Staff Update Week of April 7, 2025

Important Dates

4/8-                 EMS Experience Night

4/12-                NESS

4/18-                No School

4/21-                No School

4/23-                Tornado Drill 8:45am (subject to change)

4/24-                Fire Drill 2:23

4/25-               3rd Quarter Donut Awards 

4/30-                Writing Revolution (ELA Teachers only- PM)

Important Information

AIR Testing 

ELA AIR Testing continues this week.  Here is a link to the testing schedule.  If you are not proctoring a test, please be sure to stand in the hallways between classes to keep the noise level down.

Specials Teachers....please check with your grade level teams to see which students are testing on which days.

We had a great first week of testing!  Keep up the good work

EMS Experience Night

Just a friendly reminder, EMS Experience Night is April 8th (6:00-7:30).  For those of you running a club/team, please ask a couple of your students to attend to be representatives.  

The event will start with a quick presentation in the gym.  After the presentation, students and parents will be permitted to walk around the building.  

Tables will be set up in the hallways throughout the building.  For those of you running a club, we will set your table(s) up near your classroom.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

60-Second Strategy: The Last Question

 Staff Update Week of March 31, 2025

Important Dates

4/8-            EMS Experience Night

4/12-            NESS

4/18-                No School

4/21-                No School

4/23-                Tornado Drill 8:45am (subject to change)

4/24-                Fire Drill 2:23

Important Information

AIR Testing 

ELA AIR Testing beings this week.  Here is a link to the testing schedule.  If you are not proctoring a test, please be sure to stand in the hallways between classes to keep the noise level down.

Specials Teachers....please check with your grade level teams to see which students are testing on which days.

EMS Experience Night

Just a friendly reminder, EMS Experience Night is April 8th (6:00-7:30).  For those of you running a club/team, please ask a couple of your students to attend to be representatives.  

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Using Discussions to Inspire Active Participation in Learning

AI Tutors Can Work- With the Right Guardrails

 Staff Update Week of March 17, 2025

Thank you Leah and Kirk for representing EMS at the State of the Schools!

Important Dates

3/18                   End of Quarter 3

3/19                    Fire Drill 2:23

3/19                   Tornado Drill 8:40 (during homeroom)

3/20-                PBIS Quarterly Incentive (Adjusted Bell Schedule)

3/21-                 Records Day (Work from home option)

3/24-3/28        Spring Break

4/8-                EMS Experience Night

4/12-               NESS

4/18-                No School

4/21-                No School

4/23-                Tornado Drill 8:45am (subject to change)

4/24-                Fire Drill 2:23

Important Information

AIR Testing Calendar

Here is a link to the AIR Testing Calendar

These dates are subject to change.

Testing Tickets

Just a reminder....please let me know if you need testing tickets for the upcoming ELA AIR tests.  By now, most students know their testing IDs.  Just let me know if you need a back up copy.

3/20 Adjusted Bell Schedule

HR	8:30-8:43	Please take attendance	13 minutes
1°	8:46-9:14		28 minutes
2°	9:17-9:45		28 minutes
3°	9:48-10:16		28 minutes
7°	10:19-10:47		28 minutes
4°	10:50-11:35	10:50-11:12	45 minutes
		11:13-11:35
5°	11:38-12:23	11:38-12:00	45 minutes
		12:01-12:23
6°	12:26-1:11	12:26-12:48	45 minutes
		1:49-1:11
8°	1:14-1:39		25 Minutes
PBIS	1:40-3:05		85 minutes
Back to 8th	3:05-3:10

Tornado Drill (3/20)

We have scheduled a Tornado Drill for 3/19 during homeroom.  Please make sure your students "assume the position" and are quiet.  Everyone must be on the first floor for the drill.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

How Accurate Are Your Grades?

Staff Update Week of March 10, 2025

Congrats Dr. Grabski for being the last teacher struck at conferences!

Important Dates

3/13-            State of the Schools Night (5:30pm @ North)

3/18             End of Quarter 3

3/20-            PBIS Quarterly Incentive (Adjusted Bell Schedule)

3/24-3/28    Spring Break

4/8-            EMS Experience Night

4/12-            NESS

Important Information

AIR Testing Calendar

Here is a link to the AIR Testing Calendar

These dates are subject to change.

