Staff Update Week of September 28, 2026

Important Dates

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

9/28-                       Fire Drill 2:18pm

9/30-                      RIMP Data Meetings

10/7-                        EMS Parent Teacher Conferences

10/8-                        8th Grade Field Trip to Chagrin River Park

10/9-                        NEOEA Day (no school)

10/13-                      Jaimie Smith Learning Walk Day

10/15-                        7th Grade Zoo Field Trip

10/16-                       PD Day

10/26-                       Jack B at EMS (TBA)

10/27-                        Picture Retake Day

10/28-                        EMS Parent Teacher Conferences

Important Information

ICAC Assemblies (9/28)

Thank you Leah Leshnack for once again arranging for the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce to come out and speak with our students.

1st period-  7th Grade

2nd period-  8th Grade

3rd period-  6th Grade

Safety Week (9/28-10/2)

Monday (9/28)

-  ICAC assemblies in Gym (1st, 2nd 3rd periods)

-  Fire Drill 2:18pm

Tuesday (9/29)

-  Lockdown Drill 

-  I will make an announcement and EVERYONE barricades in room

Wednesday (9/30)

-  Evacuation Drill

-  I will make an announcement and EVERYONE evacuates to the parking lot.

Thursday (10/1)

-  Scenario Based Drill

-  I will make an announcement and you make the decision on what to do based on the announcement.

Friday (10/2)

Tornado Drill during Homeroom

Nomination Form

Please nominate staff members that you feel exemplify one of our goals.  A link to the nomination form can be found at the top of the bulletin.

Congrats to last weeks winners:

Academic Goal-   Amy Smith

Behavioral Goal-  Rick Johnson

Experience Goal- Jaimie Livorse

Social-Emotional Goal:  Jill Forcht

Growth Plans/ HQSD

Please make sure your Growth Plans and HQSD are completed by 9/30.  Using AI is not cheating.....

Email Signature updates

The district is in the process of rolling out consistent ADA compliant email signatures. This will occur building by building over the next few weeks. The signatures will be branded with the logo and information of your “home” school and will include your name, title, school main number and voicemail extension, email, district website, and the address for the school. 

Once your building migrates, you may need to use Ctrl + F5 to refresh your gmail settings for your new signature to appear.  Additionally, if you have a secondary building or title that you'd like to add, you can type it in a custom field by visiting this website. https://user.bulksignature.com/ 

Once we begin the process in October, your current signatures will be overwritten with the new automated, ADA compliant email signatures. 

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Station Rotation

 

Staff Update Week of September 21, 2026

Important Dates

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

9/28-                       Fire Drill 2:18pm

9/30-                      RIMP Data Meetings

10/7-                        EMS Parent Teacher Conferences

10/8-                        8th Grade Field Trip to Chagrin River Park

10/9-                        NEOEA Day (no school)

10/13-                      Jaimie Smith Learning Walk Day

10/16-                       PD Day

10/26-                       Jack B at EMS (TBA)

10/27-                        Picture Retake Day

10/28-                        EMS Parent Teacher Conferences

Important Information

ICAC Assemblies (9/28)

Thank you Leah Leshnack for once again arranging for the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce to come out and speak with our students.

1st period-  6th Grade

2nd period-  8th Grade

3rd period-  7th Grade

Barricading Doors

All teachers are expected to practice barricading doors with their classes sometime this week.  We spoke about this during PLCs.  

Safety Week (9/28-10/2)

Monday (9/28)

-  ICAC assemblies in Gym (1st, 2nd 3rd periods)

-  Fire Drill 2:18pm

Tuesday (9/29)

-  Lockdown Drill 

-  I will make an announcement and EVERYONE barricades in room

Wednesday (9/30)

-  Evacuation Drill

-  I will make an announcement and EVERYONE evacuates to the parking lot.

Thursday (10/1)

-  Scenario Based Drill

-  I will make an announcement and you make the decision on what to do based on the announcement.

Friday (10/2)

Tornado Drill during Homeroom

Nomination Form

Please nominate staff members that you feel exemplify one of our goals.  A link to the nomination form can be found at the top of the bulletin.

Congrats to last weeks winners:

Academic Goal-   Janine Zampini

Behavioral Goal-  Vanessa Rockwell

Experience Goal- Kelly White

Social-Emotional Goal:  Nick Cramer

Growth Plans/ HQSD

Please make sure your Growth Plans and HQSD are completed by 9/30.  Using AI is not cheating.....

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

 

Staff Update Week of September 14, 2026

Important Dates

9/17-                       6th Grade Camp

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

9/28-                       Fire Drill 2:18pm

9/30-                      RIMP Data Meetings

10/8-                        8th Grade Field Trip to Chagrin River Park

10/9-                        NEOEA Day (no school)

10/13-                      Jaimie Smith Learning Walk Day

10/16-                       PD Day

10/26-                       Jack B at EMS (TBA)

10/27-                        Picture Retake Day

10/28-                        EMS Parent Teacher Conferences

Important Information

Home Sporting Events

Just a reminder....  Students love to see staff at their home sporting events.  If you can make it to a game, it would be great to see you.

