest PAD newsletter.  

Facility Advisory Committee Update

The next step in the process is a Community Meeting on Wednesday, March 7th at 6:30pm.  The purpose of this meeting is to provide an update to the public about the work of the Community Advisory Committee.  A postcard will go out to all mailboxes in the district inviting them to this meeting.  All staff members are welcome to attend as well.  A survey will be sent out following this meeting, and the committee will meet on April 11th to review the survey results, and see how the results will impact the recommendation to the school board.  As always, please feel free to visit the FACILITY tab on our webpage for the latest.

Duty Next Week
Morning - Pittner
Bus - Gavin