2 Weeks till Spring Break

This is a difficult time of the school year.  Staff and students are ready for a break.  Please make sure we are ALL focused on instruction and enforcing the rules.  Smart Pass must be used anytime a student leaves your classroom.  

Engaged kids are Behaved kids!

Smart Pass

Just another friendly reminder...

Everyone must use Smart Pass when sending a student to the restroom.  

Laker Time

Tested area teachers have my full support to pull students whenever they feel the need during up until testing.  Please be a team player and check out the list daily in the Laker Loop

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Celebrating PI Day Across the Curriculum

Staff Update Week of February 24th, 2025

Important Dates

2/24-            Professional Development Day

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

3/5-            Parent Teacher Conferences

3/13-            State of the Schools Night (5:30pm @ North)

3/18             End of Quarter 3

3/20-            PBIS Quarterly Incentive (Adjusted Bell Schedule)

3/24-3/28    Spring Break

4/8-            EMS Experience Night

4/12-            NESS

Important Information

AIR Testing Calendar

Here is a link to the AIR Testing Calendar

These dates are subject to change.

Conferences

Jaimie has provided each of you a list of parents that have signed up for conferences.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

3rd Quarter

There are less than three weeks left in the quarter.  Please make sure you are communicating with parents if their child is getting a D or an F in your class.  Talk with the student and try to motivate them to get their grade up.

Laker Time

Tested area teachers will be pulling students quite frequently this month to help prepare for state testing.  Please be flexible and allow your students to go to Laker Time.  

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Parent Teacher Conference Ideas for Success

 Staff Update Week of February 24th, 2025

Great AI presentation from Paul on Monday

Important Dates

2/24-            Professional Development Day

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

3/5-            Parent Teacher Conferences

3/13-            State of the Schools Night (5:30pm @ North)

4/8-            EMS Experience Night

Important Information

EMS Experience Night

Mark your calendars:  April 8th   6:00-7:30pm

Each Middle School will host an "Experience Night" to get our elementary students excited about the fun things we offer in Middle School.  We will discuss this in PLC meetings.  I sent an email last week with more details.

State of the Schools Night

March 13th- 5:30pm @ North

We will have two tables representing EMS.

Table 1:  Career Day and Magnet Field Trip

Table 2:  8th Grade Experience

AI Tools

It was great having Paul Hagan back in the building on Monday talking with staff about AI tools.  I know it can be overwhelming.  Remember, the goal is to work Smarter....not harder.  Just give one of the tools he presented a try.

Testing Groups

Just a friendly reminder to our tested area teachers.  Please start working on "grouping" your students for testing.  Let me know if you need me to reshare the spreadsheet with you.

Also, if you have not done sol already, please take the Test Administrator Training.  Thanks

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

7 AI Tools That Help Teachers Work More Efficiently 

 Staff Update Week of February 17th, 2025

Important Dates

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/19-            Jack Berckemeyer at EMS (6th-8th periods)

2/24-            Professional Development Day

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

3/5-            Parent Teacher Conferences

3/13-            State of the Schools Night (5:30pm @ North)

4/8-            EMS Experience Night

Important Information

Teaming- Jack Berckemeyer

The district has arranged for Jack Berckemeyer to come to each middle school for half of a day.  Our day will be the afternoon of 2/19.  He will meet with PLCs.

6th Period-  7th Grade

7th Period-  8th Grade

8th Period-  6th Grade

*  If any Specials Teachers would like to attend a PLC this day, please just let me know and we will arrange coverage so you can attend.

Open Position 2025-26 School Year

In case you have not heard, Dr. Grabski will be moving over to our open Art position for next year.  He will be designing curriculum and teaching S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

Therefore, there will be an open position next year in 6th grade.  If you are interested in moving into the 6th grade Math/Science teaching position, let me know so we can discuss if it would be a good fit.  Otherwise, this position will be posted on Bid Day.

PD Day

I am hoping to have a schedule to everyone by Wednesday of next week.

EMS Experience Night

Mark your calendars:  April 8th   6:00-7:30pm

Each Middle School will host an "Experience Night" to get our elementary students excited about the fun things we offer in Middle School.  We will discuss this in PLC meetings.

State of the Schools Night

March 13th- 5:30pm @ North

Each school is required to "show off" some exciting things we are doing with kids.  I will need help setting up some slide shows and decorative boards.  We will discuss this at PLCs 

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

I got nothing for you this week.