Safety Week

Dave Koehnle will be joining PLCs this week to discuss our upcoming Safety Week and answer any questions you might have.

EMS Goals Reminder

Are you....

Creating engaging opportunities for students at EMS?

Supporting your colleagues by enforcing consistent building expectations?

Finding positive solutions to support each other?

Providing daily opportunities for students to reach their full potential?

Nomination Form

Please nominate staff members that you feel exemplify one of our goals.  A link to the nomination form can be found at the top of the bulletin.

Congrats to last weeks winners:

Academic Goal-  Amy Clendenning

Behavioral Goal-  Justine Ianiro

Experience Goal-  Jeff Steinmetz

Social-Emotional Goal:  Autumn Budrys

Growth Plans/ HQSD

Please make sure your Growth Plans and HQSD are completed by 9/30.  Using AI is not cheating.....

Patriot Day (9/11)

Thank you to Justine, Jack, and Vanessa for focusing lessons about the 25th anniversary of 9/11.   I was very impressed with what each of you were doing with students that day.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Real, Fake, or Deepfake?  This Lesson Helps Students Decide

 

Staff Update Week of September 7, 2026

Thank you PBIS Team for a great Guess Who assembly last Friday.

Important Dates

9/7-                        Labor Day (No School)

9/17-                       6th Grade Camp

9/23-                     Fire Drill 2nd period

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

Important Information

Favorite Things

If you have not filled out the "favorite things" form, please use the QR code below.

EMS Goals 2026-27

Thank you Science Teachers for reviewing our goals with students this week.

Nomination Form

Please nominate staff members that you feel exemplify one of our goals.  A link to the nomination form can be found at the top of the bulletin.

Growth Plans/ HQSD

Please make sure your Growth Plans and HQSD are completed by 9/30.  Using AI is not cheating.....

Patriot Day (9/11)

This marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11/01.  

Thank you Social Studies teachers for planning lessons that talk about this day.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

100 Great Resources for Middle School Students

3 Simple Ways to Boost Student Motivation

 

Important Dates

9/3-                       Staff Meeting 2:30-3:30  Room 214

9/4-                        PBIS Kickoff Assembly (Adjusted Bell Schedule)

9/7-                        Labor Day (No School)

9/17-                       6th Grade Camp

9/23-                     Fire Drill 2nd period

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

Important Information

Staff Meeting

Just a reminder....we have an after school staff meeting on Thursday, September 4th, in Room 214 from 2:30-3:30.  This meeting is for teachers only.

End of the Day Dismissal

Ringing the bells at 2:20 seems to be working well for the traffic.  

We will continue with 2:20 until further notice.

PLC Schedule

PLC meetings begin this week.

6th Grade-  Tuesdays 8th Period

7th Grade-  Thursdays 1st Period

8th Grade-  Wednesdays  7th Period

Electives-  Fridays  3rd Period

PBIS Kickoff Assembly

We will have an adjusted bell schedule on Friday, September 4th

HR 7:40-7:43

1st 7:46-8:28  (35)

2nd 8:31-9:07 (35)

3rd 9:10-9:45  (35)

7th 9:48-10:23 (35)

4th 10:26-11:11 (45)

5th 11:14-11:59 (45)

6th 12:02-12:47 (45)

8th 12:50-1:20 (30)

Call students down for Assembly 1:20

- We will send students back to 8th period around 2:15ish

Staff Meeting

Reminder.....we have a staff meeting on September 3rd from 2:30-3:30 in room 214

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Things Every Staff Member Should Know

 

EMS Football vs. Orange

Important Dates

8/25-                     Picture Day

8/28-                    Fire Drill 7th Period

9/3-                       Staff Meeting 2:30-3:30  Room 214

9/4-                        PBIS Kickoff Assembly 1:40ish (Adjusted Bell Schedule)

9/7-                        Labor Day (No School)

9/17-                       6th Grade Camp

9/23-                     Fire Drill 2nd period

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

Important Information

Thank You

Thank you to our incredible EMS staff for making the start of the school year such a success.  Your energy, patience, teamwork, and commitment to our students have helped create a positive and welcoming environment from day one.  I appreciate everything you do each day to make EMS a great place for our students to learn and belong.

SmartPass

Please make sure everyone is utilizing SmartPass.  

PLC Schedule

6th Grade-  Tuesdays 8th Period

7th Grade-  Thursdays 1st Period

8th Grade-  Wednesdays  7th Period

Electives-  Wednesdays 3rd Period

* Mandatory PLC Meetings begin week of 8/31 (next week)

Picture Day

August 25th.  Jack will be sending out information.  Students will have pictures taken during their social studies classes.

Staff Meeting

Reminder.....we have a staff meeting on September 3rd from 2:30-3:30 in room 214

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Guiding Middle School Students to Commit to Their Own Growth

50 Effective Icebreakers for Middle and High School Students

 

**Last updated 8/12

Important Dates

8/17-                    6th Grade Orientation 9am-11am

8/17-                    6th Grade Supply Drop off 5:30pm-7pm

8/18-                    7th/8th Grade Supply Drop off 5:30pm-7:00pm

8/20-                    First Day of School

8/25-                     Picture Day

8/28-                    Fire Drill 7th Period

9/7-                        Labor Day (No School)

9/17-                       6th Grade Camp

9/23-                     Fire Drill 2nd period

9/28-                    Safety Week

9/28-                      ICAC assemblies

Important Information

August 17th 

Convocation Day, August 17, 2026 @North High School

• 7:45 Light breakfast and time to talk with colleagues, North Cafeteria
• 8:00 am - 9:00am Connections & Conversations
• Please review the attached spreadsheet to find your room: Click here
• 9:15am - 10:00am Dr. Ward's Convocation Address

        6th Grade Orientation 9:00am-11:00pm

-  6th grade teachers and Guidance do not attend Convocation Day

Staff Meeting 1:30pm in Room 214 (time and location might change)

6th Grade Supply Drop off 5:30pm-7:00pm

-  6th Grade teachers and staff that can not attend 8/18 (with approval)

August 18th

Attached you will find the district Professional Development Day schedule for August 18, 2026. PD Express courses have been created, and for elementary, middle, and high school levels, there are specific agendas/menus linked for your reference. This is a comprehensive document that includes level-specific schedules, links, room assignments and reminders. 

Please register for your training sessions in PD Express in your staff portal NO LATER THAN end of the day Monday August 17.. We will not manually log PD hours for those who did not register after PD day. If you need assistance with registering, please ask! 

*  All teachers expected to be at Willoughby Middle ALL DAY (8:00-3:00)

**  No teacher may stay at EMS to work in their classrooms.

Here is a link to the PD Day Schedule (no link yet....waiting for schedule)

 7th/8th Grade Supply Drop off 5:30-7:00pm 

-  Any teacher that did not attend on 8/17

August 19th

Teacher work day.  Do what you need to do to get ready for the year.

Dr. Ward OPTIONAL meeting with staff.  1:30pm

Supply Drop Offs

These "Supply Drop off" events are taking the place of Open House.

Teachers are required to attend either the 17th or 18th based on the grade level you teach.

Make sure you have your locks and lockers ready to distribute to students that attend.  Last year we had a great turn out for these events.  I expect even more people to attend this year.

SmartPass

We will be using SmartPass again this year.  We are working on getting it set up with this year's students.  Hopefully it will be ready soon.

Grade Level Expectation Talks

Dave and I will talk with each grade level about expectations on Friday, August 21st

6th Grade:  8th Period in the Gym

7th Grade:   1st Period in the Gym 

8th Grade:  2nd Period in the Gym

School Day

Student Day:  7:40-2:25

Teacher Day:  7:30-2:30

*  Teachers are expected to be in their classrooms or at their assigned duty at 7:30 

* * Do not leave the building until 2:30pm

Morning Duties (7:30-7:53)

Core Teachers:  Homeroom coverage 

Unit Teachers:    Classroom coverage

Co-Teachers:  Assist with teams/ homerooms where needed

Elective Teachers:  Duty Assignment listed on Master Schedule 

Afternoon 

All staff members, please monitor hallways and help usher students out of the building.  The busses should arrive prior to the end of the day.  I will start dismissal a bit early the first few days of school.  Please be in the hallways helping direct students to car lines and busses.

PLC Schedule

6th Grade-  Tuesdays 8th Period

7th Grade-  Thursdays 1st Period

8th Grade-  Wednesdays  7th Period

Electives-  Wednesdays 3rd Period

* Mandatory PLC Meetings begin week of 8/31

Picture Day

August 25th.  Jack will be sending out information.  Students will have pictures taken during their social studies classes.

Curriculum/ Academics

Teams, please start discussing these topics as you meet during the week of 8/17.  I am hoping that most of this is covered on PD Day.

PBLs-  please make sure their is a focus on "Portrait of a Graduate"

Pacing-  Pacing Guides have been linked to the top of the bulletin.  We will discuss during PLCs

Common Assessments-  Select dates for Fall MAP testing.  We will discuss during PLCs

Flexible Scheduling-  How can we start moving away from 45 minute classes to a structure that works best for student learning.  

FLEX Period-  This is not a study hall.  How can we utilize this time to best work with students? Review data (formative assessments) to help make your decisions. 6th and 7th grade will need to have dedicated time to work with students on RIMPS.  (Math will need dedicated time as well)

Protocols-  What are your team's protocols and non negotiables?  How are we connecting with kids?  

Writing Revolution (TWR)- This isnt going away.  Jamie Smith will be working with teachers again this year.  Please make we are putting a focus on TWR into your weekly instruction.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)